Personal milestone - received a cold call instead of an email scam, from a "Gee Cullen" in California asking about my latest book.

During the call I got the name of the site and looked it up. Key result below:

https://www.reddit.com/r/selfpublish/comments/1ffh1vn/digital_bookstore_coldcalled_me/

Victoria Strauss from Writer Beware then quote skeeted on another network to agree that this is most likely a scam, and to speculate on how they get people.

https://bsky.app/profile/victoriastrauss.com/post/3mltco3lyhc2k

#WriterBeware #BookStodon #AuthorsOfMastodon #WritingCommunity #AuthorCommunity #IndieAuthor

I have a fun story coming out in Summer of Sci-Fi & Fantasy: Volume Five, and the Kickstarter is live. Check it out!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scifiandfantasy/a-summer-of-sci-fi-and-fantasy-vol-5-short-story-anthology
#kickstarter #SpeculativeFiction #anthology #bookstodon #AuthorsOfMastodon

My goretastic story The Butcher of Mazdin has been shared online by Slugger Fiction.

I think of it as set in a Conan-style world, but it features a disabled pauper instead of a beefcake barbarian.

https://sluggerfiction.com/the-butcher-of-mazdin-by-shantell-powell/

#SwordAndSorcery #fantasy #ShortStory #fiction #AuthorsOfMastodon #disability

Is KDP still a viable option for self-publishers in 2026? It has pros (massive audience) and cons (Amazon's rules). It really depends on your priorities as an author. What do you value most? #KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonKDP #PublishingTips #AuthorsOfMastodon

#KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonKDP #PublishingTips #AuthorsOfMastodon

The KDP AI and spam update is here, and the author community is buzzing! Some are happy about the crackdown on low-quality content, while others are anxious about potential misidentification. What are your initial impressions? #KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonKDP #PublishingCommunity #AuthorsOfMastodon

#KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonKDP #PublishingCommunity #AuthorsOfMastodon

The KDP AI and spam update is here, and the author community is buzzing! Some are happy about the crackdown on low-quality content, while others are anxious about potential misidentification. What are your initial impressions? #KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonKDP #PublishingCommunity #AuthorsOfMastodon

#KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonKDP #PublishingCommunity #AuthorsOfMastodon

Sad news. This is Eight Bells, by Jules Octavian.

https://countyfencemagazine.com/eight-bells-brenda-hogg/

#Writing #Reading #ON #Comedy #Author #Writer #WritersofMastodon #Readers #IndieAuthor @Bookstodon #Authors #AuthorsofMastodon #FridayReads #BookLovers #YGK #FreeBooks #WeekendReads #EasternON #KingstonON

Amazon KDP is limiting rapid book uploads. This is to tackle the increasing problem of spam and low-quality content. A positive step towards a fairer platform for all authors! #KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonKDP #WritingCommunity #AuthorsOfMastodon

#KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonKDP #WritingCommunity #AuthorsOfMastodon

We had a great chat with one of our authors about their self-publishing journey. It's always insightful to hear firsthand accounts of the process. What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an author? #SelfPublishing #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthor #AuthorsOfMastodon

#SelfPublishing #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthor #AuthorsOfMastodon