Being an indie author means wearing all the hats: writer, marketer, publicist, accountant—and sometimes, scam detector.

In this two-part episode of The Author’s Mic™, I talk about gratitude that actually fits your real life, and then share a live example of a fake “book club opportunity” that slid into my inbox.

Same video, two important conversations: your mindset and your money.

Watch the full combined episode:
https://youtu.be/13B-Kvdi1eY

PART ONE: GRATITUDE THAT FITS YOUR REAL LIFE

Gratitude should feel like breathing—simple, steady, and real—not like another chore on your already full plate.

In the first part of the episode, I break down:

WHY GRATITUDE WIDENS THE FRAME

Gratitude doesn’t erase hard things.

But it does widen the frame so you can see:

• the small wins inside the messy middle
• the people who show up for you
• the progress that doesn’t always show up in views, likes, or sales

Instead of pretending everything is fine, gratitude says:

“Things are hard. And also—something good is still here.”

TINY PROMPTS TIED TO DAILY HABITS

You don’t need a fancy journal or a perfect morning routine to practice gratitude.

In the episode, I suggest tying gratitude to things you already do:

• when you make your coffee
• when you sit down at your desk
• when you close your laptop at night

Ask yourself:

• What’s one thing that went right today?
• What’s one person I’m glad is in my life?
• What’s one thing I’m learning, even if it’s uncomfortable?

A SIMPLE 7-DAY GRATITUDE CHALLENGE

Then we talk about a 7-day mini challenge you can actually keep:

• Day 1–3: 1 thing a day you’re grateful for (keep it tiny, keep it honest)
• Day 4–5: 1 person a day you’re grateful for—and why
• Day 6–7: 1 thing about yourself you’re grateful for (yes, you count too)

No perfection. No pressure. Just seven days of widening the frame.

HOW GRATITUDE SUPPORTS YOUR WRITING LIFE

Gratitude hits different when:

• the numbers are low
• nobody seems to be watching
• your book isn’t selling the way you hoped

Gratitude helps you:

• remember why you started
• see the readers you do have
• show up for the work even when the metrics don’t validate you

It’s not toxic positivity. It’s a tool to help you keep going.

PART TWO: SCAM WATCH – FAKE BOOK CLUBS, HIDDEN FEES, AND WRITER BEWARE

Right after we talk about gratitude, I share a real example from my inbox:

An email from a group calling themselves the Brisbane Classic Book Club.

The pitch sounded amazing:

• “We’d love to feature your book.”
• “We’d love to introduce your work to our members.”
• “We’ll mock up a flyer and present your book to the club.”

BURIED FINE PRINT

At the bottom of the email was a soft line:

“Please be aware that there is a coordination and promotion component.”

No clear “we charge X.” No link to terms. Just vague language.

So I replied:

“Sounds great. What are the details?”

Suddenly that “component” turned into a “reduced fee” of $176.

When I said I couldn’t afford the fee, the next email came back with:

“Well, what can you afford?”

That was the moment my side-eye turned into a full stop.

If your fee is real and based on actual costs, it shouldn’t suddenly become “whatever you can pay” just so you can be “featured.”

WHAT I DID NEXT – AND WHAT YOU CAN DO

Here’s exactly what I did:

• I saved every email—the vague one and the one with the price.
• I forwarded everything to Writer Beware, a watchdog group that tracks scams and predatory services targeting authors.
  Learn more: https://writerbeware.blog
• I emailed the “book club” and told them I’d sent their info to Writer Beware for verification.

After that?

Crickets.

RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR AS AN INDIE AUTHOR

From this episode, here’s a quick checklist you can use.

LIKELY SCAMMY IF:

• They contact you first out of nowhere with heavy flattery.
• The actual cost only appears after you say you’re interested.
• The price becomes “flexible” the second you say no.
• They push for fast payment via CashApp, Zelle, or similar.
• They avoid letting you talk to other authors they’ve “worked with.”
• They disappear when you mention Writer Beware or another watchdog group.

MORE LIKELY LEGIT IF:

• They have a clear public presence—website, social media, events, book club photos.
• Their fees and terms are publicly posted, not invented in your inbox.
• Any fee is tied to something specific: table, venue, shipping, print run, ad costs.
• They are happy for you to talk to other authors or check references.
• They don’t get weird when you say, “I’m going to run this past a watchdog organization.”

OTHER WATCHDOG RESOURCES YOU CAN USE

Along with Writer Beware, the episode mentions:

• Alliance of Independent Authors Watchdog Desk:
  https://selfpublishingadvice.org
• Authors Guild Scam Alerts:
  https://www.authorsguild.org
• Society of Authors (UK):
  https://www.societyofauthors.org 

You don’t have to guess alone.

A SCRIPT YOU CAN USE WHEN YOU’RE UNSURE

If you get an offer that feels “off,” you can reply with:

“Thank you for reaching out. I run all paid opportunities through watchdog groups like Writer Beware for verification. I’ll follow up once I hear back.”

If they’re legit, they won’t mind.
If they get angry or vanish, you just saved yourself time and money.

WORK WITH ME, READ WITH ME, LEARN WITH ME

Want support that’s real—not scammy?

Be a guest on The Author’s Mic™:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com

Free 44-page guide – So You Want to Write a Book:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com

Books – Weight For It (also audiobook) & You Sound White:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com

Indie Reader Society – readers and authors welcome:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com

Listen to The Author’s Mic™ on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2mJ9IIuhz4bjnKKtNf1oO0