Plagiarism, Then and Now

I’m going to start with the then, to get it out of my system.

Back in the late 90’s, when those of us on-line used message boards to communicate with each other, a reader posted a concern about the similarities in my book Sweet Revenge, originally published in 1988, reissued in 1997, with Janet Dailey’s Notorious, published in hardcover in ’96, in paper in ’97.

It happened this reader read them back to back, and noticed, even cited pages. Initially, I was certain she was mistaken. I knew Janet, couldn’t imagine she’d plagiarize anyone. But it also happened my Jason was working at our bookstore that day. I asked him to bring home a copy of Notorious. Then I opened to the page the reader had cited.

I can’t describe what I felt in that moment, the shock, the grief, the sense of betrayal.

I flipped through and that shock, grief, betrayal increased as I recognized more and more and more of my work in her book.

I called my agent. While I vetted the books, so did my agency. It was massive and awful. My agent contacted her agent and her publisher, who of course, contacted Dailey.

And the first round of plagiarism bingo began. Absolute denial. Did not do this! But the theft was so blatant that didn’t last long. Assistant must have somehow . . . If she did it, it was totally unintentional, it was unconscious copying and so on.

I was asked to keep it quiet, to go through the manuscript for Notorious and remove my work. Because I knew her, because I’d never dealt with anything like this before, I agreed. (Hint: Never do this.)

I remember, clearly, sitting out on my front deck, crossing out line after line, scene after scene, and finally realizing it simply couldn’t be done. As I realized that, my agent called. Pretty steamed. Dailey’s agent had contacted her, very excited. Dailey’s publisher wanted to go back to press on the book, so could I hurry it up?

Jesus Christ.

My agent, the magnificent Amy Berkower and I had quite a conversation about the sheer arrogance, the utter insensitivity or sense of responsibility. Decision? A big, fat no, and you’re going to pull the book. Period.

…and I was done playing nice.

She hired a lawyer. I hired a lawyer. At one point through this process, her people pressed me and mine to allow Janet to call me, to explain and apologize. I didn’t want this, but I finally agreed.

This turned out, as it happened, to be the right choice.

I won’t go through the conversation except to say, through a lot of tears, she swore to me it had only been that one time. She’d been in such a bad place, just that ONE TIME. Her excuses, her (I thought) contrition made me cry.

But when I got off the phone, I went to another of her books as my agent and I had decided I would read her stuff, in case we found more. Five minutes–I swear to God, five minutes after she’d tearfully sworn to me it had only been that one time, I found the second time in the second book.

And that’s when the full rage rose. She’d lied to me, manipulated my emotions, and I was done playing nice.

We found more, quite a bit more in quite a few books over a span of publishing years. My lawyer called her a serial plagiarist.

The lawyers did their lawyer thing, and Dailey and I both agreed not to go public, at least until we had some sort of resolution. I kept that agreement. She didn’t.

She went to the press with her sad story of emotional trauma she didn’t know she had, how her dog died (I’m not kidding on that), how she did it all without knowing she did it. And she went to the press when I was in Florida, speaking to the Friends of the Library on the eve of the RWA annual conference.

I want to say I got a lot of support from the RWA board, from a lot of fellow writers. But there were many who took her side. She was an icon! Why couldn’t I just be quiet? I should be flattered, I was being a bully. I should just forgive her and move on. (My ass!)

A lot of the press had a great time making jokes about it, denigrating the genre at large, its writers, its readers.

It was a brutal experience from the minute I read that message board until the end, two ugly years later. I stuck, because if I don’t stand for my work, who will? And I won. Then I donated every penny of the settlement to select literacy organizations.

It was never about the bloody money.

That was then. Obviously, I’m not over it. You don’t get over it, you get through it.

Since then, I’ve had a couple more less public and ugly cases which we dealt with firmly and quickly. Because I’ll never play nice with a plagiarist again.

That leads to now.

…it’s always a reader, and bless you every one

A few days ago, Laura had to contact me to let me know my name and a couple of my books were listed as plagiarized in a long list of writers and books.

Twitter exploded (I’m not on Twitter, but I felt the aftershocks). There’s now a hashtag–#CopyPasteCris that follows the ever-growing nightmare. Over two dozen authors, about three dozen books–so far. One of the other victims let me know this morning that she found a line from Whiskey Beach woven in to HER love scene in this woman’s frankenbook. That makes four of mine, so far.

Courtney didn’t waste time playing nice, which gets a solid fist bump from me. She went public, straight off. She stood straight up for her work, and for the other authors involved.

In the usual plagiarism bingo, Serruya jumped on Twitter to deny. She would never!!! But again, so blatant, so egregious, that couldn’t hold.

Here’s where it takes an interesting turn. She then claimed the ghostwriters (note the plural) she’d hired on Fiverr (which I’d never heard of until this) had done this! Shame, shame on them, and she’d fix it asap.

She fixed it by doing a vanishing act. Twitter account down, Facebook page down, website down.

Two of her ghosts–independently–contacted Courtney. And both stated, again independently, Serruya sent them a mishmash of scenes, lines then told them to make it work. And apparently stiffed them afterward.

So this plagiarist lifted lines, bits, chunks big and small, from a slew of authors and books, mashed them together then hired ghosts off a cheap labor site to cobble them into a book.

This was her MO.

She did this for–I think my information is–29 books, put them up on Amazon, used Kindle Unlimited for some. KU pays by the page read. The freaking page read.

This culture, this ugly underbelly of legitimate self-publishing is all about content. More, more, more, fast, fast, fast. Because that’s how it pays. Amazon’s–imo–deeply flawed system incentivizes the fast and more. It doesn’t have to be good, doesn’t have to be yours–as I’m learning hiring ghosts is not really rare. Those who live and work in this underbelly don’t care about the work, the creativity, the talent and effort and time it takes to craft a story. Just the money, and what they must see as bragging rights. I’m a published writer they claim–even if they didn’t write a damn word.


If a book has my name on it, I wrote it. Every word of it.

Nora Roberts

They disgust me. Please note, I’m not talking about all writers who use KU, but the ones who use it to steal and deceive for profit.

I personally don’t believe fiction writers should use ghosts. Celebrity auto-biographies and such, that’s the job. If a fiction writer uses a ghost to help flesh out a book, or hires a book doctor to whip a book into shape, I strongly believe that person should be acknowledged–on the book.

The reader deserves honesty. The reader’s entitled to know she’s buying the author’s–the one whose name’s on the book–work, not somebody that writer hired for speed or convenience. And I’ll state here as I have before. If a book has my name on it, I wrote it. Every word of it.

I do not, never have, never will comprehend how someone can feel any pride claiming a book they didn’t write.

Some will point to Nancy Drew and its like. Different kettle in my eyes. That’s work for hire, book packaging. And a great way for a ghost to make a living writing fiction. Everyone knows (or should) that V.C. Andrews is long dead and therefore no longer writing.

The late great Robert Parker’s books list the name of the authors who write the current books on the front cover. There’s no deception.

But the bigger point is ghostwriters, honest, hard-working ones can be used by the scammer without knowing. The writer just trying to pay the bills by ghosting can be used this way. Honest, hard-working writers who self-publish are being stolen from, demoralized, hammered down by practices like book stuffing, buying reviews, piracy and outright plagiarism that’s become too common on Amazon.

A creature like Serruyo can have a decent run, make some money–make some best-seller lists–before she (or he, or they, who knows?) is found out. And the pain, the scars, the emotional turmoil this causes to the victims of plagiarism never ends.

Serruyo won’t be the only one using that underbelly, exploiting the lack of real guardrails on Amazon and other sites for a few bucks.

I’ll have a lot more to say about this, all of this. I’m not nearly done. Because the culture that fosters this ugly behavior has to be pulled out into the light and burned to cinders. Then we’re going to salt the freaking earth.

If we determine Serruya’s theft of my work reaches the bar of infringement, I will sue. I can afford to while many of her victims can’t. If it’s determined it doesn’t quite reach that bar, I will support every one of my fellow authors she harmed. And I’ll use every resource I can to speak out, to help pull these practices, this bastardization of the craft, into the light.

As readers, you deserve better than spending your time and money on a book that turns out to be a lie. As writers we deserve to have our work respected and protected.

Here’s a warning for anyone who’s stolen any of my work and claimed it as his/her own. I’m coming for you.

Nora

Laura Notes:
I was just getting to know Nora in 1997 and wasn’t her publicist then but I know that the timing of this was deliberate and cruel — it was the week Nora was honored with RWA’s Lifetime Achievement award, a week in which the honoree is feted the entire conference. So the revelation completely undermined anything good about that week.

If you ever see something that makes you uncomfortable about another person’s work compared to Nora’s email me at LMReeth@gmail.com and I will look into it.

Edited May 23, 2019

293 thoughts on “Plagiarism, Then and Now”

  1. Good for you! Justifiable rage — writing is like blood-letting. Each word is a droplet of blood and to let any vampire plagiarist suck it for free is an abomination. Proud to read this and glad you are standing up not just for yourself, but for other writers as well!

    1. I’m a huge fan, and can say with sincere love of Nora Roberts books that I have purchased every single book she has written…I do not read electronic books…I buy paper copies of her books. For someone to steal her work is the lowest of lows, and I deplore this…I have to say, I have never liked Janet Dailey, and am glad her first bit of dreck I read disgusted me, and have not read or purchased her since… I find that Nora’s books are always fresh, even tho they are of romantic genre…I have read and reread every book I own, and will continue to do so until they fall apart, then I will purchase a new copy.
      Don’t let those thieves steal your work…kick butt and take names…

      1. Nora- I love your books. And count the days until each one comes out.
        I would love to have the talent of writing but I do not, but enjoy reading a great story and can appreciate the hard work you put into each book.
        Protect your work! It is yours and you have have the right! 100% behind you and am sorry that you and other writers go through this.
        Leanne Struck

      2. I used to read Janet Dailey ma ny, many years ago but got sick of her writing… now I know why it didn’t read well! It was stolen work and couldn’t be fit into the stories well. I’m absolutely disgusted by Janet Dailey any other author that steals from another. It’s a betrayal of the reader and the author whose work was plagiarized… and in dal terms plagerism is theft, pure stealing… I do not want to support that kind of pathetic wrongdoing. Thank you to Nora Roberts for standing up for her work and the support she’s offering other victim authors.

      3. I agree about Dailey. I remember when she was going to to set her Harlequin novels in each of the states and I thought so what! I am a Recency addict. I have a Kindle and read a lot of freebies and 99¢ books. But I always pre-order my favorite authors’ new releases. There are at least 6 and I discovered Kelly Bowen a few years ago. Nothing pleases me more than starting a new book by a favorite author!

  2. Nora, I’m so glad you aren’t sweeping this under the rug. These ‘authors’ are in reality….thieves. I don’t know if plagiarism carries a criminal penalty. It should. Theft is theft. But, if it doesn’t I hope financial devastation will be levied. It’s the least someone deserves.

    And, I have to add, I saw a few glimpses of Eve in that post! Loved it!

    1. I remember hearing about Janet Dailey plagiarizing Nora Roberts. I had been reading her books but after that, I have never picked up a book with her name on it. It’s lazy and uncreative on those who steal and it is stealing the thoughts, emotions and the creative process of authors who weave stories.

      1. I never liked her style of writing and who’d the diva now! I read one of her books and no more I remember the story and it didn’t surprise me…

      2. I was exactly the same, I used to read some of. Janets books and after the reports of plagerizm, I never read any of her books again. And I made sure to let friends and family know as well, so they didn’t read her books again either.

      3. I never have read Dailey after hearing that back when it all came out. I also got rid of all the books I owned by her. Writing is hard. Stealing the authors work is unforgivable.

        1. I did the same carol and threw the ones I had out when I usually donate to library or senior buildings. Haven’t read a Daily book since

      4. I must admit I never heard about it….but I too was also Janet Daily fan….in the 80’s. By the late 80’s books published under that particular publishing house no longer interested me….the stories of authors like Nora Roberts were much more engaging

      5. I remember that at the time I had really enjoyed her books but that stopped for me I haven’t read her since, but Nora is so different I read her books and can reread and reread they are new and great each time around. I guess it is true you only steal from the best.

        1. I am the same way. I have several favorites of NR’s that I can read and read and read and still get lost in the story. The idea of stealing someone else’s ideas (thoughts that come from the soul) will never sit right with me. Too many people do not understand how it’s intellectual dishonesty or why it’s even a big deal. As an ELA teacher, I’d like to use this as an eye opener for kids who plagiarize on papers. “It’s not a big deal,” they say. You’re damn right it is. Did you have that idea? How can I score your “ideas and content” when it’s teally someone else’s? Please continue to do what you do best, and know that there’s lots of us that are fired up for you.

        2. Totally agree. Nora Roberts books stand up to being read over and over. “Tribute “ and “Whiskey Beach “ are like comfort food on my book shelf.

          1. I threw out Janet daily’s book ,I was so disgusted she stole Nora Roberts work ,will never read her .glad to see you standing up for your work and other authors .

      6. I agree. I was HORRIFIED by Janet Dailey’s plagiarism. I cannot imagine stealing another writer’s words!

      7. Thank you so much Nora Roberts and Laura! Nora writes fantastic books and should stand up for herself! I own all of the In Death series except Connections and Vendetta and every one of them was bought with my own money. It is sick that people steal other people’s hard work. If you have to steal you don’t need to have it. Go Nora!

  3. Wow! I don’t even know what to say other than I’m sorry you’re having to go through this. I read many of the KU books as it’s a good way to try an author before investing money if you find the writing isn’t to your taste. I had no idea there was such a flawed system behind it. I feel pretty sure the authors I’ve found to enjoy from KU are legit, but now I will certainly be more selective and do my best to vet the authors also.
    Good luck in your fight, and never let anyone try and stop you from standing up for your work!

    1. The book stuffers are pretty obvious. Big spaces a d lots of them throughout the work to make the book(s) huge.

  4. How callous can people be in doing this sort of writing…don’t they know that famous/noted and very wonderful writers have loads of readers who will notice things like this….I do believe that’s why I don’t read too many other authors for fear of finding out that one of them has plagiarized Nora’s books…Kudos to you Nora for standing up to these people…..

  5. I read Courtney’s blog several days ago and I was disgusted. What happened to honor and integrity? Although, as you have so correctly explained, the lazy, ruthless act of plagiarism has been around for a long time. These “writers” need to be exposed and the rest of us need to stand together against these kinds of crimes. Thank you for your support of those of us who don’t have the voice or the reach you do.

  6. I don’t even know what to say. This hurts my heart 🙁 Bless you Nora and Laura for fighting for what’s right – not just for you, but others that are involved also.

  7. Nora, this would feel rather like having your child kidnapped and dismembered. I can only support by voice, having no extra funds to send to help all the authors but support you all I do.

    1. I’ve loved Nora’s writing for years. Her characters and stories have inspired me to write my own stories. I’ve learned so much about how to craft a book, a series- just reading her books. Now I absolutely adore her v

  8. Oh wow so sorry you have to go through this that’s just crazy I love Nora Roberts books and have never found another Author that can compare to her writing style.

  9. This whole situation is infuriating, and I have so much admiration for you and Courtney for standing up for yourselves and the other authors who have been plagiarized. And I agree that those who scam the indie publishing system — and those who are turning a blind eye because they’re also profiting — should absolutely be dragged into the light of day.

    I’m currently in the process of trying to revitalize my own publishing career by indie publishing (I still remember his kind published authors like Nora, Keller Armstrong, Kresley Cole, and Jayne Ann Krentz were to me the year I wore my first sale pin at RWA, even if my career hasn’t gone the path I hoped) so crap like this is particularly galling. Those of us who write our own fiction, who truly do drip the blood, sweat, and tears this woman actually had the nerve to claim she did when she DEDICATED one of her stolen Frankenbooks to HERSELF, do not deserve to be painted with the same ugly brush she and other scammers are. And for damned sure nobody deserves to have their work stolen by plagiarists.

    1. Hi Kasey

      we all work bloody hard to get where we are, be it small or large successes, most of us working day jobs as well as juggling families (okay, I work the day job and juggle the cats & my Mum, but there’s not much difference, let me tell you! LOL) inbetween writing. Seeing people brazenly stealing work is just so…so…ARGHHH!!!

      Yes, I’m indie published, but this kind of thing should never happen in either the indie or traditonally published world. It’s a hard market to break into and continue succeeding in, so we should be supporting each other, not ripping off each other.

      Glad to see you still writing!

    2. How peculiar. She actually dedicated her book to herself? What a putz.
      What did it say? -‘this is dedicated to me because I had the lazy ass idea to steal from incredibly talented authors, cobble their work together in a crazy quilt book and call it my own work. I will be forever grateful to my brain for giving me the idea so that we didn’t have to work hard to put forth an effort.”
      What a jerk.

  10. This make me seriously angry. Being a
    non-writer, but voracious reader of several genres, I am in awe of well written books and their authors. Reading has long been my “drug of choice*, my escape from reality, and my favorite thing. I love ALL the Nora books. These days, my attention span seems shorter, and it takes a great book to keep me wanting to read until it is done. Nora does this, Dean Koontz does this, and the Jeffries Deaver and Archer as well.

    Years ago, I was a Janet Dailey fan. I remember some books could immobilize me from cover to cover (likely Nora copies), and others not so much. I remember thinking that she wasn’t consistent, and eventually stopped reading her, but thought no more about it.

    NOW I am thinking about it, and yay you Nora, for protecting the work that has made you one of the world’s best, and I am sorry that this happened to you. Hopefully others will think twice before attempting such abject obnoxiousness (is that a word?) in future.

    1. That is exactly how I felt reading Janet Dailey books. One would be fabulous and then the next would be a hot mess. I stopped reading her and never missed it. I devour Nora’s books as soon as I can get them and they are proudly displayed on my shelves.

      1. I was shocked but then not when my sister-in-law told me of this. WHY do people think its okay to steal?? And that’s exactly what it is. Nora(jJ D Robb) are about the only books I’ve bought in a long time. I’lol read other books from the library but don/t buy.

  11. Good for you! No one should benefit from your talent but you and yours! How can people live with this? It is theft pure and simple and a crime. It should be treated as such. Amazon and their ilk should be held accountable for not vetting this so called author’s properly!

      1. Yeah, but I no longer buy her books and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Seriously, when I want to read a Nora Roberts book, I buy one with your name on it! Just sayin’

          1. I had traded in all my Janet Dailey books around the time of the plagiarism scandal broke.

            I remember her being at a sci-fi con a couple of years later and just was like, “WTF are you doing here? Trying to recover the tatters of your career?”

            I haven’t seen her at the con since, I guess she’s keeping as low a profile as she can these days.

  12. Wow.. I’ve read several Janet Dailey books years ago.. this just floors me. Good for Nora!! Kick some butt lady!!

  13. What an incrediable awknowledgment of and use of your privilege as a top tier author. To stand up for yourself, and the authors who can’t, takes more than just money. It takes confidence, kindness, and a sense of justice I admire and respect. I am so proud to be your fan and so happy to have bought so many of your (and Milan’s) books.

  14. Words are hard to come by (as you know having written all your books) and the theft of your hard work is despicable! I am so sorry for you but glad that you are fighting back hard. Way to go!

  15. Only when someone sues Amazon will they do anything about it. They are the ones responsible for allowing this to go on unchecked. Maybe claim lost earnings from them? Or Fiverr or Upwork – both places allow people to pay someone just 20 dollars to write a book for them. I’ve seen ad upon ad on these sites (I’m a freelance editor – I took myself off all these sites a coupke of years ago). People paying this pittance for people to write how to books they can earn money off – expecting fully researched detailed books. There are hundreds of sites promoting this as a way to get rich quick. How to play the system. It’s frightening.

    I’m sorry you have experienced this & even more so when there is so little recourse.

      1. Amazon has done an equal amount of harm and good on everything. Sadly, we are turning into an I want it and I want it now society, which is what those thieves pray on.
        With so many books out there to choose from now, what are the odds one will get caught.
        I don’t shop around. I have an author list and I stick to it. I’m glad JD was never on it now.

    1. Surely it wouldn’t be that difficult for Amazon to implement a checking system like universities have, where work is put through an ‘originality checker’, compared to a database and highlighted if passages are the same as other material. If the system identifies plagiarism, Amazon should refuse to publish.

      1. I totally agree with you, Anne. Something Amazon and other publishers should have done from the beginning. They should definitely be held accountable.

      2. The problem with that is that there are *so many of them* that it would be almost impossible to check every book against every other one in existence. And to be fair, when something like this is reported to Amazon — even when it’s just another “author” trying to torpedo his/her supposed competition — Amazon DOES take that kind of thing seriously. They remove the book and investigate, and have zeroed out some plagiarists’ earnings, thankfully.

        The real problem are these sites for internet marketers that tout kindle publishing as an easy way to rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in earnings, just by hiring ghosts and stiffing them. Or that sell plot outlines as ‘reports’ that you can use for yourself or ghostwriters. Who almost always position themselves as expert publishers, when all they’ve done is game the system and buy half-copied books and covers. (And all of that happens. Regularly. Warriorforums has literally hundreds of “offers” for this kind of thing.)

        They also show a getrichquick-style “author” how to run other people’s books through a plagiarism checker/word changer program to avoid getting caught. It spits out babble, which is why so many of these books are so astoundingly horrible, but people do it. All. The. Time.

        I don’t know how to fix it. But for all its faults, Amazon IS trying, at least.

  16. Nora, you are my hero! Thank you for taking a stand against plagiarism! While my own humble writings haven’t been stolen, I can’t even begin to imagine how utterly violated it makes one feel. Please unlease Hell on this piece of scum.

  17. I’m glad you are saying something so that we don’t unintentionally contribute to them. I say you go girl! for that reason.

  18. I remember when I heard the news about Dailey. I felt so hurt and angry on your behalf, Nora.
    I made a vow from that point to never read a Dailey book. Further, I would buy and read every book you published.
    I admired how you respected your readers by noting new books versus reissued books; maintaining excellent standard of storytelling and being accessible to your fans.
    At times my budget strains under my vow, yet every cent has been worth it.
    Thank you for setting the example how you handle thieves!

    1. I was so upset to hear this about Dailey. I haven’t bought a Dailey book since and buy EVERY book that you have released.

  19. I remember the whole Dailey horror. I had liked her before then, & i was horrified, because nobody in the publishing world can hold a candle to you. To me, you are the best and tops. Unfortunately, when you get to the top, people will try to take advantage of you, and you are right- you can’t let them. Good luck to you- i personally am embarrassed to admit, that for the last few years, yours are the only books that I read- I just don’t have the time to fit in any more reading- so I can’t be any help to you there. I wish there was another way of saying Thank You- for all the pleasure your books bring to my life.

  20. My mom reads Dailey and is always telling me I need to read her books! Not now, not ever! As an aspiring author myself, I’m very diligent about not copying Nora, but I do let her inspire me. If it wasn’t for her story, I would have never hit the keyboard myself. Nora/J.D. is my escape when I just need to be transported out of reality for a mental vacation. It saddens me that other “authors” lack integrity because they can’t hack it creatively!

    1. You should show your mom this blog post, so hopefully she’ll understand why you’re so vehement about it.

  21. I cannot begin to imagine what this is like…to put one’s creative heart and soul into something only to find someone too lazy and shirtless to create their own has copied it! Fie and double fie on them!!!

  22. Thanks for sharing this. It’s ridiculous how people feel entitled to rip off someone’s work. I have been reading Nora’s book both in her name and as JD Robb for a very long time and I commend her for speaking out. Also, very happy that there is now an Instagram account!

    1. Nora- I love your books. And count the days until each one comes out.
      I would love to have the talent of writing but I do not, but enjoy reading a great story and can appreciate the hard work you put into each book.
      Protect your work! It is yours and you have have the right! 100% behind you and am sorry that you and other writers go through this.
      Leanne Struck

  23. Janet daley had always been a favourite of mine the i heard about the plagiarism rumours fron a writers magazine in the 90’s, i did not know it was Nora. I made the decision not to read any book of hers after, and i stuck with it. bravo for fighting for your rights

  24. This is pure, unadulterated theft!! As a long-time fan of your books, I know the quality of your work which is why I buy them, knowing I’m in for a great story, a great plot & and an overall great read. I can’t even imagine how you do it, book after book, but I’m so glad you have that gift! Thank you & give ‘em hell, Nora!!

  25. Never have I ever trusted Nora and her books more than I do now. I remember the fiasco of 1997 very well. I was outraged for Nora then, as I am now. Having been a Nora fan and champion from the very beginning of her career, I like to think I sort of “know” her, her integrity, her commitment to her fans, and her unmistakable talent. There is not another writer who has given me more joy, more wonder, more pages to read. One of my most cherished memories of my now deceased Mom was our love for Nora and her books. The way we would read and discuss them, and wait with baited breath for the next book. I have had the privilege to meet and listen to Nora talk about her books twice. Once with my beloved and much missed Mom, and once with a friend. All of the traits I admire were easily discernable on those occasions- talent, honesty, enthusiasm, and commitment to her fans- as well as to the work ethic instilled in her “by the nuns” who educated her as she is fond of disclosing. So, no,, you’ll never get by me if you plagerize Nora. And I want to know the names of those who try, because I will be interested in doing whatever I can to get the word out and stand up for Nora. I’m so sorry that Nora has to spend her all too precious time dealing with this mess. I admire her dedication to her fans and her work. Hang in there, Nora. Your fans love you and will never let you down.

  26. Very sorry for this. I remember the Janet Daily case, was glad you stood strong. So sorry you’re going through this again, however you are the perfect fearless warrior for this as you do have professional integrity and honor. So good luck with the fight. Serruya is nothing but a con woman. Hope she is dealt with in a severe manner. Thanks for all your hard, entertaining, and wonderful work.

  27. Nora I was not much of a reader until I discovered your books. I was hooked! I love how you research the subjects. As a reader I my knowledge has broadened. I had no idea this went on until I read your blog (which I really enjoy). Like so many things going on in the US today these people are out there. I have issues with trust as do many others. Who can you trust? Hang in there! Blessings to you. Keep writing those wonderful books.

  28. Betrayal such as this saddens me and sickens me. Nora – you are tougher and stronger and smarter and much better than those who plagiarize your writing. Your readers and fans have your back! I have a short list of favorite authors. Nora Roberts has topped that list for many, many years.

  29. I remember reading about Dailey stealing and have not read a word of her since, and now learning about the continued issue with plagiarism, am very glad I am very selective on who I read (Nora being top of the list). If I don’t have a new book to read, instead of spending time reading back covers of books at the store, I will pick up a book I already own and re-read it. I have had so many enjoyable occasions finding new gems or revisiting prior gems in any of the In Death books to count.

    Thank you, Nora, for being you and allow me to peak into your creativity by putting a story together that brings intense comfort, joy, and laughter to my world.

  30. I was a Janet Dailey reader back in the late 70’s early 80’s and enjoyed her books. I was shocked and angered when I read about her copying Nora’s work. It completely changed my view of Janet and I never read another book by her. Thank you Nora for standing up for your rights. You are an amazing talent and I love all of your work, under your name and the JD Robb books.

  31. I remember when the Dailey Scandal broke, and I remember how disappointed I was for Ms. Roberts. I have read lots of Nora Roberts books, and am a HUGE fan of the In Death series.
    IMHO, if you have to steal snippets, sections or scenes from another author’s work, you need to re-think your career as an author.
    Kudos, Nora. You are one classy, sassy, brassy broad!

  32. Wow….I had no idea. As I have always read about three books a month, especially since I have retired, there have been many times when I have said “wow I’ve read this before haven’t I?” Now I am realizing that I probably have read the same lines before in other books. As a reader, I feel cheated ….so I can just imagine as a writer, how cheated you and the others must feel. I agree…go get them Nora!!!!

  33. I can’t stand a thief. I’m glad you’re fighting for your work and supporting other authors fighting for theirs. I always wonder when I’m reading through Kindle about all the underlined bits of text other readers have highlighted. Like, why exactly, would you need to save that bit of descriptive prose?

    1. A lot of readers highlight their favorite lines. Some of them use it to review later and some do it for teasers or some just like to highlight.

  34. I cannot begin to express how much I admire you and how grateful I am you brought all of this up.

    The underbelly of our indie writing and publishing industry is plagued with scammers and people without an ounce moral fiber. We’ve been dealing with it for years. But in the past year, it has gotten disgustingly worse. We’ve had #CockyGate, #TiffanyGate, and now this.

    As an independently published author, we have to battle these scammers and thieves on a near daily basis. But I take comfort in knowing that I have written every word of every one of my 20+ books. The high road is always the better road to take.

    Thank you for speaking out about all of this.

  35. I’ve followed this saga since I first saw it mentioned on a message board with your answering post to clarify the subject. I remember being so disappointed that a writer I had read and admired had done this. Such an insidious attack. A personal one. But to follow up with going public when you were being honored at RWT? Devious and premeditated.
    Rant away, dear Nora, and a special thank you to Laura for having your back. There are many readers who do, too.

  36. As a lifetime reader, an long time fan, I am appalled and horrified that this type of thing happens. I am so very sorry to learn of it, and absolutely support going after anyone stealing and copying and passing off as their own. Not cool and not ok.
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