Q: First tell us something about yourself.
My name is Clarissa Hyneman, and I am a children’s author, registered nurse, mother, and co-founder of Lovefearlessly Outreach. I am passionate about creating books that help children feel seen, understood, loved, and included.
Much of my writing is inspired by my experiences as a mother and by the children and families I encounter in everyday life. I especially have a heart for creating stories that represent neurodivergent children and help other children understand that differences do not have to separate us.
Q: How and when did your journey start as a writer?
My journey into writing began in an unexpected way. In December 2023, I created a prayer space in my home and began placing Scriptures and affirmations on the wall. That eventually inspired an affirmation poster for children, which grew into the idea for my first children’s book.
By January 2025, that idea had become a published book, and I realized there were so many more stories I wanted to tell. What started with one idea grew into Lovefearlessly Outreach and a collection of books centered around faith, identity, inclusion, emotional growth, and helping children see themselves represented in literature.
Q: Tell us something more about your book series.
My books are connected by one central mission: I want children to know that who they are matters.
Some of my books focus on faith and identity, while others explore autism, neurodiversity, emotions, friendship, confidence, and inclusion. Several stories are inspired by real children and real experiences.
My Friend Mikey is especially focused on autism acceptance and friendship. The story is told through the eyes of Pete, Mikey’s friend. Instead of presenting autism as something that needs to be fixed, the story helps children understand some of the ways Mikey experiences and interacts with the world, including AAC communication, sensory needs, headphones, stimming, and different ways of playing.
Ultimately, Pete learns something very important: Mikey doesn’t have to become more like him for them to be friends.
Q: How did you create the magical system in your books and characters?
My books do not have a traditional magical system because I primarily write stories grounded in real-life childhood experiences. The “magic,” for me, comes from helping children recognize themselves and understand one another through storytelling.
When creating characters, I think about experiences children actually have, including moments when they may feel different, misunderstood, afraid, left out, or unsure of themselves. I then build the story around those experiences in a way that children can understand.
With My Friend Mikey, I wanted Mikey to be a whole child, not simply a character used to explain autism. He has his own ways of communicating, playing, regulating, and connecting with his friend. Pete gives young readers an opportunity to learn alongside him and discover that friendship can look different and still be meaningful.
Q: Do you want to leave any message for your readers?
I would tell my young readers: Never be afraid to be kind to someone who experiences the world differently than you do.
You don’t have to completely understand someone before you can include them, sit beside them, play with them, or be their friend. Sometimes friendship begins simply by being willing to learn about another person.
And to every child who sees themselves in Mikey, I hope this book reminds you that you deserve to be seen, understood, included, and valued exactly as you are.
That is the message I hope children carry with them long after they finish reading My Friend Mikey.
