I’m taking a break from packing books to write a quick update.
So much is happening so quickly!!!
Our hardcover shipment arrived last Friday. Because the last batch had quality control issues I opened each book to check for misprints as I shelved them. It made for a cool video and this print run had no mistakes!
After unpacking all of these books it is finally feeling real.
The book is DONE.
Monday was a holiday, so our official launch day was Tuesday, October 13. I’ve been shipping out books every day this week and only have 20 preorders left to go. 🥳
DREAMING BIG
We also sent a copy in to Reading Rainbow’s open casting call.
Is this real life?
NOW IN BOOKSHOPS!
NW Arkansas local can now find How it Feels to Me at two awesome bookshops in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Both neurodivergent folks and professionals alike have told us how much this book resonated with them.
Here are some of the highlights!
Are you a teacher?
We are seeking additional reviews from K-12 educators. If you’d like to read the book and potentially write a blurb please reach out. Thanks to the art teachers who already have!
That’s all for today! Gracie & I are busy at work on the next proof integrating beta reader feedback and copy edits. We’re on track to finish the book by late summer.
If you haven’t preordered yet you still can.
You can also donate a book to a library or school.
Did you know that most people don’t notice the feeling of clothing tags?
I used to think that everyone felt the same itchy irritation I did, and that I was just worse at coping.
But, when I started researching sensory processing to support my own child, I learned something life shattering.
I wasn’t worse at coping.
I was experiencing the world differently.
Sensory modulation is the brain’s way of balancing sensory input.
Consider how a pupil dilates or constricts to let in the right amount of light. Brains can change the intensity at which we experience sensations. They turn down senses evaluated as “unimportant” so you can better focus on a single input.
This isn’t a conscious choice. It is something that happens for most people with the same ease as a pupil dilating when you step into a dark room.
If you’re listening to someone, you probably don’t need to feel that clothing tag in the back of your shirt, to hear the lightbulb buzzing, or to taste the perfume of the person next to you.
Due to sensory modulation most brains wouldn’t even feel those things.
Meanwhile, neurodivergent brains may feel things so intensely that we can’t hear what the person next to us is saying. Or we may hear them, but it is a struggle that leaves us overstimulated and exhausted.
Our brains are simply processing much more information.
Check out this brain scan of an autistic brain (left) versus a non autistic brain (right).
Image Credit: schneider lab §
These scans were taken while the participants were processing spoken language. The non autistic brain is using sensory modulation to focus on the speaker’s voice. While the autistic brain is taking in lots of additional information.
This is why “exposure therapy” is not appropriate for neurodivergence.
Our brains are simply working differently.
Different isn’t bad.
Even if some people want us to believe so.
Brains with sensory processing differences can observe connections that others can’t. This is a unique skill set to bring to problem solving, art, science, and activism.
The world needs neurodivergent brains.
And we all need to better understand them.
That’s why I teamed up with Gracie Klumpp to co-create a picture book about neurodivergence and sensory modulation. This is the book we wish that we’d had as autistic kids.
We’re in the final stages of copy editing and proofing and can’t wait to share this with you. Books will arrive this summer!
I’ve had a lot of messages tentatively asked me if this book could also help adults.
So let me say it loud and clear… YES!
We believe picture books are for everyone and welcome readers of ALL AGES.
Support needs are not something you outgrow.
This is something Gracie indicates beautifully by including adults, teens, and children in the illustrations.
If you’d like to support the project you can also donate a copy and we’ll find your book a home (like a library, school, or with a neurodivergent family.)
We want to partner with educators, writers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, neurodivergent adults, and affirming mental health professionals to read the book and consider writing a blurb (a short quote) for marketing materials.
I’m also in the early stages of building a launch team to help spread the word.
If you’re interested (or know someone who might be) send me an email.
Much love to everyone who has supported the project so far.
I’m back this week with an update on the picture book How it Feels to Me. This is a book about neurodivergence and sensory processing I’m co-creating with illustrator Gracie Klumpp.
It’s fully crowdfunded and coming out later this year!
Last year we ran into some challenges due to substandard quality of our first proof. Ultimately we had to explore alternatives and change printers. Every printer offered slightly different “trim” sizes which meant this process delayed finalizing the illustrations.
Now that we’ve chosen a printer we’re back on track and the illustrations are nearly complete. Later this month we’ll order the next proof and send the text to our copy editor and beta readers!
Here’s a peek to share how it’s coming along…
It’s completely magical to see my words come to life in this way!
Gracie’s using a cool combination of illustrated and photographed elements to visualize the concepts in this book.
We both see this as the book we wish we’d had as kids and hope it will help autistic and neurodivergent folks of all ages!
We’re running a little over budget (because of rising costs and changing printers).
If you’d like to help us bridge the financial deficit you can do so here.
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.
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.
resources FOR PARENTSresources 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.
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.
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.
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.
This book explores the science behind how we each experience the world. Readers will learn about differences in sensory experiences and better understand themselves and others. This book is written and illustrated by two autistic creators making the book they wish they’d had growing up.
This self published book is fully funded and in the proofing stage. If you’d like to know more about the inspiration behind this project you can watch our crowdfunding video here.
Support the project by preordering a limited edition hardcover.
Or choose to donate a copy to a school, library, or a neurodivergent family in financial hardship.
Sarah Shotts (author) is an autistic interdisciplinary artist and author of Discover Your Creative Ecosystem. Their writing has also been published in Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture. Sarah earned a Masters degree in Applied Drama from Goldsmiths University of London and a bachelors in Fine and Performing Arts at Mississippi University for Women (MUW.)
Gracie Klumpp (illustrator) Gracie is an autistic illustrator and writer who lives in an old Airstream, and never runs out of stories. She’s not always the best at talking about them—but that’s why she’s always creating them. Gracie studied Digital Media Arts: Animation at Huntington University, and has used her animation chops to inform her illustration work since graduating. Gracie makes storytelling magic in all sorts of mediums, and doesn’t really mind which she uses so long as it serves the story best.
