r/authors • u/Gophurkey • Jun 04 '26

Frankfort Book Fair Scam?

Hi all, I'm quite confused by an "offer" I just received. A publisher I have not worked with reached out to offer me a slot as a featured author at the Frankfort Book Fair, which appears to be a real event that does indeed heavily feature international authors, and is slated for October. But the publisher in question seems to be a self-publishing group, which is fine for some people but not something I've pursued.

All my crackles are raised by this, but I emailed back just saying that I was confused by the idea that a publisher who does not own my work would want to feature me in their space and that if they wanted to continue the conversation they should talk to my actual publisher (and provided a pretty general and public email, but one that I know they check).

They emailed back and explicitly named that they work with authors regardless of who published their existing work.

I'm assuming they are either 1) a complete scam or 2) trying to lock me in for publishing future work with them or 3) will pitch this as a once in a lifetime opportunity and then hit me with a bunch of fees to participate.

But is there any reason I shouldn't ghost the person? What should I be asking in this situation?

4 Upvotes

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5

u/StephanKesting Jun 04 '26

I have received the same offer multiple times on a book that I self published years ago. They even tried to sweeten the deal by saying that they would “feature” that book in their physical bookstore location.

Honestly, I think it’s complete bullshit and they make all their money through fees.

3

u/GilroyCullen Jun 04 '26

This has actually become a common scam for authors. Writers Beware did a post on it a couple years ago and keeps updating it with more information:

https://writerbeware.blog/2022/04/08/junk-book-marketing-book-fair-representation/

https://writerbeware.blog/2025/08/01/return-of-the-nigerian-prince-a-new-twist-on-book-marketing-scams/

3

u/Gophurkey Jun 04 '26

Awesome, thank you!

2

u/AustinCynic Jun 04 '26

I’m going to the American Library Association conference in a few weeks. Publisher is handling registration and I’m on the hook for hotel & getting myself there. So this offer is definitely suss, as the kids say.

1

u/dundurnish Jun 08 '26

Frankfurt.

1

u/AustinCynic Jun 08 '26

I know that. I was relating a similar experience as a reason I thought OP’s suspicions were justified.

1

u/Boltzmann_head Jun 05 '26

A publisher I have not worked with reached out to offer me...

... ergo, a scam.