ISWG: Character First, Diagnosis Second: Writing Limitations with Heart

Photo and Rabbit painting by Jenni Enzor

Do you have a food allergy, an autoimmune condition, or a limitation of some kind?

I have several foods I can’t eat, which can make life tricky at times. I also have family members with invisible disabilities. When I write characters, I want them to feel like people first, not a box to check.

If you don’t already know, I am a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, a community of authors who gather monthly to share about the creative life. It’s a place to be honest about our hurdles and celebrate small victories together.

I decided to skip this month's official prompt, which touches on ghostwriting and AI, because my heart was tugging me in a different direction: 

How do we create a character with a real-life limitation without letting that single detail overshadow the heart of their story?

 

Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

1. Let characters introduce themselves. When I first created Jo, my sidekick character, I only knew she was meant to be the grounded counterpoint to my main character, Charlotte. I was genuinely surprised when Charlotte offered her a plate of homemade treats, and Jo quietly declined. Through exploring her world—and reflecting on my own dietary journey and the daily lives of dear friends with celiac disease—Jo’s diagnosis emerged naturally.

MMGM: The Click of the Keys: Inside the World of Anna Rose Johnson

 

 

When my boys were young, it was always a challenge to find mysteries that were not too scary and had enough of a puzzle to hold their interest. Although they are well beyond middle grade now, Secrets at Sparhawk Point would have been an ideal read. There is an interesting mystery. Is the monster in the lake real or a prank, and if so, who is perpetuating it? But there is nothing creepy or scary, and like in all of Anna Rose Johnson's books, there are strong themes of family, faith, and heritage.

If you love mysteries with a strong character arc and the feel of a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys, you will love Secrets of Sparhawk Point.

I was so excited that Anna Rose Johnson was willing to answer a few questions about this beautiful story.

 

Portrait provided by Anna Rose Johnson

MMGM: Finding Strength in Family: Bridge of Stars by Tasha Kazanjian

 

Are you looking for a fantasy the whole family can fall in love with? Do you love stories about large families where siblings, despite their differences, always have each other’s backs?

Today I’m featuring a cozy fantasy set in a 1960s British-inspired world. I enjoyed the first book, Trick of Spades, so much, and I was thrilled to join the ARC team for Bridge of Stars by Tasha Kazanjian, releasing on September 29, 2026.

 

MMGM: The Colors of Friendship in Honey Butter by Millie Florence

 

 

If you had siblings, did you get along famously or struggle to see eye to eye? And if you’re a parent with multiple kids, having your children get along is always a challenge.

Although my sister and I often fought growing up, she’s now one of my dearest friends. And I’m so glad that my sons have so much in common, although they also have their differences.

In literature, I often see two extremes: either siblings who always understand each other, like Lizzie and Jane in Pride and Prejudice, or sibling rivalry that’s just a foil for the protagonist's conflict.
Honey Butter by Millie Florence realistically highlights sibling rivalry, but with a whole lot of hope for understanding each other. It’d make the perfect read-aloud and springboard for discussing how to get along with our “friends for life.”

 

ISWG: Why I Keep Redeeming the Difficult Character

Photo by Stephan H. on Unsplash

 

Have you ever had a person—who you thought was the worst—surprise you? It seems to be a recurring theme in my life. As a child, I had a neighbor who tormented my sister and me, but when someone else tried to punch me at the bus stop, she stood up for me when no one else did.

Or when I taught overseas, a difficult co-worker was the person who did the most for the orphans living on the streets.

All this is to say that the difficult people in our lives often surprise us, so that’s why when I create antagonists, I try hard not to make cardboard villains.

 

For the Child Who Feels Everything: Sensitivity, PEI, and The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane

 

Were you a child who felt everything deeply? Or do you have one of those children in your family now? I was—and still am. As a child, hearing bad news often felt like it were happening to me. And I have a son the same way. We walked out of many cartoons near the climactic point. It was just too much.  

At first, I was excited about Erin Stewart’s The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane because of the setting—Prince Edward Island—one of my favorite places to read about. But I ended up falling in love with Lucy, who reminded me a lot of my younger self.

If you love Prince Edward Island, gentle mysteries, and stories about children learning to live with big feelings, this is a lovely choice.

 

MMGM: The Boy Who Built Boxen: A Review of Giant

 

Do you have a C.S. Lewis fan at your house—or are you, or an older teen, reading Surprised by Joy? If you’d like to learn more about Lewis’s early life and his time in Belfast, Giant by Judith McQuoid is a lovely introduction.

Told through the eyes of fictional Davy, a boy based on Lewis’s longest friendship, this gentle historical novel imagines the early years of “Jacks,” the young C.S. Lewis.

As I read, I kept thinking about the parts of Surprised by Joy where Lewis describes making Boxen with his brother and his especially close relationship with Warnie. Narnia was one of the first novel-length series I read as a child, so I loved learning more about the childhood seeds that may have grown into those beloved stories.

If you enjoy discovering the inspirations behind your favorite authors, I think you will enjoy this one.