Victoria Strauss
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victoriastrauss.com
Victoria Strauss
@victoriastrauss.com
13K followers 1.1K following 1.8K posts
Adult/YA novelist, fanatical gardener, co-founder of SFWA's publishing industry watchdog group Writer Beware. Casting a small light in a wilderness of writing scams (plus an occasional cat pic)

https://writerbeware.blog
https://victoriastrauss.com
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victoriastrauss.com
Watch out for solicitations from Enlight Women's Magazine offering to feature you on a Top 10 list: it's a pay-to-play scheme (a "nominal" fee of $900). I'm especially tempted by the "personalized digital plaque of honour" (emphasis added in the screenshot below)
This is Charles, a renowned sales professional at Enlight Women's Magazine. Our mission is to spotlight the voices and stories of women who are redefining the business landscape with courage and conviction, while also empowering others to grow and succeed through their leadership. I'm thrilled to extend an invitation to feature you as one of the "Top 10 Inspiring Women Leaders of 2025" in our upcoming edition. This recognition spotlights women who have risen above the odds to lead with purpose, passion, and perseverance. Your incredible journey, impactful leadership, and the influence you had in empowering others make you a perfect fit for this honor. As part of this recognition, you’ll have the opportunity to amplify your voice, highlighting your leadership journey, ethos, overcoming challenges and leading the way along with Writer Beware's unique products and services, and share your message with our extensive network of readers, including decision-makers and aspiring leaders globally. This exclusive feature includes a Two-page editorial article and a tailored promotional package for a nominal fee of USD 900: (It will be a complete one-year branding exercise) An accessible and shareable HTML backlink from your profile on our website to your company's website and social media platforms. Two dedicated advertisement spaces within the magazine, reserving two for future use. A digital link to the magazine issue featuring your profile. A personalized digital plaque of honour and digital logo recognizing your achievement. Your company's press releases will be hosted on our website. Limitless digital and reprint rights for the two-page profile. As many Guest articles can be posted on our website. Extensive social media promotion across our platforms, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our weekly newsletters. Your profile will remain accessible online, with SEO-Optimized for higher searchability and footprint.
November 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
victoriastrauss.com
A sad, sad chatbot apologizing for targeting me repeatedly with a marketing scam intended for someone else
Subject: Re: Scammers Beware Beverly Your Book Is Pure Gold Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2025 17:06:44 -0800 From: Mark Maxwell <markmaxwell.well@gmail.com> To: Victoria Strauss <beware@sfwa.org> Hi Victoria, I sincerely apologize for repeatedly contacting you in error. I mistakenly addressed you as “Beverly” and referenced a book you did not write. I now understand that my messages were misdirected, and I regret any confusion or inconvenience I caused. Thank you for the important work you do at Writer Beware. I will ensure I only reach out to the correct authors moving forward.
November 5, 2025 at 9:05 PM
victoriastrauss.com
You may have seen the news that Mango Publishing has closed. Below is the letter sent to authors and others by Christopher McKenney, Mango's founder. Writer Beware has heard from Mango authors who are owed $$--including some who say they have _never_ been paid.
www.mangopublishinggroup.com An Open Letter from Christopher McKenney Founder of Mango Publishing Group, Inc. October 30, 2025 Dear Partners and Friends, I hope you and your families are well. I write to you with some very difficult news. Mango Publishing Group is in the process of going out of business and will be winding down all operations shortly. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, Mango had to take on substantial high-interest bank loans. The team has spent the last four years working very, very hard to navigate supply chain disruptions, high print price inflation, book market downsizing, losses from uncollectible accounts receivable, and more recently, even tariffs, while servicing the bank and other debts. Conditions like these have made it extraordinarily difficult to operate as an independent publisher like Mango. The bank is in the process of liquidating Mango for their benefit and winding down all operations as well as laying off all staff. At this time, Mango has exhausted all cash and cannot service any debts to any parties. A group of consultants is managing the last steps of this shutdown process. In an effort to soften the landing as much as possible, I’ve been reaching out to many authors to help evaluate options, including making recommendations to new publishers. I hope that, in working with a new publisher, Mango authors and their books may continue to succeed in making positive impacts with readers all over the world. I am very sorry for this story’s ending and will always appreciate the privilege of working with you. Very best wishes for the future, Chris Christopher McKenney Founder Mango Publishing Group, Inc.
October 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
victoriastrauss.com
I just heard it's National Cat Day (really, that's every day). Here are Emily (left) and Sarah (right)
Photo of white cat with tabby patches and tail, belly-up on a blue coverlet Photo of all-black cat sitting on the arm of a white Adirondack chair next to a man in a pink T-shirt, surrounded by garden greenery
October 29, 2025 at 11:04 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Possible new AI-driven impersonation scam spinning up: someone contacts you out of the blue w/ praise for your work, recommends you contact a (real) literary agent & provides an email addy--but of course it's fake & results in a referral for editing or marketing. Example below 1/2
Hi [redacted] I’ve had the opportunity to review your work, and it’s clear you have a strong command of storytelling and a distinctive voice. Your writing shows real potential for a broader audience. For this reason, I’m recommending you reach out to [agent name redacted], an independent literary agent known for her discerning eye and commitment to helping authors build lasting careers. [agent name reacted] represents a wide range of genres in both fiction and non-fiction, and has collaborated with authors such as [redacted] and [redacted]. She’s currently open to queries and can be reached at submission.[agentname]@gmail.com. When you contact her, mention that I referred you this will help ensure your work receives proper consideration. Best regards, Chiara Chiara Bianchi chiaraforauthors@gmail.com ChiaraForAuthors ...
October 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM
victoriastrauss.com
I see this use of "thoughtful" over and over, in response to a question asked or a concern expressed by the target of the scammer. Examples below--just a few of hundreds. Not infallible, but along with other factors, this does seem like a strong AI marker 2/2
Thank you so much for your kind note. I truly appreciate how thoughtful and thorough you’ve been throughout this process. Your care and professionalism speak volumes, and it’s exactly the kind of integrity I admire in the authors I partner with. Thank you once again for your kind message and for being open to continuing our conversation by email. I truly appreciate your thoughtful response it reflects the same clarity and depth that shine through your writing. Thank you so much for your thoughtful response I truly appreciate it. I’m really excited that we share the same values and goals: not just reaching more readers, but the right readers who genuinely connect with your story. I’m thrilled at the thought of [redacted] landing in the hands of my community, readers who care deeply about books that inspire, inform, and move them. Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I truly appreciate your openness, and I want you to know how much I value your work. [redacted] stood out to me not just as another children’s book, but as a story with genuine heart, resilience, and magic, exactly the kind of narrative that young readers remember and carry with them. That is why I reached out. I don’t just promote books; I champion the ones I believe hold real potential to connect with readers, make a lasting impact, and reach bestseller visibility. Yours is one of them.
October 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
victoriastrauss.com
The Authors Guild has updated its Code of Conduct for members "in response to complaints we have received about predatory behavior from certain publishers whose operators or owners are also author members of the Guild based on their writing." authorsguild.org/member-code-...
An AG member may be subject to disciplinary action if the actions of such member are determined to constitute one or more of the following: […] Predatory behavior by a member in their capacity as an owner or operator of a publishing company (such as numerous complaints of failure to meet contractual obligations, including timely payment), or of multiple, credible complaints about the publisher that have been submitted to other trustworthy industry members. If the Guild becomes aware of such behavior during the application process, membership may be altogether denied.
October 22, 2025 at 10:41 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Summer’s swan song (2)
Photo of a mass of pink Sheffield Pink dendranthema (hardy chrysanthemum) against a weathered wood fence A late monarch butterfly sips from a pink dendranthema flower White blossoms of snakeroot plant. Look closely and you’ll see a bee Sunlit grasses, purple aster, miscellaneous greenery
October 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Summer’s swan song (1)
Photo of mass of pink Sheffield Pink dendranthema against gray clapboards with panicle hydrangeas in the background Photo of white Japanese anemone blooms (this is Whirlwind, a double variety) Photo of tall purple New England aster Hella Lacey Closeup of a bee enjoying pollen from pink dendranthema flower
October 22, 2025 at 7:23 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Over the past few months I've heard from several writers who received email threats like the one below. None reported back that anything actually happened. Seems like just nasty trolling (unlike Goodreads extortion emails from a couple of years ago that did result in review-bombing)--but be aware.
From: ANONYMOUS <no-reply@mail.goodreads.com> Subject: [redacted], WARNING:STOP YOUR PROMOTIONS ON GOODREADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA IMMEDIATELY! Message Body: WE HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR BOOK [redacted]. WE GIVE 24 HOURS TO VANISH. IF YOU DON'T STOP, WE WILL RE-PUBLISH IT USING AI TECHNOLOGY. INSTEAD OF YOUR NAME, YOUR BOOK WILL BE 'AUTHORED' BY ONE OF US. AN EXACT REPLICA OF YOUR BOOK WILL BE SELLING ON AMAZON UNDER OUR NAMES AND YOU WON'T LIKE IT! AMAZON CANNOT DETECT THIS TECHNOLOGY YET AND YOUR LAWS CAN'T HARM US! NOT ONLY IT WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF YOUR POTENTIAL INCOME, IT WILL ALSO GET YOU BANNED FROM AMAZON. AMAZON IMPOSES DIGITAL EXCLUSIVITY ON AUTHORS. THAT MEANS IF THE DIGITAL VERSIONS OF YOUR BOOKS SHOW UP ANYWHERE ELSE BUT AMAZON, EVEN ON PIRATE SITES, YOU RUN THE RISK OF HAVING YOUR BOOK(S), OR EVEN YOUR ENTIRE ACCOUNT, SHUT DOWN WITH LITTLE TO NO HOPE OF APPEAL. IN ADDITION, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S INFORMATION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO CRIMINALS (THUGS AND RAPISTS) AND SCAMMERS IN YOUR AREA WHO WOULD DEFINITELY SEND YOU ALL TO SAME PLACE AS [redacted] - HELL THAT IS! OH BTW JUST SO YOU KNOW [redacted] TOLD US ABOUT YOU!
October 19, 2025 at 6:43 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Showing the book who’s boss
Photo of Emily the cat on a wooden table lit by the sun, lying sideways across an open book, looking at the camera with a skeptical gaze
October 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Overpass over rt. 91, Holyoke MA
Photo of people on an overpass, waving at traffic over huge sign: STAND UP OCT 18!NOKINGS.ORG
October 15, 2025 at 11:51 PM
victoriastrauss.com
She got medicated today to go to the vet and now she’s extra cuddly and sleepy.
Closeup photo of sleeping white cat with tabby patches, one paw extended, snuggled up on my chest
October 13, 2025 at 9:00 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Here's the email sent by the owner of Down & Out Books, announcing that the publisher is closing and that a "sharp decline in sales" means no further royalties will be paid (authors say that's been true for some time)
For 15 remarkable years, Down & Out Books proudly published nearly 1,000 titles, collaborated with over 500 talented authors, and earned more than 50 prestigious awards. Today, however, we must announce the closure of our operations. We extend our deepest gratitude to the gifted authors who entrusted us with their stories and to our loyal readers who brought those stories to life through their passion and support. Regrettably, a sharp decline in sales since 2020 has made continued financial investment unsustainable. As a result, no further payments will be issued. In the coming weeks, all titles will be withdrawn from distribution channels, and rights will revert to their respective authors and editors in accordance with their contracts. Your unwavering dedication has been the heart of our journey, and we are profoundly grateful for every moment. Thank you for being part of the Down & Out family. Sincerely, ---E Eric E. Campbell Publisher, Down & Out Books
October 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
victoriastrauss.com
I'm seeing an increasing number of scams like the one below, leveraging the widespread problem of publishing scams w/ a faux service promising to fix problems author is having w/ the original scam but really to hit them up for more $$ (note the "Amazon partner agency" claim: there's no such thing)
From: Blaire Andrews <bandrews@royaltypilots.com> Date: Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM Subject: Your royalties on Amazon To: [redacted] Hi [redacted] I’m Blaire from Amazon Partners – Royalty Pilots. We’re an Amazon agency commissioned to help authors migrate their books from third-party publishers to their own Amazon KDP accounts. I’m reaching out because we’ve spoken with many authors who recently shared frustrations that you might also be experiencing while being published through a third-party service provider—such as: Royalties that never seem to arrive or come with little to no explanation. No visibility or control over how many copies have been sold or where those sales are happening. Endless upsells and new charges every time you want to make even a small change to your book. Through Amazon KDP, authors are now publishing their books directly with Amazon — with no middlemen involved. This means: Royalties are sent straight to your bank account every month. You can track real-time sales data through your own KDP dashboard. You have full ownership and control over your books, including the freedom to make revisions free of charge. If you’d like to explore how this can work for you, I’d love to schedule a quick call. Please let me know your best contact number and the most convenient time to reach you. Blaire Andrews Senior Marketing Manager – Partners, Authors Royalty Pilots, an Amazon partner agency Phone: 315-325-9099 Email: bandrews@royaltypilots.com Website: https://royaltypilots.com/
October 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Solicitation alert: a "feature" in the pay-to-play "newspaper" The Worlds Times
From: Sukannya Verma Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 9:25 AM To: info@bnex.com.au <info@bnex.com.au> Subject: Let’s Put You in the Spotlight — The Worlds Times Feature Invite Dear, We’re excited to feature you in The Worlds Times a premium publication designed to amplify your personal brand and enhance your online discoverability. Your package includes: SEO-driven article interview Custom social banner + Instagram shoutout 2 authority backlinks Lifetime publication visibility All for only $199. Reply “Yes” to learn more and reserve your spot! Warmly, Sukannya Verma PR Manager
October 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
victoriastrauss.com
Scam alert: there's an IngramSpark impersonator at ingramsparkbookpublishers dot com. Part of a wave of publishing/ghostwriting scams from Pakistan that hijack authors looking to self-publish--they often "borrow" well-known publisher names but this one also "borrows" the real IngramSpark's logo
Screenshot of IngramSpark impersonator's contact form, with chat window where scammer sales rep "Travis Clark" claims that "We are Ingram Spark's hands-on services department. You will be able to find our information here: https://www.ingramsparkbookpublishers.com/
October 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
victoriastrauss.com
AI slop comes to comment spam!

This was left on my update post about the Anthropic settlement. Reads just like the Nigerian promo scam emails that luuuuurve your book: over-the-top praise, random details picked out of the post to add "authenticity", faux breezy conversational style
Comment from speed-stars.netx saotcchi@icloud.com 36.133.83.214 on my 10/3/25 blog post Bartz v. Anthropic Settlement: An Update for Authors This is an absolute whirlwind of legal jargon and settlement negotiations! Victoria Strauss does a fantastic job navigating the complications spiraling outward with such clarity. Its fascinating to see the judges sharp eye keeping everyone honest (or at least, asking TONS of questions!). And the sheer scale – 7 million potential infringers but only 482,460 in the class? Mind-boggling. Love the dry wit too, especially the part about Anthropics valuation. Definitely makes you wonder about the future of AI and copyright! Great read, Victoria!速度之星 攻略
October 4, 2025 at 1:59 AM
victoriastrauss.com
Hummingbird moth sipping ironweed nectar. I don’t see these tiny beauties often, so it’s always a thrill when they pay a visit
September 28, 2025 at 9:37 PM
victoriastrauss.com
This time of year things in my garden get a bit chaotic, but there’s still plenty of bloom (with asters, eupatorium, Japanese anemone, and dendranthema still to come). The enormous lespediza plant is my fave fall-blooming stalwart
Gravel path edged with tall blue salvia uglinosa and pink-flowered dwarf panicle hydrangea, with assorted greenery in the background Gravel path with pink-flowered turtlehead on right and gold helenium, dry brown astilbe stalks, and gold hakone grass on left A mass of pink-flowered asters, coming into bloom A large lespediza plant in full bloom with pink flowers. Foreground:purple ironweed, purple tall verbena, gold-flowered helenium, and a red gazing ball
September 22, 2025 at 7:53 PM
victoriastrauss.com
From @publisherslunch.bsky.social on publishers' failure to register copyright & impact on the Bartz settlement: Macmillan says it's been "communicating" w/ authors & agents about this & will make authors whole if excluded from settlement due to failure to register
"From what we currently understand, this was largely our mistake and we take full responsibility. If your work was excluded from the settlement for this reason, we will make you whole by paying you what you otherwise would have been paid under the settlement." Additionally, they write: "We are also taking corrective action. Our team is conducting a thorough review to identify affected works and close any registration gaps.... We regret this error and are committed to making it right."
September 15, 2025 at 3:26 PM
victoriastrauss.com
My garden this morning. The world’s on fire but there are still butterflies and bees
Amber-colored fritillary butterfly on purple-flowered ironweed Native bumblebees sipping nectar from blue caryopteris blossoms
September 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
victoriastrauss.com
I feel virtuous. (I've made lots more than 300 posts, though. This must just look at a sample.)
Bluesky Alt Text Rating How consistently do you use alt text? victoriastrauss.com Analyze Share Results 307 posts analyzed 19 contain images 2 are replies 19 posts have alt text Score: 100.00% ☺️
September 12, 2025 at 2:35 AM
victoriastrauss.com
A #WriterBeware thread! 🧵

1. Have you just received an email like the one below from Excalibre Writers' Hub, touting itself as a "learning platform" with webinars, workshops, and author services, inviting you to become a member? Here are some thoughts. www.excalibrewritershub.com
Welcome to Excalibre Writers’ Hub From Draft to Bestseller Like “Masterclass” but for Writers Get Unlimited Access Today -50% for the first 50 Authors code below* Learning Platform Are you unsure how book marketing really works? Maybe your advertising strategy isn’t bringing results, or you’re not entirely sure how to reach the right readers. Or maybe you’re still figuring out how to find an agent, or want to expand your skills in world-building and genre-specific storytelling. Perhaps you’d like to dive deeper into your characters, even exploring a bit of psychology along the way.Whatever your focus—whether it’s mastering promotion or strengthening your craft—you’ll find it all inside our learning platform.
September 12, 2025 at 12:21 AM
victoriastrauss.com
The Emily faceplant (how can this be comfortable?)
white-and-tabby cat sleeping on her side on a brightly-patterned coverlet, with her head turned so the front of her face is mashed into the coverlet
September 5, 2025 at 6:38 PM