NeuroDivine

When I first began writing, I often wondered if my voice would ever find a home. As an autistic, gay writer, the world sometimes felt like it was asking me to shrink, to smooth out the edges of difference. Yet writing became the place where those edges could shine—where difference wasn’t something to hide, but the very source of imagination.

That journey has already borne fruit in the form of published works. Through the Circuit of Care series—Chosen and Kept and Hand that Know—I’ve explored themes of belonging, tenderness, and queer resilience. In The Church is Open: Advent, a liturgical setting, I sought to create space for sacred reflection. And in Carried: The Bears’ Book of Blessings, I celebrated the gentle power of blessing as a way of holding one another in love. Each of these books has been a step toward honouring diversity and the divine spark in every life.

Now, I’m deeply honoured to have been awarded one of the 20 Irish Writers Centre memberships for 2025–2026, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. This isn’t just a membership; it feels like an affirmation. A reminder that neurodiverse creativity belongs at the heart of our literary community, and that stories shaped by queerness, resilience, and unique perspectives are vital threads in the fabric of culture.

For me, storytelling is about more than craft. It’s about connection—about reaching across boundaries to celebrate community and recognise the sacredness of difference. This opportunity opens a door to deepen that work: to grow as a writer, to share narratives that challenge assumptions, and to contribute to a literary landscape where every voice matters.

I step into this next chapter with gratitude, excitement, and a fierce belief that difference is not deficit. It is possibility. It is vision. It is the pulse of creativity itself. 🌈✨