T. That is the way it works with copyrights/publishing. It is very much 
likened to a patent. When applying for a patent, you have to disclose 
anyone and I mean anyone who ever seen or heard you describe your idea. 
With written info, it can be copied and tossed around especially with the 
internet so the editor really has no option unless the publisher is OK with 
the folks you've spread it around to. It sounds as though this editor is a 
newbee herself and ought take partial responsibility too. She may not have 
a choice but to decline your contribution, of course, if the original text 
was changed enough, perhaps that might give all a way to continue but that 
might not be feasible or even doable.

Brad

At 05:45 PM 8/26/2007, you wrote:
>In lieu of what I did she sent out the following letter to all the writers
>I am thinking about telling her to forget it and try on my own.  Tee
>
>
>
>Hi Everybody,
>
>        One of the contributors to my book shared a response she received the
>other day from someone with whom she'd shared edited copy.  It was a
>favorable response, however, I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach
>because I realized that I had not discussed this with any of you.
>
>        As simply as I can put it, and I'm no expert in this or any area 
> of law; but
>I know this much.  Your story, like mine, is testimony that has been shared
>w/countless numbers of people throughout our lives.  No problem there.  Once
>you (the author) and I (the editor) have agreed that I can have your story
>published in this anthology; and I edit, chg., add, or delete any part of 
>it, it
>then becomes my intellectual property.  I will be saying to a publisher 
>that this
>is my work and it has NEVER been published before in any format.  Once the
>book is published, that publishing house house will have First North American
>Serial Rights to the entire content.  No one,  not even you or I can, can 
>have
>it printed, or published anywhere else w/out the publisher's 
>permission.  Then
>it will read something like: Reprinted with permission from When I Stepped 
>Out
>on Faith... copyright 2007.
>
>        Cyber Law is a brand new area of law that new lawyers are able to 
> make
>a career in because all of the older lawyers-many don't even know how to turn
>on a computer.  The important bottomline is this: Once I've BEGUN work on
>your story, PLEASE do not share it online or in print w/anyone before it's 
>been
>published..  The internet is a form of publication and online theft is fairly
>rampant w/little or no recourse because the law is way behind technology.
>Besides, I'm not interested in lawsuits.  I can completely finish your 
>story and
>you change your mind-that will be between you and God.  I'll be satisfied 
>that
>I've done what, I believe, He has asked me to do.  I WILL however, have you
>sign an agreement (between you and I) that you are giving me permission to
>publish your testimony; and in that agreement will also be a statement where
>you agree that it has not previously been published elsewhere.
>
>        I have an important call coming in.  I'll finish this up in a 
> bit.  Back later.