Strange Things Happened...

[reviews_and_ramblings]

In the last few days I have found some comments from Anonymous in my LJ. They are pretty nasty comments. So to the first I didn't reply but I leave it (it was in a very old post, so I was thinking no bad can arrive from it). But today I have found another two comments, always from anonymous: one again in the same post and was a pretty strong accuse to a book I read and the comment is against the author; in this particular case I don't know personally the writer, but I don't like they use my LJ to throw nastiness. The second comment is "pure" spam. So I have deleted all the three comments and signalated them as "spam". I write this post only to assure you that I have never before deleted a comment, even if from anonymous. But in this case I think I'm in my right to do so.

Elisa

Comments

My apologies...

[(Anonymous)]

Let me begin this with a sincere apology for what I have to admit was my earlier bitchiness. I should never have assumed you were party to this deception I have been subject to, but your deletion of my post made me jump to a conclusion that was clearly erroneous. My only excuse is that I am in an absolute state of shock and am blindly striking out in horror over the situation. It isn't enough of an excuse for being rude, so again I am sincerely sorry.

In case you are interested, I discovered today that not only had someone stolen a story I wrote and published for free on the internet, but that they have commercially published the work. Heck, it's available on Amazon! When challenged by someone (not me) the publisher said that *I* was the person who had stolen the story off JJ Massa.

Obviously, I have informed the publisher of my intention to sue. I have all necessary evidence that this story was my creation.

I am so upset that I am, hopefully understandably, trying to track down all sellers and promoters of this stolen work to stop it in its tracks.

I have, however, been totally unfair in my posts to yourself and again apologise for my hasty and ill judged posts. I'm not usually so rude.

Re: My apologies...

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, and my name's Amanda. I wasn't deliberately being anonymous, I just don't have a LJ and wasn't really sure how they worked. Another case of me being too wound up to think clearly.

I'm sorry.

Re: My apologies...

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Apologies accept Amanda. What can I do is to "momentarily" hidden the review. I will take it in local and when/if you will arrive to a conclusion of all this, please let me know.

Elisa

Re: My apologies...

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you so much, both for your understanding and your hiding of the review.

The publisher has responded already by pulling the ebook off their website, so clearly they are worried. Presumably they can see that I would hardly be reacting like this if I wasn't telling the truth about the origin of the story.

Still, I was unforgivably rude to you and I appreciate your grace in accepting my apology.

I will advise you of the outcome of my lawsuit.


Amanda

Re: My apologies...

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

For what I can remember that book was a re-released by the publisher. I have an high opinion of that publisher, she has some very talented author with her (Lee Rowan and G.A. Hauser, for example). And I know she choice with a lot of attention what publish and what not. I can only hope that this is all a huge misunderstanding and that all of you will arrive to a good conclusion. Elisa

Re: My apologies...

[(Anonymous)]

I've been following this, and I'm sincerely sorry this happened to you. Additionally to the proof your documents and correspondence give you, you might want to check into the Wayback Machine, because it archived your site:
http://web.archive.org/web/*sa_/http://www.morts-lair.com.

http://web.archive.org/web/20041204215924/morts-lair.com/updates/updates.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20041218025536/morts-lair.com/CPfanfiction/atap/AnotherTimeAnotherPlace.htm

Your story, and the listing of it in your updates section, was archived by the Wayback Machine in the above (last two) links - and they were date stamped. The first eight numbers in the last two links refer to the date archiving happened (yyyymmdd). Though not necessarily done on the date the files appeared on your website, the archiving of the story happened well before Massa's novel was first published, namely 12/18/2004. That's pretty damning.

Good luck with your suit. I hope all will be resolved and the emotional distress for you will be kept to a minimum.

~O.

Re: My apologies...

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for that, I hadn't thought of the wayback machine and every additional piece of evidence will help. Though, to tell the truth, the story considerably pre-dated even its introduction onto my website. It has been archived at www.tomparisdorm.com since 29th August 2003. According to the wayback machine (see how quickly I learn? LOL) Venus press launched 'The Edge' as a brand new novel in May of 2005.
I feel sorry for all the people who have been paying good money for 2 1/2 years for a story that has been available on-line for free since 2003.

Oops...

[(Anonymous)]

sorry, I forgot to sign again.

Amanda (who will get the hang of this LJ thing eventually)

[ex_mrs260625]

I'm just a bystander from metafandom... I hope everything is resolved quickly for this author!

BTW, Amanda, if you want a silver lining and you yourself have ambitions to be published... if you want, once this is over, you can approach the publisher about writing something for them! After all, they've already published your stuff. :0)