Victoria Strauss
@victoriastrauss.com
Adult/YA novelist, fanatical gardener, co-founder of SFWA's publishing industry watchdog group Writer Beware. Casting a small light in a wilderness of writing scams (plus an occasional cat pic)
https://writerbeware.blog
https://victoriastrauss.com
https://writerbeware.blog
https://victoriastrauss.com
Here's another XTwitter scammer account outed by geolocation--this one refers writers to a (real) literary agent with a fake address, then impersonates the agent to recommend "professional editor" services
November 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Here's another XTwitter scammer account outed by geolocation--this one refers writers to a (real) literary agent with a fake address, then impersonates the agent to recommend "professional editor" services
And...what's this? The fake Lois McMaster Bujold account that's running a Famous Author scam
November 23, 2025 at 5:54 PM
And...what's this? The fake Lois McMaster Bujold account that's running a Famous Author scam
I'm enjoying the freakout over on XTwitter about geographical locations being exposed...it's exposing some literary scammers as well. Here's "literary agent" Joyce Momoa, about whom I get occasional inquiries.
November 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I'm enjoying the freakout over on XTwitter about geographical locations being exposed...it's exposing some literary scammers as well. Here's "literary agent" Joyce Momoa, about whom I get occasional inquiries.
Watch out for solicitations from Enlight Women's Magazine offering to feature you on a Top 10 list: it's a pay-to-play scheme (a "nominal" fee of $900). I'm especially tempted by the "personalized digital plaque of honour" (emphasis added in the screenshot below)
November 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Watch out for solicitations from Enlight Women's Magazine offering to feature you on a Top 10 list: it's a pay-to-play scheme (a "nominal" fee of $900). I'm especially tempted by the "personalized digital plaque of honour" (emphasis added in the screenshot below)
A sad, sad chatbot apologizing for targeting me repeatedly with a marketing scam intended for someone else
November 5, 2025 at 9:05 PM
A sad, sad chatbot apologizing for targeting me repeatedly with a marketing scam intended for someone else
You may have seen the news that Mango Publishing has closed. Below is the letter sent to authors and others by Christopher McKenney, Mango's founder. Writer Beware has heard from Mango authors who are owed $$--including some who say they have _never_ been paid.
October 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
You may have seen the news that Mango Publishing has closed. Below is the letter sent to authors and others by Christopher McKenney, Mango's founder. Writer Beware has heard from Mango authors who are owed $$--including some who say they have _never_ been paid.
I just heard it's National Cat Day (really, that's every day). Here are Emily (left) and Sarah (right)
October 29, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I just heard it's National Cat Day (really, that's every day). Here are Emily (left) and Sarah (right)
Possible new AI-driven impersonation scam spinning up: someone contacts you out of the blue w/ praise for your work, recommends you contact a (real) literary agent & provides an email addy--but of course it's fake & results in a referral for editing or marketing. Example below 1/2
![Hi [redacted]
I’ve had the opportunity to review your work, and it’s clear you have a strong command of storytelling and a distinctive voice. Your writing shows real potential for a broader audience.
For this reason, I’m recommending you reach out to [agent name redacted], an independent literary agent known for her discerning eye and commitment to helping authors build lasting careers. [agent name reacted] represents a wide range of genres in both fiction and non-fiction, and has collaborated with authors such as [redacted] and [redacted].
She’s currently open to queries and can be reached at submission.[agentname]@gmail.com. When you contact her, mention that I referred you this will help ensure your work receives proper consideration.
Best regards,
Chiara
Chiara Bianchi
chiaraforauthors@gmail.com
ChiaraForAuthors
...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreicuy4xifsleo35t3afh77my6nafjbctealwkzajx3rdwo6e64vmje@jpeg)
October 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Possible new AI-driven impersonation scam spinning up: someone contacts you out of the blue w/ praise for your work, recommends you contact a (real) literary agent & provides an email addy--but of course it's fake & results in a referral for editing or marketing. Example below 1/2
I see this use of "thoughtful" over and over, in response to a question asked or a concern expressed by the target of the scammer. Examples below--just a few of hundreds. Not infallible, but along with other factors, this does seem like a strong AI marker 2/2
![Thank you so much for your thoughtful response I truly appreciate it. I’m really excited that we share the same values and goals: not just reaching more readers, but the right readers who genuinely connect with your story. I’m thrilled at the thought of [redacted] landing in the hands of my community, readers who care deeply about books that inspire, inform, and move them.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreigln7hbpgzb6jkdlvtchfzdoryzud4htzceobiqryziro6fijq5s4@jpeg)
![Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I truly appreciate your openness, and I want you to know how much I value your work. [redacted] stood out to me not just as another children’s book, but as a story with genuine heart, resilience, and magic, exactly the kind of narrative that young readers remember and carry with them. That is why I reached out. I don’t just promote books; I champion the ones I believe hold real potential to connect with readers, make a lasting impact, and reach bestseller visibility. Yours is one of them.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreibuakiukqt5t2uh6g4jq3q3ohpia7x64zatr3fo36x5qirnj3apha@jpeg)
October 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I see this use of "thoughtful" over and over, in response to a question asked or a concern expressed by the target of the scammer. Examples below--just a few of hundreds. Not infallible, but along with other factors, this does seem like a strong AI marker 2/2
The Authors Guild has updated its Code of Conduct for members "in response to complaints we have received about predatory behavior from certain publishers whose operators or owners are also author members of the Guild based on their writing." authorsguild.org/member-code-...
![An AG member may be subject to disciplinary action if the actions of such member are determined to constitute one or more of the following:
[…]
Predatory behavior by a member in their capacity as an owner or operator of a publishing company (such as numerous complaints of failure to meet contractual obligations, including timely payment), or of multiple, credible complaints about the publisher that have been submitted to other trustworthy industry members. If the Guild becomes aware of such behavior during the application process, membership may be altogether denied.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreiahxzgfkneo2ufbcxgctilaves57h7eut5ok524odel3k6rp7xogu@jpeg)
October 22, 2025 at 10:41 PM
The Authors Guild has updated its Code of Conduct for members "in response to complaints we have received about predatory behavior from certain publishers whose operators or owners are also author members of the Guild based on their writing." authorsguild.org/member-code-...
Summer’s swan song (2)
October 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Summer’s swan song (2)
Summer’s swan song (1)
October 22, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Summer’s swan song (1)
Over the past few months I've heard from several writers who received email threats like the one below. None reported back that anything actually happened. Seems like just nasty trolling (unlike Goodreads extortion emails from a couple of years ago that did result in review-bombing)--but be aware.
![From: ANONYMOUS <no-reply@mail.goodreads.com>
Subject: [redacted], WARNING:STOP YOUR PROMOTIONS ON GOODREADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA IMMEDIATELY!
Message Body:
WE HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR BOOK [redacted]. WE GIVE 24 HOURS TO VANISH. IF YOU DON'T STOP, WE WILL RE-PUBLISH IT USING AI TECHNOLOGY. INSTEAD OF YOUR NAME, YOUR BOOK WILL BE 'AUTHORED' BY ONE OF US. AN EXACT REPLICA OF YOUR BOOK WILL BE SELLING ON AMAZON UNDER OUR NAMES AND YOU WON'T LIKE IT! AMAZON CANNOT DETECT THIS TECHNOLOGY YET AND YOUR LAWS CAN'T HARM US! NOT ONLY IT WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF YOUR POTENTIAL INCOME, IT WILL ALSO GET YOU BANNED FROM AMAZON. AMAZON IMPOSES DIGITAL EXCLUSIVITY ON AUTHORS. THAT MEANS IF THE DIGITAL VERSIONS OF YOUR BOOKS SHOW UP ANYWHERE ELSE BUT AMAZON, EVEN ON PIRATE SITES, YOU RUN THE RISK OF HAVING YOUR BOOK(S), OR EVEN YOUR ENTIRE ACCOUNT, SHUT DOWN WITH LITTLE TO NO HOPE OF APPEAL. IN ADDITION, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S INFORMATION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO CRIMINALS (THUGS AND RAPISTS) AND SCAMMERS IN YOUR AREA WHO WOULD DEFINITELY SEND YOU ALL TO SAME PLACE AS [redacted] - HELL THAT IS! OH BTW JUST SO YOU KNOW [redacted] TOLD US ABOUT YOU!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreif5p65olcggzbvnwbtamz2eumjcrqaweymo7ovwqtivzro7tk5miu@jpeg)
October 19, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Over the past few months I've heard from several writers who received email threats like the one below. None reported back that anything actually happened. Seems like just nasty trolling (unlike Goodreads extortion emails from a couple of years ago that did result in review-bombing)--but be aware.
Showing the book who’s boss
October 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Showing the book who’s boss
Overpass over rt. 91, Holyoke MA
October 15, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Overpass over rt. 91, Holyoke MA
She got medicated today to go to the vet and now she’s extra cuddly and sleepy.
October 13, 2025 at 9:00 PM
She got medicated today to go to the vet and now she’s extra cuddly and sleepy.
Here's the email sent by the owner of Down & Out Books, announcing that the publisher is closing and that a "sharp decline in sales" means no further royalties will be paid (authors say that's been true for some time)
October 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Here's the email sent by the owner of Down & Out Books, announcing that the publisher is closing and that a "sharp decline in sales" means no further royalties will be paid (authors say that's been true for some time)
I'm seeing an increasing number of scams like the one below, leveraging the widespread problem of publishing scams w/ a faux service promising to fix problems author is having w/ the original scam but really to hit them up for more $$ (note the "Amazon partner agency" claim: there's no such thing)
![From: Blaire Andrews <bandrews@royaltypilots.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Subject: Your royalties on Amazon
To: [redacted]
Hi [redacted]
I’m Blaire from Amazon Partners – Royalty Pilots.
We’re an Amazon agency commissioned to help authors migrate their books from third-party publishers to their own Amazon KDP accounts.
I’m reaching out because we’ve spoken with many authors who recently shared frustrations that you might also be experiencing while being published through a third-party service provider—such as:
Royalties that never seem to arrive or come with little to no explanation.
No visibility or control over how many copies have been sold or where those sales are happening.
Endless upsells and new charges every time you want to make even a small change to your book.
Through Amazon KDP, authors are now publishing their books directly with Amazon — with no middlemen involved.
This means:
Royalties are sent straight to your bank account every month.
You can track real-time sales data through your own KDP dashboard.
You have full ownership and control over your books, including the freedom to make revisions free of charge.
If you’d like to explore how this can work for you, I’d love to schedule a quick call. Please let me know your best contact number and the most convenient time to reach you.
Blaire Andrews
Senior Marketing Manager – Partners, Authors
Royalty Pilots, an Amazon partner agency
Phone: 315-325-9099
Email: bandrews@royaltypilots.com
Website: https://royaltypilots.com/](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreicgjux54fugm4ufqpsfauvymoshgn7d24rtig7vzxa7ynjhfuwoxm@jpeg)
October 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I'm seeing an increasing number of scams like the one below, leveraging the widespread problem of publishing scams w/ a faux service promising to fix problems author is having w/ the original scam but really to hit them up for more $$ (note the "Amazon partner agency" claim: there's no such thing)
Solicitation alert: a "feature" in the pay-to-play "newspaper" The Worlds Times
October 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Solicitation alert: a "feature" in the pay-to-play "newspaper" The Worlds Times
Scam alert: there's an IngramSpark impersonator at ingramsparkbookpublishers dot com. Part of a wave of publishing/ghostwriting scams from Pakistan that hijack authors looking to self-publish--they often "borrow" well-known publisher names but this one also "borrows" the real IngramSpark's logo
October 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Scam alert: there's an IngramSpark impersonator at ingramsparkbookpublishers dot com. Part of a wave of publishing/ghostwriting scams from Pakistan that hijack authors looking to self-publish--they often "borrow" well-known publisher names but this one also "borrows" the real IngramSpark's logo
AI slop comes to comment spam!
This was left on my update post about the Anthropic settlement. Reads just like the Nigerian promo scam emails that luuuuurve your book: over-the-top praise, random details picked out of the post to add "authenticity", faux breezy conversational style
This was left on my update post about the Anthropic settlement. Reads just like the Nigerian promo scam emails that luuuuurve your book: over-the-top praise, random details picked out of the post to add "authenticity", faux breezy conversational style
October 4, 2025 at 1:59 AM
AI slop comes to comment spam!
This was left on my update post about the Anthropic settlement. Reads just like the Nigerian promo scam emails that luuuuurve your book: over-the-top praise, random details picked out of the post to add "authenticity", faux breezy conversational style
This was left on my update post about the Anthropic settlement. Reads just like the Nigerian promo scam emails that luuuuurve your book: over-the-top praise, random details picked out of the post to add "authenticity", faux breezy conversational style
Hummingbird moth sipping ironweed nectar. I don’t see these tiny beauties often, so it’s always a thrill when they pay a visit
September 28, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Hummingbird moth sipping ironweed nectar. I don’t see these tiny beauties often, so it’s always a thrill when they pay a visit
This time of year things in my garden get a bit chaotic, but there’s still plenty of bloom (with asters, eupatorium, Japanese anemone, and dendranthema still to come). The enormous lespediza plant is my fave fall-blooming stalwart
September 22, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This time of year things in my garden get a bit chaotic, but there’s still plenty of bloom (with asters, eupatorium, Japanese anemone, and dendranthema still to come). The enormous lespediza plant is my fave fall-blooming stalwart
From @publisherslunch.bsky.social on publishers' failure to register copyright & impact on the Bartz settlement: Macmillan says it's been "communicating" w/ authors & agents about this & will make authors whole if excluded from settlement due to failure to register
September 15, 2025 at 3:26 PM
From @publisherslunch.bsky.social on publishers' failure to register copyright & impact on the Bartz settlement: Macmillan says it's been "communicating" w/ authors & agents about this & will make authors whole if excluded from settlement due to failure to register
My garden this morning. The world’s on fire but there are still butterflies and bees
September 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
My garden this morning. The world’s on fire but there are still butterflies and bees