Sheila the Wonderbink

You’d think that once I scrubbed my hastily released novel from the internet, I wouldn’t get spam praising my book with an AI summary of what’s known about it and offering some kind of publicity service. No, I just get spam with AI summaries of OTHER PEOPLE’S books. Got another one today.

He continued: "I understand why you would want to know, and I’m happy to clarify anything further if needed." I replied "I didn’t write that book." It’s been over an hour, (after responses at about 20 minute intervals) so I think we’re done.

You’d think that once I scrubbed my hastily released novel from the internet, I wouldn’t get spam praising my book with an AI summary of what’s known about it and offering some kind of publicity service. No, I just get spam with AI summaries of OTHER PEOPLE’S books. Got another one today.

He replied! "I found your email through publicly available contact information associated with your author work while researching your work and potential podcast opportunities."

You’d think that once I scrubbed my hastily released novel from the internet, I wouldn’t get spam praising my book with an AI summary of what’s known about it and offering some kind of publicity service. No, I just get spam with AI summaries of OTHER PEOPLE’S books. Got another one today.

HE SENT IT!

You’d think that once I scrubbed my hastily released novel from the internet, I wouldn’t get spam praising my book with an AI summary of what’s known about it and offering some kind of publicity service. No, I just get spam with AI summaries of OTHER PEOPLE’S books. Got another one today.

UPDATE: OMG he wrote back! Apparently the fact that my last name doesn’t match the person he’s trying to scam. He’s offered me his pricing list for his services. I indicated interest.

You’d think that once I scrubbed my hastily released novel from the internet, I wouldn’t get spam praising my book with an AI summary of what’s known about it and offering some kind of publicity service. No, I just get spam with AI summaries of OTHER PEOPLE’S books. Got another one today.

I’m not the only writer out there named Sheila, for crying out loud. I don’t even plan to publish under that name! But apparently another bot mixed me up with an existing Sheila. Sheila Masterson, author of the dark romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, New York Times Bestselling book, The Poison Daughter.

Good people, sit down and let me tell you a story about the most bizarre #writerscam email that has ever landed in my inbox. It literally just showed up and I cannot rest until I have told the world about it.

I dug around for an address to notify the publisher that they were being used to lend credibility towards a scam and settled on the support address for the website. It’s after hours in the UK, so I don’t imagine I’ll hear back until tomorrow, if at all.

Good people, sit down and let me tell you a story about the most bizarre #writerscam email that has ever landed in my inbox. It literally just showed up and I cannot rest until I have told the world about it.

The email also said "You have 15 books and one follower. That tells me you built a body of work.” I couldn’t figure out where the AI got that information. But, loud and proud at the end of the email, it reads: Philip Contos Executive Editorial Leader Laurence King Publishing Ltd

Good people, sit down and let me tell you a story about the most bizarre #writerscam email that has ever landed in my inbox. It literally just showed up and I cannot rest until I have told the world about it.

It was allegedly from a Philip Contos. It waxed rhapsodic as only AI written letters can about my book A Hive of Suspects and how it struck him, how the plot intrigued him, and even had details about the book itself. The problem? My name is not Sheila Pim, and I did not write a book by that name.

Good people, sit down and let me tell you a story about the most bizarre #writerscam email that has ever landed in my inbox. It literally just showed up and I cannot rest until I have told the world about it.