From: PritchWitt at aol.com <PritchWitt>
Date: Sun, 18 May 2003 20:48:29 EDT

Monica,

I'm writing a book at the moment in which a 16-year-old girl gives oral sex to lots of guys. I don't necessarily think it will deal with the whole
"phenomenon" because she has her own problems that have led her to this and none of her girlfriends are doing it.

I'm not sure any of us, authors or otherwise, know just where the line is drawn on having sexual scenes in YA books. So far I've gotten several characters into bed but then turned out the lights. I'm willing to go there, but I also want librarians and teachers to buy my books and I know sex scenes make that difficult for them.

The problem for me is knowing that, although I might be writing with older teens in mind, there are ALWAYS 10, 11 and 12 year olds reading the books. I guess in the end I feel responsible for them and I back away from explicit scenes. It's giving me a headache in this new book too--we'll see if I can figure out how to deal with it!

Ellen Wittlinger author: Lombardo's Law Hard Love What's in a Name Gracie's Girl Razzle The Long Night of Leo and Bree
Received on Sun 18 May 2003 07:48:29 PM CDT