In the weird symmetry of the universe...
Paul Tolme, author of the plagiarized article in Defenders, the magazine of the Defenders of Wildlife, has become the darling of the romance community. Nora Roberts is matching donations to DoW up to $5,000. Very nice of her to want to do something to make up for her, uh, colleague's (and I use that term loosely) plagiarism of his work.
Over on F_W, he is being similarly lauded and honored in the singular way of fangirls everywhere - with speculative RPS. I won't link it here, but it's not hard to find. It's right after my comment on Pg 3. I have to admit, his line, "...two dudes looking for weasels" really does lend itself to speculation :)
I find myself really fascinated by the whole social dynamic here. The public shaming of an author who broke one of the cardinal rules of writing. The discovery and increased visibility of an obscure nature journalist, who has the good grace to find the humor in it. The sheer unlikeliness of said journalist's work to be lifted for a romance novel. I can see it lifted for a high school or college undergrad's paper, but a romance novel? Seriously?
Finally (can I say finally? Not sure that this whole thing is done yet), fandom rallies around famous romance novelist, Nora Roberts and organize a donation drive for Tolme's cause, Defenders of Wildlife. While off to the side, sotte voce, F_W commenters are slashing Paul with his cohort on their weasel hunt. In an odd, sort of backwards way, this is the highest form of praise for Paul Tolme and one, if he were to happen across it, I would hope he can take with the same good grace he had for the rest of the plagiarism scandal. Since he seems to live in Colorado, I rather think he would. Trust me, Paul, a little innocent RPS is harmless fun and only adds to your masculine mystique.
Heh, I'm wondering if I ever bothered to try to publish my Canada Geese paper, Ms. Edwards would lift from that, too. Wouldn't that be a kick in the ass! Male and female protagonists tossing my words back and forth in their post-coital bliss. Bwah! It'd be clunky as hell as dialog, but that didn't stop her in Paul Tolme's case.
Over on F_W, he is being similarly lauded and honored in the singular way of fangirls everywhere - with speculative RPS. I won't link it here, but it's not hard to find. It's right after my comment on Pg 3. I have to admit, his line, "...two dudes looking for weasels" really does lend itself to speculation :)
I find myself really fascinated by the whole social dynamic here. The public shaming of an author who broke one of the cardinal rules of writing. The discovery and increased visibility of an obscure nature journalist, who has the good grace to find the humor in it. The sheer unlikeliness of said journalist's work to be lifted for a romance novel. I can see it lifted for a high school or college undergrad's paper, but a romance novel? Seriously?
Finally (can I say finally? Not sure that this whole thing is done yet), fandom rallies around famous romance novelist, Nora Roberts and organize a donation drive for Tolme's cause, Defenders of Wildlife. While off to the side, sotte voce, F_W commenters are slashing Paul with his cohort on their weasel hunt. In an odd, sort of backwards way, this is the highest form of praise for Paul Tolme and one, if he were to happen across it, I would hope he can take with the same good grace he had for the rest of the plagiarism scandal. Since he seems to live in Colorado, I rather think he would. Trust me, Paul, a little innocent RPS is harmless fun and only adds to your masculine mystique.
Heh, I'm wondering if I ever bothered to try to publish my Canada Geese paper, Ms. Edwards would lift from that, too. Wouldn't that be a kick in the ass! Male and female protagonists tossing my words back and forth in their post-coital bliss. Bwah! It'd be clunky as hell as dialog, but that didn't stop her in Paul Tolme's case.