#fab feedback

I’m sure Min’s mum wouldn’t consider those ‘small’ issues XD 

There’s actually an incredible lot of subtext (in the general meaning of that word) in Min’s mum’s backstory which I very gently hinted at in Flesh & Blood but decided not to delve too far into because the story was already complex enough. But the crumbs may be there for people to figure out what really went on with Min’s family. Min knows and believes what her mother told her. We, as readers, get told what Min knows and believes. 

What actually happened isn’t strictly relevant to Min’s story at this point (although I’m sure Min herself would have a very different opinion of things if she knew the truth), and I didn’t want the story to branch off too much in the Family Reconciliation direction because I already had goals for it. 

2/2 He continues to help Min and be her friend, and he later helps Bree and Gemma. I also love Sarah's boyfriend (gotta look up his name again as soon as my Kindle charges). Even though I was rooting for Gemma and Sarah to get together for the first part of Solve for I, we can see that Sarah and her boyfriend have a genuinely loving relationship. He's good to Min too, even though as a blue collar, rural guy he's had no previous experience with gender issues. Sorry gushing! Thanks for writing!

‘Rob’ is the name of Sarah’s boyfriend :3

Thank you so much for saying this! I, too, hate that many of the men in lesbian novels (or queer novels for women in general) tend to be villains or 2D. In the UMS-verse, I wanted to present the men as as varied and complex as everyone else. It would have been SUPER easy for Min to leave Henry if he was bad, too - but he’s not. And that’s how life is, isn’t it? Sometimes we have to let down really nice people because it’s the right thing for us to do for ourselves. And it’s hard. 

Also, I really reject the idea that wlw relationships are somehow superior (again, something I see in lesbian communities). As much as I understand it’s a subversion of ‘lesbian relationships aren’t real’ and a reaction to the invalidation of wlw relationships, it also means bisexual women get shit on a lot for what’s seen as ‘settling’ for a man. Like. No. 

So yeah. I wanted to present a variety of healthy and unhealthy relationships in the UMS-verse, and I wanted to have some really solid, really likeable male characters. 

:D!!

It’s really exciting when people who aren’t in the books’ demographic enjoy them anyway! I’m glad they got you thinking about things - and I hope when you come across this stuff in real life you’ll have a better understanding and be more compassionate than you otherwise would have been! :D

HAHAHA! Yeah, on reflection I think I should have pulled the reins on the tension in Flesh & Blood. On the other hand, people who have parents like Min’s have thanked me for the accurate portrayal of what it’s like to have a parent like Min’s mother - what it’s like to always be on edge, to not have a safety net, to know your parents are always looking for another opportunity to control you - and how every kid with a parent like that is terrified they’ll turn out like their parents themselves. 

So IDK! Apologies for the tension, but welcome to how and why Min developed her anxiety disorder ;)

First of all, congratulations on taking such a big step forward, you must be so excited and terrified! Good luck with your transition, I hope everything is super smooth! :D

It’s so wonderful for me to read your message, honestly! I set out to represent trans folks, and I love knowing that I was able to write a character who so closely represents how you feel that they give you the words to describe it yourself. Honestly, being able to do this for someone is the reason why I write these sort of books <3333

LIKE JESUS THIS DEBT STUFF I KEEP PANICKING. ;n;

I like people to feel what the characters are feeling!