Yup, my new book is out. It’s amazing how you go through the lengthy process of writing a book, and the whole time you’re writing you can’t be bothered to clean house or cook. “Honey, I’m writing my next book!”
Then you have to go through this whole process of editing your book, so it becomes, “Honey, I’m EDITING! I can’t make dinner, just put in a pizza.”
Then you go through the process of finding a publisher (no cooking, no cleaning, just LOOKING), then if you’re lucky enough to find a publisher after a year of not cooking or cleaning, you have to remain in daily contact with the publisher because a lot of stuff goes into the months-long process of publishing a book. “But honey, that’s my publisher on the phone…just peel back the foil before you stick that in the oven!”
Of course, now I have to market my book, which means interviews and blog tours and stuff. There’s absolutely no way I can cook or clean AND market my book.
This is where you would think my husband would just give up and start cooking all of our meals. But no, he’s nothing if not persistent and by golly does the man have hope. If living with me through the writing, editing, publishing, and marketing of four books wouldn’t teach him to just go ahead and buy himself an apron, then he’s never going to learn.
And on that note, my fourth book was published yesterday. I’m completely wiped out. The most productive thing I did today was to refill the salt shaker, and I only did that because I wanted some popcorn and it just seemed like the housewifey thing to do.
I don’t see how I can ever cook or clean AGAIN, so I do have to figure out what excuse I’m going to have now. NaNoWriMo is just around the corner, so there are story lines to plot and characters to sketch. I dug out an old manuscript that was so bad, I probably should have burned it but it might have contaminated the fireplace if I had…that thing could probably use a few rounds of editing. Then of course, there’s marketing this new book: buy my book (I make marketing look so easy).
In total seriousness, my fourth book, Knowing Autism, is available from Amazon. It’s short, cheap, and it’s way friendlier than my first autism book. It’s actually a kind of helpful hints book for all the other people out there who interact with autistic people. Sort of like the book I wish I could make people read before they were certified to hang out with my kid. I don’t think I have that authority, but I’m working on it.
Lorca Damon 
Yah! Ordering the new book today! I just hope lots of people will read your books and learn to better understand the challenges autistic children and their families face. Prayers for you and Carrie
Congratulations, Lorca. Last weekend I took Saturday off from writing by completely vacuuming my house, top to bottom. It had been a very long time since I had done that. I totally get where you’re coming from. As a husband, I know you weren’t lying on the couch all day, but killing yourself so very slowly to make something beautiful and powerful. Take care of yourself, my friend. You can’t see this, but I am backing away from my laptop and saluting your tireless efforts.
Wishing you all the best with the book.
-Jimmy
No, I totally see you saluting me and I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, I also totally see that you aren’t wearing any pants. Fix that. 🙂
Very Good, Lorca–
Does this one start at the point in Carrie’s history where you stopped at “Autism By Hand”? (W haven’t bought it–waiting for a book signing.) If it doesn’t continue the chronology into pre-teen, that book is still needed. Should get you out of cooking for another couple years.
DH
It actually does not. This book is entirely separate, although I relate back to Carrie’s life just by way of examples. Not enough about Carrie has changed yet to justify a sequel, although I’m sure I’ll have a lot to talk about once she is fully through puberty and high school!
I bought it too. My son (aged 34) has Asperger Syndrome. He fell out with us in 2000 and we’ve had great difficulty communicating with him since. At this stage he lives in his head and rarely speaks to anyone. He has mumbled conversations with himself a lot! We do have a support organization working with him, but progress is slow. I’m really hoping your book will help…
Wow, JJ, I had no idea. I’m going to say something that I hope is not ugly, but of the people I’ve met through my book, I’ve kind of decided that Asperger’s is harder for the individual and the family than autism is. The child is self-aware enough to know that he is different and that can hurt, and the rest of society only sees a “weird kid” who mumbles to himself or has trouble fitting in. They don’t see the wheels turning in there are the struggles the child has to be like other people.
In my daughter’s case, it’s almost kinder. She’s “completely” autistic, so there is no question that this is someone very different. The worst I’ve endured are the rare off-the-wall questions, mostly from kids who don’t know social graces yet: “What’s wrong with Carrie?” It’s very obvious that Carrie isn’t normal, and people are so much more delicate with us than with the families I know whose children are Asperger’s.
If people have to label, I wish they would come up with better ones. Your son and my daughter are nothing alike, but society expects them to be the same person. It’s cruel.
Keeping you guys in my prayers!
Hi Lorca, I’ve read 5 chapters. Spotted a few minor typos (one of the annoying things that I do). One, in particular, I think I should mention. In chapter 5 you say: that will go a long way toward giving them a piece of mind and a moment’s respite. Shouldn’t this be “peace of mind” rather than “a piece of mind” or is this one of your humorous puns? I will contact you, one way or another, about the book’s contents when I’m finished reading it.
Hi my name is Hennie Holland, mom, and just found out my son has autism. I am currently reading your book Autism by Hand (actually more than halfway through it, just bought it a few hours ago too) and like you said it is one of the most informative book i’ve read about the hows when your child is diagnosed with autism. I am not really savvy about blogs and all the info websites i looked at gives me info overload that i usually give up just seeing the home pages. Anyways i really love how you say it as it is. I will definitely get this new book you have out. One of the questions i have is what did you do when your child was diagnosed young? My son was diagnosed at 17mos and we don’t really know what to do to put it honestly. I really appreciate you taking the time out to write these books and know that your insights and experiences have helped a lot of people and to be honest i now found a starting point where i have just been floundering lately in understanding my son. 🙂
Thank you so much for your compliment and taking the time to reach out. Yes, Carrie was very young to receive an autism diagnosis, but in our case, as soon as the doctor said it we knew it just made sense. We had known from birth that she was different in some way.
I’m assuming your child is already in Early Intervention (if not, THAT is step one!). Basically, Early Intervention is not for your son, it is for you. It’s where you learn what to do with him every single day. Depending on your schedule, you carve out times throughout the day to work on his skills.
Other than that, the only thing I can really say for a child his age is just to go ahead and make every moment purposeful. There is no “day off” from therapy and skill building. EVERY little thing you do, from giving him his bath to changing a diaper, is time that you can be reinforcing his skills. We used to do flash cards and eye contact work while changing Carrie’s diapers, because we were alone and the layout of the house put Carrie’s diaper table in the playroom closet, so we were alone and without distraction.
I am more than happy to email you, so feel free to contact me at Lorca Damon at yahoo.
Thanks for commenting and I wish your family all the best!
I also forgot to tell you that I blog about autism on a different site. This one is my humor blog where I post pictures of horses with their heads stuck in tree holes. My autism blog is where I actually talk about the day-to-day things about Carrie, and it’s filled with more information that we’ve learned since the first book was published. I’d love for you to check it out. Of course, come back to this blog when you need to laugh at that horse!
The autism blog is at AutismByHand.com.