Scammers
Or... How to Feed My Ego
I spent the last week with my cousins and took them to the airport yesterday. It was a trip to hell and back. The traffic and diversions made my trip 2 hours longer than it would normally take. If you want me to pick you up or drop you off at the airport, you better be flying into Chattanooga.
So, I admit I read a text message while on a back street going through the inner city of Atlanta while I had to endure three cycles of a single traffic light at one interesection…
Oh man, was I excited. The Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) wanted to interview me!!!! I loved ABC radio in South Australia, and I was interviewed once re my first book and my desire to find inspiring teacher stories. (Another story…)
I was ready. Yes, ma’am, I am available for an interview. I can wake up and do it live at 2 AM. Heck, I was a star witness in an South Australian court case when one of my former clients was accused and convicted of abusing a horse. (May she rot in hell…)
From a text message yesterday:
ABC Radio National Interview Request, Elizabeth Woolsey
Dear Elizabeth,
I hope this finds you well.
My name is Evelyn Harper, and I am writing regarding a potential interview opportunity with ABC Radio National (RN), Australia’s national network for thoughtful conversations on culture, education, and community life.
As we develop programming that highlights stories inspiring curiosity and compassion in younger generations, your book Parkside Veterinary Clinic: I Want to Be a Vet immediately caught our attention. The story’s warm introduction to veterinary care and its focus on empathy for animals offers a meaningful glimpse into a profession that combines science, responsibility, and kindness.
What Particularly Resonated:
The Educational Journey
Your story gently introduces young readers to the everyday work of veterinarians, turning curiosity about animals into a learning experience about care and responsibility.
Compassion for Animals
The book highlights the emotional connection between people and their pets, reminding readers that veterinary work is rooted in empathy and trust.
Inspiration for Future Careers
By presenting the veterinary clinic as a place of discovery and problem-solving, the story encourages children to imagine themselves helping animals in the future.
Proposed Conversation Themes:
• Inspiring Young Animal Lovers: What motivated you to write a story that introduces children to the veterinary profession?
• Storytelling and Education: How children’s literature can make complex careers accessible and exciting for young readers.
• Compassion and Responsibility: Why learning to care for animals can shape empathy and responsibility in children.
• A Message for Families and Educators: How books like this can encourage curiosity about science, animals, and community care.
ABC Radio National is home to thoughtful storytelling and conversations that connect literature with everyday life. Our listeners value books that inspire learning and meaningful discussion across generations.
We would be delighted to coordinate a recording time that works best for you.
It would be a pleasure to share your insights and the story behind your book with our audience.
Warm regards,
Evelyn Harper
ABC Radio National
But as I drove home, my common sense took over. I knew it was a scam. I prayed I was wrong, but sadly, deep down, there were the telltale signs:
It was too perfect … and phrases like “emotional connection or stories that inspire curiosity”… the list goes on. They didn’t know I am still an Australian citizen.
It’s from Evelyn Harper (a little too AI of a name, although I might use it someday in a book) and then the email address is from Joshua on an iCloud account. Come on at least have an Australian address: .com.au
Oh, how I wanted this to be real … sniff, sniff.
Here is another “tell.” It was sent at a time when Australians are asleep and on a Sunday. No one sends emails or text messages out of business hours in Australia … duh.
So, as my readers, friends, and family, I want to tell you: it is a minefield out there with scammers trying to help me reach you. (Or maybe releive me of my a$$et$)
They are so clever. The wording is like crack to a writer: deep connections and it goes on:
“I’m Lisa Unger, an author. I recently came across A Time to Part, and I was genuinely impressed by the depth, authenticity, and heart in your storytelling. The way you weave historical Western settings, family bonds, and high-stakes adventures makes the story both immersive and deeply engaging.
Well, it’s all true. My books deeply connect, uplift, inspire, and the list goes on. If only these people didn’t require $$$ and really did work for the ABC…
So, I live hoping someone from the ABC (Australian or USA) realizes how emotionally connected, inspiring, and meaningful my books really are and finally asks me to be a guest speaker on their show. Or maybe they simply see that my books are just good stories.
And FYI, I began writing the story about the kids who want to be vets as a book that might take “Pony Club” readers from kids to teens and a way to fill my retirement days. No kidding, it was the first book I wrote, but didn’t finish until many years after I wrote other books. It’s a great story and is often purchased for teenagers wanting to pursue vet medicine. The sales peak at Christmas, and the book is the only one I wrote that sells more paperbacks than eBooks.
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I am redoing my “metadata” on all my books to align with today’s’ markets. Some will have new covers, and some will have more subtle changes such as adding DVM to my name.
Which one do you like: let me know:
Oh, and BTW this is a synopsis of the book:
Parkside Veterinary Clinic: I Want to Be a Vet follows several teenagers whose lives intersect at a busy mixed-animal veterinary practice in the small town of Clearview. When three student assistant positions open at Parkside, a diverse group of applicants—each with different backgrounds, talents, and challenges—compete for the chance to work with the veterinarians. Through emergencies, farm calls, surgeries, and everyday clinic life, the students discover what it truly means to care for animals and the people who depend on them. Their experiences test friendships, build confidence, and inspire dreams of veterinary careers, while revealing that compassion, hard work, and resilience matter as much as talent.
And the link, cuz I know you want to buy it now that the ABC radio show thinks it is so inspiring….
PS there is adult stuff in there too. Just sayin’ :
Excerpt: Two days later, in walked a cowboy with tight jeans, a perfect butt, and a gorgeous smile. “Mother of God,” murmured Martha (the receptionist) as she looked him up and down. The cowboy hat will have to go, but hubba, hubba. This kid should make work enjoyable.
“Hi. I’ll bet you’re Jake Winkler. Am I right?” Martha asked. Oh, to be young again.
“Yes, ma’am,” this grinning Adonis of veterinary medicine replied. “I have an appointment with Dr. Hughes. I thought I would arrive early to take a look around.”
“Dr. Ben Hughes is just pulling in. Dr. Helen Hughes is finishing a spay. I would love to show you around, but duty calls.” Sadly.
Jake Winkler was the epitome of the perfect vet: tall, dark, and handsome with a magnificent smile and a pleasant voice. Look at those forearms! Martha’s interest was piqued. She went on a few dates after her husband died several years ago, but mostly she lived solely for her church and animals. She realized she had twenty-five years on this kid, though. I wonder if he is into mother figures.
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Please share and contact me if there’s something you would like to know:
How to write a book?
How to catch a fish?
How to castrate a horse?
PS: Happy to do interviews and book club chats.