THE Group for Authors! discussion

I haven't written my entire book as of yet. Just a few chapters. However, I had two messages asking to review my book. One was more "flashy" in wording and the other not so much. Both have me on edge and was wondering, when can you smell a scam? I know there is official sites and people who do things like that for a living or for fun, but how can you tell a professional from a scammer? That scammer being someone who wants to "steal" your book and later publish it for themselves.

I don't want all my hard work to just "die" and end up being really sore about it. So, what kind of things do I need to ask or look closer at? To see if someone is legit or not?

I've never had that happen, so I have no personal experience. But two people out of the proverbial blue offering to review an unwritten book? If there's a way to block future communications from them (no idea whether we're talking GR or email here), I'd do it.

"Flashy" language sounds like that prince from Nigeria who has millions stashed away that I can have for just a modest amount of money to help him make the transfer to my name.

To the best of my knowledge, a professional reviewer has so many possible books to review he/she doesn't need to go out looking for me, especially asking new or even unpublished potential writers for something to review.

I think it's much more likely that you would have to submit your book...when done...to a review site, and be selected, than having reviewers come after you.

Bottom line: in my never humble opinion, ignore this, concentrate on getting your book done, and then start promoting.

Eric

From the moment someone contacts me without using my name. At the very least it indicates they haven`t done their homework properly

Thank you for the generous replies. I wanted to make sure my gut was leading me true. Seeing as I don't always know what to expect or have previous knowledge, I like to seek it out and see what others know.

If you want your book reviewed when it's finished you can find someone on Goodreads to do it for you. Even then, you need to be wary, especially if they haven't filled out their profile or added a photo of themselves. Keep in touch with people through Goodreads and you'll soon get a feel for it.

Another way to spot a scam, especially if someone is offering to review a book, is to look carefully at their grammar.

I've had two such scammers recently on an email address which I rarely give out. No one can access it unless I have written to them first. Therefore, these people have acquired the address through nefarious means.

And then some on Goodreads which I instantly flag up to the Mods, as recommended.

Best advice? If your gut feeling is it's dodgy - delete/flag as spam.

Why sell your time and effort for a possible review?

Andrainea wrote: "I haven't written my entire book as of yet. Just a few chapters. However, I had two messages asking to review my book. One was more "flashy" in wording and the other not so much. Both have me on ed..."


Better if you find people yourself, on GoodReads or (as in my case) I have a group of Beta Readers to whom I offer the book, and I give them credit on the acknowledgements page. If you cultivate a reader's circle you'll always have someone to give you feedback prior to launch.

The biggest scams are (IMO) from people offering to market your book. I'm sure there are folks out there who CAN market your book effectively—I just haven't found them.

As for theft——be prepared: as soon as you publish someone will pirate your book (usually someone in Russia), and offer if for "free" (with a subscription to their web site).


If you want "postable" reviews, then I'd contact online book bloggers. The good ones (who never charge, but are simply dedicated readers) are usually swamped, so be prepared for a delay.

Someone offered to review my book out of the blue. I checked out the blog she mentioned and recognised some of the names of the reviewers. The review appeared on the blog and has now been posted to Amazon and Goodreads.

Just do some research. If you haven't even finished the book, though, I would think it's a scam of some kind.

I'd like to warn my fellow authors of two scams:
(1) Purporting to be David Benson from Universal Pictures, in cahoots with a Sabrina Rodriguez of Fox Media Studios wanting to buy the film rights for one of my novels, for...guess what? a small up-front fee "that I would get back as soon as the rights were bought."

(2) An almost carbon copy: a Paul Lucas, purporting to be from Pioneer Productions. I immediately went on line and emailed Pioneer Productions. Never heard back.

Be on the lookout!

Really… how did they find out about an unwritten manuscript? Who wants to review an incomplete book? Already sus.

No reviewer worth their salt wants an unreleased manuscript. PRE-ORDER yes. As in, pre-launch (but after it’s been accepted and worked on), that can be amazing, but before you’ve written it? It’s either an amateur, or a scam. I hate to say it that way, maybe the person is just excited, but if they can’t wait for the book to go through editing and be done, or they ask for cash to do said review, walk.

There are sites who do charge for reviews, but they let you come to them. They’re hopefully not that predatory. Good call on walking away.

I would say a good litmus test is anyone offering out of the blue to do something for you. Whether it's offering reviews, or publication, or some other "favour".

It may sound like it's to your advantage, but you can be 100% certain it's far more to the other person's advantage. They are not all necessarily scams. Some bloggers do go out trying to drum up interest in their blog by offering reviews, but almost always you'll find that they have zero traffic.

IMO a general rule is that anyone offering a legitimately valuable service doesn't need to go trawling random authors for business.

An unfinished manuscript? No way. And after you've published, if anybody sends you a cold email saying they'll review your book, delete it. They may not tell you in the email, but if you contact them, they'll tell you it's for a fee. Some review services charge and they're perfectly legit. It can run you into the hundreds of dollars, though. Others charge far less. But as always, do your homework before you part with your dollars.

Thanks for sharing.

Probably once a week I receive a voice message in a foreign accent offering to market my book--the title of the book is never named. I get similar offers for my husband's book (untitled) and he's been deceased for over 5 years.

And speak of the 'reviewer'... yep! Happened to me now, too. Got an email from a potential reviewer so excited to review NEON Lieben and can she please have a copy.

So, I sent her my NetGalley & BookSprout links (thinking oh, this must be a lead from the publicist I hired), and told her when she's ready I can send the cover art, etc. Glad to be working with her, thank you so much.

Boom! Email back! "Oh so sorry I seem to have forgotten to mention the cost of one of my reviews. Yeah, that'll be $77 please, and oh but wait! There's more! You can have a special author hot-spot social media campaign for only another $27. So I can't believe I forgot to mention in my first email I charge for my reviews. Can't believe I slipped up like that. Whoops."

Really? You emailed me, saying nothing about wanting me to pay you to read my book, but that you saw it online (named a website the links went up on yesterday), and would love to review it because your readership and mine parallels.

Does... this happen often?

Am I allowed to feel disappointed, when I thought at first it was an honest reviewer, who was interested in the Pre-Launch campaign? Should I even email back, or leave it?

Sorry this happened to you but in the end we all know nothing is free anymore. It's truly a shame that so many "reviewers" try to slip in the door with authors this way. In my opinion you should just ignore any further communication with this person and let it rest under "lessons learned". The more you respond the more they are encouraged to attempt this over and over again. Also remember that your publicist should always alert you of any reviewers or contacts they are sending your way before those entities reach out, so if that isn't already clear in your relationship you should explain what just happened and request this courtesy.

How did they hear about your work in progress?