There’s never a dull day here at Watson HQ.
If it isn’t Master Liam forcing his way through the office door like a cave troll, it’s Master Nathan filling his nappies at a rate that exceeds an incontinent guinea pig.
But the fun doesn’t stop there.
Oh no.
It also extends to this fiction gig I’ve been running from my writer’s corner for some time now.
Case in point:
Almost daily, I receive comments from readers and listeners from around the world telling me how much they are enjoying The Divided Region and cannot wait for Book #6.
All good things, indeed.
However, occasionally an orc will find their way into my notifications like they did yesterday.
This person stopped cold somewhere in Chapter 3 of Exiled when Darius made the unforgivable remark that a woman’s cycle might explain Vresha’s unruly — and oftentimes, hostile — behaviour towards him.
This was a big no-no for this person.
So much so that their rage couldn’t afford them more than the following seven-word dig:
Lost me at "a womans cycle." Garbage.
I mean, what can I say?
Oh, wait… I did say something:
This is adult fantasy.
If a few vulgar words trigger you, then there's a plethora of YA fantasy out there that'll give you the warm and fuzzies.
The two keywords I want to highlight in my response are:
ADULT FANTASY
I do not hide this fact. I make no effort to water it down. This is a simple truth I make clear from the book blurb to my marketing and even down to the covers, which have moody qualities to them.
The Divided Region isn’t called “a gritty epic fantasy” for the shits and gigs.
If a character says vulgar, crass, and occasionally sexist/racist/[insert other -ist] things, then so be it.
That’s just how it goes.
Unlike some authors who might refrain from crossing these forbidden lines, I will not shy from the places Milo the Muse wants to take me.
It’s a promise I made to myself, my art, and to readers who possess the maturity to understand that. This doesn’t mean all mature folk enjoy the kind of stuff I write, which is totally their god-given right.
But to berate me when YOU chose to engage with my ADULT fantasy series is on you, gloomweaver.
Nobody else.
Anyway, I shall report back if this triggered orc returns with a pitchfork.
Until then, if you’re an adult fantasy fan who’s not afflicted with the sensitivity of a snowflake — and, while you might not actively “seek” crass literature, appreciate that it comes with the territory of a gritty fantasy world and the morally grey characters that occupy it — then you might just enjoy The Divided Region:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
I’ve also been secretly working on something that fans of the series might just wet the bed for when they find out.
(Spoiler: no, it’s not Book #6, but it will be a no less welcome addition. That, I assure you.)
DJJW