I recently received a cold email from someone claiming to be the organizer for a book club in Florida that wanted to feature one of my books. Naturally, an author would be interested. I love book clubs. But a cold email is always a red flag. Thankfully, I had read a bulletin from Victoria Straus at Writers Beware about just such a scam. Here’s what happened, so that other authors don’t get drawn in by these assholes. I have labeled the contacts A, B, and C, since I eventually received three different solicitations (no doubt every time I responded to one, another was triggered).

A-1. The original solicitation, seeming to come from the organizer of a “book club” that meets monthly. She wants to know if I would like to have my book featured for an upcoming meeting and discussion. It is clearly portrayed as a “book club”(the title – “Books & brews” suggests that the group either meets in a pub or that sharing beers is part of the group dynamic) that this leader “founded” and “leads.”

            Note, however, a few clues that this might not be entirely legit. First, this organizer doesn’t specify which of my books she is interested in “spotlighting.” It’s odd that a book club organizer would not know what book they want to read. Second, the email was sent at 4:32 a.m. An odd time for a book club leader to be sending emails (but it’s 9:32 a.m. in Nigeria).

===first solicitation email==

Invitation to Feature your book with Central Florida Books & Brews

Central Florida Book and brews <centralfloridabookandbrews@gmail.com>	4:32 AM (15 hours ago)
to Kevin

Hi Kevin 

My name is Lauri Engler, and I run Central Florida Books & Brews — a book club I founded to bring together passionate readers who meet each month to explore great stories and share thoughtful discussions.

Each month, I lead our group in spotlighting one author’s work, giving it our full attention and sparking meaningful conversation around the book’s themes, characters, and ideas.

We’d be thrilled to feature your book in an upcoming spotlight. Partnering with us offers:

Visibility & Engagement – Readers don’t just read; they discuss, share, and recommend books they love.

Credibility & Reviews – Spotlight selections often inspire members to post reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and social media.

Lasting Connections – When readers feel a personal connection to an author’s work, they often become lifelong advocates.

Would you like me to send you a quick overview of how our spotlight process works?

Warm regards,

Lauri Engler

Founder & Organizer

Central Florida Books & Brews

=== =====

A-2.        My response – showing interest and pretending I think this is legit.

to Central, bcc: me

Hello, Lauri.

I love book clubs and am always ready and willing to appear (virtually, if you’re in Florida) at book club meetings when the members read and discuss my books. Let me know which of my books you are planning to read. I’m also interested in knowing how you discovered me — did one of your members recommend one of my books?

I’m happy to provide discounted ebooks and audiobooks to book club members, so let me know if you would like to offer that to your members and we can discuss the discount rate, depending on the book.

I’ll look forward to hearing back from you.

Cheers!

A-3.        The scammer’s first reminder

            Another indication that this is a scam is that, the very next day, after I had sent my reply, at 3:21 a.m., I got another email from “Lauri.” This was obviously an automated second email, reminding me about the first email and asking if I want to participate. Not high-pressure, but very soon after the first email. A real book club leader who got a reply from me already would reply to my reply, not send out another solicitation as if I did not already reply. But the scammer has so many of these emails going out that they can’t keep track. Note also the time (3:21 a.m.) and the fact that the solicitation is “Hi J.K.” – so not my name, which they got right the first time.

==first reminder, one day later==

Re: Invitation to Feature your book with Central Florida Books & Brews

Central Florida Book and brews	3:21 AM (9 hours ago)
to me

Hi J.K.,

I just wanted to follow up and see what you thought about the spotlight details I shared. This is a great way to get your book in front of an engaged community of readers who not only purchase and discuss the work, but often leave thoughtful reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and social media.

If you’d like, I can send over available dates so we can lock in your spotlight.

Warm regards,
Lauri Engler
Founder & Organizer
Central Florida Books & Brews

=== ==  = = =

            I sent Lauri another email, saying that our emails must have crossed because I already replied, and re-sent my reply.

A-4.     Response to my showing of interest.

            Here’s the first “reel them in” email, sent very quickly the same day. Note that the scammer did not answer any of my questions and specifically did not identify which one of my books they want to “spotlight,” but wants me to confirm my interest (as if I didn’t already do that in my first reply) and then she’ll let me know about “available dates.”

====next email===

Re: Invitation to Feature your book with Central Florida Books & Brews

Central Florida Book and brews	10:09 AM (2 hours ago)
to me

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for clarifying, yes, it looks like our messages crossed! I really appreciate your willingness to connect with book clubs and provide support for readers.

To keep things moving, can you confirm if you’d like us to schedule a spotlight for one of your books? Once I have your confirmation, I’ll send over the available dates along with a brief overview of the process so we can get everything set.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Lauri Engler
Founder & Organizer
Central Florida Books & Brews

==== =====

A-5.     My second response – showing interest and asking more questions.

            I responded within a few minutes, asking the obvious questions. She wanted to “schedule” my book spotlight. I asked when the book club held its meetings and asked again which book the club wanted to read.

Lauri — when does your book club have its meetings? During the day on weekdays, or in evenings, or on weekends. My availability somewhat depends on your timing, but I can make almost anything work with enough advance notice.

Which book does your group intend to read?

A-6.     Scammer’s third email – now asking for money.

            The scammer replied very quickly again, now asking for a $200 payment to cover “promotion and coordination.” They responded to my question about when the “club” held its meetings by saying that there are no meetings currently scheduled and they won’t schedule the meeting until they had my participation confirmed.  BIG red flag that they want me to set the date, rather than having me attend a previously scheduled meeting.

===third email from scammer===

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for your reply. We don’t currently have another meeting set until our next author spotlight is confirmed, so once your feature is scheduled, we’ll align the date accordingly.

The spotlight fee is $200, which covers promotion and coordination. Once payment is received, I can share the available dates so we can lock everything in.

Would you like to go ahead and secure your spotlight?

Warm regards,
Lauri Engler
Founder & Organizer
Central Florida Books & Brews

=== =  = ===

A-7.     My reply – wary of the request for money and wanting more information.

            I replied right away. I did not point out that their first email claimed that the “club” met monthly, under Lauri’s leadership. I did inquire about what “coordination and promotion” is needed for a book club meeting that would require me to pay $200.

Lauri — I’m a bit confused. Every book club I have ever spoken to has a regular meeting, generally monthly. I’m also surprised by the request for a payment from me. What promotion/coordination is required on your end for a standing book club meeting? I’m happy to provide discounted books to the group, but I have never been asked by a book club to pay for the privilege of having the club read my book.

A-8.     Scammer’s reply – now admitting that it’s not a regular book club.

            The next reply, again very quick, finally acknowledged that the money is for promotion of the book to a group of potential readers – not really a book club.

Hi Kevin,

I see where the mix-up might be. Our spotlight isn’t just a standard meeting, it’s a coordinated feature that extends beyond the group discussions. The process involves setup, promotion, and connecting your book with our wider base of members, which is why there’s a fee attached.

It’s a bit different from traditional clubs, but that’s what makes the spotlight unique.

Warm regards,
Lauri

=== = = =

A-9.     My reply – still showing interest and asking more questions.

I responded again, asking for some additional explanation of this promotional process, and whether there really is any book club meeting.

Thanks for the explanation, Lauri. I’m interested in getting some more information about how this works. It sounds more like promotion than a book club meeting.

So, you will send what out to your member group? Not a copy of the book, I presume. Do I provide the promotional material, like an advertisement for the book, with blurb quotes and maybe an excerpt, and you are encouraging your members to buy it? If that’s the case, what is the member group? How many members? Are they all in Florida?

Then, after you promote the book to your group, what happens next? Is there a group meeting/discussion where I can appear and interact directly with the readers? Since you’re asking to schedule something for a specific date/time, that’s my assumption, but please confirm.

A-10.   Next reply from scammer – full pitch for marketing services

            Lauri responded – again, very quickly – explaining the marketing pitch:

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for your thoughtful questions — I really appreciate your interest in understanding how our spotlight works.

To clarify, our spotlight is not a traditional “marketing package” but a structured feature designed to give one author full attention within our club. Here’s what that looks like:

• Promotion & Coordination – We share your book with our 1,300+ member base, encouraging them to purchase, read, and prepare for discussion.
• Discussion & Reviews – Your book becomes the focus of our dedicated meeting, where readers engage deeply with its themes. Many also go on to post reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and social media. 
• The spotlight fee covers this coordination and outreach to ensure the book gets meaningful engagement, not just a mention.

Would you like me to share a sample spotlight schedule so you can see exactly how the process unfolds?

=== = ==

            So, the $200 fee is to ensure “meaningful engagement” at the dedicated meeting that is still to be scheduled. Interestingly, Lauri is now offering to share a “sample schedule” to show me how it all works. (Yes, please).

B-1.      And now there’s another one! – The Arlington Book and Wine Club

While I’m corresponding with Lauri, I get another solicitation from a book club, this one called the Arlington Book and Wine Club. The writer wants to feature my book, The Killing Room. I have no such book, although I did speak on a panel of three mystery/thriller writers last month at the Mechanicsburg (PA) Mystery Book Shop, and one of the other authors on that panel did have a book by that title. There was some publicity on Facebook about that event on my Facebook page, so perhaps they pulled the wrong title off that promo ad.

This solicitation wanted me to be featured at the meeting upcoming this Sunday (6 days away), September 28th. It noted that the upcoming meeting would be the first such meeting of the club on a Saturday (oops – the meeting is Sunday). Note the description of the club “Each month our members gather to explore books that awaken imagination deepen reflection and spark meaningful conversation.” Compare to the Central Florida Books & Brews club solicitation: “to bring together passionate readers who meet each month to explore great stories and share thoughtful discussions. Each month, I lead our group in spotlighting one author’s work, giving it our full attention and sparking meaningful conversation around the book’s themes, characters, and ideas.” Hmmm. Seems familiar.

            This one comes with a cute photo of a mother and daughter, and has a link to a website at meetup.com:

Invitation to Feature The Killing Room at Arlington Books and Wine Club

Marlee F <arlington.booksandwineclub@gmail.com>	12:52 PM (50 minutes ago)
to Kevin

Dear Kevin

My name is Marlee and I organize the Arlington Books and Wine Club in Arlington VA. Each month our members gather to explore books that awaken imagination deepen reflection and spark meaningful conversation.

Your book The Killing Room delivers a gripping narrative that blends suspense intensity and psychological depth. Its exploration of fear justice and the human condition aligns with the kinds of powerful stories our community values. We would be honored to feature it at our upcoming meeting on Sunday September 28 2025 at 3:30 PM EDT which will also be our first ever Saturday gathering.

Our group especially appreciates books that keep readers on edge while also inviting them to think more deeply about motives choices and consequences. The Killing Room promises not only to captivate our members but also to ignite a lively and meaningful discussion.

I would be delighted to hear if you are available to join us for this session and share more about your work.

Marlee F Organizer Arlington Books And Wine Club E.   arlington.booksandwineclub@gmail.com E.   arlington.booksandwineclub@gmail.com A.   Allington, VA,USA W.   www.meetup.com/arlington-books-and-wine-club-meetup/

            I visited the meetup.com site, and there is a site, although there are no discussion posts in the past year. Also, the group allegedly already has a meeting scheduled for this Sunday, September 28^th, and it’s for a different book:

https://www.meetup.com/arlington-books-and-wine-club-meetup/

Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 3:30 PM EDTDiscussing “Matrix” by Lauren Groff

Screwtop Wine Bar, Arlington, VA

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

WINNER OF THE 2022 JOYCE CAROL OATES PRIZE

FINALIST FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION

One of Barack Obama’s Favorite Books of 2021

Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME,

18 attendees

            I did not reply to the Arlington Books and Wine Club.

A-11.   My reply and request for a reference.

            I responded to Lauri late in the day as follows:

Lauri — yes, I would very much like to see a sample schedule. That would be helpful. If possible, could you also provide me with the names of a few other authors you have done a Spotlight for?

Thanks so much.

A-12. Next response from scammer –

            Keep in mind that the last email specifically offered: “Would you like me to share a sample spotlight schedule so you can see exactly how the process unfolds?” I responded, yes, please. Here’s what I got:

Hi Kevin,

I’m glad to hear you’d like to see more about how the spotlight works. Since each author’s feature is a bit unique, there isn’t a single “sample schedule,” but the process always centers on coordinated promotion, reader engagement, and a dedicated discussion of your book.

There is a $200 spotlight fee, which covers the promotion and coordination side so that your book is not only read but actively highlighted and shared among our members. Once payment is confirmed, I’ll be able to send you the full overview and available dates so you can see exactly how your spotlight will be structured.

Would you like me to share those details so we can move forward?

Warm regards,
Lauri

            === = =

          Note also that in an earlier email, Lauri said that there was no specific schedule for the “discussion” meeting. Now, she’s willing to send me “available dates.” She did not respond to my request for references, nor did she provide the “sample spotlight schedule.” Nevertheless I responded to request to “move forward.”

A-13.   My response – “moving forward” with the process.

Thanks, Lauri. I would like to see the specifics, so please send me what we need to move forward.

C-1.     And now – yet ANOTHER incoming scam – All Those Books You Wish You Read

            Now, less than a week in from the first scammer contact, I get yet another offer for yet another “book club.” This one purports to be from the organizer of the “All Those Books You Wish You Read” book club, which has a website on Meetup.com. I checked the website, which appears to have 1900 members, but the most recent discussion is more than two years ago. The club website says that each month the group reads “a classic of literature written more than 50 years ago.” Recent reads for the group included The Twelfth Night and The Odyssey. It is also noteworthy that the upcoming meeting for which my novella, Ghost Creek, was “selected” is only three days from the day I got this message. Not much advance notice to the author. (Note also that Ghost Creek is available only online as an ebook, free from my website, as a reader magnet. It is not a book I would ever expect a book club to read as it is barely 20,000 words.) The first note merely requests that I provide any background notes on the book to assist the book club with its discussion. Here’s the new pitch:

Ghost Creek Featured in Our Club – September 26

John David Glese <davidgleseorganizer@gmail.com>	2:55 PM (5 hours ago)
to Kevin

Hello Kevin,

I’m reaching out on behalf of All Those Books You Wish You Read, a book club dedicated to exploring impactful stories and sparking meaningful conversations among readers. Our community thrives on curiosity, diverse perspectives, and a shared passion for literature across genres.

We’re excited to let you know that Ghost Creek: A Mystery Novella will be featured in our upcoming session on September 26. Our members are looking forward to unraveling its suspenseful mystery and sharing their reflections.

Would you like us to share any special notes or background about the book with our readers ahead of the discussion?

—

Sincerely, John David Glese Organizer All Those Book You Wish You Read  www.meetup.com/nyc-great-classics-book-club/  davidgleseorganiser@gmail.com  New York, NY

C-2.     Next Pitch – now it’s a promotional opportunity.

            After I responded with some actual background about Ghost Creek, and offered to appear (virtually) at the book club meeting to answer questions, I got this response within fifteen minutes. Remember that the original email said that my book “will be featured” at the upcoming September 26 meeting. Now, I’m being asked if I am “interested in securing a feature spot.”

Thank you so much for sharing the background on Ghost Creek. That context will be great for our members to know as they dive into the story.

Just so you have a clear picture, here’s how our book club features work:

• Selection & Announcement – We select a title to be featured for a given session and announce it to our members a few days prior.
• Discussion Guide – We ask the author to provide a short discussion guide or notes (a few questions, themes, or behind-the-scenes insights) that can spark conversation among our readers.
• Reader Engagement – Our members read the book and then gather to share reflections, favorite moments, and big takeaways during the session.
• Community Spotlight – The feature helps introduce your work to engaged readers who enjoy discovering new authors and perspectives.

That’s all it entails, no live appearance or extra involvement is required. The only thing we’d need from you is a brief discussion guide to help frame the conversation.

Our next feature is coming up on September 26 , and I’d love to know if you’d be interested in securing a future spot for one of your books as well.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

I responded with a note asking whether the “discussion guide” is all he needs. I also queried him about where his club obtained the book, since I have not seen any Amazon orders for the papebacks and the only other place you can get it is directly from me as an ebook ordered through my website and delivered via Bookfunnel.

== = = =

C-3.     Back to the All Those Books You Wish You Read “club” pitch.

            Within a half hour (at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, so perhaps not from Nigeria at this hour?) I get another response. Although my contact, John, said he was attaching a sample of a discussion guide so I could see what the group would want, he in fact attached a Beta Reader question list from an author seeking feedback from his Beta Readers. It’s a decent Beta Reader question sheet, but has nothing to do with a book club discussion. He also said that his club members would be buying their own copies of the book, which is effectively impossible between now and the Friday meeting. Here’s his next email – which hints at there being an “event feature package” that “helps cover the organizational side and promotion across our channels” coming, but so far no request for payment. Channels? Promotion? He said the book had already been selected for the club members to read. What “promotion” could be involved? We’ll see.

=== =

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply and for sharing more about Ghost Creek. You’re absolutely right, the mystery elements and unresolved threads will make for excellent discussion points with our readers, regardless of length. Novellas often spark some of our liveliest conversations because of their compact intensity.

To clear up the “discussion guide” part: it’s simply a short set of prompts or questions to guide our members as they read. Nothing elaborate, usually just 5–7 questions about themes, characters, or moments that stood out. I’ll attach a sample discussion guide so you can see exactly what we mean. You’re welcome to adapt it as much or as little as you’d like.

As for logistics: our members will obtain their own copies of the book, so no need to worry about distribution.

Finally, since you asked how the process works, we do have a couple of event feature packages that help cover the organizational side and promotion across our channels. I’ll include those details for you along with the sample guide so you have a clear picture of what’s involved.

Would you like me to send those over today?

C-4.      All Those Books – not yet asking for money

            The next email came quickly, offering to send me information. This pitch sounds very much the same as scam A above. I said sure.

=== = =

Thank you for your thoughtful reply! To clarify, when I mentioned “our channels,” I was referring to the ways our book club shares and promotes featured titles within our community. This includes:

• Meetup Announcements – where we highlight the featured book and event details to our active reading group.
• Social Media Spotlights – posts on our platforms that introduce the book and encourage engagement.
• Discussion Circles – where members exchange insights, often bringing new attention to the author’s wider work.

In addition, we do offer a few feature packages that help cover organizational costs and expand promotional reach. These packages ensure your book receives maximum visibility with our readers and beyond. I’ll be happy to send over the details, along with a sample discussion guide, so you can see exactly what’s involved and how simple the process is.

Would you like me to forward those today so you can review them at your convenience?

C-5       All Those Books – Here Come the Terms

            John responded quickly. Note that his email starts of praising the book club discussion points I sent in. I sent nothing. Makes me think the responses are AI generated and automated. The speed with which I got the responses confirms that. Now we have gone all the way from “we have scheduled your book to be featured at our club meeting this Friday” to “you need do nothing more than send us some discussion notes” to “And you have to pay.” Note that the alleged meeting date is now pushed to Sept. 27 (still no possible way readers could buy and receive this book). The “packages” include extras for a “pinned post” on the non-existent group website and even more for inclusion in the undoubtedly non-existent group newsletter, or even more to have the book featured on “partner pages.” Keep in mind this is a FREE novella that I use as a reader magnet. Here are the terms:

Hi Kevin,

Thank you so much for sending over the discussion guide, it’s excellent! The prompts are exactly the kind of resource that will keep our readers engaged and spark meaningful conversation. [I SENT NOTHING] This will be a fantastic addition to the feature.

To give you a clear picture of what comes next, here’s how we typically structure our features and promotion:

 Feature Options (for September 26th):

• $50 – Standard Feature: Your book highlighted as our Featured Read + discussion guide shared with members.
• $150 – Extended Spotlight: Everything in the Standard Feature + a pinned post in our group for a full week.
• $250 – Premium Feature: Extended Spotlight + inclusion in our monthly newsletter (reaching our wider community of readers).
• $400 – Full Package: Premium Feature + cross-promotion on partner pages and social channels for maximum visibility.

 Timeline
Once you’ve selected the package that feels right, we’ll finalize within 48 hours. Promotions will begin on September 26, leading directly into the September 27 discussion.

 Next Step
Just let me know which option you’d like to move forward with, and I’ll send over the payment link and confirm your feature right away.

We’re truly excited to showcase Ghost Creek, your guide will ensure a thoughtful and lively discussion, and the spotlight will help bring your work to even more readers.

            My response was that I not interested in what is effectively a cold solicitation for marketing services from an unknown person with no website and no visible presence. The non-existent book club will not be reading my novella three days from now, whether I pay for the promo package or not. I won’t ask for the payment link.

C-6       Out of sequence response.

            After I sent my “not interested” email, I received a new email from John, which was responding to my response to message C-3 above. At the end of my reply, I advised John that I would be out of the office the following day and would not be responding to any additional emails until the following evening. This email acknowledged my out-of-office status and wished me a good holiday, saying that he would look forward to my next reply to him upon my return. The fact that this actually personalized email came from him after two intervening emails strongly suggests that the two intervening emails were automated messages. Not really a surprise, given the non sequitur content of the earlier emails.

A-14    Here is the payment information – BIG red flag.

            After a one-day pause in the frantic exchange of emails, Lauri finally sent me the Paypal payment link for me to send in my $200 to support her “organizational and promotional” work. Note that the request is that I send the money via the “sending money to friends and family” option in Paypal. When you use that option, Paypal does not take a fee, which it does for commercial transactions, and the payment is not subject to the PayPal refund policy, under which Paypal will issue a refund if the transaction is not fulfilled by the seller or if it turns out to be a scam. Lauri says that this account only accepts “friends and family” payments (which is not true), but anyone who insists on using “friends and family” is certain to be trying to scam you.

Central Florida Book and brews	7:32 AM (2 hours ago)
to me

Here is our paypal email

Fadolatosin@gmail.com

Please send it using friends and family so I can receive it immediately and get started with your work.

Am saying this because the paypal only accepts friends and family  .

I await the payment screenshot

Thanks

=== =  = =

            I responded to Lauri that I will pass on the opportunity to pay $200 in order to have a non-existent book club read an unspecified book of mine. I did choose to repeat my earlier request for references, just to see if I got a response:

Lauri — thank you for giving me the details. I’ll pass on the offer. I have other marketing streams in progress and don’t want to add your book club feature at this time.

I would still be interested in getting a few references from you of other authors who have successfully used your marketing services. If you can provide me with two authors I can contact for a reference, I’ll be open to considering your services in the future.

P.S. – Two days later, I got another email from Lauri – but it was blank. No text at all. So, maybe that’s her way of saying good-bye.

Cheers!

__.