Before anything else, this story takes place in the early 70s in Scotland. Homosexuality was decriminalised in Scotland first in 1981.

I'm by no means claiming this story is completely historically accurate in the depictions of homosexual struggles during the time period and place. Both because I have not researched enough to claim so and because I have given myself creative freedom. For instance, from what I've found when researching, this story takes place before the first pubs and clubs, which openly catered to homosexual individuals, opened in Edinburgh. Places existed much earlier but they were shared spaces. However, I have anyway decided to include an openly gay pub in the story. Even so, the novella aims at a realistic portrayal of how heteronormativity and homophobia can affect you.

Now, with that out of the way: Hi and welcome to The Second Draft!

This is the third novella of a series of novellas, which will include five novellas in total. If you haven't read the previous two (Oak's Tea Room and The Oblivious Fool), then I suggest doing so first. There are backstories and such to the characters explained in the previous novellas, and though I give some context to those things again, I've assumed readers to have read the previous ones already and therefore don't get into those things as detailed. 

This one absolutely spoils the second novella as well. 

As you might have understood from the first little bit here, this novella deals with the topic of homophobia both in the form of external homophobia and internalised. Meaning: characters openly display homophobia at times through slurs and actions, and Alasdair's inner monologue deals with denial and shame.

Other than that, what might be triggering is one scene with overconsumption (though not enough to in any way be life-threatening) of alcohol. 

Though the story is marked mature, there will NOT be any sex scenes. There are, however, sexual scenes. 

The series takes place in an urban-fantasy world, but there won't be magical elements in the same way as there is in the first novella, but rather at the same level as in the second on. 

And I think that was all I had to say for now! See you in the prologue 😉