I’m John Erianne, Who the Hell Are You? or, Shits ‘N’ Giggles on Amazon.com Part 2

Written by John Erianne on March 10, 2008 – 2:59 pm -

The other day I solved a mystery of sorts.

You may recall an incident I wrote about last year in which some anonymous turd trashed me on Amazon.com. Although, to be honest, I was much more bemused by the incident than angry, I have wondered about the identity of Maxites D. ever since. Well, the other day I found out. This woman, Lauren, posted a comment about a blog from 2006, “Club’em Over the Head and Leave’em to the Buzzards” in which I said some unkind (although, I maintain, not unfair) things about this kid, Michael Pritsos’s writing. The woman wanted me to know that the kid had just published a novel. Naturally, I had to investigate, because it would astonish the hell out of me if this kid could get a novel published by a legitimate publisher. A quick google search turned up a link to Amazon.com, where I found a listing for Hoplite, a novel by 21 yr-old Michael Pritsos. The first thing I noticed is that the book was done, not through a tradional publisher, but through BookSurge. Not surprising. Not that I have anything against self-publication, but the fact that there is no editorial process or quality control with outfits like BookSurge tends to reinforce the notion that self-publication through such outfits is largely without real merit unless you happen to be a very good writer and are willing to hire professional editors and book designers/artists to help you and also know about marketing/promotion, etc. I cannot fairly criticize a book I haven’t read, although I doubt he’s improved much in the last two years. Still and all, it’s an accomplishment to have written even a bad book at his age, so kudos for that.

Anyway, what really struck me is that one of the main characters of this novel is a guy named Maxites, the same name as my anonymous critic. Coincidence? I think not. Also telling, and further evidence that Michael Pritsos is the same Maxites who trashed me, is the one glowing review of Pritsos’s book written by “R. Christ” whom you guys may remember was the guy agreeing with Maxites in the reviews of my chapbooks. It’s clear to me that “R. Christ” and “Maxites” are the same person.

You’ll never catch me hiding behind a phony identity. Many people think I’m an arrogant shit. Arrogant? Perhaps, but I think it just makes me honest. I’ve got over 20 years experience as a writer and I’d like to think I know what I’m talking about at least some of the time. Also,I’ve paid some serious dues in my life and I’ve got the scars to prove it. And at my age I’m not inclined to suffer fools or take shit from anyone — least of all some punk half my age and with none of my wit and wisdom.

As I am an outspoken and brutally honest person, I do expect, from time to time, people will respond negatively to me, because we live in a society which prefers lies clothed in pretty dresses over the truth running wild and naked in the streets. Pritsos’s response, as such, does not surprise me in the least. However, I’d expect when one does trash me in public, they not hide behind a psuedonym either. Have the balls to own you’re own opinions, feelings, be a passionate advocate for them and be steadfast enough absorb the counterpunches. Best advice I can give you as a human being and as a writer, Michael. Else as a writer and as a human being you will continue to be dickless and dismissed.

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