"Steal This Text": Plagiarism in Our Brave New (Digital) World

Oh, that cut-and-paste function is so tempting! Waldo Jaquith (yes, he's my son) was reviewing a book for The Virginia Quarterly Review and noticed jarring variations in the writing style.

Further investigation revealed equally jarring similarities between several Wikipedia entries and the author's text.

The author is Chris Anderson, the editor-in-chief of Wired magazine. The book, in a delicious irony, is entitled Free: The Future of a Radical Price.

The ensuing hoo-ha is available for your perusal at the VQR blog.

As you'll see from the comments posted there, the defense for this behavior is essentially: Hey, this stuff is available for free online, what's the big deal?

It is in that freewheeling spirit that I now present my brand-new novel, Moby Dick.

Faith Andrews Bedford's Book: Made for Mothers Day

LLLer to sign her latest book: Little Girls in Matching Dresses: And Other Tales of Mothers, Daughters and Grandmothers at New Dominion Book Store, The Charlottesville Downtown Mall, Wednesday, April 29th at noon.

From Faith's press release:

Faith Andrews Bedford, a long-time favorite with Country Living's readers, captures the magic of childhood and home in a moving collection of essays. For years, the readers of Country Living have treasured her evocative stories, featured in her beloved bi-monthly column, "Kids in the Country."

Little Girls in Matching Dresses is a beautifully presented celebration of mothers and daughters that will touch the heart of all who read it. Just in time for Mother’s Day, this enchanting collection brims with warmth, wit, and grace and paints treasured portraits of mothers and children – and of creating new family traditions, following old ones, and seeing the world through a child’s eyes. [...] These vignettes take us – charmed and captivated – to the wondrous world where children eagerly explore their surroundings, where lessons are taught by gentle example, and where the strength of family is instilled in the rituals handed down over the years.

Faith is also an art historian and author of several books on the American Impressionist Frank W. Benson. In addition to appearing in Country Living, her essays have also been published in Reader's Digest, Victoria, several of the Chicken Soup books, and numerous anthologies as well as in many other magazines and newspapers.

LLL-apalooza at the Virginia Festival of the Book

On Friday, March 20th, 26 members of the Literary Ladies Luncheon (okay, maybe some were guests -- I can't keep track of EVERYthing) gathered for lunch at Bashir's Taverna on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall.

At table #1 were (from left to right) Erika Raskin, Diane Nelson, Debby Prum, Jeanne Siler, Johanna Smethurst, Susan Wright.







Table #2: That's Kathy May who has sneakily leaned out of the photo, Karen Kostyal, Mary Cail, Linda Kobert, Elizabeth Howard, Kathy Pond, Susie Langenkamp.









Table #3: Polly Lyman, Laura Rydin, Sandy Houseman, and Lisa Provence.











At Table #4, Charlottesville LLLers mingled with visiting Denver LLLers. Deborah Clarke Grosvenor, Doreen Orion, Fran Cannon Slayton, Stefanie Newman, Jocelyn Johnson, Rachel Unkefer.






Yours truly and Bella Stander.








And there's Bashir himself, at the serving table.







Throughout the Festival, LLLers were busy appearing on panels (or moderating them), and attending the multitude of events offered at the Festival. (And let's hope there were lots of power-schmoozes.)

Jennifer Elvgren, Debby Prum (standing) and Fran Cannon Slayton are at their presentation, Great Beginnings: How to Hook an Editor on the First Page. (That's Fran's forthcoming novel When the Whistle Blows displayed on the table.)







At the panel Book Review Superstars, emcee Bella Stander awarded each superstar (Louis Bayard, Alan Cheuse, Michael Dirda and Bethanne Kelly Patrick) a laudatory golden garland. Michael Dirda is receiving one as Alan Cheuse watches.

New Book Deal for Jenny Gardiner

Last year, LLLer Jenny Gardiner landed a new agent. Now she has more good news to share:

"My humorous memoir, PARROTHOOD: Twenty Years of Caring for a Vengeful Bird Determined to Kill Me, will be published by Simon Spotlight, spring 2010, in HARDCOVER!"

Photo by Jen Fariello.

Here's the Publishers Marketplace announcement:

Author of SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER Jenny Gardiner's PARROTHOOD, pitched as "Marley & Me with parrots," about a disgruntled African Gray parrot and the owner who loves her despite the bird's best efforts to quite literally bite the hand that feeds her, to Emily Westlake at Simon Spotlight Entertainment, by Holly Root at Waxman Literary Agency (World English).

Big congrats all around! (And who says publishers aren't acquiring books?)

White Elephants on Parade in Charlottesville

The tenth annual Charlottesville LLL White Elephant Exchange was held yesterday at the Gracious Home of writer and documentary filmmaker Elizabeth Howard. Some twenty Literary Ladies were in attendance. As the exquisite wrappings fell away, we were left with many truly wretched offerings. (Why, this is the best holiday EVER!)

My personal favorite was Susie Langenkamp's new "pump" soap.

Hearty congratulations to our first- and second-place winners, Laura Rydin and Sally Honenberger!

LLLer Noted and Quoted

Colorado LLLer Doreen Orion, currently doing...er, marking...time in Crescent City, CA, made it into TWO (2!) newspapers this week.

First was The Rocky Mountain News holiday book gift guide: Nonfiction (scroll down to Travel), for her memoir, QUEEN OF THE ROAD.

Today, Doreen was quoted--as Dr. Orion, psychotherapist (but not author)--in a New York Times article about book groups, Fought Over Any Good Books Lately?

Denver White Elephant Extravaganza!

Scene at Denver Literary Ladies Luncheon December Extravaganza: Sharon Glassman, Christie Hartman, Nancy Hightower, Karen Carter, Kate Schafer Testerman (face obscured).

Denver's second annual LLL White Elephant Gift Exchange was held yesterday at the Gracious Home of Bella Stander, National Cofounder & Western Social Secretary. Everyone shared food, drinks and tastefully wrapped dreadful (or not-so) regifts. To add to the fun, there was an Accessories Swap. Gold hoop earrings were the thing to de-accession; at least 7 pairs were up for grabs (seen at Karen Carter's rear, above).

Carleen Brice demonstrated her "Welcome White Folks" video, to much hilarity. Andrea Cohen is seated at left; Sharon is looking over her shoulder. At the next screening, Tamara Greenleaf laughed so hard she cried; she's wiping her tears at right. Carleen gave a copy of her book, ORANGE MINT & HONEY, and an audiobook. Not exactly White Elephants, but they were greatly appreciated.

Left, Denise Turner receives the gift acclaimed as Best Wrapped. Little did she know what many of us guessed: that it contained the ghastly double-necked vase Carleen got last year. We expect it to reappear in 2009. A can of guava paste has been circulating in Charlottesville for a decade; here's hoping it turns up again this Friday.

Right, the Tackiest Gift, a balky lava lamp bestowed on Karen by Nancy Hightower.



Above left, Sharon models a fetching ensemble--black knit cap & mauve camisole--received from Janet Singleton (rear), who's holding the finishing touch: a red-flowered scarf. Center, Christie models a belt from the Accessories Swap. Right, Nancy models a flowered neck--we think--thing and black handbag, from Vanessa Appleby, who had to leave (escape?) before all the gift giving.



Left, Janet responds to Kristin Nelson's gift of a pewter spittoon...er, urn...er, vase?



Right, Bella with the Most Ghastly Gift, courtesy of Denise, who gave as good (i.e., bad) as she got.





As you can see, Janet was stunned by the spotted green frog from Denise. Carleen was amazed by an opened bag of Snickers bars (another Halloween leftover) and can of evaporated milk from Debra. They were packed in the most precious and patriotic gift bag EVER (the trifecta: teddy bear, angel & American flag). For some reason Carleen refused to take it with her, so it was squirreled away by Bella, to make a glorious reappearance next year.



More hapless giftees.

Left, Debra Goldyn with Nelly CD.

Right, Elizabeth Wrenn with PURE SKIN. (Note how her eyes match the book jacket!)



Left: Pleased (or faking it) recipient Paula Singer and giver Elizabeth Wrenn with--ick!--POOH'S LITTLE BOOK OF FENG SHUI.

Below: Best-Coordinated Package & Recipient Nancy Jarrell and bag (Denise is at left). Inside was a silver bookmark in the shape of a heart. Groans all around for its being truly lovely.













Happy giftees Kate Schafer Testerman with cat thingy; Kristin Nelson with DOGA: Yoga for Dogs (dog on left resembles her Chutney).