In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we sit down with Angela Hoy, publisher of WritersWeekly and CEO of BookLocker, to expose the growing scam industry preying on writers. From fake publishing companies to bogus movie deals and AI-generated outreach emails, the scams targeting authors are becoming more sophisticated—and more expensive.

Angela has spent decades investigating fraud in the publishing world, helping authors recover lost money and exposing companies that exploit writers’ hopes of being discovered. In this conversation, we pull back the curtain on how these scams work, why they’re increasing, and what authors can do to protect themselves.

We also dive into the evolving role of AI in publishing, the risks it introduces, and the growing concerns surrounding Amazon KDP account terminations and unpaid royalties. If you’re an author navigating today’s publishing landscape, this episode will help you spot red flags before it’s too late.

Whether you’re self-publishing, traditionally publishing, or building an author business, understanding how these scams operate is essential for protecting your work, your rights, and your career.

In this episode we discuss:

Angela also shares real examples of authors losing tens of thousands—and even hundreds of thousands—of dollars to sophisticated scams.

Learn more from Angela Hoy

Pros Talking Prose is a podcast about the craft of writing, the realities of publishing, and the business of being an author. Hosted by Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert, the show explores industry trends, writing craft, and the challenges authors face in today’s publishing world.

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