Publisher to review romance novelist's books for plagiarism
Last Updated: Friday, January 11, 2008 | 4:47 PM ET
CBC News
Related
U.S. publisher Signet Books will review all the romance novels written by Illinois-based author Cassie Edwards after allegations of plagiarism in her work.
Two days ago, the publisher had dismissed reports on a website that Edwards's books contained passages lifted directly from reference sources.
But on Thursday Nora Roberts, one of the most prominent romance writers, questioned Edwards methods.
And on Friday, Signet, an imprint of Penguin Books, announced that "the situation deserves further review."
"Our original comments were based on Signet's review of a limited selection of passages," the publisher said in a statement.
"We want to make it known that Signet takes any and all allegations of plagiarism very seriously."
Signet said it will review all of Edwards's books that it has published and will take action based on what it finds.
The prolific writer has penned more than 100 novels in the last 25 years and has more than 10 million copies of her work in print.
Edwards has written books such as Savage Quest and Shadow Bear.
A romance novel website, smartbitchestrashybooks.com, has posted numerous excerpts from Edwards's novels and placed them alongside passages from magazines and nonfiction books that were found by using the Google search program.
"By my definition, copying another's work and passing it as your own equals plagiarism," Roberts said on Thursday.
She herself was a victim of plagiarism in 1997, when romance novelist Janet Dailey acknowledged taking material from her.
With files from the Associated PressShare Tools
Whitney Houston's final song Celebrate debuts by Jessica Wong May. 23, 2012 2:46 PM It seems fitting that Whitney Houston's final release is an upbeat and uplifting duet in which she passes the torch to a younger singer with vocal powerhouse potential. In the high energy song Celebrate, from the upcoming film Sparkle, Houston duets with singer and former American Idol Jordin Sparks.
Top News Headlines
- Canadian Pacific Railway strike leads to 2,000 layoffs
- The Canadian Pacific Railway strike means more than 2,000 non-striking unionized CP employees will be laid off, a spokesman for the company said Wednesday, as the federal labour minister said she may force an end to the work stoppage. more »
- Canadian Everest victim warned by guide to turn back
- A Toronto woman who died on Mount Everest did not heed warnings for her to turn back, according to the Nepalese tour company who organized her expedition. more »
- Tuition talks to resume between Quebec minister, students
- Student leaders say a compromise over the tuition crisis is within reach, but Quebec is firm that its emergency protest law will not be part of new talks. more »
- Finley expected to detail EI changes Thursday
- Human Resources Minister Diane Finley is expected to put an end to speculation about the government's plans to change employment insurance on Thursday when she holds a news conference. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Security breach alleged in making of bin Laden raid film
- A House committee chairman charged Wednesday in Washington that the CIA and Defence Department jeopardized national security by co-operating too closely with filmmakers producing a movie on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. more »
- Tom Wesselmann celebrated in new Montreal exhibit
- With Beyond Pop Art: Tom Wesselmann, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is trying to give the reserved, modest American art icon the attention he deserves. more »
- Mario Bros. creator gets Spain's Asturias Award
- Japan's Shigeru Miyamoto, considered the father of the modern video game, has been awarded Spain's Prince of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities. more »
- David Cronenberg exhibit planned at TIFF
- With Canadian director David Cronenberg drawing attention at Cannes with the upcoming release of Cosmopolis, the TIFF Group is getting ready to celebrate his film career with a new exhibition. more »
Q Blog
Stephen Merchant stands up for himself May. 23, 2012 4:44 PM The comic best known for collaborating with Ricky Gervais on hit TV shows "The Office" and "Extras," talks to Jian about recently returning to his stand-up comedy roots, whether there are taboos in comedy, and more.
CBC Books
The problem with modern motherhood May. 23, 2012 5:26 PM French writer Elisabeth Badinter has written a controversial new book about modern motherhood. It in she argues that parenting methods like attachment parenting undermine women. She explains why to Day 6.
- Canadian climber describes Everest as 'a morgue'
- Mom can't leave Canada with children, or stay either
- Canadian Pacific Railway strike leads to 2,000 layoffs
- Shareholders sue Facebook over botched IPO
- Massive Montreal rally ends with police clashes
- 'Save me' last words of Mount Everest climber
- Bear drags Winnipeg man from camp outhouse
- Atlantic City stabbing victims identified
- 15 ways to use a 450-page federal budget bill
