Responsibility- How BADLY did all these people want/push and market this book. Sigh.

I mean really. I am sick to DEATH of this story. But look there's more!



A Second Ripple in Plagiarism Scandal

Fresh passages in the novel by a Harvard sophomore, whose book was pulled from stores last week after she acknowledged plagiarizing portions of it, appear to be copied from a second author. At least three portions in the book, "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life," by Kaavya Viswanathan, bear striking similarities to writing in "Can You Keep a Secret?," a chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella.


"Viswanathan has defended her writing in the past by stating that she internalized McCafferty's books, and that she has a photographic memory."

A not so dumb Harvard student and agent and entertainment think tank and publisher thought they could get away with it. And even if the author didn't MEAN to- which I doubt/wonder. I know it's easy to pick up language/phrases of others, but to copy- for shame!

Ms. Viswanathan said she would have no comment on the latest allegations, as did Michael Pietsch, senior vice president and publisher of Little, Brown, who last Thursday announced he was pulling "Opal" from bookstores. Ms. Viswanathan's agent, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh of the William Morris Agency, was traveling and could not be reached.

So Little Brown...I BET they have a wee bit of $$$ and a heck of a lot resources and um LAWYERS on staff. If they market this genre of fiction how could no one notice all tsimilaritiestes? No one? don't they PAY people to be *in the know* in this business? And I bet, just BET that the agent WILLIAM MORRIS might have some capability to know this information as well. NO she should NEVER EVER steal words and passages. (Yikes, have you seen them? Scary!) But to think that no one caught any of it? Shame shame. Someone can pay ME to read every book on the market and check for similarities ANYDAY! Call now!

In an e-mail message, a spokeswoman for Alloy Entertainment, the book packager responsible for several hit series of young adult novels that also helped Ms. Viswanathan develop the concept for "Opal" and craft its first four chapters, said: "We are continuing to refrain from offering comment on any matter relating to Kaavya at this time."

And you are telling me that an ENTERTAINMENT THINK APPROACHED HER and helped craft the first 4 chapters!!! DID SHE DO ANY OF THE WRITING AT ALL?

"Alloy shares the copyright with Viswanathan for the book, which basically means the finished project was a hush-hush collaboration between the unproven teen author and some mix of editors and ghostwriters who churn out books like Opal for a living. "

C'mon seriously! Someone else came up with the idea and outline, and she was the overachiever gifted Indian teenager? For $500,000. Holy SHIT. Oh yeah and this book also had a MOVIE DEAL!

Alloy Entertainment is a creative think tank that develops and produces original books, television series and feature films. The company originates unique, commercial entertainment properties - often with an eye toward teens, young adults and families - and partners with the leading publishers, television networks and movie studios to deliver these properties to the world.

Who's fault is is REALLY?