Peninsula Daily News news sources
LOS ANGELES — A writer plans to sue Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, accusing her of plagiarism, NBC-TV says on its Web site.
J. Craig Williams, who represents author Jordan Scott, told Reuters news service that his client will accuse Meyer of plagiarizing The Nocturne in Breaking Dawn, the fourth book of Meyer’s vampire novel series set in Forks, NBC says on www.msnbc.msn.com/.
Williams said that the passages in question involve few word-for-word similarities but the two books have similar plot and character points.
Meyer’s publisher, Hachette Book Group, told Reuters the accusation is meritless, saying that the Twilight saga is entirely Meyer’s creation and that she knew nothing of The Nocturne.
Last book of series
Breaking Dawn, a continuation of the story about mortal teenager Bella Swan and her romance with vampire Edward Cullen, came out in 2008.
The Twilight books, which the publisher saids have sold 70 million copies worldwide, are the basis for a movie series from Summit Entertainment. The first film, “Twilight,” has earned more than $380 million at worldwide box offices, and the second, “New Moon,” hits theaters in November.
In Breaking Dawn, Bella marries Cullen and the book follows Bella through pregnancy and her new life as a vampire.
Compares books
Williams’ cease-and-desist letter sent to Hachette Book Group compared the two books in descriptions of a wedding, a sex-on-the-beach episode and a passage in which a human-turned-vampire describes the wrenching change.
Williams also said that characters in both books call their wives “love.”
Hachette Book Group said in a statement that Meyer’s books “have been a phenomenal sensation” and that “it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that other people may seek to ride the coattails of such success.”
Williams said Scott plans to file a copyright infringement lawsuit against Meyer this week or next in federal court.
“I think the fans have to read both books and make up their own mind, like a judge is going to have to,” Williams said.
He said Scott does not plan to seek monetary damages.
Scott made chapters from The Nocturne available online as she was working on the vampire book, which she wrote in her teenage years and released in book form in 2006, Williams said. He said he did not know how many copies the book sold.
