Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2017 discussion

This is just a vent, I hope it is permissible to post it here.

I don't understand how someone can have the nerve to steal a story off the internet, falsely claim it as their own, and then publish it on Amazon!

This has happened to several authors I admire. Some of the authors have been successful in getting the plagiarized stories removed from Amazon. Some authors are no longer involved in the fandom, I don't know if they are even aware that their stories were stolen and posted on Amazon.

The plagiarists seem to be aided by the fact that there are so very many releases of Austenesque books on Amazon each month, it is easy hide in the crowd.

Many legitimate authors publish on the internet with an online name, and then publish on Amazon with a real name. Also, legitimate authors have been known to change the story's name between online posting and publishing on Amazon. So it doesn't immediately raise a red flag to book buyers of good faith to see a familiar story with a different title and author name.

I just so appreciate our JAFF authors, I have received many hours of pleasure reading their books and stories, I am very angry on their behalf about people trying to steal their work.

I agree.

Yeah. I just learned that 2 books I reviewed, supposedly by Sherry Mellor, were lifted from a FF site. Another that I finished a couple of days ago, supposedly by Stephanie Bell, also is suspect (though I haven't seen a confirmation of that yet). I am SO pissed that people do this! It's unfortunate that it's so hard to police, and as long as Amazon makes money on a book, they probably don't care all that much. This stinks, it's that simple.

I agree, Jeannine, and also, perfectly fine to put your topic here. We definitely need to beware of it happening and even name titles of confirmed ones for each other so we don't support the stolen book.

I questioned that Stephanie Bell book also. No proof, and maybe if the Sherry Mellor incidents hadn't just been raised, I might not have been suspicious. But it's been take off Amazon and that doesn't usually happen.

Also, I notice that all 3 of the books in question have a muted, out of focus artwork on the cover -- seems like it could have been designed by the same person.

It has happened with self-published books as well! An Austenesque author I know personally had it happen to her. Infuriating.

I finally found the story on FFnet.
Life Changes by Darcy DeFirth
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3270093/...

I sent the author a PM to ask if he/she had published that story.

😡😡😡😡😡😡 It makes me angry too! One of "Sherry Mellors" books is still showing up on Amazon UK, so I've posted my 1 star review, including a warning, along with Ceri and several others.

Thanks to all for your concern over this issue which affects so many of us. Story-writing is hard and it makes me so upset to think of someone unscrupulous profiting from the work of someone else! But it is heart warming to know that as a community people come together to try and protect one another.

Just to give you some information on "Stephanie Bell" such as is known. Stephanie has published 3 books so far written by 3 different JAFF authors who posted their stories between 2006-2008. Their online user names were paperclipz, everymonday, and Darcy DeFirth/tobylachat. For Darcy DeFirth, we think her name is Patricia Heathcote and she lives in Northern California. I know I and many others have tried to reach her at FF, at AHA, via twitter and via Facebook but no luck so far. She hasn't been around the fandom since 2011.

While its true that we do not have hard proof Stephanie Bell isn't a true legit person behind all this, it would be very strange for one person to post stories under 3 separate aliases at the same site within the same couple years time.

Amazon has unfortunately made it way way too easy for anyone to take some content, slap a cover on it and call it a book.

Amy wrote: "Thanks to all for your concern over this issue which affects so many of us. Story-writing is hard and it makes me so upset to think of someone unscrupulous profiting from the work of someone else! ..."

I hate to do 'vigilante' book justice through en masse one star reviews, but that seems to be the only thing that gets Amazon's attention about stolen books or covers. Glad to see your words and the heads up about this Stephanie Bell, Amy.