Dannye,
I'm sorry you had that experience. It is impossible to control what is published or stolen on the internet. I'd be steamed if that had happened to me.
I have told this author and so-called friend how upset I am about this. It doesn't seem to faze him. I've stopped writing him, and I definitely won't send him any more of my work to read. To answer your last question, no, it was not integral to the story line and it was not credited to me. He had a fictional character (loosely based on me) claim to be the author. Thanks for the insight!

Marie