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.
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.
~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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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??
😀
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.
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.
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).