Tag: Indie Authors

Scams Against Indie Authors Are On The Rise–Protect Yourself.

BonnieReadsAndWrites15 Comments
An image that says Fraud Alert with a Gavel next to it. This is an alert about Scams Against Indie Authors

Watch out for scams against Indie authors! I have been getting a lot of emails lately from “book review teams” and “book marketers” about what a genius writer I am and how their “review team” can help make my book a best-seller. The catch: I haven’t published a book! So it was easy for me to spot the scam, but it’s not always so easy for published authors. Here is some help below:

Indie authors have long been targets for scams, but the rise of AI tools has made these frauds more personalized, professional-looking, and harder to spot. Scammers use AI to scrape data from Amazon listings, author websites, social media, and Goodreads to create author-specific pitches, generate convincing emails, and show fake reviews, phony staff photos/testimonials, and even fake websites. These scams exploit authors’ dreams, often collecting upfront fees in the thousands while delivering nothing—or worse, damaging reputations.

Top Scams Against Indie Authors

  1. Fake Book Marketing and Promotion Services (Scams Against Indie Authors)
    Scammers send glowing, AI-generated emails praising your book (often quoting your own blurb back at you) and promising massive exposure: BookBub features, Goodreads promotions, social media blasts, newsletter swaps, podcast interviews, or “Amazon optimization.” They charge hundreds or thousands upfront but deliver fake engagement (e.g., bot reviews that violate platform rules) or nothing at all. These have exploded in 2024–2025, with authors reporting daily spam.
  2. Bogus Publishing or Vanity Press Offers
    False companies (e.g., networks like Melbourne Book Publisher, Aussie Book Publisher, or First Page Press) pose as legitimate publishers with polished websites featuring AI-generated staff photos, fake testimonials (sometimes stealing real authors’ images/names), and cloned book catalogs. They charge for “hybrid” publishing, editing, or distribution but provide substandard (or no) services. Recent global operations in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand have used virtual offices and AI-altered imagery to appear credible.
  3. Book Club or Interview Scams
    Emails from “book club members” or “podcast hosts” gush about loving your book and invite you to join a discussion—for a fee (e.g., $500–$2,000 to “cover costs” or reach thousands of readers). The clubs are fake, often with AI-generated profiles and Discord servers full of bots.
  4. Book Review Teams, Private Reader Communities, or Private Review Groups: The scammer contacts you personally, often impersonating a real author, marketer, or curator of a “private community” of avid readers (e.g., “2,000+ book devourers”). They offer to share your book with their “team” or “club” for reviews, sometimes inviting you to a Discord server or group chat where fake members chime in with enthusiasm. There’s a fee—often $20–$50 per review, or hundreds/thousands upfront for a batch (e.g., 40–100 reviews). Payment is requested via wire transfer, Upwork, PayPal, or other hard-to-reverse methods. Once paid, you get nothing (they ghost you), or they post a few low-quality/AI-generated reviews that Amazon quickly detects and removes as fake. In worse cases, they pressure you for more money or threaten negative reviews if you don’t pay. This is a variation of broader marketing scams, often traced to organized groups (including in Nigeria or the Philippines) using AI to personalize pitches and generate fake content. It’s exploded in recent years because indie authors need reviews to boost visibility and sales on Amazon.
  5. Deceptive Freelance Services (Editing, Covers, etc.)
    Some “editors,” “designers,” or “ghostwriters” advertise human work but secretly use AI tools, delivering low-quality results while charging premium rates. Others falsely accuse legitimate authors of using AI to extort or harass.
  6. Related Threats (Indirect Scams on Authors)
    AI enables mass plagiarism: scammers paraphrase your book slightly and republish it under fake names, or flood Amazon with AI-generated “summaries/biographies” to steal sales. This crowds discoverability and can lead to wrongful AI accusations against real authors.
  7. The Famous Author Scam: You’ve probably seen it: Suddenly, a “famous author” like Liane Moriarty, Colleen Hoover, or another bestseller starts following you on social media. Then comes the friend request, a glowing comment, or a DM saying something like, “I loved your book!” or “Tell me about your writing journey…”But here’s the catch: It’s almost always a fake account run by scammers (often the same Nigerian groups behind those personalized marketing emails we talked about before). They use the real author’s photo, copy old posts, and sometimes even AI to make it look legit. The goal? Build trust super fast, then either: Refer you to their “amazing” book marketer or agent (who charges thousands upfront for fake services like bot followers, phony promotions, or worthless “email blasts”) or Offer to promote your book themselves—to their huge audience—for a fee. Or they might pivot to other scams, like fake reviews, book club invites, or even investment schemes. The Writer Beware Blog has a great article on this, and I encourage you to check it out.

Why Indie Authors Are Prime Targets: Self-publishing means handling your own marketing and services, so authors often seek help—and scammers know this. AI lowers the barrier: bad actors can automate personalized spam at scale, making old generic scams (e.g., Nigerian-style emails) look sophisticated.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Unsolicited offers asking for money upfront? Almost always a scam. Legitimate agents, publishers, or promoters don’t cold-email demanding payment.
  • Verify everything: Reverse-image search photos, check Writer Beware, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) watchdog directory, or Reedsy. Google the exact email text—scams often reuse templates.
  • Too much flattery or guarantees? Red flag. No one can promise bestseller status or specific reviews.
  • Use trusted resources: For marketing/services, stick to vetted providers (e.g., Reedsy, ALLi-approved). Report scams to Amazon, FTC, or your local authority.
  • Stay informed: Follow blogs like Anne R. Allen, or Writer Beware because new scams pop up all the time.

Not All Paid Reviews Are Scams

  1. Reputable paid editorial reviews (disclosed as paid, often used for blurbs or your book’s Amazon “Editorial Reviews” section): Kirkus Indie, Foreword Clarion, Publishers Weekly BookLife, or Midwest Book Review. These cost $200–$500+, provide honest critiques (can be negative), and carry weight with readers/libraries.
  2. Free or mid to low-cost ARC (Advance Reader Copy) services: Platforms like NetGalley, Booksprout, StoryOrigin, Hidden Gems, or BookSirens distribute your book to real readers/bloggers in exchange for honest reviews—no guarantees, no payment to reviewers.
  3. Organic methods: Build a mailing list, offer free promo days on Amazon, join reader groups on Goodreads/Reddit/Facebook, or reach out to book bloggers directly.
  4. Always be wary of unsolicited offers, especially if they sound too good (e.g., “guaranteed” reviews or bulk from a “team”). Check resources like Writer Beware for the latest alerts—they’ve documented these review team scams extensively. If something feels off, delete and move on—your book deserves real readers, not scammers’ empty promises!

I know Netgalley can be more pricey. I would recommend BookSirens as a low-cost option with good results. I am a reviewer for both of them. I haven’t personally checked out BookSprout, Hidden Gems, or StoryOrigin, so if any of you have, please comment below with your experience.

**I got some of the information regarding scams against Indie Authors from Grok AI. (AI is not all bad and can be helpful if used in the right way).

My reviews are free of charge and voluntary. See my Review Request Policy here.

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon: Changing Seasons and Riding Trains

BonnieReadsAndWrites23 Comments

It’s November 9th, and fall colors are finally out in full force. They were quite late this year, and not as vibrant as years past. Our peak leaf season was supposed to be the third week of October, and it was still very green then. I took a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad with my friend Lyric, who was visiting, and her Mom, Dale. Although I live in a small tourist town, I don’t usually participate in the “touristy” things, but it’s nice to do that once in a while. We had a great time. We took the first class ride and were served lunch. We stopped in Dillsboro for some shopping and took in great scenes along the way.

**Picture of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, NC is from Shutterstock and was taken in 2023.

Below is a shot of a pretty fall evening at our house. The sun was setting, and the moon was out. I was standing on our porch at the time. I wanted a picture of the full moon, but my phone is just not up to it. It was so much more magnificent than that.

I was told there would be a cold snap starting tomorrow, but so far I see no sign of it. My weather app tells me we will be just above freezing for one day–not cold enough for snow–and then back to 50s and 60s, so we will see. Are you getting snow in your area? EDIT: I just got a Winter Storm Alert, but it seems to be for higher elevations.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

It was all Indie last week. I love that because my heart is with Indie books and authors. I posted reviews of The Weight of Snow and Regret, Amanda in Ireland, and The Washashore. I get a lot of requests from Indie authors, and my list is long, but I try to read as many as I can. I am just one woman, so it can take a long time, but I will continue to do my best to support Indie books.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG

Look for reviews of Books 2 and 3 of Beth Kanell’s Winds of Freedom series, and a review of Patricia Furstenberg’s When Secrets Bloom. I will also participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

**Thank you to the host of Sunday Salon, Deb at ReaderBuzz, and the host of Sunday Post, Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Book Blogger Hop: Favorite Authors

BonnieReadsAndWrites15 Comments

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Billy @CoffeeAddictedWriter. There is a different bookish question each week. This week’s question is below

DO YOU SEEK OUT NEW AUTHORS TO READ, OR DO YOU TEND TO STICK WITH THE SAME ONES?

ANSWER: Before I became a blogger, I had my favorite authors and didn’t necessarily seek out new ones.. Now as a blogger, and especially as a supporter of Indie authors, I read new authors all the time, and I love it! I still have my favorites, but my world has expanded for sure.

HOW ABOUT YOU? WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION?

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon: The Bumble is in The Building!

BonnieReadsAndWrites26 Comments

This past week the garage went in! It has been just a little over a year since we moved here, and finally Doug has his garage. He’s a garage kind of guy, and I know it’s been harder for him to get everything done around here without one. Now we have a place to put The Bumble (his Dodge Magnum) and room for a work area and storage for Doug. Every day since we moved here, he does something to improve the property, but this was a big one. We had to wait a long time for the builders because of weather and other issues, but we’ve finally got it. Doug ordered it to match the house, so we’re happily Christmassy around here!

A little update on Opie. He’s really growing! He was 9 ounces at his first vet appointment and 2.5 pounds at his second one! All his bloodwork was normal, which was a concern since his mom, who abandoned him, is a feral cat. Here he is helping Doug with the wash:

In other news, I’m going to Holden Beach with my cousins in a week, so I’m getting ready for that. Hopefully I’ll have lots of good pictures to share!

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

I reviewed The Judge’s Lawyer and Wolves At The Gate, an Indie book.

BOOK HAUL

This is Book 2 of the Marigold Manners mystery series.

My Netgalley shelf is down to 5 books!!!

Hope you have a great week!

The Sunday post is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

Indie Weekend: From Meidelach to Matriarchs: A Journal by Mirta Ines Trupp

BonnieReadsAndWrites7 Comments

Indie Weekend is my effort to help Independent authors with marketing, which is a huge task. If I can help even a little, I’m happy to do so. You can help too by sharing this with everyone you know on social media. Below please see a book description, book review, author bio, and purchase links for From Meidelach to Matriarchs by Mirta Ines Trupp.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

BOOK REVIEW

This helpful journal provides interesting biographies of 100 remarkable Jewish women, and then gives the reader a chance to reflect, answer questions, and write their own thoughts in journal format at the end of each chapter. It is an informative and helpful resource. The journal questions appear to be structured primarily for those of the Jewish faith, but anyone can benefit from reading about these strong and accomplished women. Some of the inspiring biographies included are those of Author Edna Ferber, Journalist Anita Brenner, Artist Anna Ticho, Figure Skater Lily Kronberger, and 96 other women who contributed in the areas of education, business, philanthropy, politics, and more.

This inspiring book introduces the reader to women they might not have known about before. It is also a place to write down personal thoughts and ideas. This book is recommended to anyone of Jewish faith or anyone who wants to read some interesting histories that they may not have discovered before.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mirta is a second-generation Argentine; she was born in Buenos Aires in 1962 and immigrated to the United States that same year. Because of the unique fringe benefits provided by her father’s employer- Pan American Airlines- she returned to her native country frequently- growing up with “un pie acá y un pie allá” (with one foot here and one foot there).

Mirta’s fascination with Jewish history and genealogy, coupled with an obsession for historical period drama, has inspired her to create unique and enlightening novels. She has been a guest speaker for book clubs, sisterhood events, genealogy societies and philanthropic organizations. Sharing her knowledge of Jewish Argentina has become her passion.

Besides being an avid novel reader, she has had a lifelong love for choral music and is a devoted Beatles fan.

Mirta’s Social Media:

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

PURCHASE LINK

*Click on the cover below to purchase/view this book on Amazon.

BEFORE YOU GO…

*If you read the book(s), please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.

*Please click on the WordPress “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter (X), Facebook, and/or WordPress followers. A little bit of assistance from all of us will help Indie authors go a long way!

Self-Published Saturday: A Class Coveted by Susie Murphy

BonnieReadsAndWrites6 Comments
Self-Published Saturday is my effort to help Self-Published/Indie authors with marketing. These authors have to do it all, from cover design to editing to marketing. If I can help even a little bit with marketing, I’m happy to do it. This week’s feature is A Class Coveted by Susie Murphy, the fourth book in the A Matter of Class series.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

It’s 1836, and Bridget and Cormac have arrived, full of hope, to the city of Boston with their growing family. However, as they adjust to domestic life together for the first time, they face anti-Irish sentiment from the local Americans, as well as a threat to their happiness from a much closer source.

Cormac undertakes the challenging search for his missing sister, Bronagh. He is determined to do all he can to put the broken pieces of his family back together, but the appalling truth he uncovers will shake him to his core.

Meanwhile, as Emily grows up in this new country, she realises how her parents’ past actions will affect her entire future and she begins to covet that which is no longer within her reach. When she receives an unexpected proposition, will she be able to resist its temptation, despite the untrustworthy nature of the person behind it?

A Class Coveted is the fourth book in Susie Murphy’s historical fiction series A Matter of Class. The story will continue in the fifth book, A Class Reunited.

BOOK REVIEW

A Class Coveted is the fourth book in the A Matter of Class series. I would recommend reading the books in order. Book One begins in Ireland with Cormac as a stablehand and Bridget as an heiress to a great estate, and their story continues to develop and progress throughout this saga. In this installment, Bridget, Cormac, their daughter Emily, and Cormac’s sister Orlaith have come to America searching for Cormac’s sister Bronagh. Upon arrival in Boston, they are shocked at the discrimination and outright shunning of the Irish people, who were often denied jobs and lodging just for being from Ireland. As they struggle to survive with dwindling funds, they continue their search for Bronagh. Orlaith also begins to try and make her own living as a midwife.

This is another captivating novel in this series and a fascinating look at Boston in 1836. The characters and their story still grab my attention four books in. We also learn more about Orlaith than we have before, and we watch the coming of age of Emily, who becomes a main character by the end of the book. Ultimately the story ends on a cliffhanger and several plotlines are still open, but the author promises us Book five in a note at the end. These are characters the reader will enjoy getting to know, and the author is great at creating captivating plotlines. Fans of historical romantic adventures will enjoy this one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susie Murphy is an Irish historical fiction author. She loves historical fiction so much that she often wishes she had been born two hundred years ago. Still, she remains grateful for many aspects of the modern age, including women’s suffrage, electric showers and pizza. Susie has published four novels in her A Matter of Class series, a sweeping romance saga which begins in Ireland in 1828.

To find out more, visit www.susiemurphywrites.com, where you can join the Susie Murphy Readers’ Club and receive a collection of six free short stories which tie in with A Matter of Class.

BUY THE WHOLE SERIES ON AMAZON

BUY THE WHOLE SERIES ON AMAZON UK

*Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read the whole series for free.

*If you buy the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books.  Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.

*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help self-published authors go a long way!

Self-Published Spotlight: “How The Cow Went Over The Moon and Tiny Notes To The Sun” by Sue Clancy

BonnieReadsAndWrites11 Comments

Self-published Spotlight, my new feature, is booming! This is my effort to help self-published/indie authors share their books with others. Next in the spotlight, Sue Clancy! Check out cover art, descriptions, and more for her children’s books “How the Cow Went Over the Moon and “Tiny Notes to the Sun.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

A cow goes around the moon in a self-produced bubble of gas and somehow comes back to Earth in this wordless fable.

Also, a farsighted bird forgets the morning sun song and in this wordless poem finds a way to read sheet music and welcome the day.

It could be said that this book fits into the educational literary genre of “mirrors for princes” with its sage advice to not take bubbles of gas very seriously along with its suggestion to learn to sing, or at least read sheet music and pretend to sing outdoors now and then.

There aren’t many words in this book. It’s mostly artwork. So, who knows if this is advice literature after all. It’s probably just meant to be funny.

HOW TO PURCHASE

You can purchase the books from Sue’s website by clicking the photo above or at this link here.

You can also read the ebook versions separately on Storyberries for How The Cow Went Over the Moon and Tiny Notes to the Sun. The ebooks on Storyberries are free, but there is an option to support the author if you wish to do so.

Be sure and peruse Sue’s website while you are there. She has a lot of other books and wonderful artwork!

Self-Published Spotlight: Listen by Claire Conroy

BonnieReadsAndWrites3 Comments

Self-published spotlight is my attempt to help bring attention to great self-published/indie books. Today, Claire Conroy is in the Spotlight! Read below about her poetry book, Listen.

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Claire Conroy is a spellbinding sorceress of words who can magically transport you mentally, emotionally and spiritually to the brief glimpses of time she captures and puts down on paper.” -Joia DaVida, Entertainment Journalist

A Sample of Claire’s Work

HOW TO PURCHASE

In order to purchase the book, message Claire on her Facebook page, Poetry by Claire Conroy. Claire also invites everyone to like and follow her Facebook page.

You can also order Listen by emailing Claire at Claire_Conroy73@yahoo.com.

Self-Published Saturday: The View From Here

BonnieReadsAndWrites5 Comments

Self-Published Saturday is my effort to help Indie and Self-Published authors promote their books. Self-Published/Indie authors have to do it all, from editing to cover design to marketing. If I can help even a little bit with the overwhelming task of marketing, I’m happy to do it. Below is my review of an imaginative science fiction adventure, The View From here by Leon Stevens.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

What would you do if you found yourself on or in another world? Do you have the skills and knowledge needed to survive or to make sense of what you see?

Thomas sets out on a hike he has done many times before. Taking only what he needs for the three or four hours he expects to be gone, he passes a vehicle in the parking lot. The handwritten note on the dashboard read: Not Abandoned. The view at the end of the trail was not what he expected—neither were the friendships.

Two people with adventurous spirits, heading off into the unknown with only their physical fitness and combined knowledge to get them through everything they may encounter.

How far could you make it?

BOOK REVIEW

This is a fascinating science fiction novella that explores the idea of other worlds or dimensions that can be reached from Earth.  The main characters Thomas and April find a new dimension or world separately while hiking, meet up there, and decide to go exploring.  They soon find themselves relying on their wits to stay alive and solve the puzzles of this world.

This story will keep you spellbound as Thomas and April navigate a new world, learn its special properties, and use their combined knowledge to survive.  It is a tiny bit reminiscent of Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary in that they have to improvise and learn to communicate with another species using only math and science.  The world-building is fantastic, and the author expertly conveys the beauty of the scenery with vivid word pictures.   I liked the fact that Thomas was in his sixties and still out there exploring and taking risks.  This novella feels like the introduction to a series, and I hope that is true. Those who love science fiction and love to solve puzzles will enjoy this one!

My only criticism is I would like to see more color on the cover to make it more eye-catching for readers scrolling through millions of books on Amazon and other sites.

I downloaded this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leon Stevens is an author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publication is the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories. He is currently working on a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Leon’s Social Media

Twitter
Instagram

BUY LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

*If you read the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books.  Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.

*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help self-published authors go a long way!

Amazing Books That Have Less than 100 Reviews on Amazon–and should have thousands.

BonnieReadsAndWrites18 Comments

This is a new feature I’m starting which was inspired by a post on another blog, Feed The Crime (One Book At A Time. The post here lists books the blogger has loved that have less than 200 reviews on Goodreads. With a tip of the hat to them, I take a look at Amazing Books by Indie/Self-Published Authors With Less Than 100 Reviews on Amazon. This is aimed at telling the world about great books they may not have seen. Indie authors do not have the marketing machine enjoyed by the traditionally published, so it is up to us to share, read, and review these great books. A couple of these books are from small, independent presses, but most are self-published. Please share this post with all of your social media followers, because some of them may find a book they love, and would have otherwise missed.

If you click on the covers, you can go straight to the Amazon link.

I plan to do this feature at least once a month, so please share these great books with others. Let’s get these books the attention they deserve.

Agustina De Aragón by Gail Meath. This is the amazing story of the “Spanish Joan of Arc.” My review is here.

No Ordinary Thing: GZ Schmidt: This is amazing Middle Grade/Young Adult historical fiction–with a time-traveling snow globe! My review is here.

The Robin Hood Trilogy: Olivia Longueville and J.C. Plummer: This is the best Robin Hood retelling I have ever read. My review is here.

TELLING SONNY: Elizabeth Gauffreau: This gorgeously written book will take you back to Vaudeville in the 1920s. My review is here.

Your Words Your World: Amazing poetry book about God and His Creation. My review is here

This amazing Middle Grade/Young Adult fantasy series, The Hamelin Stoop series, is reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia. My review is here.

These are all great books that received 5 stars from me. They just need readers to know about them. If you decide to read any of them, please leave a review on Amazon. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.