Issue 29: The Unlikely Author | Chanelle Moriah

If you’d told 15-year-old me that one day I’d be a best-selling author, I probably would have thought you were insane. The 15-year-old who hasn’t read a book in years, barely passes English exams, has the reading comprehension of a primary schooler, doesn’t understand punctuation and grammar, and loses interest in tasks that take too long, will one day be an author with 3 books before the age of 30? Yeah right!

But here I am, an unlikely author, living in a world where, frankly, I am not qualified to be.

I am 26 years old. I was diagnosed autistic at 21, ADHD at 22, and dyslexic at 25. In between all of that, I also found out I have pathological demand avoidance, sensory processing disorder, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Here I am, an UNLIKELY AUTHOR, living in a world where, frankly, I am NOT QUALIFIED to be.

The existence of my first book, I am Autistic, was an accident. I wrote it for myself as I processed a diagnosis that explained so much of my life. I never intended to publish, and I didn’t believe anyone would want to read what I’d written. I was very wrong. It turns out a lot of people felt the way I felt, and they wanted the same thing I wanted: a simple guide that put all of the pieces together in an affirming way.

My focus with I am Autistic was positive or neutral framing, claiming my identity as an autistic person, and giving the language to understand the condition through a less deficit-based lens. On the other hand, my focus with This is ADHD was to show that ADHD is more than just hyperactivity, and there are many ways the condition can present and impact everyday life. My intention with both books was to increase understanding, inclusion, and acceptance.

I NEVER INTENDED to publish, and I DIDN’T BELIEVE anyone would want to read what I’d written.