Diane (the moderator) just emailed me... but I don't think it was Diane > Likes and Comments

Hey everyone,

I am P. S. Davis. I am an author, fairly new to Goodreads, and I recently joined this group.

I wanted to flag something and also check that I am not misunderstanding how things normally work here.

Like many authors, I receive a constant stream of scam emails related to marketing, book clubs, editing services, and paid “features”. It comes with the territory, unfortunately. Because of that, I tend to be cautious.

Just before New Year, I received an email from someone using the address dianemoderator at g-mail dot com (not sure if emails are moderated in this group so it is written this way), claiming to be a moderator of Around the World in 80 Books. I ignored and deleted it. This morning, I received a follow-up email from the same address wishing me a happy new year and inviting me to reconnect.

If this genuinely is Diane from this group, then happy new year to you as well. I hope 2026 is a good one for everyone here. The reason I am posting is simply that the emails raised a few red flags for me.

First, I was contacted by email rather than through Goodreads, even though I have an active account here.

Second, the message referred to “next steps” for being included in a reading challenge, with registration already open and closing soon. In my experience, that wording often leads to paid participation, which immediately puts me on alert.

I do not want to assume bad intent, and I would happily apologise if I am wrong. If this is a legitimate outreach connected to this group, I would appreciate clarification. If it is not, then I thought it was worth making the group aware that messages using this name and description are circulating.

I am not responding to the email itself, but I am very happy to respond here.

Wishing everyone a great new year, and I hope to take part in this group properly, with good discussions and no scams involved.

Thanks for reading.

I joined this club in 2024 but waited until 2025 to become someone who posts actively. It is one of the top clubs I am active with here. I have not seen any activity from the moderator since I became active.

P.S.,
I have been a member of this group for over a decade. I don't think the email was from Diane. She hasn't been active in this group for quite a while that I've seen. When she was active, she never emailed the group members. She would always set up a thread for new challenges and communicate that way which you can see on existing threads, so I would ignore that email.

Make sure you Flag it. Got one similar:
> Hello,
> I hope this message finds you well. My name is Christelle, and I am one of the organizers of the Manchester Post Apocalyptic Book Club, a thoughtful and engaged reading community that regularly explores science fiction, speculative narratives, and high stakes stories that challenge our understanding of technology, power, and humanity.
> I recently discovered Proximity Factor and was immediately drawn in by its intelligent premise and escalating tension. Cynthia Austen is a compelling lead, and her role as a neurologist navigating a secretive DARPA project in remote Alaska creates a powerful blend of science, mystery, and existential risk. The way you weave advanced research, government pressure, supernatural forces, and environmental consequences makes the story feel both cinematic and unsettlingly plausible.
> What stood out to us most is how the novel balances high concept science fiction with grounded human dynamics. The supporting cast brings texture and realism to the investigation, and the gradual uncovering of a conspiracy that threatens not only institutions but the fabric of reality itself is exactly the kind of narrative our members love to unpack and discuss.
> Our club enjoys spotlighting authors whose work sparks conversation and lingers long after the final page. Proximity Factor aligns beautifully with this mission. We would be delighted to feature your book as the focus of one of our upcoming meetings, introducing it to our members and guiding a thoughtful discussion around its themes, characters, and speculative ideas.
> When we feature an author, we handle all coordination and presentation. Authors are invited to contribute insights in whatever format feels most comfortable, such as a short written note, responses to curated questions, or a brief recorded message. Live attendance is never required. This allows our members to connect with the author’s perspective while respecting your time and schedule.
> If you would be open to having Proximity Factor highlighted in this way, we would be honored to reserve a spotlight session for your work and share it with an enthusiastic and engaged sci fi readership.
> Would this be something you might be interested in exploring?
> Warm regards,
> Christelle
> Organizer
> Manchester Post Apocalyptic Book Club

Oh, I get the book club ones all the time.

the one I got is just using this group's name and then they will try to charge $250 for an author to be featured in this group. The funny thing is, this version of "Diane" seemed to forget the purpose of this group.

Neither of my books are set on Earth.

But anyway, I decided to play with the Diane, I gave a fake link to a book about scams, asked if this would be more suitable for the group and they didn't even look at it and just agreed giving an incorrect title of the book and saying how they had read the blurb etc.

The original fake-Diane email is this:
On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 11:24 AM Moderator Diane wrote:
I noticed something while reading about The Essence Wars: An Envious God.

This is the kind of fantasy that takes its time to build weight. Politics that actually matter. Power that comes with a cost. A world already cracking before the first sword is raised. These are not the kind of books that fail because they are weak. They struggle because they are quiet in a very loud market.

That is what stayed with me.

Stories like this often attract the right readers slowly, the readers who want depth, consequences, and meaning. But slow discovery can be frustrating, especially when the work clearly deserves discussion, not silence. That is why your book came back to mind when we were selecting authors for something very specific.

I am Diane, a moderator of the Goodreads group Around the World in 80 Books, a long-running reader community built around global stories and structured reading challenges. I do not send this message to everyone. I reached out because your work fits the kind of experience our readers commit to.

At the end of each year, when readers finally have time to slow down and truly read, we run a special end-of-year challenge. It is not about hype. It is about real readers choosing books, buying them, reading them carefully, talking about them openly, and leaving thoughtful reviews that actually reflect the story.

Your novel stood out because it already asks readers to pay attention. It rewards patience. That is exactly what this challenge is designed for.

Here is what participation looks like in simple terms.
Your book is added to a structured reading order. Readers purchase it when its turn comes. They discuss it openly in the group as they read. Reviews are written at the end, based on genuine engagement, not obligation. The conversations matter just as much as the ratings.

At the close of the challenge, five authors are recognized with reader-driven awards. These are based on engagement, discussion quality, and overall reception. They are not random, and they are not popularity contests. They come directly from reader response, which makes them meaningful.

I also want to be clear about something important. This invitation is meant to protect you from disappointment. We limit the number of participating authors so that no book gets lost or rushed. The challenge has already begun, registration is open now, and it will close soon. That timing is the reason I am reaching out directly rather than making a general announcement.

I believe this could be genuinely valuable for you. Not because everyone should participate, but because your work is the kind that benefits from focused attention and thoughtful readers.

So I will ask you directly.

Would you be interested in having The Essence Wars: An Envious God included in our end-of-year reading challenge and introduced to our readers in this way?

If this feels right to you, I would be happy to share the next steps.

Diane
Moderator | Goodreads
Around the World in 80 Books
Role: Reader Community & Author Engagement

Duty: Connecting authors with engaged readers through global reading challenges, themed group reads, and active discussions centered on culture, place, and story.

I’ve also been a member here for years. Diane always set up posts, not email. She has not been active on here for a couple of years now, and has her settings to not receive DMs. So I do no think it was Diane that contacted you and you were wise to see red flags.

We do have a thread where authors can introduce their books, so you are welcome to introduce your book!

Jacque T wrote: "I’ve also been a member here for years. Diane always set up posts, not email. She has not been active on here for a couple of years now, and has her settings to not receive DMs. So I do no think it..."

Thanks. Silver lining and all that. The fake-Diane was definitely a scammer. The worst part, it probably is a scam that works on some authors.

I don't write about Earth subjects, but I might just go and introduce myself in the introductory thread. When in Rome... :)