NEW YORK — Romance writer Cassie Edwards and publisher Signet Books have decided to break up after allegations emerged in January that she lifted passages in several of her books from other sources.
“Signet has conducted an extensive review of all its Cassie Edwards novels and due to irreconcilable editorial differences, Ms. Edwards and Signet have mutually agreed to part ways,” the publisher said in a statement Friday.
“Cassie Edwards novels will no longer be published with Signet Books. All rights to Ms. Edwards’ previously published Signet books have reverted to the author.”
Edwards, whose many books include “Bold Wolf,” “Silver Feather” and “Falcon Moon,” was not available for comment.
A romance novel Web site posted excerpts in January from Edwards’ novels and placed them alongside similar passages from reference books and magazines.
Penguin initially said that Edwards, who lives in Mattoon, Ill., had “done nothing wrong” and that any use of other texts was protected by “fair-use doctrine.”
Edwards has written more than 100 novels, although not all with Penguin, which has said that more than 10 million copies of her work are in print.
In a phone interview in January, the author said she indeed “takes” material from other works, but said she didn’t know she was supposed to credit her sources. She then asked her husband to get on the phone. Charles Edwards said the author got only “ideas” from other books and did not “lift passages.”
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