It finally happened
We knew it would happen eventually. Whisperworld just got its first one-star review for “disgusting homo-love.”
Screw that.
When we wrote Whisperworld, we decided to make the main character a lesbian. It was kind of a leap for us, but we felt it was important that we try. Neither Aron nor I are homosexual. We did as much research as we could ahead of time, but in the end, we were really writing ‘the other,’ someone other than ourselves.
It was hard. Not only because of the craft challenge in writing someone so different than us, but because LGBT rights and representation are under fire across the world. Hell, that’s part of why we wanted to write Julia ��� because books need better diversity.
So we knew from the outset that it would open Whisperworld up to some negative reviews. Now, it’s finally happened. Someone hated the whole book for no other real reason than Julia falls in love with another woman.
Aron always reminds me that reviews often tell us more about the reader than the writer. In this case, he’s even more right than usual. To be fair, the reviewer��also mentioned��what they felt was an inadequate explanation of the world setup, that finding this answer was the only reason they finished the book, but didn’t think we explained enough. Well, that��was a specific decision on our part ��� we disclosed only the details of the Wrath (the catastrophe that makes our post-apocalyptic setting��post-apocalyptic) that related to the story. Whisperworld isn’t about the world’s end, but about it’s new beginning. But if that doesn’t do it for readers, that’s fine. Everyone reads for different things. I don’t mind being docked stars because someone feels I didn’t answer their questions adequately. Well, I do ��� it makes me feel like a shitty writer ��� but I can’t blame the reviewer for that.
But just because of the sexual orientation of the character? I feel like I’ve been��kicked in the stomach, sure, but��� and maybe this is weird��� also a little proud? We put a book out that we knew risked some backlash. And we got it. But we don’t regret writing Julia at all. We would and will do it again.
So bring it on.
