Win One for the Reader: Signet and Edwards Parting Ways Over Plagiarism
Publishing NewsCassie Edwards / Penguin / plagiarism / Signet36 Comments
Sarah just sent me the link to the news release that Signet and Cassie Edwards are no longer in business together.
“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.
Kudos to the Smart Bitches for uncovering the extensive plagiarism and kudos to Signet and the parent company, Penguin, for doing the right thing. We now await Kensington and Dorchester.
Yay!
Highly satisfactory response from Signet – and reassuring as well.
A very appropriate response, imo.
You know, with the response from Amazon so far on the Reba-gate issue, things were looking pretty dim. Especially since it appeared the Cassie case had flat-lined.
This, however, is like a little ray of sunshine; proof that honesty and integrity still exists in this world, and that our combined voices do count. We can only hope that the other two publishers follow in the same path.
Perhaps it’s time to send letters to Signet expressing our returned faith in them.
Does anyone else feel the urge to go out and buy every Penguin/Signet book she can get her hands on? Or perhaps just writing a letter would be cheaper.
I wonder if this action on Signet’s part will have any effect on Kensington and Dorchester.
Well….I’ll be damned. I’m cynical enough to have thought this would never happen. Go Penguin/Signet.
I agree that a quick letter expressing thanks for their efforts and response would be a good thing. People mostly write when they’re dissatisfied.
As for the other publishers, the optimist on my right shoulder hopes they also take the matter seriously and respond accordingly. The cynic on my left isn’t holding her breath.
Anyone have an address / person we can write to?
Please, if anyone has an address to write to, I would dearly love to add my voice. Damn but this feels good!
Well, I’ll be! Kudos to Signet/Penguin for doing the right thing. Let’s hope they set an example to the other publishers and Amazon for taking the right stand! I’d too love to write to them and express my admiration.
This phrase made me chuckle:
:-)
My reaction exactly.
Penguin/Signet
375 Hudson
New York, NY 10014
Count me as one who never thought this would happen. When you watch an author’s sales INCREASE when they’re caught behaving unprofessionally, it’s refreshing to see someone step up and say “I won’t be a part of that.”
Good for them.
I was actually holding off and buying a couple of books from Penguin. I think I’ll place that order– But not through Amazon.– I’m going to see if anyone is offering new copies on Alibis or Half.com– or maybe Powell’s.
Thank you, Ms Roberts.
Off to write.
I could be wrong but I wonder if maybe Penguin won’t see any profits from sales on Alibris or Half.com, even if the books are listed as new. Powell’s on the other hand, should not present a problem.
Me, too, AL. Penguin publishes about every other book that I buy! Yee, haw! (As we say in the west.)
There are categories on both Alibris and Half.com for new books. Some are probably remainders but when it comes to mass market paperback most are from small bookstores (or not so small, I’ve bought from Powell’s on Half.com)who supplement with online sales.
I had heard about this case but didn’t know the specifics so I’m a bit uneducated about what it’s about. However, I can honestly say that the stealing of anyone’s work to put within your own is not only illegal but immoral. Kudos to Signet for their actions!
Well I will be throwing all my money at their authors. This scandal left me absolutely heart-broken. I don’t mean to be melodramatic, but I lost faith in the genre.
Faith somewhat restored!
I’m very proud to be a Signet author today!!
Please, write letters. (Though if you want to buy books, by all means, go ahead!) :-) But I do think that publishers need to hear when readers are pleased as much as when they are dissatisfied.
Here are some names and email addresses to go along with the snail mail address that NR posted above:
David Shanks, CEO, Penguin-Putnam, Inc.
david.shanks@us.penguingroup.com
Susan Peterson Kennedy, President, Penguin-Putnam, Inc.
susan.kennedy@us.penguingroup.com
And I’ve got to say that this is a REALLY good time for this to be announced. And kudos to Penguin for doing the ethical thing.
This is excellent!
Never thought I’d see this happen…great news!
I read this last night and was hoping it would be posted here. It’s about time this happened. I, like most of you, had given up hope that Ms. Edwards would finally face the consequences of her actions. This is a good start.
I still doubt that Dorchester will do anything. Their confession magazines still advertise her heavily. It makes me want to scream every time I see one of her books.
I too am pleased to see a publisher take such an action. And now the question is if the other pubs will see this as being responsible and join in, or pretend it doesn’t matter.
I hope the former.
Thanks to NR and Robin for the addys.
Fantastic! A huge step in the right direction for the entire genre.
Wrote them and thanked them for taking the problem as seriously as the rest of us did.
Alright, I agree Signet did the stand up thing and that it would take them time to get their duckies in a row to make this move. The cynical part of me wonders why we received the initial disclaimer and (sound of author shooting herself in the foot if I ever want to get a contract with these folks) why the editor(s) didn’t catch this all along.
Just had to ask. Now I’ll crawl back into my hole like a good little curmudgeon.
Wow, that’s wonderful news. And done in a very appropriate, professional manner. I’ll be keeping my eye out for Signet books in the future. :)
Ah, I think I figured out to sign in first where I registered, I had wondered where all my post went. Smile.
I posted before that thanks to you all here at both blogs for bringing this to light and I enjoy a great many of Signet authors, including Jo Beverley who has her new one out now :) So I’m glad all is settled with this.
I just have to add, this put a smile on my face :)