Sun > Status Update

I'm only requested (and obtained) refunds on pre-order; It's absolutely my personal POV, but I would feel an abuser if I claim a refund for a product that I received and about which I had no claim at the time. Also besides there is a margin of probability that innocent third parties related to the making / marketing / selling of SH titles may be affected by the refunds, and while one of these third parties is the super-powerful Amazon I don't know who and how many more there are there. It seems much more serious to me to harm an innocent than diminish the punishment to a guilty, no matter how this angers me.

If you ask for refunds you can use the money to buy some other book from the same publisher so they don't lose money over this.

Paula wrote: "I understand and support readers' and reviewers' decision to no longer purchase or promote SH's work. His actions caused extensive damage to individuals and to the members of the mm community who l..."

The problem is that GoodReads has a policy against saying anything that could be considered to be bad about the author in a review on GoodReads; it's supposed to be all about the book, not the author. We put it in there, the review is getting taken down, or so I'm told, and we might even get banned if we do it enough. So, I put a link in my removed review to Riptides's statement, and I'm hoping that is enough of a work around that it will stick but we'll see.

@Paula

I stand to argue. I witnessed quite a few scandals here on GR since I became a member in 2009 and then rejoined in 2010. There are some authors that do not exist to me anymore. I don't look them up and I don't see/notice them here on GR.

Do I not remember them? On the contrary. Their names are seared into my brain. And if you want a reminder, there is always Google.

However, if you are talking about new members and younger people joining, then you have a point. This is why I personally left a small trail behind and if anyone asks me why I removed my reviews and ratings, I will be happy to point them in the right direction.

Bianca wrote: "Shared some of what happened with a big YouTube/BookTuber. Hoping to get a bit more exposure. My channel is new, and while having a video is great, someone with an even bigger platform covering it ..."

I do believe Christopher Rice himself starred an SH book at some point and I think they were "friends" on GR! So he might just have a vested interest in fighting for what's right [in fact, from his online presence and how he represents himself, it SEEMS he would want to fight for what's right and be a part of it]!!
I HIGHLY doubt [and I mean I really REALLY doubt] Christopher Rice has ANY clue at all about what's been happening! I mean it's pure speculation on my part (in terms of what CR would think or how he'd react), but I'm confident he'd appreciate the knowledge/information (any DECENT person would) ... and he is DEFINITELY a "bigger platform"! Just saying ;-) ... !!

Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ & MANTIES Champion wrote: "Just FYI, Shams still has over 300 patrons. I'm guessing they're the ride or die fans but here's a way for everyone to shut down that source of income for them w/step by step instructions: https://..."

Thank you.

Jane wrote: "I don't get the people who are willing to overlook everything to read the books. It's sad when an author doesn't finish a series through lack of inspiration or ill-health/death, but when all is sai..."

Ditto

That's true, Kael! I'll hit him up too and see what he has to say.

Bianca wrote: "That's true, Kael! I'll hit him up too and see what he has to say."

Maybe tomorrow?? I’d hate to bother his 40th Birthday

Paul wrote: "Bianca wrote: "That's true, Kael! I'll hit him up too and see what he has to say."

Maybe tomorrow?? I’d hate to bother his 40th Birthday"

Ya, just saw as I hit his twitter feed! lol

Definitely not gonna ruin his big day.

Fenriz wrote: "If you ask for refunds you can use the money to buy some other book from the same publisher so they don't lose money over this."

The publishers will still lose money though, since they'll need to pay the second author royalties.

Unfortunately it seems like something the publishers in question will just have to weather.

*~*~*Kael*~*~* wrote: "Bianca wrote: "Shared some of what happened with a big YouTube/BookTuber. Hoping to get a bit more exposure. My channel is new, and while having a video is great, someone with an even bigger platfo..."

He knows. Someone has told him already, I'm told.

Coltostallion wrote: "For this reason I will NOT be removing my reviews of ICOS because I fully support Ais and would rather give some partial support to SH than to in any way harm someone who doesn't deserve it. "


I just made Ais first author on all the ICoS books. Petty, I know. Don't care. I know she wouldn't me to take him/her off altogether, and this way the books list under her name.

I wish we had all the important links in one post at the top of this thread.

Anyone know where that tumbler link to the great recap is located?

I'm drafting an email for the two remaining publishers.

Тамрико wrote: "@Paula

I stand to argue...However, if you are talking about new members and younger people joining, then you have a point. This is why I personally left a small trail behind and if anyone asks me why I removed my reviews and ratings, I will be happy to point them in the right direction..."

Yes, thank you for clarifying my point @Тамрико. That is exactly what I meant. I'm not worried about people who area ware of the situation forgetting, I'm worried about people being able to find out about it to begin with. I suspect that the percentage of current readers who are even aware of this controversy right now is much smaller than we think. For example, I don't follow authors on social media and don't participate in GR groups, so I only found out about what SH did because a popular reviewer made an oblique reference to the situation in a review of a book by a different author).

The likelihood of future readers finding out and understanding why they should not seek out SH's work will be practically nill if all the big blogs just erase him and his actions without any sort of trail.

Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ & MANTIES Champion wrote: "Just FYI, Shams still has over 300 patrons. I'm guessing they're the ride or die fans but here's a way for everyone to shut down that source of income for them w/step by step instructions: https://..."

I just reported him following the instructions. FYI, you must have a Payreon account and be logged in to report creator. The Report Creator link does not show up in mobile view. You have to be in desktop view, which is wonky, but still doable, on a mobile device.

I used this thread link as evidence. I hope that's enough.

If enough people report SH with this link, I'm hoping Patreon will take Shamtino down.

This, Fabi? The Salt Miners

Bianca wrote: "This, Fabi? The Salt Miners"

Yes! Thank you! brb with the text of my email

Oh and Bianca, I'm using that instead of your video because it contains so many receipt links. I still love your video!

Fabi wrote: "Bianca wrote: "This, Fabi? The Salt Miners"

Yes! Thank you! brb with the text of my email

Oh and Bianca, I'm using that instead of your video because it contains so many receipt links. I still lo..."

Sending a pub a YouTube video might be less convincing! lol No worries, and thank you! xoxo

~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Dani, I hope my post asking the question about this initially didn't put you in an uncomfortable position. If I caused you any upset or hurt by opening that can of worms I am trul..."

I'm only known both of you through their interventions on GR and comments on social networks. For me is clear who is who ...

I DO BELIEVE YOU

Ok, in response to Ami's post above re the two remaining publishers.

This is my email to Berkley (SH is publishing with their Penguin Random House division)

The text doesn't matter as much, but if we all use the same/similar heading, it may get their attention. Feel free to copy and paste mine.

I'll do St. Martin tomorrow. It'll be slightly different. Something along the lines of ... I believe you may have contracted with author xxx for XXX series. Please be advised...I would appreciate your ethical response to be retraction of ... Contract. IDK I'll write it tomorrow. Getting tired now.

So, I've deleted my reviews, have almost finished writing to all the publishers (2 before, 1 tonight and 1 tomorrow) and reported SH to Patreon following the instructions posted on this thread.

If there is anything else I can do, please let me know. This still feels like little recompense for previously supporting this villain.

Email text below ------

To: ConsumerServices@PenguinRandomHouse.com


Subject: Your Author Santino Hassell Unethical and Fraudulent Behavior

One of your authors writing by the name Santino Hassell has recently been exposed as displaying fraudulent and unethical behavior.

A brief summary full of links to receipts can be found here:

https://thesaltminers.tumblr.com/post...

In response, two other publishing houses have cancelled their contracts with this author. Their statements are linked below:

Riptide Publishing
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...

Dreamspinners Press
https://mobile.twitter.com/dreamspinn...

In addition, bloggers are racing to remove any mention of this author from their sites. Retailers are quick to refund any purchases for consumers even if the purchases are well past return policy dates.

As a concerned consumer, I respectfully request your attention to this matter and hope you will address the issue by discontinuing the sale of this author's books.

Sincerely,
Fabi

Hit up Peter Monn and Kendal Rae.

Be kinda ironic (in a badly applied use of the word) if a drama channel covered this.

Thanks Dani! I didn't realize you had to be a member to report Shams.

(Shameless plug coming)

If anyone who's not a patron & is considering joining. Cordelia Kingsbridge (squee) has a patreon & it only costs $1... https://www.patreon.com/user/posts?u=...

I'll just slink away now. 👋

I have been humbly following this story for the past few days, reading account after account, sick to my stomach. To the victims, I believe you and I support you. Noah, Jenn, Susan, and others, I am so sorry that this happened to you and I hope that knowing that people are hearing you and believing you helps.

To the authors who participated in this farce, no matter what part they played, karma is a bitch and she will come for them. They will feel it in their wallets as so many of us will never read another work they put out, but there is a bigger payback coming for them one day.

The thing I love most about our community is that we are there for each other, more than any other community of readers. We support and care about each other. No other genre of books has such a family behind it. So we'll fight against this disgusting evil and win.

Fabi wrote: "Ok, in response to Ami's post above re the two remaining publishers.

This is my email to Berkley (SH is publishing with their Penguin Random House division)"

I'm using your email as I'm emailing Penguin Random Division too. Sorry for that. I'm not a native English speaker. I figure it's easier for me to use template

Lyra wrote: "Paula wrote: "I understand and support readers' and reviewers' decision to no longer purchase or promote SH's work. His actions caused extensive damage to individuals and to the members of the mm c..."
I'm trying it this way. One-starring the book to hit their ratings. And then updating it as follows: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My hope, is that the language is constructed in such a way that goodreads will leave it alone. And vague enough that no one can complain that I haven't 'proved' that any particular book was taint.

I cannot tell you what it did to my heart. Like Sandyco, I thought, perhaps I can compartmentalize enough to enjoy the books which provided me with such joy during times when I most needed it.

Maybe in a hundred years, as with any number of other problematic dead white writers. What I felt, just seeing my review was rage...and heartsick. How can anyone, be so predatory, so depraved? Cultivating people at their most vulnerable, grooming them until they shared intimate secrets, ghost them and then fucking use those confidences as fodder for their books? It's just so unnecessary. And so evil. Bastards.

Bianca wrote: "This, Fabi? The Salt Miners"

Make sure to use the link for part 1 :)

Josy wrote: "Bianca wrote: "This, Fabi? The Salt Miners"

Make sure to use the link for part 1 :)"

Uups, sorry! I didn't see that you'd alright written the email.

Ami wrote: "Fabi wrote: "Ok, in response to Ami's post above re the two remaining publishers.

This is my email to Berkley (SH is publishing with their Penguin Random House division)"

I'm using your email as ..."

No problem.at all. That's why I posted it. That way it's an easy copy and paste for anyone that doesn't want to write their own.

Again, the important thing is to make the subject same/similar so multiple emails calls attention to a common issue.

Also, if you write your own, don't forget to explicitly ask for the action you want them to take. Mine is at the end of the text.

Josy wrote: "Bianca wrote: "This, Fabi? The Salt Miners"

Make sure to use the link for part 1 :)"

I thought about that but the first part is directly below part 2 right? I didn't see a quick way to get to the part 1 URL. I should have waited until I wasn't so tired.

But I do urge everyone to send an email or Twitter DM which I also did earlier today like Susan requested.

We're a small(ish) community so it's going to take every one of us to be heard above the masses.

I'll be blunt. I believe Megan like I believe Trump is the best president ever.

Not at all.

Paula wrote: "The likelihood of future readers finding out and understanding why they should not seek out SH's work will be practically nill if all the big blogs just erase him and his actions without any sort of trail. ..."

I have the link to Riptide's statement and the most important links to Twitter and tumblr in my reviews and so far they are still there. I think I changed the first ones 3 or 4 days ago. I've even seen authors link the Riptide statement (Kaje Harper, I think?) Either GR has too much to do or they allow it?

Fabi wrote: "Josy wrote: "Bianca wrote: "This, Fabi? The Salt Miners"

Make sure to use the link for part 1 :)"

I thought about that but the first part is directly below part 2 right? I didn't see a quick way ..."

There's a link right at the top of the second post to take you to the first post.

I just want to interrupt this thread to say thank you again to Susan. I'm not active on social media really and if you hadn't posted this thread I really feel like I could still be in the dark about all this.

And to Jenn and Susan about whom SH lied to me personally, and Nikki for leading the fight, and everyone who felt alone, ostracized by the lies of a predator who did so much damage to the m/m community on GR, thank you for your AWESOME.

Josy wrote: "Paula wrote: "The likelihood of future readers finding out and understanding why they should not seek out SH's work will be practically nill if all the big blogs just erase him and his actions with..."

I imagine it's much the same as when people post links to articles about plagiarism in their review space. Those are allowed to stay, so I don't see why these wouldn't be allowed to stay either.

Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "I imagine it's much the same as when people post links to articles about plagiarism in their review space. Those are allowed to stay, so I don't see why these wouldn't be allowed to stay either. "

Oh, that's great! I didn't know that. Thank you :) And also thank you for pointing out the link to part 1 of the tumblr post. I just got up and am still a bit slow. Haven't had my first coffee yet, lol!

I wonder if anyone ever sent donations through USPS.

(To explain -- any illegal activity that involves the USPS makes the activity a federal crime. That therefore means federal charges, federal court, and federal prison.)

Chaos, I hear you. I am sorry to hear that happened. :(

Some of the authors who may or may not have known (again, some) are themselves not the nicest regardless of their association to SH.

The issue I've had from afar for quite some time is that a lot of authors get away with horrendous behavior. Why? Readers are willing to overlook it. I can think of a handful of authors people fawn over who are just not nice people.

When you work behind the scenes or are a fly on the wall in interesting places, you see a lot.

ChaosMoon wrote: "I had my own horrible abusive email exchange with Sadie Sins when I emailed to ask about where to buy her books. She had pulled them from KU, after a long disturbing rant. Then, I found her website..."

I'm sorry you were treated that way, and more than once. That's not how a reader should ever be treated.

Samantha wrote: "Chaos, I hear you. I am sorry to hear that happened. :(

Some of the authors who may or may not have known (again, some) are themselves not the nicest regardless of their association to SH.

The is..."

Yes, I lived in L.A. a long time. I would never voluntarily go out of my way to meet a famous person. I understand everyone has bad days and everyone is human but it is very difficult to meet someone you admire and have them be a wanker. It's my fault that I forgot that should apply online as well as in person, authors as well as actors, etc. My bad.

ChaosMoon wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Chaos, I hear you. I am sorry to hear that happened. :(

Some of the authors who may or may not have known (again, some) are themselves not the nicest regardless of their associati..."

You can't take the blame for someone being a jerk. Sometimes people are just not good. Nothing you can do about it. The thing is, a lot of the people who are the worst are the best at manipulating appearences and people.

LenaLena wrote: "Coltostallion wrote: "For this reason I will NOT be removing my reviews of ICOS because I fully support Ais and would rather give some partial support to SH than to in any way harm someone who does..."

Not at all petty, a good solution. I deleted reviews for SH's solo works but was on the fence about some of the co-authored ones. Some, like Strong Signal, were obvious choices even without seeing where the co-author stood but in that particular case I feel like the ME is worth black listing as well so it's a double decision.

Though, I mostly just use GR to track things so I don't leave a lot of reviews, just stars, so the stars are gone but they are still marked as read. Many other people's reviews on the books say things better than I could ever hope to, though, so I hope that is enough to dissuade new readers.

Alpha Book Club removed all Reviews and content regarding the name Santino Hassell as of Saturday 3/10 - I have removed all of my goodreads reviews.

Next I will be removing content from the clique of authors

ChaosMoon wrote: "I had my own horrible abusive email exchange with Sadie Sins when I emailed to ask about where to buy her books. She had pulled them from KU, after a long disturbing rant. Then, I found her website..."

Damn!! I'm sorry!! I have to say this never happened to me but maybe that's because I don't do SM. I follow some authors but I usually don't engage. I'm on Twitter maybe once every other month or less and on FB once every other week. If it's questions about where to buy a book maybe try asking them in open spaces like GR or FB or Twitter and not via email? I know some authors won't care but I should think some of them would be a tiny bit more careful when more people can see it. I hope you will continue in this genre because there are good authors out there.

Ariadna wrote: "ETA: If anyone knows of any other blogs that have pulled their SH posts, please signal boost. :)

Other romance blogs that have pulled SH-related posts (reviews, giveaways, etc)

- Dear Author (NB:..."

Alpha Book Club Posts are Down as of Saturday 3/10 - If you do find any via our search bar please let me know. You can email me directly at jburns913@gmail.com I may have missed something, I hope I didn't -- I deleted a LOT of stuff.
Thanks for being patient :)

I have a question for the blogs:
Do you have wiped your blogs completely of them?

Like some else said earlier, wouldn't it be better to at least leave Riptide's statement under their name? So that if someone looks for them they at least see a warning?

Daniel wrote: "I just want to interrupt this thread to say thank you again to Susan. I'm not active on social media really and if you hadn't posted this thread I really feel like I could still be in the dark abou..."
This. All week long. Thank you Susan and to everyone else who has shared their stories of how they treated you and others.

Samantha wrote: "I wonder if anyone ever sent donations through USPS.

(To explain -- any illegal activity that involves the USPS makes the activity a federal crime. That therefore means federal charges, federal co..."

I don’t know if t counts per se, but those gift cards were sent via the mail.

Josy wrote: "I have a question for the blogs:
Do you have wiped your blogs completely of them?

Like some else said earlier, wouldn't it be better to at least leave Riptide's statement under their name? So that..."

I have personally wiped the blog at this moment. I am still attempting to find all content, I think there are hidden posts in our year end top 10 posts that I am trying to find (since the posts are not tagged its proving harder while I am working) - once I am done, I may link back to a statement by a publisher or write a statement as to why there is no content. Right now, I am just trying to remove all traces of SH

Ashley wrote: "Samantha wrote: "I wonder if anyone ever sent donations through USPS.

(To explain -- any illegal activity that involves the USPS makes the activity a federal crime. That therefore means federal ch..."

That would be considered a federal offense I believe.. any fraud via the mail.. (don't quote me, I am a NP not a lawyer) lol