Why Inclusive Stories Matter: T.L. McCoy on Writing for Children with Disabilities

In this episode of the Authors On Mission Podcast, host Danielle Hutchinson sits down with T.L. McCoy to discuss her inspiring publishing journey and her award-winning book Delilah versus the Ghastly Grimm. Written for her grandchild who has Dravet syndrome, the book shines a light on the fact that only 3.4% of children’s books feature disabled protagonists—and McCoy is determined to change that.

She shares her mission to create inclusive stories, the challenges of self-publishing, and the marketing strategies that helped her book win 3 awards, hit #1 on Amazon’s Children’s Epilepsy Health list, and even be offered to patients at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Aspiring authors will gain valuable tips from McCoy’s journey:

• 📚 Self-published authors must actively market their work—writing alone isn’t enough.
• 🎬 Promo videos and creative outreach can amplify visibility.
• ✍️ Hook young readers quickly—Middle Grade books need fast pacing within the first 5–10 pages.
• 📝 Work with diverse editors to strengthen your manuscript and fill narrative gaps.

McCoy also teases her upcoming sequel, continuing her mission to bring inclusive, imaginative stories to children everywhere.

You can purchase her book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Delilah-Versus-Ghastly-Grim-McCoy/dp/B0F7VJBLP6

Watch out for the full podcast on these platforms:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12U5nbvPkcgC83VK9j4lPM?si=6ddaaa0c8a034436

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authors-on-mission/id1585639049

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@authorsonmission

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