Self-appointed gatekeepers of fiction…

My series isn't historical fiction because it's not set in a real historical period and doesn’t reflect modern cultures today. I had a rough week. Someone thought I was insulting their faith by using a common name from their culture for the leader of one of my many groups of barbarians, even though they shared no similarities beyond the name. Without reading the book, she launched a deeply personal attack and left a public warning to readers considering my work… over a name. I was stunned, as was my editor. It was... barbaric.

I changed the character's name to stop other hateful people of that culture from targeting me in the future.

The mob of bullies attacking writers because of self-appointed gatekeepers today threatens freedom of thought and fiction. If people don’t like something, they should just not read it. I’d prefer bullies not read my work at all because it is about love in all forms between all genders and faiths.

So, a warning to fiction writers — be cautious when using real people's names. The hostility that people are so quick to express these days is disheartening. I write to escape all of that, but it found me. Just sending love out into the universe. Be careful out there.

Pass with peace, Mae