Yesterday evening I got another email (CC'd to Steve) from J. Hutton Pulitzer, this one about my recent post titled "Hercules, Commodus, and the Florida Sword." He didn't write to complain about the main content of the post, but about my statement that the books Solomon's Secret and Commodus's Secret have been on pre-order for over two years:
"Once again Andy, your facts are misleading and written in a libel manner. The pre-order of the book has not even be around for two years as your quote AND has nothing to do with your article other than try to damage."
I disagree with the statement that the pre-order issues with the book(s) have nothing to do with that blog post. On the contrary, the book marketed as Commodus's Secret: Dirty Secrets Behind History Channel's "Curse of Oak Island" and the Truth about the Lost Roman Legion, Holy Solomonic Relics and the Secret of Hercules of the North, based on the title, is very relevant. The fact that the book is being sold on "pre-order" as #Swordgate develops also is relevant to the story. That's why I included it as a side note.
Pulitzer's editorial commentary aside, of course I want to get the facts straight. I told Pulitzer that I would gladly correct the post and asked him how long the book(s) had been on pre-order. As of this writing, there has been no answer to that question. When I went to visit the Solomon's Secret website so I could check for myself how I had arrived at the two year date, I found the website no longer accessible.
Not helpful, but also not a real problem.
"Once again Andy, your facts are misleading and written in a libel manner. The pre-order of the book has not even be around for two years as your quote AND has nothing to do with your article other than try to damage."
I disagree with the statement that the pre-order issues with the book(s) have nothing to do with that blog post. On the contrary, the book marketed as Commodus's Secret: Dirty Secrets Behind History Channel's "Curse of Oak Island" and the Truth about the Lost Roman Legion, Holy Solomonic Relics and the Secret of Hercules of the North, based on the title, is very relevant. The fact that the book is being sold on "pre-order" as #Swordgate develops also is relevant to the story. That's why I included it as a side note.
Pulitzer's editorial commentary aside, of course I want to get the facts straight. I told Pulitzer that I would gladly correct the post and asked him how long the book(s) had been on pre-order. As of this writing, there has been no answer to that question. When I went to visit the Solomon's Secret website so I could check for myself how I had arrived at the two year date, I found the website no longer accessible.
Not helpful, but also not a real problem.
The cached version of the Solomon's Secret website shows an original post date of January 2, 2014. Unless I fundamentally misunderstand the mysterious workings of the Gregorian calendar, the date of January 2, 2014, is, in fact, over two years ago. A reasonable person looking at the front page of the Solomon's Secret website would conclude, as I did, that the first promised book had been on sale for over two years.
But, of course, it could be that the website existed before the book was actually available for pre-order. The earliest direct evidence of an ad that I have found so far is this video posted on Vimeo on November 20, 2014. The seven minute video, titled "CONTENTS of Solomon's Secret LIMITED EDITION Pre-Order Kit! SEE EVERYTHING YOU GET!," promises $172 worth of "free treasure hunting resources" when you pre-order your autographed copy of Solomon's Secret.
But, of course, it could be that the website existed before the book was actually available for pre-order. The earliest direct evidence of an ad that I have found so far is this video posted on Vimeo on November 20, 2014. The seven minute video, titled "CONTENTS of Solomon's Secret LIMITED EDITION Pre-Order Kit! SEE EVERYTHING YOU GET!," promises $172 worth of "free treasure hunting resources" when you pre-order your autographed copy of Solomon's Secret.
This shorter YouTube video hawking Solomon's Secret was posted on December 2, 2014, a little over a year ago.
So Solomon's Secret has clearly been available for pre-order for at least 13 months.
Why the delays in getting this book to those who have paid for it? A statement dated January 19, 2015, explains that the book cannot be shipped to the printer until that year's season (season 2) of The Curse of Oak Island had completed its run. Then, the statement says, the books will need to be autographed by Pulitzer and the various components of the "treasure hunting kit" assembled before shipping.
"In closing the materials are ready, but can’t be shipped to printers and manufacture yet. The ship to manufacturing will take place in about 3 weeks, so the series runs it course."
Well, apparently the dreams of those eagerly awaiting the big forbidden truth reveal of early 2015 went unrealized. The book did not ship.
An update to the website dated November 15, 2015, says that while the original book (Solomon's Secret) was being revised and re-written (because . . . why?), another book was also being produced. That "sequel" would be Commodus's Secret, the cover of which features the now-infamous sword that Pulitzer claims is a "100 percent confirmed" Roman artifact.
What happens now? Will there be a similar plea that the current season of The Curse of Oak Island has to finish its run before Commodus's Secret can be sent to the printer? Whatever that program is going to do with "the sword" has yet to happen. Episode 11 of season 3 (set to air on January 19, 2016) is titled "Sword Play," so unless there's another sword floating around there I presume they'll deal with the sword then. As I've said before, my guess is that someone will look at it and say that it's probably of 19th century manufacture. If neither the show's expert, nor Steven Tuck, nor anyone else with independent credibility pronounces the sword to be of ancient Roman manufacture, what "secrets" are we left with?
We'll have to wait and see, I suppose.
In the meantime, I will provide one more quote from the now-invisible Solomon's Secret website:
"As far as orders, it is an automated process, and if you decide not to wait, it is an automated 100% guaranteed return process and, you can go back to order and cancel, and it will be process and then the one reserved for you, just becomes someone else’s gain."
I'm tempted to use some of the Woo War One money to order the books, but since I can't get to the website . . .
It's really a funny way of doing business.
So Solomon's Secret has clearly been available for pre-order for at least 13 months.
Why the delays in getting this book to those who have paid for it? A statement dated January 19, 2015, explains that the book cannot be shipped to the printer until that year's season (season 2) of The Curse of Oak Island had completed its run. Then, the statement says, the books will need to be autographed by Pulitzer and the various components of the "treasure hunting kit" assembled before shipping.
"In closing the materials are ready, but can’t be shipped to printers and manufacture yet. The ship to manufacturing will take place in about 3 weeks, so the series runs it course."
Well, apparently the dreams of those eagerly awaiting the big forbidden truth reveal of early 2015 went unrealized. The book did not ship.
An update to the website dated November 15, 2015, says that while the original book (Solomon's Secret) was being revised and re-written (because . . . why?), another book was also being produced. That "sequel" would be Commodus's Secret, the cover of which features the now-infamous sword that Pulitzer claims is a "100 percent confirmed" Roman artifact.
What happens now? Will there be a similar plea that the current season of The Curse of Oak Island has to finish its run before Commodus's Secret can be sent to the printer? Whatever that program is going to do with "the sword" has yet to happen. Episode 11 of season 3 (set to air on January 19, 2016) is titled "Sword Play," so unless there's another sword floating around there I presume they'll deal with the sword then. As I've said before, my guess is that someone will look at it and say that it's probably of 19th century manufacture. If neither the show's expert, nor Steven Tuck, nor anyone else with independent credibility pronounces the sword to be of ancient Roman manufacture, what "secrets" are we left with?
We'll have to wait and see, I suppose.
In the meantime, I will provide one more quote from the now-invisible Solomon's Secret website:
"As far as orders, it is an automated process, and if you decide not to wait, it is an automated 100% guaranteed return process and, you can go back to order and cancel, and it will be process and then the one reserved for you, just becomes someone else’s gain."
I'm tempted to use some of the Woo War One money to order the books, but since I can't get to the website . . .
It's really a funny way of doing business.
Update 1/11/2016: Since this post, the links to videos advertising the "treasure kit" have become inaccessible.
RSS Feed
