Hi Folks,
This is my second post: somewhere way back when, meaning only a few days ago, I was one of those "A Message for Christopher Hill" posters who saw the writing (graffiti?) on the wall, but was hoping against hope that our pal Mr. Hill wasn't scamming absolutely everyone.
There was at least some reason for my hope. My wife is from Spain, where scamming in various fields is a highly developed art form, and through the sad experiences of friends I am familiar with one Spanish type. In real estate it often happens that houses are sold on speculation, before they are built, which gives builders up-front money, and gives buyers a lower price. But what often happens is that a group of initial buyers will get their homes done beautifully, and at very reasonable rates, encouraging lots of other people to want in. It is this second group that finds itself with a vanished builder, an unbuilt or partially-built home, and an empty bank account.
Thus I was hoping that maybe I'd be one of the lucky few to secure a lifeboat on the Titanic. Sadly, not so.
I may also be the reason Mr. Hill decided to say he was moving to Spain. Throughout the summer I was in Spain, where my wife and I have a farm. I was in regular contact with Hill, telling stories and generally talking up the place. When it came time for the scammer to scat, "Spain" may thus have been in his thoughts. But, my friends, I wouldn't count on his body actually being there. As with one of the earlier posters, I'm of the mind that he is likely not far from Scotland where, many of you have confirmed, he was spotted in person.
I have one new mystery for all of you to contemplate: my query to Mr. Hill's new
[email protected] address was bounced back, yielding the following Out of Office AutoReply from one Mr. David Patterson:
David Patterson has left PublicAffairs. If you are inquiring after an editorial matter that requires a response please contact Lindsay Jones, Assistant Editor, or Clive Priddle, Editorial Director, at
[email protected] or
[email protected].
More for amusement than anything else, I'll follow this up. Those of you who are seriously interested in tracking down Mr. Hill might also find it useful. And who knows, maybe one of us will be able to make a contact leading to publication! Unlike Hill & Hill Literary Agency, PublicAffairs Books and the persons listed actually exist.
As for my bona fides, I am a full professor at the University of Texas at Brownsville, host of a radio talk show, and the President of our Academic Senate. I am also the author of two books, a trade book published by Simon & Schuster, and an academic book published by the Air University Press (the press of the U.S. Air Force). When my most recent (non-fiction) book was completed I sent queries to a number of agents. Mr. Hill was the first to reply, and so I simply went with him. Fortunately neither my job, bank account, nor ego (well, the last isn't entirely so) have been unduly damaged by Mr. Hill's antics.
Unlike many of you, I have no problem posting my name and address. Should Mr. Hill actually make good on his threats to bring suit against critics, I'm sure our university's attorneys would very much enjoy the fight. And, in the event Mr. Hill himself is reading all this: Christopher, you may be certain that if a single sentence of my manuscript finds its way into print elsewhere, you will have a battalion of American lawyers dragging you into court for intellectual property infringement. My suggestion to you, my dear Mr. Hill? Take the eighty quid and run. Fast and far. And, believe me, Spain isn't far enough.
As for all the rest of you who have been scammed, should you need my help in a subsequent legal case against Hill & Hill, I would be delighted to do whatever I can.
David E. Pearson, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Academic Senate President
University of Texas at Brownsville
I've just dusted out the synopsis, sales pitch letter and author profile that I put together over a year ago. I was pretty certain I'd have to rewrite them, but have been pleasantly surprised at how few changes I need to make.
