END

D Fox

The story Nathan talks about when he explains his tattoos is Sakura Gari (The Hunt for Cherry Blossoms) by the brilliant Yuu Watase. 

He was the character I was most hesitant about when writing, just because Nathan is the ‘misunderstood’ one; the one even I couldn’t always understand. 

Everything starts with Jeremy, who speaks to the reader whenever he’s uncomfortable; he breaks the fourth wall in an attempt to escape, until he finally stops because he’s found his way. Partly thanks to Kyle, partly because of himself. And by the end, Eva is the one who starts talking to us. 

Gray Daze is the novel I began writing even before The Gentleman’s Code. I was just afraid of writing about some of the topics here.  Afraid, because I know everyone dealing with any kind of emotional trauma, or however you want to name mental health problems (I hate the word problems, especially in this context, but that’s how they’re listed in the Mental Health Foundation List) has a different experience and ways of dealing with what’s inside their endless mind. Also, because I feel like we often shy away from discussing certain topics. If we close our eyes or ears, we might pretend they are not part of the narrative. They don’t exist. 

I didn’t want to do that. 

And if I’ve managed to make at least one person, even slightly understood, through either of the characters here, I’ll be the happiest. 

Thank you for being here. 

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