Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 146

Writer Wednesday with Keri Stevens

Another WW post…! Today, it's Keri Stevens…

What's the one thing that remains unchanged during your writing process, from one book to another? (ie: Intensive plotting? Music?)

A: I'm still (too) prissy. I need absolute silence without interruption for a known amount of time before I can even settle down enough to begin drafting. If I expect an hour, I'd darn well better get that hour, or woe betide the creature that knocks on my office door.

What's the one piece of advice you'd give a new writer?

A: "Walk into your fear." If doing it makes you nervous, you're probably supposed to be doing it. Writing, sharing your words with critique partners, pitching, submitting queries…anything that gives you butterflies, go forth and do.

What's the one piece of advice you wish was wiped from the minds of writers everywhere?

A: Any advice that implies (or insists) that "This is the RIGHT way to write." When I see a sentence beginning with "Real writers…" I turn the page. The process is as unique as the individual, and while there are patterns and practices that may be better for you than others, no one else is in charge of your story or how you write it.

What's the one book you think everybody, writer or not, should read?

A: Purely from a cultural literacy standpoint, the King James Version of the Bible. From cliches to high works of art to Lady Gaga's music, it permeates the fabric of Western culture. If you're pressed for time, go to the Song of Solomon. It's only four pages.

Heading home…

We're on our way back home.  Today we made it to Amarillo.  Tomorrow, we're heading for Missouri.

We had a fantastic time and once I comb through the hundreds of pictures I've taken, I'll get some posted.

Here's one for the road…

Don't ask me where it was.  It was in Arizona.  Somewhere.  And I think it was north of Phoenix on I-70.  I take too many pictures.

I did hit some bookstores, in Phoenix, Mesa, Amarillo, Albuquerque.  I'll post a complete list once I dig it out.

Friday 56

It's finally FRIDAY!! So not only does that mean it's the start of the weekend, but also for another Friday 56.  Haven't done one before? It's simple.  Grab the closest (doesn't have to be what you're reading, just whatever happens to be closest to you at the time) book.  Turn to page 56, find the 5th sentence and give us that quote.  You can give a few surrounding sentences, too if you'd like *G*.

 

Mine this week…Neon Graveyard by Vicki Pettersson.  It's the final book in her zodiac series.  I'll admit, I've had it since it released at end of May. But, I can't bring myself to finish it. I'm just kinda not ready to say goodbye just yet.  But, Jo won't let me wait forever .  Without further ado…

 

"So this symbol is important to the Tulpa."

Summer's Hottest Hero…Beg Me

So I'll update this with a for-real link once I have it.

But All Romance Ebooks is doing a contest thing for Summer's Hottest Hero.  And Drake, from Beg Me, was chosen as one of them.

You all can vote for it.

If you do, and if it gets enough votes, I advance to the next round. And then more voting.  The winners get prizes.  I like prizes.

If you wanna vote for me, I wouldn't mind at all.

 

UPDATE: Nicole here…we have a link!! http://www.allromanceebooks.com/contest.html Yay!! And CONGRATS to Shiloh for her hard work on Beg Me and Drake's entrance into the contest *G*.

Everybody say… oooohhhh…

So I can't sleep.  The DH is still in bed, as I type.  The kids just woke up and have had poptarts, are bouncing off the walls.  I'll have to do something to entertain them soon.

The time changes have my internal clock all wonky.  I woke up before six am.  In whatever timezone I'm in.  This was okay.  I thought I could get a sunrise pic-it wasn't meant to be, though.  It was still too early when I first went out.

I got this.  It's okay.

Then I tried to go back to bed.  It was too dim to get much and I was tired.  Didn't sleep.  Tossed.  Turned.

Maybe forty five minutes later?  BRILLIANT light shining through slit in curtains. And lo and behold…

But the camera settings weren't right-it was so fricking bright out and I didn't have my sunglasses, I was half-blinded, trying to take the pictures standing behind a wall while my eyes adjusted…I looked like a dork.  Image isn't as good as I'd like.  Might work okay in black and white.  I dunno.  But I'll try again.

Off in the distance, there was a balloon.  That pic wasn't great, but I kept hearing this whooshing sound while I was snapping pics.  I looked up.  Saw this.

And I saw this…

This has been the most amazing trip, and so far, all we've really done is drive.  And stop at a few places so I can sign books and buy some research stuff.

Here's a picture I took in Texas, too.  Palo Duro Canyon, just outside of Amarillo.

 

I've got 200+ pictures already.  It's a 4 gig card.  Wonder if I can fill it.

So I'm being plagiarized

And very, very badly too.

It's my Grimm series and the chick didn't even attempt to change the series any.

 

Unless you call changing the names changing it.

 

Greta?  She's now GRETTA.

Rip?  He's RYP.

Will?  It's WYLL.

Ren became RENN.

Sigh.

 

The blurbs…

 
Her blurb

This is the 1st book of this Series. Gretta is from the fairy tales we all heard as a child but her life was not the way it was told in the books. She is given a choice and with that choice she must fight demons for eternity unless she changes her mind. She is given an assignment that only she can do but she runs into Ryp who she has a past with. Will the love they both have for each other distract them from their work or will it strengthen it. Read more to find out.

 

 

 

My blurb:

Greta didn't get her happy ending her first time around. And now that she's a Grimm—special kind of guardian angel and official ass-kicker in the paranormal world—romance is hard to find. Besides, there's only ever been one man who made her heart race, and the fact that he did scared her right out of his arms. Now Rip is back. And just in time too, because Greta needs his help.

On a mission he knows is going to test all of his strengths and skills, the last person Rip expected to see is the one woman who broke his heart. Working together seems to be their only hope. But, when faced with a danger neither of them anticipated, the question is, how will they face the danger to their hearts—assuming they survive, of course.

Her blurb

Cindy and Renn are sent to a sex club to take out the head Succubus or Incubus that are changing people into their drones. Mike is sent by Wyll to take over Renn's place. Mike and Cindy have a very interesting past together. Will they both be able to patch things up and become what was destined for them over 1000 years ago or will they just stay tormented by their past. Read to see if they will ever get their happily ever after ending.

FYI-this 'Cindy' character is Cinderella.  She's Cinderella.
My blurb

Elle spent years trying to get over her so-called Prince Charming, and she's finally getting the hang of it. A Grimm—a guardian angel with unique gifts—she spends her nights trolling for demons and kicking ass, and lately, her days have been spent with her on-and-off-again lover, Ren, a fellow Grimm. But fate has other plans in store for Elle, plans that include Michael, the prince from her youth who broke her heart.

"What do you choose…live for her? Or would you rather die?" That was the choice Michael was given all those years ago. Although he knew she'd never forgive him, when Michael was given the chance to become a Grimm, he took it. Still, he isn't so sure Elle needs him in her life. With a lover at her side and a mission before her, Elle looks like she's doing just fine without him.

But the not-so-charming prince isn't going to back off that easily…not if there's a chance she might need him again. He'd do anything to save her. Kill for her, live for her, die for her…

 

So. Well. Um.  I dunno what to say.  I'm on vacation and I spent half of a very beautiful drive messing with this crap, emailing Nicole (as much as I could with an iPhone) and searching (again, as much as I could.)

I'm irritated.  Yes.  I'm baffled.  Yes.  This, plain and simply, confuses me.

This isn't writing.

My 12 yr old knows this isn't writing.  Granted, she also writes, maybe that's why.  Okay, my 9 yr old gets it. Yes, I asked.  And yes, maybe it's an unfair thing to throw up there since I drill it into their heads they are not to take somebody else's work as their own.

But writing is a creative endeavor.   You take an idea, you put your own twist into it, your own energy, you make it your own.  That's writing.

This?  I dunno.

It's…well.  It's nothing.  For her, at least.  She did no work.  She can't claim credit for this-she doesn't truly understand what it's like to create a book and know she did it.  When people read it and love it and tell her?  It's not her idea they love.  It's mine.  So what is she getting?  A weird sort of attention, I guess.  And how sad is that?

For those who don't quite get the idea of plagiarism, the definition:

From the Encarta World English Dictionary

1.
stealing somebody's work or idea: the process of copying another person's idea or written work and claiming it as original

2.
something plagiarized: a piece of written work or an idea that somebody has copied and claimed as his or her own

 

So, taking somebody's idea and claiming it.

If you get confused and think…but you didn't write the Grimm Fairy Tales, Shiloh. First, many of the Grimm stories can be traced back a very long time.  Also, my books are based on ideas from the Grimm.  But there's no confusing my stories with the Grimm.  I very clearly bastardized things and I've also given credit to the Brothers.

This lady claimed she had written this 'grimm' series, that she had created this butt-kicking guardian angel, Gretta, Ryp, Wyll, etc, etc.  She didn't.  I did.

If a person wants to write and can't see the difference, there is a problem.  She posted somewhere she was using other books as a guide.  A writer doesn't use books as guides.  A writer's guide is her imagination.  If a writer doesn't have that?  She's not a writer.  (Or he.)

Anyway.  I emailed bookrix.  I've emailed booksie.  I've contacted the legal departments at my pubs and yes, I'm putting this up on my blog because this isn't the sort of thing I ignore.  I'll also be dealing with the headaches of putting up google alerts for things like this in the future.

I worked pretty damn hard on my books.  You want to be a writer?  Then write your own stories.  Leave my stuff alone.

 

Update… BTW, I did hear from the woman.  She's said she'll stop and I'm hoping that's the case.  I'm also hoping she'll realize the difference between creating and stealing.

 

 

Writer Wednesday with Patricia Sargeant #WW

[image error]It's Wednesday, which means I'm doing a WW post.  You can read about the idea behind WW here.

Today we're doing the WW with  Patricia Sargeant. She also writes as Regina Hart.

What's the one thing that remains unchanged during your writing process, from one book to another? (ie: Intensive plotting? Music?)

A: I'm a creature of habit. There are very few things about my writing process – if anything – that I've changed over the years. Desperate prayers that I'll be able to complete my manuscript on time and in good form. Knock down, drag out fights with my Muse to get the witch to help me through a story when she'd rather take a nap. Braless Saturdays. Shoeless Sundays. All of those processes remain the same from book to book. I'm also an intense plotter and there are seven items I must identify before I begin my scene-by-scene, chapter-by-chapter outline. 1. My story's theme 2. My story's tagline 3. My hero and heroine's personality diamond 4. The goals, motivations and conflicts of my hero, heroine and villain. 5. My hero and heroine's stakes 6. My story's turning points 7. The 25 things that have to happen in the story. Once those seven lists are complete, then I can go forth and outline.

What's the one piece of advice you'd give a new writer?

A: This profession is not for the faint hearted or, sadly, for those of us who enjoy sleeping. (Refer to question and answer one.) But if being a published author is your dream, don't ever, ever, ever give up. No matter how long it takes to have your work published, don't ever give up your dream. Conversely, if you are able to walk away from your stories – just tuck them in a drawer, a closet or under the bed – and never return to them, then I would suggest storytelling is not your dream. Find something that you're passionate about and pursue that dream. Just keep it legal.

What's the one piece of advice you wish was wiped from the minds of writers everywhere?

A: I wish writers would not buy into the idea that there are rules to writing. This is a profession in which the phrase "rules were meant to be broken" definitely applies. I often think of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and her sports series. Other writers and publishers told her sports romances wouldn't sell. She started with golfers and branched into football players. Now publishers are releasing stories featuring wrestlers, racecar drivers, hockey players, baseball players, other football players and basketball players. Go figure. Put your butt in the chair and break the rules!

What's the one book you think everybody, writer or not, should read?

A: Sometimes the Magic Works by Terry Brooks. In that book, Mr. Brooks writes about the business and craft of writing. But he also talks about the importance of remaining connected to our inner child. He shares anecdotes about his grandson to illustrate his point. Mr. Brooks urges writers to channel our inner child to exercise our imagination. This advice works for non-writers as well. Whatever your creative talent – drawing, cooking, baking, sewing, music, dance – exercise your talent with joy and abandon – and frequency. There are no rules; just write, draw, bake, cook, sew, dance, play your instrument, write your music. Whatever. Channel your inner child and above all have fun.

Let's talk master resale rights & ebooks… *REPOST*

Yes…you've seen this before. I plan on posting once a month, perhaps. Or at least until asinine sites like ebay & ioffer stop letting people abuse copyright owners' rights. BTW, this stuff also applies to writers who aren't me. For modern works, after 1978 and somebody is claiming to have 'master resale rights' or "I'm the copyright owner" or any crap like that over a work…it's very likely FALSE. Copyright remains in place for the author's lifetime, plus 70 years. Info on that can be found at copyright.gov – a nice government-y website so don't be fooled by the BS

.

Okay, I'm hoping some people out there researching 'master resell rights' stumble onto this page. Or I hope some of the people mistakenly claiming to be 'authorized ebook resellers' find this page.

Because I've got news for you.

You can't buy the resale rights to my work…unless you go through me, and I can't sell them to you, because it would be conflict with my contract to my publisher. Which could get me sued. Which is why I'm pretty certain other authors out there aren't likely to be doing this either.

You can resell a paperback, because after all, there is just the one copy.

But you can't resell ebook after ebook after ebook because that's not selling one copy-that's making new copies and you know what that does? That violates my copyright. I own the rights to my work. Me. Just me.

I contract with my publisher and they publish the books. Through my publisher, I may sell the foreign rights (and please, dear God, I'd really love to), I can sell the audio rights (please God, I would love to) and other assorted rights. I own the rights. They are mine. You can't buy a 'master resale right' to anything I've written, because I won't give it up.

If somebody claims they can give you master resale rights, you were lied to. Possibly by mistake, possibly with the intention of deceiving you, I don't know. Email the publisher if you don't believe me-ask the person claiming the 'resale rights' bit who their contact at the publisher was. But don't shell out money to somebody who claim to give you master resale rights to ebooks.

Now this isn't to say there aren't books out there with 'master resale rights'. I see all this 'set up your own ebook biz' and all the ebooks are self-help and do-it-yourself, and maybe, just maybe, those do come with legit resale rights.

But if you think Nora Roberts sold her resale rights to somebody who in turn now sells them out to others so they can sell a slew of them on ebay for a few bucks when the author doesn't see a red cent for all her hard work, you're wrong-somehow, I suspect Nora Roberts is a little too smart for that. She doesn't do it. Neither does Shiloh Walker, neither does Larissa Ione, neither does Lauren Dane, neither does any fricking writer I've talked to about this…and yeah, writers do talk about it. A lot.

Publishing doesn't work that way.

Ebook publishing doesn't work that way.

This is about rights. Plain and simple rights. When people 'create' digital copies of our work, they are making new copies-that is copyright infringement-and that violates our rights. Plain and simple. It violates our rights and if somebody came in and rode roughshod all over your legal rights, you'd be bit upset. You do not have the legal rights to resell our works, no matter what you were told.

And if anybody who was told this is reading this…seriously, completely seriously, I want to know who is telling you. You were misinformed. A lot of people have been misinformed and that circle won't stop until we get to the root of it all.

Feel free to email me. Shilohwalker(at)gmail.com. Of course, if you're emailing me just to tell me how I mean I am for wanting people to respect my fricking rights…don't waste your time. I'm really handy with that delete button and I don't waste my time arguing with people who can't understand that I'm entitled to have my rights respected, the same way others want their rights respected.

BTW, if other authors reading this wanna do the same & spread the word…well, the more readers who are aware, maybe the fewer sales those bastards will get. Some people are thinking-you're telling them where these are! But plenty of people already know. And it won't get better until more people speak up and take action.

Plus, readers can also help if they want. On ioffer, if you see a modern author, be it romance authors you already read or people like Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, whoever, there's a report item button down at the buttom-click it-report that you believe the item is still protected by copyright and you'll be notifying the author. Hell, leave notes on the buying page by 'asking a question' if you want telling the would be buyers they are buying stolen property and you can refer them to this page at the FBI- http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investiga.... iOffer got nasty with me a few times and tried to close my account when I did such things. I pointed out that they can't allow people to buy and sell stolen goods and then try to shut down my account when I inform them people are buying & selling stolen goods, which is what copyrighted material is. They opened my account back up very, very fast.

With ebay, you can also report items suspected of abuse. It's more work, requires an ebay account and it works best if you can get the seller to send you the list of books. But if you're not an author, this is actually awesome. Then you can get the list of items, report them and if I'm one of the authors… SEND IT TO ME! *G* Be my spy! (Yes, I'm bad.) If you click on report item, it will give you a bunch of drop down menus…you want:

Counterfeits and copyright violations (after that, if the listing showed it as being on a CD-probably did, ebay policy now makes it a violation to email stuff) click on:

Bootlegs and counterfeit media… then from there:

Media on Recordable formats (CD-R, DVD-R, VHS Tape, etc.)

Once you get there, mention something like…

Message: Claiming modern works in public domain-the list of books I saw were all copyrighted.

Please note, this DOESN'T apply to classical works. Only to works put into print after 1978. Tom Sawyer is public domain. Bronte is public domain. But those aren't the books the majority of these people are selling.

And I will warn you, although most of the time the sellers just slink off once the auctions are shut down, some of them do get testy. I'm mean for not wanting them to make money…*even though they do it by stealing from me, making it harder for me to earn my rightful living*, I'm taking food from their kids, even though they are doing it in a dishonest, dishonorable fashion, not to mention the example they are setting…so if readers decide to do this, be aware, somebody might get nasty in response. Ebay also has gotten irritated with me. Imagine, expecting them to take action when people are selling illegal goods on their site.

Heading out…

We head out today.

We're going to Phoenix and will also visit the Grand Canyon.  Stops will include Tulsa, Albuquerque, Amarillo, and someplace I can't remember in Missouri.

I'm very, very excited about Albuquerque and Arizona.  I wanna see the desert and I wanna see the Grand Canyon.

I have my camera ready, armed with a 4gb compact flash card.  I think I'll get like well over 1000 pics.  I took 800 in Alaska.

I do have some Writer Wednesday posts going up and something set for Fridays so the blog isn't going silent.  If I can, I'll also post some pics to the blog.  But that depends on connectivity and time.  And if I remember the cord…

I want pics like this…

So I think I'm done fiddling

For now.  I think.

What do ya think?