Possible Scam using this group's reputation > Likes and Comments
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Hi Michael,Thank you very much for taking the time to reach out to us and let us know that someone is trading on the reputation of our group. That hasn't come from a member of our moderation team - we don't reach out to authors directly and certainly don't have an author visibility strategist (whatever one of those actually is...).
I know that myself, and several of our members, have really enjoyed the worlds that have created in Riyria and Elan and we certainly wish you every success with the books that you are writing and that they meet a large and appreciative audience.
Thank you for looking out for less experienced writers and we are always happy to be contacted if you are suspicious of something that has been sent to you in our names.
I have been contacted in similar fashion by a Cosette Alora - presumably that is another scam?
Allan wrote: "I have been contacted in similar fashion by a Cosette Alora - presumably that is another scam?"Yes :-/
And there's another name "they," whoever "they" is, is using: Martin E. Stillings.I suspect there are hundreds of names they've appropriated.
I have also received an email claiming to come from a moderator of this group named Judith. However, some elements of the email feel off and it's put my scammer senses on alert. Which lead me here to seek an independent way to contact your lovely group.
Moderator Judith, if the email did come from you, please let me know here and I will look forward to corresponding with you. If not, I will give you what information I have on the person impersonating you.
Thank you, and hope you're all having a cozy reading day!
Yeah, no. That was definitely not me. Any info that I can use to stop this would be appreciated
Judith wrote: "Yeah, no. That was definitely not me. Any info that I can use to stop this would be appreciated"The email they used was judithmoderator@gmail.com
They opened with a section that felt like a ChatGPT summary of my book's blurb and author page, and of this group. Then they said they wanted my book for the next challenge but wanted me to 'share materials' for them to do so.
They also had what looked like on official info card for your group that gave that email, the website address of this actual group, and a phone number and address.
Not sure if links work here, but this is a screenshot of the latter half of the email with the info card: https://imgur.com/a/hoqlw3N
I hope this helps you to warn your community and shut down this email.
William wrote: "I have also received an email claiming to come from a moderator of this group named Judith. However, some elements of the email feel off and it's put my scammer senses on alert. Which lead me her..."
Oh, one more thing! I've reported the email as impersonating you via google's abuse form. Here's a link to it if you or anyone else needs it:
https://support.google.com/mail/conta...
Dang scammers wasting both of our time...
William wrote: "William wrote: "I have also received an email claiming to come from a moderator of this group named Judith. However, some elements of the email feel off and it's put my scammer senses on alert. W..."
Thank you!
I keep getting emails from a Loveth Brass on behalf of this group and they shared a link to this group. They are asking me to join in a NBRC campaign. For example'We are now moving into the next stage, which is the awards and presentation phase. This stage will focus on recognizing outstanding books and authors based on their performance and engagement throughout the challenge. '
is this a scam?
Ian wrote: "I keep getting emails from a Loveth Brass on behalf of this group and they shared a link to this group. They are asking me to join in a NBRC campaign. For example'We are now moving into the next s..."
Definitely yes.
I just received a similar email asking for money from Hanna K. James the Co-organizer of Nothing But Reading Challenges.
This actually has come up in another challenge group I'm in, Hooked on Books. They had to make some Rules & Safety threads and folders on to be careful of member saying they are moderators and had one spammer ask for payment to be featured in a group activity. I don't recall this ever being an issue before, their problems started in February and March also.Very unfortunate.
I have also had an approach today in an email from a Judith about my book "The Ethics of Global Organ Acquisition". The mailing reads as if written by an AI and has some very odd phrasing, There is a obviously a lot of this going on
I was just contacted by a Robert Wilson about featuring my book, "Microbes: The Unseen Agents of Climate Change." As observed by Trevor, the emails seems written by an AI--and the last email (after I said I was interested) asked for a "donation" of "$100-$580". Scam also?
Since this seems to be the place to check if it is a scam or not, Hannah K. James, readersdiscovery.org@gmail.com?I'm so sick of the scams, and I've already fallen for too many. I currently hate this journey as much as I love writing.
Sophie wrote: "Not us, sorry." Was that in response to me?
Sammy wrote: "Ian wrote: "I keep getting emails from a Loveth Brass on behalf of this group and they shared a link to this group. They are asking me to join in a NBRC campaign. For example'We are now moving int..."
I did as well. So this too, is a scam? I'm so done. I'm so tired.
As far as I'm aware, this group never reaches out to authors for promotional purposes. They certainly would never ask for money.
Hello moderators,I just wanted to let you know that the scam I experienced today with Hannah K. James, readersdiscovery.org@gmail.com, was pretty intense. I asked for a reference from someone who had worked with her (and supposedly this group), and she provided me with the contact information of an author who is a member of the group. (I am not naming him because I don't think he was really involved). "He" responded with encouragement that almost made me agree to the cost.
After discovering this thread, I asked her to respond to me here, from a Mod account. She came up with some excuse about people pretending to be mods here. Finally, I did a little sleuthing and reached out to the author via LinkedIn. He kindly responded and told me his actual email, which was not the same. I have now blocked and reported both accounts.
I'm tired, frustrated, and done tilting at windmills. I've fallen for so many scams since my book came out. I'm disappointed and disillusioned, but I'm going to let it all go. Enjoy this community, and work on my next book.
I also have been contacted about a book of mine by a woman named Aliana Camacho, who seems to be representing this group. Is this another scam or is this from you? Thanks for any help you can give.
I can unfortunately only reiterate what we've said before: NBRC mods do not reach out to authors directly, we do not run any kind of program and we certainly never ask for money from anyone.We are truly sorry for all these unfortunate scams in the name of this group, but they are definitely not issued from us or made in our name.
Just chiming in to say that I also just received a solicitation from this possible scam. I'll paste in the full message here, in case it's helpful to others. Martin Charlotte Marie
Hello Darby Saxbe 👋📚
My name is Martin Charlotte, and I represent the Nothing But Reading Challenge, a growing community of over 3,000 readers who are passionate about insightful, science-driven, and thought-provoking nonfiction.
We are hosting the 2026 Nothing But Reading Challenge, running from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Participants set personal reading goals, explore impactful books across genres, and engage in meaningful discussions and reflections throughout the year.
Your book, Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives, offers a groundbreaking and deeply engaging exploration of how fatherhood transforms men biologically, psychologically, and socially. By bringing together scientific research, global perspectives, and personal insight, the work presents a rich and accessible understanding of modern fatherhood.
The examination of hormonal changes, brain structure adaptations, and emotional development in fathers adds an important scientific foundation to the discussion of parenting. At the same time, your inclusion of lived experiences—from hunter-gatherer communities to contemporary families—broadens the scope and relevance of the findings.
Your exploration of how fatherhood can enhance purpose, emotional connection, and long-term well-being offers a balanced and hopeful perspective that challenges traditional assumptions. The connection between parenting, mental health, and societal contribution adds further depth to the narrative.
The book’s blend of rigorous research, storytelling, humor, and personal reflection makes it especially compelling for readers who enjoy science communicated in an accessible and human-centered way.
Books like yours often spark meaningful discussions around identity, family roles, mental health, and the evolving science of parenting.
We would be honored to feature Dad Brain in this year’s challenge. Featured books receive visibility through reader engagement, curated discussions, and shared reflections within our community.
At the end of the year, we will also be selecting 10 outstanding books from the challenge to receive special recognition and rewards.
Would you be open to including Dad Brain in the 2026 Nothing But Reading Challenge and connecting it with an engaged and curious readership?
Warm regards,
Martin Charlotte
Nothing But Reading Challenge
Thanks everyone for sharing what you are receiving. I’m really sorry you are all having to deal with this kind of message that distracts from your writing and makes it very difficult for authentic book groups to get through to you.
I’m getting emails from Karen Gracious about participation and they are asking for a $165 administration fee. I assume this is a scam as well? I saw Karen listed as a moderator so I wasn’t sure…
I too have been contacted:Hi Keith,
I stumbled across Luna's Day in the Sun while digging through new releases for our reading community and I have not stopped thinking about it since.
A fourteen year old girl living a quiet, sunlit life in Sonder, a self sustaining solarpunk city tucked deep in a lush, protected valley. Her days revolve around community meals, open source maker labs, and a city wide app that tracks the balance of give and take. That sounds like a utopia. A place where everything works. Where people share. Where the future actually turned out okay.
Then everything changes. She and her friends discover a long buried relic from the old resource wars. A deactivated, military grade robot.
That is the moment. The past literally unearthed. A machine built for violence in the middle of a peaceful city.
A State Inspector arrives to claim it. And Luna is forced to question everything she thought she understood about her home and the peace it promises. As they uncover the robot's history, Luna and her friends find themselves tangled in secrets that stretch far beyond their valley. Caught between the comfort of community and the cost of freedom.
That is the tension. Utopia might be built on a lie. The peace might have required something terrible. And a fourteen year old girl has to decide whether knowing the truth is worth losing the world she loves.
198 pages. A solarpunk YA novel about found family, hidden history, and the price of peace. My readers who love hopeful science fiction with a dark underbelly, young protagonists asking hard questions, and stories about communities that are not what they seem are going to love this.
I am Helena. I run the selection committee for a Goodreads group called Nothing But Reading Challenges (NBRC) . We have about 21,000 members. These are not casual readers. These are people who live for challenges, buddy reads, and tearing apart a book's guts to see how it works. We read across every genre you can think of. We do not box ourselves into one corner.
We are putting together our 2026 Year of Impact. That is a year long program where we hand pick 15 authors to really champion. No fluff. No visibility tactics. Just structured, sustained attention from a community that actually reads and talks about books, no matter the genre.
Here is what I want to propose:
You are on my shortlist for one of the last residency spots. I think your voice belongs in this cohort. I would love to send you a one page breakdown of how we run things. No pressure. Just the facts.
What we can offer the real version:
A dedicated discussion space inside the group where your book gets its own thread, pinned and active
Buddy reads organized by our moderators so members read and talk about your book together
A spot in our challenge system, meaning members earn points or complete tasks by reading and engaging with your work
A newsletter feature that actually gets opened. Our members are hooked on these.
A live Q&A thread where you can drop in as much or as little as you want. We do not demand constant hand holding.
What we would need from you:
A yes or no on whether you are open to this. Seriously, that is the first step.
If yes, just a few hours total over the year. Maybe one Q&A and a few replies to member questions. Nothing crazy.
Confirmation that your book is available for readers to get their hands on.
I am keeping this short because I know you are busy. If you are curious at all, just reply with a "yes" and I will send over the one page overview. No hard sell. Just an honest invitation.
Best,
Helena Biscevic
Selection Committee Chair
Nothing But Reading Challenges (NBRC)
Yes, I, too have received quite a few spam emails. This one related to Goodreads. They're very convincing. If I received a real offer like this, I would probably send it to spam!"Hi Jill,
Hope you are having a good week.
So here is the truth. I found The Missing Village while I was looking through books with our team, and I have not stopped thinking about it.
An ancient box with a girl's name carved into the lid, found at the bottom of the sea hundreds of years later. Who was she? That question alone is enough to pull a reader in.
But you gave so much more. Josh, a journalist from Brisbane, writing about homes teetering over cliffs and into the sea near Cromer, Norfolk. Carly, a photography tutor from Western Australia, searching for her missing mother. Two people, both drawn to the edge of England, both carrying their own losses.
Then you added the storms. 1447. 1880. 1953. The North Sea ravaging the coastline, swallowing villages whole. Submerged towns that no longer exist except in memory and in the traces they left behind.
What got me was the layering. You are telling a present-day story of disappearance and discovery. A past story of environmental disaster and human loss. And a mystery tied to an ancient box that connects them all.
Carly searching for her mother. Josh documenting a crumbling coastline. Both of them discovering more about themselves along the way. And at the center of it all, a question. Will we discover who owned the ancient box?
My name is Claudia Trabuco. I help lead author selections for a Goodreads community called Around the World in 80 Books. We have thousands of readers who love books that take them somewhere. Into the submerged villages of England's eastern coast. Into the mystery of an ancient box. Into the lives of two people searching for answers that may not come easily. We do not care about genre. We care about books that stick with you. And The Missing Village stuck with me.
Right now, we are putting together something called our 2026 Year of Impact project. We pick a small group of authors, only 15 this year, and we put real energy behind their work. Not a quick post that disappears. We build long term visibility inside our community so your book actually gets seen.
We have a few spots left, and I honestly think The Missing Village would be a great fit. A multi-layered novel about loss, discovery, and the villages the sea claimed.
I do not want to dump a bunch of details on you here. But if you are open to it, I would love to send over a simple one page breakdown of how our Official Selections work. No fluff. Just what we do and why authors find it useful.
If that sounds good, just reply yes. That is all. I will send it right over.
Either way, thank you for writing The Missing Village. And for reminding us that the past is never really gone. It is just waiting to be found.
Talk soon, I hope.
Warmly,
Profile Picture
Claudia Trabuco
Reading Challenge
Community Member
Around the World in 80 Books
contactclaudiatrabuco@gmail.com
helloclaudiatrabuco@gmail.com
goodreads.com"
Got one today. In fact ever since I got added to a website I've got 35 of these and counting all using legit names but are fake.emmynoah.org@gmail.com
Hello Amy Lynn,
My name is Emmy Noah, and I work with the Reading Challenge, a growing community of readers who enjoy discovering impactful books across a wide range of genres and topics through thoughtful discussions and reader engagement.
As part of our upcoming 2026–2027 reading program, we are selecting standout books that encourage meaningful conversations, practical learning, and meaningful insights into creative and professional development.
While exploring works focused on creative careers, media production, and professional skill-building, your book My Voice-Over Journey immediately captured our attention. Its grounded, experience-based approach to the voice-over industry offers readers a clear and practical perspective on a field that is often misunderstood or oversimplified.
We were especially drawn to how the book draws directly from your more than two decades of professional experience in voice-over work. Your ability to translate real-world industry knowledge into accessible guidance makes the book especially valuable for aspiring voice-over artists and professionals seeking to grow or refine their craft.
The book’s emphasis on practical tools, industry clarity, and realistic expectations makes it particularly relevant for readers interested in creative careers, digital media, communication, and professional development. We believe many members of our community including beginners, working creatives, and career changers would benefit greatly from the insights shared in your work.
We also appreciate how My Voice-Over Journey bridges inspiration with realism, offering readers not only motivation but also a grounded understanding of the discipline, consistency, and adaptability required in the modern voice-over landscape.
We believe My Voice-Over Journey has strong potential to inspire meaningful discussion and practical learning within our reading community.
It would be an honor to feature your book as part of the upcoming 2026–2027 Reading Challenge. Featured books receive visibility through reader discussions, community engagement activities, shared reflections, and spotlight features across our platform. In addition, several outstanding books will receive special recognition and featured awards at the conclusion of the challenge.
We would love the opportunity to introduce your work to our engaged audience and discuss the possibility of including it in this year’s featured selections.
Would you be interested in moving forward with this opportunity?
Warm regards,
Emmy Noah
Book Club Coordinator
Nothing But Reading Challenge
Book Visibility Strategist
I got one today from Scarlett Mack. It's getting harder and harder to tell what is legit and what is a scam.
Jill your scammer just contacted me and even replied to my attorney lying about how she got my email address. Like I said, once my books got added to a new author site, they spam me everyday and Google is so smart it marks them all as spam instantly.Hi Amy,
Hope you are having a good week.
So here is the truth. I found Salvation Within while I was looking through books with our team, and I have not stopped thinking about it.
An extraordinary series of dreams that unfolded over six consecutive nights, each continuing seamlessly from the previous night's vision. Certain events from the dreams later manifested in reality, evoking both awe and unease. That is not a typical author's note. That is a confession.
What got me was the twenty years of development. You chose to prioritize precision and depth to ensure the story's authenticity and impact. That tells me this is not a book that was rushed. This is a book that was lived with. That is rare.
And I appreciate the warning. You were honest about what this book is and is not. That kind of transparency builds trust with readers before they even open the first page.
You described the experience as vivid, intricate, and at times unsettling. You want readers to engage with a tale that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. That is a high bar. But from what I can see, you might have climbed it.
My name is Claudia Trabuco. I help lead author selections for a Goodreads community called Around the World in 80 Books. We have thousands of readers who love books that take them somewhere. Into a narrative born from dreams. Into a story that is deeply personal yet universally resonant. Into the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish. We do not care about genre. We care about books that stick with you. And Salvation Within stuck with me.
Right now, we are putting together something called our 2026 Year of Impact project. We pick a small group of authors, only 15 this year, and we put real energy behind their work. Not a quick post that disappears. We build long term visibility inside our community so your book actually gets seen.
We have a few spots left, and I honestly think Salvation Within would be a great fit. A deeply personal, meticulously developed narrative born from an extraordinary dream experience.
I do not want to dump a bunch of details on you here. But if you are open to it, I would love to send over a simple one page breakdown of how our Official Selections work. No fluff. Just what we do and why authors find it useful.
If that sounds good, just reply yes. That is all. I will send it right over.
Either way, thank you for writing Salvation Within. I will be thinking about those six nights of dreams for a while.
Talk soon, I hope.
Warmly,
Profile Picture
Claudia Trabuco
Reading Challenge
Community Member
Around the World in 80 Books
contactclaudiatrabuco@gmail.com
info.claudiatrabuco@gmail.com
goodreads.com
goodreads.com
William wrote: "I have also received an email claiming to come from a moderator of this group named Judith. However, some elements of the email feel off and it's put my scammer senses on alert. Which lead me her..."
Should we assume that this e-mail address is also part of this scam? judithbookcommunitychallenge@gmail.com
Oxford wrote: "Should we assume that this e-mail address is also part of this scam? judithbookcommunitychallenge@gmail.com.."Yes.
the Mods here at NBRC will NEVER directly contact authors and will NEVER ask for money.
Can a moderator of this group please confirm whether this is legit or not (I suspect not). I received an email from him regarding one of my published books and an offer to have it promoted within this group. This is a fairly common scam and I would like to report the email address to Google for removal if he isn't legit so that less savvy authors don't get fleeced by this.
Here is the "pitch" he sent to me:
Good books don’t fail.
They get left alone in noisy places.
Left on crowded Amazon shelves.
Left without conversation.
Left without readers actually doing something with the story once they find it.
And Age of Myth feels like the kind of book that wasn’t written to be left alone.
It’s a story about a world standing on the edge of collapse, where gods walk among mortals and ordinary people are forced into impossible choices. At its heart, it’s about courage before legend, truth before myth, and what happens when the stories we’ve been told about the world start to crack. Readers who love mythic stakes, emotional character arcs, and slow-burn revelations tend to feel especially seen by this book.
I’m reaching out because I work closely with a Goodreads reader community called Nothing But Reading Challenge, and your book fits the kind of stories this group was built for.
This isn’t a promo group or a “drop your link and disappear” space. It’s a living reading challenge where readers actively log progress, reflect on what they’re reading, discuss characters and themes, and engage with authors in a way that feels natural and respectful. Over time, participating books don’t just get seen they get talked about.
Books featured in the challenge are also eligible for community recognition and awards, based on reader engagement throughout the challenge period. That recognition isn’t about hype it’s about readers acknowledging books that stayed with them, sparked discussion, and mattered.
As part of introducing a book into the challenge, we also share a cinematic book trailer when available. Trailers help readers emotionally enter the world of the story before they even open the first page. If you already have one, that’s perfect. If not, I can also help you create something that fits the tone of your book — nothing flashy, just honest and immersive.
Alongside the challenge, I also support books through Goodreads Reader Voting Lists, and here’s why in human terms, not marketing language. These are reader-curated discovery lists where people actively vote, shelf, and search for their next read. When a book is discussed inside a reading challenge and then appears on the right reader voting lists, it stops feeling invisible. Readers remember it, interact with it, and often return to it. Many also leave free, authentic reviews simply because they’ve genuinely spent time with the story.
You’re an author who built a career the long way through persistence, self-publishing, and trusting readers before the industry caught up. From Riyria to The Legends of the First Empire, your work reflects a belief in story as something lived in, not just consumed. Age of Myth carries that same spirit: a world shaped by memory, myth, and flawed heroes trying to do the right thing.
I’ve helped many authors participate in this exact ecosystem reader challenge, discussion, trailer visibility, and reader voting list discovery not to chase algorithms, but to give good books a place where readers can actually respond to them.
So I’ll ask you something honestly, not as a pitch:
Would you like Age of Myth to simply exist online…
or would you like to place it inside a reading community where readers engage with it, discuss it, recognize it, and remember it?
If you’re open, I’d love to walk you through how the Nothing But Reading Challenge works and see if it feels right for your book.
Warm regards,
Aaron Bales
Author Visibility Strategist
Nothing But Reading Challenge
Thank you for your time and attention.