I have written elsewhere about being sweet-talked by AI since the release of my new book of essays, An Eye For Joy: Noticing The Good World Everywhere, and the disconcerting flood of admiring and ingratiating bots who’ve “come across” the book, and “were immediately drawn.” Their deepest desire, they say, is to introduce my book to their network of book clubs in (name a country), which includes (pick a number) of deeply engaged readers. They are finalizing their reading initiatives…they think my work might be a fit for one of the remaining “spotlight spots.” (Spotlight spots?) Would I like to know more?
It’s a scam, of course. They’re trying to sell something. Engaging with them releases a flood of new approaches, and all of them think I’m just great. Sweet talking, in different sweet flavors.
Some are obvious pitches. They have found an error on my website and can fix it. They wonder if I need accounting services, or want to improve my search engine optimization. Or they want to let me know that google searches no longer work; they offer to optimize my metadata. So helpful.
I still receive emails (several hundred since the book’s release) with subject lines like “An Invitation to Engage with Passionate Readers” and “We Think An Eye For Joy Would be a Great Fit for Our Readers.” These bots want to offer me “strategic placement within discovery spaces.” Responding to them, at all, makes them multiply.
But now the approaches are changing to new seductive flavors. It looks like I am now being pitched by publishers. Subject line: “A Publishing Inquiry Regarding Your Work.” Subject line: “Your Publishing Journey.”
These emails have many things in common (likely because they are generated by a large language model). They begin by hoping I’m having a wonderful week.
In paragraph 2 is the tale of how they came across my book and loved it, heavily quoting from my own material, regurgitated and shuffled, and oddly familiar.
Para 3 might be my favorite: “I’ve actually been doubting whether to send you this email because of the high volume of spam these days, which may cause you to overlook this message.” Well, yes, I believe I will overlook this message.
Para 4 goes on in language intended to cause the recipient to come to attention, and begin to salivate. “I’m genuinely interested in learning more about your publishing journey and whether you’re currently represented by a literary agent…If you are, I’d be glad to explain how the process typically works and explore whether it makes sense to introduce you to the right publishing professionals.” Then more. “After learning more about your work, and subject to reviewing additional material where appropriate, there may be an opportunity to explore whether your writing could be a suitable fit for further publishing discussions.” Salivation and elevated heart rate ensue.
They all look forward to hearing back. They’ll be delighted to explain more. They finish with “warm regards.”
These are legitimate institutions and identities…Penguin Random House. Viking. Beacon. She Writes Press. Authors Radio. Literary Hub. Harper Collins. I’m sure there are many more. The emails are signed with actual names and job titles…Editor. Associate Editor. Commissioning Editor. Managing Editor. Editor-at-Large. Editorial Assistant. The signature names turn up on the legitimate websites, with the customary headshots.
The people in those photos have been hijacked. I’d be most curious to know what they are doing about it.
Top marks for subterfuge (so far) is an email with the subject line “Having Issues Signing Into Your Newsletter.” I do have a newsletter of sorts and people do sign in for it, so I wrote back and explained how to do that. Not a good choice, as the second email reveals “Cheryl” is a commissioning editor with an existing publishing house and my book “recently came to her attention.” Sigh.
Pity actual Cheryl. Her Linkedin profile says: “NOTE: If you have received communication from someone claiming to be me, but using an email address that is not ‘@(publishing house)’ please know that this person is not associated with me.”
Falsehood clues are ample. The language can be similar or identical. The emails come from gmail or AOL. If they include the name of the publishing house, it is mis-spelled, or missing one letter. It is never the address.
Also a clue: the bots write effusive praise for a book you wrote ten years ago. And for a book that is not yours. I have never written a novel in which a man wakes up to find his body has been hijacked and turned into a human kidney dialysis machine. The bot, though, thinks it’s brilliant, and wants to help me find the readers it deserves.
Okay. This is the world we live in; I get that. It’s the insidious part that I find unnerving. The language of these approaches links with the deep desires of all writers – to reach more readers, to jump to a bigger circle, to see our work picked up and spread, and as lasting and even useful to the world. To see those legitimate appetites used and debased is offensive. The inevitable little dopamine jump is an insult.
And the language that is personalized to me…what I am mostly likely to wish to hear, most likely to respond to, mostly likely to hear in my heart? Whose is the voice I most want to hear, and what is it saying? It is tailored to me, personally, and that must mean it is also tailored to every other recipient, personally. The mind reels.
My readers, my actual readers, love my books and essays and they tell me so, individually and authentically. These flattering bots, and their deep inviting rabbithole of response and correspondence, sound real. They are not.
This week: a simple inquiry on my email… “Hello, Peg. Are you the author of this exciting book An Eye For Joy?”
Dare I say yes?
***
Thanks to Rain Taxi Review of Books for using the predecessor essay, Sweet-Talked by AI, in its summer 2026 print issue.
Graphics by Wylde Hare, LLC.
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An Eye For Joy: Noticing The Good World Everywhere, from Sea Crow Press. All 5-star reader reviews, available online, at independent bookstores and direct from the author at www.pegguilfoyle.com. https://amzn.to/4nEYfrB
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