Cold-pitching a movie star got me a handwritten letter. Today it would just look like a scam. In 2011, I emailed Geoffrey Rush out of the blue. No introduction, no mutual contact; just me, telling him his life would make a great book—and that I was obviously the right person to write it with him. At the time I was a rising ghostwriter, but I was by no means well-known. Geoffrey replied in a handwritten letter. (It’s one of my prized possessions.) Charming, gracious, and a polite no. I think about that exchange every time I see another warning about publishing scams—which are coming up more often, because the problem has become so bad that mainstream media is picking it up too. Here's what makes me a little sad: what I did in 2011 and what scammers do today look identical on the surface. Unsolicited contact ✓ Flattery about your story ✓ "I'm the perfect person to help you" ✓ The difference was intent, but intent isn't visible in an inbox. So now the advice—sensible, necessary advice—is this: if someone cold-contacts you about publishing, marketing, or promoting your book, assume it's a scam. Not because everyone is out to get you, but because enough people are. When you're ready, you'll find the right collaborator through research, referrals, and reputation. They won't find you first. Geoffrey Rush probably didn't think twice about my email in 2011. I doubt he'd even open it today. Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Geoffrey Rush's Handwritten Response to Unsolicited Email
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