Scams are so much on the increase that even writing coaches and other literary folks are warning about them. I have had two carefully worded warnings this week (from people like Reedsy and others) – along with a sheaf of interesting and exciting blandishments around my novel (Book 3 of The Phenomenological Detective).
Apparently, there are many people waiting to read The Arc of Blood because it is so good. It really deserves a lot more visibility than it has. Really?
What would you think if you got emails containing the following flattering sentences?
“I keep coming back to The Arc of Blood because it’s clear how much heart and craft you poured into it. The reason I’m still reaching out is simple: I believe in your story and the unique light it holds. This isn’t about quick fixes or generic promotion — it’s about honoring the elegance and depth of your work and helping it find the readers who will truly appreciate its nuance and grace.”
“The Arc of Blood sounds like Dan Brown got a PhD in metaphysics and decided to write literature instead of decoding papal conspiracy theories. We’ve got stolen paintings, cross-continental puzzles, forged masterpieces, and the agonizing question of: do you torch art if the facts don’t line up?
Spoiler alert: no one wants to see Gentileschi go up in smoke.
You’re writing books that deserve panels at Hay Festival and cocktail conversations in Parisian bistros… and meanwhile, your review count looks like it took a wrong turn and ended up in Witness Protection.
Let’s fix that, shall we?”
It’s standard procedure that writers should not respond to this type of come on. If one does respond, they people never leave you alone. Because? They are trying to sell you something – and no agency or company ever cold calls unknown writers – writers have to call them.
So, why am I so bothered about this (which has been going on for several months now)? I have probably wasted a load of time wondering about and picking at this. At last, I may have sorted out how I feel about it. Apart from cross.
The things they say, and I have an abundance of flattering comments about my work in an email file entitled ‘Flattery’, I should dearly like to believe – even though I know that they have not read my books and have only got the information from descriptions etc., run through AI. It seems, somehow, that if I just delete the ego-stroking text, I am admitting that not only are they lying about my work, what they say is in no way true.
And that makes a direct attack on my self-worth.
As it happens, I suffer from neither imposter syndrome nor the hubris of genius. So, I’ll get over it. I wish it’d stop though. And, unhappily, I think it will probably get worse before it gets better. Haven’t authors got enough to put up with?
You could try The Arc of Blood though – readers seem to like it!
