Unpublished Novel Pulled After $2.4M Deal Due to AI Authorship Concerns

A warning for all writers who are thinking about using AI.

Deadline reports that the unpublished debut novel Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body by an unnamed author has been pulled due to concerns about AI.

The novel was sold to Minotaur/Macmillan Publishers for what sources believe was a $2.4 million deal, which included rights to the follow-up.

Questions were later raised about the author’s use of AI, which has led to the book being pulled. While there were initial checks on the manuscript, concerns were raised again when they went to sell the movie/TV rights.

Deadline reports that Sandy Hodgman, an independent from Hodgman Literary who sells foreign rights for Europa Content, pulled back its submission of the novel to international publishers.

In an email obtained by the outlet, Hodgman said that the “incredible” manuscript “dazzled” publishers around the world, but they failed to authenticate the evolution of the writing. The email adds that while they vetted the submission and were reassured that AI tools weren’t used, they could no longer substantiate any claims.

“This raises so many questions about authorship and what AI means for this industry, but those are questions for another day. We regret that our enthusiasm led to this outcome and we apologize to our publishing partners,” Hodgman adds.

The novel reportedly follows a “cleaner” from Nigeria who moves to Houston to pursue a chemistry PHD. His ability to “clean” up bodies leads to him becoming involved in a dangerous cartel operation.

AI usage in publishing has become a hot topic with a few high-profile works pulled because of it. The release of Shy Girl by Mia Ballard was canceled in the US and discontinued in the UK after readers pointed out it featured numerous tell-tale signs of AI. Ballard continues to say she hired a freelance editor who may have used a LLM.

The New York Times, which first reported the story, claimed it “appears to be the first commercial novel from a major publishing house to be pulled over evidence of AI use”.