I’ve written over sixty books in multiple genres that run the gambit: short fiction, romance, fantasy, poetry, young adult, children’s literature, horror and suspense, even some science fiction. In all of those books, I have never had a character that was disabled—not in any of my books. I was born with cerebral palsy (CP). When … Continue reading
Before I begin, I’d like to state upfront that I’m not saying that only X can write X, for any iteration of X—at all. (Please refer to this heads-up as many times as necessary while you read this article.) At Can-Con last year, I was lucky enough to take part in a panel on the … Continue reading
I remember very distinctly the first time I read about “someone like me” in a book. I couldn’t have been more than ten or twelve at the most, and the book was Mine for Keeps by Jean Little. The main character, Sally, had cerebral palsy—just like me. She wasn’t the sad, crippled friend that you … Continue reading
I’m really tired of being disabled and I don’t wanna do it no more, mkay? Oh yeah, that’s not a thing. I guess I’ll just take a deep breath, use my words, and say, “WTF is the matter with you people without disabilities?” No, seriously, are you all right? Is there anyone I can call? … Continue reading
I am a disabled author, editor, and academic. I grew up wanting to see people like myself in my fiction—people with disabilities. All I ever encountered were tropes about disabled people. We could be the wise mentor who dies, the inspirational hero who is rewarded with a magical cure, about the person who triumphs over … Continue reading
