"Can the Ethiopian change his skin ...?" UPDATE

Further information has come to light regarding my article "Can the Ethiopian change his skin ...?". Apologies for the missing graphics on that article - I am about to go in search of them!

Proof that Acorah stole 500 copies of "The Psychic World of Derek Acorah" is shown in the following scan of a fax sent on 23 September 2003 by Piatkus Publishing to the author's literary agent. Unfortunately the quality is poor so a transcription is provided below. A better quality scan is available on the Double Exposure website




RE: The Magic World of Derek Acorah - John Sutton and Derek A.

(to) Rosemary Bromley (literary agent)
From: [JB@piatkus.co.uk]
Sent: 23 September 2002 08:03
To: juvenilia@clara.co.uk
Subject: RE: The Magic World of Derek Acorah - John Sutton and Derek A.

Dear Rosemary

Further to our telephone conversation regarding Derek Acorah I have spoken to Judy who feels that as our contract is with you we cannot take further responsibility at this time for payment of royalties to John Sutton.

As you know, Derek Acorah took 500 copies of his book at a 50% discount in August 1999 (the total amount of the invoice being £2497.50). We continually asked for payment which was never forthcoming. (we sent letters as well as making numerous phonecalls). We then asked him to return the books to us which he didn't do and he refused to answer any of the letters we sent him. As the books began earning royalties we felt that the only way to recoup this money was to set the amount earned against the outstanding invoice. We did this as follows:

£ [illegible] against July to December 2000 royalties.

£ [illegible] against January to June 2001 royalties and

£ [illegible] against the £663.72 that was to be paid for the July to December 2001 royalties.

This totals £2497.50 which clears the outstanding invoice.

As you have been aware of this situation for two years we would suggest that John Sutton claim against Derek for his 50% share of the £2497.50. We did however pay you the balance on [illegible] to December 2001 royalty statement of £248.41. This is another amount due to you for the January to June 2002 royaltiy statement of £384.80. You may wish to discuss with your author yourself as to how you apportion the payments.

It is interesting to note that, at that time, in their correspondence, Piatkus gives John Sutton as the primary author of the book.

Echolima