This morning I deleted yet another email purporting to be from a big name author asking me clearly AI-generated questions about my book (Big Time, though I’ve gotten similar emails on random past books too). I could tell it was fake as the email was not the right email. I am not sure exactly how that scam works but I know that some other writers have received emails purporting to be from me — no doubt headed toward the same scam. I guess I should be flattered but the whole thing is so gross.
Also gross — the clearly AI-generated emails I am getting from book-marketing firms I have never heard of before talking about some element of Big Time. They must have fed in the catalog copy and then produced what looks to be a personal email but just feels…off. I’ve worked with most of the real major firms to book other authors on podcasts and such, and have a lot of respect for those places. These are not them.
And then there are the fake book clubs! This one is a little harder because there are a few real ones that I’ve done virtual events with. But most of these are another scam preying on authors. I’m kind of wise to the ways of the world but I imagine people are falling for them because, well, authors realize how hard it is to sell books. We’re excited about anyone who’s particularly interested. Which makes us ripe for scams.
However, in happier news, my “golden hours” last evening were pretty good. We had music lessons and such until 7 p.m., but that’s par for the course around here. I made guacamole with 3 ripe avocados (now I just need to get through the others!). My 6-year-old and I rushed out to the hot tub after dinner because it looked like it might storm later. We made it 20 minutes before I heard thunder and we got out. But then the weather shifted and it didn’t storm, so I sat out on the hammock reading (after my husband came home and took the little guy). The sky was wild and exciting. The little guy did not go down easily so I did have to sit in the room for a while but I had enough time to read before bedtime that I finished one of my library books (Infinite Life, about the evolution of the egg) and started another one (House Rules, by Myquillyn Smith — I appreciated her rule that you can’t ruin something you already hate. Go ahead and experiment!).
I’m off to my 25th college reunion this weekend. I wish it would have been 75 and sunny but it looks like Saturday it will be 55 degrees and rainy for the P-rade. One never knows in late May in New Jersey. I recall years with boiling heat, years with near freezing temperatures, and years with monsoons and mud. Hopefully not too much mud this time!
In other news: It’s Sarah’s birthday! Go wish her a happy birthday on her blog!
Photos: Sunset, and hammock selfie
