Amy Andrews's Blog - Posts Tagged "24"
The 24 year Old Virgin
I received an email a few weeks ago - a truly horrible, vile email from a reader who obviously hadn't liked Waking Up With Dr Off-Limits. I mean REALLY hadn't liked it. It was insulting and made me feel dreadful all night. Seriously, why would a person write such an awful email - just throw the book agasint the wall already....
But that's for another blog.
Her main issue seemed to be that I had written a 24 year old virgin.
Shock, horror, scandal!!!
Yes, apparently 24 was way too old for a virgin in her opinion and that by making my heroine so "old" I was being sexist. That women are sexual beings too and why is it okay for men to have sex and not women. That I was sending a message to women telling them they should be ashamed of having sex.
This took me aback for a couple of reasons (apart from the appallingly aggressive language) The main one is that in 30+ books I've written 1 virgin.
One. And that was my 25th book.
Its really not my modus operandi, you know? Not that I have anything against writing virgins, its just that my heroines tend to be in their 30's so it's never been an issue. This heroine was 24 so I didnt feel it was all that unrealistic.
Secondly, she was no pure flower sitting around keeping her legs crossed for her knight in shining armour. She'd dated and made out with guys, she just hadn't gone all the way because she'd been in love with the hero since she was 20 and deep down she wanted him to be "the one". She had some sexual experience - enough to know what she wanted and the balls to go for it when it finally looked like the hero was interested.
So, I guess my question is this - is 24 seriously too young?
Is there no such thing as being a virgin in your 20's any more?? Am I hopelessly out of touch?
But that's for another blog.
Her main issue seemed to be that I had written a 24 year old virgin.
Shock, horror, scandal!!!
Yes, apparently 24 was way too old for a virgin in her opinion and that by making my heroine so "old" I was being sexist. That women are sexual beings too and why is it okay for men to have sex and not women. That I was sending a message to women telling them they should be ashamed of having sex.
This took me aback for a couple of reasons (apart from the appallingly aggressive language) The main one is that in 30+ books I've written 1 virgin.
One. And that was my 25th book.
Its really not my modus operandi, you know? Not that I have anything against writing virgins, its just that my heroines tend to be in their 30's so it's never been an issue. This heroine was 24 so I didnt feel it was all that unrealistic.
Secondly, she was no pure flower sitting around keeping her legs crossed for her knight in shining armour. She'd dated and made out with guys, she just hadn't gone all the way because she'd been in love with the hero since she was 20 and deep down she wanted him to be "the one". She had some sexual experience - enough to know what she wanted and the balls to go for it when it finally looked like the hero was interested.
So, I guess my question is this - is 24 seriously too young?
Is there no such thing as being a virgin in your 20's any more?? Am I hopelessly out of touch?
