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You are here: Home / Blog / Admin / Dirty Tricks and Scammy Grifts

Dirty Tricks and Scammy Grifts

Admin, Blog POST A COMMENT October 17, 2025 by Moderator R

Scam season is upon us again, which means I have to go over a few of the things making the rounds lately to ensure the BDH’s safety.

Comment-Section Spam


Please don’t interact with spam or dodgy links in the comment section.

There is no need for you to:

  • test suspicious links for me
  • tell Dr Babalooba where he can stick his combo love-spell-herpes-cure potion
  • reply to tell me to delete them

I see everything that comes through the blog. Every. Single. Comment.

I get each one as a separate email in my inbox, and because I’m super chill like that and don’t know what anxiety is, I also double-check and re-read the comment sections on the website.

Despite the persistent myths surrounding my Transylvanian cryptid nature, I do occasionally sleep, eat, or step away from my inbox for a few minutes to listen to the children of the night and the sweet music they make. When that happens, something unpleasant might crawl in. Just scroll on by please, it will be drained of blood and power ASAP.

The Book Club Scam


This one started by targeting indie authors, but has now mutated to go after readers.

The original pitch went something like this: “Behold, we are the Mighty Book Club™, feared by TikTok itself. For a small snack fund for our meetings, and a modest fee that pays for these honest people’s trouble, we will read your book, shower it with glory on all the review sites, and change your life!”

Now they’re sliding into readers’ inboxes with variations on: “We’ve noticed your great interactions with Ilona Andrews. You would be such a great addition to our very exclusive book club, because you’re so terribly smart and insightful. We’re inviting you to join our elite ARC-reading team, where we have Book That Hasn’t Been Published Yet about [insert topic or request you’ve made] and you could read it for basically free!

*except a small membership fee.”

I get it and I sympathise. Making yourself noticed as an indie author nowadays is a Sisyphean task and reviews help immensely. On the reader end, having p*tience for years to hear about your favourite character or your long-aw*ited sequel is hell.

But real reader groups don’t promise ARCs for money, and they don’t demand cash in exchange for reading and reviewing. Block the contact, delete the email, and treat yourself to snacks you didn’t have to fund a con artist with.

Well-Known Author Wants To Make You A Success!

If you take a gander at the comment sections of Ilona’s Writing posts, you’ll notice that a good number of the BDH are authors or aspiring writers. This scam sadly preys on those dreams, abusing the name and reputation of beloved authors.

The scammer pretends to be Ilona Andrews (or another popular published name) reaching out (from a free email address domain) to say how much they loved your self-published book/novel concept about the immortal Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space (this is not what your book or idea is about, and implies well-known author has severe gaps in their reading comprehension: that’s because this message is written by AI).

They will say what a pity it is that you don’t have the support your fabulous talent deserves and will offer to arrange marketing and publicity through their publisher, which will ensure the same success Ilona Andrews has, as well as “premium bookstore placement”. For an advance/ small administrative sum, which will be recovered a thousandfold as soon as your guaranteed sales take off.

This is not how publishing works.

Traditional publishers pay YOU an advance. Marketing and publicity services are stipulated in contracts, which are negotiated formally, with lawyers, not through Gmail messages.

If you ever want to make an author laugh uncontrollably for at least 10 minutes, tell them that they could ensure your commercial success if only they wanted to help you. There is no magic formula that best-selling authors are hoarding, and they’re anxious about their audience or retailer interest with each release themselves.

I cannot speak for other authors, but House Andrews will never:

  • cold-email you from a generic free address like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo. All official communications directly from us will come from addresses ending in ‘@ilona-andrews.com’ as domain
  • offer to republish or market your book, or
  • request money for any service.

It’s true that House Andrews does promote other authors, both self-published and traditional—directly through this blog under the Recommended Reads tag and never in exchange for fees! If you ever get a message similar to what I’ve detailed above, don’t reply. Forward it to me at modr@ilona-andrews.com or just delete it.

In conclusion: if it looks weird and too good to be true, costs money upfront, or guarantees you herpes-free eternal commercial glory, it’s a scam.

Stay vigilant, keep your wallets closed, and leave the digital pest control to me.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susie says

    October 17, 2025 at 8:39 am

    There are bottom feeders everywhere! First?

    • Moderator R says

      October 17, 2025 at 8:43 am

      First award, no scam!

  2. Tempest says

    October 17, 2025 at 8:41 am

    Lessons learned:

    ModR is, in fact, a minor deity in her admin powers. BEHOLD THE POWER! TREMBLE EVIL-DOERS.

    I now kind of want the story of the immortal Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space.

    • Moderator R says

      October 17, 2025 at 8:46 am

      Fun fact: I initially had werehedgehog and then double checked on a whim (see anxiety above). There are NO HEDGEHOGS in the US! Who knew?! Not me!

      This is why research is your friend. We wouldn’t want to let down the realism of a were-animal interstellar detectives 😛

      • Jaime says

        October 17, 2025 at 8:53 am

        I learn new things every day. And feel like Texan wereferrets in space would ensure a totally different kind of Ferret Heist. I wonder if that’s the sort of thing the Chinese ferret-badger that helps Cornelius dreams about?

        • Tamberlin says

          October 18, 2025 at 8:01 am

          I sense a short story HA could do for an upcoming holiday.

      • Rangda says

        October 17, 2025 at 8:55 am

        wow! no hedgehoges 😪 …. but they have mutant hedgegogs with distance attack abilities!! – the porcupines!!! (As dog owner I am sooooo gratefull that in Europe we have the cuddly little guys onstead🥰)

        Love you Mod R and Haus Andrews ❤️

        • Moderator R says

          October 17, 2025 at 8:58 am

          Hold on to your hats: Australians don’t have squirrels!

          I don’t know why I’m the “Different continents have different fauna” guy today, but I’m in a Google hole now 😀

          • Tempest says

            October 17, 2025 at 9:04 am

            I think the rest of us fell down the wereferret story hole.

            • Sons says

              October 17, 2025 at 3:41 pm

              Yep. Free fall all the way

          • John says

            October 17, 2025 at 9:28 am

            But wereferrets are definitely an animal commonly found in Texas, right? Right??? You wouldn’t have lied to us about *them* in a blog post warning about scams, would you, ModR?

            • Moderator R says

              October 17, 2025 at 9:33 am

              proud Texan species!

          • Sarah says

            October 17, 2025 at 9:54 am

            My Dutch husband has never smelled a skunk, there are raccoons in the zoo in Amsterdam (I’m pretty sure they’re there voluntarily – they could totally get out if they want to), and when we went to DC he was fascinated by the chipmunks on the Mall.

            He builds hedgehog houses for our front garden so they can hibernate safely. It’s adorable.

            • Sabrina says

              October 17, 2025 at 2:16 pm

              I’ll see your Hedgehog Houses and raise you a Hedgehog Highway. It’s a thing. If he’s friendly with the neighbours and manages to set it up, the hedgehogs will (figuratively) thank him for it!

              • Sarah says

                October 21, 2025 at 3:15 am

                The city built hedgehog runs around the perimeter of the bridge at the end of my street (little gutters that run under the street) so they could cross safely!

          • Mike P. says

            October 17, 2025 at 11:24 pm

            The old discussion between an American and an Australian about Possums vs Opossums is a hilarious look at different fauna on different continents.

          • Tasha says

            October 18, 2025 at 3:26 am

            wait what??? I thought every country had squirrels!!! they are everywhere!

            • john says

              October 18, 2025 at 5:21 am

              Nope the drop bears wiped them out

          • Kat and the squirrels in NJ says

            October 18, 2025 at 12:01 pm

            Mod R, if you really are a Transylvanian cryptid you are the VERY BEST Transylvanian cryptid the BDH could ever have! Thank you for this very helpful post. 🥰💕💕

            Also: no squirrels in Australia? Well, we have too many naughty squirrels who like to build nests in our attic occasionally and then have wild dance parties to wake us up at 2am! (I thought they’d be asleep then….who knew!)

            Anyway, I could package up some of them and send them to Australia if you want? I always try to be helpful like that. 😉

          • Mechcat says

            October 18, 2025 at 5:28 pm

            Regarding squirrels, ages ago I was reading a book set in England, and the MMC says to the FMC something about her dress being “squirrel colored”. Since she was earlier thinking about how boring her brown dress was, I inferred that the Brits have brown squirrels. Is this true? I’m in New England (Northeastern US), and our squirrels r grey. (I don’t remember the book/author, sadly, but it’s almost certainly somewhere in my horde.)

            So I guess my follow up question is about squirrel colors-just grey and brown, or r there other colors and where?

            • Moderator R says

              October 18, 2025 at 5:31 pm

              There are red/brown squirrels in the UK, yes, but they are on threat of extinction because the invasive grey squirrels have taken over their habitat 🙁

              • Em says

                October 18, 2025 at 11:47 pm

                In southern Canada, we have black and grey squirrels in the cities, interbreeding. The city of Guelph also bragged about having a colony of albino squirrels.
                Red squirrels are rather pretty! We do still have the smaller red squirrels, which do just fine in the forests North of Barrie (ie, all of northern Ontario). I believe that they live in the countryside (farmland), too. The bush lots aren’t too large so I don’t know how big the population can get. They’re also quite shy.

                We also have possums, porcupines, skunks, and raccoons galore.

                Thank you for your hard work.

            • Laura R. says

              October 21, 2025 at 5:43 am

              Michigan has a variant black squirrel!

          • Mel says

            October 19, 2025 at 3:17 am

            But we do have the platypus…

        • Anika says

          October 18, 2025 at 2:34 pm

          @Rangda

          Fun fact, dog assisted hedgehog attacks are a thing here in the UK. My Shepard once picked up a hedgehog in the garden and proceeded to run around with it. When my husband came up to him, he bounded over to show it, but because he has no awareness of distance, what he actually did was run into my husbands leg. All this culminated in him ramming the hedgehog spikes into my husbands leg through the jeans. Our dogs mouth and my poor husbands leg needed to be treated and disinfected , but the actual hedgehog was perfectly fine afterword and was released in the field next to our house. As some one who grew up in the USA, I thought my dogs would be safer away from porcupines and skunks but never underestimate the power of Moon Moon the Shepard, also called Cirrus to his family🤣

      • Megan says

        October 17, 2025 at 9:00 am

        That would just make the story more interesting! How did he get to Texas? Where was he born? How has being a werehedgehog diaspora affected his personality? Is this why he wants to go to space? Because he doesn’t fit in here?

        • Moderator R says

          October 17, 2025 at 9:26 am

          The werehedgehog diaspora hath spoken and is heartily sick of the lack of representation!

          • Jean says

            October 17, 2025 at 3:13 pm

            This entire comment string reminds me of those books that you could choose a different path as you read them. I’ve been giggling away for a good 10 minutes! Now I’m imaging texan wereferrets solving a crime in the breach wars. Will keep me entertained all day now. Thanks Mod R 🙂

            • Lynda says

              October 18, 2025 at 1:36 am

              That’s right Jean (and the rest of BDH)! Do flood Haus Andrews with “silly” ideas that may or may not end up in a snippet, short story or more!

        • Tink says

          October 17, 2025 at 12:42 pm

          I think he needs a weremadillo (armadillo) sidekick.

          • MicheleMN says

            October 17, 2025 at 5:10 pm

            YES! And the weremadilla sidekick should be named Tink of course, for the sound made whenever Tink is punted away by surprise.

            • Tink says

              October 18, 2025 at 7:49 am

              That would only happen if the weremadilla was wearing ACME armor.

      • Tempest says

        October 17, 2025 at 9:01 am

        Because you know there would be that person who would point out that hedgehogs are here in Texas only as pets. Plus, I would imagine an immortal werehedgehog as more of a stay-at-home kind of guy.

        Of course, now I wonder if the immortal wereferret has heisty brethren whom he must chase. 🙂

      • Valerie in CA says

        October 17, 2025 at 11:44 am

        We (US) do not have wild hamsters, either.

        We have them in little girls pink palaces with all the food and toys they could want. Just so they can run on a wheel all night. Who needs sleep?

        Lol. Cute little things.

        • Moderator R says

          October 17, 2025 at 11:49 am

          A werehedgehog, a wereferret and a werehamster put on a trench coat and walk into a bar.

          But not in the US 🤣

          • Patricia Schlorke says

            October 17, 2025 at 12:09 pm

            They need their “space”. Ok, let the moaning and groaning begin. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😉

          • John says

            October 17, 2025 at 11:31 pm

            So where were the trenchcoat-wearing weres when they wandered wearily into that worn-down watering hole? Were watchers worldwide want to know.

          • Lynda says

            October 18, 2025 at 1:42 am

            Dearest, Oh Great ModR. Were-[something] implies there is a human body and intelligence attached, and if there is one thing that we know of the human species is that they do NOT know how to stay put…

            So we may well be dealing with the descendent of a were-hedgehog couple who came over on the Mayflower and whose descendants were neck-deep in all the shenanigans that have led to the present day.

            They may have been fleeing persecution by larger were-species like wolves and bears, even…

          • Eleanor W says

            October 18, 2025 at 4:41 am

            Lol, I’m imagining a Gary Larson cartoon – thanks!

      • Elise says

        October 17, 2025 at 2:04 pm

        I love hedgehogs, and not only do we not have them here, but they are illegal in California to have as pets. A local children’s zoo brought one to a library program I was hosting and let me hold it. I’ve been obsessed ever since. All that to say, I’m ready for the werehedgehog books.

      • WendyB says

        October 18, 2025 at 9:35 am

        My niece used to have a hedgehog. Might want to double check your source.

        • Wendy says

          October 20, 2025 at 2:47 am

          Hate to break it to you & your niece, but according to the Ca Dept of Fish & Wildlife, hedgehogs ARE illegal… along with a bunch of other animals allowed in other states:

          “CDFW often receives inquiries about why certain exotic animals – allowed as pets in other states – are NOT allowed as pets in California. The most common examples are ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, gerbils, monkeys, and monk parakeets.

          These animals are prohibited because they pose a threat to California native fish and wildlife, agriculture, public health or safety pursuant CA Fish & Game Code § 2118(opens in new tab).”

          https://wildlife.ca.gov/Living-with-Wildlife#550024037-can-i-keep-a-hedgehog-ferret-or-other-exotic-animal-as-a-pet

      • David says

        October 18, 2025 at 10:46 am

        Well of course, we insist that every share their hedges.

      • Rae says

        October 21, 2025 at 8:28 am

        I’ve always wondered why werebeasts only seem to be human plus beast. Surely some must be beast-beast (the human-human ones are misidentified as shape changers despite only managing two shapes) so why not were-ferret-hedgehogs that are either curled up balls of cute or climbing up trouser legs for no explicable reason.
        They’d do well in space as they could hibernate in hedgehog form for long trips but be agile and wiggly when ferreting about.

    • Patricia Schlorke says

      October 17, 2025 at 9:39 am

      I am laughing to all these responses. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

      Mod R, you’ve done it now with the Texas wereferret.

      • Anna L says

        October 17, 2025 at 12:37 pm

        What if a hedgehog escaped as a pet in the US and got bitten by a wereferret and now we have a colony of US were hedgehogs. As someone who owned a hedgehog in the US I love all of these discussions. Also squirrels crossed into the US twice from europe across the ice bridge. A friend of mine did a whole talk about squirrel evolutions and its fascinating

        • Tink says

          October 17, 2025 at 12:48 pm

          What if a hedgehog mated with a wereferret? Then you’d have a were-hedgeferret! And now suddenly I’m imagining some of the mix dog species as weres. Werelabradoodle, anyone?

    • Rebecca says

      October 17, 2025 at 2:20 pm

      Do Texan wereferrets wear cute little cowboy boots and hats? Cause that could be adorable.

    • Johanna J says

      October 18, 2025 at 10:05 am

      Me too. Sounds like an intriguing story premise. 😂

  3. Elizabeth says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:05 am

    Three cheers for Mod R! [whisper cheer] Mod R! Mod R! Mod R! You’re so amaziiiing!

    • Marcia B-C says

      October 17, 2025 at 9:17 am

      Rah! Rah! Rah! Sis-boom-bah! Go, Mod R!

  4. Hunting Guy says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:12 am

    One of the aspiring authors needs to take the “Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space.” concept and run with it.

    I’d read it.

    • jewelwing says

      October 17, 2025 at 1:27 pm

      +1 My sentiments exactly.

  5. Maria Schneider says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:13 am

    For what it’s worth, the AI messages are very good about generating an actual description of your book. The last three I have gotten that promise to help my books get the attention/reviews/fame my books deserve have done an astounding job of writing a description of the actual book. I mean, one of them was so good, I wanted to BUY my book!!!

    Other authors I hang out with are reporting the same very sophisticated emails. These emails are so detailed, you are positive the sender has read the actual book. There’s no mention in the emails of what it will cost you for all this “recognition” but you can be sure you’ll be hit up for money if you reply to the email or visit the site that is supposed to help.

    Be suspicious. Spam doesn’t sell books!

    • Christine says

      October 18, 2025 at 8:35 am

      I’ve been getting them, but with very sophisticated descriptions of books/series that I definitely didn’t write, and addressed to a totally different person…

  6. Naenae says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:15 am

    “I get each one as a separate email in my inbox, and because I’m super chill like”
    omg…no no no. this way leads to insanity. Mere mortals would go crazy. Especially with a well read and commented blog like this.

    please don’t go crazy…you have so many stories to write for us.

    • jing says

      October 17, 2025 at 10:50 am

      but Mod R is not “mere mortal” 😉

      • Moderator R says

        October 17, 2025 at 10:55 am

        🧛‍♀️

  7. Miche says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:20 am

    I’ve been reading too many canning groups lately, I saw the picture and was expecting something about botulism and/or rebel canning. Please don’t pressure can the Texan Wereferret in his space ship, although it would make a dandy pressure vessel.

    • Moderator R says

      October 17, 2025 at 9:25 am

      Tired: stasis pod

      Wired: pressure can

    • Tink says

      October 17, 2025 at 12:51 pm

      Rebel canning? Canning without a cause? Or canning rebels?

      Reminds me of the TV show Angel…
      “I’m a rogue demon hunter.”
      “What’s a rogue demon?”
      “No, I’ve gone rogue. And I hunt demons.”

  8. Wendy Rader says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:43 am

    you are the best, Mod R!!!

  9. brightfae says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:46 am

    Mod R, you are the absolute best and the BDH is soooooo lucky to have you!!! Happy Friday!!

  10. Patricia Schlorke says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:47 am

    When I saw the picture for the post, I thought “is that mold growing on something?”

    Then I read the Mod R Public Service Announcement (PSA) about all the digital nasties that are out there.

    Digital pests be on alert; Mod R is watching out for you. ☠️👀

    Go Mod R!

    • Jenn says

      October 17, 2025 at 12:43 pm

      At first I thought it was a new treat that Orro whipped up for Luther but it’s not Frinnday.

  11. njb says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:52 am

    Great post! And it’s good to know you actually do have time to occasionally smell the roses, ModR. Transylvanian cryptic nature made me laugh, thanks!

  12. Richard says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:53 am

    Book about immortal Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space? Yes! Must have sombrero!

  13. Emily says

    October 17, 2025 at 10:11 am

    Mod R, you have a cool job and you do it so well!

    Grateful to you and to the great and powerful House Andrews for this blog and keeping space for the zany BDH community.

    I always appreciate the PSAs. (The last one got me to my first mammogram in 5 years. Thanks, Ilona, for the push.)

    • Moderator R says

      October 17, 2025 at 10:21 am

      Yay to healthy mammograms!

  14. Jeanne says

    October 17, 2025 at 10:14 am

    House Andrew’s challenge: the BDH will hold their beer while Texas wereferrets in space explode upon the written page…..please

  15. Debby says

    October 17, 2025 at 10:19 am

    Ok, now I need a Hidden Legacy sub-plot where Bern Baylor develops a computer virus to attack pernicious spammer Dr Babalooba with resultant hilarious outcome

    – maybe Bern is a secretly a closet romance writer tired of being inundated by unsolicited bulk messaging tarnishing his brand (a genre which he is already slightly embarrassed about and anxious lest his family ever discover)

    *did it begin as a challenge made when he once declared a book he saw a female relative reading as vapid rot that any AI could produce better? Or maybe as stress relief from coding? Or concern in his youth for a self-perceived inability to form social relationships outside family that led him to explore emotional connections using written expression through stories?

    – maybe Bern is a white knight responding to Runa Etterson’s complaints regarding the evils of the phishing efforts targeting purchasers of her “Field Guide to Poisonous Fora and Fauna of the Indo-Pacific Region” (required reading in Forensic Toxicology for certification in most accredited graduate studies)

    * has Dr. Babalooba’s false declaration of her endorsement of his combo love-spell-herpes-cure potion made from ingredients listed in her book brought her under FDA investigation/class action lawsuit?

  16. Jenn says

    October 17, 2025 at 10:38 am

    Ok so I was thinking I was going to be the first to say but wait, I want to know what happens to the Texas wereferrets in space … but i obviously forgot which audience I’m a proud member of!! Marvel gave us Rocket Raccoon so it’s really not that far of a stretch…

  17. Lyndee says

    October 17, 2025 at 12:02 pm

    Loving the wereferret fun! Out of logistical curiosity, do you reply through the email or on the website? Like is there a link that you click from the email that takes you to website comment section or do you have to search for the comment that you saw in the email or do you do a reply to the email and it sends the comment on the website too? Either way, mad respect.

    • Moderator R says

      October 17, 2025 at 12:05 pm

      I get three links at the end of each email 🙂: a direct link to the comment on the website; a link that allows me to remove the comment; a link that can both remove and mark the comment as spam, which means from now on that sender will automatically go to the spam folder (in theory, doesn’t always happen).

      In order to publicly reply like I’m doing now, I have to come to the website or to the WordPress interface.

      I can also see the email address you submit in the form when you make a comment, so I also reply to people directly sometimes if necessary 🙂

      • Tasha says

        October 18, 2025 at 3:31 am

        this is when technology makes things so much easier! still a crazy task but thankfully whatever platform you are using has simple admin buttons. so many times with tech I’m like who made this so unnecessarily complicated?!?

  18. Alethea says

    October 17, 2025 at 12:03 pm

    Note: would ready story about an immortal Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space.

  19. Pat McGuire says

    October 17, 2025 at 12:14 pm

    A Wereferrets in Outer Space theme would be a great series! Book 1 – crime solvers. Book 2 – Space Pirates. Book 3 – Mech Warriors!

  20. Breann says

    October 17, 2025 at 12:36 pm

    While I greatly admire and appreciate your dedication and thoroughness, Mod R, I do miss those love spell spams! I get why you remove them (someone might click or fall for it), but they were so funny!

    Thank you for all that you do, Mod R! You are the best-est Mod ever! Even if you do need to step away for 2.7 minutes each day. 😄

  21. Anna L says

    October 17, 2025 at 12:40 pm

    Omg I have just though of something we as BDH can write. Fake spam ads for things in bookmultiverse. Like feeling like a magical dud, take this pill and waking up feeling like a Prime

    • Sons says

      October 17, 2025 at 3:48 pm

      I started laughing too loudly & woke up my dog. That was awesome

      • Anna L says

        October 17, 2025 at 8:15 pm

        Im really glad someone found it funny. I really love all of BDH humor.

        • Sue says

          October 18, 2025 at 3:58 pm

          +1 x infinity

  22. Lynn M says

    October 17, 2025 at 12:57 pm

    Mod R, thank you for all the hard work you do wrangling the BDH. Yeah, I am an Indie author (under a pen name) and the DM’s I get on my socials selling services actually makes me not want to look at my notifications. The pattern seems to be follow, like a couple of posts, send a dm with compliments and then pitch their services; I politely say no, they unfollow. All I want as an author is to find my people.

  23. Lori-Anne says

    October 17, 2025 at 1:00 pm

    I got hit by that book club scam. I did check and there was one listed on meetup.com. But I was still suspicious. I passed, and that person kept emailing me. I had to block them.

    But there have been, in general, a lot of scam emails going out for various things lately. It is exhausting.

  24. Stephanie says

    October 17, 2025 at 1:10 pm

    Okay, but now I kind of want to read about the immortal Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space

  25. Katie says

    October 17, 2025 at 1:13 pm

    To be honest, if I had seen a wereferret, werehedgehog, or werehamster, I’d assume I was either in Texas, Florida, or Australia, so it feels pretty on brand.

    On another note, if you haven’t heard Armadillo By Morning by David Petete, you’re missing out.

  26. Talie says

    October 17, 2025 at 1:45 pm

    I’m still not convinced you sleep.

    • Moderator R says

      October 17, 2025 at 1:53 pm

      👀

  27. Zoë Marriott says

    October 17, 2025 at 3:07 pm

    I’m sure I won’t be the only one to say this, but if anyone (especially Ilona) felt like writing the story about the immortal Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space, I would totally read that.

    • Regina says

      October 17, 2025 at 9:33 pm

      I misread that as “the immoral wereferret”. -lol

      • Moderator R says

        October 17, 2025 at 9:47 pm

        Yeah, he’s an antihero sort 😉 He’s seen stuff, it challenged his trust in humanity.

        • Bibliovore says

          October 18, 2025 at 3:47 am

          OMG. I woke up at 4:30 am for a RR break and found this.
          So funny. Back to sleep now before my work alarm. Not sure what I may dream about now.

  28. Stacey says

    October 17, 2025 at 3:08 pm

    Work does phishing tests. apparently the same people click on the fake gift card links every month. no one is sending you gift cards. you don’t have a package held up in customs. and if you’re not sure if you owe money to the IRS, hospital, or bank hang up, google the institution, and call them directly. No one official will ask you to pay in gift cards or ask for your password. you can even check if your password is in a known breach collection on the “have I been pwned” website (google it).

    • John says

      October 17, 2025 at 11:42 pm

      And I suppose next you are going to tell me that no amount of natural mystical herbal remedies secretly developed by Ancient Indian Sages will add extra inches and girth to my already majestic male appendage?

      • AK says

        October 18, 2025 at 6:17 am

        Bravo, John. Bravo.

      • Heather says

        October 20, 2025 at 5:33 am

        Oh, no, that’s totally legit. Promise 😏

  29. CathyTara says

    October 17, 2025 at 3:24 pm

    One of my Mom’s favorite sayings was: if it is too good to be true, then it is. Right after, she’d say, whoever told you life was fair? While my natural enthusiasm remains, a hard knock life. So it is TGIF, and we deserve a beverage of our choice.

  30. Jocelyn Malone says

    October 17, 2025 at 4:11 pm

    I’m now picturing you with a digital fly swatter and can of bug spray 😂! Thanks for patrolling for us.

  31. Julie says

    October 17, 2025 at 5:01 pm

    “super chill like that and don’t know what anxiety is”

    I relate to this so much!

  32. Rosie says

    October 17, 2025 at 6:02 pm

    All this talk about Texan wereferrets in space is reminding me of the kids game where you work together to help the mole rats get to the escape pod of their space ship without being bitten by snakes.

  33. Cece says

    October 17, 2025 at 6:32 pm

    Well, now we need a book about a wereferret!

    • Mechcat says

      October 18, 2025 at 5:46 pm

      No, now we KNOW we need a book about a wereferret. Before, we ALWAYS needed a book about a wereferret, we just didn’t KNOW we needed it. Honestly, I’m pretty sure the entire BDH would happily follow Mod. R to Nav if she said we’d get to see a wereferret. It’s a good thing she uses her powers to protect us rather than for evil. I think we all know that herding the BDH has to b like the cat-herding Super Bowl commercial. Thanks, Mod. R!

  34. Anna L says

    October 17, 2025 at 8:17 pm

    Im now trying to imagine it like how did wereferrets start? Are they aliens from Bahachar? Are they a result of a spell backlashe? Are they human size? Or are they ferret size like the lizard wizard from Mercedes Lackey stories?

  35. Henry says

    October 17, 2025 at 9:57 pm

    All you I-want-to-see-a-Texas-were-hedgehog-folks just need to go to the Big Bend. The live among the Jack-a-lopes. Pecos Bill rounded them up and put them there to be safe.

  36. Rexy says

    October 17, 2025 at 10:36 pm

    Remember what Admiral Ackbar says: It’s a trap!

  37. John says

    October 17, 2025 at 11:53 pm

    This reminds me: did you hear about the unfortunate Nigerian prince who was found dead in his apartment? It was really sad. He was sitting in front of his computer, surrounded by about a billion dollars in cash that he was completely unable to convince anyone to take off his hands…

  38. U. Kremer says

    October 18, 2025 at 4:52 am

    Dear ModR, please don’t use this picture again. It gives me the shivers because to me it looks like mould or something equally disgusting 🤢 How about a nice monster or wereferret?

  39. Christina says

    October 18, 2025 at 5:05 am

    Things like these scams almost make me miss chain letters! 😀

  40. AK says

    October 18, 2025 at 6:10 am

    I can absolutely say that these scams are happening. I have a big backlist, and I get posts like this every damn day. My publisher writer’s loop members have also been hit. Ignore the weasels.

    Speaking of, my 87-year old dad got a call purporting to be from a cop who said I’d hit a pregnant woman with my car. He then put a screaming, hysterical woman on the line who begged my dad for $10,000 in bail money. My dad headed for the bank. The first I knew of this was a text from my sister saying “I’m so sorry, is there anything I can do?” I texted back “What the heck are you talking about?!” I got over to Dad’s before they could give the box of money to a courier. Warn elderly relatives. This is a common scam from overseas.

  41. Carrie says

    October 18, 2025 at 6:48 am

    Mod R, you are awesome! Thanks for all you do. You do an amazing job. The thought of that many emails makes me shudder a bit. I feel like email nearly gives me hives these days. I live in Florida where personal information such as email addresses and phone numbers given to any state government entity (the water department, my kid’s public charter school, anything government related at all) for any reason (like paying a bill, requesting information, or signing your kid up for school) are a matter of public record which means it can be accessed by pretty much anyone. Since I moved here, I have gotten a lot more spam and political emails and texts. 😫

    OAN, you know that when you put that imaginary plot out there, all of the BDH’s heads popped up like a dog that heard the word “treat.” 😂 I know when I read it, my first thought was, “That’s wild. I would totally read that.” 🤣

    • laura says

      October 18, 2025 at 11:14 pm

      this made me full on cackle! so very true!

  42. Melissa says

    October 18, 2025 at 7:01 am

    I am ever vigilant about the scammer stuff. It is ridiculous but sadly works off people’s hopes and dreams. Thank you for being vigilant for the beloved BDH.

  43. Ann C says

    October 18, 2025 at 7:56 am

    People who try to take advantage of other people really suck. Maybe we can convince the werehedghogs and wereferrets to attack all scammers and phishers!

  44. Laura says

    October 18, 2025 at 8:18 am

    Grasshopper “Werewolf” mouse. Look it up and tremble at its mighty howl!

  45. Joy says

    October 18, 2025 at 8:27 am

    Thank you, ModR, for being the diligent and creative individual that you are! The article truly brightened my day! Know that you are beloved by the BDH!

    Thank you fellow BDH members for being so creative and supportive of ModR and House Andrews! Time spent reading the comments thus far was well spent!

    Sending peace, health and safety to all!

  46. CC in CA says

    October 18, 2025 at 9:01 am

    I coordinate a book club that has been going for a few years which means I am the one cold-contacting authors. I always offer to tell them about who came recently so they can make sure we are a real thing, not crazy people, etc. One of the authors I contacted last weekend mentioned a book club scam, and I couldn’t figure out what the scam would be, but now I get it. Nope, we aren’t going to take your money, just your time. But now I’m wondering how to write the emails. Saying this isn’t a scam is basically a red flag that it’s a scam. LOL.

  47. Nic says

    October 18, 2025 at 9:02 am

    Amen

  48. AP says

    October 18, 2025 at 9:21 am

    My brain went straight to “Pigs in Space” (much beloved, much missed Muppet Show)!😂

    • John says

      October 19, 2025 at 1:12 pm

      I had forgotten about that skit series! You are right. It was great! I know Disney+ has the Muppet movies, specials and general series shows on its channel, but I wonder if there is a specific compilation of the Pigs in Space skits anywhere?

  49. Grumpy Librarian says

    October 18, 2025 at 9:25 am

    Mod R, you are the best! Thank you for your chill and care! Enjoy the sounds of th night. <3

  50. Mary Kate Birge says

    October 18, 2025 at 12:00 pm

    Thank you for looking after the digital safety of the BDH so well, Moderator. I am grateful for your careful work.

  51. Rich Osborne says

    October 18, 2025 at 12:35 pm

    Please forgive my ignorance, but what does BDH stand for?

    • Jazzlet says

      October 18, 2025 at 1:53 pm

      Book Devouring Horde otherwise known as the unruly lot who post here, so you are a member!

    • Mechcat says

      October 18, 2025 at 5:53 pm

      Now you’ve done it: welcome to the Book Devouring Horde!

  52. Lizzy says

    October 18, 2025 at 3:58 pm

    Does anyone else really want to read the “immortal Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space” book now?

  53. Emily says

    October 18, 2025 at 5:01 pm

    My personal favorite recent scam text I got asked me to click on a Totally Legitimate Link That Was Definitely From My Bank and Not a Scam.

    The url was literally the name of a common type of cyber attack. Like I said, Definitely Legitimate, Not Trying to Steal Your Money Why Would You Suggest That?

  54. Robyn A says

    October 18, 2025 at 5:44 pm

    Thanks ModR for watching out for us so diligently and proposing such great ideas for stories!!!

    I got lots of chuckles out of all the were animals!!!

  55. Beth says

    October 18, 2025 at 11:00 pm

    Mod R for the win!!

  56. Nancy says

    October 19, 2025 at 1:13 pm

    Mod R needs her own realm. I’m awed by her magical powers and shamed by her work ethic. I am so sorry that I “overlooked” her awesomeness at this scale until now.

    BDH bows down.

    • Patricia Schlorke says

      October 19, 2025 at 5:44 pm

      I think she shares Nav with Chernobog and his wife. 😉😁

  57. Heather says

    October 20, 2025 at 5:13 am

    Okay, but now I actually do want House Andrews’ take on “the immortal Texan wereferret who solves crimes in space”, though that almost sounds more like the kind of thing Jenny Schwartz might take a swing at.

    Would our wereferret best fit Hidden Legacies, Innkeeper, or Kinsmen?

    Wait! None of the above because it’s a children’s book! New series! Am I a genius or am I a genius?

  58. Erika G says

    October 21, 2025 at 3:42 pm

    Ok, totally late to the thread (What!? I’ve been hoarding the blog posts of course) but this is why I love this space and these people!! Just had to say it. Thanks BDH, Mod R and HA.

    PS When is the wereferret book coming out again?

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