Vol. 165: An author’s curse

Why won’t our fans leave us alone?

You think you have problems because gas prices are spiking, the stock market is tanking, Iran is blockading the Strait of Hormuz to avenge the US bombing of an elementary school, ISIS terrorists are attacking American synagogues to avenge Israel’s bombing of Lebanon, and American ICE agents are deporting Palestinians for kvetching about the loss of their homeland.

But it could be worse. You could belong to that most persecuted of all minority groups: American authors, victims of a seemingly endless string of bogus book clubs trying to shake us down for refreshment money at their alleged meetings.

According to Dan Barry (himself an author) in the March 15 New York Times magazine, “a virtual mudslide of fraud” is descending upon the publishing world. “Scam artists overseas, using artificial intelligence, are impersonating publishing figures on illegitimate websites and in flattering emails, to hoodwink both fledgling and established authors into paying fees for services never to be rendered.”

Consider some of my actual recent emails (as well as my imagined replies).

December 15, 2025

Hello Danny Rottenberg,
I hope this message finds you well. I’m Sally Carter, and I’m the organizer of The San Francisco Book Club, a vibrant community of over 2,000 readers who meet regularly to share the books that inspire us.

Unlike traditional book clubs, we don’t assign a specific title for everyone to read. Instead, each member brings the book they’re currently enjoying, creating lively discussions around diverse stories and ideas. It’s a relaxed and engaging environment that celebrates genuine connection through reading.

We would be honored to feature your work, The Education of a Journalist, at our upcoming gathering on December 21. Because our format encourages organic sharing and discovery, it provides a wonderful opportunity for authors like you to connect with readers in a natural, conversational setting.

Whether through a casual author visit, a brief Q&A, or simply highlighting your book during our discussion, we’d love to collaborate in a way that feels authentic and mutually rewarding.

Would you be open to having The Education of a Journalist featured at our December 21st event?

Warm regards,
Sally Carter.
Assistant Organizer
The San Francisco Book Club

Dear Sally,
Thanks so much for your warm regards. Forgive me, but I can’t quite place your name. Since I haven’t called myself “Danny” since eighth grade, I presume you knew me before then. Are you by any chance the Sally Carter who habitually neglected to wear underpants to Mrs. Fredericks’s third grade class at P.S. 9?

Also, are you the organizer or the assistant organizer of your book club? Please clarify. As you can well understand, if a prominent author like me was caught dealing with mere assistants, my reputation would go down the tubes in a hurry.

Oh, one other thing. You said you would be honored to feature my work at an upcoming gathering. Barney Kilgore, my boss at the Wall Street Journal many years ago, once famously posted this memo to his staff: “The next time I see the word upcoming in a story, I will be downcoming, and someone will be outgoing.” To this day, I cringe whenever I encounter the word upcoming. Sorry about that.

Can’t wait to see you again, with or without your panties.
Danny

December 22, 2025

Hello Dan,
My name is Arthur, and I am the organizer of the Club de Lecture Français, a French language book club on Meetup where readers come together to discover and discuss inspiring and thought-provoking books from around the world.

Our members recently selected The Outsider for discussion, and its engaging narrative, insightful analysis, and thought-provoking exploration of social dynamics, identity, and personal journeys deeply resonated with our readers. The book sparked lively and meaningful conversations within our group about belonging, individuality, and the challenges of navigating societal expectations.

We would be delighted to feature The Outsider in one of our upcoming Books and Brew sessions. This is a warm and engaging virtual spotlight designed to celebrate authors and connect them with our active reading community. Everything is handled on our side, so there is no need for you to travel or attend personally.

If this opportunity interests you, we would be happy to share further details and discuss how we can make this feature most meaningful for you and your book.

Kind regards,
Ganit Alex

Dear Arthur/Ganit/Alex,
This is really exciting. I have just a few key questions, like: What is your first name? Do you have a surname? Where in France do you live? Suppose your honored author doesn’t speak French? Who provides the brews for your virtual Books and Brew sessions?

Best regards,
Dan Rottenberg

February 3, 2026

Hello,
I hope you’re doing well. My name is James, and I organize GMA Book Club, a reader-focused community made up of passionate readers who enjoy emotionally rich, character-driven stories. Your work immediately stood out to us, and we’d love to learn more about it.

We truly enjoy connecting with authors to explore the heart of their writing— the inspirations behind the story, the creative process, and the journey of bringing a book to life. We would be honored to feature your work in an upcoming session and host an engaging, relaxed discussion, either virtually or in person, at your convenience.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, I’d be happy to share more details about our format, timing, and how we make the experience enjoyable and seamless for our guest authors.

Warm regards,
James
GMA Book Club

Dear James:
Thanks for sharing your first name. Any chance you have a surname, or can tell me which of my 13 books aroused your interest? Let me guess: Was it Fight On, Pennsylvania: A Century of Red and Blue Football? Or Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen: An Informal History? Say, are you from Philadelphia?

Don’t get me wrong— I am honored that you would be honored to feature my work in an upcoming session. But are you aware that this is word-for-word exactly what Sally Carter from San Francisco wrote to me?

March 4, 2026

Hello,
My name is Gabi Valladares, a book blogger, and I’m the founder of Literary League, a curated international literary platform centered on intentional reader engagement and meaningful book conversations.

As we map out our upcoming features, we’re selectively inviting a small number of titles that feel especially suited for layered discussion and lasting reader impact. Your work stood out as a story that invites reflection beyond the final page, the kind that naturally sparks conversation.

When we spotlight a book, it becomes more than a feature. It becomes a structured reader experience, including:
• A guided discussion within our international reading community.
• A dedicated literary presentation across our platform.
• Thoughtful audience interaction designed to foster depth, not surface promotion.

Our approach isn’t about traditional marketing. It’s about intentional positioning, creating space for stories to be explored, discussed, and seen from multiple dimensions.

If this aligns with the kind of engagement you’d value for your work, I’d be glad to share more about how our upcoming features are structured.

Dear Gabi,
Can you send me your personal résumé? I’d like to know how you got into the world of upcoming features, layered discussion, and intentional positioning. And if “intentional positioning” means what I think it means, please be warned: I’m a happily married man.

A follow-up from Sally Carter

Dec.16, 2025

Hello Dan,
Thank you for your thoughtful message, and I appreciate your openness.

You’re absolutely right— we’re able to discuss and highlight The Education of a Journalist even without your direct participation. Your presence is not required for the feature unless you personally wish to join at a later time for a Q&A or discussion.

If you would prefer to participate at another time, we’re also very happy to reschedule the feature to a future date that works better for you. Please feel free to let me know what you’d prefer.

To give you a clear picture of how we usually proceed:

For each featured book, we prepare everything in advance so the event runs smoothly on the day. Most authors send their materials ahead of time, along with the refreshment contribution, so we can finalize all preparations before the gathering.

What we typically request are:
—A high-resolution book cover.
—A short author bio (3–4 sentences).
—A brief book description (1–2 sentences).
—An optional short author note or message for readers.

In addition, our in-person gatherings include light refreshments for attendees. As part of our long-standing club tradition, featured authors contribute toward these refreshments. Authors usually send the contribution together with the materials, ahead of the event, so everything is fully prepared and organized on our end.

Once the materials and the refreshment contribution are received, we handle everything else entirely: preparation, presentation, and coordination, whether or not the author is present.

Please let me know how you’d like to move forward.

Warm regards,
Sally Carter
Assistant Organizer
The San Francisco Book Club

Dear Sally,
Sounds like a plan. I have just one additional suggestion: Instead of asking the author to pay for refreshments, why not offer your members virtual refreshments, paid for with virtual money? It would save a lot of trouble and expense all around.

Best regards,
Dan (formerly Danny)

Enjoy Dan Rottenberg’s newest book, The Price We Paid: An Oral History of Penn’s Struggle to Join the Ivy League, 1950-55. You can also visit his website at www.danrottenberg.com