ADVERTISEMENT

Nora Roberts addresses accusations, calls Tomi Adeyemi unprofessional

It seems all isn't rosy in the literary world yet. After accusations were levelled against her, Nora Roberts writes candid statement to defend her reputation.

Nora Roberts addresses Tomi Adeyemi, calls her unprofessional

In a candid open letter, devoid of any names or book titles, American veteran author, Nora Roberts has shared her thoughts on this debacle with Nigerian-American authorTomi Adeyemi, rather candidly.

This is all due to the tweet made by the Children of Blood and Bone author, on Tuesday, November 27, claiming that the veteran author lifted her book title.

With pictures comparing Adeyemi's 25-week NY Times Bestseller 'Children of Blood and Bone' and Nora Roberts' upcoming sequel 'Of Blood and Bone', Adeyemi tweeted:"It would be nice if an artist could create something special without another artist trying to shamelessly profit off it."

ADVERTISEMENT

Some hours later, the author retracted her statement, saying that she now believes the titles were created in isolation.

However, there was still a need for Roberts to clear the air, seeing as she was still being attacked and accused of plagiarism by an online mob.

In the blog post, she called out the Nigerian-American author as unprofessional and lacking basis for the accusations. She also said she is "sickened by" and "disgusted" at the people who would feel free to say vicious things about her though they do not know her.

Here is a short excerpt of the statement:

ADVERTISEMENT

"I don’t believe, and have never believed in taking personal issues onto public forums. I don’t believe, and have never believed–will never believe–in a writer attacking another writing on a public forum. It’s unprofessional, it’s tacky and the results are, always, just always, ugly.

Recently another writer used her social media forums to baselessly, recklessly accuse me of stealing the title of her book–which is bullshit right off–to attempt to profit from this theft. She had no facts, just her emotions, and threw this out there for her followers.

First, let’s address the particular title which happens to be similar. I titled this particular book, wrote this book, turned this book into my publisher nearly a year before her book–a first novel–was published. So unless I conquered the time/space continuum, my book was actually titled before hers. Regardless, you can’t copyright a title. And titles, like broad ideas, just float around in the creative clouds. It’s what’s inside that counts.

It’s just a title.

By accusing me, in public, of attempting to ‘shamelessly profit’ off of her creativity, she incited her readers into attacking me–on her feed, then on my pages, then on the internet in general. She did nothing to stop this. I have been accused of theft, of trying to use this first time writer–whose book has been well received–for my own profit. To ride her coattails as I have no originality. This after more than thirty years in the business, more than two hundred books.

ADVERTISEMENT

I was accused of plagiarism–for a title–of stealing her ideas–though I had never heard of her book before this firestorm, have never read her book.

And trust me, I never will now."

The main reason for her public address was, though Adeyemi had put out an apology, she has so far done nothing to put out the fires which she had "lit the match, foolishly".

She wrote: "While this writer issued a kind of retraction after I reached out to her, it didn’t stop some of her readers from calling me a liar, and worse. We reached out again, asking her to put out the fire. We’ve had no response, not from her, not from her agent. Shame on them."

Many are calling for Tomi Adeyemi to take down the controversial tweet and issue a more heartfelt apology. What do you think?

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

4 types of high heels chubby girls can rock effortlessly

4 types of high heels chubby girls can rock effortlessly

Adulting 101: Essential money management skills everyone should know

Adulting 101: Essential money management skills everyone should know

These 5 innocent habits may be ruining your ability to sleep well

These 5 innocent habits may be ruining your ability to sleep well

Aside from breastfeeding, here are 5 feeding alternatives for newborns

Aside from breastfeeding, here are 5 feeding alternatives for newborns

7 factors influencing wedding ring placement beside the left 4th finger

7 factors influencing wedding ring placement beside the left 4th finger

Dubai is building the world's largest airport — see how much it will cost

Dubai is building the world's largest airport — see how much it will cost

How does a person with bipolar disorder think?

How does a person with bipolar disorder think?

7 unexpected animals used in skincare products

7 unexpected animals used in skincare products

How to be a great kisser according to psychologists and experts

How to be a great kisser according to psychologists and experts

All you need to know about Skytanic, the world's largest plane

All you need to know about Skytanic, the world's largest plane

10 things you didn't know about herpes but should

10 things you didn't know about herpes but should

5 reasons some men go soft in the middle of sex

5 reasons some men go soft in the middle of sex

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT