Rachel's evocative writing brings together a background in Psychology and NLP, a career coaching adults in emotional intelligence and resilience and 7 years parenting two boys - one with HFA.
Rachel has never published a book before...but has been writing in various guises for many years.
From a background studying Psychology, working as a Psychodynamic Counsellor, running a local pub whilst learning NLP - and then as a consultant for over 15 years. Rachel has used her days training, facilitating and coaching in leadership and emotional intelligence to hone her ability to put into words what others are struggling to understand or verbalise. She has written articles for professional publication (Selection and Development Review 2004), countless proposals and interpretative reports for her client and she has recently composed a comprehensive online learning platform for adult resilience development. Rachel writes an occasional blog on her reflections from consulting and life at https://racheljackson.wordpres...
As a traveller she has also captured her journey across Asia in a number of carefully crafted blog posts at https://racheljacksontravel.wo....
As a mother she continues to work as an independent consultant alongside a difficult journey self-teaching in Autism, Aspergers and Sensory Processing as a support to her son Leo who is now 7. Drawing on her own training to navigate through the maze of diagnosis, and currently grappling with the education system, Rachel has built up a broad knowledge and a far deeper wealth of personal experience in the very personal, at times painful and often amazing experience of bringing up not only a young boy with High Functioning Autism, but also a younger brother who loves him desperately and is struggling to understand why he is different.
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$5 Friends and Family
15 readers
Ok so you don’t have any connection to Autism or Aspergers besides me, and you don’t want a book or a print or a call....but you’d like to show your support anyway. This is for you.
The system works in $ but don’t fret - your faithful £ and € will do just as well. Xx
Thankyou
Ebook included
$9 Early Bird draft Sold out
50 readers
So the book is written...but it's in draft awaiting your support to get it into a nice pretty cover with beautiful picture so you can buy it for your families.
If you are prepared to put down a small donation to the cause, I'll let you read the copy...and would appreciate your feedback, advocacy and support in moving me towards my target. You may even know some people who know some people.
Ebook included
$10 Last orders please!!!!
20 readers
So - the $9 Early Bird offer has sold out!
So I’m introducing a latecomers “Last Orders offer” - put your $10 on the table to help me past the finish post and I will send you draft of the full final text via email plus a signed picture of The Thing for your wall on publication.
NB - don't panic about paying in dollars - its just how the site works. the total cost of $12 is about $8.75.
1 copy + ebook included
$2 shipping
20 of 40 left
$20 Signed Copy
16 readers
A signed copy of the book will be delivered to your door beautifully wrapped for your enjoyment.
NB - don't panic about paying in dollars - its just how the site works. the total cost of $25 is about $18.20.
1 copy + ebook included
$5 shipping
34 of 50 left
$30 15 minute Skype call
1 reader
This book is about my own personal experience with my son. Yours will inevitably be different. I'd love to hear your story and share my own learning about High Functioning Autism.
Ebook included
$70 Personalised Content
0 readers
Given the huge variation in behaviours on the Autistic Spectrum, and my own experience of switching out words and skipping bits for a son who is rapidly learning to read well enough to challenge me...I would like to offer 20 purchasers of my book the chance to receive an individually tailored version of the book with your own behaviour examples and a photo and inscription in the front cover for your to share with your child.
1 copy + ebook included
$5 shipping
10 of 10 left
$500 ! Named patron !
0 readers
If you really believe in this, be part of it.
For $500 you will receive 25 signed copies of the book for use with your audience.
Your name will appear in the opening pages as one of the key people/companies who made this happen.
If you’re in the UK I will come and deliver the book in person and talk about why I wrote it - or further afield I’ll do a live chat.
Come on - help me to help so many other children and their parents or carers .
25 copies + ebook included
$10 shipping
5 of 5 left
A young boy's journey with Aspergers
Share a young High Functioning Autistic boy's journey.
Support your child to know that a diagnosis is not who they are...they are bigger, and more special than the Thing.
| Children Fiction Special Needs Education | |
| 600 words | |
| 100% complete | |
| 8 publishers interested |
The boy was just a boy...but he had a Thing.
Journey with your own child beyond the maze of a High Functioning Autism diagnosis into the realities of living with HFA. Help your child to understand that HFA is not who they are...that they are bigger than that - they are special..and will always be so.
A short story with the flow of a poem, beautifully illustrated on every page with autism-friendly comic style pictures.
The text aims to bring to life the experience of HFA through the eyes of a child diagnosed with it - but to emphasise that HFA can mean amazing things...and need not overshadow the child.
This book is not a guide or a 'how to...' but a story to be shared between parent and child without the imperative to learn or be informed.
Parents of children aged from 5-12 who are experiencing High Functioning Autism or related conditions such as Sensory Processing Disorders, Aspergers, ODD or as yet undiagnosed behaviour issues in this field.
Schools - either mainstream or specialist looking to support children in managing their own sense of self either post or pre-diagnosis.
Professional - working with children who need support
I have already contacted two publishers directly with a submission - Hinton House and Jessica Kingsley who are specialists in this area.
I have joined and posted on a wide range of specialist ASD/HFA/Autism online Facebook groups of which I am a member to ask for recommendations, support and advice on moving this project forward as well as posting a similar request on my own profile page.
I have set up a Facebook page and post regularly and have over 600 likes in the page and a constant stream of post-likes and shares. Over time I would like to develop the Group attached to this with worksheets and exercises that I have used with my son.
I have also tapped into my own personal and professional connections to broaden my reach
My niche is relatively specialist and I have as a result also approached both the National Autistic Society and Chris Packham's agent to explore potential publishing options or endorsement from them.
As someone who has been consulting and training independently for nearly 10 years, I live already in a world of word of mouth sales, networking and connections. I intend to apply this same learning - plus some specialist expertise - to get this book into as many Autism homes as I can.
Kari-Dunn-Buron –When my Worries get too Big, Jul 2013. £13.50
A relaxation based book for children who suffer from anxiety – not ASD specific and providing useful techniques and exercises.
Matt Friedman - Dude – I’m an Aspie, Aug 2012, Price varies.
A cartoon based book providing a humourous ‘sideways’ look at Aspergers. This book again does not provide advice or a guide – it is fun and descriptive but without sentiment.
Tamar Levi & Gloria Dura-Vila -My Autism Book, Blackwell, Dec 2013. £9.99
A beautiful book that I have tried to read with my son – it is more focussed on explaining his diagnosis to him and helping him to identify some of his symptoms and strategies he might use to manage them.
Blythe Grossberg – Asperger’s Rules!: How to make sense of School and Friends, Jun 2012. £6.99
A fabulous book for older ASD kids with loads of examples, quizzed and exercises to help kids navigate social and behavioural issues.
My book is not a guide. It doesn’t deliver advice. It is the kind of book a parent and primary age child can read together a bedtime story with no pressure to DO anything or learn anything or understand anything. It comes from a space of caring acceptance and trust in time and growth – more like a poem. To me – it is very personal as all the examples come from real life and I think this, coupled with its story-based structure – makes it highly accessible and attractive to both parent and child.
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Anaphora Literary Press
250 copies • Partial manuscript. Hybrid publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
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i2i Publishing
250 copies • Completed manuscript. Hybrid publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Society & Culture Worldwide |
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Mascot Books
Mascot Books is a full-service hybrid publisher dedicated to helping authors at all stages of their publishing journey create a high-quality printed or digital book that matches their vision. With comprehensive editorial, design, marketing, production, and distribution services, our authors have the support of an experienced publishing team while still retaining one of the highest royalty percentages in the business. Hybrid publisher All categories
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Prodigy Gold Books
The History Hybrid publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
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Bookmobile
100 copies • Partial manuscript. Service publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
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Happy Self Publishing
100 copies • Completed manuscript. Service publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
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Publish Monster
Get your ebooks into the biggest stores and keep the 100% of your royalties. Amazon, Apple iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, Nook by Barnes & Noble and more. Service publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
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ShieldCrest Publishing
ShieldCrest are book publishers based in the UK who fill that vital gap for talented authors where mainstream publishers are unwilling to give them that chance. We strive for excellence and invest in our authors and are listed in FreeIndex as the number one independent publisher in the UK for price quality and service rated author satisfaction. We publish books of all genres including; fiction, historical, biographies and children's books. Service publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
'Once upon a not that long ago, there was a boy.
It could have been a girl…but it wasn’t. It was a boy.
This boy was special. Not more special than his brother. Not more special than other boys for that matter, but special nonetheless.
What, I hear you ask, was special about this boy? Well…
…this boy had a THING!!!
The thing was called ASD by the big people. But to the boy it was just a thing.
Sometimes he could forget completely that he had this thing…and so could the big people.
When they forgot, they would treat him just like any other boy.'
'Sometimes these things would go OK…or even really well. The big people would be really happy…and so would the boy.
But sometimes they didn’t go so well…because half way through doing them the THING would happen.
The boy couldn’t control the thing very easily at first.
It made him feel dizzy and want to spin…
It made his tummy go all bubbly inside…
….and his head go all busy and messy.
His ears would sound too loud…
…or everything would be too bright, or too fast, or too complicated.
When the THING happened the boy would sometimes do silly things he didn’t mean to.
He might flap about or bump into things…
He might make odd noises that other people said hurt their ears…
He might even run away – or hide…'
'Soon he would be so much bigger that he would be in charge of the thing. He would be able to choose whether he did the nice things …or the things that made him feel lonely or angry.
The thing would just be a THING
And he…
He would always be a boy…
…and he would always be special.'
I’ve just published The Thing on Amazon and am VERY excited.
Must stop sitting watching my Facebook account and waiting for sales ;-)
It’s not easy …
I presume many of you are getting my updates via the Facebook page these days - but just in case I thought I'd do a …
So today another independent publisher from the US contacted me...but I'm starting to be a little cautious about these companies - they don't charge upfront …
Just a quick update for those of you who are wondering what's happening now:
This is a link to the current drafting of the book. …
Thankyou all so much for your support, for parting with your money, for sharing with others.
I have a special gift...just for you.
If you …
For those of you who have received and read your copy of The Thing, please let me have your views. I know some have emailed …
This week, I shall be mostly wearing skiwear and researching the impact of impressive amounts of snow on Autism. Results to follow ;-)
Merry Christmas …
Congratulations! Your book is a Readers' Pick on Publishizer this week!
The Thing
The Thing has been sent to the …
So...I'm am really touched by the noise you lot are making.
My email is pinging away with pre-orders and comments so I've decided to add …
Thanks so much for subscribing...and now the race begins to get enough interest and pre-orders to get a publisher interested.
Get yourself a book, or …
Great project Rachel. Very happy to support.
Hi Rachel, Thank you for sharing your story with me. I am very excited to read the book and get closer to something I personally know very little about - and I really look forward to doing so in such a personal manner. Wishing you best of luck! Please stay in touch! Best, Tunde
signed copy please! Good on you for this - I am posting to FB to spread the word.
Good luck with the launch of the book
I hope that you succeed in getting published. Looking forward to reading your account.
I thought I did but can't see it, hopefully it gets to you, keep strong, sit in the sun and the very best of luck with all of this, Chris
Ahhh, here it is! Hey there Rachel, you always were a tough old boot, able to cope with whatever was thrown at you. Of course some things arrive in our lives like a cricket ball googlie (existed as a word long before Google) apt to knock us off our feet. Very warming to hear how you've responded. Life is always about what we make of it not the ingredients served to us. I took a lot from hearing you speak with such fortitude, can do attitude and a desire for our children not to be judged by rules that are not appropriate for them as individuals....Stay Strong, Sit in the Sun.....I have no doubt we shall be hearing and reading more abut the THING. Good luck in all your endeavours and especially in creating the right life that suits you and your family. Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year, Chris
Good luck Rachel, what a great idea
Celia x
What a fabulous idea. Xx
Lovely to see your determination. I’m sure you will reach your target. look forward to reading your book.
The THING is, the thing is great.
Great heartwarming initiative Rach
Bought copies for my mum and Melody
I’ve just preordered a copy, you are doing a great and wonderful thing! You are an inspiration and I have shared your page, hope you don’t mind. Will keep my fingers crossed and looking forward to reading it! Mark
Good luck Rachel, I hope your book and work in this area goes brilliantly. Stephen x
Great book Rachel! Best of luck with your new adventures!!
Ordered xxx
Fantastic achievement ! Good luck x
I think I just accidentally bought another one- hi hum 😁
Looking forward to reading your book, 4 year old grandson is likely to have ASD diagnosis and sounds as if your story will help to help him and his 6 year old sister understand and celebrate his special qualities. Good luck
I look forward to reading this and hopefully helping our son to understand what makes him special xx
Very excited to read your book I have a boy with probable high functioning ASD. If you need a hand with illustration I'd love to help. I studied fine art rather than illustration but as a children's OT don't get much call to do it anymore and love a project. All the very best and praying it will be a great blessing for lots of families.
Great thing you're doing Rachel. Look forward to reading it! x
Love what you have done here. Well done and good luck
One step closer! X
Good luck with hitting the magic 100
Finally done 😜 good luck x
Hi Racheal,
Book sorted n I am going to click on other thingy to and back your book .
ALL the best Claire Joseph 🙂
Good luck Rachel!!
Jacqueline foy's copy
I am full of admiration for your determination and resilience. Love Jx
A small pebble thrown into a pond creates a ripple effect for miles and miles!
Xxx
This is brilliant - all the best getting this out there.
Good luck Rachel - happy to support. Best wishes Kevin
I'm looking forward to receiving the book as I've been looking for a way of telling my son about his diagnosis and feel this could be a brilliant way to open up the discussion. Good luck with your journey xx
Very proud of you. Big love xx
Good concept. Great potential. Joe c
Good luck Rachel - a much needed book xx
You Go Girl!
Good luck from Natasha and David
Hope you are successful with this venture. Well done.
on Dec. 19, 2017, 9:02 a.m.
Good luck with this Rachel - I'm looking forwards to reading what you've got to say! xx