As a parent of children with Autism, I have come to understand that the concept of reality is both complex and deeply personal. My motivation in writing my first book, “The Crazy Mother’s Guide To Raising Exceptional Children,” was born from a desire to offer hope and guidance. It’s a heartfelt commitment to sharing faith and innovative, practical parenting strategies to navigate life’s most intense moments with resilience and love.

Many children with disabilities experience dissociation and feel disconnected from reality. They might zone out and retreat into their own little world. Sounds familiar? Many autistic kids have a safe space where they can, for a moment, switch off and mentally go elsewhere. Everyone daydreams. For example, you might be driving to the supermarket and suddenly realize you don’t remember how you got there.

It is important to engage your child in activities that stimulate the left side of the brain, which involves practical skills. In contrast, the right side of the brain is more artistic and associated with daydreaming or psychosis. Start early by doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and especially Lego, which is excellent for fine hand-eye coordination. Learning a musical instrument also helps with this. My son has improved his concentration and ability to stay present by building impressive Star Wars Lego sets. The lesson I’ve learned is to encourage your children’s ability to stay present and avoid dissociation by engaging in activities that stimulate the left brain.  

Let’s explore how the idea of ‘reality’ is addressed in “Sincerely Yours…Written In The Stars And Inked In Destiny.” Blaine Cordwell is the son of a well-known lead singer from a 1980s hard rock band. His father has fallen into a trap of drugs and alcohol. While his father tours, Blaine remains behind with his mother. Blaine feels invisible to his father, like a child who is seen but not heard. He feels unnoticed and as if he is not a real person. However, meeting 17-year-old bookworm and alternative music fan Josie Worthington changes everything for him, as he is finally seen for who he truly is inside, rather than just a rockstar’s son. To clarify, as a Christian mother and writer, this book is clean fiction, so nothing is explored in depth—just basic background knowledge.

Sincerely Yours is a heartwarming teen romance, similar to the books I read as a teenager, such as the Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal. It's a young adult series that explores the lives of identical twins, Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, who live in the fictional town of Sweet Valley. I have fond memories of reading these books with my childhood friends, sitting on a bed in North Qld, and being enthralled by the lives of these two fictional characters.

I want to revive this clean teen romance soap opera genre, which reassures parents that these books are faith-based and free of inappropriate language and scenes. The art of writing is to craft a literary work that explores topics teens still face today, such as lack of identity, not fitting in, pushing boundaries, and bullying, while incorporating supernatural storylines that appeal to teens now.  

The author's ability to create new worlds is explored in this novel. As Blaine and Josie face a Nancy Drew-style mystery—a mystery that has caused writers to disappear in Haven Cove since 1968—the story unfolds. The novel also explores first love, as Blaine and Josie experience their first taste of genuine, innocent teen love. This is part of a series of three books, and the fates of my two favorite teens are still undecided. However, I can reassure parents that this series will resonate with your teen’s personal life and gently highlight the power of faith to overcome life's obstacles.

Sincerely Yours,

Sonia D. Hebdon