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Monday, July 13, 2026
Book Nook - The Actually Autistic Guide
What if the most useful, honest guide to autism wasn’t written about autistic people—but by them?
This July, Apollo Publishers is releasing The Actually Autistic Guide, a vibrant, interactive book created by autistic activists Elora Dodd—the voice behind the 700K+ following @online1roomschoolhouse—and educator/social worker C. R. R. Hillin. It’s a first-of-its-kind activity-driven guide designed explicitly for the neurodivergent community, blending humor, lived experience, and practical tools.
At a time when an estimated 168 million people worldwide are on the spectrum—and still facing widespread misunderstanding and underdiagnosis—The Actually Autistic Guide flips the script. Instead of clinical language or outsider perspectives, it offers an insider’s voice: candid, funny, and deeply validating.
Why this matters now:
Autism conversations are rapidly evolving, especially across social platforms where creators like Dodd are helping people recognize and understand neurodivergence in real time. Her content has already helped thousands seek diagnoses and feel seen—this book brings that impact into a tactile, lasting format.
What makes the book stand out:
- Practical, experience-based strategies for sensory challenges, burnout, and communication
- Interactive elements—coloring, journaling, and activities—that meet neurodivergent readers where they are
- A tone that’s refreshingly funny, irreverent, and empowering
- Insights drawn directly from the #actuallyautistic community
I had a chance to learn more in this interview with C. R. R. Hillin.
Why is it important to have a book written for the autistic community, by members of the autistic community?
Put frankly: because allistic folks don’t have the lived experience that we do! And especially in the modern environment, when autistics are finally able to speak for themselves, it is so important to let us speak, to each other and to allistics, and to hear what we have to say.
For parenting, our perspective is especially important. A lot of parents don’t realize that if they have a neurodivergent child, they are likely neurodivergent as well. Our book is designed to help autistics adjust their life to suit their individual needs and sensitivities. This is especially important for parents! So many parents think there is a “right way” to raise a child, but sometimes the “right way” just won’t work for their family because their child (and likely they themselves) are neurodivergent. We simply don’t operate the same way! Having two people who have made those adjustments for themselves show the way is so helpful, but it’s more than that. We are living proof that you don’t have to follow all the made up rules—for living and for parenting. A few small changes made in a neurodivergent household can be the difference between struggling and thriving.
Why do a lot of traditional autism resources miss the mark?
Because they treat autism as a disease first and a neurotype second. Often, autism “symptoms” are ignored until they cause problems (usually for the people around them, regardless of how they affect the person themselves) and then the focus becomes making the autistic person act more “normal,” not to help them be happy on their own terms. This is a critical difference. Treating autism this way means that the metric by which all autistic people are judged and diagnosed is their compatibility with “normalcy,” and aside from all the other problems that causes in the treatment of autism, it means “atypical” cases of autism fall through the cracks, because what people perceive as typical can vary wildly between practitioners and their resources. A person can fail to be diagnosed because their grades are good, because they are too old, because they are AFAB, or because they are Black.
We as humans know next to nothing about autism—it’s just enormously complex. We cannot look at a brain or a blood sample and confidently say, “There’s the autism.” We diagnose people based on highly individualized, downstream effects of autism that we call “symptoms.” With such a huge margin for error, and such dire consequences if they are wrong (due to how disabled and autistic people are treated and seen), practitioners tend to be over-cautious or allow their personal biases to get in the way. This is why self-diagnosis is such an important tool: because self-diagnosed autistics don’t want benefits or special treatment. They just want to find a community and learn how their own brains work.
Why can it be helpful to approach discussions about neurodivergence with humor and creativity?
Actually, I think this is the most important question of all! For too long, so many disciplines have come at this subject with gravity and seriousness, and it has led to so much grief and fear and panic around autism. But many of us are thriving and happy how we are! It doesn’t have to be seen as a death sentence! Approaching the subject with some whimsy and lightheartedness lets everyone know that we love our unique brains, and that having an autism diagnosis—or an autistic child—isn’t something to be pitied or mourned. It’s awesome. The book is fun and happy because WE are fun and happy.
I think humor is a useful tool for difficult subjects, and for some types of neurodivergence, like mental illness, humor can help light the darkness. With autism and ADHD our humor is often expressed through self-deprecatory jokes and exasperation at the way our brains work. And that’s important too. Talking about yourself this way is a sign of self-acceptance and self-love, even if it doesn’t seem like it. No matter what your disability, you have to accept it at some point, and learn to live with it instead of fight it, and humor is a wonderful tool for that. Plus, it helps other people to understand and connect, and brings us closer together as humans. It reclaims power, agency, and humanity from the people who try to take it from us. Elora is the funny one between the two of us, and her Instagram and TikTok are great examples of how humor can do all of these things!
Book Nook - The Missing Book Podcast
Some stories become bestsellers. Others quietly change lives while waiting to be discovered. This belief inspired the launch of The Missing Book Podcast, which is now streaming on Spotify, Pandora, Castbox, Podbean, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Podchaser, YouTube, and will be launching soon on KweliTV. The podcast takes listeners beyond the pages of books to explore the identities and lived experiences of the creators behind them. Through conversations about culture and publishing, each episode offers listeners an intimate look at the experiences that inspire meaningful books and the people who write them. Every episode also spotlights a featured title, with the conversation continuing on social media through the weekly Missing Book Shelf, a recurring series that introduces readers to books worth discovering.
Hosted by author, filmmaker, and storyteller Luz Maria Mack, she says, "This podcast grew out of years of conversations I've had as an author," said Mack. "Everywhere I went, whether it was school visits, conferences, book festivals, or even social media, I kept meeting incredible creators whose stories deserved to be heard by so many more people." As both a traditionally published and self-published author, Mack understands the challenges many face in helping their books reach readers. "I realized there wasn't a space focused on the people behind the books," she said. "I wanted to create a place where we could talk about the journey, the inspiration, and the experiences that led someone to write the story in the first place."
Unlike many literary podcasts, which focus primarily on promoting a new release, The Missing Book Podcast explores the human stories behind the storyteller. Each episode welcomes authors, illustrators, educators, publishers, librarians, literacy advocates, artists, and changemakers to discuss identity and the experiences that shaped their work. While books serve as the starting point, the conversations extend far beyond literature, exploring the perspectives and life experiences that influence the stories we tell and the communities they impact.
"To me, The Missing Book has never been just about a book," Mack said. "It represents the stories and the people throughout the literary world whose voices and contributions deserve to be seen and celebrated." The podcast also creates space for honest conversations about the publishing industry, exploring why some books receive widespread attention while others, often equally compelling, remain overlooked, and what it takes to change that.
Launch Episodes
The podcast debuts with seven featured conversations:
· Episode 1: Roxana Calderón, poet, editor, and author of Esto no es poesía and La casa de las maletas.
· Episode 2: J. De La Vega, author and illustrator of WEPA and Annalise: The Special Dish.
· Episode 3: Andrea Luz Heredia, college student, ADHD advocate, and the inspiration behind Annalise's Determined and Happy Dazzle.
· Episode 4: Carisa Musialik, educator, editor, and children's author of A Dormir, A Soñar and The Perfect Pet Day.
· Episode 5: Tony Plata, Army veteran, educator, and children's author of My Weekend With Papi and The Sweetness of My Island.
· Episode 6: Jennifer Cruzado, children's book author, PreK–2 education leader, and author of Coco! Cherry! Mango!
· Episode 7: Lisa Gil-Ventura, poet, essayist, teaching artist, educator and author of ¿Con qué papel me envuelves la luna?
Episode 8 will feature Dr. Fabienne Doucet, Executive Director of the NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools and Professor of Early Childhood Education. Every featured guest also becomes part of The Missing Book Shelf, an ongoing initiative that extends each conversation beyond the podcast, introducing their books to families, educators, librarians, and readers searching for meaningful new discoveries. "I didn't want the conversation to end when the recording stopped," Mack said. "Every guest becomes part of The Missing Book Shelf, where we continue introducing their books to families, educators, librarians, and readers looking for something new to discover."
The newly launched podcast has already demonstrated its ability to spark meaningful conversations online. A recent discussion about Dominican identity and representation reached more than 37,000 viewers, introducing thousands of people to conversations about culture, belonging, identity, and the importance of diverse perspectives. For Mack, the podcast represents a natural extension of the work she has spent years doing through books, film, education, and storytelling.
"Everything I've created has been about helping people feel seen," she said. "Whether I'm writing books, creating animations, visiting schools, or now hosting this podcast, my goal has always been to remind everyone that their stories matter." Looking ahead, Mack hopes the podcast becomes a destination where listeners discover voices they might never have encountered otherwise. By bringing together creators from across the literary and educational communities, the series aims to inspire meaningful conversations that resonate with readers, writers, educators, parents, and lifelong learners alike. Luz states, "Years from now, I hope someone looks through The Missing Book Shelf, finds a book they've never heard of, and realizes it became one of their favorites. That's what this podcast is all about. It is about making sure more stories find the people who need them most."
To watch The Missing Book Podcast on YouTube, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@
About Luz Maria Mack
Luz Maria Mack is a Dominican American author, filmmaker, cultural storyteller, and podcast host whose work celebrates identity, culture, and belonging through children's literature. Born in the Dominican Republic, raised in Washington Heights, and residing in the Bronx, she creates stories that reflect the richness of Dominican and Afro-Caribbean heritage while encouraging young readers to embrace who they are with pride. Her books include The Secret of the Plátano, a #1 Amazon New Release and Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Picture Book selection, and ¡Pequeña María Descubre su Baile!, which was adapted into an award-winning animated short featured on PBS. She also collaborated with Disney's Storybook Art Team on Family Is Everything, inspired by Encanto. Through her books, films, school visits, and The Missing Book Podcast, Mack continues to amplify diverse voices and help meaningful stories reach the readers who need them most.
Book Nook - A Soul on Trial: A Marine Corps Mystery at the Turn of the Twentieth Century (Author Interview)
A Soul on Trial: A Marine Corps Mystery at the Turn of the Twentieth Century (2nd Edition), by historian Robin Cutler, is the true story of Rosa Brant Sutton, who traveled 3,000 miles from Portland, Oregon, to Annapolis, Maryland, to challenge the Navy’s suicide finding after her oldest son died in a brawl. Inspired by her Catholic faith and alleged postmortem visits from her beloved son, Jimmie, she embarked on a crusade to save his soul from the stigma of a mortal sin — a sin that would keep him out of heaven.
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| More photos related to this story can be found in the gallery at https://robinrcutler.com/a-soul-on-trial/a-soul-on-trial-gallery/ |
How did you come across this story?
After my mother died, I found a black enamel locket that had a picture of a midshipmen and a lock of chestnut hair inside it. At the time, I didn’t realize it was a traditional mourning locket. Or that the midshipman was Jimmie Sutton. A few years later, I came across a brittle 1910 newspaper clipping from the Los Angeles Examiner. The clipping referred to my great grandmother’s plan to run for Congress because of the sensational case related to her son’s death. I was quite surprised and began digging further into newspapers from the period. The more articles I read, the more astonishing the story became—and the fact that Rosa Sutton had been in the headlines all across the United States for months really got me hooked. (She never did run for Congress.)
Why did you decide to write a book about it?
Above all because Rosa’s odyssey to find out what happened to her oldest son, Jimmie, turned out to be such a dramatic and well documented story. And one that had never been told before. I could not have written a book without the extraordinary primary sources that revealed both the Marine Corps side of the case and Rosa’s story. The New York Times ran 57 articles and six editorials about Sutton’s death and the larger implications of it. So I realized that in the decade before World War I, this unusual story was about way more than one mother’s crusade to find out the truth about why her son died.
We were living in Washington, D.C. when my research started about 25 years ago. In addition to the vast newspaper coverage of the case, the most important original documents were in our National Archives. The staff there was terrific and I got to know the members of the Marine Corps who were involved in the brawl that took Jimmie Sutton’s life through their extensive personnel files. The turning point came when we discovered the transcript of the unparalleled naval investigation that riveted the nation during the sweltering Annapolis summer of 1909. It was over 1500 pages long. (The two volumes had been misfiled in the Archives, so historians had not written about it before.)
Who was Rosa Sutton and why was she so preoccupied with saving her son's soul?
Rosa was the daughter of pioneers who came from Ohio on the Oregon Trail to what was then the frontier town of Vancouver, Washington, in about 1850. As the seventh of 12 children, she learned how to stick up for herself as a young girl. Her father, Joseph Brant, died when she was 12; Rosa and her siblings were educated by the Sisters of Charity of Providence. From these nuns she learned that nothing is more important for a Catholic than the salvation of your immortal soul.
When the book opens, Rosa is a conservative, patriotic mother of five living in Portland, Oregon, with her very patient husband, railroad executive, James Sutton. Her contemporaries characterized her as funny, irreverent, stubborn, impetuous and anxious as well as savvy and smart.
Tragedy struck in October 1907 when the family learned that 2nd Lieutenant James N. Sutton Jr. had died on the grounds of the Naval Academy. The Navy’s quick suicide verdict was unacceptable. The Catholic Church considered suicide an immortal sin that would keep “Jimmie” from being reunited with his loved ones in the afterlife. Plus, he could’ve been condemned to the eternal punishments of hell. Rosa wanted her son to be buried in a state of grace with the church and not be in an unforgiven state. (These days the church has a more compassionate view of suicide.) The more she and her attorneys learned, the more it became clear that the hasty suicide verdict was likely not to be true.
Another important motivating force throughout Rose’s journey, of course, is the fact that she was convinced Jimmie’s ghost had visited her more than once and proclaimed his innocence.
What makes her story a timeless one?
Losing a child is the worst motherhood moment possible. The impact of such a tragedy leads to sorrow that never ends. And throughout history, perhaps especially for military families, this devastating experience is made much worse if the family doesn’t know what really happened. To a certain extent, at least to Americans at the turn of the 20th century, Rosa Sutton represented every mother who lost a child in a mysterious way and was determined to learn the truth.
Three mothers who lost their Army sons in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004 helped me understand Rosa’s journey in a visceral way. These women had to fight to find out the truth and, like Rosa, they were aided by the press or the media available at the time. Rosa only had print journalists to help her out, but Peggy Buryj, Karen Meredith, and Mary Tillman have been able to use broadcast journalists, too, and our more sophisticated media ecosystem to finally learn the facts about what happened to Army Pfc. Jesse Buryj, Lieutenant Kenneth Ballard, and Cpl. Pat Tillman. These mothers’ journeys, discussed in the Prologue and Epilogue of the 2026 book, had many parallels to Rosa’s journey. As mothers they all felt that their lost sons were by their sides while they fought for justice and accountability. And they have kept up the memory of their sons for over two decades.
A Soul on Trial is also timeless because it is about speaking truth to power and the rights we have been given in the United States by our First Amendment. America’s press corps plays a critical role in allowing Rosa to find justice and her own form of redemption. Her sense of her own agency, before women had the right to vote, comes from our Constitution.
How did you choose the images on the front cover of the book and why add a tiny white dove?
A Soul on Trial is a true story that unfolds on more than one level. An image of a building at the United States Naval Academy, Mahan Hall, dominates the cover. This imposing Beaux Arts Academic Building, constructed in 1907, represents the power of the United States Navy. It’s a monumental structure, highly symmetrical in its design, suggesting strength, order and discipline; the façade includes nautical motifs and the building is anchored by a lofty central clock tower. Time is of the essence in the military. And this is the building where the sensational “trial” took place in 1909 that is the centerpiece of the book.
After we had the initial concept for the cover, it seemed something needed to represent the more ethereal and spiritual side of the story. But why the dove? I have always loved doves and find the sound of doves comforting. Both the Old and New Testaments make frequent references to doves as symbolic representations of the Holy Spirit. Christianity still accepts the white dove as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, a sign of purity and new beginnings. In early Christian catacomb paintings, a dove signified the departed soul that had found its way to God. So the dove could suggest Jimmie Sutton’s soul on the way to Heaven. For his grieving mother, the fate of this soul was undecided for almost two years while millions of American citizens, as well as newspaper reporters, military officials, congressmen, and attorneys tried to learn the elusive truth about the early morning fight on October 13, 1907, that left Second Lt. Sutton dead.
Then there are the more otherworldly, inexplicable experiences Rosa had. She was not a spiritualist; she never consulted a medium. Any attempt to communicate with the dead was strictly forbidden by her church. So when she and several witnesses attested to the fact that the ghost of her son appeared to her more than once to tell her what really happened on the night he died, much of America was both puzzled and intrigued.
What kind of mystery is your book?
A Soul on Trial is a narrative non-fiction historical mystery that, many say, reads like fiction. But because it’s not fiction, it’s a bit more complex than some mysteries. Based on years of research, the book follows multiple threads that puzzled contemporaries who wanted to find out what really happened to a young Marine Corps lieutenant. And who wanted to support his mother’s right to know. It’s a unique true crime story made all the more puzzling by the fact that the officer’s grieving mother was convinced she had several encounters with the spirit of her dead son who told her what really happened.
Was Lieutenant Sutton murdered? Did his mother really see his ghost? These two questions preoccupied Americans from all walks of life between 1907 and 1910. When there was no radio or television, and certainly no Internet. It’s intriguing to imagine how this story might play today and what Rosa might have to say on Instagram or other forms of social media.
Music Minute - Andrew Farriss: The Prospector
Andrew Farriss, one of Australia’s most respected songwriters and artists, released his new album, The Prospector, last week through Rockingham Holdings Pty Ltd / AWAL (The Orchard).
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Produced entirely by Farriss and mastered by Don Bartley, the 12-song Country/Americana collection represents a deeply personal new chapter for the INXS co-founder and contributing songwriter. Shaped by decades of international experience, the storytelling traditions of country and folk music, and the steady rhythm of life on Farriss’ New South Wales farm, The Prospector examines what people spend their lives pursuing—and what they may discover along the way.
“The Prospector’s not just about looking for gold or silver; it’s about looking at things in life, and that’s why I called it The Prospector,” Farriss recently told The Music.
Tonight, Farriss will celebrate the album’s arrival by returning to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The performance follows his December 2024 Opry debut, when Keith Urban joined him onstage for a special performance of the INXS classic “Never Tear Us Apart.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” Farriss recently said of being invited to perform at the Opry on the album’s release date. “It’s beyond reality. I’m a very, very fortunate person.”
For Farriss, The Prospector is more than an album title. It is a statement of purpose—an exploration of the things people seek in careers, relationships, communities, faith and the world around them.
Across the album, Farriss draws parallels between the traditional image of a prospector searching the earth for something valuable and the emotional, spiritual and personal searching that defines the human experience. The songs examine ambition and belonging, hardship and hope, honesty and deception, the value of home, and the importance of remaining observant in a rapidly changing world.
“The important thing is to keep searching for the light, love and happiness rather than searching for the dark side of life,” Farriss says.
The album opens with “Gold Rush To Ghost Town,” a meditation on the cycle of promise, prosperity and disappearance that can shape towns, relationships and individual lives. “Southern Cross Shines” reflects Farriss’ connection to Australia, while “Rolling Home” explores the emotional pull between ambition and belonging—the dream of leaving, the ache of distance and the realization that home may hold more meaning than the world beyond it first promised.
Elsewhere, songs including “Honesty,” “Mending Fences,” “Before You,” “Something Stronger,” “Truth or Consequences,” “Someone For Everyone,” “Looking Everywhere,” “I’ve Got Eyes On It” and “I’ll See You Again” move between intimate reflection, character-driven storytelling and Farriss’ observations of modern culture.
“Truth or Consequences” was inspired in part by Farriss’ travels through the American Southwest and his interest in the history, landscapes and real-life characters of the region. “I’ve Got Eyes On It” examines conflict, power and the idea that not everything people see or hear is necessarily what it appears to be. “Looking Everywhere,” written with Nashville songwriter Jacob Reese Thornton, reflects the broader observational theme that eventually helped Farriss recognize the album’s central identity.
The record also includes songs written by Farriss alone as well as collaborations with Stephen Wilson Jr., Leigh Nash, Steve Bogard, Sam James, Jess Chalker, Ciaran Gribbin, Lawrie Minson, Ryan Necci, Jacob Reese Thornton, Buck Johnson and Wally Brandt.
The Prospector arrives with an expanding visual component that includes six official music videos and an additional lyric video. The previously released songs have introduced audiences to the album’s wide-ranging musical and narrative landscape while reinforcing Farriss’ evolution as a solo Country/Americana artist.
Farriss has recently been featured by CountryTown, MNPR Magazine, WCCB-TV Charlotte, Music Talkers, WOAI / News 4 San Antonio (Sinclair News), Noise11, That Eric Alper, musicradar, Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer, The Music, American Songwriter, AOL and Scenstr.
The album marks Farriss’ second full-length solo release, following his 2021 self-titled debut. That project delivered high-rotation singles including “Come Midnight” and “Good Momma Bad,” while “You Are My Rock” reached the U.S. Billboard Indicator Top 100. In 2022, “With The Kelly Gang” earned a Golden Guitar nomination for Heritage Song of the Year, recognizing Farriss’ storytelling rooted in Australian history.
Earlier this year, INXS received its first nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and was honored with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the 2026 APRA Music Awards.
As a co-founder and contributing songwriter of INXS, Farriss helped shape one of the most influential bands in modern music. The group sold more than 70 million records worldwide and achieved ten Australian Top 10 singles, seven U.S. Top 10 singles, three Grammy nominations, a BRIT Award, multiple MTV Music Awards, seven ARIA Awards and induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
With The Prospector, Farriss honors that creative legacy while establishing a distinct body of solo work rooted in country, Americana, folk traditions and lived experience.
“I’ve been songwriting since I was a teenager,” Farriss says. “The challenge is always there to get it right.”
ANDREW FARRISS ON TOUR:
07/20 Lexington, Ky. / WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour
08/06 Brisbane, QLD / Black Bear Lodge
08/07 Central Mangrove, NSW / Blues on the Mountain
08/08 Canberra, ACT / Smith’s Alternative
08/09 Pakenham, VIC / Cardinia Cultural Centre
Tickets and additional information are available at AndrewFarriss.com/tour.
ABOUT ANDREW FARRISS:
Andrew Farriss is one of Australia’s most respected songwriters and artists, and the co-founder and contributing songwriter of INXS. His present-day creative world is shaped by global experience, narrative songwriting and the steady rhythm of life on his New South Wales farm, where he raises cattle, grows grain and writes.
In 2024, Farriss reached a major milestone when he made his Grand Ole Opry debut, with Keith Urban appearing as a special guest during his performance. The night placed him on one of the most respected stages in music and marked an important step in his evolution as a solo artist.
Farriss’ solo work reveals a personal and character-driven side of his songwriting. His 2021 self-titled debut album delivered radio favorites including “Come Midnight” and “Good Momma Bad,” while “You Are My Rock” reached the U.S. Billboard Indicator Top 100. In 2022, “With The Kelly Gang” earned a Golden Guitar nomination for Heritage Song of the Year for its storytelling rooted in Australian history.
Earlier in his career, Farriss helped shape one of the most influential bands in modern music. INXS sold more than 70 million records worldwide, achieving ten Australian Top 10 singles, seven U.S. Top 10 singles, three Grammy nominations, a BRIT Award, multiple MTV Music Awards, seven ARIA Awards and induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
INXS received its first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination in 2026 and was honored with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the 2026 APRA Music Awards.
Farriss continues to write and produce for other artists. His work has earned recognition including an ARIA Award for Producer of the Year and induction into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
CONNECT WITH ANDREW FARRISS
Website: AndrewFarriss.com
Facebook: facebook.com/
Instagram: instagram.com/Andrew_Farriss
X: x.com/Andrew_Farriss
TikTok: tiktok.com/@andrew_farriss
YouTube: youtube.com/c/
Spotify: Andrew Farriss on Spotify
Apple Music: Andrew Farriss on Apple Music
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