EEKsclamations
The Official Newsletter of Karen L. Newman
Volume 1, Number 5


EEK OF THE WEEK

Plagiarism has reared its ugly head again. I read in the March 25, 2006 edition of The Herald Dispatch that Ben Domenech had resigned as a conservative blogger for washingtonpost.com because Salon.com accused him of plagiarizing movie reviews he did as a journalist in college. These claims are now under investigation.

Two things about this disturb me (other than the cheating itself). First, Mr. Domenech had only worked a day before the allegations surfaced. If Salon.com found a problem that quickly, why didn’t washingtonpost.com? It seems to me that someone should have investigated him before offering him the job. This puts the validity of anything I read in doubt.

Secondly, if true, this shows that mistakes can follow someone throughout his/her entire life. Taking a shortcut now can destroy an entire future later. A writer can’t assume that something he’s/she’s written will be deleted later. In a way, a writer’s like a surgeon. A glaring mistake shines bright for the entire world to see.

Each time one of these articles is written, writers as a group suffer. How can anyone take a group of potential cheaters seriously? Why would anyone want to pay a writer real money? Think about that the next time you’re tired and tempted to plagiarize.


RECENT SIGHTINGS

My work has appeared recently in several places, both online and in print. Please check me out at

Wretched and Violent where my short story “Under New Management” (originally published in Bloodcookies) appears online at http://www.geocities.com/wretched_and_violent/undrnwmngmnt.html?20061

The Shantytown Anomaly where my poem “Genetically Enhanced” appears in print

The Fifth Di… where my poem “Destined Together” appears online at http://www.samsdotpublishing.com/fifth/destinedtogether.htm

Tapestry where my poem “The Protesters” appears online at http://www.southernroseproductions.net/poetry_karen_newman.html

Beyond Centauri where my poem “The Handbell Choir” appears in print

Illumen where my poem “Occipital Orbs” appears in print

Afterburn SF where my short story “The Reunion” appears online at http://afterburnsf.com/reunion.htm


You can purchase the print magazine at http://www.projectpulp.com or http://www.genremall.com.



INTERVIEWS

I interview the author of the novel, River, Skyla Dawn Cameron, in the new online magazine Afterburn SF. You can read it here at http://afterburnsf.com/skyla_dawn_cameron.htm


NEWS

My poem “Burning Mad” was a runner up in the Champagne Shivers Demented Nursery Rhyme Contest. It will be published in the 2007 issue of Champagne Shivers.

I am the horror editor of the new online magazine Afterburn SF. The first issue went live April 1, 2006. You can read it at http://afterburnsf.com.

I’m now officially a blogger. Read my thoughts on a variety of topics at http://www.karenlnewman.blogspot.com.

I’ll be signing and selling my poetry collection EEKU Saturday, April 29, 2006 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, WV during the Ohio River Festival of Books. More details can be found on my website Karen’s Literary Reactions at http://home.zoomnet.net/~karennew, as they’re made available.


MARKETS

Afterburn SF is looking for action oriented, well-written stories in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Length should be between 1000 to 10,000 words, although we will consider shorter or longer works based on their merits. Submissions should be an attached word document. We pay $10 or a free ad for previously unpublished work for one-time English language electronic publishing rights. Send submissions to Wade Kimberlin at submissions@afterburnsf.com. For further details see http://afterburnsf.com/Submit.htm.

Appalling Limericks is looking for 36 original limericks in the genres of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. We’ll accept only one, and in rare instances of exceptional quality, two, limerick from any one author. We pay $2 for each accepted previously unpublished limerick. Send up to four limericks to appallinglimericks@yahoo.com starting April 1, 2006. Submissions close on June 30, 2006. For more information, please go to http://www.samsdotpublishing.com.


FINAL REACTION

Cheating + getting caught yields lost credibility + unemployment