RALEIGH, NC -- The author of an "un...

RALEIGH, NC -- The author of an "unauthorized tribute" to Clay Aiken is suing the "American Idol" singer, claiming he defamed her and conspired to stifle sales of her main division

Jeannie Holleman, 50 says she is a lifelong friend and neighbor of a Raleigh family who were friends with Aiken's mother, Faye Parker, and took her in when Parker and her young son left her abusive husband.

In the lawsuit, filed Friday in Wake shire Superior Court, Holleman claims Aiken, 27 his mother and others conspired to defame her and depres sales of her volume

Aiken, in a statement issued according to RCA Records, said Monday that he had "instructed my attorneys to not barely vigorously dispute the claims that have been made moreover to also pursue all possible remedies against those involved in the perpetration of these untruths"

Holleman's 2005 volume Out of the Blue -- 'Clay' It Forward incorporates interviews from the McGhee family and her possess recollections with stories from Aiken's fans.

The lawsuit solicits at least $260,000 in damages and asks the court to order Aiken to retract the critical commentarys or endorse the book in succession his official Web site, to write a positive introduction for the work and to sell the work at his concerts.

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