BONUS: Keara Farnan on Writing and Autism

Hello isolators! It’s me, Ben Fast, with another bonus mini episode!

I’ve been talking with authors a lot on the podcast recently. In the first episode of the Book Club series I’m running this winter, one of the live studio audience members was herself a writer. Keara Farnan is the author of I Only See in Black & White, a memoir about living with autism and the way that shapes her experiences in everyday life.

I know a little bit about autism from my work in museum education, I was fortunate enough to run a sensory-friendly event at the Copperbelt Railway and Mining Museum in Whitehorse back in 2016. At that event I learned a lot about how autism and other sensory spectrum disorders challenge how people of all ages interact with the world around them. I know some great educators here in Alberta or back in my home province of BC who are making those museum spaces and programs welcoming to people who may not experience their environment the same way you or I do.

But with that said, I’ve rarely actually talked with someone who lives with autism, or who can communicate that life and their own experiences in a way that makes sense to me, let alone who has written a book about it. Keara was happy to talk with me about her life and writing the book, and I’m excited to play it for you here.

My thanks to Keara Farnan for talking with me about her book, I Only See in Black & White. Here in Canada it is estimated that 1 in 66 children are on the autistic spectrum, with 50,000 autistic teens yearly losing support as they move out of school and into adulthood. There is much that is misunderstood about living with autism and it was great to hear Keara’s book is having an impact by sharing her story. If you want to get a copy for yourself, or for someone you know, visit Keara’s website at kearafarnan.com, or search for I Only See in Black & White on Amazon.

There are lots of cool things coming with the podcast, including the next Book Club meeting with special guest CJ Lavigne on January 21. Visit benfast.ca/cool for more info. Until next time, thanks for listening to this bonus episode, a Happy New Year to you all, and stay well out there!