Well, almost three weeks later, I've finally made up my mind on how to deal with this plagiarism situation.

The woman harassing me has an email under the name of Lynn King, but has self published her books under the name Linda Ottanio.

She went from threatening me, to being civil, and then I do believe to flattery in order to try to get me not to pursue the copyright issue.

To summerize the situation so far after my last entry:

- She emailed me the link to her book Just Outside the Box and allowed me to view the poem through a full preview of her book. The first six lines (not the entire poem) of "Porcelain Doll" are published exactly in her book.

- I realized her book was copyrighted in 2006 and my poem is copyrighted in 2004. I asked her for a previous copyright and she was unable to provide me with one, internet or otherwise.

- She suggested that we "agree to disagree" about the poem and simply co-author it in any future publications. I agreed simply because I did not want the hassle of a legal case.

- She then tried to distract me with other people who have plagiarized my poetry and what we should do about them and actually tried to flatter me (and herself) saying that "you should just appriciate the fact that people want to plagiarise you, it means you're just that good." Or something to that nature, that's not a direct quote.

- After mulling it over for a few weeks and consulting with my parents, my friends, and above all my sister in law, I realized that this poem is important to me. I have decided that I want to fight for the right to my poem. I also realized that there is no way in hell that I could have even accidentally plagiarized that poem seeing as she NEVER published it or posted it online until 2006 in her first book of poetry.

I have sent an email to DeviantArt telling them about my situation. I know that DeviantArt is very strict about copyrights and I hope that since my copyright is through them that they will help me to reclaim what is mine, or at least give me a direction that I should head in. My father has also agreed to hire me a lawyer (if it comes to that) and simply take the cost of the lawyer out of a settlement. I'm not nessecarily seeking a settlement or any money, but if it comes to a point where I have to hire a lawyer, I'll need the compensation from somewhere now don't I?

Anyway, I will try to keep you all updated on this situation.

Also, on a lighter note, upon the begging of some other deviants, I have decided (for about he fifth or sixth time) to try to start writing again. I make no promises, except that I will try. I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally will I swear.

Love to all my peeps,

Thanks to those of you who commented on my earlier entry. Your support is part of the reason I've decided to pursue this.
Also thanks to my sister-in-law, who encouraged me to contact DeviantArt and take action. And to my father, who immediately threw his support behind me unconditionally.

Goodnight DevArt!
~Poison