Categories: Cassie Edwards
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by SB Sarah • Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Paul Tolme, who wrote the original article on ferrets for Defenders Magazine, responds with an article about his work and his reaction to seeing his writing elsewhere in Newsweek magazine:
[T]hat is some bad dialogue. It stands out as clunky and awkward even by the standards of romance novels. That’s because Edwards didn’t write it. I did.
I traveled to South Dakota in the spring of 2005, flying into Rapid City airport, renting a car and driving to Wall, where I checked into a dumpy motel overlooking an industrial yard. It was as unromantic a location as you could imagine....
From dusk until nearly dawn we sat in Livieri’s truck—two dudes looking for weasels. Nobody said science was sexy.
After three days in Wall, where the highlight is visiting the famous Wall Drug Store, I could hardly leave town fast enough. I returned home and wrote the story for the Summer 2005 issue of Defenders magazine, which detailed how ferrets in the Conata Basin were being threatened by a federal effort to poison prairie dogs.
Had I known that my text would one day appear in a romance novel, I might have sexed up my story: “Hot-loving polecats do it in prairie dog holes.” Instead, here’s the passage where I detail the life history of black-footed ferrets. You may recognize it.
I do wish Tolme hadn’t dismissed the Edwards novel as “standard romance-novel shlock.” That particular prose may be shlock in his opinion, but it’s not standard for romance novels. But you and I both know that.
For more information about Black Footed Ferret conservation efforts, visit the Black Footed Ferret Recovery effort site. Hat tip to Ishie, who dropped the link in a comment thread.
“From dusk until nearly dawn we sat in Livieri’s truck—two dudes looking for weasels. Nobody said science was sexy.”
This just doesn’t sound right somehow. Looking for weasels, huh? *nudge nudge wink wink*
And so the roping in of Romance as a whole to one “author” continues. *sigh*
kim said on...LOL ... my favorite thing to do while in a postcoital glow is discuss ferrets.
Super sexy!
Tolme knows how to make lemonade!
azteclady said on...I want to comment but Newsweek won’t let me unless I register, dammit!
And since I won’t, here’s what I’d post:
Hmmm… standard romance novel shlock? If for not other reason, I would beg to disagree simply iven the breadth of the genre. Having read many extremely well written AND commercially successful romance novels in my life add another level of disagreement with that statement. IMO, YMMV, obviously.
spamfoiler: down86 --damn right, DOWN with stereotyping romances and their readers!
The schlock thing and general attitude towards the genre aside—LOL! Dude knows how to come up with a wry turn of phrase. That may be why CE used him :)
Daisymay said on...Am I the only person to wonder if Wall is the same place that Neil Gaiman’s “Stardust” is set? ‘cos if it is then perhaps they were super sekret sexy ferrets with magic plagiarism skillz…
Okay, I do not want to be one of those people who seems to be trying to pull attention away from the main issue at hand, but I’ve just got to say, this article is irritating in the extreme to me.
“appear in a trashy romance novel”
“The prose is standard romance-novel shlock”
Wow, that is some bad dialogue. It stands out as clunky and awkward even by the standards of romance novels.
Cassie’s getting the genre some awesome press, here.
I’m curious about how Mr. Ferret knows what the standards of romance novels are? Dunno why, but I have this funny feeling that he’s not a regular reader of the genre.
I can imagine frustrated and horny readers cursing the ferrets and skipping ahead in search of the next nipple.
Mmm, yes, this perfectly describes how I feel when slogging through all those troublesome interludes that pesky romance writers insist on inserting between sex scenes. I mean, c’mon, what do they think they’re writing here—novels?
Sigh.
P.S.
But there is another victim here that has been lost in the discussion: the ferrets.
Inappropriately, perhaps, this line had me ROFLMAOing.
Stacy said on...That guy is funny! And his dedication to the preservation of ferrets is as sexy as the photo on his website.
My knee-jerk response was offense at his haughty dismissal of the entire romance genre, but then I remembered that at least 50% of the romance novels I buy are disappointing crap. It’s sad but true.
My first response to this whole thing was (as I blogged) that all of us writing romance are going to have to settle in for a few bitch-slaps thanks to Cassie.
Which is why, when people think the SBs are mean, they should shut the hell up.
I can’t blame the guy for being snarky. I’m too comfortable blaming her for all of it.
But Stacy--and to use Sturgeon’s law--90% of EVERYTHING is crap. So if only 50% of your romance novels are crap, you are way ahead!
And conversely, that means that 50% are GOOD writing, dammit, and it’s elitist and ignorant to paint the whole lot with that brush.
*ahem*
Not that I’m indignant or anything.
spamfoiler: attack64 Have I mentioned that this thing is scary accurate?
As an author of trashy romance I take exception to Tolme’s comments regarding the genre as a whole. However, as a fellow victim of plagiarism—and an author who must deal with stereotypes thanks to the likes of Ms. Edwards—I can’t help but laugh at the snark and admire him for taking this situation in stride.
His generalizations aside…
I think I’m now even more offended by what CE did, sitting in her comfy desk chair cutting and pasting, now that I know what the author went through to get the original story.
“My words did not enhance her novel. They were filler. I can imagine frustrated and horny readers cursing the ferrets and skipping ahead in search of the next nipple.”
boy does he have US wrong..
nipples? HA! We skip ahead in search of the next hard throbbing man spear erection!
“PENIS PENIS PENIS”
Julianna said on...His tone about romance novels was dismissive - but I’d hate to have someone following me around, counting the times I talk about subjects on which I’m ignorant. Also, you’ve got to admit that his introduction has not been auspicious.
I’m just impressed by how well he’s taken this - I think he’s being classier than I would.
Chryssa said on...Meredith,
You beat me to it. Those were exactly the same points that jumped out at me too.
While I can certainly understand Mr. Tolme’s amusement over finding his work on ferrets plagiarized in a romance novel, I’m annoyed by the on-going judgment of the Romance genre by those who don’t know what the heck they’re talking about. Perhaps we need to send Mr. Tolme a reading list of good, well-written romances.
And the battle continues. Thanks, Cassie, for handing the detractors yet more ammunition. Sigh.
Chryssa
Botword; lived83—hmm, guess you haven’t really lived until you’ve read a good romance.
as much as the idea of this guy snarking romance in general thanks to Cassandra Claire--er oops, Ms. Edwards-- I am biting my tongue and turning the other cheek, simply because it targets the ratfink and I like the ratfink being targeted by others. :3
Kcfla said on...I agree with all of you that although I don’t appreciate his views on romance novels, I can appreciate how well he’s taking this. I’d have been on the phone to my lawyer in a NY minute.
Class act all the way.
And as I stated in the thread below- we now know that CE’s lawyers have told her to keep silent.
dillene said on...Two dudes in a truck looking for ferrets is not sexy. Now, if it had been two dudes looking for beavers…
Eirin said on...Apart from the condescending remarks about the romance genre, that was pretty funny.
And I guess I can forgive the guy for still being somewhat irate, if not actually angry. After all, he had to fork over 6$ an’change to read his own words, not to mention having to at least skim a whole Cassie Edwards.
With that in mind, I’d say he’s very forgiving ;>
Verification: away57
Ruth said on...So you know how we’ve been discussing what we’d like to see happen in the wake of this debacle?
I’d like to see CE make a rather sizeable donation to save the black footed ferret. Those things are freaking adorable.
“I’d like to see CE make a rather sizeable donation to save the black footed ferret. Those things are freaking adorable.”
They are. Their markings round the eyes and the shape of their ears make them look a little bit like pandas, I think. And it would be good if the ferrets could derive some benefit from having starred in a Cassie Edwards novel.
Mala said on...Two dudes looking for weasels is EXTREMELY sexy.
Tolme doesn’t even realize that his moving story of research actually makes it sound like Brokeback Mountain! There they are...all alone...playing “hide the ferret.”
:::fans self:::
Maybe Tolme ought to try his hand at writing a little gay porn?
And kudos to his sense of humor! I can’t even begrudge him the snarkiness about the genre in light of what he’s learned about it in the last few days.
Considering that he’s been plagiarized, Mr. Tolme’s entitled to a a few snarks of his own. It’s a shame, though, that the entire genre is brought even lower in the eyes of the mainstream by the antics of one ‘writer’.
But Mr. Tolme has a wry sense of humor that I can appreciate, and he knows how to turn a phrase.
That dude has style.
I got an SB shoutout! Sweet!
It would be a cool sort of ‘revenge’ of sorts, if a large settlement was used to fund the black footed ferret community.
It would also be funny if out of everything she copied including a Pulitzer winner, the most significant ramifications came through the bad luck of just pasting in the WRONG nature article.
Besides, everyone knows if you want the sexy sexy post-sex talk, it’s supposed to be on bonobos, not ferrets.
TracyS said on...While his attitude about Romance Novels was ignorant and annoying, I have to admit the guy is funny. I found myself chuckling as I read this article.
“Three years later my story ("Toughing It Out in the Badlands") is at the center of 2008’s ,sexiest plagiarism scandal.” bwahahahahahahahahahaha
*the quote is taken directly from the Newsweek article (emphasis mine) *
Okay, I am probably going to hell but when I read his take on Edwards’ writing, all I could think of was “Now he’s on Jenny Crusie’s MEANIE List” because doesn’t he know better than to snide and demean CE’s writing! MEANIE!
Otherwise, though, fantastic article. I’m a “Newsweek” subscriber so I’m horribly biased on that but I say write to them about how he treated the romance genre. They’re a great bunch of people at “Newsweek” and they might even publish a well-reasoned letter. Besides, he had the right to be a little dismissive to the romance genre since his entire experience with it was with the Ferret Plagiarist. The fact that he handled it so well is quite admirable. He just wants to save the ferrets, man.
(Is it too obvious that I’m back on the DayQuil?)
I re-read my comment and thought I should clarify. I don’t think plagiarism is sexy, just they way he phrased that made me LOL.
dillene? I am so jealous that I didn’t think of that “beaver” line first LOL
I think considering he’s a dude who writes about ferrets he can be forgiven for his dismissive tone. He knows as much about romance as I do about weasels.
I love his response. So much better than anything we’ve seen yet! Maybe he could be a guest reviewer of one of Edwards novels.
I think the whole sensitivity thing about the romance genre is getting overworked here. The guy was pretty funny, and I’m pretty sure I’ve read passages pretty close to his fake romance line.
PattiR said on...I think Mr. Tolme’s lumping together of the Romance Genre reeked about as bad as a black-footed ferret does. And man, do those little musk producers stink!!
I don’t like his grouping of Romancelandia as a whole, but let’s look at it from his view.
He was thrown into this genre, not gently placed or nudged, thrown headfirst into something to him might have looked like the pit in the movie ‘300’.
And I need to give him kudos, as he has done what I have not, and actually read_CE’s_book. I think after that, he is entitled to be a bit snarky. JMO.
I think he is handling the plagiarizing issue extremely well. I thought his article was funny.
Nora Roberts said on...~He was thrown into this genre, not gently placed or nudged, thrown headfirst into something to him might have looked like the pit in the movie ‘300’. ~
This was my take, too. He was not only tossed into it, but under very uncomfortable circumstances. I give him a pass on the generalizations on the genre.
After three days in Wall, where the highlight is visiting the famous Wall Drug Store, I could hardly leave town fast enough.
I’ve been there. He truly did walk through hell to get that story.
But can we get a mailing address for him? I say every one of us sends him a copy of our favorite romance novel. :D If he has enough sitting around his office/house, maybe he’ll actually pick one up.
Black-footed ferrets may be adorable, but they’re aggressive little killers too. Yes, I’ve seen them in action : )
Despite his remarks about romance, I can admire Tolme’s overall attitude. Hell, if you’re willing to drive around in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere looking for ferrets, you’d BETTER be willing to roll with events beyond your control.
jocelynnesimone said on...I don’t know what good it will do but I wrote Mr. Tome a nicely worded email at his website. I thanked him for his essential coolness in the face of such trauma. Then I explained, again politely, that really not all romance reader/writers approve of Ms. Edwards work or her method and that I hoped in future he would be able to see this. I’m sure he’s being bombarded with correspondence right at the moment but it seemed like the best way to let him that romance as a genre is not a homogeneous clone of Ms. Edwards.
Instead of boycotting signet might be worthwhile to support his ferrets. There is an adopt a ferret page and they are awfully cute for smelling, blood-thirsty little critters.
I DID register at NEWSWEEK and posted the following:
While I have every sympathy for Paul Tolme, and even more for the plight of the black-footed ferret, I’d like to point out that while there are a lot of “schlocky romance novels” like the one under discussion, there are also a lot of witty, well written, and well researched romance novels out there as well. Next time Mr. Tolmé is staking out a shy species, he should take along a Georgette Heyer Regency romance to keep him entertained during the wait.
Paul Tolmé is pretty hot: http://www.paultolme.com/ Here’s his e-mail address from his website:
I sent the following letter to the Defenders editorial department:
Dear Editorial Creature or Creatures,
I believe it has been brought to your notice that the romance readers’ blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, in its current exploration of instances of plagiarism by romance novelist Cassie Edwards, has discovered that she has lifted verbatim a good deal of material from a piece you published about black-footed ferrets.
After a quote by Mark Cheater on the situation was published, the following responses appeared:
I wonder if someone should whisper the words ‘class action suit’ into Mark Cheater’s ear.
The black footed ferrets may have lots of company before this is over.
Posted by Joanna Bourne on 01/14 at 01:07 PM
I’m picturing a nation of black footed ferrets reclining in little Jacuzzis, sipping cocktails, living large on Cassie Edward’s money.
Posted by Julianna on 01/14 at 01:15 PM
Wow. I totally think Mark Cheater sounds sexy.
Posted by December Quinn/Stacia Kane on 01/14 at 01:53 PM
Mark Cheater DOES sound hot. I do love me a man with an ironic tone.
Posted by Daisy Adaire on 01/14 at 03:03 PM
I’m with y’all about Mark Cheater sounding hot. Intelligent, classy, with a sense of humour? Oh, yeah.
Posted by Ocy on 01/14 at 03:57 PM
Obviously Mr. Cheater can anticipate a whole new career as a romance novel cover model--a Fabio for the intelligent woman, as it were.
But we need a picture of him--preferably bare-chested, with a wolf. Can you comply? A fully-clothed picture will be acceptable, but we’re still hoping for the wolf…
And received this reply: Wow, thanks so much. we just had so much fun with this. Keep ‘em comin!
To which I replied: If you want the discussion to continue, send the pic! If the wolf wants too much money, we can settle for a black-footed ferret---
Posted by talpianna on 01/15 at 02:29 PM
No boycott, please NO boycott--way too many innocent authors would be the ones to pay.
*ahem*
Sorry, repeating myself--and others. There’re posts here and at Dear Author and other places on this.
But Stacy--and to use Sturgeon’s law--90% of EVERYTHING is crap. So if only 50% of your romance novels are crap, you are way ahead!
And conversely, that means that 50% are GOOD writing, dammit, and it’s elitist and ignorant to paint the whole lot with that brush.
Actually, I suspect it merely means that Stacy’s crap filters have been well refined-- as a horror film fan, I know Sturgeon’s Law applies with a vengeance to that genre, but a lot of non-horror fans think I have a pretty entertaining collection.
Brandi, you are right, I know you are right*** In my defense, I’m just fed up with the sterotyping.
*** When Harry met Sally ‘cause we are all about attribution *grin*
December Quinn/Stacia Kane said on...You mean, Mark Cheater SAW my comment about how sexy he is? *blush* tee hee!
(Um...if he sends that picture...send it to me?)
Man. Who knew so many of these conservationist guys were so hot? And funny? I’d be more upset about Paul Tolme’s comments about romance if I hadn’t always kind of pictured guys like that as sort of skinny, sanctimonious types who’d ask for permission before they kissed you and want to talk about feelings all day. (The emotional kind, not the sexy kind.) Shame on me.
Also, I love that he actually called Cassie Edwards’ house. How awesome is that.
It’s a shame that he’s not suing her. I would. She’s a thief. She’s also a horrendous writer. I wish she’d feel some remorse, but she probably thinks she’s above that.
pathetic.
Cori said on...I think it’s obvious that the reason Mr. Tolme is dismissive of the genre is that there are so few novels that appeal to his interests, and who can blame him? Come on authors, I think it’s time to honor Mr. Tolme and his dedication with a book focused on a topic he is passionate about. I suggest it be called “The Virgin Bride and the Black-Footed Ferret.”
Whoa. That dude is hot. Now I want to save those ferrets even more.
Ok.. I printed the article out to show the household male unit, his comment..
he said “ The man probably thought if his ferrets were going to end up in a dirty book it would involve gay men and the song lemmiwinks from southpark playing in the background”
see why I keep him around? LMAO
the epic lemmiwinks 4 min video..
includes song..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeTF3PnePu0
remember its from south park so dont show around young ferrets/gerbils or humans
I don’t know if Mark Cheater saw the letter; someone else signed the reply. And as for wildlife guys being hot, didn’t you ever watch The Crocodile Hunter? Or read “Mark Trail” in the funnies?
Cori: I prefer “The Virgin Bride and the Black-Footed Ferret’s Secret Baby,” myself.
Paul Tolme is both delightful and hilarious.
And hot.
.
.
.
and yes…
I want to bear his internet ferrets.
While some of you are pondering Lemmiwinks magical journey through Mr. Slave’s nether regions, all I can think is that this video should be remade with ferret costumes:
He is hot! (And I’m sorry I used “pretty” three times in my previous post. It’s the virus. Ahem.) Perhaps we can do a guest environmental journalist day?
Katrina LOL! that is wonderful!
Please, it should absolutely be:
The Billionaire Black-Footed Ferret’s Virgin Bride’s Secret Baby.
No, definitely The Black-Footed Ferret’s Secret Millionaire Revenge.
Got a nice reply from the man, the myth, the hot environmental legend himself. He suggested that for those interested in donating to the beleaguered ferrets http://www.prairiewildlife.org, Mr. Livieri’s workplace, is also a good place to visit in addition to http://www.blackfootedferret.org.
*Oh wow, my prose is suddenly almost gothic. Sorry about that.
Kathie said on...Nora: you forgot the cowboy:
The Cowboy Billionaire Black-Footed Ferret’s Virgin Bride’s Secret Baby.
or: The Billionaire Black-Footed Ferret’s Virgin Bride’s Secret Cowboy Baby.
I’ll raise your The Black-Footed Ferret’s Secret Millionaire Revenge and bump with The Gazillionaire Sheik’s Black-Footed Ferret’s Seduction of The Virgin Slave Bride.
Are they still doing cowboys?
Damn it, I’m out of the loop!
Okay.
The Black-Footed Ferret Rancher’s Virgin Billionaire Bride’s Secret Cowboy Baby. Texas Style!
GrowlyCub said on...Hi all!
Wouldn’t it be great if one of the authors here (Ms. Roberts?) wrote “The Revenge of the Black-footed Ferret - A Romance”. It would sell like “hotcakes” (in the words of my friend, to whom I presented the idea). Because we would all buy it, it would make a boatload of money and the proceeds could be donated to the Ferret survival fund and Mr. Tolme could administer it! :)
The Ferret Scientist’s Virgin Bride’s Secret Cowboy Orphaned Mixed Race Shapeshifting Grandbaby...In Space!
Hmm how about the Texas Oil Man’s Secret Virgin Black Footed Ferret?
How about “The Buck Stops Here?”
“class72"--appropriate!
I’m not touching the title contest—I’d lose.
The guy is articulate, funny, and at least he didn’t refer to it as “porn.”
Let me tell you my Cassie Edwards and “porn” story . . .
I teach high school English, including a ninth grade writing class. I have a kid who reads a novel a day—her mom’s romance novels. Nora, Ward, you name it, she reads it. She shows up the day after the CE story broke here with a CE novel. I jumped on it and we spent a lively ten or fifteen minutes as a class talking about adult plagiarists vs. student plagiarists.
Student takes CE novel to her ninth grade lit class, taught by the guy who’s getting his masters in creative writing from Oxford and told me he’d considered tossing off a romance for Harlequin, since writing one should be easy. He took her CE novel and turned it into the asst. principal in charge of discipline because, as he told me later, “it was porn.”
This romance author-slash-English teacher is still trying to pick her jaw up off the floor.
In my book, hot-ferret-guy is a step above elitist Oxford student.
So who goes on the cover of these masterpieces--Mark or Paul?
You guys DO realize I’m forwarding this stuff to the editors of DEFENDERS magazine? And I think I’ll send them to Paul Tolme too.
I love the Juxtaposition of the photographs of the Black Footed Ferret and Shadow Bear. They actually look alike. I wonder if someone could photoshop a head band and a loin cloth on the ferret just to see how close the resemblance is.
talpianna, could you please also reccomend Mr Tolme a few GOOD romance novels? As I told someone just now in another forum, wouldn’t it be really cool if he’s asked to do a follow up on the plagiarism thing, and he could mention that no, not all romance novels are schlock, and that why yes, indeed, there’s plot in between the sex00ring?
jest sayin’ s’all.
became45 --not quite there yet, but soon *sob*
Did somebody already suggest “Savage Ferret”?
Clearly, it would be a hot story about a rugged male blackfooted ferret seducing a freespirited tame chick ferret with big garbanzos.
B said on...OMG, I died laughing. You guys are hilarious and so is he.
He needs ‘im some some good romance literature as a present.
Why do I have the feeling a hot environmentalist will be popping up in releases next year...?
Good idea, Azteclady. I’ve already mentioned Georgette Heyer on the NEWSWEEK comments page. I won’t mention Farnol, because he’s out of print; Here’s my list:
Regency: Georgette Heyer, Mary Jo Putney
Contemporary: Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Jayne Ann Krentz
Formerly contemporary but still a good read: Mary Stewart
SF: Linnea Sinclair, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Liaden Universe), Jayne Castle
Fantasy: Mercedes Lackey
Historical: Amanda Quick
Damn! Too many of the authors I want to mention are out of print. Perils of being an old lady.
Aemelia said on...do you think snorting Mt. Dew will cause any serious brain damage? OMG between Paul’s article and the titles for the next hottest selling black-forest ferret romance (it would fly off the shelves!)
laurad said on...While Mr. Tolme did give the genre short shrift, keep in mind that the only romance novel he’s read was written by, uh, Cassie Edwards. Not to be MEAN about her or anything.
Since she did steal his work, and put it in a crappy, racist novel with a horrible mantitty cover, I say let’s not inundate him with email about how he needs to learn to respect romance.
The more attention this story gets, the more inevitable it becomes that the usual bs is going to be used in stories. Not to be MEAN or anything, but it’s hard to defend romance novels when books like Savage Ferret are being held up to the light. Not the best examples we could hope for.
To me, it’s another item to add to the “what Cassie has done” list. I’ve read others comment for years on their desire to see romance taken more seriously; achieve more respect. Ms. Edwards has set that effort back, IMO.
Oh, and he is one fine journalist. Someone could do an e-book erotica...nublile young researcher gets involved with an environmentalist and a freelance journalist… overcome with lust while watching the ferrets mate, it’s too much for the three of them.
Or wait. Shape-shifters. Blackfooted ferret shape-shifters!
talpianna, how about Suzanne Brockmann? and Loretta Chase *curtsy to Candy* and Laura Kinsale?
his article is the most viewed and most emailed on the site. That’s some fine ferret publicity.
and let us know when you write that black-footed ferret shape-shifter that mates with nubile young researcher, laurad, I’ll want an autographed copy.
What. the. heck. This is from the comments over there.
...Anyhow, as a former Publisher, I can tell you that it is legal to borrow and reprint up to 300 words from a work without obtaining the original authors’ permission, HOWEVER, you still have to cite the original source!! Shame on Ms. Edwards’ publishers as well!
huh?
snarkhunter said on...Ruth, that’s Fair Use--but there are limitations. Generally, that kind of reprinting is permissible only in works of criticism.
Ok, that’s what I thought. But like I figured, it is totally irrelevant to the situation at hand and completely misleading without qualifications.
“He’s so hot.” I can’t believe so many of you said that, especially after suffering the slings and arrows of still more outrageous stereotyping. For crying out loud, let’s show the world we have standards so we can begin to garner some respect.
So I propose that, in the name of standards, we should not pronounce a man “hot” until:
1.) we see him with his shirt off
2.) we see him with his pants off--or at least open, down to the happy trail
3.) we make certain he’s mullet-free
4.) we make certain he has all or at least most of his teeth
5.) we see him strike some appropriate pose
6.) we see how far he can raise his rosy cantilever.
I like The Blackfooted Ferret’s Whitefooted Secret Baby.
Okay, I’ve finally read the whole article:
“Ohmygod that is so hot.”
LOL! With four pages left to go in the article, that’s when he had me. And _then_ I saw his picture.
Just don’t forget to add ‘h’s to the names in The Billionare’s Secret Virgin Cowboy Bride Shapeshifter’s Baby Brotherhood Series(and whatever else we’re up to now).
Lorelie> No, you weren’t the only one who thought of Stardust, heh.
cecilia said on...How about The Billionaire’s Blackmailed Virgin Mistress & the Secret Black-footed Ferret Baby’s Revenge?
Although I’m pretty sure I can’t beat Nora’s.
spaminator: making25
- Not in this lifetime!
sandyLou said on...Dude is superhot. And funny. I can forgive him for the unfortunate prejudice against romance novels-after all, he only read the one he was plagarized in!
He can be the cover for Edward’s next novel-Savage Copying.
desertwillow said on...It would be really freaky if donations to the save the ferret fund went way up because of CE’s plagiarism.
I still would like to see this guy sue her stupid and donate the settlement to the weasels.
whey said on...~But can we get a mailing address for him? I say every one of us sends him a copy of our favorite romance novel.~
Great article, great suggestion.
That was hilarious! Like some of the others, I’m willing to look past his romance novel snark. I don’t think I’d be nearly as gracious to find an article I’d worked that hard on published in a novel that… savage.
I think I’d rather have a black-footed ferret on a romance novel cover; way sexier than a wolf. And just think of the publicity!
I sent him a “come on, dude, knock it off” style letter. I wonder if I’ll get a response. I mean, I’m sorry that his work got ripped off, but he doesn’t have to be a jerk about romance.
raspberry_wench said on...“Savage Ferret”? I’ve been giggling for five minutes straight.
I guess I figure I have a choice: I can be offended that he went for the stereotype and the cheap laugh, or I can understand that his only exposure to the genre was via a CE...collaboration...in which his work was plagiarized. So, bottom line is, he gets a by this once. He doesn’t even know enough about the genre to know what he doesn’t know. If you can follow that.
He practically comes right out and says that if he’d been plaged by someone he respected at all, he’d be a lot angrier. So maybe CE should count her blessings that she writes “schlock” in his opinion.
I want a t-shirt: Dude! Don’t Plage Me!
Actually, Mr. Tome wrote a lovely article about how Wolves are sexy. It’s called “Sexy Beasts.” I think the man may already have a knack for the romance novel title if nothing else. But my point here is why not have a ferret AND a wolf on the cover? We don’t have to limit ourselves do we?
We can have wolves and ferrets? That has definite potential. We’ll have to be careful with composition, though. Make sure to leave plenty of room for the requisite man-titty and flowing locks.
I have replied to the editor of DEFENDERS, with a copy to Paul Tolmé. I omitted the names of the posters I quoted to protect the guilty:
Well, you asked for it. I regret to inform you that Mark Cheater, due to your failure to send a photo in a timely manner, has forfeited his fifteen minutes of hunkhood. Now the Smart Bitches and their cohorts have read the NEWSWEEK piece by Paul Tolmé (it’s become the most viewed item in the issue) and seen his picture--and we find him hot! So he has replaced Mr. Cheater in our sweaty erotic fantasies. See below for assorted reactions, and suggestions for titles for books in a whole new subgenre of romance fiction--Black-Footed Ferret Romances! Mr. Tolmé can look forward to a long and prosperous career as a cover model, and Mr. Cheater can just look at what he missed out on and weep (or possibly thank God, fasting).
Incidentally, some of the stuff is a bit R-rated, so I suggest you do not show it to any innocent young black-footed ferret kits that might be lounging around the editorial offices.
I think that the doughty and indefatigable researchers who compiled the plagiarism exemplars should be entitled the Black-Footed Ferrets, as they waded through the muck of Cassie Edwards’s prose to ferret out her plagiarism.
Can we has T-shirts?
[quotes follow]
And Mr. Tolmé, we have some suggestions for you for some GOOD romance authors--starting with Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb and Georgette Heyer, whom I mentioned in a comment on the NEWSWEEK page. Nora writes contemporary romantic suspense, and Heyer wrote Regencies. I also recommend Jayne Ann Krentz (romantic suspense) who also writes as Jayne Castle (futuristic) and Amanda Quick (historicals). Mercedes Lackey writes fantasy with romance. Sharon Lee & Steve Miller and Linnea Sinclair for SF with romance. Other people have recommended Suzanne Brockmann, Loretta Chase, and Laura Kinsale (I’ve only read Chase myself, and she’s uneven.) More authors, and individual titles, upon request. Hey! I recently hooked a 30 year-old ex-Marine on this stuff!
Mole
Okay, I finally went to see his picture. You sure that he wasn’t the cover model for “The Tycoon Meets His Match”?
He had written many articles about the causes he held dear to his heart. His activism was to be admired.
He had no idea that the New Year would bring such attention and a fan club of sorts from the romantic fiction community.
His small web page got more hits in one day than it had gotten thru its lifetime. His good humor only added to his attraction and women everywhere sighed as they saw his picture for the first time.
They all noticed small things about the photo, such as the slightly pinkened ears, embarrassed to be idle long enough to be photographed perhaps? A risque word or two from the photographer? Something as mundane as cold weather?
They noticed the wind ruffled hair as he stood nonchalantly waiting for the photograph to be taken, the dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.
Little did he know then that women globally would notice the lines that bracketed his slightly smiling mouth like parenthesis and all wondered what it would be like to run her tongue over those lines.
Also some noticed his slender veined hand and wondered !!!*censored*!!!
Again a collective sigh was heard all over the world.. and somewhere kittens died…
They opened another browser to http://www.blackfootedferret.org and read how they could help, many ferrets were adopted and relunctantly they started clicking the x ‘s to retire for the evening.
As their gazes lazily swept over his bio page one last time their eyes caught the title of his award winning article..
“It’s the Emissions, Stupid”
Delicate shudders were felt everywhere and dirty minds again hit overdrive.
The end
Takes a 2 am bow .
g’night gals! lmao
I don’t really blame the guy for criticizing romances, but I hate how they can all be lumped together as schlock and trash - as if it’s just a given. When Doris Kearns Goodwin was caught, they weren’t calling all historical biographies trash. I tell ya, we don’t get no respect.
I read on another site a poster who was unhappy with the Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels name. After all apparently this gives “permission” for people to call romances trashy. I guess it also gives “permission” to call women bitches. But I don’t think that anyone would try either more than once with this crowd
I have a thought.
How about the SBs invite him over for an interview? So he can educate us about the plight of black-footed ferrets and the SBs can educate him about the breadth of the romance genre.
Donations for the ferrets taken at the door.
Wow, the plagarism issue aside, Mr.Tolme doesn’t have the nicest - or most accurate description of western South Dakota. We’re rural, agricultural based state - what did he expect? A Starbucks out in the middle of a grazing field?
I noticed he didn’t reference the beauty of the Badlands, or the sweeping, gorgeous vista of the Black Hills in the distance on that drive from Wall to Rapid City.
The black footed-ferret issue is a hot-button issue out here in the west, and I suggest if you’re interested you read both sides of the controversy, not just one.
Joanna said on...Can we site some of these romance novels with such high literary standards? Please.
You’re kidding yourselves if you believe anyone writes or reads in this genre because they want to write or read anything literary. And by literary, I mean a work that isn’t pure escapism, meant to help unhappy women imagine happy lives.
If literary works in the genre were the norm and not the exception, CE couldnt have published 100 books without someone finding evidence of her plagiarizing.
It took two snarky bitches with a lot of time on their hands to do it. And they only looked at CE’s novels because they didn’t like her. I wonder what’s lurking in the works of authors the two snarky bitches DO like? Nora?
Speaks volumes about the genre, doesn’t it?
Bless your heart again, you’re going to post on every thread till you get some attention aren’t you?
~ wonder what’s lurking in the works of authors the two snarky bitches DO like? Nora?~
If you’re going to imply I’m a plagiarist, give some examples. Otherwise, watch it.
And your statement that Romance novels are nothing but escapism for unhappy women insults women, readers and the genre.
If you’re a CE fan, you’re only adding to the fire. If you’re not--and dislike the genre as your statement implies--why are you posting here?
I will also point out at this time, though it pains me she is so blind, that SB Candy doesn’t like my work.
Angelina said on...ok as titles go I think I have it:
The Savage Black Footed Ferret’s Cousin Who Is A Sheik and His Virgin Texas Oil Heiress,Part Time Cowgirl, Bride, Who Can Shapeshift Into A Wolf, Part 1 of a Trilogy.
OMG can you envision the cover.
P.S. I thought all the trolls went back under the bridge.
My word respect75 - now I am going to being singing Aretha all day.
Joanna,
Hhave you read many romance novels? You are very critical of our ENTERTAINMENT, but you should not snark about what you do not know.
I know that myself and many of the SB’s have read many of the “literary” works out there, some I have greatly enjoyed, others I have not, I do not dis the whole genre because of some bad authors though. I happen to prefer HEAs to other endings.
As much as you seem to dislike us, you sure a keeping close eye on the blog.
I like the idea of inviting Mr. Ferret over for an interview. And the ferret shapeshifter idea is almost enough to make me move away from pirates to paranormals.
Anon76 said on...NHS,
I’m assuming you are referencing the post by Joanna. I read into it that someone wants to stir the pot.
Nope, I’m not buying into that game either.
Yes, invite Mr Tolme! *rubbing hands gleefully*
Public Service Announcement: don’t feed the trolls.
I know I shouldn’t feed the trolls, but I just can’t stand to see any creature, no matter how pathetic, go hungry.
Can we site some of these romance novels with such high literary standards
Certainly I can cite some of those novels, Joanna.
First of all, how do you define “romance novels”? Because Ian McEwan’s acclaimed Atonement has been classed as one. And it’s fairly generally hailed as literary fiction.
Some of the great classics of world literature fit the paradigm of romance novels. Indeed, this is largely because romance novels are the direct descendants of such classics. Take, for example, Jane Eyre. The master/governess relationship is a common trope in earlier novels. (Less so today, I think.)
Want to go earlier? How about Richardson’s Pamela? Isn’t the master/servant thing just an early version of the boss/secretary?
I’m not even going to bother listing the ways in which Jane Austen has inspired the genre, because it’s really a commonplace at this point.
Now, as for modern novels with such literary standards, my first question would be--how do you define literary standards? I will level almost any one of Nora’s books against the absurdly popular Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, or any other novel that gets classed as “general fiction” instead of genre fiction, and I will find Nora’s work better written and more entertaining. For one thing, her dialogue at least sounds like real people talking, and her characters aren’t wall-bangingly stupid (yes, Dan Brown, I AM looking at you).
Anon76,
Sorry I should have been clearer. Yes I was speaking to Joanna.
This is the second time, that I have read, that Joanna has insinuated that Nora is a plagiarist without offering a shred of evidence.
Klassy.
RomanticBeth said on...Wait! Wait!
I think I finally got it!
I read this post over at DearAuthor, and saw that Luther Standing Bear was one of the people Edwards took information from.
And if I remember correctly, Edwards is saying she, herself, is native/part-native and is being persecuted for being native?
If I’m not mistakedn, wasn’t it Chief Seattle who implied that you can’t own the land - that it’s community property, so to speak?
Edwards must have just been following her heritage, assuming that all written words were community poroperty!!
Think it will stand up in court??
:D
Estelle Chauvelin said on...I think I still like Dave Barry’s title best, on his link to Tolme’s story:
http://blogs.herald.com/dave_barrys_blog/2008/01/romance-novel-o.html
I’m afraid I still think Cheater sounds like the hotter of our two victims of ferret-plagerism, though.
Um, y’all keep talking about how hawt Mark Cheater is, but I haven’t seen any pictures.
I like to view the evidence with my own eyes, and not rely on the opinions of others. Really. I’m only here for the accuracy.
SB Sarah said on...Sorry, ladies. I spoke with Mr. Cheater this morning about Ferrets and other romantic topics. When I told him y’all were very interested in him, he said that his girlfriend thinks the attention is awesome and hilarious. So I think he’s taken.
Sorry about that.
But but… we could still ogle him, no? No harm in that… if we had a pic, of course.
I feel sorry that his article made it into a not so great romance novel, but at the same time I love the fact that it gives press to the Blackfooted Ferrets. The farmers complain about the prairie dogs, and thus poison them which in turn poisons the Blackfooted Ferret. If they would stop poisoning the prairie dogs, then the Blackfooted ferret numbers would increase, and thus control the prairie dog population naturally.
I am a long time lover of romance novels, as well as ferrets (though I only have the domestic variety). Though he maligns romance novels, like most fiction novels have almost no redeeming value besides for entertainment. For women it is romance, for men science fiction. If you want you can always rile up the men but insulting Star Trek.
bah just cuz he’s taken doesn’t mean we can’t point and sigh over his picture!
glad they’re such good sports!
I looked around the Defenders website to see if there were any photos of the staff, to no avail. Unfortunately I think we’re going to have to settle for pointing and sighing over Mark Cheater’s dry wit.
Julie L. said on...The ferret plagiarism story made it onto this week’s edition of NPR’s quiz show Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me, with an actual sample of Paul Tolme’s dulcet tones (in the “Bluff the Listener” segment, if you want to listen to the audio archives).
01.15.08 at 12:07 PM |