Hannah Goodman’s latest book, “Fear of Falling” takes on a theme of bullying and homophobia. The Bristol mom of two started writing a series for young adults when she was a teenager herself. She has two books previously published, “My Sister’s Wedding,” and “My Summer Vacation.”

The latest book involves the same main character as her first two books, Maddie Hickman.

“I wanted to write a story of the power of friendship through the turmoil of being a teenager,” she said.

In her latest book, Maddie, as editor of a school publication, receives a letter from a gay student who is being bullied. Maddie and her friends rally together to deal with the bullying and homophobia.

“I’ve always wanted to address this issue in a way that was public,” she said.

Ms. Goodman said it upsets her that anyone is treated differently because of who they choose to sleep with. She said the story draws on the emotions experienced as a child for a different reason.

“I’m Jewish and I grew up in a town of non-Jews. In elementary school I was teased for being Jewish. It’s an issue of equality. I think we need to treat people fairly,” she said.

The first two books deal with the topic of alcoholism through Maddie, who watched her older sister deal with alcoholism and recovery. Her first two books have won awards, including a first place award in the Writer’s Digest International Self-Publishing Contest in 2004, for “My Sister’s Wedding.”

Ms. Goodman said Maddie is like her alter ego; the character reacts with similar feelings she felt while a teen, but her books are not autobiographical, all the events are fiction. Bristol is now home to the author and her husband, Mike Porco, and their children, Chelsea, 5, and Vivian, 1, but she draws on some of the memories of her own teen years, growing up in Middletown, for the first two stories.

“When I was in high school I was the designated driver with some kids. It was scary, the amount of drinking that went on. I’m hoping to open conversation about that issue,” she said.

Ms. Goodman writes most often in coffee shops in the East Bay. She also has set up a home office and owns a business called the Write Touch, which covers a range of writing-related endeavors from coaching to tutoring. She taught high school English in previous years, but finds running her own business and writing makes it easier to spend more time with her young children. When not working, she loves to practice yoga and exercise. For more information, check out her website, www.hannahrgoodman.com.