NDAF

A conversation with multi-talented wordsmith, Aquino Loayza, author of DEEP, THE MONOLOGIST, and the forthcoming PAPER LION as well as the editor and publisher of SPECTRUM: AN AUTISTIC HORROR ANTHOLOGY. We discuss the autistic characters in DEEP, where Loayza sees her own traits expressed in her writing, and bringing together neurodivergent authors for all points up and down the spectrum for the world's first horror anthology devoted specifically to presenting autistic points of view.

A chat with author, advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities, former animation film executive, and master children's Halloween costume maker, Kelley Coleman, writer of EVERYTHING NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT PARENTING A DISABLED CHILD: YOUR GUIDE TO THE ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS, SERVICES, AND SUPPORTS. We talk all things neurodivergence in Hollywood, in our families, and advocating for oneself and for caregivers across all spaces, from schools to the workplace.

A conversation with bestselling crime, science fiction, and western novelist, Tony Healey, author of the bestselling HARPER AND LANE series, several titles in Ralph Compton's GUNFIGHTER series, and the new MADDIE RYAN books, who joins us from Manchester. We talk about the early, wild west days of self-publishing, Healey's cross-genre versatility, as well as how his autism affects his writing output but also his ability to promote his work.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the publication of her landmark horror novel, EXPERIMENTAL FILM, a conversation with award-winning writer and former film journalist, Gemma Files, coming to us from Toronto, Canada. We talk about the book's lasting and evolving impact, the long road to Lois and Clark, and unraveling tropes and breaking new ground to create one of horror fiction's most authentic and well-rounded portrayals of autism.

A conversation with longtime film and video game journalist turned comic book and game writer, Dan Whitehead, the creator of ELLA UPGRADED, FRANKENSTEIN, TEXAS, HEX LOADER and much, much more coming to us from Manchester, England. We talk about his early days as an entertainment journo, the role his recently diagnosed autism has played a role in his writing, and what he has coming up for us to look forward to.

A conversation with novelist, musician, folklorist, and teacher, Xan Van Rooyen joining us from Helsinki to speak about their many current and upcoming projects, how everything from folklore to music influences their writing, and chat about some of our favorites of their books and short stories, including books MY NAME IS MAGIC and SILVER HELIX, and short stories THE SILENCE OF BROKEN THINGS and SHADOWS IN THE BLOOD.

NDAF is an open and welcoming forum for creative, mostly neurodivergent people to talk about the good, bad, and "Wow, this really needs to stay in the past..." when it comes to neurodivergent representation in media, and how neurodivergence impacts their creative lives - whether it's writers, filmmakers, videogame scripters, comic book creators, etc. - as they make unique, unexpected connections in their work, develop workarounds when certain traits of chracteristics get in their way, but also encounter the very real glass ceilings and barriers to entry when it comes to promoting their work or dealing with the business side of things. It's messy, it's funny, and as the very first guest said - "Wow. That was better than a whole month of therapy." That's NDAF - Neurodivergent As F***. Coming soon.