If you are an author, there is a good chance you have received one of these calls.
The phone rings. The person on the other end says they discovered your book online and have an exciting opportunity to help it reach more readers. They may claim to work with bookstores, reading programs or national book lists. Sometimes they mention media exposure or partnerships with well-known retailers.
Then the pitch begins.
They say they can get your book placed on bookshelves.
They offer to include your title on a curated book list.
They promise to feature your book in a reading challenge followed by thousands of readers.
They’ll definitely land you on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
All you have to do is pay a one-time fee.
At Yorkshire Publishing, we have been hearing from more and more authors about these calls. The details change depending on the company, but the pattern is almost always the same. A stranger contacts the author directly (multiple times), promises exposure, and asks for money upfront.
These are often referred to as book marketing scams or publishing scams, and they frequently target both traditionally published and self-published authors.
Most of the callers sound polished and professional. They often know the title of your book and where it is sold, which can make the conversation feel legitimate.
They might say your book has been “selected” for a special opportunity. Sometimes they claim they can arrange bookstore shelf placement. Other times they say they run a national reading challenge or book list that reaches thousands of readers.
One recent call described a popular scam called Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge. According to the caller, the book would be placed on the official challenge list and discussed by readers throughout the year. The only requirement was a one-time registration fee to cover administrative work such as listing the book and setting up the discussion thread.
The language is usually designed to make the payment sound routine. Instead of calling it a marketing fee, they refer to it as a registration fee, placement fee, or administrative cost.
In most cases, these companies cannot deliver what they promise.
Bookstores do not allow outside companies to sell shelf placement. Store buyers decide what titles to carry based on distributor relationships, sales history, and customer demand.
Reading programs and curated book lists are usually organized by readers, librarians, or media outlets. Authors are not required to pay to be included.
The callers are counting on one thing: excitement. When someone says they can help your book reach thousands of readers, it is easy to want to believe them.
If you receive one of these calls:
If you want to learn more about scams targeting authors, there are a few trusted resources worth bookmarking. Writer Beware tracks publishing scams and regularly posts warnings about companies targeting writers. The Authors Guild also shares guidance on protecting your rights and navigating questionable offers. And if you want to see how these schemes work in other areas of publishing, you can read our previous blog post about film rights scams and how authors can spot them.
