Publisher cancels romance book written by author who cited Elon Musk

"Reading your messages and hearing your perspectives over the past twenty-four hours has been humbling, and I want to acknowledge the pain my words have caused. I am truly sorry," the author wrote.

By Nicholas Ballasy

Published: March 8, 2025 2:53pm

A publisher is cancelling a book written by an author who cited Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk after backlash from readers who reviewed advance copies.

One of the characters in the book, Sparrow and Vine, is quoted as saying, “I was inspired by Elon Musk. I use his five step design process.”

Social media users directed critical comments at the author for citing Musk.

The author wrote an apology about the situation on her Instagram page.

"I want to start by saying how much I appreciate this community. Your passion, support, and willingness to engage in meaningful conversations have always meant the world to me. That’s why it’s so important for me to address something I got wrong," the author Sophie Lark wrote.

"It has been brought to my attention that certain lines in Sparrow and Vine were hurtful. Reading your messages and hearing your perspectives over the past twenty-four hours has been humbling, and I want to acknowledge the pain my words have caused. I am truly sorry," she added.

The publishing, Bloom Books, said it was cancelling the series, according to the New York Times.