Autism is NOT an epidemic. 🔥

Preorder my picture book. It is needed more than ever.

Jun 06, 2025

Banner says Kindle Curiosity in a typewriter font. A linocut print of a campfire is above with yellow and orange watercolor detailing.

Hi there!

You’re receiving this email because you signed up for updates from me Sarah Shotts (they/them) through Substack.

Kindle Curiosity is my self publishing imprint and I post quarterly updates here. If you’d like monthly emails about my creative process you can opt in to those here. 💌

Neurodivergent Picture Book

I’m co-creating a picture book about sensory processing and neurodivergence with illustrator

Gracie Klumpp

We’ve published an update on how it’s going (with all the messy middle) here.

alt="A cream page with a layer of grid paper cutout to depict a city skyline. Characters are illustrated in different body types, races, and ages. Some are quick sketches and those toward the front are more complete. To the right is a dark skinned character with curly hair and a blue halo of photographed objects surrounding them. The objects include: blue objects including seaweed, shells, and a ticket stub."

Unfortunately, this book is needed more than ever.

Harmful information is being spread by the US government categorizing autism and ADHD as epidemics. Neurodiversity is not a broken brain! It is a brain that experiences the world differently and this picture book shows how.

If you’d like to support the project you can preorder or donate a copy to a school, library, or a neurodivergent family in financial hardship.

Preorder or Donate a Copy

Thanks to everyone who has already preordered or donated a copy.

You are bringing this project to life.

What is autism?

Because I’ve been taking care of my nervous system instead of feeling hopeless I am here sharing resources I’ve made previously about autism and neurodivergence. This is what my creative coach

Amie McNee

calls “backing your work.” You don’t make something to share it one time.

You share it over and over because the world needs our art.

I made this video a few years ago to explain overstimulation to my kid’s school.

I’m also working on updating my Neurodiversity Affirming Resource Library.

Two brain scans. The one on the left is a rainbow web reaching into all areas of the brain. The image on the right is a rainbow ribbon traveling along the language center of the brain. — The brain on the left is an autistic brain. The brain on the right is non autistic.

I also wrote a new post called, What is Autism?

Autistic and neurodivergent folks experience the world differently because our brains are processing information in different ways. The post dives into autistic strength as well as challenges and support needs.

Read "What is Autism?"

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈

I’m a queer and nonbinary author. It feels more important than ever to say that.

Here’s my coming out post from a few years ago: Somewhere Under the Rainbow

Sketchbook with hand drawn Pride flag surrounded by crayons

Entwined & Ember

Because I’m a renaissance soul I have multiple projects in the works.

While Gracie works on illustrations for How it Feels to Me I’m implementing copy edits for Entwined: An Anthology of Creativity and Motherhood.

The Five Year Origin Story of Entwined 🌿

Sarah Shotts

August 31, 2024

The Five Year Origin Story of Entwined 🌿

Read full story

Preorder Here

Self Publishing 101

I have a lot of questions about self publishing and crowdfunding so I put together a (free) course. My first two books were published through Amazon and sold exclusively through my website. Right now I’m exploring alternatives and will be updating the course with my newest experiences soon.