Security Notice - Updated 23 September 2026
Author Conversations with Chris Dabbs is investigating unauthorised emails being sent to authors using Chris Dabbs’ name and the Author Conversations brand.
We now have evidence that the person behind these emails is also asking authors for money.
If you have received an invitation or interview request claiming to be from us, please verify it before replying, sending material or making any payment.
Verify Your Invitation
Official Author Conversations correspondence can be checked through:
Author Conversations does not currently use Gmail addresses to issue official author interview invitations.
What has happened?
Since 16 September 2026, several authors have contacted Author Conversations after receiving personalised interview invitations apparently sent in the name of Chris Dabbs and Author Conversations.
The emails refer to individual authors, their books and their backgrounds, making the approaches look convincing and personal.
The sender has described an “Author Spotlight and Literary Conversation event” and has continued corresponding with authors after they replied.
These approaches were not sent or authorised by Chris Dabbs or Author Conversations.
Payment requests
On 23 September 2026, an author contacted us after the same unauthorised sender went on to ask her for money.
She was offered three supposed participation options costing $100, $150 and $200 for interview preparation, promotional support and presentation of her book.
These payment requests are not from Chris Dabbs or Author Conversations. Do not make any payment to this address.
Received a suspicious invitation?
- Check the sender’s full email address
- Do not send money, passwords, identification documents or sensitive information
- Do not rely only on the sender name displayed by your email service
- Verify the invitation at author-conversations.com/verify
- Forward suspicious messages to feature@author-conversations.com
Help us investigate
If you have received an email claiming to be from Chris Dabbs or Author Conversations and you are not sure whether it is genuine, please send it to us.
If possible, include the sender’s email address, the subject line, the date received and the full message.
Keeping the original email is really useful, especially if the sender has asked for money or sent payment instructions.
About Author Conversations
Author Conversations with Chris Dabbs is a long-form interview programme featuring authors, writers and thinkers discussing their books, ideas and experiences.
It is hosted by Chris Dabbs, a broadcast journalist, interviewer and university lecturer whose broadcasting work has included the BBC and Times Radio.
Chris has conducted more than 90 interviews with authors and business leaders.