Long ago when a friend of mine got published, she started obsessing over Amazon.com reviews to the point where she would often debate the reviews on her blog. I told her not to let them upset her and not to highlight reviews that upset her by blogging about it. I swore I would never do the same.
And let me state for the record that I will not do the same. LOL!! I am very fortunate in that both GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING and GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE both have an average four-star review on Amazon.com and I'm beyond thrilled! I have nothing to take to task with any of the reviews and send out a hearty Thank You Very Much to anyone who has posted a review after reading the book.
My question is this, though...
A lot of reviewers are getting on to me for my "course language." This has both my editor and me shaking our heads. There is an occasional "$hit" or someone being referred to as a "b*tch" (mostly a "beotch") and my heroine likes to say "freakin'" sometimes when she's...well, freaked out. At no point in the books is there ever the F word and never will there be that. Is this seriously considered "course?"
I also find it interesting that teens who leave reviews have no problem with this. It's mostly parents. I certainly don't want to upset parents...but I do have to scratch my head over this one. I have read a lot of YA books that pepper the writing with much courser language and frequent use of the F word in character's dialogue.
What do you think? Do you consider this "course language?" Are you offended by this? How much reality is too much? Is is staying true to teen talk to use words that they use in every day life? For those of you who've read my books, what do you think? I'm fascinated by this and would love to know what people's opinions are on this topic.
Thanks so much!
Marley = )
Posts
