🐾 Turning the Gun: How a Scam Email Became My Best Book Promo (Harvey Specter Would Approve)
A few days ago, I received an email that almost made me spit out my coffee ☕.
The subject line?
🐶 “A dog survives 12 days of terror… but only 9 reviews? Sky deserves justice, Lily!”
If you know me, you already guessed what followed: paragraphs of emotional flattery, a sprinkle of fake urgency, and a bold promise to make my book Sky: 12 Days of Terror “soar through Amazon’s algorithm.”
As Harvey Specter from Suits would say:
“When you’re backed against the wall, break the damn thing down.”
So instead of ignoring it, I decided to turn the gun. 😎
🕵️♀️ Exhibit A: The Email (abridged for dramatic effect)
“Lily, you didn’t just write a story. You created a moral mirror… that should be carved into readers’ hearts.”
“How is a story this powerful not climbing the top of Amazon charts?”
“That’s where I come in. I work with a private circle of 3000+ genuine readers (real humans, not bots 😏)… steady, authentic reviews… boosted visibility… organic engagement that Amazon actually loves!”
Let’s pause right there, shall we? 😅
⚖️ The Verdict
Here’s the deal: Amazon doesn’t reward “engineered” reviews - it rewards honest ones.
And the moment someone promises “organic engagement” with a winky face, it’s not organic anymore.
Scam emails like this prey on authors’ vulnerabilities - our desire to be seen, appreciated, and heard.
They weaponize flattery. They sound supportive, even poetic.
But behind all that sugar is the same old bitter truth: they want your money, not your art.
💡 My Light-Bulb Moment
Instead of deleting the email, I realized… it’s actually a perfect compliment.
Because to scam me, they had to read my book description.
They had to acknowledge the heart of Sky – 12 Days of Terror: love, loyalty, displacement, and hope through the eyes of a dog. 🐕
They called Sky “a philosopher in fur.”
And honestly? That line is good - I might even steal it for my next press release. 😅
✨ Turning the Gun
Here’s how you turn the gun, Specter-style 💼:
-
Expose the tactic.
Shine a light on what these “review specialists” promise versus what they actually do. -
Educate your peers.
Many indie authors fall for this kind of “real reader” pitch - but “real” shouldn’t come with quotation marks. -
Use their own words to promote yourself.
I didn’t have to invent a single compliment. Reid W. (let’s keep him anonymous) did the work for me. -
Redirect the narrative.
Instead of paying for fake validation, I’m inviting real readers to share their genuine experiences with Sky.
📣 The Real Call to Action
If you’ve read Sky: 12 Days of Terror or SKY – 12 Tage des Terrors, I’d truly love to hear from you. 💛
Leave a short, honest review on by using this link: for the English Version. Keep in mind that Skys story is also available in German and French. Italian, Spanish and Farsi will be available soon.
👉 Amazon
👉 Goodreads
👉 or wherever you discovered Sky.
Even two sentences about what touched you makes a difference - and helps other readers find the story too.
Because in the end, authenticity is the best marketing strategy. ✨
🎯 Final Thoughts
So, Reid W., wherever you are - thanks for the flattery.
You inspired a blog post, a laugh, and maybe even a few real reviews. 😉
And to my fellow authors: Stay sharp. Stay classy.
And when someone tries to sell you shortcuts, just remember Harvey’s words:
“I don’t play the odds, I play the man.”
Only in this case, I played the scammer- and turned the whole thing into promo gold. 💅🐾
💬 Your Turn
Have you ever received a similar “review offer”?
Share your story in the comments below!
Let’s expose these schemes and lift each other up with truth, humor, and integrity.
☕ Post-Credits Scene
AND ENCASE YOU HAVENT SEEN IT YET, SKY'S STORY INSPIRED ME TO RELEASE THE MINI ALBUM TOOFAN (STORM) WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE TRACK
"UNDER THE SAME SKY"
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