Alice W. Meadows
Author, Migraine Advocate, and Creator of Mabel and Her Bright, Noisy, Prickly, Dizzy Migraine
Mabel is going on a hike with Mama and Papa. Along the way, she runs into some scary characters. Can she finish the hike?
Publisher: StarSeed Press by GracePoint Publishing
Publishing Date: September 2026
Meet Mabel. A little elephant with a big problem. She is under attack by Migraine. In this magical story told through a child’s eyes, see how Mabel meets each migraine symptom with courage and support from her parents.
The Characters:
Elephants were chosen for their tight family bonds
“Madame Aura” brings the flashing lights that can warn us
“Senor Migranos” drums the throbbing pain of migraine into our skulls
“Prince Prickles” sends pins and needles feelings that can sometimes happen to us
“Dame Dizzy” confuses our brains and makes us feel whirly
“Baron Bellyache” makes us nauseous or maybe even vomit
Mabel was illustrated by K.M. Stenny, who specializes in expressive characters. Most of her work is digital, blending real-life studies with cartoony exaggeration. When not drawing, K.M. Stenny can be found going on nature walks and petting strangers’ dogs.
What people are saying:
“For those that have children that struggle with migraine, this is a wonderful book to help explain the various symptoms of migraine in a way that can make the symptoms less scary. A much needed resource to help start the conversation at home.”
-Dr. Jessica Ailani, Director of Georgetown Headache Center and Professor of Clinical Neurology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
“Finally, a way for children to understand the pain they’re suffering, and feel comforted!”
-Allegra Huston, Author and co-creator of the Imaginative Storm writing method
Meet Alice
Alice W. Meadows tells stories about resilience and transformation, and the importance of having people to support us.
Mother of two fabulous daughters, Alice is married to her college sweetheart. They have three active young grandchildren.
Alice’s writing day begins before 5:00 am when she is awakened by Luna Rose, their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Peaches, their rescue cat. When not writing, Alice enjoys travel, hiking, reading, cooking, mah jongg, and classic rock concerts. Her first book comes out of her training as a migraine advocate. Alice is a lifelong migraine patient.
Alice writes from her home in Florida.
Alice’s Migraine Stats:
# of years since diagnosis: 43
# of years living with migraine (est.): 57
Longest migraine: 12 days
Worst month (# headache days): 20
Best month (# headache days): 3 in May 2026!
Biggest triggers: weather changes, odors, light hitting my eyes in a certain way, too much or too little sleep, dehydration
Aura (Y/N): Y
Vomit (Y/N): No, not anymore. But Yes nausea!
Favorite migraine tool: migraine ice cap
Alice’s Migraine Story:
I remember being sent home from elementary school with vomiting and what felt like a “headache in my tummy.” My parents and teachers thought I wanted to skip school even though I was always an A student. My classmates were jealous because I got to go home early. They didn’t know how sick I felt. Sometimes I threw up in the school nurse’s office. I never knew when I would be sick, so I skipped birthday parties and sports. My brothers and sister got mad because sometimes I couldn’t help with chores. Even my parents and doctor didn’t believe I could be sick so often. I felt sad and lonely with my illness. The only thing that helped was to sleep until the symptoms went away. This made the loneliness worse.
For book news and essays on migraine life, writing, resilience, and life's unexpected journeys, subscribe to Alice's Substack . She welcomes readers to join the conversation and share their thoughts along the way.
MIGRAINE RESOURCE CENTER PREVIEW
COMING SOON!
PARENTS
Help families
navigate childhood
migraine
CHILDREN
Words, stories, activities
for young migraine
warriors
TEACHERS
Help teachers help
students with
invisible illnesses
HEALTHCARE
Provide child and
family perspective
of migraine life
*Purple is the official color of Migraine Awareness Month held every June. "Shades for Migraine Day" is June 21. Wear your shades!
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*Purple is the official color of Migraine Awareness Month held every June. "Shades for Migraine Day" is June 21. Wear your shades! 〰️
LATEST BLOG POSTS
(Click pictures to read full post)
Listen to Podcasts
Writing as Medicine - Alice sits down with James Nave of Twice 5 Miles Radio to talk about growing up with migraine, how writing about it helps her to cope with it, and the origins of Mabel (5/1/2026)
My Migraine on Substack
Advocacy Part II (7/10/2026)
Stories We Inherit vs. Stories We Choose (5/21/2026)
Advocacy Part I (3/19/2025)
Migraine: An Invisible Disability (1/30/2025)
Invisible Pain (8/29/2024)
The Amber Wave
By Alice W. Meadows
In the meantime, I am finishing the first draft of a coming-of-age novel that lands its main character, Elinor Davenport, right in the center of the storm of the century. And her husband just died. All this is enough to give Elinor a migraine…
Junonia Island, FL 2022
Elinor Davenport is a late middle-aged woman forced to become independent after her husband Pim’s sudden death. Over-reliant on Pim, she has had no voice in her marriage. The key to restoring her voice lies in unraveling the twists of a childhood disaster while facing the hurricane of the century. The outcome determines whether she has the courage to fulfill her dream of opening a cafe.
The first book of a planned trilogy, the novel is centered around 2022’s devastating Hurricane Ian, the backdrop for Elinor’s character growth. What happens when we are unexpectedly on our own and disaster strikes? How do we recover a voice lost during childhood? And is it possible in our 60s to still realize our dreams?