Let’s Talk About Plagiarism

…because you know it’s out there and happens more frequently than you could possibly realize.

Plagiarism.

It’s a dirty little word, one that people frequently misspell and can’t quite grasp its meaning. They ask, “Well, what is plagiarism exactly?” Really? I’ll tell you exactly what plagiarism is….

Plagiarism is, in the scholarly realm, writing 3-4 words in a row of someone else’s work without proper citation. Please don’t make me explain citation to you.

Plagiarism is knowingly stealing someone else’s work in part or its entirety and claiming it as your own.

Plagiarism is taking even the creative ideas of someone’s entire story line and using it for your own gain.

Or, as author Shannon Mayer posted on her fanpage today:

pla·gia·rism
noun
1. an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author’s work as one’s own, as by not crediting the original author

Shannon’s first Rylee book, Priceless, was recently plagiarized. An “author” by the name of TG Ayer released Blood Magic four days ago. It is strikingly familiar, and since I copy-edited the entire Rylee series with exception to Veiled Threat, I would know because I know the story. Shannon and I are both reading this book, and her people are looking into the whole mess. This is wrong and shouldn’t be happening. It’s rude. And I’m pissed the hell off that someone has stolen this work or its idea and is using my friend to profit.

If you ever read a book and recognize the story line, check the copyright dates on both and contact the author being plagiarized, or their publishing house, please. People like this need to be stopped as soon as humanly possible. In my opinion, this is worse than piracy.

UPDATE: It seems that TG Ayer has re-released Blood Magic HERE. Nice way to get rid of bad reviews, don’t you think?