From the Compost Heap header. A pencil style illustration of a compost heap with flowers and plants growing around it. A bee buzzes by and a white rabbit hops by.

  • Maker Faire, Autism & New Books

    Maker Fair Check In

    Last weekend I ran a “Make a Zine” booth at the NWA Maker Faire.

    I brought supplies to make zines and also had a display of zines and books for sale. Lots of kids made zines! Three teens. One friend I invited.

    And one college student who made this zine. (I have permission to share.)

    Collaged zine cover reads A thousand miles from nowhere. Handwritten text with dates marked out in red are overlaid with a red flower in a vase surrouned by a handcut white border.
    Handwritten text reads: Ever since I started attending college I knew I didn't fit. I felt like a different species." A collage of bright yellow daisy type flowers is overlaid with a six petaled flower in a peach color. Handwritten text continues: Even now, teachers learning my face first feels like a confirmation, I trample through grass and mushrooms carving desire paths in my wake to get around people moving differently to me. A collage shows a path and yellow flowers, a cup of tea, and a tall glass window with lots of overlapping lines. Text continues: I'm always trying to make space. Space is glued in from a magazine. Writing continues: in a place not meant for me and for a goal I don't yet have. A gift tag is glued in: with love from blank to you. A math equation that means a line rising (I had to ask) points to the back cover.
    Back cover. Handwriting reads: But at the end of the day I sit in chemistry class with a friend. A black and white silhouette of a figure before a window is glued to the page and below it a rainbow.

    Thanks to everyone who dropped by my table.

    The whole event was a great experience.

    Full transparency: I didn’t make any money. I lost about $27 based on the table fee alone. But the money goes to a good cause. I’ll participate again next year.*

    The Autism Spectrum

    The zine that was picked up most often during the Maker Faire was my Spectrum zine about neurodivergence. While our goverment leaders are spreading such harmful misinformation about autism it feels more important than ever to do the opposite.

    You can read (and share) the blog version of the zine here.

    Two zines and magazine clippings on a wooden desk with scissors, gluestick and pencils. Both zines titles are cut out magazine letters: Chaos Gardening with leaf rubbings and Spectrum with a hand painted watercolor color wheel.

    I have a few misprints of my Spectrum zine printed on the wrong paper. Completely readable, but the images bleed through more than I like.

    If you would like to distribute Spectrum zines (either publicly or to friends and family) let me know and I’ll send you a stack of misprints for free.

    You can also browse my library of resources for autism & neurodivergence.

    Whatever our world leaders say we are NOT a horror show.

    Our brains are sensitive, but powerful when given needed supports.

    What is a zine?

    I made a special zine for this event (and September’s zine subscribers) called “How to Make a Zine”.

    And a brand new blog post called What is a Zine? where I share resources on making zines and a peek at my own zine collection.

    Read it here.

    Zine collection spread on table. Visible titles include: Offline, Taking Care of Yourself as an Artist Publisher, Practicing Microresistance in Conversations, Tea, Reality Has, Motherlore, etc. Zines are various sizes and colors. Many have black sharpie on white paper appearance. Others are typed. The most visible are a bright neon risograph texture of seaweed (on the artist publisher book) and a composition book style (the microaggressions book.) Links to each zine are listed below.

    New paperbacks!

    I’ve been working for months on a second edition of Discover Your Creative Ecosystem. And the Maker Faire moved up my timeline.

    This second edition has minor edits (most notably an expanded section about purpose), my new headshot, updated bio, and they/them pronouns.

    These paperbacks are printed by 48 Hour Books and live in my closet. They will each be packaged and mailed by me personally. So I’m happy to sign and personalize them if you like.

    Buy a copy here.

    They are $15 – which is the lowest my book has ever been available for purchase.

    Tap below to watch me flip through the spacious full color interior.

    If you’ve bought the original edition I’ll be sending an ebook version of the updated text soon.

    There was a printing issue with the hardcovers, but I should have those back in stock before the end of the month.

    I’ll be updating Self Publishing 101 soon. I’ve nearly finished testing several Amazon alternatives. They all have pros and cons so which printer is best for your book depends on your goals and budget.

    An invitation to draw together. 🍉

    I’m sending this email earlier than usual because there’s an event this week I want you to know about. Hanna Keiner and Logan Juliano, PhD are hosting a meditative drawing livestream on Thursday, September 11 called Where Do You Draw the Line?

    The event is free, but everyone will be invited to take action from my Palestine Advocacy page in lieu of payment. (There are many ways to make a difference even if you don’t have the budget to contribute financially.)

    I’m really grateful for my advocacy library to be used in this way.

    If you host a similar event or link to it please let me know.

    Ink drawing by Hanna Keiner. Sinuous lines that evoke smoke or waves.
    Image Credit: Hanna Keiner

    That’s all for this week.

    Take care of yourselves. I appreciate you.

    Sarah signed with a swoopy S
    FOOTNOTES

    * I enjoyed meeting the other vendors so much I’ve logged in to Instagram after 8 months off social media. I’d like to be able to more closely follow local events and those I met at NWA Maker Faire. This is a trial period to see if curation, boundaries, and tweaking advertisements can make it a more positive experience. I much prefer RSS, but when there is to RSS feed for certain groups and events I am just missing out.

    Read more: Maker Faire, Autism & New Books

  • What is a zine?

    What is a zine?

    A zine (pronounced ZEEN) is a handmade magazine about a specific topic.

    “Zines have been around since the early 20th century, and have been an enormous part of underground and non-commercial publication.” *

    I learned about zines from Austin Kleon who has a great collection of printables zines and resources on his website. He also has a tutorial to make a “mini zine” from a single sheet of paper.

    Having tried both ways I prefer to make zines out of sheets folded in half. Sometimes I use a single page and other times I nest and staple them.

    Photo of my desk with TETRIS and Wheel of Time Zines, scraps, ink and blue Aes Sedai mug

    “Zines are characteristically cheap to make, often photocopied, and have a distinctly DIY look. Often, they represent the voices of people on the fringes, and their content is hyper local.” *

    Zines were bore to share information and amplify voices that weren’t often represented in mainstream media. As a result, zine making has a rich history among marginalized communities, fandoms, and activists.

    If you want a deep dive into the history of zines and how to make your own I recommend this free zine by The Public in Canada.

    Zinesters (people who make zines) often value the act of sharing information over an potential profit. Zines are made cheaply so they can be easily sold, traded or given away.

    Zines fall into the cheap art philosophy which I’m passionate about.

    Art is for everyone.

    The why cheap art manifesto. People have been thinking too long that art is a privilege of the museums and the rich. Art is not business! It does not belong to banks and fancy investors. Art is food. You can't eat it but it feeds you. Art has to be cheap and available to everybody. It needs to be everywhere because it is inside of the world. Art soothes pain. Art wakes up sleepers. Art fights against war and stupidity. Art sings hallelujah! Art is for kitchens! Art is like good brea! Art is like green trees! Art is like white clouds in the blue sky! Art is cheap! Hurrah! Bread and Puppet Glover, Vermont. 1984.

    Purchase this print from Bread & Puppet.

    Use What You Have

    Zines are an indie solution to sharing information. Use what you have access to.

    Paper, markers, stamps, paints, stickers, tape.

    Photocopy, scan, or photograph.

    Or make your zine digitally.

    Share your zine online or print copies to sell, trade, or give away.

    Would you like to trade with me? Reach out and let me know!

    I also have a monthly subscription if you’d like a new zine each month.

    My zine making area with Spectrum and Chaos Gardening zines, paper cutter, and watercolor wash circles.

    Artist Publishing

    Zine making is just one kind of artist publishing. Any type of independently produced book or publication is a form of artist publishing. This can range from self publishing books, newspapers, zines, or artist books.

    Artist books often embrace time intensive methods and archival quality materials. As a result they are often more highly priced.

    If you’d like to learn more about artist publishing I’d recommend starting here. Or browsing my artist publishing board on are.na.

    I’ve been focused on zine making, but collect both zines and artist books. I may explore creating an artist book when I complete my fine art collection.

    My Zine Collection

    Here’s a peek at my zine collection and links to the artist’s shops.

    Zine collection spread on table. Visible titles include: Offline, Taking Care of Yourself as an Artist Publisher, Practicing Microresistance in Conversations, Tea, Reality Has, Motherlore, etc. Zines are various sizes and colors. Many have black sharpie on white paper appearance. Others are typed. The most visible are a bright neon risograph texture of seaweed (on the artist publisher book) and a composition book style (the microaggressions book.) Links to each zine are listed below.

    Free Printable Zines!

    Artist Books

    Zine Archives

    There are lots of places online and “IRL” (in real life) that are dedicated to archiving zines. If you’d like to archive your zine you can check with any of the organizations below, your local library, or upload to archive.org (like this.) Every archive has it’s own mission so be sure to make sure your zine is a good fit before submitting.

    More Inspiration

    Footnotes

    * A History of Zines. River H. Kero. bookriot.com/history-of-zines/

    Read more: What is a zine?

  • Creative Chaos

    How about an old fashioned update from my creative compost heap? 🌱

    We haven’t done one of those in a while.

    First, some recent posts from my microblog (the kind of things I used to post from social media.)

    The Garden

    Our chaos garden turned feral. Some real life updates.

    The birds are loving it. We’re even learning to identify some by their bird call with the Merlin app.

    Brick house with an undulating garden bed overrun with grass. A black armillary sphere and purple russian sage pierce the weeds.
    Birdhouse gourds growing up gazebo of green pipes (a greenhouse without the plastic cover added) and a white metal house planter I thrifted beyond with morning glory leaves twining through

    Creative Chaos

    I’ve accepted that I can’t always work in my lovely studio. So earlier this year I set up a workspace in the living room. And I am getting SO much done.

    This summer I’ve made lots of progress (from this chaos) on Entwined & Ember. Now that copy edits are done I’ve started book design for Ember.

    Here I am sorting the prompts into their final order.

    Art or Trash?

    Sometimes being an artist means preserving paper towels with blueberry stains.

    Just me? 😂

    Papertowels with blueberry stains on a glass oven cooktop beside a bunch of bananas and a papertowel with a note that says, "Do not throw away!"

    Best in 3D

    I won an award in the local art exhibition I was in.

    I should really add that to my CV.

    Here’s the post they did about it on Instagram.

    An embroidery frame holds a cross stitch that reads "I'm Fine". A second image shows the reverse which is a tangled mess of navy blue thread.

    Neurodivergence

    At the end of my Spectrum zine you’re invited to make your own spectrum and send it to me. The very first came in from Liz Getty.

    Watercolor wash in a spectrum rainbow spilling outside of a pencil circle. Text reads: Most days feel like my being is seeping outside the lines, though the lines don't feel like they belong. The artist is Liz Getty.

    I love where Liz took this. You are so much more than what fits within the lines. 💫

    Seaborn 🌊✨

    Want to read a shiny book about queer pirates and magic?

    I’m hosting a read a long with some of my Wheel of Time friends. We start in September so there’s plenty of time to pick up a copy.

    Join us!

    The read along will be hosted on Discord and Storygraph. Hit reply if you have any questions.

    Seaborn by Michael Livingston book cover. Blue background with gold details and two pirate ships: one sailing and one flying.

    Just for Fun

    The Great Sword Heist of 2025 ⚔️ Someone’s sword collection was stolen off their walls while they were sleeping. They’re having a great sense of humor about it.

    Last One Laughing, UK 🇬🇧 If you love British comedy like Taskmaster you will love this. Some adult material so not for kids.

    A poem about railway cars. 🚂 We don’t have enough trains in this country for my taste.

    Ways to Support drawing of a white rabbit hopping into flowers
    Two zines and magazine clippings on a wooden desk with scissors, gluestick and pencils. Both zines titles are cut out magazine letters: Chaos Gardening with leaf rubbings and Spectrum with a hand painted watercolor color wheel.

    Psst…

    I’m also trialing a new type of 1:1 support over email.

    You can ask me about creative projects, neurodivergence, self publishing, home education, or chronic illness.

    If you want to help me test this idea (for free!) click here.

    Here’s a little video I made about how it works.

    I appreciate you.

    Sarah signed with a swoopy S
    Read more: Creative Chaos

  • Email Guidance

    One-to-one support over email.

    This is a new offering for gentle guidance at your own pace.

    No Zooms. No scheduling. No time zone math.

    After years of trying to offer support in neuronormative ways I am neuroqueering the process. Ask me about creative projects, neurodivergence, self publishing, home education, or chronic illness.

    How it Works

    Email your question to hello@sarahshotts.com.

    It’s that simple.

    I’ll respond with a thoughtful answer with multiple ideas to explore.

    Your first email is free. If you’d like further support you can sign up for five more back and forth emails (at your own pace) for $100.

    Responses will come within one week. Time will vary based on my capacity.

    I can offer support in…

    • Creative Ecosystems 🍃

    Everything in your life is part of your creative practice. Bring balance and inspiration into your process through my creative ecosystem framework.

    • Neurodivergent Supports 🎧

    I’ve spent a decade diving into research on neurodivergence after my autism diagnosis. We can work together to find supports, tools, and accommodations for you or your family. I have particular experience with sensory processing (seeking and avoidance), focus tools, and navigating conflicting access needs in neurodivergent families.

    • Self Publishing & Crowdfunding 📖

    I’ve successfully crowdfunded four self published books and created two free courses to share my experience. If you’d like direct support as you navigate publishing a book or crowdfunding a creative project I’m happy to help.

    • Living with Chronic Illness ☕

    I have experience managing dynamic disability, chronic illness, and fluctuating energy levels. I can’t offer medical advice, but sometimes we just need to talk to someone who “gets it.” We can talk about setting boundaries, accepting accommodations, and finding support tools. My own diagnosis include: POTS, hEDS, and MCAS.

    • Home Education 🍎

    I’m a second gen home educator with expertise in neurodivergence and twice exceptional gifted kids — both as student and teacher. We can talk about educational resources, supports for neurodivergent kids, and how to make home educating work for you.

    What it’s not.

    This is NOT…

    • Business Coaching 🙅

    While I’m happy to support professional artists and creative business owners I am not a business coach. I am not a good fit for financial or growth related goals. My focus is on supporting creative ecosystems — not making more money.

    • Therapy 🙅

    This is peer to peer support based on my own lived experience. I’m not a therapist, doctor, or mental health professional.

    • One Size Fits All Advice 🙅

    I don’t have all the answers. But I can offer ideas and support, but finding and implementing solutions will come down to you.

    Ready to start?

    Email your question to hello@sarahshotts.com.

    I’ll respond with a thoughtful answer with multiple ideas to explore.

    Your first email is free. If you’d like further support you can sign up for five more back and forth emails (at your own pace) for $100.

    Responses will come within one week. Time will vary based on my capacity.

    Want a free book?

    If you sign up for ongoing support I’ll send you the ebook of Discover Your Creative Ecosystem for free.

    Photo of Discover Your Creative Ecosystem book by Sarah Shotts. A silhouette of bird in flight shows a landscape beyond. Lays on a table surrounded by autumnal leaves.
    …
    Read more: Email Guidance

  • Art for Social Change

    “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.


    “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

    We can’t single-handedly solve all of the world’s problems. But we can collaborate with others to make a difference. We each have our own unique strengths to contribute.

    Art for Social Change

    • Tell a story to imagine a better world.

    • Draw, paint, collage, or print visual art to raise awareness of issues.

    • Write a zine, book, or blog post to educate others to share your own experience (especially powerful and needed for marginalized voices.)

    • Collaborate to paint a mural or create pubic art.

    • Hold a quilting bee or host a creative community to make blankets, hats, etc. for those who need them.

    • Tell a story, write a poem, or make art that encourages empathy.

    • Make a poster, zine, or postcard about a cause.

    • Make art to regulate your own nervous system.

    • Curate an art show, publication, or performance to support or educate about a cause.

    • Raffle or sell something you’ve made to raise funds.

    • Sell merch on Threadless with a percentage to charity.*
    Two round pins. One is a blue and teal nebula with a white infinity symbol. The other is a watercolor wash of rainbow colors in a color wheel spectrum. Typewritten text is collaged on top that says, "autism is a spectrum."

    You can grab these designs on shirts, mugs, and several other things from my new Threadless shop. 10% of the profit will go to the ACLU.

    Love snail mail?

    This is a virtual edition of my Art for Social Change zine for my monthly subscribers.

    If you’d like a printed copy (plus postcards + stamps to write your elected representatives) you can:

    order a zine
    Art for Social Change zine and typewritten postcards. Vintage buttons are on the cover including a yellow Buzzy Bee "be a helper", "try a little kindness", a retro earth pin that says "Don't blow it." an infinity symbol on an outer space badge, "bread not bombs" with a red flower", "yeah rights" in rainbow colors, "I'm on earth duty" and "I'm for wildlife" with a bird and wildflowers.
    FOOTNOTES

    * Threadless makes this so easy, automates the donation process, and matches donations up to $1 per sale. Learn more here.

    Read more: Art for Social Change

  • LGBTQIA+ Advocacy 🏳️‍🌈

    Start here.

    If you’d like to learn more about LGBTQIA+ issues these links are a place to start.

    Educate Yourself

    Support Queer Artists & Small Businesses

    Donate to Support Nonprofits

    Educate Yourself

    Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

    (US Nonprofit)

    Be a Better Ally

    Support an LGBTQ+ Loved One

    Coming Out as LGBTQ+ Person

    Trans Texas

    (US Nonprofit)

    Family Resources & Self Care Guidance

    Take Action: Sign Letter

    Two round pins and one pink butterfly patch. The first pin says, "The future is inclusive" and shows a wave and sunrise in pride flag colors. The second says they/them and a flare of rainbow coming off the letters.

    Podcasts & Videos

    The Urgent Need for Compassion ALOK on Gender Binary

    Rainbow by dodie

    Shop Queer

    Support queer artists & small business owners.

    Queer Artists

    Angie Pea

    Trans Painter

    Danamarie Holser

    Britchida

    Hagstone Art

    Tiff Baxter

    Queer Authors & Poets

    We Need Diverse Books: Magic Stories

    ALOK

    Queer Small Business Owners

    Queerencia

    The Folx Store

    Everywhere is Queer (Map & Community Hub)

    Queer Nonprofit Swag

    Shop PFLAG Swag

    Mermaids UK Charity

    Sketchbook with hand drawn Pride flag surrounded by crayons

    Campaign for Southern Equality

    (US Nonprofit)

    Trans Youth Emergency Project

    Take Action: Send a Message of Support to Trans Youth

    Mermaids

    (UK Charity)

    Support for trans children & young people

    Support for families of trans youth

    Transgender Law Center

    (US Nonprofit)

    We Keep Us Safe: Interrogating Hate Crime Legislation

    Caravan of Hope

    (US Project)

    Tour of Legal Services to Underserved Communitites

    Folx

    Queer Healthcare

    Learn More about LGBTQIA+

    This is part of a series of posts on advocacy.

    Visit the whole series here.

    Two round pins. One is a black pin with rainbow text that says, "Yeah, rights." The second is a pride flag pin.
    footnotes

    * The pins pictured are a combination of photographs from my personal collection and images of vintage protest pins found online. I’ve linked their sources here.

    Read more: LGBTQIA+ Advocacy 🏳️‍🌈

  • “On the Spectrum”

    When we talk about autism or neurodivergence we often mention a spectrum. Sometimes this is misunderstood as a range of intensity from “more” to “less.”

    Gradient fading from pink to white

    But you cannot be “more” or “less” autistic or neurodivergent.

    The spectrum is better represented by a color wheel.*

    Digital color wheel with gradients of all colors fading into each other in a circle.

    The spectrum is a reminder that every neurodivergent person is unique. Each color represents a neurodivergent trait: differences in sensory processing, language, socializing, focus, etc.

    But even the color wheel is too static.

    This is my attempt to illustrate the complexity and nuance of the spectrum of autism and neurodivergence.

    Watercolor illustration of the autism spectrum. A rainbow of colors blending into one another like a color wheel.

    For example, sometimes a person is described as sensory seeking or sensory avoidant.

    Opposites on the color wheel.

    But most of us are both.

    Here is an example from my own spectrum. I experience water in my face as overstimulation… a sensation that, for me, is worse than physical pain. My nervous system completely floods with sensory input and enters a state of distress.

    Bright red ink wash in a red circle with a small pink area near the center where red bleeds into white. There is also a cracked area where too much ink pooled in one place.

    On the other hand, in the context of a warm bath I am “sensory seeking”. The feeling of being (almost) submerged in warm water calms my nervous system and helps me self regulate.

    Bright green ink wash in a circle darker on edges and fading to white left of center.

    This is the same element.

    Water.

    But my internal experience is vastly different depending on the context. Supporting this sensitivity includes baths over showers, no sprinklers, pool splashing, or going underwater. When I interact with water on my own terms I find it deeply regulating and soothing.

    Then we have a trait like focus. ADHD is often perceived as a deficit in the ability to focus (it’s right there in the name), but both people with autism and ADHD can experience hyperfocus.

    This circle represents my hyperfocus.

    Deep purple ink wash in the shape of a circle bleeding to white in an irregular shape toward the center.

    I often enter hyperfocus when I am in creative flow or engaged with topics I am passionate about. Yet, I cannot reach hyperfocus without the necessary environment or supports.

    This circle represents my difficulty focusing.

    Bright yellow ink wash circle with drip bleeding off bottom edge and very little white in an irregular shape toward the right middle.

    My ideal environment for focus is quiet and solitude. (For others it could be music and company… or body doubling.)

    When I don’t have that I need supports like: a swivel chair for stimming, noise cancelling headphones, and more time. Because without access to hyperfocus I have to accept that tasks take more time. I can also become dysregulated by working in an overstimulating environment.

    The spectrum becomes infinitely more complex when different traits overlap and intersect.

    Watercolor washes of blue green and pink bleed into one another creating a deep blue toward the left with feathered edges of pink and green creating an incomplete circle.

    Not only is every neurodivergent human unique, but our spectrums may present differently from day to day and moment to moment, based on a variety of internal and external factors.

    Some spectrums of neurodivergence may not fit the criteria for a diagnosis, but that does not make them any less valid.

    Watercolor wash circle of blue bleeding into green. The shades infuse into one another and create rivulets that are reminiscent of the planet earth.

    Our world is technicolor.

    Let’s stop imagining it as black and white.

    Grab some art supplies and reflect on neurodiversity as you play with color. If you are neurodivergent what colors would you assign each of your traits? If you’re neurotypical how can you use this framework to support the spectrums in your life?

    Watercolor washes of blue and purple with deep purple toward each edge and feathery blue across the center.
    My zine making area with Spectrum and Chaos Gardening zines, paper cutter, and watercolor wash circles.

    Love snail mail?

    These watercolor washes were originally created for the Spectrum zine for my monthly subscribers. If you’d like a printed copy you can:

    order a zine

    Want to learn more?

    Check out my posts about autism and neurodivergence.

    What is autism?
    Neurodiversity Affirming Resource Library

    Keep in Touch

    Subscribe for love letters to creativity and neurodivergence.

    Open airmail envelope with blue and green stripes
    Footnotes

    * I believe this concept was first represented by autistic artist Anouk here (@autistic_sketches on Instagram.)

    † Another visual I love for the spectrum of neurodivergence is this moving spectrum by Felipe Pantone on Instagram.

    Read more: “On the Spectrum”

  • Neurodiversity Affirming Resource Library

    This resource library focuses on autism, ADHD, and hypersensitivity as these are my lived experience.* This area of research has been a passion of mine for nearly a decade. I’ll do my best to organize things so you can find what is helpful to you.

    Not sure what neurodivergence is?

    Start here.

    I am wearing overalls singing books. I'm sitting under a maple tree next to a pile of books on a quilt.

    Hi, I’m Sarah Shotts. A late diagnosed autistic adult, author, artist, home educator, and erstwhile academic. Over the last several years I’ve been doing self directed research and collecting resources to better understand myself and my neurodivergent family. To learn more about me and my work click here.

    Choose your adventure.

    Drawing of brain with colorful paint splatters over the top
    AUTISM 101 FOR PARENTS
    Watercolor illustration of the autism spectrum. A rainbow of colors blending into one another like a color wheel.
    autism 101 for autistic adults

    What is Overstimulation?

    I made this video to share my experience of overstimulation.

    I also find that my autistic traits are almost always rooted in sensory differences. So this a helpful place to start when discussing autism. Overstimulation can also be experienced by ADHDers.

    (There’s also a shorter 30 second version here.)

    “On the Spectrum”

    When we talk about autism or neurodivergence we often mention a spectrum. Sometimes this is misunderstood as a range of intensity from “more” to “less.” But you cannot be “more” or “less” autistic or neurodivergent.

    I made a zine to illustrate the complexity and nuance of being “on the spectrum.” You can read it here.

    Spectrum: a zine about neurodivergence. Paper zine with magazine cutout letters and a watercolor spectrum with a rainbow of colors blending into one another.

    How it Feels to Me

    You may also enjoy the picture book I’m co-creating with an autistic illustrator Gracie Klumpp. How it Feels to Me is an introduction to sensory processing for readers of all ages.

    Cover design test for How it Feels to Me - a cream cover with swatches of colors: blues, greens, oranges, the title and a dark skinned human standing at the center surrounded by a halo of objects: tokens, leaves, a traffic cone, seashell, and more color swatches. Written by Sarah Shotts. Illustrated by Gracie Klumpp. Proof #1.

    FOOTNOTES

    * I have been professionally diagnosed with autism, but also have traits of ADHD such as time blindness and difficulties with object constancy. Having knowledge of these traits and functional coping strategies I have no interest in pursuing an ADHD diagnosis at this time.

    Read more: Neurodiversity Affirming Resource Library

  • Chaos Gardening & Neurodivergence

    This month’s zine is Chaos Gardening: tips from a chronically ill & neurodivergent gardener.

    You can buy a copy or subscribe for monthly zines.*

    If you want a peek at my own chaos garden I’ve posted several photos and videos on my microblog.†

    Here is the wild bunny that’s taken up residence under my art studio (which I named The Rabbit Hole before this beauty moved in.)

    How it Feels to Me

    Here’s an update, on How it Feels to Me, the picture book about neurodiversity I’m co-creating with illustrator Gracie Klumpp.

    We’ve reached the proofing stage! I couldn’t be more excited to share a peek our progress.

    Click here to see more!

    Cover design test for How it Feels to Me - a cream cover with swatches of colors: blues, greens, oranges, the title and a dark skinned human standing at the center surrounded by a halo of objects: tokens, leaves, a traffic cone, seashell, and more color swatches. Written by Sarah Shotts. Illustrated by Gracie Klumpp. Proof #1.

    Unfortunately, this book is needed more than ever.

    Harmful information is being spread by the US government categorizing autism and ADHD as epidemics. Neurodiversity is not a broken brain! It is a brain that experiences the world differently and this picture book shows how.

    If you’d like to support the project you can preorder or donate a copy to a school, library, or a neurodivergent family in financial hardship.**

    PREORDER OR DONATE A COPY

    What is autism?

    If you missed my last email I wrote a post called What is Autism? that breaks down sensory processing and autistic differences.

    Two brain scans. The one on the left is a rainbow web reaching into all areas of the brain. The image on the right is a rainbow ribbon traveling along the language center of the brain.
    The brain on the left is autistic.
    we process a lot more information in any given moment.

    I end the post with this footnote,

    “Being neurotypical just means that your brain is processing the world like most others. This means the dominant culture has been made to support the way your brain processes the world around you. You are surrounded by supports for your neurotype every single day.”

    This is a concept I’d like to explore further. It really turns the idea of supports on it’s head.

    Click here to read the whole post.

    Novel Writing

    I finally finished the mood board for my fantasy novel.

    I’ve hung this right in my living room so it can stay in my consciousness.

    You can see the timelapse where I make it here.

    I’ve come to the conclusion I need to free up some mental capacity to really delve into this world in the way that’s needed. Turns out proofing three separate books for self publishing is kind of a lot. I’m being patient with myself. There’s no rush on this.

    Here’s a peek at my writing workspace.

    Laptop with yellow hobbit hole wallpaper. An edison bulb lamp sheds a dim golden glow on a goddess vase filled with pens. The workspace is otherwise shrouded in darkness.

    I set this up in the living room when it was too cold to be in the studio (and soon it will be too hot.) It turns out that extreme heat and cold trigger migraines so I’m afraid I am a fair weather studio artist. Accepting that my body needs what it needs means making spaces that work for me.

    I love seeing my zines land in your life.

    Here are a few photos you’ve sent me recently.

    Oh, did I mention I’ve started printmaking again?

    My I'm Fine zine, Wheel of Time mini zine and a campfire linocut print lay on a table by a row of blue and green books.
    A hand holding my Choose Your Adventure zine while wearing colorful yellow pants, striped shirt, and yellow shoes.

    Shoutout to A. Wilder and Paige Meredith Ray. You should visit their blogs.

    Ways to Support drawing of a white rabbit hopping into flowers

    The Compost Heap is handmade without the use of AI. 🐝

    Support doing things the old fashioned way by joining my Patrons ($5) and I’ll send paper zines each month with the coolest postage stamps I can find.

    Drawing of a tin can telephone and the words Let's chat

    If you’re reading this in your email inbox you can just hit reply to message me directly. I’d love to hear what you think. It makes it worth the time I put in.

    Thanks for being here.

    I appreciate you.

    Sarah signed with a swoopy S
    FOOTNOTES

    * I’m no longer digitizing zines. Due to chronic migraines I’m attempting to cut down on screentime. I wrote a bit about that here.

    † What is a microblog? Basically a social media style blog feed that I archive on my own site. I’m working on setting this up to autopost to Bluesky. I call my microblog scraps – evoking both a scrapbook or commonplace book and also the bits of kitchen scrap that end up in the compost heap.

    ** If you donate a book we are happy to find the book a home or to send it to the school or library of your choice.

    Read more: Chaos Gardening & Neurodivergence

  • Our first picture book proof!

    Here’s an update, on How it Feels to Me, the picture book about neurodiversity I’m co-creating with illustrator Gracie Klumpp.

    We’ve reached the proofing stage!

    I couldn’t be more excited to share a peek our progress!

    Before finalizing color palettes and fonts we decided to order an early proof to see how everything looks on paper. Something I’ve learned about self publishing is that early proofs can really help save time by identifying problems early on before they multiply.

    Gracie put together a few spreads to test colors, fonts, and print quality. (Pinch & zoom to really get a good look on mobile.)

    A rose colored background with various figures hand illustrated under a tree and notes about the different brushes and styles. The character is wearing a sweater vest and plaid pants and is illusrated with a variety of different hair textures and face shapes. One is hanging upside down from a tree branch.

    Lucky we did because we’ve completely changed our printer! (But more about that later.)

    Here’s a really fun spread we’re experimenting with.

    This is a visualization of sensory modulation that invites the reader to turn the book upside down to see how the levels change.

    Volume level and dials across the page. Sounds in the red include siren and wind. Handwritten text reads: Try turning the book upside down! (Then, upside down.) Need to perfect this but, see how the levels are better now? That's sensory modulation. A note compares hard contrast buttons and lower light effect.

    The next spread continues on from the first page, “All brains are different.”

    “Just like all bodies are different.

    We can see some differences, like if someone is tall or has curly hair, but we can’t see people’s brains.”

    A cream page with a layer of grid paper cutout to depict a city skyline. Characters are illustrated in different body types, races, and ages. Some are quick sketches and those toward the front are more complete. To the right is a dark skinned character with curly hair and a blue halo of photographed objects surrounding them. The objects include: blue objects including seaweed, shells, and a ticket stub.

    Here’s one more peek at some of the character work Gracie has been doing. I love seeing the concepts I’ve written about come to life!

    Cream page with pencil style illustrations of a character in a plaid sweatervest. They have curly hair and mid tone skin. One vignette shows them looking through a kaleidescope. Another holding a teacup and tasting the tea with head turned and lips pursed. Another squatting down and smelling a flower. One holding a bunny on their shoulder. One holding a soda and listening to the bubbles with little popping stars around their head.

    These aren’t even finalized illustrations, but I’m already in love.

    Two days before my birthday I opened a box to find this beauty inside…

    My pale hand holding a copy of How it Feels to Me. A dark skinned human standing at the center is surrounded by a halo of objects: tokens, leaves, a traffic cone, seashell, and more color swatches. Written by Sarah Shotts. Illustrated by Gracie Klumpp.

    Holding the proof in my hands was absolutely magical. It’s real. We are making this book.

    And (unfortunately) it’s more needed than ever.*

    Imagine my surprise when I opened the cover found someone else’s book inside.

    The first 2/3 of the proof were pages from a completely different picture book. 🤯

    I immediately texted Gracie to check the second proof. It had a completely different (but equally egregious) error. That edition had a huge white bar down the center.

    The way this printer works these books were considered “final” and not “proofs.” †

    Needless to say we are investigating different printers.

    We’re currently exploring 48 Hour Books.

    There are some pros and cons.

    The quality will be excellent. We’re very happy with the sample book they provided.

    But, the books are going to cost more than we budgeted. We haven’t finalized how much this will be yet. 48 Hour Books just invested in new printers and updated prices aren’t out yet. But the difference is considerable.

    We’ll also be required to purchase a full print run (with a minimum of 100 books) rather than print on demand. This is the only way for the price of each book to come even close to our original budget.

    There’s also the small matter that each proof will now be $40 instead of the budgeted $20. But this price difference ensures books (and proofs) are made with care.

    I’m prepared (and able) to cover the difference in cost, but if you’d like to pitch in you can send donations via Venmo. I’ll share more concrete information about the pricing differences once we have that.

    Is this the first time you’ve heard about How it Feels to Me?

    Here’s a video from our crowdfunding campaign sharing the inspiration behind the book and our goals for self publishing.

    If you haven’t preordered a copy yet you can preorder here.

    Changing printers will definitely extend our timeline.

    But we’re confident it will be worth the wait.

    While we wait for 48 Hour Books to update their printers Gracie will continue refining the illustrations. Allowing me bandwidth to focus on proofs for Entwined & Ember (this is a big year for me!)

    THANK YOU SO MUCH, each and every one of you, for all the ways you’ve supported this project!

    We appreciate you.

    P.S. If you’d like to support the project and don’t need a copy of the book you can also choose to donate a copy which will go to a school, library, or a neurodivergent family in financial hardship.**

    preorder or donate a book
    footnotes

    * The US Government has recently categorized autism and ADHD as “epidemics” and is spreading harmful misinformation. I addressed it briefly in my new post titled, What is Autism?

    † The printer was Ingram Spark, for the curious. We’d already dismissed Amazon for the hardcover edition. (Although we plan to release a paperback through Amazon later on to make the book as easy to find and accessible as possible.)

    ** If you donate a book we are happy to find the book a home or to send it to the school or library of your choice.

    Read more: Our first picture book proof!