It's a fine line. Are you writing darkness to introduce conflict and grow your characters, or are you writing darkness for the sake of darkness? I often feel self-conscious when people ask me what my (current) book is about; particularly family. Especially if I get past the two-second pitch ('it's a normal girl vs. criminal underworld kinda story') and they want to hear more. 'Well, Auntie, there's a kidnapping, a fair amount of bloody violence, some language, and a considera