I recently did an author’s talk at a library. I love these events, and it’s always a great opportunity to meet readers and talk about my books. People are fascinating and an inspiration, ad it’s always good to get positive feedback. Often, people tell me that one thing they like about my ‘golden girls’ novels -all my novels – is that there isn’t much bad language. Some people find swearing and blasphemy very difficult to read.

But one lady who spoke to me in the library, who was in her seventies, had a completely different opinion. ‘I love your books but you should make them grittier.’

‘Grittier?’ I wasn’t sure what she meant.

‘’More sex. More swearing. More filth. It would liven everything up a bit. I like a good raunchy novel with lots of sex.’

I grinned and explained that readers come in all sizes, that I probably have the balance right, and that there are lots of other great books with more swearing and sex that I know she’d enjoy. I recommended a few.

Of course, being me, I went home and thought about her words and discussed the subject with friends. I know a couple of people who’ve made money writing porn. I’m sure they’re really good at it.I don’t think I’d be…

I have no problem with books with swearing in them – or sex – it’s an individual reader thing, and I respect each person’s right to choose. And to write and read what they like. I always try to read a book open mindedly, with its target audience in mind, aware of the culture or the period of time in which it was written. That’s the beauty of books – they can cater for everyone. I’d never disrespect a book that wasn’t for me – I’m not arrogant enough to assume I’m the only target audience, or that others won’t love it.

My own policy is to write the story and let the characters or action dictate the way forward. Sex and swearing are part of the wider spectrum of our everyday experience. Sometimes a character needs to swear a bit. Sometimes characters have sex. But I’m aware of some readers’ sensibilities, and I’m respectful of being moderate and true to myself.

I’ve read books with lots of sex in them, and profanity, and I think some writers achieve it easily and naturally, as part of the story. They have the knack of integrating everythiung into the story as part of the book. It’s great when it works well.

I’ve read books with sex scenes that have been clunky, that have made me laugh, or I’ve chosen to stop reading. Some have not been for me. It’s a personal thing.

When you write books with romance, you accept the whole spectrum, from early attraction to physical love, to loss and heartache. I try to cover everything. In my first book, A Grand Old Time, Evie is seventy five and her relationship with Jean-Luc is a physical and spiritual love. In ‘The Seal Bay‘ series, Morwenna and new boyfriend Baranby, and she and her ex, Ruan, haven’t gone beyond kissing yet. Perhaps they never will.Or they might.

I’m one of those writers who stop the romantic action at the bedroom door, but many choose to go beyond. It depends on the genre, the characters, the plot . When Kate meets Raife in The Wicked Lady, their attraction is clearly powerful and immediate, yet they are delivering a foal together.  Much later in the book, they spend a lot of time discussing their future in bed together – intimacy is achieved in a variety of ways.

The same is true with swearing – it doesn’t have to be frequent or full on for me, although it works very well for some other writers. I write in three genres, women’s humorous fiction, cozy crime and dual timeline/ historical. People swear, people make love, so sometimes my characters will. But not incessantly. The characters and the plot lead the way. I’ll be honest, readers’ sensitivity is something that’s always in the back of my mind, so I won’t overstep the mark.

Having said that, what is ‘the mark’? Each writer will know their genre and their readers, and will write accordingly. Some novels need to be shocking, explicit and – what word did the woman in the library use? – grtitty. Thank goodness there is a wide range of styles and stories to cater for everyone’s tastes. Long may it continue.

The lady at my library talk knows now that there’s a huge variety of books she’ll enjoy. And I’m glad she enjoys mine too. There are great stories out there for all people with all tastes.

We are who we are, and we should celebrate it.