My Writing Journey: Helping Autistic Kids Find Their Voice Through Storytelling

 For years, I struggled to connect with writing in a way that felt natural.

I enjoyed words. I loved stories.
But something always felt...off. Like I was following someone else’s path instead of creating my own.

Everything shifted the moment I discovered the one thing I truly loved writing about.
That spark changed my relationship with writing—and opened doors I never expected.

Now, after 15+ years as an author—and as someone who’s autistic myself—I’ve turned that experience into something bigger than me.

📚 My talk, “My Writing Journey,” is designed specifically for autistic children aged 7–9.

It’s more than just a story about how I became a writer.
It’s a message of possibility, of representation, and of creative freedom.

I share how I went from feeling stuck to finding my voice, and how they can too—on their terms, in their way.

The talk flows into a hands-on workshop, where we explore an excerpt from one of my children’s books and use it as a jumping-off point for their own writing.
It’s playful, empowering, and deeply affirming.

This isn’t about writing “perfectly.”
It’s about belonging in the world of stories—and realizing that their voice matters.

✨ If you work with neurodivergent students—or know someone who does—I’d love to bring this talk and workshop to your school or library.

Let’s help more autistic children see that their words are powerful, their stories are valid, and their creativity deserves a spotlight.

📩 Interested in booking or learning more? Send me a message—I’d love to connect.

Want to know more about autism?

 

Would you like to know more about autism? One way you can do that is by coming to see me and my books at the Sydenham market as above. I will be there with all my children's autism books as well as my picture books and information about my new SEN workshops. All books are at a discount for in person events. Come and say hello and ask a question, if you wish to. Hopefully it won't rain too much on the day. 

Why I write my children's autism books

Hi, I’m Julie Day—children’s author and advocate for neurodivergent kids who deserve to see themselves reflected in the pages they turn.

I wrote my latest book, Sam and the Mouse Mayhem, with one very specific reader in mind: the autistic child who’s never quite felt at home in the stories they’ve been given.

Maybe they’ve read about kids who are loud and quick-witted, or who always “fit in” at school, or who breeze through social situations like it’s second nature. But what about the kids who experience the world differently? Who process sound, light, words, and emotions in beautifully unique ways?

Those are the kids I write for.

A Book That Says “You Belong”

Sam and the Mouse Mayhem is a fun, relatable story written for autistic children aged 7–10. It’s not about “fixing” or “explaining” autism—it’s about accepting and celebrating it.

This book exists to say:

 “You’re not alone.”
 “You’re not too much or too little—you’re just right.”
 “Your story deserves to be told, too.”

When I sat down to write this book, I wasn’t thinking about market trends or awards. I was thinking about the child who opens a book and thinks, Finally. This feels like me.

Why Representation Matters

When kids can relate to the characters in the books they read, something magical happens:
They feel seen.
They feel heard.
They feel safe.

That’s the power of representation—and that’s why I do what I do.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, librarian, or family member of an autistic child, I hope this book brings more understanding, more acceptance, and more joy into your world.

Let’s Stay Connected

If Sam and the Mouse Mayhem sounds like a book your child—or a child you love—would connect with, I’d love to hear from you.

 You can message me directly or visit https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1915114152 to grab a copy.

Thank you for being part of this mission to make sure every child feels seen.

My Autism Journey. It is a spectrum.

 Welcome to my new newsletter all about autism and what I have learnt during my journey since I was diagnosed in 2011.

One thing that I have learnt recently, and I know it has often been said by others, is that all autistics are different from one another. That is so true. Over the last month I have had the opportunity to work with two different groups of autistic children. One at a school and one at a library from a school. Both of these groups have been different from one another. Not just in their age but their abilities. The classes at the school were aged from 7-9 years-old and the group at the library were in their teens but had a lower learning age. Seeing these children made me realise that, yes, we are all different and it is a spectrum. Here are the differences I have seen. Not just with me at that age but between the groups.

When I was 7-9 year old at primary school I was really shy and quiet. I wouldn't talk to others. I found it hard to make friends. At the school I visited as an author, in the class I was in there was one little girl who was friends with another girl. She helped the girl put her hair up in a bun to appear like her book character she was dressed as. This was World Book Day. One girl from another class who had joined in actually read out her story she had written to me and told me what she likes writing about. At that age I wouldn't have done that. I was too shy to do that. I would ask my teacher to read it for me. I think there were these differences for two reasons. The class size was only of eight children whereas when I was at school, a mainstream one, it was about double that. Also this was a special needs school so the children were supported for their needs.

Then there was the other group of older children. They were also from a special needs school but their learning ability was lower than their ages. They were a group of six children with a teacher of their own. They could read and write but not like any other teen could. They were friendly towards me. Again as they were a smaller class and had the support they each needed, they were less shy than I was at that age. One boy asked me a question, another shook my hand and spoke to me. Even at that age I was too shy to speak to other people I didn't know.

I enjoyed working with both groups, and look forward to seeing the second class again for their next workshop which is booked for end of this month.

Then there is a non-verbal autistic eleven year old called Josh Harris. He is the son of Dan Harris, the founder of the charity Neurodiversity in Business. Although Josh doesn't speak he can communicate via his AAC talker device, gestures and his cooking skills. Josh can make cakes, bake pies and breakfasts for his dad. At that age I couldn't make cakes or pies. The only thing I recall making by that age was peppermint cream sweets which I did at primary school.

As I have said, it is certainly a spectrum. One autistic child can do one thing, another can't, and yet another child might be able to do both.

The differences between a tantrum and a meltdown

 

I was going to do another short video about meltdowns, but as I now have a cold I am writing this instead. I might do the video next week. Following my last video about what are meltdowns, I thought I'd give a quick idea what I think the two differences are between meltdowns and tantrums. To listen to what I had to say, catch my video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ4-EvwY09M&t=3s

1. When a child has a tantrum it is often attention seeking. So they might look up during the tantrum to see if someone has seen them. When a child/adult has a meltdown we are focussed on our own feelings. We might know what we are doing but we don't intend to seek attention.

2. When a child has a tantrum they can often shout out eg I hate you. When a child has a meltdown, they are focussed on their own emotions and not shouting out.

I know when I have had meltdowns, I cry and hate being the cause of attention. I try to calm myself down so no one can see how distressed I am.

I hope that makes sense.

Let me know what you think.

How to grow a brand

While I am waiting for my designer to do the cover and interior for my latest children's autism book, I have been busy growing my autism brand in other ways. I have made a video what I am doing but here is what I am doing and have done so far.

I have had articles published in autism magazines. They are Exceptional Needs Today and Uncovered. I will be having another out in SEN magazine next month. You can read my article in Exceptional Needs Today here

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19k9V3sul-KcgHHGXrMMmtKIt60i4agyK/view

I have done more videos about autism for my YouTube channel. I have decided to be an exhibitor at a neurodiversity conference in April and will be selling my books there (I hope). I am going to be super busy in March and April because I have been booked to do talks and workshops to SEN groups at a SEN school and libraries. I have also become part of an adult autistic focus group. For the first time I have something booked each week during March and April, and I'm nervous and excited. This is all new for me. Part of my autism brand.

If I get time I will post about my next book, which I plan to publish in March. So until the next letter, check out the article above to learn about me and my Asperger's, and let me know what you think.

Happy reading.