New authors beware: identifying scams & AI’s role

November 11, 2025 — I’ve learned a thing or two recently about what to watch out for as a new author. We’re excited about interest in our books and so we need to be especially aware of scams. If not outright scams, some solicitations are scam adjacent and likely not worth the cost of what they’re offering. We seem to be prime targets. 

I read recently about the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (not surprisingly, as I typed this sentence AI was automatically spelled out for me, as are many words as I type. Most of you probably know that when word(s) appear in front of your cursor, you can press tab to fill them in. Brave new world. Frightening new world in some ways. 

I was reading the captions in near disbelief on the TV news recently at the gym about a young, depressed man who took his life after many hours talking to Chat GTP (AI run chat), coaxed along by it, tragically and almost unbelievably. This isn’t the only alleged AI chat influenced suicide in young people. We’ve got to get control over these developments. Devastatingly too late for these families, but the companies with AI chat tools are working on fixes.

Of course, our minds go to the sci-fi movie (which one was it?) where the AI robots decide that humanity is destroying the planet and therefore, they must be destroyed. Upon Googling this, there’s more than one such movie. I was thinking of I, Robot. Doesn’t sound totally implausible now, does it? I realize there are already many huge benefits of AI, with more to come. Like so many developments, there are pros and cons. My doctor asked if it was okay to use an AI guided transcriber for notes of our appointment. Sure. He was able to look at me rather than typing on his computer and pay even closer attention. Think of the time savings later. This is just a small example.

I’ve been listening to Jon Stewart’s The Weekly Show podcast and on a recent episode about AI, Jon asked the guest should we be that afraid of AI when all we have to do is unplug it? The expert described how persuasive AI can be. AI could conceivably convince someone NOT to unplug it, for example, by persuading him what a bad idea it would be to do so. He also described situations where AI has already been known to lie (for ex., play dumber than it really is) in circumstances where it’s being tested! A tester suspected that’s what was happening and asked, are you just saying that (I don’t recall the specifics) because you think I’m testing you? AI replied yes. WHOA. It was a long interview and I certainly didn’t grasp all of it, but it’s something that’s going to be with us going forward, it’s fascinating, important to know about and, at least somewhat, understand. It reminds me of when everyone started talking about the World Wide Web.

That was a long digression. I mentioned AI because it can about a book and give an incredibly worded summary. When I was updating my website with our new book information, with the help of the website company I use, Jottful, I noted that they were editing some of my text and decided to use their suggestions. I really liked their style. I told the rep this on the phone one day and she said, “full disclosure, I had help from Chat GTP.” I told her I hadn’t used Chat GTP yet and just that she knew how to do that and what to input was impressive to me. (Ha, I’m old.) 

Since the publication of Into the Thicket, I’ve received at least a dozen emails with lovely summaries of the book, heaping on praise and, of course, offering to help with marketing to get the book discovered. I recall my excitement upon receiving the first one and reading it to Tim, who, in trademark style, was skeptical, to my annoyance. I wrote about these emails last month and asked you about if/how to reply. I’ve since done more research and learned that they’re scams, so I just delete and block them. Good to know. Yeah, yeah, Tim was right. The emails are personalized from an individual, usually from an @gmail.com address. They offer various book marketing packages, ask for a phone call or try to tease you into replying with something like, “Is this the author of [name of book]? 

A few general guidelines most of us know that are good reminders: Be wary if someone solicits you. Beware of giving money up front, unless it’s a reputable company you’re familiar with. Sadly, when an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

Recently, I received a voice mail from Mainspring Books saying that my book was highly recommended. They are participating in a large book festival in Los Angleles and would like to include my book in their booth, to market it to booksellers, publishers, etc. I was skeptical. After some Googling, and talking to the person who left the message, because I was curious about some things, I passed. The two options were expensive and if not a total scam, then scam adjacent. It’s a sad commentary on humanity  and the world that this is such a common phenomenon. 

In more upbeat news, I have events in November and December. The Baldwin Public Library Local Author Fair is 2 - 4 pm, Saturday, Nov. 24 at the library in Birmingham. I’ll have both books with me and will be signing and personalizing them. On December 12, I was invited by an author friend to take part in a new event, Bourbon, BBQ, Books and Blues at Perfect Scenario, Saline from 6 - 10 pm. Both are listed under Events on my website. 

I’ve booked a virtual book tour through The Children’s Book Review that begins Monday, Nov. 24 and lasts for a month. It’s a cool concept because there are multiple (8-10, I lucked out with 12) “stops” — no travel required! Included are book reviews, blog and social media posts, author interviews and an activity with children’s book bloggers and social media influencers. I’m hoping this increases visibility during the holiday shopping season. For those who enter, three signed copies of Into the Thicket will be prizes as well as a Grand Prize: Into the Thicket (signed, personalized) with an adorable rabbit stuffie and How Happy Is a Lark? (signed, personalized) with a singing lark stuffie. I was happy to find the somewhat realistic and cute stuffies at Wild Republic online. 

Our book will be part of a December marketing blast with The Wishing Shelf Awards, based in the United Kingdom. They’ll be promoting our book on different outlets daily in December. We’ve entered their highly regarded award competition, to be announced in April 2026.

Two new local book shops where Into the Thicket can be found (or soon will be) are Serendipity Books, Chelsea and the Enlightened Soul Center, Ann Arbor.

My little friend, Olivia, who I blogged about previously, now has a copy of Into the Thicket, compliments of her grandma. My source (Davey) tells me that she thinks she’s a big girl now because she has a hard cover book. But, How Happy Is a Lark? remains her favorite. I’m not sure that I’ve written that Olivia, her brother and cousins act out scenes from How Happy Is a Lark when they’re together! Imagine happy happy me when I heard this from my son, who works with their grandmother.

Seems like a good note to end on. And, if you’ve read either book, I’d be honored and delighted if you’d take a few minutes to leave a review on your favorite platform. There are ZERO reviews on the BookBaby Bookshop — yours could be the first. In fact, the first person to leave a review on BookBaby will receive a special prize! Send me your address through my contact page. 

I’m happy to say that we have a 4.7 star average (out of 5) on Amazon and 4.9 on Goodreads! I’m OVER THE MOON with the feedback and super grateful. I emailed my editor tonight to give him this update and to thank him about a million.