When I woke up a few hours ago and checked my email, I had all of the following in my inbox. This is just a random sample of the dozens I get daily. All are scammers wanting something, usually money, and I’m going to bet the majority are not even real humans, but bots built to get people to click on their links so they can have access to your account, hack it, and steal your identity for nefarious reasons.
Note: I’m including these scammers’ names and email addresses because I want them called out. And I have no worry about legal reprisal since they are all scammers.
Desire
From:teamiremide@gmail.com
To:mmj122687@yahoo.com
Mon, Oct 12 at 10:38 PM
Hi Mmj,
Your book came up in our review for a Book to Film feature we’re exploring.
Are you currently working with a literary agent or manager?
Best,
Wordsmiths & Writers
Evelyn Harper
From:evelynhsrper@gmail.com
To:mmj122687@yahoo.com
Mon, Oct 12 at 9:35 PM
Dear mmj122687
I hope this email finds you well.
My name is Evelyn Harper, and I’m reaching out on behalf of George P.,
a moderator of the Boxall – 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
community on Goodreads.
Our community enjoys discovering remarkable authors and connecting
directly with them. We’d love to hear about your writing journey, what
inspires your work, and what you hope readers take away from your
stories.
Would you be interested in sharing more about your writing and
exploring how you could connect with our community?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Warm regards,
Evelyn Harper
Adam Hochschild
From:adamhochschildearthlink@gmail.com
To:mmj122687@yahoo.com
Mon, Oct 12 at 7:17 PM
Hello,
I hope you’re doing well.
I’m Adam Hochschild, an author, and I enjoy hearing how other writers found their way into the world of books. Every author has a different beginning, a different source of inspiration, and a unique experience along the way.
I wanted to introduce myself and learn a little about your writing journey. What first inspired you to become an author, and what are you currently working on?
It’s always a pleasure to exchange experiences with fellow writers, and I’d be happy to hear your story whenever you have time.
Best wishes,
Adam Hochschild
- To Be Read Book Club <info.thetobereadbookclub@gmail.com> wrote:
Good day, Peggy Jaeger,I’m Pia Kandarajah, Founder & Moderator of To Be Read Book Club, a reading community where readers come together to discover books, exchange perspectives, and discuss stories that give them something meaningful to explore.We stumbled upon “The Jane Austen Murders” and were especially drawn to its intriguing combination of murder mystery, literary inspiration, and investigative suspense. The story follows homicide detectives Elizabeth Bennett and Frank Churchill as they investigate the brutal death of college student Charlotte Lucas at Longbourne College. As Elizabeth digs into Charlotte’s seemingly unusual lifestyle, she uncovers questions surrounding her unexplained wealth, her extracurricular activities, and her contentious relationship with English professor Dr. Darcy. With Darcy becoming the primary suspect after a very public argument with Charlotte shortly before her death, the investigation raises an irresistible question: is the obvious suspect actually responsible? The combination of familiar Austen-inspired characters, hidden secrets, conflicting relationships, and a murder investigation creates plenty of possibilities for readers to question motives and piece together the truth.At To Be Read Book Club, we enjoy introducing our readers to books across different genres and creating opportunities for thoughtful discussion around the experiences, ideas, and themes within them. We are currently reviewing titles for our 2026 Author & Book Showcase and believe your book could be an interesting addition to the conversations we are planning.We would like to discuss the possibility of including “The Jane Austen Murders” in an upcoming showcase. The exact format and date can be discussed with you based on your availability and what would work best for the book.If you’re open to considering the invitation, please reply and let me know. I’ll send you the showcase information, including the format, proposed schedule, audience, and participation details so you can decide whether it is a good fit.I’d be pleased to hear from you and answer any questions you may have.Warm regards,
Pia Kandarajah
Founder & Moderator
To Be Read Book Club
Noble Legacy Publishing
From:info@noblelegacypublishing.co.uk
To:mmj122687@yahoo.com
Mon, Oct 12 at 8:08 AM
For your security we disabled links in this email. If you believe it is safe to use, mark this message as not spam.
Hi Peggy,
I came across what you wrote about Dirty Damsels after the contract expired and the rights came back to you.
You already have a clear plan to rebrand it, update the text and bring it back out under your own publishing setup, so the question does not seem to be whether you can do it yourself.
What struck me is that the relaunch is also meant to sit alongside a new book in the series. At that point, the job becomes less about one reissue and more about rebuilding the publishing structure around a growing series.
Have you decided whether you want to keep carrying all of that yourself, or whether you would rather retain control while putting some of the publishing operation around the books elsewhere?
Best,
Noble Legacy Publishing
https://noblelegacypublishing.co.uk/
Inquiry regarding The Jane Austen Murders / HarperCollins Publishers
Lauren MurrayFrom:laurenharpercollins.publisher_uk@aol.comTo:mmj122687@yahoo.comMon, Oct 12 at 7:15 - Dear Peggy Jaeger,I hope this message finds you well.My name is Lauren Murray, and I am the Senior Commissioning Editor at HarperCollins Publishers. Your phenomenal book The Jane Austen Murders recently came to my attention, and I was immediately drawn to its relentless pacing, ingenious academic-crime mechanics, and brilliant melding of classical literary tropes with high-stakes homicide investigation obsession.I was particularly interested in the central framework of Elizabeth Bennett’s quiet routine being quietly invaded from managing homicide cases in solitude to uncovering the sinister reality of bludgeoned scholarship students, hidden safe deposit cash caches, and the overwhelming presence of Dr. Darcy. Your movement from high-concept collegiate murder to the psychological cat-and-mouse games of campus interrogation, age-old anxieties, and an escalating faculty-suspect standoff provides the foundation for an extraordinarily gripping, masterfully constructed thrill-ride.What especially stood out to me is how effectively you construct an airtight, multi-layered story without sacrificing character depth or emotional stakes. Juxtaposing high-wire procedural danger with Lizzy and Frank’s deeply personal moral compass and desperate fight to regain control over their chaotic Longbourne College crime scene creates space for a narrative that delivers both heart-pounding tension and enduring reader investment.Your execution as an author adds immense value to the project. You approach academic-faculty dynamics, fear of hidden student lives, and sharp narrative twists with razor-sharp execution, vibrant atmosphere, and exceptional storytelling skill, ensuring the story remains wildly inventive and impossible to put down.The book’s synthesis of dark psychological suspense, high-stakes mystery drama, brilliant character dynamics, and a standout central escapade gives The Jane Austen Murders a distinct, titan-level presence in modern fiction. Its proven potential to captivate global audiences who crave breathless suspense and chilling procedural maneuvering makes it a true hallmark of the genre.At HarperCollins Publishers, we are always interested in premier storytelling, masterfully plotted narratives, and world-class titles that offer readers unforgettable, high-octane experiences. I would be interested in learning more about your future writing plans and whether you are currently represented by a literary agent.If you are represented, I would be pleased to continue any conversation through your agent. If not, I would be happy to discuss our review process and potential next steps.I would be delighted to hear from you if this is something you would be open to exploring.With best wishes,
Lauren Murray
Senior Commissioning Editor at HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins Publishers LLC+44 141 305 3100laurenharpercollins.publisher_uk@aol.com📍 HarperCollins Publishers, 1 London Bridge St, London, SE1 9GF, UK
If you read all of them, a few look really legit, right? And they are flattering! If I were a baby author, I would love reading something like this, and that’s what the scammers want because then you’ll click on their link to get more info, and then BAM, they have access to your account.
Upon inspection and research I discovered that the last two are stolen accounts from actual agents and editors.
It incenses me that I, like every other author I know, get these things daily. I usually delete and block and report the email account when I receive them, but nothing ever happens to stop them. A new email account pops up the next day with the same wording, lies, and a new email address.
We live in a horrible time right now and authors are particularly targeted with this AI crap.
Watch out for yourselves, kids. If it looks too good to be true – it’s a lie,
No editor, agent or book club is going to contact you and offer you the moon.
It just won’t happen.
Caveat emptor.
