My books are highly censored, or should I say highly challenged in America. I think it's because of that truth thing you've brought up. Despite all that, my best answer to the censors is to keep writing, because I think they'd like to shut me up. So I have a big laugh when I sit there writing yet another book. I have my own standards.
Tenderness is a very tough book.
But it's written in a minor key. When you're dealing with a serial murderer, a serial killer, and a sexually precocious girl, it's easy to let the blood flow and the sex roll, the harder part is to contain it, and suggest it. So my conscience is clear. As to that sensitive child out there, I know they exist, but maybe a good dose of truth would be a warning for what's waiting. You seldom get a censorship attempt from a 14 yr old boy.