An erotica author charged with child abuse material offences over content in her latest book, “Daddy’s Little Toy”, has lost a bid to keep her identity hidden.
Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, who publishes erotica novels under the pen name “Tori Woods” faced backlash on social media following the release of the novel which allegedly depicts a relationship between an 18-year-old and her father’s friend.
The book raised alarm among readers after unsettling implications in the premise of the novel stated that the father’s friend had desired the teen since she was only three years old.
The cover design also sparked outrage once readers noticed the title was spelled out in children’s toy blocks and is described to be about a “barely legal” 18-year-old woman.
Tesolin-Mastrosa worked as a Christian marketing executive at BaptistCare until March 20 this year where she was reportedly suspended from her role.
BaptistCare suspends Tesolin-Mastrosa from marketing role
A BaptistCare spokesperson told B&T last month that it “does not discuss the circumstances of individual employees”.
“However, we can confirm that we received complaints regarding an unnamed employee late last week. As a result of these complaints, the employee was stood down effective 20 March while we undertake an internal investigation. BaptistCare takes matters of ethical conduct seriously. Our focus remains on upholding the values and integrity of our organisation,” they said at the time.
On Wednesday, presiding magistrate Rami Attia in Blacktown local court rejected a request to have extended the interim non-publication order which had protected Tesolin-Mastrosa’s identity and pen name, as reported by The Guardian.
During a hearing before the same court on Monday, Tesolin-Mastrosa’s solicitor, Mickaela Mate, had argued that the order should be extended, citing the undue distress and embarrassment and threats her client had faced, along with the nature of the charges.
Mate maintained that the case was “completely different” to other child abuse allegations as there was no victim involved.
“The words ‘produce child abuse material’ usually infer there is a child being made to or having sexual acts done to them … but that is entirely not the case.
“That association with child abuse material, paedophilia … causes in my respectful submission undue respect and embarrassment when really all [Tesolin-Mastrosa] has done is written a fictional novel.”
Tesolin-Mastrosa’s ‘Daddy’s Little Toy’ erotica novel pre-released
The erotica book had yet to go on sale, and had been available to a pre-release group of 20 advance readers.
Last month Tesolin-Mastrosa posted a statement to social media, describing the charges as a “huge misunderstanding” and said they made her “sick”.
“DLT is definitely not promoting or inciting anything ever to do with (child sexual abuse) or paedophilia,” Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa wrote.
“What is being said is grossly disturbing and breaks my heart as well as makes me sick.”
Tesolin-Mastrosa deletes social media accounts
‘Following public uproar over her book, Tesolin-Mastrosa has deleted her social media accounts, and the book has been removed from Amazon and Goodreads.
The book’s cover designer, Georgia Stove, has also publicly distanced herself from the controversial author, stating that she had received death threats.
“I have cut ties with Tori Woods, effective immediately,” Stove stated. “All I had known about the book was the blurb, which read ‘barely legal,’ and in my mind, I truly thought that was okay. Please stop with the threats over something I had no say in.”
Tesolin-Mastrosa is on conditional bail and will face court again on 5 June.
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