I am sorry if someone has made a post about this, but I could not find it, if I do, I will link it here. Also: I know this probably belongs to the book forum (?) but seeing as I have read neither of her books and this regards multiple (like 3) of her books, I hope this if fine to post here.

So, for those of you who live under a book pile and have not heard about it: Elisabeth Wheatley, has made a post (linked it for your convenience) about how she wants to edit her books and get rid of all the sex scenes, making them fade to black. This includes future physical copies, as well as digital copies, whereas it was said in the beginning, that already bought digital copies would be changed too. This has since been amended, as far as I heard and you will only get the edited version if you ask for it, or you buy the edited version.

And while I think, it is her right to decide, that she no longer feels comfortable and has changed her mind, going back and taking them out is ringing alarm bells for me, especially in the current climate we live in. I am also well aware that we technically do not own any digital media (whether it is books, movies, video games) and are simply licencing it, it does not sit right with me. If she does not want to include spice in any further publications that is fine, but changing something her readers have bought (under the knowledge that it has spice) feels back handed.

Another issue I have is the fact that she cites her daughter and how her daughter might one day read her books and that it is making her uncomfortable. While I understand that parents thinking of their children as sexual beings might be a strange feeling (or vice versa), I think that a healthy relationship with sex, one's own body and sexual content is important to a certain degree. I myself am demi-sexual and only somewhat care about sex in media (I think it can be a great plot device to show characters growing close, or people's relationship with themselves) and it is important that we keep talking about it. Simply avoiding sexual themes, because someone might be uncomfortable can cause so much harm. Teaching consent is important, teaching save sex is important and teaching children that it is okay to have sexual desires and being a sexual being is important.

I fear, we have currently reached a point in our society, where we became so overstimulated and the media so over-saturated with sex, that we are currently taking steps back.

One last thing, and this truly is just a personal gripe is the fact, that she has cited her own religious beliefs as a reason why she changed her opinion, and while that is — once again — not inherently wrong, she previously talked about how being catholic and enjoying sex is not sinful or wrong. Her, now not adhering to her own previous beliefs worries me (for her).

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Do you agree Have you heard about this before?