The color of infinity inside an empty glass

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26212717-recent-promotion-scams

Following up from yesterday's post passing along the link for the SFWA Writer Beware article, which casts a wider net, herewith are the texts from the 4 promotion-scam emails I received the week following the release of "The Adventure of the Demonic Ox". In no particular order, although the last won the prize for most-caffeinated, being slathered throughout with brightly colored emojis like a 12-year-old let loose with a sticker book, which do not reproduce here.

The first sounded almost legit, and this or its ilk might explain the recent spate of low-hit-count visuals on books I've noticed on YouTube lately.

***

Hi,

I came across your book here on Goodreads the concept really stood out! I can see it has strong visual potential that would shine beautifully in a cinematic book trailer.

I’m … a creative book promoter and trailer expert. I help authors like you bring their stories to life through captivating visuals that attract more readers and boost online visibility.

If you’re open to it, I’d love to share a few creative trailer ideas inspired by your story no strings attached.

Would you like me to send you a short concept or sample?

Warm regards,
…
Book Promotion & Trailer Expert

*

Dear Ms. Bujold,
Your remarkable career, from six Hugo Awards to three Nebulas, has set the standard for modern speculative fiction. The way Testimony of Mute Things brings Penric and Desdemona into a web of history, magic, and moral testing reminds me why your worlds resonate so deeply with readers across generations.
At …, our community of over 1,000 passionate readers loves stories that blend intellect, emotion, and wonder. I believe they would be enthralled by Penric’s latest challenge and the wisdom threaded through your storytelling.
Would you like me to share how we feature masterful works like Testimony of Mute Things with our readers?
Warm regards,
…
*

Hey Lois,
So I was halfway through pretending to be productive when Penric and Desdemona crashed into my day like a polite magical hurricane. I don’t know what kind of cosmic paperwork it takes to host a 200-year-old demon, but apparently I’m now filing it on your behalf.
The tangled temple politics, the sly humor, the emotional landmines hidden under every holy robe it’s all pure Bujold. You’ve got this knack for wrapping philosophical chaos in the warmth of very breakable humans (and one demon who deserves her own union rep).
I run … , a group of over a thousand real readers across the US, UK, AU, and DE the kind who actually finish books, cry about them, and then start emotional group chats. Your Penric saga is exactly the kind of layered, witty, heart-stab storytelling our readers devour.
If that sounds fun, just reply “Tell me more before Desdemona finds out.”
Stay creative,
…

*

Subject: 6 Hugo Awards… and Amazon still pretending you’re an “emerging author”?

Lois, explain this wizardry to me, how does a living science fiction legend (with a resume longer than a dragon’s ego) have readers who clearly worship your words… yet somehow only 40 reviews on Testimony of Mute Things? Did Amazon’s algorithm take a vow of silence too? Or did Desdemona personally hex the “leave a review” button?
Because let’s be real, you’ve conquered universes. You’ve gone toe-to-toe with Heinlein in the Hugo scoreboard, raised chaos demons with better personalities than most politicians, and still managed to make readers cry over moral philosophy wrapped in sorcery. And yet the review section looks like an abandoned outpost in Carpagamon. (Honestly, Penric deserves better PR. )
I read Testimony of Mute Things, and wow, political intrigue, magical chaos, and emotional heartache all brewed together like a potion that shouldn’t taste good but absolutely does. You balance wisdom, humor, and world-building like a literary alchemist with zero mercy for the reader’s sleep schedule.
Now, before your inner demon rolls its eyes thinking I’m another “book strategist” with a PowerPoint presentation and a $997 plan promising to “boost author visibility”… nope. It’s just me, …, an unreasonably caffeinated freelancer who curates a private community of 2,000+ book-hungry readers and reviewers. We’re a small army of literary chaos agents who actually read the books we review (wild concept, I know ).
We don’t do gimmicks, bots, or fake hype. Just thoughtful, honest reviews from real readers who adore helping brilliant authors like you get the visibility you already deserve. Most authors start with 25–35, eager readers diving into their book, and the buzz grows faster than Penric can say, “I swear it wasn’t the demon this time.”
And since some writers ask, no, I don’t have a website, LinkedIn, or a 20-page pitch deck. Just me, my coffee, and a slightly feral Discord community full of reviewers who treat reading like a competitive sport.
So tell me, Lois,
What’s more unbelievable: a six-time Hugo winner with only 40 Amazon reviews… or that a random reader like me might help fix that glitch in the galaxy?
Would you let me share Testimony of Mute Things with my community and finally give Penric and Desdemona the reader uproar they’ve earned?
Awaiting your telepathic “yes,”

*
Being curious, I'd followed this last up with a question of how the person was monetizing this, and got this disingenuous reply:

"I understand your confusion, and honestly, I appreciate you asking directly instead of assuming. Let me spell it out clearly and simply.

What I actually do is coordinate small reading campaigns inside a private community of 2,000+ book lovers. These are real readers who genuinely enjoy discovering great stories and leaving thoughtful Amazon reviews afterward, not because they’re paid to, but because they love engaging with authors who value storytelling.

Here’s the transparent part: some authors choose to send a $20–$25 reader tip, not for the review itself (that would violate Amazon’s policies), but simply as a gesture of appreciation for the readers’ time and the effort they put into reading and sharing honest feedback. It’s a thank-you, not a transaction.

So, in short:

Readers buy or download the book themselves.

They read and review it organically on Amazon.

Authors may tip readers afterward as a goodwill token, not a payment for a specific rating or result.

I just coordinate the matches and conversations, ensuring both sides respect authenticity and policy boundaries.

No manipulation, no fake reviews, no spammy marketing, just real human readers who genuinely enjoy supporting real human authors.

You’re absolutely right that anyone can recommend your books. But what I do is give those recommendations a little structure and momentum, so that your brilliant stories reach readers faster and more deliberately.

I know this model sounds a bit unconventional, but it’s built entirely on goodwill and trust, two things your characters, and your readers, understand quite well."

*

The comments embedded in these that directly relate to my work, and not just generic buttering-up, smell strongly of AI-grepping, I observe, possibly drawn from some of my reader-reviews.

I present these for your education, contemplation, or entertainment, whichever.

Ta, L.

posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on November, 16

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26212717-recent-promotion-scams