{"id":10454,"date":"2016-06-28T12:00:38","date_gmt":"2016-06-28T16:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jennytrout.com\/?p=10454"},"modified":"2016-06-28T18:34:56","modified_gmt":"2016-06-28T22:34:56","slug":"dont-do-this-ever-super-mega-meta-rehash-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jennytrout.com\/?p=10454","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Do This Ever: “Super Mega Meta Rehash” edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2015, disgraced former author Laura Harner was caught in a plagiarism scandal<\/a>\u00a0that rocked the M\/M writing community. Harner, a well-liked and prolific author, had been lifting, almost word-for-word, the prose of other writers, including Becky McGraw and Opal Carew. Harner received a life-long ban from RWA<\/a>, and the removal of all but her co-authored titles from Amazon. Now, it seems Harner has either been plagiarized or, more likely, has taken on a new pen name to continue her career.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A former reader of Harner’s contacted me to note the similarities between Harner’s\u00a0<\/a>Whiteout<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>published in 2011, and Annalise Alexander’s\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em><\/a>, released just last week. Let’s take a look. For my people who don’t see, the images that follow are just screen shots, I’ll put comparison in text to discuss it because they’re kind of hard to read, anyway.<\/p>\n

Here’s Annalise Alexander’s\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\"AA1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"aa2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And here’s Laura Harner’s\u00a0Whiteout<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\"LH1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em>\u00a0(as usual, the underlines indicate italics):<\/p>\n

The propane tank on her grill was full, plus she had a camp stove and a battery operated coffee maker, so all the necessities of life were taken care of. Her car was already loaded with ice, wine, and lots of batteries. Which left Sugar & Spice as the last stop on her list. This had all the makings of a very long weekend.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A sudden gust of wind nearly whipped the ball cap from her head just as she reached the door. She caught it with a slap of her hand and lowered the bill, in an effort to maintain a little anonymity. With a mental eye roll at her own misplaced modesty, she pushed past the\u00a0adults-only<\/span> warning signs and stepped inside.<\/p>\n

Damn it! Why should I be so embarrassed?<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

She trudged through the light layer of snow to get to the darkened glass door. Stomping the snow off her boots, she tried not to blush at the signs warning no admittance to anyone under twenty-one. This was her last stop of the morning. Her car was already loaded with food and wine. At home, the wood was cut and stacked by the woodstove, and for the next few hours, the road leading to her remote cabin would be clear.<\/p>\n

Christina wrapped herself in determination and pushed through the door. She started to remove her sunglasses but noticed that most of the other customers in the store wore dark glasses, too. Damn it! Why should I feel so embarrassed?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

Walking the half block to where she’d wedged her Porsche Cayenne between two rental minivans, she noticed one of the vehicles had been replaced by a black Escalade. The parking spot was so tight on the narrow one-way street, she had to maneuver forward and back twice before she was able to pull out of the space.<\/p>\n

As she pulled away, she noticed the vanity plate on the luxury SUV: 2RCTCTS. As in Two Architects.<\/p>\n

Talk about double trouble. Remy Doucet or Rex Davis.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

Out in the lot, Christina froze in her tracks when she recognized the distinctive yellow Hummer parked next to the own four-wheel drive. There was only one vehicle like that in all of Northern Arizona, and she knew who it belonged to: Cade McMartin.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of the two of them,\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em>\u00a0is certainly the better written book, but the set up between the two are the same, as are the order of events. A woman visits a sex shop to stock up on supplies before a big storm hits, and sees that someone she knows is nearby.\u00a0Whiteout<\/em> features a blizzard and\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em>\u00a0is set during a hurricane. The locations are different, with\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em> set in New Orleans\u2013a city that has featured in other Harner titles.<\/p>\n

The similarities continue. Here’s the next section of\u00a0A Perfect Storm:<\/i><\/p>\n

\"AA3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And the next section of\u00a0Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"LH2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From\u00a0A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

Entering the store, Remy shrugged to loosen the grip of his inner demon. Melissa hadn’t looked up when he’d entered and she appeared to be alone as she stood staring at something at the end of the aisle in the far corner of the store. He should just go over there and say hello. Really…he should. He wasn’t shy. Not ever. Unless you counted with Mel. Something about the woman tied his tongue in knots. They’d known each other since grade school, and he’d been half in love with her ever since. Not that he’d ever done a damn thing about his attraction. They’d moved in different circles even then.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

Cade shrugged, as if to loosen the grip of his inner demon. Christina hadn’t looked up when he’d entered, and he’d stopped himself going over to say hello. They’d known each other since the first day of second grade, and he’d been in love with her ever since. Not that he’d ever done a damn thing about that fact. They’d moved in different circles even then.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

Melissa was everything he wasn’t: intellectual, glib, and reserved. While he’d gone away to college, she’d stayed local and finished her first degree in half the time\u2013then moved straight on to Tulane Law School. When he’d returned to start his apprenticeship with a local architect, he’d discovered that she’d passed the bar and signed with a prestigious law firm.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

Christina was everything he wasn’t: cool, reserved, and brainy. While he’d gone away to college, she had stayed local and finished her degree in half the time. When he’d returned, he’d discovered that she’d started her own interior design company. She was as driven to succeed as he was, but success for him meant winning. It’s why he’d become an attorney.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

He wandered to the display that Melissa had been staring at when he came in. He needed to see what had captured her attention. He couldn’t help grinning. Maybe their circles weren’t so different after all. \u00a0Although he’d be willing to bet money she didn’t know it. He’d recognized that look on her face. Curiosity mixed with melancholy, sprinkled with a heavy dose of desire.<\/p>\n

Maybe it was time to bring this long-standing crush into the light of day. Nothing good could come from unrequited love\u2013or lust\u2013especially when only one of the parties was aware of the attraction. He laughed softly, as he made a few selections of his own.<\/p>\n

After paying for his purchases, Remy headed toward his house to make some last-minute adjustments to his hurricane plan.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

He wanted to the display that Christina had been staring at when he came in. He needed to see what had captured her attention. He couldn’t help grinning. Maybe their circles weren’t so different after all. Although he’d be willing to bet money she didn’t know it. He’d recognized that look on her face. Curiosity mixed with wistfulness, sprinkled with a healthy dose of desire.<\/p>\n

Cade made a few purchases, then headed back to his townhouse to make some last-minute adjustments to his schedule.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Again, same sequence of events, just slightly different wording, and\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em> is expanded. Also, the heroine has changed from interior designer in Whiteout<\/i> to a lawyer in\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em>, swapping careers with the hero from Whiteout<\/i>, who has now become an\u00a0architect.<\/p>\n

There’s one last section available for preview:<\/p>\n

A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"AA4\"<\/a>\"AA5\"<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"lh3\"<\/a>From A Perfect Storm:<\/i><\/p>\n

Rex Davis heard the garage door open and debated whether to throw on some sweats. It wasn’t as if his roommate hadn’t seen him in his boxers before. They’d been on the same teams, roomed together in college, and eventually bought this small house in Metairie together as a convenient way to stop paying rent. He gazed down at the tented cotton and decided he didn’t have time to do anything more then reposition his laptop\u2013and maybe put on Sports Center as a major distraction.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

Carter Montgomery heard Cade’s key in the door and debated whether to throw on some pants. It wasn’t as if his roommate hadn’t seen him naked before. They’d been on the same sports teams, roomed together in college, and eventually bought this townhouse together as a convenient way to stop paying rent. He gazed down at his rock-hard erection and decided he didn’t have time to do anything more than set the newspaper over his lap.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

Remy had been his best friend since kindergarten, when their parents had departed with long last looks at their young sons. The two boys had waved dutifully, then found a mutual interest in kickball. The fact they shared the same initials kept them side-by-side on virtually every seating chart through high school. They’d taken the same classes, played the same sports, and often dated the same girls\u2013although never at the same time. They’d even gotten the same degrees and now shared a business.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From\u00a0Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

Cade has been his best friend his whole life. Their parents met in Lamaze class, and the boys had always shared more than a birthday and the same initials. They’d taken the same classes, played the same sports, and dated the same girls. Occasionally at the same time. They’d even gotten the same degrees and now shared the same law offices.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

They were both so clearly hetero, they only occasionally faced speculation that their relationship might be more than it seemed. Given the recent state of his dreams, Rex was starting to question that assumption\u2013at least from his perspective. Several months earlier, after imbibing in a little too much Christmas cheer, he’d awaked at the climax of a dream to end all wet dreams. Half-awake, his hips pushed up as cum shot between his fingers, while his lips pressed time around an imaginary cock.\u00a0Remy’s cock.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, he avoided too much time alone with his best friend, and definitely no more drinking around him. What if he got a little too relaxed and said\u2013or touched\u2013something he shouldn’t. It was one helluva way to fuck up a perfectly good friendship. Unfortunately, the more distance Rex tried to put between them, the harder it seemed Remy tried to find things for them to do together.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

They were both so clearly hetero, they only occasionally faced speculation that their relationship might be more than it seemed. It never had been.<\/p>\n

Now, however, Carter was starting to question that assumption. Two months ago, he’d awakened in the middle of an orgasm to end all wet dreams. In his dream, he’d been on his knees giving Cade a fucking blowjob while he worked his own cock!<\/p>\n

Ever since then, he’d had a difficult time controlling his thoughts where his best friend was concerned. And Goddamn if Cade didn’t appear to know something was up. The more Carter tried to distance himself, the more it seemed Cade worked to keep their friendship close.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

“Honey, I’m home,” Remy sang out.<\/p>\n

Rex rolled his eyes at the old joke. “I thought you were going to try to get a few hours of work in before the storm hits. Sounds like you went shopping instead.”<\/p>\n

“Nah, something came up.”<\/p>\n

Rex winced at the unintentional truth of that statement.<\/p>\n

“Come in here a minute, would you? I want to run something by you\u2013see what you think,” Remy said as he strode through the living room on his way to his bedroom.<\/p>\n

Great. And invitation to Remy’s bedroom. Just what he needed. His dick was hard enough to pound nails, and Remy wanted to chat.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

“Hey Carter, what’s shakin?” Cade asked as he strode past on the way to his bedroom. “Come in here a sec, would you? I want to run something by you.”<\/p>\n

“I thought you were going to try to get a few hours of work in before the storm hits,” Carter said, mentally rolling his eyes. And invitation to Cade’s bedroom. Just what he needed with a raging hard-on. Not.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

Rex grabbed a robe from the bathroom door on his way to the bedroom and then lay stomach down on Remy’s bed. His friend took a couple of shirts and underwear from a drawer, then stuffed them into an overnight bag.<\/p>\n

“What’s wrong? I thought we decided to ride out the storm. Did the forecast change?” Rex asked, a knot of worry forming in the pit of his stomach. It wasn’t like Remy to want to leave just because of an approaching hurricane. “Are we evacuating?”<\/p>\n

“No…at least, not exactly. I went through the Quarter on the way home….too much traffic on the I-10. Do you remember Melissa Robicheaux?”<\/p>\n

Rex grinned. “you mean the same Melissa Robicheaux you’ve been secretly lusting after since elementary school? I think you jacked off over her more than any other girl in high school.”<\/p>\n

Remy smiled back. “Yeah, that Melissa. I saw her this morning and I got to thinking\u2013”<\/p>\n

“Remy, you see her everywhere. You’re always telling me about her, where you saw her, what she was doing. How come you never ask her out?”<\/p>\n

“Shit, she’d never give me the time of day.”<\/p>\n

“Still. Not like you to let someone go without trying,” Rex said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whiteout:<\/em><\/p>\n

Carter grabbed a robe from the bathroom door on his way to the bedroom and then lay on Cade’s bed to watch as his friend gathered some clothes in an overnight bag. “Where the hell are you going? I thought the storm was keeping everyone home.”<\/p>\n

“Yeah, well, something came up on the way to the office. Do you remember Christina Thomas?”<\/p>\n

Carter grinned. “You mean the same Christina Thomas you’ve been secretly lusting after since second grade? I think you jacked off over her more than any other girl in high school.”<\/p>\n

Cade smiled back. “Yeah, that Christina. I saw her this morning and I got to thinking\u2013”<\/p>\n

“Cade, you see her everywhere. You’re always telling me about her, where you saw her, what she was doing. How come you never asked her out?”<\/p>\n

“Shit, she’d never give me the time of day.”<\/p>\n

“Still. Not like you to let someone go without trying,” Carter said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Perfect Storm:<\/em><\/p>\n

“Good…that’s good. I saw her today. This morning.” Remy sat down on the bed, close to Rex’s head.<\/p>\n

Rex’s pulse spiked. This close together on the bed\u2013his cock already hard\u2013how the hell was he going to hide his reaction?\u00a0Shit.<\/span> He shifted away, then sat up, keeping his robe closed over his throbbing erection. Shaking off his own concerns, he tried to figure out what Remy was thinking about. “Did you talk to her?” he asked.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whiteout:<\/i><\/p>\n

Cade sat down on the bed, close to Carter’s head. Carter’s heart beat uncomfortably fast. Shit, he thought, Cade’s going to realize something’s wrong.<\/p>\n

Carter bounced up and sat cross-legged, keeping his robe closed over his throbbing erection. Shaking off his own concerns, he tried to figure out what Cade was thinking about. Did you talk to her?” he asked.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These are the same book. The exact same set up, sequence of events, in some passages the wording is exactly the same. Even the gross gay-for-you overtones and “so clearly hetero” line are repeated. And both books feature heroes who are suffering from acute priapism, I guess.<\/p>\n

Okay, look. There are two possible explanations for this. Either Annalise Alexander is plagiarizing Laura Harner, or Annalise Alexander\u00a0is<\/em> Laura Harner. Judging by the voice in\u00a0A Perfect Storm<\/em> when compared to Harner’s plagiarized titles, her modus operandi of adding just enough text and subtle tweaks to evade notice by plagiarism detection software, and the sudden appearance of an author with no social media trail to promote her books or prove that she’s a real person, I’m going out on a limb and calling it. Laura Harner has reinvented herself as Annalise Alexander.<\/p>\n

This move on Harner’s part is deceptive and unnecessary. In the wake of the accusations against her, Harner did lose readers, but others stood by her when she implied that PTSD caused her actions. Those readers she retained would have continued to buy her books without the name change. The readers she lost\u2013like the one who contacted me\u2013made a conscious choice not to read her. Harner is writing in the same genre without disclosing who she is or even that this work was previously published. She is setting out to intentionally dupe readers and reestablish herself as an author without bearing the consequences of her actions or making a genuine apology.<\/p>\n

In short, Laura Harner\/Annalise Alexander is a still a plagiarist, and now she’s added fraud to her dubious list of credentials. If you do something as abhorrent as plagiarism, own up to it. Make a real apology\u2013without alluding to a psychiatric disorder to garner sympathy you don’t deserve\u2013and live with the consequences. And definitely, do not seek to intentionally deceive readers who’ve sworn you off, just so you can steal their $2.99.<\/p>\n

Basically? Don’t do this. Ever.<\/p>\n

EDIT:<\/strong>\u00a0The person who contacted \u00a0me also gave me some very important information about the publisher that I forgot to add to this post. Luckily, commenter Cayenne<\/a> noticed it, as well. The two books are published by the same publisher (at ARe; Amazon lists a different publisher for A Perfect Storm<\/em>), and Laura Harner is the only\u00a0other author they publish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 2015, disgraced former author Laura Harner was caught in a plagiarism scandal\u00a0that rocked the M\/M writing community. Harner, a well-liked and prolific author, had<\/p>\n

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