Clem Bastow

Introducing a bold new voice in Australian nonfiction, Late Bloomer is a heartfelt coming-of-age memoir that will change the way you think about autism. Clem Bastow grew up feeling like she'd missed a key memo on human behaviour. She found the unspoken rules of social engagement confusing, arbitrary and often stressful. Friendships were hard, relationships harder, and the office was a fluorescent-lit nightmare of anxiety. It wasn't until Clem was diagnosed as autistic, at age 36, that things clicked into focus. The obsession with sparkly things and dinosaurs. The encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music. The meltdowns that would come on like a hurricane. The ability to write eloquently while conquering basic maths was like trying to understand ancient Greek. These weren't just 'personality quirks' but autistic traits that shaped Clem's life in powerful ways. With wit and warmth, Clem reflects as an autistic adult on her formative experiences as an undiagnosed young person, from the asphalt playground of St Joseph's Primary School in Melbourne to working as an entertainment journalist in Hollywood. Along the way she challenges the broader cultural implications and ideas around autism, especially for women and gender-diverse people. Deconstructing the misconceptions and celebrating the realities of autistic experience, Late Bloomer is as heartbreaking as it is hilarious, and will stay with you long after the reading.

Late Bloomer

Jo Case

While the 'nerdy white man' stereotype of Autism dominates in media and popular culture, other Autistic people miss out on seeing themselves, their unique experiences, their hardships and their triumphs.

In Someone Like Me, edited by Clem Bastow and Jo Case, twenty-five Autistic gender-diverse and women writers explore their experiences - and explode stereotypes. This groundbreaking anthology ranges from sex, living room dance parties and the natural world to eating disorders, all-encompassing passions and religion. Autistic people of all kinds are invited to find company in these pages - and maybe even see themselves, too.

Someone Like Me: An Anthology of Autistic Gender-Diverse and Women Writers

In Someone Like Me, editors Clem Bastow and Jo Case showcase the wide-ranging experiences of Autistic gender-diverse and women writers - and explode long-held stereotypes. BIPOC and white gender minorities with Autism have existed on the fringes of mainstream media for too long, rarely seeing representations of their unique experiences, hardships and triumphs. Delving into topics like sex, living room dance parties, the natural world, eating disorders, religion and all-encompassing passions, Someone Like Me brings together an eclectic mix of forms and voices that expand the cultural definition of the Autistic experience. Featuring contributions from authors from Australia and beyond - including Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb, and Naoise Dolan, author of Exciting Times - this groundbreaking anthology invites Autistic people of all kinds to find company in these pages, and maybe even see themselves too. 'Vivid self-portraits, often written with powerful immediacy' - The Age 'These are vital stories... A timely, touching and important collection which will undoubtedly inspire and pave the way for future storytelling in this space' - InDaily 'Someone Like Me provides a snapshot, or an archive, within our cultural library of how neurodivergent communities express themselves through language and dialogue circa 2025' - ArtsHub 'Extraordinary... Each essay is deeply felt and open, creative and illuminating' - Newtown Review of Books Perfect for readers who enjoyed Strong Female Character by Fern Brady, Girl, Unmasked by Emily Katy and Odd Girl Out by Laura James.

Clem Bastow

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