Ask the Author: Eeva Lancaster
Answered Questions (13)
Eeva Lancaster
Lightning flashed from behind the clouds, as the new writer clicked on the PUBLISH button, and released her unedited, unformatted book, with a generic cover, out into the world. The hairs on my arms stood on edge, as I watched this blasphemy from behind the curtains.
Eeva Lancaster
Don't aspire. If you want to be anything, learn all you need to BE that person. Aspring is only hoping.
Eeva Lancaster
Without trying to recall ALL the books I've read, I'd say Maggie and Michael in Pandora Spocks' Rannigan's Redemption. An unusual couple, a love story that just melts the heart. I cried buckets.
Eeva Lancaster
Since books are now digital, Piracy is common practice. And as much as we hate it, it cannot be stopped. That's the whole nasty truth. I wrote an article about that, and I'm sure a lot of authors tooted their noses at my opinions. But, we gotta get real. Many Indies give away their books. Very easy for pirates to pick up and sell on their websites. Even if you put all the notices in the world on the manuscript, or apply protective measures such as DRM, it is still very easy to copy. How do you stop that? We can't waste our time reporting and trying to cut off a Hydra's head. Another one will just grow in its place. Welcome to the digital world. :)
Plagiarism though, is completely different from Piracy, in my opinion. When I see my book on sale, or free to download on a piracy site, I look at it as promotion.
But taking another person's work and claiming it as your own is just... rude. It shows a total disregard for another person's hard work. Irritating, but also common. Some even copy a book verbatim and slap their name as the author. Not even making the effort to rewrite or change the character's names. That practice should be stopped.
I regularly check snippets of my work on a plagiarism tool to make sure I'm not being plagiarized without my consent. http://smallseotools.com/plagiarism-c...
It will show you where your content appears on the Internet. Pretty handy.
I've been a freelance ghostwriter for years, and I can tell you that there are unscrupulous business people out there who hire ghostwriters to rewrite a whole book so they can publish it as their own. I don't accept such contracts, but again, the practice exists. Non-fiction books are preferred since they're easier to rewrite.
You're absolutely right that writers should be aware of these practices. So they can be aware of the business they're in, and what we're all up against.
Plagiarism though, is completely different from Piracy, in my opinion. When I see my book on sale, or free to download on a piracy site, I look at it as promotion.
But taking another person's work and claiming it as your own is just... rude. It shows a total disregard for another person's hard work. Irritating, but also common. Some even copy a book verbatim and slap their name as the author. Not even making the effort to rewrite or change the character's names. That practice should be stopped.
I regularly check snippets of my work on a plagiarism tool to make sure I'm not being plagiarized without my consent. http://smallseotools.com/plagiarism-c...
It will show you where your content appears on the Internet. Pretty handy.
I've been a freelance ghostwriter for years, and I can tell you that there are unscrupulous business people out there who hire ghostwriters to rewrite a whole book so they can publish it as their own. I don't accept such contracts, but again, the practice exists. Non-fiction books are preferred since they're easier to rewrite.
You're absolutely right that writers should be aware of these practices. So they can be aware of the business they're in, and what we're all up against.
Eeva Lancaster
I don't consider myself an authority on the subject. :) The articles on my site are the result of my own experience and research. I can't claim that I understand all of it, only the basics of what we can do to avoid future copyright issues. Only lawyers can fully understand that convoluted topic.
Eeva Lancaster
Hi Patrick, good to connect with you. I take it you're referring to my blog post about copyright and licenses. It is a mine field, one that should be traversed carefully. I have never had a case of copyright infringement, thank god... and I hope to never have one. On my site, The Book Khaleesi, I have a disclaimer which clearly states that the images I use on all my designs are either taken from the Public Domain or sites that say they're from the public domain, or have a CC0 license, or purchased with an extended license. All downloaded in good faith. If by any chance, there's a misrepresentation, I'd gladly take down / replace the cover. Since it's a mine field, I take precautions too. Even on my blog.
Thanks for your question. :)
Eeva
Thanks for your question. :)
Eeva
Eeva Lancaster
Thank you Suzie. I wrote In Loving You, 20 years ago. Had it printed and bound. (There was no home printer then) Then I lost the book. When my dad found it around 4 years ago and gave it to me, I was scared to read it! Reading the words of a younger you is very weird and unnerving. So, when I decided to self publish, I felt that it was only right that I start with that book. I made no revisions to the poems even if it makes me cringe to read them. :) I was so mushy and romantic!
Eeva Lancaster
Hi Suzie! I will in the near future. It would be interesting to see the texture of my poems now that I'm, well, older. :)
Eeva Lancaster
Hello Traci! If you asked me to write a poem impromptu, I can, but it would not have the same depth as when I see something that compels me to rhyme. I need to be stirred by an emotion, to write a poem.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks for asking.
Eeva Lancaster
One day, when I've written all the Non-Fiction books that are residing in my head, I will venture into fiction for sure. Maybe after 10 books... after all the life lessons and stories that I want to share has been published.
Eeva Lancaster
I asked my husband what he thinks I should write about that can help people and he came up with the series title. The idea is to be able to discuss a wide range of specific problems. Sometimes, reading about other people's point of view and stories help ease our burdens a little. I hope my books will have that effect.
Eeva Lancaster
I'm currently working on the first book of my Now What? series. The title is "You're Getting Married Soon... Now What?" What should you be doing and thinking about when you're about to be married? This series is a no-nonsense and practical look at the problems we worry about every day. It's not a typical self-help book. Most of those are impractical and too idealistic. The Now What? series is based on real-life.
Eeva Lancaster
What I love about being a writer is sharing my experience and life views with people. We are all looking for answers to life's many questions.... I'm hoping that my work will give others a point of view that can help them on their own journey.
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