Any long-time readers know that in May, 2007, our son Nolan was diagnosed with autism. While we were hit by the diagnosis nearly as hard as any other family, like many of those families, we did our best to avoid letting it get us down. We weren't running into a lot of help or direction, and ended up learning as much as we could on our own.
One year later, almost to the day, I sat down to write a book about our experiences during that first year. I shared the haircuts, the doctor visits, comments made by uninformed medical professionals, Lori’s tutu-clad walk through the mall, and many other fun, sarcastic, teachable moments. While I thought I would end up filling volumes, the work ended up being not much more than booklet-length. It was so small, I didn't even think to take that 50-page venture to a publisher; instead, the first 100 copies were born on an office color printer. Later, with a generous donation from a local autism support group, the next 300 came from a local printing company.
With no ISBN, no agent, and no publisher, I was on my own to market Same Child, Different Day: One family’s experiences during the first year after a child’s autism diagnosis. I promoted the book as a look at the lighter side of autism; while the diagnosis can surely be a traumatic moment, I tried to show that there are times when you “just gotta laugh.” I held a few local signings, and appeared at an autism awareness event or two. After being interviewed a couple times on the radio, folks seemed to be taking to the little tome. To spark further interest and to reach a wider market, I created this blog with the same title.
The Internet exposure caught the attention of Autism Speaks, and they began additionally offering the booklet from their website. With that, I was able to reach an even larger audience. Soon, Same Child, Different Day reached nearly every corner of the world: New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, the United States and Turkey all blessed me with requests for the booklet. I wholeheartedly believe that, along with frank and funny anecdotes, it is the early naivete of that first publication that ended up making it so appealing.
I realized after unwrapping 2013 that it has been five years since I told the world about that innocent little booklet. Anne Barbano, one of the radio interviewers I mentioned, encouraged that she and I should chat again when I write a Book 2.
That time is now.
Today I officially announce that I have begun working on the follow up to that first Same Child, Different Day. Based on what we have experienced so far, our advocacy and awareness efforts, goals our son has surpassed that we were told he would never even reach, the later autism diagnosis for Nolan’s older sister, and many other interesting encounters, the second book will be entitled Same Child, Different Day: Five Years Louder (5YL).
Even though the finished product is still months away, I would love it if you would help to spread the word and get people excited for the arrival of 5YL. I’ll be sure to fill this full-length book with more of the poignant, funny, thought-provoking and entertaining stories and useful information you found in the first Same Child, Different Day. Please tell anyone and everyone you know that this fun book showing the lighter side of autism is coming.
Feel free to visit the book's website by clicking here. Also, PLEASE ask anyone who would be interested to LIKE our Facebook page by clicking here (click here)!
To reach me directly, please use my contact page.
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