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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmellzey 

Website: https://laurenmelissaellzey.com/