My Policy
I’ve been publishing for twenty years and there have been a lot of changes in that time, from the evolution of language to the debate on content notes. Rather than edit all my files, I’ll be linking to this page and updating it regularly. This page is a work in progress. With some older books I haven’t reread for several years, I might not recall every specific trigger, and if I’ve missed something, I apologize. I am doing my best.
My position on CW/CNs is that I will make a reasonable effort to note major elements that commonly, negatively impact a person with post-traumatic stress disorder.
In essence, I do not want you to have a three-day PTSD flashback episode because you read a book of mine about domestic violence without realizing it. But what I’m not going to do list more nebulous concepts such as “sadness” or try to account of every obscure trigger. I also take into consideration “page time”, meaning if there is one or two mentions of cancer, I probably won’t note it, vs if I wrote an entire book about cancer, which I absolutely would note.
Personally, with my own use of seeking out content notes, I find there is a point where they become useless for me with every single potential issue noted without any context. Your miles may vary.
Please note that violence (including sometimes sexual violence and sometimes child abuse) and murder, gore, death and grief, and anxiety/depression/suicide ideation and other mental health issues are common themes in my books. I cannot think of any racial slurs used. Occasionally drug use and addiction comes up. If you have a specific trigger, please feel free to email me and ask what books might be okay for you to read. The only hard line I have is that I do not kill pets (and very rarely any animal). Everything else is on the table, particularly series books.
What you will not find here is disclosure of any of my personal experiences with any subjects in my books. I support readers seeking out “Own Voices” books but I will not answer any questions about what particular representations I identify with or my own trauma or medical history that “qualifies” me to write what I do. If this is a problem I wish readers better luck elsewhere.
Livi Talbot Series Summary
This is an action/adventure series that involves a lot of violence, sometimes between people and sometimes between people and mythological creatures. Violence against women and sexual assault is an ongoing theme (the main character is a rape survivor). Mental health and the breakdown of unhealthy coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression are a common theme.
Livi Talbot Individual Books
- on-page violence both between people and between humans and mythical creatures
- allusions to previous abuse
- on-page violence both between people and between humans and mythical creatures (and briefly a non-mythical shark that doesn't die)
- on page attempted date rape
- emergency vet treatment for a cat (cat survives)
- on-page violence both between people and between humans and mythical creatures
- past mention of attempted date rape
- suspected sexual abuse of a minor (that is ruled out)
- discussion of previous abuse
- on-page violence both between people and between humans and mythical creatures
- discussion of previous abuse
- fear a rape occurred
- mental illness episodes: anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and vague suicide ideation
- on-page violence both between people and between humans and mythical creatures
- infertility discussions
- on-page violence both between people and between humans and mythical creatures (dog-like creature is not harmed in any way)
- physical child abuse
Demons of Oblivion Series Summary
This is a classic urban fantasy series with a lot of on-page violence including gun violence, explosions, and physical fights. Domestic violence and sexual assault (mostly off page but on page recollection and discussion) come up in various books. Mental health episodes involving depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation come up in various books.
Demons of Oblivion Individual Books
- standard violence between people (witches, vampires, demons)
- standard violence between people (witches, vampires, demons)
- mentions of intimate partner violence
- standard violence between people (witches, vampires, demons)
- death of children mentioned
- suicide ideation and discussion
- standard violence between people (vampires, witches, demons)
- violence against a child (on and off page)
- recollection of previous abuse and mention of marital rape
- standard on-page violence between people (vampires, witches, demons)
- partner violence (sort of?)
River Wolfe Series Summary
This is my only series that brings up animal death (wild animals, specifically wolves). There is high school bullying and mental health episodes involving suicide ideation.
River Wolfe Individual Books
- mention of previous violence against a wild animal
- high school bullying
- mention of previous violence against a wild animal
- suicide ideation
Elis O’Connor Series Summary
Elis is a serial killer of abusive men so this series frequently addresses sexism, misogyny, and harassment. There is a lot of on-page violence, usually involving magic so it’s more over the top (this is, in essence, a power fantasy).
Elis O’Connor Individual Books
- violence (witch on human, witch on witch) usually with magic
- discussion of harassment, on-page harassment
- violence (human on witch, witch on human)
- abduction and confinement
- revenge porn
- buried alive
- violence (witch on humans)
- dog seems like she's in peril (she's fine)
- violence usually with magic
- discussion of dead bodies (mutilated, some gore description)
- violence usually with magic
- forced stripping while inspecting for a mark (non-sexual)
Waverly Jones Mysteries Series Summary
This series grapples with contemporary issues such as police brutality, violence against women, sexual violence, and murder. The main character has a host of mental health issues.
Waverly Jones Mysteries Individual Books
- on-page violence, kidnapping and confinement
- a rape victim discussing lack of justice (rape is off page, few details presented but there is a serial rapist in the area)
- discussion of past violence, including dismemberment
- injured dog found with two puppies (it receives medical care and does not die, no on-page abuse or anything, puppies are fine)
- discussion of past homicide from gun violence, as well as other homicides including ones that involve dismemberment
- mentions of and allusions to domestic violence
- threats when a gun is present
- medical emergency
- repeated discussions of death by suicide
- discussion of sexual violence
- police brutality and sexual threat
- discussion of drug use and addiction
- characters discuss multiple homicides
- on-page violence
- police brutality
- discussion of torture
- suicide ideation
- discussion of child sex abuse (not graphic but it's the theme of the whole book)
- police brutality
- violence
- abduction and confinement
- discussion of past case involving child abduction and murder
- abduction and confinement
- emotional and physical abuse
- feared sexual threat/assault
- discussion of forced miscarriage
- violence and murder
Standalone Books
Themes in standalone books vary, but in general you’ll find similar elements to the rest of my books.
- domestic violence (past abuse mention, one detailed event on page including attempted strangulation)
- rape (act not detailed; time leading up to is)
- past trauma and fear/anxiety
- violence
- childhood physical and emotional abuse/trauma
- murder on-page, including of a child
- cats seem like they're in peril (they are fine)
- pandemic (no one dies; it's more background noise)
- childhood physical and sexual abuse/trauma touched on (not detailed but implied on-page)
- gaslighting
- mental health issues (anxiety and depression discussed, as well as medicating)
- suicide
- pandemic (one reference to the funeral of someone who died; the pandemic is more background noise)
- graphic violence
- discussion of rape
Writer of urban fantasy, thrillers/mysteries, and horror.