At least three of them have given it glowing reviews on Smashwords. Which should be gratifying.
I don't know who Kay Manning is, but she didn't write this story - I did. THE CINDERELLA VALENTINE was published as a free read to launch the Brides of Bella Lucia continuity series in 2006.
All Kay Manning has done is change the names of the characters, change the location and minor details. Why, I cannot imagine, since she's giving it a way free. To have her name on a successful story, perhaps? To build a reputation she can use to sell her own work?
If you'd like to read the original, you can read it for free on the Mills and Boon website HERE
142 comments:
That's disgraceful!!
What will you do? I take it you've reported it to Smashwords already to get it removed?
That's the second thing I've seen it the past couple of day that disgusts me as both reader and aspiring author.
I've been hearing about a lot of this lately, Laurie.
I've informed Harlequin and Smashwords.
Good for you for exposing this, Liz.
That's a bummer and sadly becoming more and more prevelant. I hear no end of incidents occuring on Amazon, too.
I do hope you manage to get it taken down.
I've shared it *and* reported it. I think you're being very calm.
This happened to my friend, Kate Rothwell recently too.
I'm not sure how we can police things like this. It's utterly disgraceful, I agree, and makes my blood boil. Though like you say, what on earth was in it for her? Unless she was planning to sell it later, after it had been given away free.
Shocking behaviour, whoever they are they should be thoroughly ashamed. Good luck with getting it sorted
Terrible. I hope they get it sorted and name and shame her.
Liz, just watch this lot unfold ...
http://kaymanning.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-release-romantic-free-short-story.html?showComment=1330091379172#c7264701616040362860
This is totally abhorrent behavior. I just don't understand thieves. Hope you get it taken down and if you can get her charged for theft.
Ruddy outrageous! And I agree how calm you're being, although you do realise it is actually best form of flattery and at least You've outed Ms Manning! And we're all so incensed on your behalf that everyone will soon know it's because she is a talentless, pea-brain who clearly has no talent of her own that she has to steal other's work!
x
No Longer Published
The book you requested is no longer published at Smashwords.
It's possible the book you're looking for has been re-published as a newer title. Try searching by author name or book title in the search box above, or to view other books at Smashwords, click here for the home page.
For other books by Kay Manning, view their profile page at Smashwords.
Woot, Diane! Fast work. :)
Thanks everyone for your support. The speed at which Smashwords has responded is reassuring. I don't know how they can police this - it's almost impossible for them to know when this happens. We are entirely in the hands of the fabulous fans who remember our stories and take the time and trouble to let us know what's happening.
Or she's removed it herself seeing as the blog page no longer exists either, so she must have been online in the last half hour??
Talk about brazen!
Any other response (aside from profanity) escapes me!
This is disgusting and such stupid behaviour.
The Internet is a double-edged sword. Easy to plagiarise but easy to detect plagiarism if it's posted on-line. Not that busy authors can spend much time checking for such abuse...
The oxygen of publicity in such cases is perhaps the most effective remedy; civil action in an international context would be very expensive.
Thanks for sharing. Will RT...
Ah ...
"Kay ManningFeb 24, 2012 06:17 AM
Smashwords responded to NOTHING. I took down the story because of my mistake. I know no one would believe it but it was an honest mistake. I put this story in the wrong folder on my computer and actually thought it was mine that I started a long time ago. If I really wanted to 'steal it' do you honestly think I would have put it up for free? What do I benefit off it?"
At least it's gone now. Though how she could make a mistake and still manage to change the names and minor details ...
Goodness me, that's outrageous. I don't think my response would have been as calm as yours, Liz.
Glad it's been removed!
She is on twitter, Laurie - although I imagine the three posts naming and shaming her on her blog announcing the publication of "her" latest book must have helped!
Haha, I love her explanation. Yes, I put Gone With the Wind in the wrong folder and thought I'd written it myself a long time ago. So easily done...
My God, Diane, that's pathetic. Did she change the names by accident? And since her other stories are not free, I don't doubt that she was going to start xharging after a week or two.
Jill, that's absolutely priceless! Had the dh spluttering into his tea. :)
How on Earth do you accidentally change characters names?
Makes you wonder who wrote the other books??
This is priceless: the other author's explanation that she found it, re-read it and thought of ideas that 'might make it work'. That is her idea of an APOLOGY, to rubbish the original?! Good grief!
It did raise a wry smile, Anon. :)
Well, I've never heard such a lame excuse in my life! What was she doing with your story on her computer in the first place? She had it for some reason. How can you 'accidentally' change the names and locations!
I think she has a cheek to call herself an author - plagiarising thief more like!
I wonder how many other books that aren't hers she has on her computer ready to change the details of and pass off as her own.
I am so glad she got caught.
Is 2012 the year of self-published authors plagiarizing? There has been a major upswing of this in recent months.
I retweeted and linked your post on facebook.
I really admire the way you've handled this, Liz!
I hope that the corporate machine that is Harlequin deals with plagiarists like this to set an example for anyone else even contemplating such dishonesty.
Copyright theft is no different from identity theft, fraud or any other serious crime, and the thieves deserve to be punished.
That's an apology?
Can't remember what her own work reads like?
It's also faintly insulting, as it implies she improved the original story by her changes.
Insult after injury IMO.
If 'putting it in the wrong folder and thinking she'd written it herself earlier' is the best excuse she can come up with, I'm not sure I want to read anything else she's written. Surely she could have come up with a better excuse than that, or simply apologised?
Hi Liz:
As a marketing person, I'd say that what the thief did makes perfect sense.
Consider your story world class candy. Now consider I give away your candy (which I stole) as free samples, calling it my own, in order to sell my candy.
It is interesting that the only free book offered is the one that could send her to jail for selling. I wonder why that one book, of all her books, was selected to be free? Probably just a coincidence.
The real downfall here was in the selection of a high profile work. This scam would usually be done by stealing a high quality (but totally ignored work) by an unknown author. Someone who does this 'the right way' might never get caught.
I wonder if you did a Google search on random sentences of your works if it would turn up in other books? Maybe the Library of Congress could offer this service.
Vince
Another friend had that happen to her (Kate Rothwell), and the plagiarist didn't even bother to change the names of the characters! Again, quick action took it down, and Amazon (think it was) even sent her the guy's real name & address in case she wants to pursue it further. I guess we have to keep right on top of everything. I once had a song stolen & reposted for free by someone in Rumania, so the problem isn't confined to the US. I'm so glad Smashwords took care of the problem right away!
Jim, loved the GWTW comment!
Great ideas, Vince! (Hi, BTW. Long time no see!)
You certainly handled the situation with class. I'm glad the story got took down and hope she's embarrassed enough not to pull that stunt again.
God bless,
Susan
author of The Princess and the Pee
Blimey, Liz - that's shocking.
Agree with others - you handled it very calmly and with aplomb. Especially given the 'excuse' offered (and how very sad that she couldn't just own up and apologise properly).
Sending you hugs. (And you'll get them in person, a week on Monday. )
Hi Liz
Really shocked by this, can't believe she thought she could get away with it. Big round of applause to the person who told you about this.
I read her response. You are a classy lady Liz. She is not.
Ohmigod, Susan - The Princess and the Pee! Love it!
I almost don't know what to say. I find it astonishing that someone would have the nerve to do something like this.
Liz, you have been so professional, considering what has happened. Very admirable.
Hope, I saw that on a loop. Good for Amazon. Hate that people can hide behind pseudonyms on the internet.
Oh Liz, how upsetting. Really impressed by your response. Leaves a nasty taste though. Don't let it spoil your pleasure in your own lovely story!
that happened to me about a week ago. It's disgusting.
I heard what happened to you, Kate. Amazon done good.
Jenny, Kate, we'll drown the taste in Champagne a week on Monday!
This is utterly outrageous. I just want to say - to any "writers" thinking they can "borrow" someone else's work and just tweak it a bit - you'll be found out soon enough. Writing is like fingerprinting, the author's identity remains in the work.
"Plagiarism" is copyright theft and highly illegal. I hope you can get some legal advice. You deserve that. And so does the thief!
That's an utter disgrace and the so-called 'writer' should hang her head in shame. A cautionary tale, Liz. But one which I have a feeling might become all too common with more and more people e-publishing their own work without the usual checks and restraints.
WOW! Coming in late here - but this is SHOCKING Liz. The bare faced cheek of it!
I've read "How To" books in which it says to write out a chapter from one of your favourite books and then write it as if you were that author and then do it again to "mirror it" in your style and see how close you get to how your fave author writes - but to write a WHOLE book and change names etc is taking this a tad too far.
I bet she has a sleepless night tonight! And I hpe HM&B legal section are going to do something about this as well. Caroline x
Isn't it wonderful to see writers coming together over something like this. Liz - of course it should never have been allowed to happen, but the support here is wonderful. And maybe it will put off any future would-be plagiarizer to see the reaction that you have here.
Gosh, not only am I shocked and appalled by her blatant stealing of your work, but her excuse is almost laughable! Does she honestly expect us to believe that she just happened upon it in one of her folders and thought 'oh there's a lovely story I've written and forgotten about'? I'm glad it's being talked about - might make others think twice. Well done on how you've handled it, Liz.
This is wholly abhorrent. While it's true that no plotline can be said to be totally unique, such wholesale plagiarism (and that's what it is) is theft, plain and simple.
Sorry to hear this happened to you Liz, but at least the thief has been named and shamed.
I have to say though I've never encountered such an implausible excuse. The only way the story could have got onto her computer is if she downloaded it, and if she did then I'm assuming it would be in e-book form or at least a PDF? I'm guessing it was never available in Microsoft Word. Of course, she could've forgot about converting it as well... ;-D
This is outrageous. So glad the story's been taken down from Smashwords. How can that other 'writer' sleep at night I wonder?
Plagiarizers tend to be repeat offenders; I suggest people familiar with the genre look at the thief's other publications to make sure that they are in fact hers.
I'm very sorry this happend Ms. Fielding.
What a horrible experience for you.
Today I stand in awe at the power of friendship.
Within hours of blogging that my story had been plagiarised the guilty party has closed her blog to all but the invited, removed her twitter account and all the books she purported to have written have been removed from Smashwords.
Many thanks to everyone who left a comment here, or on twitter or facebook today.
I am feeling the love. :)
I was reading about this on womag's blogspot. I'm disappointed that something like this can even happen. Hugs Liz x
Liz, is this the short story? I found this on goodreads. Apparently, she also writes under the name of K.S. Manning. The link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11263785-bachelor-auction
Oh feel my love too Liz Fielding!! I'm so sorry this has happened to you but am glad you discovered it. I came over from womagwriter's blog. I tried to get in Kay Manning's blog to see what she has to say for herself but it's "invitation only"! She does have three other books on Goodreads (oh come on, I had to google her LOL!!)
And now I'm off to read your story as created and written by you, thanks for the link!
Take care
x
Hell hath no fury like the plagiarised author and her friends.
Take note Ms Manning!!
I hope you are hanging your head in shame.
Well done, Liz, for dealing with this in such a professional way.
Here to support you Liz! Is Mills and Boon going to take action? I sure hope so!
Kay S. Manning's (Treasurer at KOD RWA Chapter) linked In profile lists her as a writer at Museitup Publisher under the name Payton Bradshaw.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kay-s-manning/30/347/b4b
A story by Payton Bradshaw is at MuseItUP Publishing
http://tinyurl.com/87bk4qm
The story is called 'An Early Christmas Present'
Here's the end of the excerpt:
*****
Karen swallowed. “There he is. Over by Santa’s Village. .”
Melody sucked in a breath, a warm flush enveloping her entire body just from the thought of seeing Jason again. A sudden overwhelming panic washed over her making it almost impossible to look at him, fearing she’d melt right into the floor.
“Go on!” Karen gave her a little push on the shoulder.
“I don’t think I can.” At the moment, she was having trouble even forcing the words past the tightness in her chest.
Karen rolled her eyes. “Forget nerves. This is your last chance, sweetie. Jason’s the only guy I’ve ever known you to be truly hot for. You want this. You deserve this. A last fling before you escape this little hole-in-the-wall town and fly off into the sunset.” She grinned. “Go get ‘em, girl.”
****
Here's a book called Red Hot Holiday,
http://tinyurl.com/78ujnbw
published by HQN, a collection of stories. One of the short stories in the book is by Julia Kenner.
Faith swallowed. "Over there. By Santa's Village. Brent's here."
Annie sucked in a breath, a warm flush enveloping her entire body just from the thought of seeing Brent again She was almost afraid to turn and actually look at him, for fear she'd melt right into the floor.
"Go on!" Faith gave her a little push on the shoulder.
"I don't think I can." At the moment, she was having trouble even forcing the words past her lips.
Faith rolled her eyes. "Forget nerves. This is your last chance. Brent's the only guy I've ever known you to be truly hot for. You want this, and you deserve it. A last fling before you fly off into the sunset." She grinned. "So go get him, girl."
Speechless, I even had to show it to hubby... unbelievable!!
Jo... Like, Laurie I'm speechless.
Fabiola, my story was called The Cinderella Valentine - and it wasn't a Valentine's Day story, but about a family called Valentine.
Shocking Liz. And actually quite depressing. Love and hugs to you x
Is it possible to forget you've written a particular story? This is a serious question. I've only written a few, but even with those—and twenty more in various stages of literary deshabille—I don't have trouble keeping track.
Is this something that comes with age and multiple publication?
Should I be hoarding ginko?
From Goodreads...
"Born in Virginia to a small town girl and a military man, Payton Bradshaw grew up a tree-climbing, fist-fighting tomboy in a house full of boys. It wasn’t long before she started noticing boys in a different way and curiosity drove her to learn all she could of the strange and fascinating creatures. Now she pens sensual tales of true love, with strong alpha heroes and feisty heroines. A hopeless romantic, she loves writing about the intimate, emotive side of relationships. Payton currently resides in the Deep South with her loving husband and has been a member of Romance Writers of America for the last several years.
Payton also writes under the pseudonym Kay Manning"
So Kay ripped off A Cinderella Valentine and Payton ripped off Wrapped and Ready by Julie Kenner? Once 'could' be an accident but twice is stretching even my imagination! And she's selling it for $2.50.
Have raised my suspicions on the publishers site, blog, goodreads and twitter.
May I add a note to my earlier message.
While Kay S Manning's linkedIn profile says she is Treasurer at KOD RWA chapter, the Chapter Board does not list her in that position.
http://rwamysterysuspense.org/volunteers.php
There's another excerpt from Payton Bradshaw's work 'An Early Christmas Present' over at Goodreads. I'm Taking a screenshot now.
http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/2026520-six-sentence-sunday-snowbound-wip-sixsunday
I'm working as hard and as fast as I can to remove ALL works published under my name or penname. I've notified all sites of the issue and linked them to this site. I know it doesn't excuse anything and I don't expect it to. Despite assertions to the contrary, it was not intentional and I'm doing everything I can to rectify the situation. Thank you for your patience.
I have messaged Julie Kenner, Elizabeth.
Wow! The gall of some people. I googled some of the text from the Julia Kenner story and it's quite the piece that gets plagiarized... mostly on fan fiction sites.
I can't believe she had the nerve to actually submit it to an actual publisher. I hope Muse It Up does the right thing and pulls the book from their site.
How can it not be intentional when it's happened MORE THAN ONCE under two different names?
I wouldn't dream of ripping off another author's work but I REALLY wouldn't want to get Harlequin annoyed and gunning for me yet that's now at least two of their titles that have been plagiarised.
Thanks, Jo.
Here's another one.
Kay Manning A Soldier's Valentine
http://jqroseauthor.blogspot.com/2012/02/cupid-reads-soldiers-valentine-by-kay.html
And Catherine Mann from Harlequin Extras An Evening to Remember. This is bare-faced stealing on a grand scale!
http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1052&chapter=1
It appears everything she had posted on Smashwords is no longer published.
I guess everything she's ever written was originally written by someone else.
Terrible.
Another example (after a very quick bit of research): A Soldier's Valentine by Kay Manning (extract at http://jqroseauthor.blogspot.com/2012/02/cupid-reads-soldiers-valentine-by-kay.html)
is a rip-off of Harlequin 'An Evening to Remember' by Catherine Mann http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1052&chapter=1
Seems like she's an habitual plagiariser. It defies belief.
Ah, just seen that Elizabeth got here with that example a few minutes before I did!
Here is how to 'rectify' what you did:
-- Admit what you did, in detail, in a public place. As in, "I plagiarized [Title] by [Author] at [site].
-- Admit the plagiarism was intentional.
-- Do not attempt to excuse yourself.
-- Publicly apologize to each of the authors whose work you stole.
-- Give any money you made from the plagiarism to the author.
-- Don't do it again.
And another one:
Fireworks by Kay Manning:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058I8GRI#reader_B0058I8GRI
Reads just like:
The Cowboy Father by Linda Ford
http://books.google.com/books?id=Ppx_TFJQeMIC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Looks like both her Payton Bradshaw and KS Manning pages have been removed from MuseItUpPublishing.com.
Thank goodness!
So sorry this happened to you, Liz.
I was aghast at the original theft Liz, and was pleased when it was all taken down - I was concerned that there was more - and here it is, absolutely shocking.
This person must be seriously worrying about lawyers knocking at her door now. Oh, I do hope so.
It's disgusting that someone can so easiy steal work that you have slogged over, Liz. And that's what it is - stealing, pure and simple!
Hugs to all the authors who's work has been stolen by this plagiarist! You didn't make a mistake, you decided to steal the work of other hard working writers. So glad there are so many people out there putting an end to your crimes.
Museitup is aware http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/246155626?utm_medium=email&utm_source=comment_instant#comment_45846809
How awful! I'm sorry for you. Shame on her.
@Sidney
I'd been looking at the 'Firework' plagiarism before I saw you'd mentioned it.
Seeing as 'Fireworks', the original, was only published this year, it's impossible to fathom how Kay S Manning had the time to forget she didn't write it. Her 'I put this story in the wrong folder on my computer and actually thought it was mine that I started a long time ago' is totally shot now.
Gosh I love a plagiarist being exposed.
She also stole blog posts. If you go into Google cached versions of her website you will find her "11 TV couples" post was taken from:
http://blog.koldcast.tv/2010/koldcast-news/11-tv-couples-that-should-never-have-gotten-together/
Kay says online she's to be published by MuseitUp. Anyone contact them yet?
And she stole from the Nytimes.
Her old wordpress blog (view a cached version) she stole an article about Mother's Day.
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/a-non-mothers-day/
Her version: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:XakEYrVOzUYJ:ksmanning.wordpress.com/blog/+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
If you steal everything you write, you are robbing yourself of the joy of creating.
Shame.
FYI: If you look at the name of the KOD treasurer, you will see her initials are KS.
Not sure I'd want someone like that in charge of my funds...
Oops, my mistake. I got those dates wrong. 'Fireworks' by Valerie Hansen was published in 2009. But still, the chutzpah of a plagiarist not even changing the title!
So we're expected to believe Kay S Manning writes her work in epub (e-book) format, in the same format as many of the ebooks she's plagiarised?
Hmm.. when I googled the text from Fireworks by Kay Manning, google books brought me to a Linda Ford title. Then I realized, it was a book by both Linda Ford and Valerie Hansen.
Shame! She didn't even change the title.
Oh dear. You're right
"Kristal Singletary, who writes under K.S. Manning, also participated in NaNoWriMo."
is found at
www.gordon.army.mil/pao/signal/Signal_121109.pdf
@Jo: This part had me laughing out loud
One of her ebooks, “A Valentine to Remember,” features a main character inspired by the military men in her family.
Really?
Anyhow, I hope RWA pulls her membership. This is an outrage.
By K.H. Singletary on her blog at:
http://khsingletary.blogspot.com/2009/03/part-3-developing-your-creative-process.html
"Your creative process is a series of steps that you repeat every time you need to create. Simple. The trick is to make the steps fluid and flexible enough to allow you the room you need to create well, while still being structured enough to help you through when you’re having a hard time. An effective process should allow for serendipity—happy accidents are responsible for lots of great writing"
Developing a Creative Process by George Shaw. This is at:
http://www.howdesign.com/design-creativity/idea-generating-tips/developing-a-creative-process/
"Your creative process is a series of steps that you repeat every time you need to create. Simple. The trick is to make the steps fluid and flexible enough to allow you the room you need to create well, while still being structured enough to help you through when you’re having a hard time. An effective process should allow for serendipity—happy accidents are responsible for lots of great design "
Unbelievable. I posted a link to your blog on my site.
@Jo:
Darn it, she keeps removing her blogs. Must be a lot of plagiarizing there too.
Sigh...
@ Sidney --
On the Singletary blog, every substantive article I checked was stolen.
She's taking everything down now ... her blogs; the stolen stories; her twitter and facebook accounts. She's come here to delete the lies she told about finding stories in an overlooked file.
It's too late, of course.
I don't know what the KOD chapter is going to do about this, or RWA, or the group blog she belongs to.
Golly. The people who usually steal are in it for the money alone. This seems like this is related to some kind of unhappy illness.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kristal-singletary/b/641/12
Nice, she works in government.
@ Sidney
Here's a small cache of her blog
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:OLs7G9IyvlkJ:khsingletary.blogspot.com/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
It has the blog on creative process mentioned above.
The blog on Suspense vs Cozy Mystery is lifted from 'Keep Me In Suspense', the post dated June 14, 2006.
http://keepmeinsuspense.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_archive.html
That's the post Singletary prefaces with:
"I recently completed an excellent discussion with friends and co-writers on suspense vs. cozy mystery. So for my blog time, I thought I’d continue this discussion here. The following is what we’ve come up with to define the difference."
The blog on Conquering Demons is Stolen from Susan Miles at Writers World
http://www.writing-world.com/life/wavers.shtml
Motivation and Muse she stole from Marisa Montes
http://www.marisamontes.com/motivation_and_the_muse.htm
That one is also memorable for it's first line -- "The most important step toward becoming a writer is to actually write."
Ironic much?
I have to wonder what impact this will have on the publishers who accepted, sold and promoted her?
Wow! I'm shocked! I actually did download this but have not read it yet. I got it from goodreads but did see it on smashwords as well. I will delete it immediately. I do not want to support someone who would do this kind of crime. So glad I saw your post!
Liz, I'm speechless! Even after reading and rereading this it's hard to believe. Sending you good vibes after this nasty experience. Ugh.
Now deleted. It is no longer on goodreads. Tried to delete it there from my to read list and there is no book. Wanted to let you know.
Sorry if this appears twice:
If Kay Manning and Payton Bradshaw are the same person, it looks like she's plagiarized Lori Foster.
Payton Bradshaw's "WIP" Snowbound at Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/2026520-six-sentence-sunday-snowbound-wip-sixsunday)
"Yeah, right." He slanted her a sideways look. "No one, most especially you, would buy into that fantasy."
Pressing closer, she hugged herself to his arm. "You underestimate my talents at transformation. I think you should consider my idea. It'd be fun."
At that moment, Matthew thought he might consider anything. In the heated interior of the car, he could smell Laura's unique scent, all soft and female, not sweet, but rather musky and sexual and arousing. It made him nuts. It made him want her.
And Lori Foster's Stranded! at Harlequin (http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=494&chapter=1), down toward the bottom:
"Yeah, right." He slanted her a sideways look. "No one, most especially you, would buy into that fantasy."
Pressing closer, she hugged herself to his arm, and said, "You underestimate my talents at transformation. I think you should consider my idea. It’d be fun."
At that moment, Rock thought he might consider anything. In the heated interior of the car, he could smell Kelli’s unique scent, all soft and female, not sweet, but rather musky and sexual and arousing. It made him nuts. It made him want her.
Yeah, I agree that this goes waaay beyond someone being *just* a thief. When you plagiarise as freely as breathing then we're in deep mental health territory.
I feel for the KOD chapter, too, who, presumably, will have to spend a lot of time going over their books for dodgy dealings. Every competition entry she ever judged... Everything.
Liz, as angry as I am that this has happened to you, I think it has busted the practice (by her and others) wide open and gone public enough to be a real education to any author putting their work online publicly.
One small, silver lining perhaps.
Is there any writer who doesn't know exactly which books they've written, the titles, the characters, and the story line? Sounds like she's not only a thief, but a very poor liar as well.
Liz,
I am so sorry this happened to you.
My heart is breaking. I've known Kay Manning on line for about 3 years now. She's one of the people, the "authors" I looked up to and respected. I wanted to write as well as she did.
Well Liz, it looks like you and Julie Kenner are the two people I should have been looking up to, admiring, emulating.
I'm so, so sorry this happened. So sorry I didn't know it was happening.
Please forgive me for my part in promoting "her work". Had I known the truth...I wouldn't have. Also, I'd have alerted someone who would have known how to find out who the real authors were.
Going away for a bit. I have to admit I'm crying. One of the people I looked up to has failed me big.
It is not adequate but as public as I could find.
http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/saturday-news-no-deals-just-stupidity-and-smashwords-concedes-to-paypal-terms#comment-353446
Liz, I'm so sorry this has happened. Love and hugs to you.
Absolutly incredible! I woke up this morning (I'm in france) to find there are other authors she plagiarized! I'm going to make an article about this in our next web magazine, Liz, if you don't mind? With a link to your blog of course!
Hi Liz, just wanted to add my voice of support to all the rest... Really words escape me (that aren't four-letter ones).
Heidi x
I knew that plagiariam was taking place in the world of fiction, but I'm shocked by the wholescale criminal theft involved here and the audacity of the perpetrator. She seems to have built up a whole identity (or three) around stolen work!
I'm so sorry this happened to you. My heart goes out to you. I love the way the community has responded to support you. You deserved it.
Good luck.
Once again, thanks to all of you for your support and love.
Special thanks are due to Elizabeth Chadwick and Jo Bourne who were like bloodhounds and have been acknowledged by the fabulous Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books - http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/blog/kay-manning-peyton-bradshaw-kristal-singletary-and-plagiarism
Parasite.
Parasitism is a type of non mutual relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host.
(Thank you Wiki for the definition)
My DW is a budding author. I'm off to get some bug spray.
Horrible, Liz. I am gobsmacked. Incredible this woman is so blatant and rampant with her plagiarism. Stupid, because the only way she can now write again would be a confession story of her crimes. Clearly we all have to be vigilant. Mad, really, to spend all that time and effort stealing other author's works when she could have been creating her own. Boggles the mind.
Well done to all those who ferreted to find out the truth.
Hugs, Liz.
Thank you for drawing attention to this sort of dishonesty, which is something that anyone considering self-publishing should be aware of.
Liz X
Wow - what solidarity among writers. I've just read the post and apology KM gave the link to above - unbelievable stupidity to have done this over and over. And a reputation in tatters.
I've linked this on twitter and facebook - it's unbelievable and worrying, and the story just keeps unfolding! You've handled it in such a dignified way, though, Liz. x
So sorry to hear this, Liz
KM should be thoroughly ashamed of her behaviour. I'm glad her plagarism has been exposed.
I'm so sorry to hear of this appalling behaviour! I suppose with all of the scams going on in the world this was bound to happen. Thank you for making us all aware
I've been reading this unfold in horror, Liz. Just wanted to add my voice to the others to say you've handled it perfectly, Liz. And I'm so sorry this has happened to you, it's terrible.
No one wants to see this. It's horrible. It's indecent. And yes both RWA and KOD need to set an example. Morally its wrong. Its no better than pirated sites selling an authors work. Those of you affected have handled it with such grace and dignity. Thank you for setting high examples for all of us.
Liz, I just learned about this while I was running my garage sale this morning. Got a text from a friend who'd read the Dear Author post. To say I'm appalled that this has happened to you and to me and to the other folks she's ripped off would be an understatement. I'll be posting on my blog as well, but wanted to pop in here and commiserate with you. In a word, this sucks.
Appalling, disgusting behaviour.
Just read the entire thread on Dear Author and I've emailed you, Liz.
Your persona comes across in your writing so I'm not suprised at how wonderfully you've handled this.
We love you.
Dear Liz,
I am so sorry that this happened to you. Thank goodness for a vigilant reader/fan bringing it to your attention.
Shaking my head,
Lynne
Thanks for dropping by, Julie. This has been a shocking thing, but as I'm sure you're finding, too, the reaction of readers and the romance community has been amazing.
Angel, I feel your pain. This is not just a betrayal of the authors she stole from, but the readers and fellow writers who trusted her.
You are in no way to blame so please don't feel bad.
I have read every one of your messages and if I haven't responded individually, I spologise.
I am so grateful for all the love and the Google-fu'ing (new word!) shown here this weekend.
It is a beautiful, frost tipped, sunny morning here in Wales and I intend to enjoy it.
Have a wonderful Sunday, wherever you are.
Love, Liz
I am so sorry this happen to you. I hope she never sells another book!
Outrageous theft. Why didnt the editor spot the similarity
There was no editor. She copied my story from the eHarlequin site and changed the names and self-pubbed the story as her own. :(
The treachery and plagiarism of Kristal Singletary (Augusta, Georgia) makes the pages of 'The Guardian' today.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/feb/27/plagiarists-internet-kay-manning
Thanks for the link, Gypsum. :)
I have been studying your blog posts during my break, and I need to admit your complete article has been very useful and very well composed. I thought I might let you realize that for some reason this weblog does not display well in IE 8. I want Microsoft would cease upgrading stuff. I've a query for you. Do you like swapping weblog roll links? That may be actually neat!
A seasonal happening. The story was interesting though.
I didn’t know that part but it’s good that you have exposed it for us.
unclogs pores
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