Amplifying Autistic Voices: Lauren Melissa Ellzey on writing, Autistic representation, and self-advocacy | Episode 12
Author and Activist, Lauren Melissa, shares a powerful story of resilience and creativity. Diagnosed with autism in her twenties, Lauren Melissa turned the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic into an opportunity, hand-writing a novel that was later accepted by Bold Strokes Books.
Based in New York City, she passionately advocates for the representation of queer, BIPOC, and disabled individuals in fiction, bringing to life diverse, multiracial, neurodivergent, and queer characters. Her journey is a powerful testament to the strength found at the intersections of identity and creativity.
Timestamps
08:27 Getting Into Writing
16:03 Having Relatable Characters in Fiction
21:16 Portraying Neurodiversity in Fiction
25:09 Getting Published As An Independent Publisher
33:34 Advocacy on Autism, Race, and Queerness
44:12 Social Expectations, Codependence, and Autistic Identity
Connect with Lauren Melissa Ellzey
Website: https://laurenmelissaellzey.com/
