For young readers, especially LGBTQ+ people, fantasy can be a safe escape from real life. Like many voracious Queer readers, author Clare Edge enjoys the escapism fantasy novels can provide. But they also noticed something was always missing.

Edge has had type 1 diabetes since they were 16, and while contemporary literature has made progress in disability representation, fantasy novels still trail behind. "Often, when you add magic to something, disability is used as an obstacle, or something that is cured," Edge explained. "It's important for kids to see themselves as heroes in their own lives. That's why I think it's important to see [disability representation] in fantasy, especially. All disability representation is in fantasy, because you can go on a magical adventure and have very realistic obstacles that are put upon you by your body and the lack of accommodation the world provides. For disabled kids to get to experience that escapism is important."

Started with a joke
Edge stumbled into writing their debut middle-grade novel, Accidental Demons, after making a joke on the internet. "I made an Instagram joke. I was reading Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, and there's a mention of blood magic in it, and it's too strong, and I was like, 'That wouldn't be an option for me, as a diabetic.'" They posted what they thought was a "funny idea": that a witch with diabetes wouldn't be able to stop conjuring demons whenever they tested their blood sugar level. "That was March of 2021, and I had a draft I was querying by that June," they said.

When Edge started writing Accidental Demons, they didn't think much about the book's target demographic. "I tripped and fell into it," Edge said. "I started writing it and [the protagonist] was 13, and I was like, okay she's 13. Thirteen's a weird age: it's kind of between the middle-grade audience and the YA audience, but it also felt like a rich narrative time for dealing with diabetes and chronic illness."

Looking back, they're glad Accidental Demons is written from the perspective of a middle schooler. "There's almost no type 1 diabetes representation in children's literature," Edge explained. "Babysitter's Club is kind of the standard, and that is a representation of diabetes from the '90s - things have changed a lot since then. Diabetics don't have much available in any age range, so you might as well make it approachable for kids."

While Accidental Demons is marketed toward kids aged 10-14, Edge included humor in the novel for older readers, some of which might go over the heads of the target demographic. Kids dealing with chronic illness may see some of their unique experiences portrayed in the book, but at the end of the day, it's a fun fantasy adventure anyone can enjoy.

"I often joke - that [this book] is for diabetic kids, but it's also for their shitty best friend. They can give it to them and [say], Here, this is kind of what it's like. You can learn something, but you're learning it through a fun, silly story,'" Edge said. "I aim for it not to be pedantic. The diabetes rep is sometimes slightly sacrificed for the pace of the story. We don't get too in the weeds about blood sugar numbers, but they are there when they're relevant, and sometimes they are."

A world without queerphobia
Accidental Demons not only provides excellent representation for kids and adults with type 1 diabetes, but it also creates a world without prejudice against Queer and Trans identities. "There is no queerphobia in the book," Edge said. "There are other prejudices; there are magical prejudices. The family that it's focused on, the Crowleys, they're very Queer. Grandma's a Lesbian, the sister is Bisexual, and the queerness is extremely casual. I think we're at a place, at least in publishing, where that's fine." One of the book's main characters is also a sassy Nonbinary demon.

Given the current controversy that continues to rage on - especially over books aimed toward children, particularly in Edge's home state of Montana - they decided not to worry about the conservative backlash the book may receive. "I fully expect there are librarians [for whom] I will be on their shitlist, but I couldn't create it with that in mind," they said. "People are going to be upset with so much about it - I mean, it has demons in it. People who are going to be mad about the Queer [representation] already aren't going to like the book."

Just like portraying type I diabetes accurately, Edge wanted to tell a story about queerness that isn't often shown in the media. "Queerness just isn't an issue for [these families]. Those families exist. I know young Queer people who are dealing with it societally, but they are not dealing with it in their families; they have supportive amazing families and Lesbian grandmothers. That sort of amazing, positive, casually Queer world is what I wanted to create, and I'm sure there will be market obstacles to that, but middle grade is facing so many other market obstacles, I decided not to worry about it."

Instead, Edge hopes to introduce a new generation of readers to fantasy escapism by creating a fun magical world where Queer, Trans, and disabled kids not only exist but get the chance to be the heroes.