Inserting an Emoticon

I'm writing a first person piece wherein the main character is writing a letter, and he, talking to his wife, inserts ;-)
Thoughts on if publishers would despise this?

 

If it's clear that it's an email, I don't see what the problem would be.

 

not a problem, as long as you're inserting the letter as a block indent...

 

I agree. Make it clear that this passage is a letter or email, and you're okay.
(When I saw the subject header, i thought you were trying to make it part of the normal text and just about flipped.)

 

What do you mean by "block indent?"

 

She's talking about a block quote, which is used when quoting a long passage or including a letter or other such correspondence. If possible, you should take a look at what the Chicago Manual of Style has to say about it, but the Wiki page works as well.