Month: June 2013
Governor Perry, watch out for the Wendy Davis Express
Dear Melissa,
I teach on Saturday mornings, so I only hear your show on my XM Radio. You keep me going and I appreciate your outrage, passion, humor, dedication, and hard work to ensure those who need to hear a LESSON, hear it.
Your fan,
Michelle
Viral Video: AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” Played On Flame-Throwing Bagpipes
Here’s something to lighten the mood, after the serious discussion on plagiarists yesterday. ACDC sounds great on bagpipes, but they knew it when they wrote “It’s a Long Way to the Top.”
Enjoy, and remember Bon Scott.
The Slippery Slope Between Fanfiction and Plagiarizing an Author’s Work
Fan fiction has existed alongside storytelling, throughout history. My undergraduate Shakespeare courses featured heated discussions on whether or not The Bard’s plays were homages to, or plagiarized copies of “Plutarch’s Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans.” The similarities were uncanny, to say the least. Another infamous case involved a college student who had a “photographic” memory and plagiarized a popular, “darling” series about six or seven years ago. Authors are influenced by stories they read or hear, but most acknowledge their sources of inspiration, either in their writing or in interviews about their books. 
Recently, one of the biggest fan fiction “success stories” rose out of anonymity and became a household name. She re-wrote an incredibly popular Young Adult (YA) series, based in Washington State, into one of the best-selling trilogies of the past decade. By changing her story substantially, the fan fiction author ensured it would not be confused with the original. She further set the right example, by explaining that the YA series was her inspiration. She went on to self-publish her series, and continues to profit from it.
I read both series. I am not a fan of YA (or its older, sexed up cousin, New Adult (NA)) novels, but the original was a sweet, well-written set of stories. The author captured the angst and irrational emotions of hormonal teens, experiencing their first loves. My twelve-year-old self would have LOVED this series. My 45-year-old self thought it was “cute” and perfect for its tween/pre-teen/teenage demographics. It was spun-off into movie series juggernaut that propelled the actors into the stratosphere of stardom, and brought more attention to the book series.
The fan fiction series, however, left a lot to be desired. This author kept the location as Washington State, only moving the action to the city of Seattle. The characters are chronologically older, but less mature. The stories are entirely too wordy and should have been condensed into one book. The action is decidedly more “adult,” in that the characters engage in sexual activities that incorporate an alternative lifestyle. Sadly, the author did not research this lifestyle thoroughly. She failed miserably in conveying the three key tenets of this lifestyle in her work: safe, sane and consensual. Be that as it may, this series has provided a venue for adults to discuss sex in a more open, provocative way. That is a good thing. This series has been greenlighted and could be in theaters next Summer (according to Perez Hilton’s website FSOG Movie Deal). No comment. (It’s already been done. Just watch the movie Secretary, starring James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal, then come back and tell me about it…you’re welcome).
With all that off my chest, I arrive at the reason for my post today.
Plagiarizing another person’s work, is STEALING.
I am not accusing the above unnamed authors of stealing, because clearly they did not. Unfortunately, not every writer of fan fiction is honest, and the number of plagiarized works is growing at an alarming rate. Perhaps the plagiarists were always there (i.e., Shakespeare, etc.), but the Internet seems to bring out the worst in people. The lure of fame, money and/or greed by taking someone else’s hard work, changing the title and a few names, adding your name as “author,” and releasing it to an unsuspecting public, is magnetic. And illegal.
In the past two weeks, some super sleuth book bloggers/reviewers uncovered at least five plagiarized books being sold as “original works.” These people were not professionals who worked for publishing companies, simply fans of books, who noticed uncanny similarities to books they had already read. Furthermore, several had hosted the thieves on their blogs to PROMOTE the plagiarized works. Not only were the bloggers/reviewers duped, they knew they inadvertently “helped” hurt other authors they cared for. I believe they, along with the wronged authors were innocent victims of liars and thieves.
Teresa Mummert provides a great chronology on her blog, for those who like to follow the bouncing ball “Plagiarism” from Author Teresa Mummert’s Blog
I started this post as a cautionary tale, but it is not. If you choose to steal another person’s work you are a THIEF, and deserve the world of hurt that accompanies legal action against plagiarists. It is a fantastic way to destroy your life and credibility, immediately, so HAVE AT IT. Just know that the Internet is forever. Fans of books are a smart, resourceful, loyal community who protects its own (authors and books) and we will find you.
My advice: write the stories that live within you. Place your characters in worlds of your own creation, but write what you know. Then, give credit where credit is due, for your inspiration. Thank the authors who write the stories that move you, by buying, reading and promoting their work. Not by copying and pasting it into a new file, and calling it yours.
You are more interesting than you think you are, and your story has not been told…by you. So write it.
Ode to my Blog’s Spam Blocker – Update
Since I published Ode to my Blog’s Spam Blocker, about two weeks ago, the amount of Spam my site has generated has tripled! SCORE!
I suspect the Ode reinvigorated Sexy Studly Spam Slayer to work harder. His endurance is AMAZING. Yes, S4 or “Sugar Britches,” as I affectionately call him, is a male Spam Blocker. I picture him wearing green (jungle) or grey (urban) camouflaged pants, a black t-shirt, a custom-built computer complete with diamond plating and a tool belt to rival Batman’s utility belt. His hair color and facial features may change depending on my mood, but his attention to detail, to eliminating the refuse from my Blog, is unmatched. Oh, and he is buff…or does his best work in the buff. I haven’t decided.
He is the perfect Spam Blocker – the standard of excellence by which all Spam Blockers should be judged. He is no amateur teen, or twenty-something, socially awkward hacker. No, Sugar Britches is battle-weary, internationally debonair and prepared for anything. He does not sleep, but is never cranky.
In past two weeks he has expanded his repertoire to include such gems as information about swans, mobility challenges in the big city, “funding” for my film making career, more detailed requests for technical support, and a myriad of posts agreeing with my political ideology, even though I cannot recall ever writing or thinking about writing a manifesto. Of course the requisite “opinions” on the use of “toys” still pop up on a daily basis, but they have been joined by weather reports, descriptions of some unnamed, bucolic countryside (Chernobyl, perhaps?), and Cyrillic, or possibly Aramaic messages, encoded for my protection. And, the question for the ages has been answered: there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Just send your bank account information to…
No, you may not “borrow” Sugar Britches. He is mine and I do not share. Ever. So, excuse me while I prepare him breakfast and supply him with endless cups of gourmet coffee. He’s earned it, and a private massage later.
That swan thing is deeply puzzling. Should I contact Animal Services?
The 10 Reasons Why Generation-Y is Soft
Link Posted on Updated on
Please read this article then come back and share your thoughts – The 10 Reasons Why Generation-Y is Soft
I hoped this article, written by a member of Generation-Y, would spark a heated discussion, on his site. Unfortunately, it created a forum for people to question his facts, but not offer any alternative thoughts. Sadly, I suspect it will continue to degenerate into a list of “I know you are, but what am I,” “you’re WRONG,” or “______ you” comments, so I brought the discussion over here, so we could delve into it with a little more in depth.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a member of Generation X. I received extensive human resources training in generational differences in the workplace, but I am a product of my generation and it certainly impacts by world view. I identify with many of the characteristics ascribed to my generation: independent, due to being a latch key kid; suspicious and mistrusting of companies/corporations, after seeing many of my friends’ parents lose their jobs in the 1980s and 1990s; comfortable in a diverse workplace (and world), and place a great emphasis on work/life balance. I work to live, not live to work. I am also aware that we are not one of the larger generations (population-wise). I graduated college in 1991 and in the mid-1990s returned to advise a couple of student organizations, at the same university, as a volunteer.
For the past eight years, I have noticed a growing disconnect with the students. I knew I was “aging out,” or identifying more with their parents, than the students themselves. Every year I felt as if we were growing apart, even though I tried to keep up with their cultural trends and interests. This year, however, the gap became too great. I knew it was time to move on, when my patience dwindled to nothing.
One of the minor reasons I stopped advising college students, was that I felt they were too “fragile.” The women I worked with directly, learned quickly, that I never minced words. To some, it was a rude awakening. Some rose to the occasion immediately upon being treated as an adult. Others did not, and discovered the “joys” of personal accountability, or cleaning up one’s messes. I may have been the adviser, but ultimately, they were responsible for decisions made. Time after time, I was impressed by these women, but they seemed to be the exception, not the norm.
When I read Eddie Cuffin’s article it resonated with me, because it hit upon many of the things I witnessed, not the least of which was a delayed emotional maturity. At that moment, I knew my “honesty is the best policy”….well, brutal honesty, in my case, would not work with the newest generation and it was an opportunity for someone else to take my place. I was also exhausted of being “misinterpreted,” “translated” or worse, “watered-down” to make my words less harsh to delicate Generation-Y egos. So, I moved on, but left with a sense that there was unfinished business and that I never really understood the newest 18-20-year-olds.
Generation-Y followers, do any of the ideas brought forth in this article resonate with you? What about my Generation X and Baby Boomer followers, what have you observed? Please share!
Should Authors Write Bad Book Reviews?
Reviewing books may be hazardous to your health, especially if you are an author. Kristen Lamb discusses her experiences and how they shaped her reviewing style.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have not published any books. I have learned not to publish reviews on any books I did not like. If I strongly disliked, or worse, did not finish the book, I will not write a review. Period. To this day, I have only posted one negative review for a book. I purchased the book, at full price, and expected to get a “full-price experience,” based on the glowing and outstanding reviews. I did not. I got something far less enjoyable and felt gypped. My negative review is still “live,” and will remain so, because my feelings were honest. If I receive any negative feedback I will immediately delete the review.
The “anonymous bravado” of some people on the internet, is not pretty and not something I wished to engage in. Seeing the vitriolic backlash towards reviewers and authors, has helped me determine when, and if, to post a review. I will continue to give a book a low rating, if I feel it deserves it. Amazon and Goodreads like to “recommend” future books, based on what I have already read. This not been a successful “system” for me. I prefer to have books recommended to me via word-of-mouth or after reading remarks by reviewers who provide enough information about the author’s character development and mechanics of the story, rather than a marketing algorithm.
No review from me means “I did not have time to write a review, and none was requested,” the book was “fine,” or “the book was so poorly written that ‘silence is golden.'” If an author, or other reviewer, requests my thoughts, I will provide my honest thoughts. If I rate a book as an “A,” “B,” or “C” (outstanding, very good or good), the review will go “live” without input from the author. Anything lower, like a “D” (fair), “F” (poor), or “DNF” (did not finish because…why bother?) will not be reviewed. I will give my opinion of the book , along with an explanation as to what worked and did not work for me, to the author/reviewer, privately.
Okay, yesterday we had a little bit of a debate about leaving book reviews. First of all, the post is to warn you of the dangers of posting bad reviews as an author. Does it mean you can’t? No. Can you tweet while drinking and listening to LinkinPark? Yes, but you do so at your own risk. Same here. I am not the social media gestapo, but I am here to warn you of the hazards that are REAL.
We Never Know Who People Know
I once commented offhandedly to an acquaintance about a book I was reading. I wasn’t nasty, I just mentioned that I found it confusing and the dream sequences were messing me up. I also added that it could be me. I WAS seven-months pregnant, so I added the caveat that it could just be Baby Brain.
Little did I know the acquaintance was BEST…
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Blog Giveaways on Facebook and Learning to Step Away from Them
For several months I entered book giveaways sponsored by book blogs like an addict seeking her next fix. The lure of free e-books, paperbacks, bookmarks, magnets and countless other swag was mesmerizing. It appealed to my basest, “if it’s free, it’s for me” desires.
I clicked away like a mad woman. I “liked” authors I had not heard of, genres I did not particularly care for, books I would likely never read, and unknown blog, after unknown blog. I was fanatical in my glee! I reasoned that the more giveaways I entered, the greater my odds of “winning.”
And, I did win. I won a few well-written e-books, a few not-so-well-written e-books, a couple of signed paperbacks and postcards, magnets and bookmarks. For some of the books I enjoyed, I wrote reviews and downloaded the authors’ backlists. For the books I did not like, well…at least I attempted to read them, before relegating them to the “did not finish,” or “do not buy” piles.
A few bloggers posted their dismay on Facebook. They were unhappy that hundreds of people would run over to their Rafflecopter sites and enter the free contests they advertised and sponsored. Once the contests ended and the winners were announced, many of their new “followers” simply “unliked” their sites. My initial thought was, “You should never expect anything, when you offer something for nothing?” The only requirements for the giveaways were to “like” a bunch of sites, share the giveaways on other Social Media outlets, and sometimes leave comments on the blog. No real commitments were necessary.
One blogger, however, posted her true feelings on her Facebook status. She was upset, and hurt, that folks only entered the contests to “win.” It sparked a discussion on how the giveaways were structured. In that moment, I realized why I did not like the giveaways – they were one-sided with no reciprocation. The raffles had a finite timeline. None of the bloggers who sponsored them committed to following the people who entered the contests. There was no give-and-take. In more than one case this frustrated me, as wondered if they even read the comments posted. Wasn’t the point to help one another grow each other’s blogs? No, but it should have been.
At the writing of this post, only two of the blogs I “liked” and “followed” have “followed” me, in return. This let me know they actually read the comments posted. Those blogs have my support as they continue to grow their readership.
As for continuing to participate in giveaways…well, “if it’s free, it’s for me,” right? Perhaps. In a much more selective manner.
…on Plagiarism and Disgust
The lesson to be learned here is simple: DO NOT STEAL OTHER PEOPLE’S WORK. The internet is forever.
I am angry,
I am very angry.
I am blowing a gasket, a fuse or any of the other metaphors you can come up with for red with anger. I chuckle at this as I can’t technically turn red since I’m black but you get the point.
This evening started off pretty well. I’m still working on my practice writing in an attempt to propel my Muse from her awkward teenage, acne-filled, bracing wearing years to a more mature young adult when Laurell K Hamilton retweeted a tweet that stopped me dead in my tracks. The original tweet was made by Lorelei James who complained of someone , Alison Gilmore, passing off one of her books published in 2009 as their own. Alison used a website to upload the book one chapter at a time. She was originally a member of http://www.fanfiction.net where she stated she was writing One…
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Put on your cowboy boots, it’s time to kick some plagiarizing ass…
Followers,
Posting the intellectual property of authors, without their expressed approval, is STEALING. It is illegal, immoral and cowardly. Please, please, please share this information with your followers.
Plagiarizing another person’s work is wrong.
Help spread the word. On all your Social Media Platforms.
*****UPDATE******
As of 10:25 PM Eastern time her site is down and her Twitter feed, which we obtained from the links on her own site, is saying it’s not her. However, this author on her blog posted screenshots of Alison promoting her twitter account on the Weebly where the work was posted. HERE
**NEW** Woke Saturday morning to find her Twitter account is also disabled 🙂
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**ORIGINAL POST**
We have a serious situation.
Author Lorelei James has found her work ALL JACKED UP from the Rough Riders series (2009) being plagiarized word for word by a woman who is posting it one chapter at a time and claiming it as her own. Legal threats have not worked so now it’s time mobilize the reader community to come together and shame this woman off the web and educate all her “readers” that the work they are commenting on and so…
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Ode to my Blog’s Spam Blocker
Dear Spam Blocker for my Blog,
We have not formally met, but I wanted to introduce myself and thank you for your hard work.
I’m Michelle and I deeply admire your commitment to your craft.
As you know, I am not a professional blogger, and do this when the spirit moves me. Recently, the spirit has moved me to write more and more about books I have been reading. Every once in a while, I may write about politics, religion or the weather. And have. But, my preference right now is to discuss books written by talented female authors, with a decided “saucy,” adult twist to them. I hope you have enjoyed my thoughts on them, as much as I have.
Today, however, I salute YOU, Spam Blocker.
You keep randomly generated “comments” to my posts about how to market my blog – for a low price, how to increase traffic to said blog – again, for a low price, dating websites of questionable origins, shoe websites, fishing, phishing, stuff that looks like it was written by feet, unknown Asian characters and electronics, to a minimum. You filter all requests for my opinion on oil prices, cars, anti-anxiety medications, vacation packages and financing for a myriad of objects that defy reason…with low interest rates, of course, with icy precision. After you collect these gems of literature, you organize them into a folder conveniently labeled “Spam” for perusal at my leisure.
Knowing you toil tirelessly 24-hours a day, seven days a week, without requesting any vacation or sick time, makes me feel protected. A little freaked out, in an Orwellian way, but protected nonetheless.
So, THANK YOU, Spam Blocker. Your work has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
Your loyal friend and admirer,
Michelle
P.S. I think I love you.
Book Review – “Searching For Moore,” by Julie A. Richman
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My Mazel of the day goes to Julie Richman, for tearing my heart out to Bruce Springsteen, the soundtrack of my youth. I have some beautiful Mazel Shot Glasses from Andy Cohen’s Bravo Clubhouse, just for you, Missy.
I will start by publicly flogging myself for thinking this was a “New Adult” novel, featuring a bunch of entitled, horny, self-centered, shiftless college students. It is not. I will further admit that I purchased it on sale, thinking it was a New Adult novel, featuring a bunch of entitled, horny, self-centered, shiftless college students. Therefore, my Catholic girl penance is that I am writing this post at 4:45 a.m. ET, after staying up all night long to finish reading Searching for Moore Enough said.
Ok, I took a couple of cat naps last night and work from home. Don’t feel too badly for me.
Holy debut novel, Batman.
I mean, HOLY. FUCKING. DEBUT. NOVEL.
The premise is simple: what if you were only one Facebook friend request away from your true love – that one person who knew you better than you knew yourself – 24 years after you last saw each other? Would you reconnect with her/him, even if it meant uprooting the life you had been creating for yourself? If you were given that chance, would you take it?
Searching for Moore begins in the present day. Schooner Moore’s wife, CJ, is throwing a lavish party to celebrate his 43rd birthday. It is filled with “the beautiful people,” superficial individuals who only wish to be seen at this party to rub elbows with the rich and famous. Schooner Moore is both. What CJ and her “guests” fail to realize, however, is that Schooner dislikes the shallow displays of artifice that are his life and social circle. Then, his college buddy, Beau, casually mentions that he has chatted with Mia Silver, a classmate from college, via Facebook.
As Schooner reminisces, we are transported back twenty-four years into the past. He remembers their freshman year of college and the first taste of independence, of “finding himself,” meeting diverse people and learning about true love. Schooner meets and is immediately attracted to CJ, the quintessential, beautiful prom queen. They are the “perfect” All-American blonde couple, who would be featured in an ad for Ralph Lauren. He also meets Mia Silver, antithesis to CJ, sassy New Yorker, attending school in California, who marches to the beat of her own drum. CJ fits into his world, effortlessly, like a well-decorated room that lacks personality. Mia challenges his mind, steals his heart and completes his soul. Schooner and Mia are each other’s first true love. Then, Mia leaves him, without a word.
We return to the present day and Schooner sends Mia an innocuous Facebook friend request. A friend request that she is fated to accept. The story continues as the veil of time is lifted, a lifetime of betrayal by CJ is exposed, and that first true love is renewed.
Ms. Richman writes Schooner so that the reader is able to see the “real” Schooner that Mia sees. He has spent his life as a handsome shell, a chameleon who morphs into whomever he is expected to be. He has been incredibly successful in business, but we know he is so much more. Conversely, Mia is a ray of sunlight, warm, ebullient, full of life and loyal. She is successful, loved and will bring balance back into Schooner’s life. Unfortunately, not everyone is pleased with this reunion, especially CJ and Zac (CJ and Schooner’s son – who inherited his personality from CJ).
We live a lifetime through their story. There is the angst of first heart break, the ambivalence and acceptance of life’s circumstances, and the joy and hope for renewed, healing love. Then, Ms. Richman ends this rollercoaster ride of emotions with a cliffhanger the reader sees building from the middle of the story, but is incapable to stop. Searching for Moore is funny and quirky, profound, poignant and moving – all at the same time. It is the best book I have read about aging Generation-Xers, this year.
Exceptional debut for Ms. Richman! I need the second book NOW!!
The “cleaned up” versions of this review are on Amazon and Goodreads.
Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark 