I don't get it.

Angie has a post up about authors who are considering taking one of their already-published books, changing a few things and then trying to get the book published again by Samhain. Granted, the poor authors have lost their publisher and the books are gone. But these are still books that have been out and about--stories people might recognise.

I don't get it. Really, truly I don't understand what they're thinking. Someone's bound to notice and what have the writers gained? Certainly not the future business of their past readers (and probably not new readers, once the news gets out).

The whole horrible incident when someone plagiarised Nora--the story I heard was that the plagiarism rose out of a sense of desperation. The plagiarist was on a tight deadline and panicked.**

But it doesn't sound like these people were particularly panicky, just eager to find a place for their stories.

Silly goobers. For your own sake, tell the truth. Maybe you'll get a "reprint" on the front cover . . . .or you should say goodbye to the stories.

A couple of times in my life I've lost sleep because I suddenly realized that a WIP hero or heroine shares characteristics with a published hero or heroine. Oh, NO! I'm out of stories! My themes are used up! I once deep-sixed most of a book when I realized it was too similar to another story.

To actually copy stories and characters--even your own--on purpose seems like the ultimate in self-destructive laziness. Yikes.

___________

** and much as I imagine the horror that particular author faced, I still am astounded she still getting the nice contracts. She is, the biddy.

Comments

  1. Jaynie3:56 AM

    And now these authors have ruined their professional names by saying they're going to do something like this. What publisher would even want an author that unprofessional?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nonny Blackthorne4:29 AM

    It's not uncommon for e-publishers to reprint previously published material. I've seen disclaimers on several different e-books mentioning that the book wasn't new.

    I don't have a problem with authors trying to find a new home for their old work. It makes a lot of sense, especially given some circumstances. If you've got a series, you're going to want the previous books available to readers.

    The issue here is that the authors' rights are tied up in the bankruptcy suit -- and the reaction of some to rename their books, change a bit here and there, and try to get them republished?

    Lord and Lady. *shakes head*

    That's so immature and asinine that it's almost funny. I have to wonder if these people are even thinking.

    If you're going to lie, do it well. Don't do it in such a way that you can easily be caught.

    Depending on how openly these authors talked about their plans ... well, there aren't going to be many reputable e-publishers looking at their work after that, I don't think.

    Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Laurie M. Rauch2:33 PM

    I share your astounded-ness. I know it was a long time for the "biddy" to get a publishing contract after the plagarism incident, but that she was able to get one blows my mind.

    As a reader, I know I'd be darn ticked off if I paid my hard-earned money for a book I already owned or read... and that reflects poorly on both the author as well as the publisher. Why do that to yourself in the first place? I don't get it...

    ReplyDelete

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