Book Marketing scammers use Artificial Intelligence to appeal to authors’ egos.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having a huge impact on books and writing. From suggesting edits to improve an author’s writing to doing the actual writing it’s opening new opportunities while challenging old conventions.

This includes the information about books and authors that appears in internet searches. You’re no longer presented with just a long list of links, but rather rich data including quite detailed book summaries.

Perhaps the most adaptable group in society are scammers, and AI has been given them a new and powerful tool to rip you off whether you’re a senior concerned about your grandchildren or a new author chasing a dream.

I’ve been writing and self-publishing fiction for 15 years and right from the beginning I’ve been looking for ways to attract readers to my books. Rather than detail all my efforts let me just summarize by saying nothing has worked.

I’m still of the opinion a good book will find an audience. The only conclusion I draw from this epic fail is my books aren’t good enough – yet. Rather than attempt to find gimmicks or game the system, I feel I’m better off attempting to improve my craft.

Most new authors are immensely proud of what they accomplished and when they don’t receive immediately financial success and professional accolades, they’re loath to admit their book has any shortcomings. They’d rather make excuses that kill the dream.

This dream is exactly what book marketeers seize upon by suggesting it’s not that you have no talent, it’s just that your book needs more exposure and they can provide this for you – for a price.

A day doesn’t go by that I don’t receive an email from someone offering guaranteed reviews, to recalibrate the meta data to optimize the algorithms, or to grow my visibility with a video book trailer.

Most of those messages never make it out of my spam file. However, with the onset of the AI and instant book summaries, scammers are becoming more creative.

I played along with this one to provide an example of what you should be aware of.

Sophie Humphries, calls herself a Book Market Architect. Originally, I must have deleted her email (or maybe not) and then I received this.

On Oct 22, 2025, Sophie Humphries wrote:

I just want to be honest with you… I’m a person just like you, and I put real work into looking at your book before reaching out. I don’t expect a yes, but I do believe in honest communication.

Even a simple “no thank you” is fine, but silence leaves me guessing. At the end of the day, this is something that could really work in your favour, and I only reached out because I genuinely see potential in your book.

Below this plaintive request, were two carefully constructed emails that had been sent previously.

The first was sent on Thurs, Oct 16, at 11:21 AM where Sophie offers some flattering insights into my novel, The Big Picture – A Young Woman, A Camera, An Uncompromising Ethic including, “it’s a moral lens focused on the collision between art, ethics, and corruption…a journey from idealism to confrontation mirrors the uneasy truth of every artist who refuses to look away… That kind of story doesn’t just entertain; it challenges complacency.”

Wow! I mean, what author doesn’t want to hear that!

She summarizes by writing, “Books like yours don’t fade because they lack tension or craft. They fade because algorithms flatten nuance and metadata misplaces meaning.”

“My work exists to guard against that,” she declares and then provides a list of services that’s likely a template she cuts and pastes into every solicitation. It includes internet marketing jargon meant to impress such as Visibility Forensics, Discoverability Reframe, Audience Signal Engineering and Momentum Strategy.

“Within 30–45 days of recalibrated positioning, authors often see measurable traction, stronger reviews, organic engagement, and renewed sales cycles”, she claims, though somewhat ambiguously.  

Sophie follows up the next day saying, “The Big Picture isn’t the kind of novel that should go unnoticed…it holds a mirror to power… that questions corruption…” and that I had “already done the hard part writing something with a moral spine.”

She closes with challenge, “Do we step in to redirect the light, or let the algorithms keep the lens covered?”

I have to admit, this woman sounds convincing. Add to thather personal entreaty that “I just want to be honest with you… I’m a person just like you… put real work into looking at your book … and I only reached out because I genuinely see potential in your book”.

Anyone with a “moral spine” would at least respond.

And so, I did. On Oct 22, I wrote:

Dear Sophie,

So sorry if I’ve offended you. However, please understand I’m quite busy responding to all those wealthy relatives I’ve never heard of who’ve left me their entire estate (Can you imagine! And I don’t even know them).

Thank you for being honest with me. There are so many scammers preying on authors these days (especially lately. Why is that I wonder? Could AI being playing a role?)  that it’s reassuring you’re not one of them but a person just like me(?). 

Thanks as well for “seeing the potential in my book”. The Big Picture was published over a decade ago and it’s remarkable that at the time no publishers were as astute as you, or your many colleagues who have been recently sending similar solicitations.

Because I think so highly of you (and we’ve only just met), and I feel badly that you “put real work into looking at your book before reaching out”, I’ll make you a counter offer. 

Work your magic and within 30–45 days of recalibrated positioning, you set the date, I’ll pay you all the royalties generated by the renewed sales cycles that have been created by the measurable traction, stronger reviews and organic engagement you’ve generated.

The ebook edition of The Big Picture sells for $3.99 x 35% royalty = $1.40 per sale! Not hype. Real cash. I mean, the sky’s the limit. 

Sales are easily tracked on my Amazon Author Page. We could set a benchline and begin Nov. 1. 2025.

I’m so looking forward to this joint venture, to “step in to redirect the light’ with someone of your expertise and integrity.

Anxiously awaiting your reply.

Rod

SOPHIE:  You’ve got a clever hand, you play with irony like it’s currency. I’ll admit, I almost let it run a round too long. If I’m reading you right, this was never about the offer, just the sport of the exchange.

No hard feelings on my side. Just checking, did I read that right?

ME:

Disappointed, Sophie. I thought we could make it work.

SOPHIE: “But be sincere, Rod, do you really wanna work with me for your book’s visibility.” 

ME: We’ll never know. (I thought the crying emoji was a nice touch)

Then again On Oct 24

SOPHIE: Just wanted to make sure my last note didn’t get buried curious to hear your thoughts when you get a moment.

ME: Sorry, for the delay in responding, still working on getting my inheritance from those distant relatives.

BTW Your colleagues(?) have shifted to encouraging me to participate in “seasonal spotlights” and “end of the year shout outs”. Perhaps it’s time to change your pitch to something more seasonal.

Anyhow…

First, you suggest I’m not honest, then not sincere. Hmmm. Good thing I’m almost impossible to offend.

I made you an offer. If you have any confidence in what you proposed initially, then why not take me up on it? I’ll sweeten the deal. If there is even a modicum of success, I’ll write an (honest) letter of endorsement saying your services actually got results. You can post it on your social media channels and website – if you ever decide to “redirect the light” to yourself and get one.

You should do this, Sophie. I mean, what’s the downside? You waste a few hours. Whereas the upside could be cash, credibility and confidence! Plus, you get to feel good about yourself.

I’m not big on gamesmanship, but I think this is described as “calling your bluff”. 

SOPHIE: Mon, Oct 27

Appreciate your reply and the offer it’s clear you enjoy the art of the exchange. I’ll pass on the proposal, though. My work operates on structure and collaboration, not wagers.

Wishing you continued success with The Big Picture and whatever season it finds new readers in.

And again on the Oct 29

SOPHIE: Glad my last note landed. If you’re still considering collaboration, let’s keep it simple let me know directly whether you’d like to move forward, and in what capacity.

If not, no worries at all. I just prefer clarity over back-and-forth.

Clarity? I think this thread has played itself out. But I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.

The strategy used by Book Market Architects like Sophie is to get the author’s money up front. Then, whether they provide legitimate services or not, the results are irrelevant. They’ve already moved on to the next dreamer.

And let’s face it, even the best marketeer can’t sell a bad book

NEXT: It all began with It all began with an invite from Elevate London Book Club to Spotlight my novel, The Thin White Line.