Author faces plagiarism claims

Thélyson Orélien, a Canadian-Haitian writer, is under scrutiny for allegations of AI use and plagiarism, despite the success of his book C'était ça ou mourir, which has sold over 100,000 copies in twenty countries.

Publisher confirms pre-existing contract

Boréal, the Canadian publishing house, revealed that it had signed a contract with Orélien for a second book before the allegations arose. This agreement was made in December 2024, nine months prior to the release of C'était ça ou mourir.

First manuscript put on hold

The manuscript for the second book, which focuses on street gangs, was the first text Orélien submitted to Boréal. However, the publisher decided to put it on hold, citing that another author was already working on a similar theme.

Publisher seeks clarity before proceeding

Renaud Roussel, co-general manager of Boréal, stated that the publisher is struggling to move forward with another publication without guarantees from Orélien and without a thorough discussion about the allegations.

Publisher keeps current book in stores

Boréal announced that it would keep C'était ça ou mourir in bookstores, explaining that it has no evidence confirming the use of AI in the book’s writing. However, the promotional tour was suspended after revelations about a potential plagiarism case.

Author admits to plagiarism in other works

Orélien has admitted to plagiarism in other texts, with Renaud Roussel describing the allegations as "very serious," "documented," and "proven." The book was excluded from the Goncourt Prize selection but remained in the Renaudot Prize shortlist.