Comments on: New Signet Response on the Cassie Edwards Matter

By: Robin

Robin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:32:25 +0000

This response is infinitely better than the first, but IMO it doesn’t cancel out the distinction that Penguin initially drew between academic and popular fiction regarding attribution. They are still not off the hook for that in my eyes, and that’s a big one, at least to me, because it goes to the accepted standard of intellectual honesty in books I spend a lot of money and time on.

By: Kalen Hughes

Kalen Hughes — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:22:51 +0000

Any word from Dorchester? All the most recent releases (re-releases?) appear to be from Leisure.

By: Charlene Teglia

Charlene Teglia — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:11:18 +0000

You know, I’m pleased with the responses from Signet and from RWA. Due diligence is called for. Plagiarism is a very serious issue, and I’m glad it’s being taken seriously, not swept under the rug or dismissed as “it’s just a romance novel, who cares”. Yes, I realize these are follow-ups and not the initial responses, but I’d rather see them being careful with such a serious claim.

And this whole thing does underscore how very passionately romance readers (and writers) do care and hold the books to a high standard.

By: Kalen Hughes

Kalen Hughes — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:39:43 +0000

I take it as proof that public shaming still works. Their response sure took a turn when this hit AP, CNN, etc. I’ll be waiting to hear what conclusion they come to and what action/s they take . . .

By: K. Z. Snow

K. Z. Snow — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:21:36 +0000

Now I’m wondering what Janet Dailey’s “psychological problem” was. A form of OCD (obsessive copying disorder) perhaps?

Damn, I’m sorry. I’m guilty of occasionally typing words over which I have no control.

By: Aoife

Aoife — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:49:02 +0000

It must be the cynic in me, but: how much of the backtracking is because we the reading public made a fuss and wrote letters, and how much is because one of their bestselling authors (that’s you, Nora Roberts) went public with her displeasure?

Which was a very gutsy thing to do.

For some reason I have this mental image of Joel Grey in his Cabaret incarnation singing “Money makes the world go around…..”

But, as I said before, I am a cynic.

By: Kalen Hughes

Kalen Hughes — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:44:40 +0000

And now my hair is no longer on fire . . . thank god.

By: Karen Scott

Karen Scott — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:12:10 +0000

Ahhh, there is no better sound than that of people back-tracking like crazy. I can’t see the naysayers calling CNN, NY Times, USA Today or any of the other news networks, bitchy hateful beasts can you? *g*

‘Mean Girl Bloggers’ rock.

By: Charlene

Charlene — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:53:10 +0000

The new comment has just run on the AP as well:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hmC9tuzyTKMh9Hsf947on6livelQD8U3S9RO2

By: Bev Stephans

Bev Stephans — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:45:14 +0000

Sometimes, if we rattle the cage a lot, the zookeepers will pay attention to us.

By: veinglory

veinglory — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:41:34 +0000

Perhaps they shouldn’t have jumped to the conclusion that the bloggers were whittering on about nothing–their release could have just said they were looking into it rather than explain how there was no problem when plenty of evidence to the contrary was openly available.

By: Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:33:25 +0000

Repeat of what I posted on SB:

In the interest of fairness. The initial statement did indeed come after a limited review–and, I understand, a need to respond quickly. It was, no question, poorly worded.

But the publisher is doing–and has been doing–what should be done from the beginning. Due diligence takes time, and in all fairness, everyone deserves due diligence.

If anything, the response of readers and the publishers respect for that is responsible for this updated, and much more clear, statement.

By: azteclady

azteclady — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:32:03 +0000

(barely) better late than never.

But it goes to show that making noise about the issue is essential.

By: Teddypig

Teddypig — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:29:59 +0000

Translation: Oops!