First, Jenny Trout blogged extensively this week her response in regards to the numerous, numerous similarities between books by m/m romance “author” Laura Harner, and novels by Opal Carew and Becky McGraw.

Harner’s declaration towards the Guardian included this line, which can be still baffling: “…it seems that i might have crossed the line and violated my code that is own of.”

Each time this occurs, we cue up Rhianna in my own mind.

Wish to sing along? Begin only at about :47.

If you plagiarize and publish it, a reader will notice as I said on Twitter. Constantly. Because a LOT is read by us.

However the pattern repeats: a audience notices, seems the alert, more passages are found that are way too similar for coincidence, while the individual who did the copying is somehow amazed by their very own behavior.

This informative article from 1997, “Meaningless Apologies, Disowned Selves,” by Kathy Kellerman (PDF) features a pattern that is similar Janet Dailey’s “apologies” to Nora Roberts whenever she was discovered copying Roberts’ terms. (altro…)