Plagiarism and The Story Siren

Copy Cats AheadIn a series of links that dropped my jaw, made me shake my head, and feel a boatload of “Oh, No,” here's an eyeopening series on how to catch someone stealing your content online, which was posted today by CuddleBuggery  after Katiebabs saw an anonymous link on this older post on plagarism.

The follow posts are from January 2012, and I'm not sure why the book blogging community wasn't aware of it until now. 

Kristi Diehm, better known as The Story Siren, was allegedly caught lifting articles about blogging and making minimal changes to them for her site. Bloggers B from Beautifully Invisible and Vahni from Grit and Glamour found the evidence and confronted her about it. Their entire story is like a master tutorial on how to use analytics to identify who is reading a website, and when – and in this case, possibly why.

Part the first: Beautifully Invisible is plagiarized, and figures out who it is, where they came from, and what they looked at.

Part the second: Grit & Glamour explains options for dealing with similar circumstances, and explains the steps they took to address the theft of their content in this instance.

According to the write up of the process at Grit and Glamour, Kristi responded by saying:

“In all honestly, I have never been to your blog or any of the blogs mentioned in this email until tonight when I cross referenced the posts that you had listed. I rarely if ever read blogs beyond the book blog community. But I could not agree more with your assessments of the posts. And I am sorry to say that I have no viable explanation. I even searched my web history to see if perhaps I had read the posts and had recalled them as I was writing my own.”

The statement that she'd never visited their sites despite the ample IP evidence to the contrary led to a request that she delete the content, which she did. 

Then she responded in part by saying,  “I've tried to be as obliging as possible and in turn I'm hoping that you will allow this to stay private.”

Folks on Twitter who weren't part of this request for anonymity about the accused plagiarist, looked the images online, both of photos and geographic location, and helped identify Kristi Diehm from The Story Siren.

Photo from the writeup: 

http://www.gritandglamour.com/2012/01/31/bitch-stole-my-content-plagiarism/

Photo from LinkedIn: 

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kristi-diehm/39/163/701

 

When stuff like that happens, it damages more than just the accused and the accuser. It undermines the efforts of all of us who review books online. Still no word from Diehm about this matter, but as Jane pointed out via Twitter, I look at her site and wonder if any of it is hers, or if the other content was lifted from elsewhere. And since we who discuss books online work so hard on our content, it's galling to see someone who has been outspoken about plagiarism and who has worked to build a community online despite being plagiarised revealed as an accused plagiarist.

In the book blogging community, we may not always get along, but I absolutely do believe that most of us respect one another's content, and we don't steal words from one another. For one thing, it's wrong, and for another, good golly, have we not figured out that there's very few ways to hide it? 

What I don't understand is how this is coming to light now – these posts were written in January 2012. Did you know about this? Has there been any additional signs of plagiarism? 


Updated 7:53pm ET: Kristi Diehm has posted what she calls an explanation and apology at her site, where comments are closed:

I owe you an explanation and an apology.

 

Please don’t take my silence on this issue until now as an admission to anything.

I made a mistake. I freely admit that. I am disappointed in myself and I’m embarrassed. I’m deeply saddened and distraught that I have broken your trust. I don’t want to give you any excuses. In a way I feel as though it won’t matter what I say at this point. It seems that the verdict has been decided. I was accused of doing something that I am vehemently against, and intentionally or not, I know that there will be consequences.

 

You may be wondering why I didn’t address this issue earlier. The fact is, I thought it was taken care of privately. After the issue was brought to my attention I was appalled. I would never do something like that. That is NOT me. I thought that I did everything that I could do, to make the situation right.

I’ve struggled immensely internally with this, because this is not the type of person that I am. I felt like the fraud I was accused of being.

 

I didn’t want to keep it private for the reasons that you are thinking. I’m not worried about what people will think of me. I’m not saying that it doesn’t hurt, it does. I’m not immune, but that wasn’t my biggest concern. My biggest worry was the authors and publishers that I host.

I offer them something. A viewership. I offer them the chance to have their book seen. I didn’t want to deny them something that I had promised. I now fear that is the case.

I don’t expect your forgiveness. I don’t even expect you to understand. I can’t ask that you continue reading The Story Siren as a result, and I respect your decision to not do so. The only thing I ask of you is that you take this apology as a sincere one.

Four months of silence is not an admission of anything, and nowhere in this “apology” does she actually acknowledge her actions. “Intentionally or not?” How do you unintentionally lift four articles from another site? Where is the apology, exactly? 

And her explanation: she only did it for authors and publishers that she hosts. She did it for you! *headdesk*

To quote Moira Rogers Bree, “Dear plagiarists: please retire, “I didn't realize I'd done it” as an excuse ASAP. It is A RIDICULOUS excuse & now you're ridiculous too.”

That was one of the most flaccid apologies I've seen, filled with double-speak and not much meaning or significance, or even addressing the situation. What a disappointment. And of course I have that Rhianna song stuck in my head again, because this “apology” and “explanation” indicates to me that she's only sorry she got caught. 


Updated 10:00 pm ET: I received a more sincere apology via email from Kristi, as did Jane at DearAuthor: 

I am very sorry for the trouble that all of this has caused the book blogging community. I also apologize for my actions and will work harder to be a better and stronger blogger. I have answered on my on blog as well and am sorry that I was unavailable due to work during the day and seemed unresponsive.

I wish that had been what was on her site. 


Updated 24 April 11:00 am ET: Another explanation and more robust apology has been posted on the Story Siren's site, though comments remain closed, which means other threads on Kristi's site have hosted comments for this topic, which have been deleted, it seems. The apology reads:  

Let’s try this again. I owe all of you, the blogging community and my readers a much better explanation and apology. My first apology was written out of emotion. I should have given myself the time to reflect before responding. I didn’t do that and I tend to let my emotions rule.

I am truly sorry for all the trouble that this has caused the book blogging community. That’s my biggest regret. You gave me your respect and I let you down. I took a role as a leader and I didn’t take my actions into account as it would reflect on the community as a whole. For that I am truly sorry.

When I first received the allegations of plagiarism, I was presented with the information and could not deny the facts. While the content was not identical the subject matter was. It was a confusion of inspiration and plagiarism on my part. I am not denying my actions. I was in the wrong.

While I did not recognize the blogs in question initially after continued correspondence I discovered I was incorrect in that. I worked with the bloggers first linking to their initial posts and then in the complete deletion of the posts in question.

Was I feeling pressure to do something new and engaging? Something helpful and interesting? I was. Had I only paid more attention to where my inspiration was coming at the time, I should have handled the situation much differently. A simple email asking for permission or a link back should have happened. And I didn’t do it. I’ve preached that thousands of times. I lacked in taking my own advice.

I know that I have disappointed many of you. That is heartbreaking to me. I am still the same person that you have come to know through the years. I just really screwed up.

I am sorry for the strain that I have put on the blogger/author/publisher relationship. I for one have worked hard to lessen that strain, and it seems that all of that work may have been lost in this mistake.

I can assure you that my remaining content is my own. Although I know there is no reason for you to believe me. And I don’t blame you for being skeptical.

To Grit and Glamour and Beautifully Invisible, I extend my deepest apologies. Please do not judge the book blogging community by my mistakes.

In the end, I hope that something positive comes away from this. Don’t make the same mistakes that I did. Learn from them. I know that I have. I apologize for my actions and will work harder to be a better blogger. I only hope that you will give me a chance to do so.

 

Categorized:

Ranty McRant

Comments are Closed

  1. Molly says:

    My knowledge is that proving libel is a difficult thing.  And there are three separate categories for libel too concern whether or not your dealing with a public figure or a matter of public or private concern.  Some of these categories require actual malice to be proven which is a very difficult thing to do.  @Vanessa’s right it is indeed very expensive,but most attorneys wouldn’t take a libel case if it was frivolous. 

  2. I’m all for publicly shaming until she apologizes, but the hash tag is a little juvenile…Let’s just make sure as many people in the community as possible know the facts.

  3. Damaris C. says:

    I agree. The hash tag shouldn’t have been created.

  4. Missy LaRae says:

    As an author it’s SO hard for me to post stuff online for just this exact reason. I don’t want someone coming across my site and stealing it. It’s just not okay.

  5. ComaCalm says:

    I felt that there should be a hastag because by next sunday they’ll be an IMM up and everyone will flock to it, possibly even the ones that say she’s in the wrong. She’s the biggest blogger and all we seem to be doing is going ‘okay’ and moving on to happier things. It’s more disgusting than her doing it.

  6. SB Sarah says:

    What do you mean that we’re moving on to happier things? I am confused what you are upset about. I think you’re underestimating the degree to which bloggers and writers take this sort of accusation seriously. I’m probably with other folks in waiting to hear her response to today’s discussions, especially since the original posts were back in January and I only learned of them today. I don’t think it’s necessary to start a hashtag to “stop” her – stop her from what? – but I don’t think you need to fear that people will stop talking about plagiarism, or forget that this happened.

    Also: please pardon my ignorance but what is an IMM? International Mail Manual?

     

  7. HWPetty says:

    Just a few thoughts:

    I am an author so… plagiarism is the devil, etc. (No need to go on here.) Also I’m a huge fan of book bloggers in general as they help spread the word and champion books that often would go unsung. It’s hard enough to get society at large to respect what bloggers do and take them seriously.

    I totally agree that those who plagiarize should be outed and should come clean, apologize, and take the dent to their reputation.

    That said, the glee I see in some responses here and elsewhere, because they hated her all along and feel like she’s finally “getting hers” or whatever is a little disturbing to me. I guess this just proves that with clout and popularity come resentment and jealousy. I think she should face up to this and deal with it openly. But the “I never understood what’s so great about her blog anyway” or “I knew she was hiding something nefarious behind that winning smile” commentary just makes the commentator look like a jealous hater to me. And I agree with Damaris C., the hash tag is over the top.

  8. Flo_over says:

    Just reading these comments and the links it totally feels like drama from a YA novel.  IT DOES.  You know it.  I know it.  Teen drama love it.  *gets the popcorn*

  9. ComaCalm says:

    OMG – You should write a book! 😀
    #Genius

  10. IMM=In My Mailbox, a meme where bloggers post about the books they got every week. It gets a lot of hits. The Story Siren borrowed the idea from another blogger (with permission) and it’s been around for years. I don’t think you’re going to stop IMM, however you might want to punish her.

  11. Damaris C. says:

    I couldn’t have said this better. We made bloggers aware of her actions and now she has to apologize and fess up. We do not need a hashtag attacking the poor girl. That doesn’t mean I am defending her actions in anyway. What she has done is WRONG. Period.

  12. Damaris C. says:

    hahahahahh I needed this laugh. Thank you! lol

  13. Sarah S says:

    Everything unfolding today makes me sick to my stomach.  Plagiarism makes me sick to my stomach.  I have always envisioned these kinds of thieves as low-life hacks…  not at all how I think of The Story Siren.  I don’t know her personally, I don’t even read her blog – but I always admired the work (I thought) she put into it, and the (seemingly) positive effect she has made in the blogging community.  I am curious to see what kind of statement she will make, as it looks like she has had 3 months to come up with one.  She should have surely known that nothing stays secret on the internet. 

    The hashtag is a little over the top though. 

  14. One thing to keep in mind about ‘ganging up’ and ‘attacking’, which sometimes happens with shit like this.  Sometimes it ends up making people for sorry for the wrongdoer.

    She screwed up.  But if people turn around and attack her, she’ll get sympathy for being attacked and everything she did wrong will be forgotten by many because she gets attacked and maligned.

    The focus needs to be, IMO, on the crime and not on slinging hate.  That’s just coming from somebody who’s been around to see this thing happen over…and over…and over.

    I don’t really her as a ‘poor girl’ or anything, but I also don’t see this as justification to turn this into hatefest.

    If you keep the focus on the plagiarism, it will have a more far-reaching, more positive impact. At least, that’s my opinion.  Your mileage may vary.

  15. Plagiarism just hurts us all…

  16. What I’m about to say is just my *feeling* – and yes, talking in feelings and not facts is not the best way to make arguments, but there you have it.

    It seems like when we are talking an “author” who may be plagiarizing (or even misbehaving and not acting professional – which is not great, but nowhere NEAR the scuzziness that is plagiarism) the blogs EXPLODE with diatribes against said author. It gets evil quickly. Now, I have yet to come across a case where it was mistaken, so the author definitely deserved those reactions. My point though is that it gets big and it gets nasty, and no one is worried about a hashtag that is less than nice.

    So why is this blogger *seemingly* being handled a little gentler? Where is the explosion? Is it because plagiarizing blogs doesn’t seem like it’s on the same level as plagiarizing a story?

    Is it because authors are this *other* while bloggers are just like you and me – regular folk – and we always tend to make excuses for our “family”?

    Again, this is just my feelings, but while I see other bloggers saying that plagiarizing is wrong, they are in the same post saying how she should apologize and tell how she will takes steps never to plagiarize again. Really, you need to take steps to know how NOT to plagiarize. Would that work with an author? How about that (K T Manning?) from a few months ago? If she comes forward with a plan on how not to plagiarize, is all forgiving?

     

  17. SB Sarah says:

    Oh, I have no interest in stopping a meme or anything like that. I had no idea what it was.

  18. Damaris C. says:

    Yeah I realized after I put “poor girl” that it was the wrong words to use hahaha.

    I don’t feel bad for her, not one bit. She shouldn’t have done it and it does make you question what else on her blog isn’t hers. Be original!

    I just recently started visiting her site, and now I will no longer be visiting it. IMMB will be moved to another day and I will not use her logo for it anymore. 

  19. I agree, it’s a small, petty thing to worry about. Personally, I’m curious about her response. I’d like to see her apologize and try to make amends. I don’t read her blog anyway, so I can’t boycott it meaningfully, although I think others should until she comes clean. But the issue is starting to get clouded with general Story Siren hate.

  20. SB Sarah says:

    Why do you think the response so far is too gentle? The other posts didn’t name her out of respect for her wishes in their original correspondence. DearAuthor, folks on Twitter, and I all did. I may be entirely wrong but you seem to be upset that the reaction doesn’t match your very strong feelings about this matter – and I completely understand your feelings being as strong as they are.

    But I don’t see her getting off easily here, either. A blogger such as Kristi facing these accusations loses credibility, and credibility and consistency are a blogger’s currency. If she’s lost her credibility, she may possibly lose traffic and eyeballs once people decide her site is not trustworthy because she may have stolen her content from other writers. Her site and her actions are being discussed today – and the longer she’s silent (and we’re talking 4 months here since this was revealed in January) the worse it will get. The response people make up for someone who isn’t speaking is most always worse than when one speaks up for themselves.

    I am waiting for her response. It seems from the correspondence posted that she wished to keep this entire matter quiet. It’s not quiet now. That’s plenty bad.

  21. Susan says:

    Researchers need to get right on this because it appears that some heretofore unknown medical condition is spreading among book bloggers and authors at an alarming rate.  “I don’t recall visiting any of those sites.”  “I honestly thought I wrote those books myself.”  It’s obviously some form of literary amnesia or Alzheimer’s.  Support groups should be formed.  Research grants made.  Stop the spread of this dangerous condition now!

     

  22. Amanda says:

    While I don’t feel like she needs to be shut down, she does need to be held accountable for her actions.

    Just because she is a well-liked, well-followed popular blogger, doesn’t give her the right to blatantly steal from other people (and then almost beg to keep it quiet). I mean seriously, if she or anyone else had stolen from you, wouldn’t you want at LEAST an apology?

    When someone does stuff like this, it makes everyone look bad. It also makes me question the integrity of all of her other posts. I don’t know her personally, but even if she were a friend, I would still call her out. What she did was wrong. Period. And there is NO excuse for stealing someones hard work.

  23. Steffie says:

    I agree with Damaris on this. I think Kristi already suffers enough as it is, since it must be quite embarrassing for her to get caught with something like this while at the same time trying to give bloggers useful advice on correct behavior.

    Creating hashtags is just a really childish way of exaggerating things on this matter. At least in my humble opinion.

  24. Whether she did it or not is not the point of this comment, however I highly disagree that her not wanting it to get out is an admission of guilt. Having done it or not, when it’s out, everyone who doesn’t like her for whatever reason or anyone who has an issue with her is going to take the stance that she did it, proof or not. That alone could do enough to ones reputation to make it questionable. I wouldn’t want something like that to be mentioned in relation to my name either, even if people were blowing smoke.

  25. Amanda says:

    I think maybe some people feel like she is getting off easily because there have been other instances where people were found to be stealing another bloggers work, people rallying and cried over it, and a few days later the thief was shut down. That obviously isn’t going to happen in this case, but I do feel like she owes an explanation of her actions and a sincere apology to the bloggers she stole from.

  26. Flo_over says:

    About popcorn or YA drama (redundancy!)?

  27. ComaCalm says:

    Both!

  28. I don’t read YA or YA blogs and have never heard of this woman before today, so I have no skin in this game in that regards. I really don’t care if her blog folds or not, it doesn’t affect me (outside of the fact I hate plagiarists and I think they should all be banned – that’s a different story and a longer post).

    My point was how differently I *feel* (damn that word, bringing feelings into a rational discussion!) this woman is being treated vs. an author who is accused of plagiarism.

    I’ve seen a couple Author Plagiarism blog posts, and I cannot recall anyone in the comments saying how they felt bad for the author, or that the author didn’t *deserve* some nasty sentiment (such as the hashtag) or making the suggestion that if the author apologized and admitted it and told how she would make sure she didn’t do it anymore, then all could be forgiven.

    Also, an author plagiarism post? I would be expecting about three times the number of comments by now.

    Again, nothing personal against this woman. For me, it’s almost a scientific curiosity in why the difference? Does this mean all plagiarism is not equally bad? Does this mean authors are held to a higher standard? That popular bloggers are maybe more easily forgiven because they are *just one of us*?

    These are just my random musings. I’ll be interested in seeing how this story plays out.

  29. Mikaela Lind says:

    Do you know the ironic part? Today is Copyright Day, at least in Sweden. 

  30. I don’t see others’ need to defend her…I agree she doesn’t need to be bullied, but in my eyes she has lost all respect and credibility…who knows what all on her site is not hers?  To me and the other book bloggers who now know the situation, I can’t see ever visiting her site again, whether or not she fesses up.  And if somehow she does keep her blog running and continue to get love from the publishers (she probably will, unless somehow the big publishers see all this drama…not sure how much they would), it would make people like me who run smaller blogs and fight for the ARC’s we get, very upset to say the least.

  31. I think if you want to be a blogger with integrity, you should have said something to her personally when your suspicions first occured. To say “I always suspected” reaks of bandwagon behavior.

    You don’t have to respect Kristi. Hell, you don’t have to like her. I won’t respect you any less based on who you follow and why.

    What I don’t respect is public flogging or publicly bashing a blogger. Big blog, small blog, whatever. If we want respect, let’s give it. It’s petty and lame and incredibly hurtful.

  32. I totally agree with this. The bashing behavior is unacceptable. I don’t care if you’re an author, a small blogger, a big blogger, or just some random kid off of the street – starting a twitter campaign like that is hurtful, ridiculous, and completely uncalled for.

    This turned from a focused frustration with plagarism to a chance to jump down Kristi’s throat. Ridiculous.

  33. Has says:

    Can people please send me to this public flogging and bashing? Other than the #stopstorysiren hashtag on twitter which I think is wrong and doesn’t focus on the issue on hand – and even then they are tweeting about the lack of response – I can’t see any of this happening.

    I am seeing people wanting an explanation of why this is happening. For her to ignore this is just going to make things worse and it wont go away. It is out. The moment she got caught by those bloggers she should have posted an apology and explained why and left it at that. She would have upset a few of her bloggers but I am sure she would be able to move on and learn from this. Hiding away from it and trying to cover this up is the main reason why people are upset especially since she’s blogged extensively about this.

  34. Screenplaydiva says:

    I don’t know what to think about this whole thing. I actually learned about book blogging when I discovered Kristi’s site. She’s been doing this a long time. Yes, she receives tons of praise for bloggers and authors, has a huge following, and publisher’s send her ARC’s and books by the truckload (okay, I’m exaggerating) but really the bullying and name calling has got to stop. The hashtags are awful! Aren’t we better than that? It appears from the links that the stuff on both blogs is extremely similar and reworded. As for plagiarizing that’s between Kristi and the owners of the other blogs. And yes, they were right to call her out on it. I’m not defending Kristi by any means, but hashtags, really? We don’t know how this can affect anyone involved—particularly Kristi—from a professional and personal standpoint. Just remember what happens to some people when they are bullied. I don’t need to spell it out. As bloggers, do we look professional when we bully? No, most bloggers aren’t professional reviewers, but we have a responsibility to be intelligent, honest and trustworthy. But by acting this way you can see why book blogging gets such a bad rap. Some people love to bring people up just to bring them down. I think plagiarism is awful and I know a lot of bloggers who have it done to them.

  35. Tigersagg says:

    Wow. This is disgusting. I think you’re all forgetting about your READERS. And as a reader, do you realize how petty, bitchy and catty you all look?
    Bullying her? Starting a HASHTAG?
    Yes, she did something wrong. Yes, you all called her out on it. Do you feel like bigger people now?
    God, move on already.

    As a reader of MANY of your blogs, I won’t bother to visit again. I have ZERO respect for this behavior.
    And I don’t think you realize that us readers/non-bloggers? Yeah, we talk among outselves just like you do.
    And every single one I’ve spoken to agrees with me.

    Don’t be surprised if your views go down over this disgusting cattiness.

  36. Jane says:

    And every single one I’ve spoken to agrees with me.///

    Other than the hashtag, what is the name calling or bullying that is going on? Calling her a plagiarist is not name calling. That is the actual description of copying someone’s own work and passing it off as your own.  Copyright infringer? Same thing. Actual description.  If you are going to be OMG here, please set forth some examples.

  37. Lauren says:

    http://rooferauthor.blogspot.c…

    I still think that this is the funniest thing that I have ever read, dealing with plagiarism.  I hope it is okay to link it. 

    Tigersagg, what has you so upset?  Very few of the people here are being catty. Read the comments again – SB Sarah isn’t slinging mud, she’s waiting, like many others for a response. 

    The thing is, when the bloggers called the woman out about it, she should have made it public instead of asking for it to be swept under the rug.  If she had put a statement on her blog about it she may have lost a few readers, but it wouldn’t have turned into this.

    Chances are, Kristi hasn’t slept a full night since January.  She’s been waiting for exactly this to happen.

  38. SB Sarah says:

    I’m looking for the name calling, aside from the hashtag that sought to stop Kristi from doing something, though I wasn’t clear what. Where is it?

    I’m waiting on her response before I come up with any descriptive nouns or predicate adjectives—though I have a few because I’m plenty irritated about her actions, and the many months of silence since the original blog posts were published.

    Where are these bullying names you speak of?

  39. azteclady1 says:

    I’m a few comments from the most recent buy a thing I wonder about…

    Why does anyone care whether a plagiarist apologizes or not?

    Does it in any way diminish whatever harm they caused to those whose words and work they stole?

    And I’m not being snarky (or at least, not on purpose) I really want to know why would anyone care to get an apology—particularly when it seems pretty clear cut that this person (as most plagiarists) knew exactly what she was doing while she was doing it.

  40. azteclady1 says:

    Umm…I take it you weren’t around for the “did she run over their puppy?” comments during the Cassie Edwards plagiarism debacle.

    (translation: oh yes, there are plenty of “poor plagiarist” cries even when actual legal action—Janet Dailey vs Nora Roberts—was taken)

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