The Strange Case of Dr James and Mr Hilton...
My real name is Aaron Hilton; that is my assertion at least, as of the time of this writing, in the year of our King, 2024. I was born with that name and have carried it with me for 45 years.
However, I have recently discovered that I have an alter-ego. Perhaps, in truth, I have known about him for some time. At my best estimation he was born multiple decades ago, when I was but a teenage boy. But, as of late, he has come more completely to the fore. I have never yet spoken of him by name, but today I must.
If I am Mr Hilton, then he is Dr James.
Dr James is a dastardly nocturnal beast who emerges after the sunset hour as if he was rendered to life by the moonlight itself. During this period he works furiously, assembling words into phrases and then cobbling together paragraphs to fill as many pages as he might, which he then leaves piled up in a dusty folder in the corner of my MacBook. Then, by day, Mr Hilton returns. In a sleepless and dizzied state, Mr Hilton will draw the curtains in haste—to block out the infernal sunshine!—and will frequently spend his time sleeping, in an unending effort to repay the crippling debt incurred by his doppelgänger.
Even by day, Dr James is never truly gone. I can feel him inside of me, shuffling about, making curious observations, and taking note of fascinating ideas before fading away into the shadows once more. Little did I realise—until most recently—that he dwelt in those shadows so that it could be he, not I, who would finally come to stand in the spotlight; to bask in all of the glory and to accept all of the praise and all of the credit, should any be forthcoming.
Now—I realise, dear reader, that this is an odd way to inform you all that Hilton James is a pen name created by Aaron Hilton, but, Mr Hilton is an odd man, indeed. I did not want to use a pen name, and wrestled with the idea for some time, but I needed to differentiate myself from another Aaron Hilton who already sells his books on Amazon. So, in the end, needs must. In addition, I cannot reliably be certain that Hilton James is, in fact, the alter-ego at all…
Well, no matter. I hope you will enjoy the spoils of Dr James’ ceaseless toiling—there are plenty waiting in the dusty folder to be shared, as you will all soon discover.
A.H/H.J