Sun > Status Update

Fabi wrote: "So what does it mean? All these authors were in on it? Was it monetary gain? Can't be anything else. There's too many of them for it to be plain friendship.

I need some solid fucking proof. Even w..."

Not necessarily in on it, no. At least not all of them. But they aren't addressing valid questions, either. I mean nothing. Silence. They absolutely could be so deep in denial that they don't see the problems. They could be afraid that by speaking out they will be ostracized. Either way, I'm extremely uncomfortable supporting that kind of behavior.

I certainly have no idea of the depth of anyone's involvement, but the silence is more than troubling.

Jewel wrote: "I certainly have no idea of the depth of anyone's involvement, but the silence is more than troubling. g ..."

Agreed. When I first started to hear the rumours I was, like a lot of people, sceptical about the source as it really did originally sound like some crazed ex-fan out on a vengeance kick.

But as more stuff's come out, right up until yesterday, I was still giving the benefit of the doubt but now - having caught up with the evidence that's out there from SH themselves, not what other people are saying, I think it's pretty obvious it's not their version (the author) of events which is the true one.

The silence from the publisher, agent, fellow authors (outside of those who have spoken out about their concerns in the past and been attacked for it) is one of guilt imho.

I'm now annoyed that even a day ago I was defending this person after I'd seen something said in passing elsewhere on Facebook.

For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in Patreon.
About the silence of the authors, I would feel very disappointed with Roan and Amy Jo if they don´tt speak. I don´t trust Karen, Avon, Piper or Megan anyway, Megan at all. Honestly, I think they don´t speak for all the conversations I suppose they have between them talking about other people, I think they are all scared.

Elsa wrote: "For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in Patreon.
About the silence of the authors, I ..."

I think you are right there Elsa. Because we now live in a world where catfishing and lying are presented as "alternative truths". So you have the systemic erasure of fraudulent claims about having cancer, being bisexual, being queer and I expect being a man. Well, folks hit me up when you need a refresher: I have been dealing with this "brand" since the beginning of 2013. It has been 5 years. The "man" I first met, the one I considered a friend was calling himself Sonny at the time: he leveraged the emotional support of the ICoS friendom to launch himself into the writing career which he had leered at and taken the piss off for years: m/m romance writer.
That's right nothing but contempt for m/m romance writers until the day he/she decided he/she was now a m/m romance writer. No level of deleting past blogs, emails, tumblrs and tweets will erase the fact that he/she started "re branding" in 2014 and that is exactly when the gaslighting and ghosting of people like me began - the slow but inexorable erasure of all the people from the ICoS days who supported and sent presents and got emotionally manipulated by him. We remember the rants about bi erasure (maybe Vanessa North could comment here a bit as well since she wants to fight those of us who have been bullied for years on behalf of that antipodean lily livered bully who likes to call women nasty), the pontifications about how women were fetishising him a queer man! And lo and behold not a queer man at all: a woman, miracoulusly cured from cancer, posturing as a queer man and not only that but one who after giving out yards implicitly and explicitly about m/m the women who write it and the ones who enjoy it goes and co writes drivel with Megan Ericsson which exploits every single lowest common denominator m/m trope ever to appeal to the greatest number of women in the audience for the biggest buck. Hypocrisy and mendacity get rewarded by the likes of Megan, Karen, Avon, Piper and even Amy Jo (sure wasn't she the one who called people with mortgages losers? Could have been Megan though). They are all repped by the same agent and work for the same publisher and not a one of them has had the decency of making a serious statement. So i suspect you are right: let us all marvel at how this liar, this extortionist that calls his/her oldest supporters "fuckin bitches" gets reinvented as a straight woman writer of m/m.
(sorry I got really ranty there for a minute :)

Actually, the fellow authors have not been silent at all. They have stated they have met Santino and in very strict tones they state that he’s the real deal. So, I call them liars untill proven otherwise. Too little add up.

Angela wrote: "I don’t have any remorse for removing reviews from the co-writers. I’ve been called names. My friends have been called names. We’ve been sent DMs to stop talking. They’ve created anon accounts on t..."

I removed my reviews for SH reviews, but I'm getting ready to remove reviews for the books SH cowrote with Megan Erickson, and my reviews for Megan Erickson's books as well.

Angela wrote: "I don’t have any remorse for removing reviews from the co-writers. I’ve been called names. My friends have been called names. We’ve been sent DMs to stop talking. They’ve created anon accounts on t..."

I agree: at a minimum they are complicit.

Elsa wrote: "For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in Patreon."

They can't erase the bio in self-published books though.

Francesca wrote: "Elsa wrote: "For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in Patreon.
About the silence of th..."

Francesca, since you've "followed" this whole thing from the very beginning, maybe you'll be able to shed some light on something that's been bothering me.
Do I remember correctly that SH has/used to have a facebook group about gaming with Alexis Hall?
I've never followed SH all that much, but I think I remember Alexis Hall mentioning it in his newsletter. Not lately, though.
And I think I read on Nikki's twitter feed some references to SH making fun of something Alexis Hall said to him in private, while he was chatting with other people (readers?).
This whole thing is so murky, I'm getting a headache just trying to make sense of all the implications.

Cadiva wrote: "I'm now annoyed that even a day ago I was defending this person after I'd seen something said in passing elsewhere on Facebook. "

It's natural to want to defend someone we have a connection with in some way (even if just through their writing). Had I not been attacked just a few weeks earlier, I too would have dismissed Kay as a troll seeking attention. God knows there are plenty of trolls on GR. And maybe creating an account just to post about SH's fraud on people's reviews isn't the best way to go about it, but I can understand this person's frustration that the whole scam is getting buried.

SH and his posse have done a remarkable job at diverting attention. They're masterful. Trump should pay them to manage his PR.

Francesca wrote: "So you have the systemic erasure of fraudulent claims about having cancer, being bisexual, being queer and I expect being a man. Well, folks hit me up when you need a refresher: I have been dealing with this "brand" since the beginning of 2013. It has been 5 years. The "man" I first met, the one I considered a friend was calling himself Sonny at the time: he leveraged the emotional support of the ICoS friendom to launch himself into the writing career which he had leered at and taken the piss off for years: m/m romance writer."

OMG, Francesca, the more I read, the more nauseous I become. The magnitude of the deceit is appalling. Imagine the amount of negative energy perpetuating the lies and abuse takes. I couldn't live with myself.

Tamara (緑) wrote: "Elsa wrote: "For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in Patreon."

They can't erase the ..."

This!

I've shared on twitter the exact same screenshot from my copy of the book After Midnight. Copyrights from September 2013.

That information isn't even extracted from social media. It's not pennames and branding. That's an identity that states Santino Hassell is an immigrant, queer man, parent of two. It's right in the book. It's not any info anyone siphoned from dubious sources or through coercive/illegal methods. It was provided by the author himself.

The copy I have also mentions "Mike the roommate" in the acknowledgements.

Jewel wrote: "I think we'd all love it if even just one author in the "squad" were to speak out and say SOMETHING. But the whole lot of them are not only silent, but also blocking people on Twitter who are asking - begging - them to speak out. Same with the pub, unfortunately."

Riptide is obviously doing a very bad job at handling this.
What about Dreamspinner Press? They've published half of the "Five Boroughs" Series, they must have a position on this.

Elena wrote: "Francesca wrote: "Elsa wrote: "For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in Patreon.
About..."

Elena, yes they created a facebook group called Hassell and Hall.
Nikki's feed reported a conversation (from the time before they became best buddies for 5 minutes and created the H&H group) in which the person known as Santino calls Hall a faggy brit.

Francesca wrote: "Elena wrote: "Francesca wrote: "Elsa wrote: "For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in ..."

Very charming.
Thank you, Francesca.

I’d love to hear if Alexis Hall has any insight on this?

Mónica wrote: "Tamara (緑) wrote: "Elsa wrote: "For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in Patreon."

Th..."

Spot on, Monica



BTW, anyone needs paper to wipe their arses?
#askingforafriend

I went and removed all reviews and books for a few authors this am as i am absolutely disgusted by all of this.

Manda wrote: "I’d love to hear if Alexis Hall has any insight on this?"

I wouldn't wait for that, as he's with the same agent as the other bunch.

Anke wrote: "Manda wrote: "I’d love to hear if Alexis Hall has any insight on this?"

I wouldn't wait for that, as he's with the same agent as the other bunch."

While Alexis Hall was a founder of the Hassell and Hall group, he left it more than a year ago for personal reasons and it ceased to exist as the same entity shortly afterward. I left that group shortly thereafter as well. Just because he has the same agent doesn't mean he is complicit in anything.

Catherine wrote: "Anke wrote: "Manda wrote: "I’d love to hear if Alexis Hall has any insight on this?"

I wouldn't wait for that, as he's with the same agent as the other bunch."

While Alexis Hall was a founder of ..."

That's not what I wanted to say, but his agent will most probably tell him to stay out of this whole thing.
That's all.

Anke wrote: "That's not what I wanted to say, but his agent will most probably tell him to stay out of this whole thing.
That's all."

You're probably right, Anke.

Wow, I had no idea this was going on. I...don't know what to think anymore. I need time to process all this. *in shock*

Mónica wrote: "Tamara (緑) wrote: "Elsa wrote: "For me it´s clear what they are going to do, a new brand, you can´t find anything about he is bi or queer in his bio in Twitter, his page or his bio in Patreon."

Th..."

I have to go home and look at my copy of After Midnight. ORIGINAL COVER @ that. I also paid shipping and handling to have it signed. SIgh. Fool me once shame on you. Never again.

Wow! I didn’t know about any of this but damn, SH had me thinking something isn’t right. I’ve read a few versions of his bio, one including him being homeless for a time, ex-drug addict, a divorced man, a bisexual with very wild sex life... but then the other things he said about himself didn’t stick. Like he is building up this pseudonym persona. You know, his bio sounded JUST like one of the characters in his books. It was so odd. I’ll need to google up more on this.

~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ wrote: "Had I not been attacked just a few weeks earlier, I too would have dismissed Kay as a troll seeking attention.."

Dani! No?! I must have missed that somehow because if I had seen someone attacking you, I'd have been far quicker in believing the truth spreaders.

Mare SLiTsReaD Reviews wrote: "I have to go home and look at my copy of After Midnight. ORIGINAL COVER @ that. I also paid shipping and handling to have it signed. SIgh. Fool me once shame on you. Never again."

My Kindle copy has the same "About the author" and "Acknowledgments" the others posted.
I wonder how long it’ll take before that gets changed too.

My copy of After Midnight (with the MUCH better original cover) has the same acknowledgements mentioning Mike as well as the author bio stating, "He is a bisexual writer of LGBT books who is currently working in education, being a single dad to two kids— who will someday conquer the world—.

Source: Hassell, Santino. After Midnight (Kindle Locations 4087-4088). 4FF Press. Kindle Edition.

I have been told "they" have issued a statement which essentially continues the lies and calls all this a conspiracy. Sick...truly.

I have another "comment" that I think is timely considering this whole... Fuck-up?!

The readers gathering around SH and attacking and bullying and what-not... What the hell is going on?
I understand that we might not always agree (I have friends here where we are in complete opposite camps on some books, but I will read and like their reviews anyways, and respect their opinion) but how is not agreeing, growing into bullying?

I think we as readers have a responsibility to treat each other with respect as well, and it bothers me that this has become the norm. Like, this is not the first time I've heard of an author inciting people to go on the warpath, and I really do think that we -as readers- need to take a long hard look on our conduct.
It is not minted on this story here, as I think the tone has been very sober, but the next time we disagrees with another reader or what not, maybe we should take a step back? (I am really not trying to start a fight here, just, this feels like it would benefit all of us, but I am in complete support of those of you who've spoken up or gathered evidence!)

I think it's quite disheartening that the amazing community I have found here, is showing some of it's ugly underbelly.
With the SHs and the reps. and other authors and...

Thanks for speaking up, those of you who did, and I hope that we will remember how this went so we won't have a new SH who incites people to group attacks and *ugh* calling someone a fa*** brit???????? Yeah, that is a serious no-go for me.

I think at this point the only way it'll all come out for real is if people who have given money based on false assumptions take legal action.
Otherwise it'll always be only a matter of pointing fingers on both sides and right now they're on more solid ground, with the publisher backing them up.

AGandyGirl wrote: "I have been told "they" have issued a statement which essentially continues the lies and calls all this a conspiracy. Sick...truly."

Where is the statement?

Mare SLiTsReaD Reviews wrote: "AGandyGirl wrote: "I have been told "they" have issued a statement which essentially continues the lies and calls all this a conspiracy. Sick...truly."

Where is the statement?"

What I saw an image of looked like a FB post but it is not on his/her public page. So I assume it is in their group. Angela may know specifically.

Mónica wrote: "an immigrant, queer man, "

Wait, what? Didn't he always claim to be a white boy from New York?

AGandyGirl wrote: "Mare SLiTsReaD Reviews wrote: "AGandyGirl wrote: "I have been told "they" have issued a statement which essentially continues the lies and calls all this a conspiracy. Sick...truly."

Where is the ..."

Thanks I just read it.........................................................................

He spoke in his group, and Megan, she looks really happy. He said everything is a lie, and he is not interested in engaging in public arguing and has not interest in continuing to prove himself.
Meh.

Sandi ♥'s way too many M/M books wrote: "I went and removed all reviews and books for a few authors this am as i am absolutely disgusted by all of this."

Good for you. I'm in the process of doing it too. It's beyond disgusting. I wish more readers would stand up and do it! Imagine if even a third of the readers deleted their ratings/reviews and stopped buying SH's and their posse's books.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/7620659

terka wrote: "Wow! I didn’t know about any of this but damn, SH had me thinking something isn’t right. I’ve read a few versions of his bio, one including him being homeless for a time, ex-drug addict, a divorced..."

I thought that too. Most people's lives just aren't that exciting, and few people go around sharing such personal details about their lives, especially when it's one angsty story on top of another. How many of us have that many crazy stories about our high school years, seriously?

SH's bio, the tales, the exploits . . . it all sounded like a work of fiction, because it is.

Anyone who did subscribe to Patreon scroll to that link and report it unauthentic - I would really like a refund. I would rather support a real cancer charity.

AGandyGirl wrote: "I have been told "they" have issued a statement which essentially continues the lies and calls all this a conspiracy. Sick...truly."

I think this person (people?) is a pathological liar and has way too much invested in the lies to ever fess up. It won't happen. Ever.

But the FACTS are undeniable. At this point, being blind to all the lies and manipulations is like arguing against climate change. There is no alternate truth.

Elsa wrote: "He spoke in his group, and Megan, she looks really happy. He said everything is a lie, and he is not interested in engaging in public arguing and has not interest in continuing to prove himself.
Meh."

He/She/They will care if the book coming out this month doesn't sell. There are few things more powerful in the U.S. than a boycott.

~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ wrote: "Mónica wrote: "an immigrant, queer man, "

Wait, what? Didn't he always claim to be a white boy from New York?"

I had honestly forgotten about it, but then I went through what Nikki posted on Twitter and there are screenshots of several social media mentions of him saying he's from Italy.

Then I remembered his old books used to have different bios in the "About the Author" sections. And I checked. He says he "moved to the US". It's in my copy. No one told me about it.

It says the same thing that Tamara shares in message 164 here. The acknowledgements are exactly like the ones Rosalinda shares in message 174.

So no, he hasn't always claimed he's US white boy from NY. Lol.

(I use "he" as a pronoun for easy writing)

~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ wrote: "terka wrote: "Wow! I didn’t know about any of this but damn, SH had me thinking something isn’t right. I’ve read a few versions of his bio, one including him being homeless for a time, ex-drug addi..."

That's exactly right Dani. That's why I hightailed it out of his Patreon only a few months after joining. (when he first opened it) It smelled fishy.

I like supporting the arts/artists. But I don't like being taken advantage of.

Laxmama wrote: "https://www.patreon.com/posts/7620659"

That's a blocked link since I'm not a member, but I'm depressed to see he still has 431 gullible supporters from whom he's stealing money.

I would like to hear if Riptide Publishing editor Sarah Lyons and literary agent Courtney Miller-Callihan are both involved in perpetrating this alleged scam.

There will be an increasing number of writers who want the truth before submitting manuscripts to either the agent or the publisher.

I hope Ms. Lyons and Ms. Miller-Callihan will be forthcoming with clarifying statements as soon as possible.

I see that Dani Alexander commented on a Twitter post which described systematic abuse and gaslighting by "Santino" and his pals. I cried that someone could be almost pushed into suicide and therapy by so-called friends and an author who only seems to care about the bottom line.

I liken this to a cult. Instead of breaking free of the brainwashing and doing the right thing, it seems like the publisher and co-authors are doubling down trying to perpetuate the lie. It's like Santino is Charles Manson and his followers are the Family. I have no idea what kind of power this person holds over them, but unless Piper, Avon, Ronan or Megan break free and speak out, I'm never buying another one of their books again.

Someone mentioned it being discussed here on GR and Megan (co author/SH supporter) suggests reporting us for abuse.

Suzanne wrote: "I know the agent is just blocking people and not addressing the situation and SH is threatening lawsuits if anyone dares to mention this on fb. It happened to one author today and he didn’t even say anything bad, just questioned the situation."

Seriously? He (SH) actually threatened this other author with a lawsuit? O_O
What's he so afraid of, if it's all true?

Brad Vance just posted this on FB... "Well I deleted the Santino Hassell posts as I just got an email from Santino denying all charges and that "this exchange will be forwarded to my attorney." Never once did I specifically say Santino was a liar or that any of it's true."