Jenjie Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 The best-selling novel by a university student who apologised for similarities between her book and another author's work has been pulled by its publisher. Publisher Little Brown asked retailers to stop selling Kaavya Viswanathan's book and return any copies. The book, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life, has passages that have been compared to the novels of Megan McCafferty. Viswanathan has apologised and said the similarities were unintentional. Sorry She has promised to change her novel for future print runs. Crown Publishing Group, which published McCafferty's work, said more than 40 passages of Viswanathan's book contained either identical language or common scene and dialogue structure to two of McCafferty's books. Its senior vice president, Steve Ross, called it "an act of literary theft". But following Little Brown's withdrawal of the book, Crown said it was pleased with the outcome and that McCafferty was "not seeking restitution in any form" and hoped to put the affair behind her. Fan Viswanathan said earlier that she had "read and loved" two of McCafferty's novels when she was younger and was "very surprised and upset" to learn of the similarities with her own novel. She added: "I am a huge fan of her work and can honestly say that any phrasing similarities between her works and mine were completely unintentional and unconscious." The student also apologised to anyone who felt "misled by these unintentional errors on my part". She signed her contract with publisher Little Brown at the age of 17, making her the youngest author signed by the publisher in decades. The film rights have also been acquired by Dreamworks studio http://www.bbc.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 I saw this girl on the TODAY Show.... I think she was completely aware of what she was doing.... the passages are practically word for word!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kekita Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 You'd think the publishers and editors would have checked or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 shame... I heard she lost the book deal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kekita Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 ^ yeah since she was: She signed her contract with publisher Little Brown at the age of 17, making her the youngest author signed by the publisher in decades. S.E Hinton (the outsiders)was 17 i think when she got hers published. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenjie Posted May 5, 2006 Author Share Posted May 5, 2006 shame... I heard she lost the book deal... crikey!! she'll have lost the film deal as well then. think it was Dreamworks had bought the rights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 Copy claim author loses book deal A novel written by a Harvard student has been permanently withdrawn from sale and her two-book deal cancelled, after allegations of plagiarism. Publisher Little, Brown had initially said Kaavya Viswanathan's book, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life, would be revised. But the company has announced it will not be publishing a new edition. Last month Ms Viswanathan apologised for similarities between her book and works by author Megan McCafferty. Advance payment She said the similarities were unintentional and promised to change her novel for future print runs. But Michael Pietsch, Little, Brown's senior vice president and publisher, said on Tuesday: "Little, Brown and Company will not be publishing a revised edition of How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life by Kaavya Viswanathan, nor will we publish the second book under contract." The company declined to comment on whether Ms Viswanathan would have to return her reported six-figure advance. Ms Viswanathan did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Opal Mehta tells the story of a brilliant student from New Jersey, who is rejected from Harvard because she has no social life. 'Literary theft' Little, Brown pulled the book after similarities were discovered to two works by Ms McCafferty - Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings. Crown Publishing Group, which published Ms McCafferty's work, said more than 40 passages of Ms Viswanathan's book contained either identical language or common scene and dialogue structure to two of Ms McCafferty's books. Its senior vice president, Steve Ross, called it "an act of literary theft". Meanwhile, a newspaper based in New Jersey has said it will review articles Ms Viswanathan wrote for their 180,000-circulation daily paper while working as an intern in 2003 and 2004. Frank Scandale, editor of The Record in Bergen County, said he will hire a service to vet about a dozen features she wrote for the paper. Mr Scandale said: "We have no reason to believe there's anything wrong with her copy. But in light of what's going on, we thought we should check her stuff out." Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/4967864.stm *tsk tsk tsk* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenjie Posted May 5, 2006 Author Share Posted May 5, 2006 sounds like there could be trouble ahead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 I almost feel bad for the girl.. but its all a bit fishy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kekita Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 ^ woah in the deep end now! Copy claim author loses book deal . Little, Brown pulled the book after similarities were discovered to two works by Ms McCafferty - Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings. Frank Scandale, editor of The Record in Bergen County, said he will hire a service to vet about a dozen features she wrote for the paper. if only that happened in music----Ashely Simpson would have no chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenjie Posted May 7, 2006 Author Share Posted May 7, 2006 the plot thickens http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article362553.ece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evidenceoftruth Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Meanwhile, a newspaper based in New Jersey has said it will review articles Ms Viswanathan wrote for their 180,000-circulation daily paper while working as an intern in 2003 and 2004. Frank Scandale, editor of The Record in Bergen County, said he will hire a service to vet about a dozen features she wrote for the paper. That's the local paper for my area .. it was a big deal .. And honestly, who is she kidding? She literally copied passages, but just adding Indian attributes to it .. the passages I read for the comparison seemed like she was rewriting 'The Princess Diaries', but with an Indian twist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 the plot thickens http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article362553.ece jinkies... did she really think she was going to get away with that!! Now she's a plagerist... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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