“You are not alone.” That’s the message that the GrayHaven Comics team is getting out to the world in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook. As a response to those tragic events in Newtown, CT the comic book team is producing a FREE COMIC BOOK that can be used to help those in need. Topics will cover dangers that many children unfortunately face every day in their lives, racism, homophobia to body issues and so on.

The tragic events of December 14, when 26 innocent people, including 20 children, lost their lives, affected the GrayHaven team. This lead to a discussion between the editors as to what they could do. What could be done?

What good is having the ability to reach people with our stories if we can’t put that to use in a beneficial way?

It goes beyond the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School. It goes beyond the victims of Aurora. This is not about gun violence or gun control. This is not a political statement. This is a statement of being good to your fellow man.

The GrayHaven team thought about Brandon Elizares, a 14 year old boy who took his own life after being bullied for coming out to his friends and classmates.

It’s about Victoria Gray’s African American son who was tied to a locker at his High School as classmates taunted him with cheers of ‘slave for sale’

This is about the 11 year old developmentally challenged child who was held down on a kitchen table by four adults who took turns beating him.

This is about the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s abuse and others like him.

This is about the children who are ridiculed or worse because of the color of their skin. Their sexual orientation. Their mental capacity. Their weight. Their interests.

This is about the children who no longer feel safe going to the movies or to school.

This is about the millions of kids who suffer abuse and suffer in silence thinking that no one cares.

The project is designed to reinforce that these children that are abused, and the many more we don’t know about know they are not alone. The GrayHaven team cares. Those involved in this project care. People care and want to help.

GrayHaven Comics will be publishing You Are Not Alone a very special anthology one shot featuring stories inspired but not based on real life events like the ones mentioned above. With this book they hope to give people the means to get help and know what to do should they ever witness or face such situations themselves. The book will be produced by their editors and distributed for FREE in order to get the message out to as many people who could benefit from it as possible. Along with print volumes they will also offer a free digital version of the book for those that prefer their reading on handhelds. A donation button will be placed on the site for anyone who wants to contribute any amount (be it a dollar or ten) and those funds will go to the charities established for the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

GrayHaven will be taking open submissions for these topics and full details will be released soon. Room will be limited and stories will be capped at 4 pages in length and editorial will guide writers and artists to make sure the material fits the criteria and is suitable for younger readers who they hope to reach with these stories. Interested writers and artists can contact them directly at gatheringanthology@hotmail.com