Vancouver-based author Michael Seidelman is set to release Imaginary Heroes, a new middle-grade novel inspired by his personal experiences with Tourette Syndrome and childhood bullying. The book will be available on April 15, 2025, in eBook, paperback, and hardcover formats, through Chewed Pencil Press, and will be sold in bookstores and online.
Imaginary Heroes follows twelve-year-old Matthew, who struggles with Tourette Syndrome and is relentlessly bullied by his peers. Seeking solace, Matthew befriends two imaginary characters: Nabie, a fierce girl, and Garby, a playful green monster. However, the story takes a thrilling turn when Matthew and his bullies become trapped in a mysterious underground lair. In order to escape, they must confront their fears and work together before the darkness engulfs them.
In a statement, Seidelman revealed how his own experiences shaped the story. “Like Matthew, I was deeply affected by Tourette Syndrome as a child,” he said. “I was teased for my tics and faced bullying at school. While Imaginary Heroes is a work of fiction, it draws heavily from my own struggles growing up. Through this book, I hope to create a relatable narrative that helps kids understand they are not alone in their experiences.”
Seidelman also shared that the characters of Nabie and Garby were not mere inventions, but real figures from his own childhood imagination. “Writing this book was a deeply personal journey,” he added. “Nabie and Garby were my imaginary friends, and they played an important role in helping me cope with the challenges I faced.”
The novel blends adventure with heartfelt emotional depth, offering young readers a window into the complexities of living with a neurological disorder, while also promoting themes of empathy, kindness, and resilience.
Known for his previous work with teens, Seidelman is the author of The Garden of Syn trilogy, which centers on a teenager struggling with cystic fibrosis. He currently resides in Vancouver and is working on his next literary project.
