Wednesday, March 09, 2011

$50 Cash Prize for the Best Title for My Shocking New Book


Looking for Boyer's Brain


For the last few months, I've been researching and documenting the sleazy career of the Vincennes, Indiana plagiarist named David Boyer.  Once I realized that he was arguably the worst plagiarist and con man in the history of writing, I just had to get the story out there.  That's why I'm writing the book about him.  Because there is so much you don't know and more to come.  He has repeated over and again that there is nothing anyone can do to stop him.  But I think the truth will stop him and others who violate our copyrights.

B Thoughtful has yet another Boyer plagiary smackdown involving Dean Koontz soon.  Wait until you read it.  Boyer's utter contempt for writers will astound you. 

B is focused on the evidence against Boyer.  Because he plagiaized my story "Electrocuting the Clowns" I'm investigating not only what he did, but also how and why he did it.  What drives a man to steal stories and interviews and claim they are his?  I'll give you the answer in his own words. When the full scope of his plagiarized interviews and stories becomes available, Boyer's creepiness will amaze you.  The underlying techniques he used to get stories and interview to steal will show you why he's known as the "Predator Editor."

He refuses to confess and negotiate restitution to his growing list of victims some of whom are obscure and others who are famous.  I almost wrote him once to ask why he just didn't confess and offer to work out a payment plan with everyone based on legitamite book sales, but I didn't because he's too arrogant to make a complete, real confession and too controlling to negotiate restitution with his victims.

I'm just past the mid-point of the book with a projected completion date of June 1st, but I'm stuck for a title.  I was thinking about "Looking for Boyer's Brain," but it just didn't sound right for a serious work.  "The Man Who Would be King" is a little over-used, but oddly appropriate.  I won't use it unless I can successfully prove that he plagiarized Stephen King, which quite a few people are researching right now.  Rumor is that he plagiarized Clive Barker, but that remains to be seen.

So I'm offering a cash prize of $50.00 to whoever I judge has come up with the best suggested title.  My publisher hates the idea, but you readers were the ones that helped me get the ball rolling to wrap up this con man.  That's why I want to cut you in.  But I'm the sole judge and my opinions are final and I really want something sharp.  Contest ends June 1st, when we start the new web magazine currently under construction at White Cat Publications.

So help me out, will you?  $50 is $50.

MySpace Tracker

27 comments:

G. B. Miller said...

Honestly, the comment I left on your last post seems to fit as well as two others I just thought of while I was writing this.

"Smartness Abounds".

"Self Inflicted Stupidity Syndrome"

"David Boyer: The Modern Version of Narcissism"

Rick said...

He is all of these, G! Good choices.

Anonymous said...

How about "Confessions of a Serial Plagiarist."

I'll think some more on it.

Rick said...

Duly entered, Christine!

JR's Thumbprints said...

I like the implied perspective of your book cover--as if the problem isn't with Boyer; it's with us writers, as if he's misunderstood and we're from another planet. Here's the title I think you should use: "Dissecting Boyer: An Autopsy of a Plagiarist".

the walking man said...

David Boyer: Overwrought with no thought.
One Con Not in the Can

Rick said...

I like it, JR.

And you're right- this guy thinks we're the aliens.

Rick said...

Those are great, Mark! Leave it to a poet (best poet Detroit was ever gifted with).

B said...

The Little Man That Couldn't

Sam Young said...

I'll suggest Cravenly Capers.

Charles Gramlich said...

Cool. Here's my entry. "Stealing Words: The David Boyer Story"

LoveRundle said...

Is the picture you have up for this post going to be the cover? I love the colors in it. Really great artist.

As for a title, I'm having trouble putting a title on my work too. Nothing fits.

Congrats on the final outcome of all this!

Jane Timm Baxter said...

"The Literary Leech: A Tale of Plagiarism"

"The Predator Editor"

"Plagiarism: A Loss For Words"

Anonymous said...

"Sociopaths!"

oh wait.. that's HIS book..

Rick said...

Sam, they really are "Cravenly Capers."

Rick said...

Sorry, Charles, Boyer already stole that title!

Rick said...

I love the aliens, too Christina.

Rick said...

I love "Plagiarism: A Loss for Words."

Jane Timm Baxter said...

"When most people suffer from a "loss of words, they remain silent. When David Boyer feels the same thing, he makes a different choice - he takes someone else's, and claims them as his own."

Rick said...

That is a wonderful quote, Jane!

Rick said...

"The Little Man That Couldn't" is so bad!

Rick said...

And Mad, you're right!

mafarivar said...

He is likely to be A; Antisocial and B, Narcissistic: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition, DSM IV-TR = 301.7, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental disorders, defines antisocial personality disorder (in Axis II Cluster B) as:[1]
A) There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring for as long as either childhood, or in the case of many who are influenced by environmental factors, around age 15, as indicated by three or more of the following:
failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;
deceitfulness, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure;
impulsivity or failure to plan ahead;
irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults;
reckless disregard for safety of self or others;
consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations;
lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another;
B) The individual is at least 18 years of age.
C) There is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years.
D) The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode.
New evidence points to the fact that children often develop Antisocial Personality Disorder as a cause of their environment, as well as their genetic line. The individual must be at least 18 years of age to be diagnosed with this disorder (Criterion B), but those commonly diagnosed with ASPD as adults were diagnosed with Conduct Disorder as children. The prevalence of this disorder is 3% in males and 1% from females, as stated from the DSM IV-TR.

Narcissistic:
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition, DSM IV-TR, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental disorders, defines narcissistic personality disorder (in Axis II Cluster B) as:[1]
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
Requires excessive admiration
Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
It is also a requirement of DSM-IV that a diagnosis of any specific personality disorder also satisfies a set of general personality disorder criteria.
[edit]
These are DSM definitions used in psychiatry. People with these problems do not change. The man who would be king was close...

Consider title: "Little big man: The twisted story of a serial plagiarist".

He probably aspired to higher crimes, but didn't have the balls, or was just too dainty.

Travis Cody said...

"The Plagiarism Plague"

"David Boyer's Disdain"

"The Arrogance of a Word Thief"

Good luck with the book!

Sam Young said...

"Please Pass the Sugar"

That's his whole attitude to everything he does.

Jai Joshi said...

Wow, I bet it was quite an experience to research this guy enough to write about him and try to figure out what makes him tick. I can't understand people like that, people who have to prey on others for their own sense of self worth. It's horrible.

How about "Boyer's Tick"?

Or "Busted Boyers"?

Jai

Spy Scribbler said...

I really like The Man Who Would Be King. Here's some other ideas, LOL:

The King Con
The Ink Hustler