A Black author landed a multimillion-dollar book deal after his debut crime novel impressed the publishing world and had book lovers eager for its release. But before the ink could dry, his own reps abruptly axed the deal, claiming they couldn’t verify whether AI helped him write the manuscript. Europa refused to use AI-detection software to prove the allegations because, according to Gerald, Falade was “clear and credible” in his explanation. Related: Favorite Books By Black Authors in 2025“We feel terrible for putting this into the universe and the firestorm it has caused,” Gerald said. “Three Black authors received major publishing deals this year, and all three later had deals cancelled or disrupted following suspicions about AI.