Sunshine Rays asked Rick Riordan:

First, I just want to say thanks, your stories have helped so many of us feel seen, especially kids who don’t always feel like they belong. I’ve noticed that your books often touch on serious themes and I was wondering if you’ve ever thought about exploring a character who struggles with self-harm or similar emotional pain? I understand this is a really sensitive topic, especially in books written for middle-graders!

Rick Riordan I have never considered writing about this personally, but that's an important topic and an issue a lot of people face. I'm actually reading a novel in Italian right now, Per Mia Culpa, in which one of the main characters deals with obsessive self-harm. I don't have a good understanding of the factors involved, though, so I'm not sure I'd do the best job tackling the topic.

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