Accusations of plagiarism in Canada and the use of machine learning in his prose prompted Canadian-Haitian author Thélyson Orélien to cancel his promotional travels across France. The novelist has suspended his book tour as he faces mounting criticism over the authenticity of his work and separate legal or professional disputes regarding plagiarism in his home country.

The turmoil follows a Sept. 25 decision by the organizers of the Prix Goncourt to remove Orelien from the longlist for France's top literary prize. The committee stripped the debut novelist of his nomination after claims circulated online that artificial intelligence generated his book, a charge Orelien has defended by citing his personal writing style.