Josephine Moon's Blog, page 8

My Autistic ‘Coming Out’

I AM AUTISTIC

On March 26, 2021, I received a bonus birthday: my autism identity. It’s an identity I should have received five years earlier when other members of my family were diagnosed. Although I displayed very clear, significant indicators, the psychologist dismissed me because I had ‘good eye contact’. (NB: eye contact is a learned behaviour that many women, in particular, have developed enough to ‘pass’ in this neurotypical world and is not a defining marker as to whether or not you are autistic.) Three years later, a different psychologist making a home visit to support another family member mentioned that she considered me a ‘high functioning autistic’. (NB: the autistic community tends to reject the notion of ‘high’ or ‘low’ functioning for many reasons.) I spoke to another psychologist who said she wouldn’t call me autistic but would say that I had a ‘social communication disorder’. (NB: autistic women are frequently misdiagnosed with many different conditions before they are ultimately identified as what they really are—neurodivergent.)

After sitting with all these confusing messages for another two years, I decided to find clinical psychologists who are experts in identifying female autists. It was a cloud that had been hanging over my head for five years… on top of a lifetime affected by ill health, depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, suicidal ideations, risky behaviours, alcohol excess (to cope with the anxiety), insomnia, vertigo, rheumatological conditions, digestive issues, swallowing issues, post-traumatic stress, broken friendships, bullying and at least four major burnout events, one of which resulted in an official diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. All of these can be co-factors of autism that SHOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED UP by healthcare professionals. They weren’t, though, because I’m female and females are repeatedly dismissed in the medical world. (It’s a thing. You can look it up.)

At 45 years of age I got my answer: I am autistic. Always was, always will be.

The diagnosis came at a time when I was in a year-long burnout and couldn’t see how I could continue writing. I was on the cusp of giving away a great, hard-won career. That diagnosis (I actually prefer to the term ‘identity’) changed my life and saved my career. Finally understanding ‘what was wrong with me’ (spoiler, there is nothing wrong with me… I am different not less… though that doesn’t diminish that living in a neurotypical world is exhausting) gave me the keys to support my struggles and capitalise on my strengths. My agent was supportive. My publisher was supportive. I found a new story I was passionate to write and I’m writing it now.

I wish I had known this so much earlier in my life. The online #actuallyautistic community is the greatest source of information. (Follow that hashtag to hear from autistic people themselves rather than neurotypical people theorising about us.) I follow many younger female autists online and they are leading the way for the rest of us though I know it is equally important for our mature voices to be in the mix as well.

This diagnosis is a good thing, an empowering thing, a revolutionary thing. You are welcome to say ‘congratulations’ and bake me a cake

An autism diagnosis is not a tragedy. A missed diagnosis might be.

I am sharing with you now because I know so many young people need to see themselves in the future and to do that they need role models, people who’ve been there before and made it to the other side. To all of you, I see you. You matter. You are needed in this world. You belong. Your brain is beautiful.Jo x

P.S. One last thing! In case you never read anything else from me again, can I please take this opportunity to dispel the dangerous myth that ‘autistic people have no empathy’? It is dead wrong. In fact, many of us (including myself) have hyper empathy, where we feel ALL the things ALL the time. This is a difficult way to live. It might mean, though, that while we’re busy feeling all the things all the time, we might take longer to give you the immediate response you may be looking for and you misinterpret us as not feeling, when really we’re feeling so much we’ve been temporarily slayed by the feelings. Please, please correct this myth wherever you can. It hurts us so much. X

Win 20 books + $500 Dymocks Gift Voucher

Emergency Afghanistan Appeal.

Here’s what I wish: I wish I could scoop up all the babies that mothers are passing over the airport fences to the allied soldiers on the ground, desperate for them to be taken away from Afghanistan and to a safer life.

But I can’t.

Here’s what I CAN do. I can help get dollars into the hands of the NGOs that work on the ground. The Afghan community in Australia have suggested that CARE Australia is one of the best organisations to help at this time. We can help them.

For your chance to win 20 of my books (to enjoy, donate to a street library or retirement home, or give away as gifts for the next two years ) AND a $500 Dymocks Books voucher (as donated by AAC) you simply click this link https://py.pl/VyH2V to be taken to PayPal.

Tickets are $10 each. I’ll draw the winner at 9am 12th September. The link to get your tickets: https://py.pl/VyH2V

Date drawn: Sunday 12th September, 9am

All proceeds go to: CARE Australia

Terms: Australian postal address only. 1 winner.

Sponsors: Josephine Moon and Allied Aged Care

You’re invited to Storyfest at Somerset College

Lovely ones, here’s a wonderful chance to enjoy a winter’s day out with your favourite friends on the Gold Coast.

For me, it will be my first trip down to the Gold Coast in a long time… the last time I went down there was a couple of years ago on a five-hour round trip to deliver a chicken (which is a whole other story, much like another of my chicken stories from a visit to Paddington in Sydney…) so, this sounded like a delightfully different trip for me and a wonderful chance to catch up with readers I don’t normally get to see so far south from me.

The great people at Storyfest Somerset College have invited me to come along to a luncheon and conversation about books, especially The Jam Queens and travelling on The Ghan, and the tickets have just gone on sale!

There will be three courses of food, drinks, raffles, book chat and book signings, beginning with arrivals at 11am and finishing with book signings starting at 2.30.

I’d love to see you there, and if you’d like to join us, I might even tell you why I was driving a chicken on a five-hour road trip… or maybe even why I ended up in a stranger’s car in Sydney with a chicken in my lap.

You can book your tickets here.

Find the time to write that book!

Lovelies, to celebrate The Jam Queens and Mother’s Day and all things writerly, I have slashed my e-course to just A$29! If you have a book inside you, or know someone who does and needs a helping hand to get it going, you have till the 30th May to enrol in Four Weeks to Find & Grow the Time to Write Your Book Then you’ll have a month to complete the course before it disappears into (semi) retirement!Don’t let TIME be the thing that stops you from writing! I have decades of experience in finding time in the impossible and I can help you too. Ready set…. go!Jo x

Signed Copies of The Jam Queens

So many of you wonderful readers have asked me about how to get signed copies of The Jam Queens. (Thank you!) Here’s how:

You can now get signed copies of The Jam Queens (for yourself or as a gift) directly from me! The book comes with personalised messages, free gift wrapping (with literal, happy bells on!).

An additional optional free extra includes a short cameo video message via email. You’ll find all the details on my website here: https://josephinemoon.com/book-cameo-video/ (Use this link either for just the book or the book + video.)

Free postage Australia wide.

Free gift wrapping.

Personalised messages.

I had so much fun working on early orders of these today and I can’t wait to bring more cheer to more readers around the country. Jo x

Book + cameo video, unique gift of The Jam Queens for your loved one

Loves, I have a very exciting announcement!

For a short time only…

If you’re looking for a unique gift for Mother’s Day, a birthday, a get-well or ‘thinking of you’ gift, or just an ‘I love you’ gift, you can now order my Book + Cameo package.

For just $32 (Australian), you can get your loved one a signed copy of my new novel, The Jam Queens, with a personalised message, as well as a short cameo video from me passing on your good wishes. That price includes:

a brand new copy of The Jam QueensFREE postage (in Australia only) a RREE cameo video from me passing on your good wishes (delivered to their email address).

But HURRY! This opportunity expires at midnight on Mother’s Day, 9th May 2021.

To see some example videos and book your own unique gift, click here to be taken to the booking page right now!

I can’t wait to start sharing the love!

Jo x

Pre-order The Jam Queens for a Chance to Win a Maggie Beer Hamper

Hurry! Time is running out!

Hello, lovelies! Here’s your chance to WIN Maggie Beer’s ‘Just add cheese’ hamper by pre-ordering THE JAM QUEENS! 

HOW TO ENTER

PRE-ORDER your copy of ‘The Jam Queens’ from any bookshop (online or bricks & mortar)

 SNAP a photo of the receipt and email it to josephinemoon@live.com.au or PM me via Facebook or Instagram before 31 March 2021

There. It’s as easy as that!

………………………………………………..

THE PRIZE IS

– a delicious Maggie Beer ‘Just Add Cheese’ hamper
– delivery of hamper to your door (Australian addresses only)

The hamper is filled with a range of perfect accompaniments to any cheese platter, and includes a Maggie Beer Cooler Bag.

THIS HAMPER INCLUDES

* 130g Tomato, Shiraz & Sultana Chutney
* 100g Spiced Pear Paste
* Sparkling Chardonnay 1x 750mL Bottle
* 100g Quince Paste
* 110g Oven Baked Crackers
* Maggie Beer Cooler Bag
* 190g Arkwright Estate Olives In Brine
* 150g Almondco Australia Ltd Smokey Almonds

T&Cs

– Winner will be drawn at random and notified via PM from this page or my official Instagram page only.
– Entries close 11.59pm (AEST) on Wednesday 31 March, 2021.
– Competition is open for delivery to Australian addresses only.

Good luck, loves! I wish I could send you all a hamper. 

Jamtini cocktails recipe

Is it jam? Is it a martini? No, it’s a jamtini!

This is such a flexible and wonderful recipe to celebrate a special event or, hey, maybe just making it to the end of the week! Last year, I sent this recipe to the wonderful people who pre-ordered my book, just to say thanks. I also thought they might like to make it to bring along to our private Zoom get together to chat about The Cake Maker’s Wish. Also, it gave them the first peak at the food theme for the next book on the way.

Here is it, the totally delicious and flexible-as-you-like jamtini recipe.

Don’t drink alcohol? No worries. Australia has a booming non-alcoholic spirit range available to make it easy for you to join in too. Just search online for ‘non-alcoholic spirits’ and you’ll quickly see what I mean!

Enjoy!

Jo x

Jo’s Mandarin Marmalade

Honestly, there is not much that is more joyful than the scent of mandarins!

Cool autumn mornings will surely benefit from the refreshing, uplifting scent of mandarin marmalade on toast!

Ingredients

1 kg of mandarins30 ml fresh lemon juice30ml of fresh lime juice1 litre of waterAllow for 1 kg of white sugar (see method)

Method

Place washed, whole mandarins in a heavy saucepan with the lemon juice and water and bring to the boil. Simmer, uncovered for approximately 45 minutes or until the mandarins are soft.Remove the mandarins from the liquid and reserve the liquid. Coarsely chop the mandarins, including the rind, sizing the pieces to your own satisfaction. This can be quite rustic, with large pieces if you like it that way. Discard the seeds, then return the fruit and rind back to the liquid in the pot.Measure your fruit and liquid mixture. For each cup of fruit/liquid mixture, measure out 1 cup of sugar, then minus one cup. (That is, if you have 5.5 cups of fruit/liquid mixture, add 4.5 cups of sugar.) Return the fruit/liquid mixture to the saucepan and add the sugar.Bring the mixture to the boil and continue to let it boil uncovered and without stirring for approximately half an hour, or until you deem the jam is set.Pour your hot marmalade into your hot, sterilised jars and seal immediately.

Enjoy!

Jo x

Reading By the Moon Book Club with Jessica Dettmann and ‘This Has Been Absolutely Lovely’

Honestly, we get to chat to such wonderful authors in book club! Our March guest is the very talented Jessica Dettmann with her new book This Has Been Absolutely Lovely. To register for this event click here.

The blurb reads…

Family is forever, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

The charming, hilarious and all-too-relatable new novel from the author of How to be Second Best

Molly’s a millennial home organiser about to have her first baby. Obviously her mum, Annie, will help with the childcare. Everyone else’s parents are doing it.

But Annie’s dreams of music stardom have been on hold for thirty-five years, paused by childbirth then buried under her responsibilities as a mother, wage earner, wife, and only child of ailing parents. Finally, she can taste freedom.

As Molly and her siblings gather in the close quarters of the family home over one fraught summer, shocking revelations come to light. Everyone is forced to confront the question of what it means to be a family.

This Has Been Absolutely Lovely is a story about growing up and giving in, of parents and children, of hope and failure, of bravery and defied expectation, and whether it is ever too late to try again.

We hope you can join us!