BAD THINGS HAPPEN

I waited a while before adding a new post because things with Aqua have taken a new turn and I wasn't quite ready to share these with the world.

I'm still not sure how to share the latest update on the progress of this controversial novel. Maybe it would help if I told  you a bit about the story.

Aquasapien is about a man John Redshaw, he is a weapons  and martial arts expert and part of a mercenary team codename: Unit One.
Their job is to undertake missions that other agencies, and governments cannot do, for whatever reason be they political, financial or whatever.  Most of their work is searching for individuals and rescuing them. This is going well until Redshaw, is unknowingly infected and transformed into something other than human. During his metamorphose stage, when he is  out of control and almost out of his mind,  he does some very BAD things (to two women).

Also during the story, later on in one of the missions, they rescue a woman from some very BAD guards who do the same to another woman. (I'm deliberately staying woolly because this is a public site) In both cases I have left no one in any doubt what is happening in the scenes and how BAD it is.

Someone who has read my work feels (particularly) the guards scene is unnecessary. Their actual words were 'nasty and gratuitous.' 

I do understand their point of view and respect it, and I know if its not pivotal to the story then it shouldn't be it in. However I was hoping to show that non-consensual BAD things are an act of violence and not anything else and I think it succeeds in doing that.

I do not condone BAD things. I am going to put a  warning on the cover. I am also going to put a piece on the inside recognising this and outlining avenues of support to readers affected by the book.

I've also decided to use a pen name, (which I'm working on) due to my concerns about it affecting my employment. This is still a work in progress and I almost shelved the whole project a week ago as a result.

If there is anyone out there with a strong stomach, who feels they could give me their point of view, or offer to read the particular segment I'd love to hear from you.