Erotic Author Faces Charges Over Controversial Novel

Quakers Hill, Australia — Erotic fiction author Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, who writes under the name Tori Woods, is set to appear in court later this month after being charged with possessing, disseminating, and producing child abuse material related to her latest book, Daddy’s Little Toy. The charges follow an investigation launched by the New South Wales (NSW) Police).

On March 21, 2025, around 12:30 p.m. local time, officers from the Riverstone Police Area Command began their investigation after receiving reports that the novel contained child abuse material. NSW Police confirmed the details in a statement to PEOPLE.

According to reports from the Daily Telegraph, authorities received multiple complaints regarding the book, which centers on the troubling relationship between an 18-year-old and her father’s friend. Officers executed a search warrant at Tesolin-Mastrosa’s home on Penn Street in Quakers Hill, where they seized several copies of the book for forensic examination.

NSW Police apprehended the 33-year-old author, who was then taken into custody at the Riverstone Police Station. Following her arrest, she was granted conditional bail, with a scheduled court appearance at the Blacktown Local Court on March 31, 2025.

The backlash against Tesolin-Mastrosa has been significant, resulting in her allegedly deactivating her Instagram account and her book being removed from various online platforms. In the wake of growing criticism, Tesolin-Mastrosa described the situation as a “huge misunderstanding,” stating in a now-deleted post, “DLT is DEFINITELY NOT promoting or inciting anything EVER to do with (child sexual abuse) or pedophilia.”

Georgia Stove, who designed the book’s cover, announced that she has severed ties with Woods due to the controversy. “I cut ties with Tori Woods, effective immediately,” she stated. “I had no idea what was in the book when I worked on the artwork.” Stove also expressed concerns for her safety, claiming to have received death threats related to her involvement with the book.

Before her arrest, Tesolin-Mastrosa worked as a marketing executive at BaptistCare, a Christian organization, but has since been removed from her position pending internal investigations into the allegations against her. A spokesperson for BaptistCare confirmed that complaints regarding an unnamed employee had been received, leading to the suspension of that employee effective March 20.

BaptistCare emphasized its commitment to ethical conduct, stating, “Our focus remains on upholding the values and integrity of our organization.” Attempts to reach both BaptistCare and Blacktown Local Court for further comment were unsuccessful.

The situation has sparked an extensive public debate on the nature of artistic expression and the boundaries of fiction, especially in cases that involve sensitive subjects such as child abuse. As the court date approaches, the implications of Tesolin-Mastrosa’s case will likely continue to unfold.