The Steve Laube Agency

Many people have written about book scams, but I was surprised to receive a letter about an old title of mine, More than Friends. At the moment, I have no plans to re-enter the writing world. I love being a literary agent so much that I wasn’t tempted.

I’m sharing this because the tactic employed is the same as that in a romance scam. Rather than a love affair promised to a lonely person, this is the potential of a friendship with a colleague, one who supposedly admires my work. This ploy is more sophisticated than one that initially asks for money, so it’s easier to be trapped. Also consider that authors who respond flag themselves as susceptible to the trap. And so the games begin.

Because this letter is now my property, I’m not concerned about sharing it here. I am hiding the author’s name even though the email includes her headshot. She is a victim since the sender is impersonating her.

Hi Tamela,

I hope you’re doing well.

I recently finished reading Forever Friends and wanted to reach out personally. I don’t often email fellow authors out of the blue, but your story stayed with me after I finished it, and that usually tells me it’s worth making the connection.

What stood out most to me was the way you explored the lasting impact that family expectations can have on a person’s view of both themselves and God. Kassia’s struggle with feelings of inadequacy felt authentic and relatable, and I appreciated how her emotional journey was given room to unfold naturally rather than being resolved too quickly.

I was especially drawn to the contrast between Kassia’s perception of a distant, disappointed God and the gradual discovery of His grace and acceptance. The spiritual thread running through the story felt thoughtful and meaningful, adding depth to the romance while remaining central to Kassia’s personal growth.

I also enjoyed Teague’s role in the story. His concern for Kassia’s well-being and his desire to remain true to his faith created a compelling balance of compassion and conviction. Their relationship develops in a way that feels grounded in friendship, trust, and shared growth, which made the romance all the more rewarding.

As someone who enjoys stories that blend faith, emotional healing, and genuine character development, I found Forever Friends both uplifting and engaging.

I’m not reaching out to pitch anything. I simply wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the book and introduce myself as a fellow author who appreciates thoughtful storytelling.

Thank you for sharing this story with readers. It was a genuine pleasure to read, and I’d be glad to stay in touch if you’re open to it.

I wasn’t acquainted with this author, who writes thrillers for the general market. By the way? This scammer is clever not to pretend to be someone like Colleen Hoover, who reportedly struggles with so many impostors that she can’t keep track of them all. When the victim receives a letter supposedly written by a lesser-known author, the correspondence seems believable.

So, who is this author? I discovered these comments in a reader’s review of one of her books:

She deals very frankly and very well with bisexuality and sexual fluidity and features multiple awesome bisexual characters. In addition to this being just great for the genre and for LGBTQ representation in general, you also have to consider the many advantages this brings to a thriller. Literally anyone could be a suspect because they’re in love with/in a secret relationship with/sexually coveting someone else. 🙂

Since I doubt readers who praise these elements would seek my books, I also doubt the impersonated author ever read any of mine.

If you’re interested in forming relationships with fellow authors writing in a similar space to yours, I recommend ignoring unsolicited emails and instead bonding with writers you meet through established groups, such as ACFW and AWSA. Talk to writers known to you who can lead you to helpful, prayerful relationships you can treasure for a lifetime.

 

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