Over the last week, lots of scammers pretending to be famous authors have reached out to me. My recent email conversation with Fake Elena Ferrante (elenaferrante510@gmail.com) was short and sweet:
Elena: Hi, I’m Elena Ferrante! I’m a novelist and former journalist. You might know me from My Brilliant Friend and the rest of the Neapolitan series, which explores the lives and friendships of women in a vividly rendered world. My books include My Brilliant Friend, The Story of the Lost Child, and The Days of Abandonment. Readers have described them as powerful, deeply emotional, and full of strong, complex characters. I’d love to hear more about your own writing as well! Best regards, Elena Ferrante
Me: Elena, It’s great to hear from you. It’s been so long since we last met. I’ve signed with a new agent since then who has incredible marketing savvy… and could vault you into an even higher tier of sales. Would you like me to put you in touch with him?
Elena: Dear Lee, It’s lovely to hear from you after all this time. I’m very glad to know your new agent has been such a strong support for your work that is a gift every writer hopes for. Thank you for thinking of me and for the generous offer to make an introduction. At the moment, I am already working with a marketing agency that has been assisting me closely. They understand my approach to privacy and the unique ways my books reach readers. But if you are interested, I would be more than happy to connect you with them. They have been excellent partners and I can recommend them with confidence. I hope your writing continues to flourish and I’d love to hear how your latest projects are progressing. With warm regards, Elena Ferrante
Me: My marketing agency is terrific. They are the ones you recommended to me at our lunch. Which reminds me, how is Hal doing?
After that… crickets. She was gone.
I’ve never met the real Elena Ferrante, and I made up Hal….but the idea of trying to respond to that email without tripping over themselves scared them off.
I have also had conversations with her. This came from Elena: at elenaferrante800@gmail.com
Dear Sammy,
Fabulous Female Musicians is such an inspiring and necessary collection. The way you allowed these women’s voices to shine honestly, vulnerably, and with such passion felt both empowering and deeply human. As a fellow author, I really appreciate how thoughtfully you approached each interview, giving space for their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs to breathe. It’s the kind of work that not only documents a moment in music history but also encourages the next generation to believe that their voices matter.
Your book reminded me how powerful storytelling can be in shaping culture and opening doors that were once closed. I’m curious, have you engaged in any book promotion or conversations with music communities so far, and has that shaped how readers connect with these musicians’ stories?
Warm regards, Elena ferrante
I replied:
Elena Darling, how the heck are you?
Have you changed your email address, and when are we going to see you again?
I loved the BAFTs – you should have come, we missed you. I understand, though, that your hearing means you find the noise levels too much.
How is Silver? I bet she is climbing the curtains with all this rain and dark weather.
Anyhow, you know about how we market my books, so I am not exactly sure what you are asking – or why?
Give me a call and we can catch up properly – hopefully over a glass of bubbly.
Oh, and by the way, I still have your cards – do you want them back?
Love and gorgeousness, and do give Silver a hug and tummy rub from me.
Sammy
Made up BAFTs and Silver of course.
This is in addition to another conversation with ‘Elena’ last month – different email. She gets about!
Brilliant! How did “she” respond that?