NEW YORK – A staff writer for The New Yorker has resigned and his latest book halted after he acknowledged inventing quotes by Bob Dylan.

Jonah Lehrer released a statement Monday through his publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, saying that some Dylan quotes appearing in his book “Imagine: How Creativity Works” did “not exist.” Others were “unintentional misquotations, or represented improper combinations of previously existing quotes.”

Lehrer said he acknowledged his actions after being contacted by Michael Moynihan of the online Tablet Magazine, which released an in-depth story on the Dylan passages in “Imagine”

“I told Mr. Moynihan that they (the quotes in question) were from archival interview footage provided to me by Dylan’s representatives. This was a lie spoken in a moment of panic. When Mr. Moynihan followed up, I continued to lie, and say things I should not have said,” Lehrer wrote in his statement.

“The lies are over now. I understand the gravity of my position. I want to apologize to everyone I have let down, especially my editors and readers.”

Houghton Mifflin said in a statement that Lehrer had committed a “serious misuse.” Listings for the e-book edition of “Imagine” will be removed and shipments of the physical book have been stopped. “Imagine” was published in March and had been selling well, ranking No. 105 on Amazon.com as of midday Monday. Amazon had cited the book as among the best March releases.

Lehrer, 31, was once a rising star at The New Yorker, which is famous for its thorough fact checking. But he was already in trouble with the magazine after he acknowledged last month that he had recycled passages he had written for previous publications. Some recycled passages also appeared in “Imagine,” the latest of three books by Lehrer, who is known for his explorations of science and literature and how the mind works.

Among Lehrer’s inventions was a quote that first appeared in the famous documentary from the mid-1960s, “Don’t Look Back,” in which Dylan tells a reporter about his songs that “I just write them. There’s no great message.” In “Imagine,” Lehrer adds a third sentence — “Stop asking me to explain” — that does not appear in the film.

After 18 years of dating, rocker gets cold feet

NEW YORK – Bret Michaels and longtime girlfriend Kristi Gibson have called off their engagement.

Michaels’ publicist, Joanna Mignano, said in a statement the couple have separated.

Michaels and Gibson have dated on and off for about 18 years. They got engaged in 2010. They have two daughters, Raine Elizabeth and Jorja Bleu.

The statement says Michaels and Gibson will “remain great friends and are committed to jointly raising” their daughters.

Michaels was the vocalist for the band Poison. He also appeared in his own VH1 reality show.

Michaels was treated in 2010 for a brain hemorrhage. Last year he underwent a procedure to close a hole in his heart.

Former Beatle, others paid pound to perform

LONDON – Don’t spend it all in one place, Paul. London Olympic organizers say former Beatle Paul McCartney and other stars who took part in Friday’s opening ceremony essentially donated their time — receiving a mere pound ($1.57) — for their performances.

The nominal fee was offered to make the Olympics contracts binding. Other performers such as Mike Oldfield, Dizzee Rascal and Emeli Sande are also thought to have received the nominal fee.

Director Danny Boyle’s extravaganza featured British music that spanned generations, right up to live performances from two of the hottest homegrown acts: grime star Rascal and the band Arctic Monkeys.

— From news service reports