My Official Statement On Coincidences
On Friday morning, author Sarah Christian released a story about author Jennifer L. Armentrout, titled, “Coincidences”. The article concerned a recent cover reveal for Armentrout’s rebranded series, which is headed to the Chapters app. The cover looks strikingly similar to the cover of Nightmare Born, my serial on the Radish app.
I’ve spoken before about what a strange coincidence it was that Armentrout’s name and my birth name were so similar. In speaking about it, I’ve given her the benefit of the doubt and asked others to do the same. There were a few developments over the years that made me less willing to defend her. I will readily admit that in recent times, I have not been kind in private. But I haven’t gone public with those unkind thoughts because I still felt, as a result of years of gaslighting by industry professionals and even from myself, that it was just an unfortunate coincidence.
I will let you come to your own conclusions after you read Christian’s article; for me, this number of “coincidences” is damning enough to convince me that, no, my bad feelings about this situation were not wrong. In the interest of transparency, I think it’s important to add:
On Thursday, I was made aware of the cover situation by a reader.
On Thursday evening, I was informed by Christian’s critique partner that an article was being written.
I did not read an advanced copy of the article, nor did I participate in the writing of it.
I never communicated with Christian directly until after publication of the article this morning.
I gave serious thought as to whether or not I should comment on the article at all and decided, in light of the other revelations in it, that I was entitled to have my say.
This will be the last time I address the subject here on my blog. I do not wish to be contacted by or on behalf of Armentrout, her publisher, her agent, or her friends. There will be no smoothing over or working it out, and certainly, no retracting of any statements I’ve made today or in the future.
I do not wish to know Armentrout’s response to this situation. There is no justification for any of the allegations in the article that would change my mind, anyway.
I know we have mutual friends. I have heard from some of you how “confusing” this is, how you don’t know what to think, how the whole thing is “bizarre” and you’re sorry this “happened” to me. I can’t tell you what to think, what to support, what to promote. But I want to make it clear that nothing “happened” to me. This was something that was done to me, just as it was done to the creators whose work was lifted wholesale. We were all made stepping stones on someone else’s path, without our permission. Regardless of your choices, I will defend you if it is done to you, too.
I am thankful in the extreme to Sarah Christian. I absolutely know how terrifying it can be to write anything less than glowing praise about a mega-popular, mega-powerful author. I know how easily a career can be threatened or damaged, and the fact that she stuck her neck out for me and the other creators in the article is beyond commendable. If anyone sees her on the receiving end of abuse over this, give me a heads up. I’m great at swinging at pitches headed for someone else.
Now, I will spend my weekend the way I spend most weekends: sleeping in and sleeping well, with a clear conscience and utter faith in my own abilities and talents.
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