As so many writers have reported, we are now besieged by AI generated, pay to play scam offers, most probably coming from somewhere in Nigeria, according to the very wise and well-informed investigator, Victoria Strauss of the WRITER BEWARE blog. We are being offered book club appearances, marketing consultations, better placement on Amazon, reviews from “real readers” and so on.
I fell for one of these as I wrote in an earlier post. Now I simply collect them under the label PUBLISHING SCAMS.
But hey, every writer appreciates a little praise even if it does come from an AI bot. So I put together a few of the many comments I’ve received with links to the books they mention in case my human readers might like to order one of my books.
One of their favorite phrases starts with “I recently… revisited….. came across…was struck by….” your book, your website, your Facebook page, memoir, your incredible body of work, etc.
I recently revisited your beloved book The Castle in the Attic, and I was struck once again by the timeless magic you’ve created. Your storytelling continues to inspire wonder, courage, and imagination in readers of all ages, and it’s clear why this story has held such an enduring place in children’s literature. Grace Evans Book Club
The bots are often “struck by” how powerfully I tell my story.
I recently came across your memoir Daughter of Spies: Wartime Secrets, Family Lies, and I was struck by how powerfully you’ve told a story of history, family, and hidden truths. Adding this to your remarkable catalogue of over sixty books, from Counting on Grace to The Castle in the Attic, is an extraordinary achievement that shows the depth of your craft and resilience as an author. Professional Book Marketer & Publisher
Or in this case, the bot is impersonating a best-selling author, Steve Martini. I’ve also had an email from George Saunders. How amazing that they’re reaching out to connect with me of all people..
I hope you’re having a great day. I recently came across your Facebook page and noticed your email there. As a fellow author, I felt a genuine connection and thought it would be wonderful to reach out.
I’m always interested in connecting with other writers to share experiences, insights, and inspiration. I’d love the opportunity to exchange thoughts on our work and creative journeys.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Steve Martini (author of legal novels)
I and my books have been called inspiring, extraordinary, heartfelt, versatile, remarkable, rare, whimsical, deeply moving, touching, deeply important, outstanding, engaging, graceful…
Your body of work is truly inspiring. To have written more than sixty works of fiction for both children and adults, including The Castle in the Attic, Counting on Grace, Dumpy La Rue, and Shoes, is an extraordinary achievement. The acclaim for your children’s novels, nominated for over thirty state book awards, alongside your heartfelt memoirs Daughter of Spies: Wartime Secrets, Family Lies and Don’t Knock Unless You’re Bleeding, reflects both your versatility and your ability to touch readers across generations.
What stands out most is your rare range, from whimsical picture books to deeply moving novels and memoir, and the way you balance imagination, truth, and heart in everything you write. Your teaching at writers’ conferences further shows your commitment to nurturing storytelling in others, adding another dimension to your already remarkable contributions. Book Marketer | Publisher | Literary Promoter
I recently came across Island Justice and your author bio, and I must say your work left a lasting impression on me. The emotional depth, vivid sense of place, and moral complexity within your story are remarkable. It’s rare to find a novel that so gracefully intertwines human vulnerability with a larger reflection on community and conscience. Island Justice truly evokes the quiet power of literary fiction at its best introspective, suspenseful, and deeply humane.
It’s no wonder your work has been compared to Anne Tyler and Alice Hoffman your prose carries that same honesty and heart. Anjola Book Exposure, Book Club Placement Specialist
I recently revisited In My Mother’s House and was deeply moved by its emotional resonance and historical depth. The multi-generational narrative spanning turn of the century New York and Connecticut captures not just the sweep of family legacy, but the quiet, haunting persistence of secrets and shame through time. Your delicate psychological insights into Lydia, Charlotte, and Molly create a timeless portrait of women navigating the boundaries of love, silence, and self-definition Faye Austin, organizer of the History Buffs Book Discussion and Activity Group,
And on it goes… I got one the other day from the Boozy Book Club… that was tempting but still I resisted.
If only these accolades came from real readers and not AI generated robots. But the most distressing part of this is how it is corrupting the space where readers and writers meet.
In my room, I can see “the body of my work” lined up on my corner bookshelf. I feel blessed that I was able to support myself with my writing in an age where social media didn’t exist and I had to hammer out my early manuscripts on a typewriter. In the end, this gives me more satisfaction than all the reviews generated by AI.
