Copied directly from Joe Hill’s website:

Sorry to have to post on this subject again. Over the last year, a couple untrustworthy dealers have been selling copies of my stuff with really badly forged signatures on them. I have, in the past, declined to identify them by name, but really, enough is enough. Kick Butt Books - an outfit that operates an eBay store, as well as a private website, dealing in signed editions - recently sent around an e-mail announcing that they’ll have copies of the Locke & Key hardcover, signed and numbered by yours truly. This is a lie and a scam. They also claim a personal relationship with me (”We just spoke with Joe today…”): utter nonsense. I don’t have anything to do with them. Hysterically, Kick Butt Books has even been known to include “certificates of authenticity,” also forged, with their offerings.

Watch this website and my MySpace page for information about appearances. I’m always glad to sign books at such events - that’s why I’m there - and if you can’t make a reading, you can usually call in an order; the bookstore will usually be glad to ship you a signed book. If you want something fancier - say the obscenely handsome version of Locke & Key being produced by Subterranean Press - the smart thing to do is to go through them directly, or work with a bookseller that has an established relationship with Subterranean and PS and the other small presses. If you ever catch wind of an offer that feels even faintly fishy, head to the message board and leave a post about it. Shane or I will probably respond directly, but if you don’t hear from us, you can usually count on getting good info from one of the board regulars.

Thanks guys.

Posted on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 4:10 pm.