Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Auti-magination

Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (10:14): I took great pleasure in launching the publication of Auti-magination: Stories of Autistic Writers in the Yarra Ranges last week. The book is the result of a series of workshops facilitated by Sandra Thom-Jones on creative writing for those living with autism, and what a hidden pool of creative talent. Sandra too is autistic, clever and wonderfully talented. She had the idea of collecting and publishing creative pieces from autistic writers to develop and show their boundless creative levels.

I loved reading of Victoria’s wild boys, Elliot’s letter to a random teacher, Lucy’s ugly butterfly that is a bit different, Lincoln’s take on Lady Luck, Jos’s post-migration family story, Matthew and his dragon and Mitchell’s sorcerers and sorceresses. Well done to writers Matthew Ball, Mitchell Cottom, Elliot Krizay, Lucy Krizay, Lincoln Thom-Jones, Victoria Rose and Jos van der Sman.