GT: Would you say then that your heroes and heroines have changed in the time you’ve been writing?
Emma: Of course. Values in society have changed, the mores have changed. What was acceptable back in 1980, you look back at it and think that was the dark ages. Attitudes towards sex have very much changed. Single mothers are now acceptable. What used to be called living in sin is now acceptable. Even the verbology: we talk about partners now, not girlfriend, fiancée, wife. It’s partner now, which is an all-purpose word. So you certainly have to be aware, because the more relevant your story is to the people reading it, the closer they are going to identify with it, the more they are going to like it, and they’ll buy you again. (116)
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