I have had a couple of readers comment on Passion in Panama with regard to the heroine (Bernie) and her attitude toward the Panamanian people. In researching the book, I talked to several business owners in Panama upon whose experiences I based Bernie's frustration with her foreign home. As this is a work of fiction, I allowed Bernie to take on a certain sharpness that I felt was in keeping with her character and situation. She is a single mother making her way in a culture that she doesn't completely understand. She has issues. She's not real. I made her up.

These same readers seem to have missed the many references to the beauty of the country, the friendly and helpful nature of the people Bernie encountered when she moved there and the excellent care her son Spence received from the medical professionals both at his birth and later when he has the accident. Often we see only what we want to see once the panties have been bunched.

Dear readers, if all the personalities that find their way on to the pages of books were flawless angels fiction would become a pretty dull landscape. There are plenty of books 'out there' that are harshly critical of one thing or another. Bernie has a problem running her Bistro. It's a small part of her world and it wasn't meant to ignite a (mini) firestorm of righteous indignation. For the record, Panama is a lovely country with sweet and gentle people. Is it a perfect society? No. Even the local press and government recognize that the service industry there has room for some improvement. If that's the worst thing one can find about a country that says a lot.

If, as a U.S. citizen, I allowed every negative reference to a fictional citizen of the my country that appeared in a FREE book I downloaded to upset me I'd never get out of bed. A couple of ditzy (fictional) girls working in a little (fictional) restaurant does not constitute a condemnation of an entire country. A little perspective, please. When a character in a book calls some other fictional character stupid or even 'borderline retarded' she is still a fictional character making a made up statement. This fictional character is flawed. You don't have to like her. You don't have to like the book. You don't have to like me.

Dear unhappy reader, I respectfully suggest that you read the 'look inside' feature before you commit to a book. Bernie's 'tude is right there on page one. Secondly, by its nature, erotic romance tends to have sharper edges than what is called 'sweet' romance. There are lots of rainbows and unicorns out there that stay well within that happy place. My work isn't even close to the edge many of my fellow authors jump over every day. Another genre may suit you better.

I apologize for upsetting you and I am sorry you felt insulted. However, I stand by my words and my right to use them.



To satisfy any curiosity this post may have given rise to here is the comment:

"K.C. I started to read Passion Panama. The female lead described the Panamanian people in a way that I find very disturbing. I wonder if you realized that using words like retarded and stupid would be offensive to some of your readers? The female lead made insulting remarks over and over again, until it couldn't be ignored. I hope that you will explain at some point what your thoughts were."



And here is the review on Amazon:


Bear in mind that this may be the same pissed off soul.