How Many Persimmons is Too Many?

So the editorial assistant has pointed out that in as-yet-untitled-manuscript, I use the word "persimmon" three times. Now, I happen to know that persimmons are very, very good for you. Persimmon is a perfectly acceptable word. I doubt that it could be overused.

Or could it?

I went back and counted (thanks to "Find"). I actually used the word nine times! Sigh.

In my last book, my pet word was "slumped." I won't embarrass myself by telling you how many times it was used.

You must have a pet word...