Heather MacAllister's Blog, page 2

Plagiarism

 

Image courtesy of 1shots at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I found a story of mine plagiarized on an Indian website.  “At least someone thought your story was good enough to steal” was the reaction of an unnamed person who will have to get his own dinner tonight.  Having your work stolen is not a compliment.  That’s what plagiarism is–theft.  It’s stealing someone else’s words and presenting them as your own.  Changing the names of the characters doesn’t count, although it was interesting to see my story with Indian names.  But not interesting enough to make it okay.

Here’s part of “The Neighbour”:

Chapter four , scene 3

  If Arjun had been wearing a shirt, Arohi would have been the victor in their latest encounter.

But he hadn’t been wearing a shirt and when he’d raised his arm and leaned against the doorjamb, he could have been Angad posing for his “sexiest man” picture.

In fact, when faced with so much male in the flesh, as it were, Arohi couldn’t remember exactly what Angad looked like, which was another thing to be angry abt and which reminded her tht bcoz of Arjun, she’d lost her chance to see Angad in any kind of flesh, er, see him perform. Hear him perform.
With his violin.

Anyway, she’d been flustered was all she was prepared to admit. She’d wanted to make Arohi feel bad or express remorse. Considerably more than the lukewarm apology he’d offered.

Obviously, he’d just climbed out of bed.
He had no shame. None.
And she was serious about him changing apartments, preferably moving out of the complex, but she’d settle for out of hearing range and hope for out of sight, as well. The sight of Arjun shirtless had had more of an effect on her than she liked to admit, even to herself.

And here is the original from DESIGNER SEX:

If Mick had been wearing a shirt, Erin would have been the victor in their latest encounter.

But he hadn’t been wearing a shirt and when he’d raised his arm and leaned against the doorjamb, he could have been Antonio Zamora posing for his “sexiest man” picture.

In fact, when faced with so much male in the flesh, as it were, Erin couldn’t remember exactly what Antonio Zamora looked like, which was another thing to be angry about and which reminded her that because of Mick, she’d lost her chance to see Antonio Zamora in any kind of flesh…er, see him perform. Hear him perform. With his violin.

Anyway, she’d been…flustered was all she was prepared to admit. She’d wanted to make Mick feel bad or express remorse. Considerably more than the lukewarm apology he’d offered.

Obviously, he’d just climbed out of bed.

He had no shame. None.

And she was serious about him changing apartments — preferably moving out of the complex, but she’d settle for out of hearing range and hope for out of sight, as well. The sight of Mick shirtless had had more of an effect on her than she liked to admit, even to herself.

The person who posted the story didn’t think she was doing anything wrong in taking my work, changing the title and character names, and claiming that it was now hers.  But it is wrong.  And it always will be.

 

 

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CIA and Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago: The agency posted a bizarre cryptic Russian tweet.

CIA and Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago: The agency posted a bizarre cryptic Russian tweet.

Fascinating story about the CIA’s role in getting Doctor Zhivago published.  The CIA has a history of smuggling subversive books into countries, including the Soviet Union. One of those books was Doctor Zhivago.

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The Santa Sleuth Christmas 99¢ Sale

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THE SANTA SLEUTH is on sale for 99¢ at Amazon and Barnes and Noble from now until the end of the year.  If you’d rather download from iTunes or Kobo, it’s part of the Holiday Treats boxed set with HAUNTED SPOUSE, also on sale until the end of the year.

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1st Sale Anniversary

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Twenty-five years ago today, I got “the call” from Harlequin telling me they were buying DECK THE HALLS.  There have been lots of sales calls since then, but none as sweet as the very first.

 

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Special Holiday Sale!

 
The Kindle edition of DECK THE HALLS
is on sale for $1.99
now through November 28th


 

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RT Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee

TAKEN BY STORM is a 2014 RT BOOK Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee!

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Last Harvest before Winter

Our peppers have kept growing longer than I expected, especially since I nearly killed them with a homemade concoction of soapy water and hot pepper juice.  I'd found a recipe calling for cayenne pepper, but I had all these peppers that broke off from a ristra I carried home from Albuquerque earlier this year.  (Ristras--those long, bushy strings of dried peppers--do not travel well.)  So I soaked the peppers in water and mixed that with liquid soap and sprayed all my plants.  Two days later, they dropped all their leaves.  I thought I'd killed my entire garden--except for the bugs.  Miraculously, the plants survived.  The bottom couple of feet of all the pepper and tomato plants have no leaves, but they put out new growth.  They're top heavy, so I've had to support them and in September, they got a second wind and dozens of new blooms appeared.  In the picture are sweet salad peppers, Gypsy peppers, and a red bell pepper.  There are jalapenos, but not in the photo.  They're kept segregated ever since I accidently made a really, really, really hot spaghetti sauce in the summer.

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The Things I Do for Research

 

Yes, I'm milking a cow.  Why?  Because the opportunity, er, cow presented herself and you just never know when random experiences will make it into a book. 

 

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Brain Wave Animated Cat Ears

Who on my Christmas list needs these?

The Brain Wave Animated Cat Ears – Hammacher Schlemmer.

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Native Union POP Bluetooth Phone

Native Union POP Bluetooth Phone.

This was bound to happen.

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