Another point-and-laugh at AI today, or at those who use it to scam. This morning, I received a very professional-looking email from something called Smart Promotion for Meaningful Books. As soon as I see ‘I came across [Title of Book[ …’ I know it’s not real. In this case, they had read the blurb for The Eastling (one of the old Saddling mysteries), and wanted to add it to a Goodreads list they manage, or something. All I had to do was reply and say ‘Yes.’ But I ignored it for a couple of reasons. Mainly, because it was another piece of AI-generated hopelessness put together from my own blurb and genuine reviews, and secondly, she/it/they/whichever used the phrase, reaching out.
Ah, you think, perhaps it was genuine, and what’s the harm in replying? The harm is that the machine then keeps sending you 100 other similar emails with slightly different wording. Secondly, the opening line proves this person/thing/whatever has not done its research. The email opens with: I hope Greece is treating you kindly, and that the deaf cat is approving your latest plot twists.
You can pick up that info from my Amazon author page – which reminds me, I should take off the bit about having a deaf cat because he died years ago.
Anyway, moving on… We’re having another power cut this morning from eight until one in our area, the Kali Strata and other locations nearby so I can’t hang around. I must go and prepare for that. That means, I’ve got to get in a whole morning’s worth of Tea in the next hour. No, actually, because we have the camping stove to use. More importantly, I need to get some work done and prepare to decamp to the kitchen, which, at the moment, is about the only room with an open shutter and natural light. So, I’ll not hang around, but I’ll put up a couple more of Neil’s photos and hopefully, be more chatty tomorrow.
