I’m in shock on my Facebook and Twitter feeds today. I was just packing my bags for my vacation when I read Courtney Milan’s post. I’ve pulled the boxed set down I put together with Cristiane Serruya already. I don’t know either of these ladies personally. I know Courtney has spoken at RWA conferences I attended and her presentations are AMAZING. I know Cristiane from when we both won Kindle Scout with our books. I worked with Cristiane through the years as we talked marketing ALOT, but today’s unfolding events is that you don’t live anyone’s life but your own. I don’t know anything. But plagiarism is a horrible thing. Some sites take longer than others to take down sets, but I unpublished the free valentine in this past hour.
I’m going back to packing for my trip, BUT I can guarantee I wrote out every word of my own manuscripts. All I can guarantee is my own work, as that’s the only thing I do everyday…
What happens beyond that and other people, I will quote Jon Snow with the ‘I know nothing’ but I won’t be involved with the idea of plagiarism in any way. I like to follow the golden rule ‘do onto others.’
And I wouldn’t want anyone to plagiarize from me which is why the free Valentine is now down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should an author respond when a co-author is accused of plagiarism?
When a co-author is accused of plagiarism, an author should immediately unpublish any shared work, such as boxed sets or collaborative projects, to avoid association with the alleged misconduct. Acting quickly to distance yourself from the situation is important, even if you have no personal knowledge of wrongdoing. You can only guarantee the integrity of your own writing.
What is the Cristiane Serruya plagiarism controversy?
The Cristiane Serruya plagiarism controversy was a situation, highlighted by author Courtney Milan, in which Serruya was accused of plagiarism. The allegations spread widely on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, prompting authors who had collaborated with Serruya — including on boxed sets — to quickly remove shared publications and publicly distance themselves from the accused work.
Should you remove a boxed set or collaborative book if your co-author is accused of plagiarism?
Yes, removing a boxed set or collaborative book is advisable if a co-author faces plagiarism accusations, even if you are confident your own writing is original. Keeping the shared work published risks associating your reputation with the alleged misconduct. Unpublishing promptly signals that you take plagiarism seriously and prioritize ethical standards over potential lost sales or visibility.
