The Pump Room- Chatting About Life’s Updates > Likes and Comments
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CindySR wrote: "Paper Jane: 250 Years of Austenhttps:// grolierclub.omeka.net/exhibits/show/p..."
Another fascinating presentation about Jane's works.
A fascinating collection. So nice to see it shared online.
Happy New Year everyone. May you have a great 2026!
Happy new year to all! May this be the year you enjoy all the books you read.
Happy New Year! I love that while I sit here drinking a cuppa as the sun sets (UK), see of you are just pouring out your morning coffee!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!Good Luck, Good Times and Good Books to You in 2026
Happy New Year 🎉🎉🎉It has been great spending time with you all in 2025 🤩
Hopefully I’ll see you all in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Challenge 2026
Because this is a trusted community for me, I’d like to ask everyone for any input you might have on a book-related dilemma.Is anyone familiar with the cluster of book groups known as Book Hoes? Not the Goodreads Listopia type of book hoes, but the reading groups.
I’ve heard of them but have never been a member, so I don’t know what sort of books they read, what their collective tastes are, etc.
The organizer of Book Hoes reached out to me about my first novel, An Obstinate, Headstrong Girl. Normally I ignore outreaches for publicity or promotion because they tend to be generic—but this communication showed a real understanding of my book’s spirit and purpose. That said, the book’s a decade old and doesn’t appeal to modern tastes particularly, so if I were expected to lay out money in the process, I’d want to know it would be a seed planted in fertile ground. Hence my question,
If anyone has any insights to share with me, I’d be very grateful!
Abigail wrote: "Because this is a trusted community for me, I’d like to ask everyone for any input you might have on a book-related dilemma.Is anyone familiar with the cluster of book groups known as Book Hoes? ..."
I've not heard of it. Sorry, Abigail!
Abigail wrote: "Because this is a trusted community for me, I’d like to ask everyone for any input you might have on a book-related dilemma.Is anyone familiar with the cluster of book groups known as Book Hoes? ..."
I'm sorry - I had to look up what this meant so I'm not any use. Sounds interesting though?
Abigail wrote: "Because this is a trusted community for me, I’d like to ask everyone for any input you might have on a book-related dilemma.Is anyone familiar with the cluster of book groups known as Book Hoes? ..."
I've never heard of them either, (had to google). To be honest, I'd be suspicious of any offer which meant an outlay of money on the author's part.
There's been a lot of chatter on FB about schemes being presented to authors. It'll only cost them...
Sam wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Because this is a trusted community for me, I’d like to ask everyone for any input you might have on a book-related dilemma.Is anyone familiar with the cluster of book groups know..."
Yes, I get about 10 of those offers every day! This one stood out because (1) I had heard of the group, (2) the email address matched the organization and its leader’s bame, and (3) it wasn’t generic, it was a very detailed and personal description of how my book might apoeal to the readers in the group. I don’t yet know whether any money would be required. The website requires you to subscribe in order to see more than the general description, which led me to suspect money would be involved.
I don’t mind investing a little if it would be a genuinely suitable audience, but not just for vague “publicity.” I don’t object automatically to those who turn a love of reading into a business opportunity, but at the same time don’t want to be a generic commodity.
Thanks to all for your comments; I think I’ll send an exploratory response.
WARNING TO OTHER INDIE AUTHORS!The offer I described above was indeed a scam, and I’m now engaged with the real Book Hoes to help them with an ongoing prosecution.
This was a super-sophisticated scam and the scammers put a lot of individual effort into it. It was detailed, written in good English, even uses the real Book Hoes organizer’s email sign-off and an email address that looks legitimate.
There was only a small quirk of the language that made me suspicious—an echo of words used in an Amazon review of my book, such as could have been picked up by AI. If I weren’t a career copy editor trained to spot repetitions I would never have noticed it. I searched online for a different email address for the Book Hoes and cc’ed one of the messages I’d received, asking “Is this you?” And got back a reply that it was not and the Book Hoes are pursuing legal action against the perpetrator.
Sharing the details because, as you can see from my previous messages, I am wary and not the easiest of marks, but this was a very, very clever attempt. Luckily I did not pay anything. Be careful out there!
Abigail wrote: "WARNING TO OTHER INDIE AUTHORS!The offer I described above was indeed a scam, and I’m now engaged with the real Book Hoes to help them with an ongoing prosecution.
This was a super-sophisticated..."
I hate this sort of scamming so much. It is so malevolent.
it's sad but I assume that everything is a scam these days... until proven otherwise. My favourite scam of all time is still the astronaut who wrote to me from the international space station and said that his country's money had run out, and they could not pay for his flight back to Earth, so he needed some assistance :) He had been stuck in the orbit for years by then.
Nothing can ever top that.
Abigail wrote: "WARNING TO OTHER INDIE AUTHORS!The offer I described above was indeed a scam, and I’m now engaged with the real Book Hoes to help them with an ongoing prosecution.
This was a super-sophisticated..."
I'm so sorry, Abigail.
But you were great about checking them out thoroughly AND getting the original group involved.
How horrible for people who aren't enough in the know to get conned by miscreants like that.
Abigail wrote: "WARNING TO OTHER INDIE AUTHORS!The offer I described above was indeed a scam, and I’m now engaged with the real Book Hoes to help them with an ongoing prosecution.
This was a super-sophisticated..."
You did due diligence and it still sounded sort of legit. Good on you for going the extra mile and rooting out another scammer.
Katja wrote: "it's sad but I assume that everything is a scam these days... until proven otherwise. My favourite scam of all time is still the astronaut who wrote to me from the international space station and..."
LOL, Katja, that is indeed a prize scam!
Thank you, everyone who engaged with me as I sorted through this dilemma. Back An Obstinate, Headstrong Girl goes to my dusty garage!
Katja wrote: "it's sad but I assume that everything is a scam these days... until proven otherwise. My favourite scam of all time is still the astronaut who wrote to me from the international space station and..."
LOL!
Abigail wrote: "Katja wrote: "it's sad but I assume that everything is a scam these days... until proven otherwise. My favourite scam of all time is still the astronaut who wrote to me from the international spa..."
I've just started reading your contribution to Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer. Somehow I have never read this before.
Craftyhj wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Katja wrote: "it's sad but I assume that everything is a scam these days... until proven otherwise. My favourite scam of all time is still the astronaut who wrote to me from the i..."
Blast from the past! Not my favorite work for a variety of reasons, but thank you for reading!
Here is our own virtual social space in the group where you can update members on life events, encourage through happy and sad times, and check in with one another about real life.
This is optional and members are by no means obligated. Share what you are comfortable with.
Thank you, Marlene, for suggesting both topic and topic title. :)