In Jason’s own words

Jason answers

I actually started writing when I was about eight or nine years old and I wrote a letter to my Dad from Swiss Croft Camp in Wisconsin where my maternal grandparents live. It was on special paper with extra thick spaced lines. He hung it on the wall where he grew up — he was so proud he taped it to the walls while working for one of his companies. Have I always wanted to be an author? Not really — grammar, syntax and punctuation take a lot of effort and I have always had difficulty with that. I decided one day to take the journals I had written when my Dad was alive and instructing me on how to live my life, and organized the text in my own way from when I was confused about life growing up. I decided my Dad was not coming back till I see him in heaven, so I wanted people to know what a wonderfully productive man he was to me. He helped me with social security and helped my family live a good life. I’m trying in the next book to capture the mental health struggles people go through on the streets, from my interpretation.

Jason answers

In a candid style, I tell stories and structures I’ve lived with to help me get by in this neurotypical world. The book equates the pain I’ve felt adapting to the norms of society and the path I have taken to try to overcome differences in processing information around me.

Jason answers

I wasn’t ready to write a lot of new material. I took journals with writing on them, and Daniel Akpojiyovwi and Pamela Greer helped me type the longhand writings into formatted form — proper spacing, playing with fonts. I removed parts about Social Security notes my Dad had already taken care of when he applied. My number was connected to my Dad’s, which enabled about $1000 to live on plus a Section 8 voucher — a little over $200 to rent, the rest for food and needs. Life is good!

Jason answers

I have always had difficulty deciding what characteristics are from autism and which are bipolar. My book joins both consciousnesses — a “stream of consciousness” of me being in my head and not really in my head. I talk to myself, but I don’t pray very often. It takes imagination to enter my world; I didn’t script it, it flows from experience.

Jason answers

My desire to have a girlfriend — “being a plaything” passages — or going to the movies and pretending to be on a date. A human desire for closeness and intimacy, but difficulty sustaining interaction, plus pressure to be “neurotypical.”

Jason answers

I struggled with this and depended on Reader Views to help determine it. Younger readers may benefit from the direct style; older adults will benefit because they have nephews, nieces and relatives on the spectrum.

Jason answers

You can’t fix or cure autism — it is a wonderful bit of neurodiversity only getting more prevalent.

Jason answers

Don’t be afraid to interact with people different from yourself; make communities more neurodiverse. If isolated, find solace — you aren’t alone, others want to be included in your thinking.

Jason answers

Many great comments from friends and family — the main buyers at signings over six months, plus Barnes & Noble and Amazon reviews. Main support came from freelancers Daniel and Pam: for about a thousand dollars the book was completed. Roughly 50–75 copies sold ($500–750 profit); tracking sales has been difficult. This interview will become a podcast on perseveracycle.com.

Jason answers

Great meals with friends and family. I’m an accomplished juggler. Fixing simple gadgets, artwork, counseling — and I really enjoy being a published author.

Jason answers

A book on mental illness — copying journals, constructing pieces of experience and letting the work speak for itself, based on journals from life with Mom and Dad. It took multiple sittings and about a month to complete these questions. I hope it offers a window into my mind and makes you want to read the book. Thank you!