Finding ecstasy: The true story of a teenage closet case

’Finding Ecstasy’ is the debut novel by Norman Fox. It’s a true story about Nathan, an intensely closeted and teenager who engages in high-risk activities because he cannot face the truth. It’s about the double-lives of Nathan’s group of A-grade high school students, known in the school playground as ＂ the Group＂, who discover the underground Sydney dance party scene of the late 1980s.

’Finding Ecstasy’ is ’Puberty Blues’ meets ’Brokeback Mountain’ set against the backdrop of the emerging Sydney rave scene. It’s about discovering sexuality, mental health, drug addiction, taking one too many pills and the real-life consequences of experiencing too much, too young.

This novel is dedicated to a childhood friend of Norman who passed away as a consequence of being in the closet and drug addiction. It was written to help educate teens going through similar situations today and, hopefully, a cautionary tale for bureaucrats who think they know what’s best in terms of public policy on taboo topics.