Thursday, March 22, 2012

No, Book Agent Sharlene Martin, Your Client Raffaele Sollecito Really IS A Hot Potato

Posted by Peter Quennell



[Above and below: Verona in north Italy where Sollecito is accepted by the university for a masters degree]


Los Angeles book agent Sharlene Martin posted this gung-ho comment on a Daily Telegraph thread (presently page seven) late Sunday night UK time.

I couldn’t be happier for Amanda Knox getting $4M for a book deal.  What happened to her and Raffaele is a sin.  BTW, I represent Raffaele for his book that we’re working on. 

There is no restitution for wrongful conviction and both families incurred absorbent costs to help exonerate them so good for them if they help recoup the lost monies.  They’ll never recoup the lost time of 4 years in prison.

She posted that at just about the same time we posted (post below) on the various hot-potato qualities of Raffaele Sollecito.  Since then… no further word.

In terms of the book’s sale to a publisher she may not have much to worry about.

For this reason the deal is probably set in stone: Simon and Schuster are a fully owned subsidiary of CBS Broadcasting, which has gone to eye-popping lengths (post on this soon) to remain in bed with the Knox-Mellases.

The content of this ill-considered book might be a lot more problematic. Sharlene Martin might still believe that there are just a few open questions, easily accommodated to by the FOA talking points. In actual fact there are hundreds.

And the FOA have studiously stayed away from creating the alternate-universe scenario that Sollecito and Andrew Gumbel must now create, if they don’t want to end up as the laughing-stock of the western world.

This is a road-map of the Sharlene Martin-Andrew Gumbel-Simon & Schuster minefield.

Hmmm. Lotta questions to be answered in a hurry, if the book is to stir a wave of sympathy or outrage to stop the Italian Supreme Court punting the case back to Perugia to get it right this time around.

Above and below are images of the northern Italian city of Verona. It has the largest and best preserved intact Roman ampitheater in the world. It also has a very good university.

Possibly legitimately or possibly by way of strings pulled by his father, Raffaele Sollecito had gained a place in a graduate class at the university there for the Department of Computer Science’s masters degree in computer engineering. 

In January Sollecitos father made several statements from Bari to the effect that Raffaele really was done with Amanda and dreams of visiting Seattle and would soon be headed for Verona to complete that postgraduate degree.

Rather suddenly, less than two months later, Raffaele is headed for Seattle, with his father and sister seemingly in hot and unexplained pursuit. Microsoft is suddenly mentioned as a firm which will interview him, masters degree or no masters.

So what happened? Well possible one explanation might be found in the comments area of every recent Italian report which allows them, which suggests that just about 100 percent of those posting don’t really like him.

That Italians dont really like him and are even inclined to physically take after him is also well illustrated in this story which we posted 18 months ago.

Sollecito was in the very modern solar-heated Terni prison for most of last year.  He was moved back to Capanne this year just before the trial, amidst his loud complaints that Capanne lacks the internet connections for his computer-science homework.

Sollecito has just received word that he failed the virtual-reality entrance exam that he took at Verona University last March.

When he was being transported there in a police van for the exam, he was yelled at by an angry crowd when the van stopped at an autostrada rest-stop for what Americans call a bathroom break.

He was bundled back in, and the police van took off in a hurry. No bathroom break? That must have rattled his exam-taking composure, that is for sure.

Another possible explanation is that Sollecito is putting half a world between himself and Italy, because the Sollecito-Knox-Mellases realize that in light of Dr Galati’s formidable appeal that legally they are cooked.

Lots of good interview questions for Microsoft above. And a suggested new subtitle for “Presumed Guilty: My Journey to Hell and Back with Amanda Knox” ?

“Oops. This book idea really wasn’t very smart.”


[Below: A Verona audience waits in ampitheater for Sollecito to be fed to the lions, if they’ll have him]

Comments

Do you have a translation of the Hellman report on this site?  I’m looking for it.

Posted by believing on 03/22/12 at 09:52 PM | #

Hi Believing. PMF Moderator Fly By Night posted a link here a few days ago and we will have a post soon framing it. This is the link:

http://www.perugiamurderfile.org/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=517

Posted by Peter Quennell on 03/23/12 at 12:28 AM | #

I think we need all PMF members and TJMK supporters to come and support Ms. Chealsea Hoffmans page, the FOA groupies are saying nasty things and we need to get the real truth out. By the way, I posted this, I feel bad though because I by no means would want to see Mr. Kercher hurt, but the user said that people like us are trying to diminish the memory of Meredith:

“People like me, exuse me, people like me. Did launch a PR campaign that more or less diminished the memory of Meredith Kercher to save my own ass. How about the fact Merediths family, friends in England, Friends in Perugia and everyone that ever met her hold the same belief I do, that the people who did the crime did not pay. Its people like myself and others who actually followed the case from day one, translated the Massei Report (by the way Hellman 150 pages, Massei 457, I wonder which judge did more of their home work), we are also the ones who have come on these forums to combat people like yourself who could give a rats ass about justice and Meredith. If your so certain Knox didn’t do the crime and want closure for Merediths family, I have an idea. The down to earth, nice and highly intelligent John Kercher and his family are releasing a book about his murdered daughter, I would love to see Knox sit in a room with the, and let THEM ask her questions. If he decided she is innocent then we will all shut up. “

Posted by Severino518 on 03/23/12 at 07:55 AM | #

Fine work Severino. I guess someone has to do it though this is a rapidly dwindling minority and many are confused or angry because AK and RS themselves dont speak up.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 03/23/12 at 05:44 PM | #

@Severino518

It is tough to argue with them. I can talk to reasonable men with reason and I can argue with people who are argumentative. Sometimes I suspect that they are being paid for what they are doing. They are simply following a script. It is not possible to talk to them - they are a robotic race.

I am beginning to suspect that “race” was a factor in this murder. This aspect has not been brought up as the Americans are usually race-sensitive. First step is to deny any involvement of race in any way. The more I read, it actually strengthens my suspicion.

A little experience often upsets a lot of theory.

Posted by chami on 03/23/12 at 05:53 PM | #

One probability overlooked in this story (or jumble of news reports) is that the PR agents are simply lying about Sollecito’s whereabouts and plans.  They have to keep his name fresh and newsworthy somehow since he is nowhere near as well-known as his accomplice.  His book’s working title even has her name in it in case people forget who he is.  There is literally more intensive coverage of Sollecito here at TJMK than there is in the US media.

To support my argument, please note that there have been no recent photographs of RS either in Seattle or in Verona.  The stories of him visiting Seattle included tidbits about attending a backyard party although it snowed that weekend along with high winds.

Posted by Stilicho on 03/23/12 at 09:42 PM | #

Hi Stilicho,

If we are really the only ones emanating news on Sollecito then GOOD! We WANT to be the only ones commenting on him as we convey his nasty truth. Suck all the oxygen out of the air.

The problem PMF and TJMK are creating for them is that, every time they run a story over there, we react and attract 100 new readers over here. They then fan out and the truth spreads. The truth is proving a compelling weapon. .

Interesting that you suggest Sollecito may not even be here in the US. If they are not to be cooked in the appeal and the family trials, getting their stories straight is a must. They will be trying to meet for sure somewhere, and a tip is sure to turn up soon.

PMF and TJMk dont promote themselves other than via Twitter and readers’ word of mouth and their dropped-off links. They dont try to have the huge reach of the networks - but they do have several weapons that the networks lack. 

The sites have the most highly qualified team for sure, and a very bright readership, and they are the only reliable resource in English on the case, with hundreds of images and source documents and over 1000 pages of translation. The BBC etc use PMF and TJMK as a reference base.

The sites also have some power to intimidate brash reporters, one that has shut many of the sock puppets up. It seems to be working right now on Sollecito’s and Knox’s book people who, in face of growing competitor ridicule (they read here too), dont seem to want to utter any further peeps.

And they are read daily in Rome and Perugia unlike the US main media. Even Giulia Bongiorno reached out to suggest a change of a photo, and officialdom has sent important clarifications. They learn what is going on in the UK and US, as the sites blow PR attempts to stay below the radar.

We’ll be happy when both books die. Blood money and very nasty remains what they are. Roll on the appeal and suits for calunnia.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 03/24/12 at 03:23 AM | #

Sharlene Martin: what are “absorbent costs”? I assume you mean “exhorbitant” costs. Good thing you are merely a literary agent, and not a writer or editor. Or, maybe the words don’t really matter.

Perhaps noone will actually read Ratty’s book. Curt Knox won’t, at any rate, book reading not being on his bucket list.

The 4 years behind bars kept them safe from overdosing. The parents should be grateful someone was keeping an eye on their brats.

Posted by mimi on 03/24/12 at 06:39 AM | #

Hi Mimi. I had noticed that too and left it uncorrected as it seems telling. What a nuts thing to do to post that.

She sounds highly invested. Yet another useful idiot. Care to rustle up full facts on her for a post? We may be able to catch when the hard truth sinks home.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 03/24/12 at 01:59 PM | #

Good work Peter!

@Severino518 - I appreciate your concern for the truth, but after following the case for 3+ years, attempting to educate fools on all “Meredith Kercher Case” post’s comments would be a full-time job 24/7.

Chelsea Hoffman is funny. I believe she writes in that style to purposefully rile up the FOA. You can tell by her reply comments that she is enjoying their hysteria. Good for her! While I appreciate her posts, I don’t have the stomach for the comments or the energy to respond to them.

Posted by bedelia on 03/24/12 at 03:40 PM | #

@Peter,

One thing that attracts reader is quality. Second thing that I consider most important is the lack of fluff. The posts are crisp and to the point.

Your site obviously gets high marks on both quality and reliability.

@former bad girl,

I also think that “she is enjoying their hysteria”- but also doing a great job exposing the dumb sense of logic of the FOA.

They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care;
 They pursued it with forks and hope;
They threatened its life with a railway-share;
 They charmed it with smiles and soap.

Posted by chami on 03/24/12 at 06:31 PM | #

“I couldn’t be happier for Amanda Knox getting $4M for a book deal.  What happened to her and Raffaele is a sin.  BTW, I represent Raffaele for his book that we’re working on.”

“There is no restitution for wrongful conviction and both families incurred absorbent costs to help exonerate them so good for them if they help recoup the lost monies.  They’ll never recoup the lost time of 4 years in prison.”

There is a solution: let AK and RS contribute 2M+2M to the Perugia police to undergo training at Florida!

Posted by chami on 03/24/12 at 10:14 PM | #

Of course these lunatics are interested in one thing only. Making money. Since that is so obviously true then having AK deported would be a very useful ploy in the promotion of her childish rubbish. Once a ‘Slattern’ always a slattern etc; There’s lots of money in politics and something like that coupled with a Rick Santorum say. (I use the word coupled advisedly) would be a useful tool as well! Oh my goodness, far to many double entendre’s I have better quit while I’m a-head.

Posted by Grahame Rhodes on 03/26/12 at 04:56 PM | #

Tick tock Curt and Edda!! Does anyone know if they’ve been spotted packing yet?

Posted by Melanie on 03/26/12 at 06:13 PM | #

Mimi, I came here to say the same thing about Ms. Martin’s choice of vocabulary.  Unless “absorbent” is some posh new term I’m not familiar with, she probably did mean “exorbitant.”

I can sort of see how she got from one to the other, if she conflated “absorb” with “exorbitant,” but it shows something extremely unflattering, considering her profession.  Crossed wires happen to all of us, but I would expect someone who works in the book business to be meticulous, and her post is as sloppy as they come. If a book agent can’t be bothered to edit her own posts, and if she isn’t capable of punctuating correctly, I wouldn’t want to work with her.

Regarding Raffaele, I also don’t believe he was in Seattle.  Between the difficulties we assumed he might (or rather, should) have had obtaining a visa, and the utter lack of pictures (when we are regularly regaled with barfy photo-spreads, like the sushi restaurant one), I’m skeptical.  I haven’t had a chance to visit PMF for a few days, but it doesn’t sound like any evidence of his visit has emerged yet.

Posted by Vivianna on 03/26/12 at 11:18 PM | #

Looking at the editors of Gallery books I was struck by the impressive intelligence exhibited therein. Louise Burke would seem to be OK. But the other two? Well I understand that appearances can be deceiving but Jen Bergstrom and Tricia Boczkowski look like a couple of rejects from the audition of the old TV show ‘Absolutely Fabulous. I seriously wish them luck since they are going to need it.

Posted by Grahame Rhodes on 03/27/12 at 04:16 PM | #

Where’s Raffaele? Why hasn’t he been photographed in the US?

His book agent, Sharlene Martin (reportedly a close friend of FOA Anne Bremner) posted this strange comment to the Steve Shay March 15, 2012 article found here:
http://www.highlinetimes.com/2012/03/15/news/update-sollecitos-book-come-out-knoxs-amanda-knox
Sharlene Martin: Thank you, Steve.  The plans have been cancelled thanks to you. No Supporters will get a thank you from Raffaele.
steves: Raffaele is 27 and, I assume, can thank who he wants to thank, when and where he wants to thank them. I simply reported what I was told.

Chiding a reporter (in comments) for giving her client publicity? He is virtually an unknown here and is putting out a book. This exchange is unusual perhaps contrived.

Then there was a tweet from Anne Bremner (@annembremner) on March 18:
I met Rafaele Sollecito today in Seattle. He is lovely and was so grateful for the efforts of FOA on his and Amanda Knox’s behalf.

Then this one from Sharlene Martin (@martinliterary) on March 24:
Back in Seattle after ten days in LA working with Raffaele on his book!

It almost sounds like they’re covering for a snag he hit entering the US. (That’s probably just wishful thinking.) Maybe it’s just Mister Cellophane Syndrome. In any case this doesn’t bode well for sales of his book IMO.

PS: Hi everyone. This site rocks!

Posted by louiehaha on 03/28/12 at 04:32 AM | #

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