Sofie Martinez loves to write.

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Sofie Martinez started writing and drawing comic books when she was in kindergarten, "but now I write kids stories," she says. "Usually I write about my cousin, Jameson, (and) lately I've been writing about stuff that's happened in the family."

An example: her story about her young brother, Mateo.

When he was born, Sofie's mom says, the whole family was entranced because "he looked like an angel."

But as Mateo grew — he's 4 1/2 now — he turned out to be more imp than angel. A real riot, Jill Martinez says, and Sofie began thinking of how to tell Mateo's story.

Thus was born "Mateo, Are You Going to be a Good Boy?" It's a story Sofie wrote and illustrated and that the whole family has enjoyed.

Sofie reads her stories to her parents and family, but generally she's reluctant to share them with anyone else.

Much as she likes writing, it's a process that isn't easier with experience.

"The older I get, the less confident I am," possibly because of her handwriting, she explains.

"But I feel like having bipolar gives me more ideas. Maybe bipolar sets my mind free," she said of the mood disorder that she and her parents talk about freely.