Natasha Tynes, an award-winning Jordanian American author who lost a book deal following claims of online racism, is suing her publishing house for $13 million. The lawsuit, filed in California on Friday, alleges that Rare Bird Books breached its contract and defamed her, causing "extreme emotional distress" and destroying her reputation.
In 2018, Tynes contracted with Rare Bird to distribute her upcoming novel, "They Called Me Wyatt," about a murdered Jordanian student whose "consciousness" inhabits a 3-year-old boy with speech delays. The book, written over four years, was set to be released this month.
That changed in May, when Tynes became the subject of a national and international news story.