Yes It's All About Me, Me, Me...

I was over at Book Binge reading a post by Holly, about the whole Cassie Edwards plagiarism thing, when I came across a familiar looking comment:

"There is more going on here than CE is wrong. What's happened here is disgusting but sadly, not surprising. Not too long ago I was attacked personally. It went past attacks on my professional life and turned into brutal attacks on my personal life and most importantly, my family. Yes. My family was dragged into it. There is no line anymore of what separates right and wrong.

Sadly, our community has become a free-for-all, where no one is safe from attack."

This was from Renee Rocco, AKA Rene Lyons AKA The Dishing Diva.

I came across a similar comment on Jenny Crusie's blog, but I more or less ignored it. Seemingly though, it's a message that she wants to get across to people so I thought I'd do her the favour of sticking it on here, so that she doesn't have to repeat it on every blog that she visits.

I know, I'm far too kind for my own good.

She continues:

"No, back to CE. SHE WAS WRONG. NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE. NONE. (had to put that in). Nevertheless, what should have been a reporting of the facts and kept to reasonable debates and discussions, sank so low that I too, am ashamed of what I've been reading out there. Blogs ripping her apart, tearing anyone to shreds who dares to questions THE TONE of the attacks.

This has become a virtual lynch-mob. With the AP involved now, brining more eyes on us all, it's shameful that this is what people are seeing when they look at us. It was bad enough that CE cast a shadow over us. What came after only made us look like a pack of rabid dogs.

I wonder when this community will settle back down and these brutal attacks, not just on CE, but on whichever reader/author is the new "target of the week"

I just about nearly cried when I read her heartfelt plea to the romance community to stop tearing each other apart. Her words really affected me in a profound way.

So I pledge to thee my loyal readers, that from now on, I shall do my part and refrain from mocking those who don't have the common sense that they must have surely been born with. I shall refrain from airing strong unpopular opinions, and I shall refrain from using the word 'fucktard', in relation to those people who seem to lose their minds on a daily basis in Romanceland. I shall also refrain from reminding people that the person in question set up a blog, pretending to be somebody else, just so that she could take potshots at other authors, for example, J.R. Ward.

This is my pledge to you, my loyal readers, and I will endeavour to live a life free of mockery and bitchiness, from here on in.

Updated to add: My pledge will be fulfilled when hell freezes over.

Man,Talk About Muddying The Waters...

Plagiarism = Bad. Period.

Plagiarism doesn't equal "Yeah, it was bad, but those girls were so mean." These are two fucking separate issues altogether.

Any author who writes yeah, plagiarism is bad, but those girls are mean bitches, run the risk of people assuming that they don't really think the issue is that big a deal. Unfair maybe, but that's how it comes across.

Writing a friggin' long essay on how mean, some bloggers and their readers are, whilst taking potshots at said blogger and their readers, is a tad hypocritical. (Passive aggressive tone, notwithstanding.) Some people prefer to call it righteous indignation, than what it actually is. Whatever works for them I guess.

Using the blog in question, as a forum to wring one's hands in consternation over the way one has been treated in the past, due to one's own actions may I add is... well...cringe-worthy lame.

By the way, most bloggers, or at least the ones who don't put their readers to sleep will always have their own lovable sycophants. When you write a blog about how fangirlish certain blog readers are, and then your own blog readers chime in with, 'Right on sister!' or 'Amen motherfucker!', you look silly. I'm sure I don't have to explain why. We've all done it I'm sure, but it still makes us look silly.

The next time anybody talks about trying to gain respect in this genre, I'll be sure to pipe in with my 'Not in this lifetime' mantra, and quote the RWA's initial response, when this issue was first reported to them.

Thank goodness for The SBs, Dear Author, and Nora Roberts I say.

Anyway, I'm turning off my comments because I don't really want to have a discussion on the subject. Plagiarism is wrong, period.

Dee Tenorio's Happy Bunny Contest!

(All links have been fixed now)

Do you have a blog?

Enjoy erotic romance?

Like a little humor with your hot guy?

Well, this is the contest for you!

November 27th, Samhain Publishing is releasing my first Red Hot Romance, "Test Me!". To celebrate my heroes acting like happy bunnies, I've arranged for a special contest featuring another favorite character, Happy Bunny, hopping all over the blogsphere!

Here's The Game:

1. Copy and paste this post on your website, blog, MySpace, or wherever you wish, including a link to this "Test Me!" Excerpt. (For HTML Code, click HERE!)

2. Once you've completed #1, email laideebug @ Gmail.com (no spaces) with the subject line that reads: "Happy Bunny Blog Contest". Include a link to your site and you are entered.

That's it! But you could totally make Dee's day if you win by reviewing "Test Me!" at your earliest convenience, too!


Here's what you could win!

The Grand Prize:


• An e-Book ARC of "Test Me!"
• A Happy Bunny sling bag
• A Happy Bunny magnet game
• Happy Bunny Post-it notes
• Happy Bunny To-Do List
• Set of Happy Bunny mini-pens

And to fill your bag with things to be thankful for, a special gift from my good buddies Maya Banks and Amy Knupp!

• A copy of "For Her Pleasure" by Maya Banks
• A backlist choice from Superromance author Amy Knupp

Oh, but it doesn't stop there! There's more!

Three extra winners will win an e-copy of "Test Me!" as well as two surprise e-Book prize selections from the following list:

• A backlist book of the winner's choice from Ann Wesley Hardin.
• An e-copy of "La Bella Luna" from Bobbie Cole.
• A backlist book of the winner's choice from Heather Rae Scott.
• An e-copy of "Brazen" and an e-copy of her upcoming Christmas novella, Love Me, Still(goes out to winner 12/18/07) from Maya Banks
• An e-copy of "Calleye's Justice" from Donica Covey

So help Happy Bunny hop all over the world! Post on your blog. Enter! Win!

All winners will be announced December 1st, 2007 on Dee's blog, www.deetenorio.com/Blog!

When Karen Met Lori...

So, TTG and I met up with Lori from Let’s Gab, and Don’t Talk, Just Read on Monday evening. We met in Nottingham, which is approximately two hours away from where we live, so we decided to stay in a hotel for the night.

It was really quite wonderful meeting Lori, and her hubby. They were both charming, and fun to talk to.

During the five hours we spent together (most of it in the Hardock Café in Nottingham) we covered a variety of subjects, including books (of course) politics, religion, Hilary Clinton, BDSM books, and George Bush. The conversation about George Bush was fascinating. We also commiserated with Lori and Hubby on the state of the US Dollar against the British Pound. (Seriously $2.25 for £1? Sheesh.)

Incidentally, Lori and I decided that we really just don’t get BDSM, and paranormals aren’t our cup of tea at all, and that Samhain have the best e-books at the moment. I love her like a fat kid loves cake.

The men ganged up on us, and sympathised with each other with regards to our obsession with books. TTG bitched and exaggerated about my daily deliveries from Amazon, and Lori’s hubby did the same.

We had a great time, and there was no lull in the conversation at all. Isn’t it lovely when that happens?

All in all, we certainly had a great time, TTG found somebody with whom he could share his love of all things historical, and I found somebody who knows the importance of finding a good quality hotel. Not bad eh?