Everybody had something horrible happen to them at one time or another in their life.
When a woman creates an unlikable character, a lot of people think it's a mistake.
Ultimately, I'm in control of what's going on in the books, so I can back off, if it's scaring me too much.
Even Gone With the Wind had a shocking, cold-blooded murder.
As a Southerner, I love obstacles for my characters.
Everyone had a reason for everything they did, even if that reason was sometimes stupidity.