Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 150

Cover teases…

Anybody wanna take a guess at what covers?

[image error]and…

Yes, they are two different covers.  :)

 

Why the apology matters

When you screw up and hurt somebody, an apology matters.

If it's a personal thing that only occurs between two or three people, that apology can easily remain private.

But blogs aren't private.  They are full of posts that are read by others, shared with the public.  Many review blogs receive ARCs from authors, do link exchanges with other bloggers, giveaways, etc.

All of this requires a bit of trust.  The author trusts the blogger to be original (and hopefully honest) in the reviews.  Fellow bloggers want originality and they hope their friends/co-bloggers will respect their work and not steal it.

When plagiarism happens, it's a breach of trust.  The authors' trust has been violated, fellow bloggers' trust has been violated and it all takes place in a very public venue.

Nobody can force another to apologize when they've done the wrong thing.  However, when we are dealing with adults, and one adult has wronged another-ie: stolen from them, is it entirely unheard of to expect that adult to do what we would make our children  do? Apologize and own up to their mistakes?

Personally, I don't think it is, as I made clear yesterday.

What some people don't realize is that there are certain issues taking place.  Once a blogger has lost the trust of fellow bloggers and authors, she stands to lose other things as well.

Many authors will contact their publishers about the plagiarism.  This means the blogger is likely to lose the support of publishers.
Many other bloggers no longer want to associate with the plagiarist.  As word of mouth and links drive readers to other blogs, when the blogger loses the support of fellow bloggers, her blog becomes a less popular place to be.
Many authors become leery about sending books to a plagiarist for review.

In short, the blogger has placed his/herself in a rather precarious place, one where much of the support she's previously received disappears.

Plagiarism isn't just a 'personal' matter, either.  Because the blog has an audience and the audience likely expects the blogger not to be ripping off other bloggers.  The blogger didn't just wrong the authors by not giving honest reviews, and the blogger didn't just wrong the person they plagiarized, but they wronged every person who visited that blog.  They deceived them and misled them.

The first step in undoing that damage is removing the plagiarized material.  But if the blogger wishes to continue blogging as she had and earn back the trust she's lost, that isn't enough.  Trust must be earned back and that isn't likely if the blogger can't acknowledge the wrong-doing and apologize.

If you think it's wrong of me to expect an apology when somebody has wronged another, think about the last time you were wronged-did you want the person who wronged you to just ignore it and happily carry on as always, or did you wish for something more?  Have you ever had anything stolen from you?  After the thief was caught, did you wish the thief to merrily continue to steal or did part of you wish they acknowledge their actions and stop?

One thing about an apology is that it's a public acknowledgement of their actions-it means they are sorry to those they deceived and in cases like this, it's not just bloggers, but their audience and the authors and publishers who have sent the blogger in question books.

If the blogger doesn't care about the respect and trust s/he has lost, all of this is a non-issue. But if they do care, changes have to be made.

And yes, for the record, these were issues I had in mind when I originally posted yesterday-the blogger in question is one who has received books from me, somebody I've spoken with online numerous times.  I don't believe a mistake should completely ruin somebody, but I've been online too long to not know how these sort of things work-as a blogger online posted via twitter yesterday,

"Plagiarizing w/o even attempting to apologize & fix your mistake is blogger suicide!!"  http://www.booksoulmates.blogspot.com/

Not long ago, a website, Cook's Source, went out of business because of copyright infringement issues.  And it was noted time and again by numerous people that offering an apology (and in this case restitution) would have made all the difference.

This website is no longer in service-advertisers cancelled ads, more instances of copyright infringement were found.  Sadly, it's likely there could have been a different outcome with a prompt apology and the removal of all stolen material.

I'd also like to point out that the blog in question has offered an apology and appears to be in the process of removing the plagiarized reviews.

Blogging, reviews and plagiarism

FYI, plagiarism is cheating and it's disrespectful. Writing is hard word and it should be respected. It doesn't matter if we're talking books, reviews, web articles, etc.

It's all writing and it's hard.

When you use somebody's else words instead of thinking up your own, you're playing dirty.

There are very few people who've been marked off my list of reviewers, but if you plagiarize, ignore the problem like it doesn't exist…and I know about it, you get on that list.

This isn't by any means a threat. It's simple fact. I know how hard writing is and I can't, in good conscience, to give my books to people who can't respect that. When you plagiarize, IMO, it's an act of disrespect to all writers.

People screw up. Some people might not fully understand what plagiarism is-granted, it boggles the mind to write that, because my 9 year old and 11 year old already grasp the concept. But plagiarism, plain and simple, (from M-W.com)

Definition of PLAGIARIZE

transitive verb

: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source

intransitive verb

: to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

It's not cool. It's wrong. If you've done this, the right thing to do is to remove those plagiarized works and apologize. Removing the works is the very least thing to be done. Want to start earning the respect you lose when you've done this? Then you have to apologize. Apologizing isn't easy, but it's the mature thing and the right thing to do.

Hunter's Fall…Random Snippets

 

 

There was one more good-bye she needed to make.

One more dream to kill.

Once she was out of the cemetery and away from any prying electronic eyes, she lifted her face to the sky and called her magic.

It carried her away, sweeping her across miles and miles, over land and ocean. It was nearing dawn when her feet alit on the ground.

She breathed the air in, filled her lungs with the scent of the forest—trees, moss, the morning dew. She stared around her, amazed to realize she barely recognized the place. Centuries had passed since she'd seen this bit of land. No sign of Oneoak remained and logically, she hadn't expected to see anything of the long-gone village.

Even the trees were different. The land. Peering up at the sky, she searched for something that she recognized. But there was nothing.

Swallowing the knot in her throat, she started to walk.

Although the land no longer seemed familiar, she knew where he rested. She could have found his grave had she been forced to stumble blindfolded through a snowstorm.

There was nothing to identify it. No marker, no stone. But she knew. Deep inside, she knew. Settling on the ground next to his grave, she rested a hand on the earth and said, "Hello, lover."

 

June 7

You can also read the prologue and chapter one…

Amazon | B&N | BAMM | Borders | IndieBound

Happy Memorial Day…

Interview U

Okay, so it's time for me to start compiling some guest blogs for HUNTER'S FALL and I was thinking about interviewing one or both of the characters, Dominic and Nessa.

If you wanted to ask one or both of them questions, what would they be?  If they work (as in it's something I can make them cooperate with), I may use the question in a future posts…

Any ideas? (Please say yes…thinking up guest blogs is always so…um…interesting)

Dominic

I mentioned a few weeks ago, Dominic was first introduced in HUNTERS: RAFE & SHEILA…

Here's the scene.

Dominic had been the first man, since Rafe, whose touch hadn't left her cold. There had been a few others she'd considered, but their touches had made her skin crawl.

Until Dom.

His resemblance to Rafe was unmistakable. Physically, at least.

But beyond that… Dominic was a romantic. Dominic treated her like a person, not just a fuck toy.

He was a ladies' man and he appreciated her, didn't want just a quick fuck from her whenever he felt horny. Oh, she knew he wanted sex. Hell, he was a guy. But he bothered to spend time with her…had actually wanted to.

Rafe couldn't have cared less once his dick slid out of her.

With a tremendous act of will, she shoved Rafe's face from her mind as she collapsed against Dom's broad chest, the fingers of one hand absently caressing the gold hoop that ran through one nipple. He'd switched it to gold. She had shied away in instinctive fear when she'd seen it, and lied that she was allergic to silver. Well, not really a lie—silver was definitely not good for her health.

He had removed the hoop that night, and the next night there was a gold one there instead. She had greatly enjoyed tugging on that tiny piece of metal with her teeth.

"Damn—that was amazing," Dom murmured, his voice thick, sluggish. She kept the move casual as she rested her hand on his heart. She knew she hadn't taken too much, but still…the paranoia was always there.

He was a wonderful guy. He didn't deserve the life of a vampire.

She stroked her hand down his chest once she had reassured herself that he was fine. Just a little woozy.

"Mmmm…tell me. Go to sleep, baby. You had a long day," she whispered, cuddling in against him as close as she could.

"You be here when I wake up, sugar?"

She hedged. "I don't know, Dom. Depends on how late you sleep," she said, already knowing she'd be gone in a few hours. Couldn't take that chance.

But he was already asleep, the deep, steady sighs of breath escaping him as he shifted slightly on the pillow.

As she sat up, she felt it.

The anger in the air.

Anger, hell.

That was too tepid a word for what she was sensing. A deep, burning rage that battered at her mind until an artificial red seeped in—run off from his rage.

Her belly pitched and she felt the fangs that had slid back into their sheaths drive back out with a speed that startled her. Danger…

Rising from the bed, she tossed the heavy banner of her golden curls behind her shoulder. Damn it. Something from her world had found her here, with her lover, and it would put him in danger.

Over my dead body, she thought furiously, her eyes flying around the room, searching for the intruder she sensed, but couldn't see.

"Actually, Belle, I'd rather it be his," a low, furious voice whispered.

She spun around and saw Rafe standing at the edge of the bed, staring down at Dom with a rage so great that his eyes burned red with it. He gripped his sword in one hand, the other stroked idly up and down the edge as he stared at Dominic.

Sheila felt the fear that had flooded her dissipating as she studied Rafe. "Oh, it's just you," she said, her tone bored. Flicking her eyes to his blade, she smirked a little. "I see you still carry around your security blanket."

More…

An Update on Pastor Marrion

For those who were following…he's had his surgery and so far, so good…thanks to everybody who helped, either through donating or spreading the word!

This came from Bryan Mealer via Indiegogo…

Operation: Success!

Just a quick note to tell you that Pastor Marrion's transplant was a success! After four hours under the knife this morning, the pastor is now recovering in ICU. His donor, Omaka, has also been admitted to his own room to rest. According to doctors, the new kidney is functioning and all is well.

I'll be sending a more detailed update this weekend, once the pastor is awake and his doctors have had time to chart his progress. But as of now, we all have reason to celebrate a sucessful operation. Let's hope and pray both men recover without any complications. We're over the hump, at least.

To think, this journey began last July with with us nearly losing our friend and colleague — flying him from Congo to Rwanda, then to Kampala; the maddening procession of doctors, clinics, dead ends, and bleak prognosis. For most Africans, the road would have ended long ago. But thanks to all of you, not only were we able to pull this off, but we introduced the world to a great man and his noble mission. I can't express how happy I am right now.

More soon…

Bryan

You can read more about him here

#FridayReads Giveaway-Dragon Bound

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

The penthouse was a prison.  Even the vast, spread-out noisy panorama of the city felt like a cage.

About the Friday Reads

Want to enter for a chance to win this book? Do the following…

Grab a book…any book.
Turn to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) in the comments section of this blog to enter
A winner will be posted here within a week or so-please read the disclaimer-entering means you've READ the disclaimer.
Void where prohibited.
Odds of winning depend on number entries.
Comments must be made at my blog/website to be entered, not FB, not goodreads, etc.
Winner to be posted at my blog-must contact me to claim prize.
Rest of my rules in the disclaimer-please read it.

 

Street Teams…

Okay, I dunno if this is actually going to be a good idea or not. But I'll give it a shot…

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