Australian author Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, 33, was arrested Friday at her Quakers Hill home on charges related to child abuse material following global outrage over her novel Daddy’s Little Toy. Writing under the pen name Tori Woods, Tesolin-Mastrosa’s book has been accused of containing graphic fictional depictions of child abuse.
New South Wales Police confirmed that detectives executed a search warrant at her residence, seizing hard copies of the book for forensic examination. Tesolin-Mastrosa, who also goes by Lauren Ashley, faces charges of possessing, disseminating, and producing child abuse material. She was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear in Blacktown Local Court on March 31.
The novel details an 18-year-old’s relationship with her father’s friend, who allegedly expresses attraction to her from the age of three. Its content sparked widespread condemnation online and led to the removal of the book from platforms like Amazon and Goodreads. Critics labeled the work as “disgusting” and called for accountability, while some associated professionals, including the book’s cover designer Georgia Stove, have publicly distanced themselves from the author.
Tesolin-Mastrosa defended her work in now-deleted social media posts, calling the backlash a “big misunderstanding” and asserting that the book does not promote or incite child sexual abuse. However, she acknowledged that certain themes in the novel could be “frowned upon”.
Previously employed as a marketing executive at BaptistCare, a Christian charity organization, Tesolin-Mastrosa was removed from her position following complaints about her writing. BaptistCare stated it is conducting an internal investigation into the matter.
The case highlights ongoing debates about freedom of expression versus ethical boundaries in creative works.
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