In December 2018, my world flipped upside down when my daughter, Lainey, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She was in fourth grade, and let’s just say this wasn't the holiday surprise we'd hoped for.
At the time, Patty and I were deep in the trenches of writing our first fiction novel, pouring our hearts into it while also learning the brutal truth about publishing: just because we loved our book didn’t mean agents were lining up to fight over it. (Shocking, I know.) After what felt like a thousand rejections, we hit pause and focused on something closer to home—a children’s chapter book about a little girl with type 1 diabetes, something to encourage Lainey (and, let’s be honest, ourselves).
By the time we finished, COVID had hit, which meant another round of fun-filled rejection letters, this time with a side of global chaos. We even attended a virtual writers’ workshop where agents raved about the concept… and then promptly ghosted us. (We’d love to say we handled this gracefully, but, well… let’s just say ice cream was involved.)
At that point, I dove into researching self-publishing and gave Patty my best please-let’s-do-this speech. Luckily, she was on board, and we dove headfirst into indie publishing—where we quickly discovered we had no idea what we were doing. We made every mistake in the book (probably twice), but we kept going and learned as we went. And now? Our books are out in the world, helping kids like Lainey, all because we refused to quit.
A Lesson in Perseverance (and Rebranding... and More Ice Cream)
We originally titled the books Mixing Up Magic because Lainey loved to bake. The story's magic came from a special wooden baking spoon her Granny gave her. With that spoon, Lainey could travel the world and learn more about herself and others. We wrote not one but two more books in the Mixing Up Magic series, convinced we had something special.
And we did—but our sales didn’t exactly reflect that. That’s when we had a lightbulb moment: we needed to lean into the heart of the story—type 1 diabetes. Even though these books are great for any kid navigating life’s ups and downs, we originally wrote them for Lainey and every kid managing type 1 diabetes daily.
So, we rebranded—new covers, a new title—Lainey’s Type 1 Diabetes Adventures. Little by little, we started seeing more traction: more books in the hands of the kids who needed them most and more hope that this story was genuinely making a difference.
Even better? We’ve been able to visit elementary schools to share our journey—not just Lainey’s Type 1 Diabetes Adventures, but the rollercoaster ride of writing and publishing books. It’s been a wild, unpredictable, sometimes frustrating (but ultimately rewarding) adventure.
Looking back, I realize the magic of these books goes beyond a special wooden spoon. One of the most meaningful parts has been watching Lainey grow into a more confident young woman and become more comfortable embracing life with type 1 diabetes. I believe these stories have been part of that journey, giving her a way to explore her own experiences and share them with others. And if they've helped her, maybe they can help other kids feel a little less alone, too.
It’s been quite the journey, filled with unexpected twists, plenty of lessons learned, and more than a few moments of doubt. But looking back, I wouldn’t trade a single part of it. Through it all, we’ve had the privilege of connecting with kids, parents, and educators who have shared their own stories and struggles with type 1 diabetes. It’s a reminder that, while our adventure may have started with a diagnosis, it’s grown into something bigger—a way to support others facing their own challenges. We’ve found that sometimes, the toughest roads lead to the most rewarding places, and we’re just getting started. Thanks for being part of this adventure with us!