Dragons are for kids

I cannot tell you the number of times people say things like, “Oh, my granddaughter is going to love this!” I always feel obliged to remind people that my stories are not written for children. Of course an older teen might enjoy them, but my target audience is adults. Men and women looking for something beyond the usual fantasy worlds, reaching into utopian literature, yet steeped in romance.

“It’s for adults?” People ask looking at the art, as if animated art is only for children. “I write about the formation of a new dual culture, the forming of life long commitments between couples, it includes themes of equality and acceptance.” They nod and glance at the illustrations, frowning. “There is sex, between humans as well as among the dragons.” The glance up grinning. “Oh, well I see, not for kids.”

“Half of me wants to say my stories sex is sweeter and less explicit than what most people watch on TV, but the themes and characters are more for adults. If kids want to read the stories I craft, I am not likely to object, but I refuse to have people blame me for exposing their kids to themes they are not ready to discuss with their children. Can a young adolescent enjoy and comprehend a great deal of my books,? Of course. Does it reflect an adolescent focus? No, at least not all the time.

Of course there are adolescent characters, Golly, Zack and Tria, Kev and Fin. They are developed characters, rounded and aging with the series. In time stories will be written about them and the mates they find.