January 5, 2023

Looking back over 2022, my two favorite memories were days when I visited bookstores. Both times, I was in a blue pinafore that makes me feel like Belle – and also happens to be made from stimmy embroidered corduroy – plus my comfy ear defenders.

The first time, I was researching book covers. My brain was in full pattern-seeking mode, scanning shelves and comparing covers to figure out: What’s trending? What stands out in a good way? Do I want my book to look more like a memoir (which it is), or more like self-help (which it also is)? Most importantly, what do I like?

The second time, I brought my boyfriend along to help me find a book that I could hold for my photo shoot, since my real book wasn’t printed yet – though by that time, I had a clear vision for the cover. We laid eyes on almost every book in the store before finally finding one that was 6×9, black, matte, and less than 130 pages – a perfect “stunt book,” as he calls it.

I like being on a precise mission. I like analyzing data. I like corduroy fabric. And I really enjoy being surrounded by books.

Here’s to more of all that in 2023!

P.S. I write from my personal experience as an autistic. What I share is not a substitute for advice from an autistic medical professional. Also, some of my opinions have changed since I first wrote them.