Larre Bildeston
@larreau.bsky.social
930 followers 1.1K following 7.9K posts
Writer, artist, parent, carer. Autistic and acespec. Australia via Aotearoa, (soft) atheist. Agender. Pronouns: I want to say “any” since I’m collecting A words. (they/them actually).
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larreau.bsky.social
In the 2010s I wrote a short novel for children (never published). Eventually I realised it wasn't a children's story after all, and rewrote it for adults.

But when it was still #kidlit I did some illustrations for it, inspired by John Burningham. I'll share some below.

First, the adult cover:
Full paperback cover for The Space Ace of Mangleby Flat by Larre Bildeston. The colour scheme is mostly purple, like the asexual flag. The illustration on the back is a falling-down shack in the Australian Outback. It is night time and the moon is full and prominent. There's green shade cloth hanging from the veranda. Chickens walk around the yard. A very old utility vehicle is parked next to the shack.
Reposted by Larre Bildeston
gearheadrpg.com
Having post-exertional malaise isn't exactly like spoon theory; it's more like I have a credit card for spoons, and I can spend spoons using the card but can never 100% know my balance until later when I'm going about my business and bam! Overdraft charges.
Reposted by Larre Bildeston
msemilyedwards.bsky.social
i feel like i need to share this oldie but a goodie today
A tumblr post that reads "WHo would have believed that the perfect wikipedia photo caption could have been improved upon?" Two identical images are then side by side. The first caption is "Piper Kerr, a member of the Scottis National Antarctix Expedition, plays the bagpipes for an indifferent penguin, March 1904". The Caption for the image on the left reads, "Piper Kerr (right), a member of the Scottis National Antarctix Expedition, plays the bagpipes for an indifferent penguin, March 1904"
larreau.bsky.social
It’s wonderful.

There is a health and safety plan.

The safety and comfort of the cats has been considered.
larreau.bsky.social
Me too. I’m gonna watch it for sure.
larreau.bsky.social
When Autistic teens throw Halloween parties:

“there is a PowerPoint I made for my mum if anyone needs it to convince their parents, a link is also pinned on this channel”
larreau.bsky.social
I know what you mean.

I know there's nothing much they can do about this particular thing. It's not like they were rude or anything, just the constant reminder that the world is not at all set up to accommodate this kind of disability in particular (and others of course).
larreau.bsky.social
I'll have to go back and pick it up without him and just hope it fits.

If it doesn't, he'll have to go back after he's spent several days laid flat after recovering from the earlier trip.

"We don't recommend this."

No shit.
larreau.bsky.social
The thing I find over and over and over--people do not understand what "severe fatiguing disorder" even means.

When I ask for the best accommodation possible, I get the strong feeling they think I'm asking too much.
larreau.bsky.social
Teen gets his braces off soon. That means a 40 min drive to the orthodontist for removal and fitting of retainer. The same day, he must return 3-4 hours later to pick it up and have it fitted.

There is no way of not doing this, as "teeth move". My teen has MEcfs & 2hrs out of bed is his limit.
larreau.bsky.social
Same. I must prefer them these days.
larreau.bsky.social
It’s partly practice too. I’ve gotten better at listening to audio books over the years. I wish I had my current auditory ability back in uni when I struggled to focus in lectures.

It’s kind of like learning to meditate.
larreau.bsky.social
Exactly.

I’ve been fighting this attitude for years. Even before I knew much about neurodiversity.

It’s just so obviously wrong.
larreau.bsky.social
People who make broad statements about audiobooks, about how they’re not as immersive as print etc are only ever describing their own experience with the format.

Neuronormativity comes into play.

Brains are way more various than most critics will ever know.

Audiobooks are accessibility.
rachelfeder.bsky.social
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
larreau.bsky.social
You seem a little obsessed with appealing to the majority rather than understanding what ableism looks like.

Most people don’t know neuronormativity if it hits them upside the face. It’s the world we live in.

Brains are more variable than you can possibly imagine.
larreau.bsky.social
What you wrote is neuronormative, and therefore ableist. Your take underestimates neurodiversity.

I got into audio book narration because I care about accessibility.

I have a dyslexic son. I’m also an author. I can read.

This is a correction, because you’re wrong, not “inability” on my part.
larreau.bsky.social
Okay. There’s “unhinged” and then there’s “repeating the same old crap we always hear about audiobooks.”
larreau.bsky.social
Something I’ve noticed about readers talking about audiobooks is how variable we are.

Some get more out of audio than page. Some have to be doing something. Others must do nothing but listen.

Whenever anyone says something general about audiobooks they are only ever describing themselves.
larreau.bsky.social
And when there’s a time jump between chapters, tell us what year it is now and also how much time has passed since. Don’t make the reader do mental maths.
larreau.bsky.social
I believe this is especially true in small markets like Australia. It’s highly gendered, but the suggested reason is because if it’s YAL the publisher can sell class sets to high schools all across the country and not make a loss at least.
Reposted by Larre Bildeston
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
As a reader I am so utterly sick of BookTok-chasing gimmicks, especially when every week I see a multi-award winning author talk about how they can't make ends meet and how they've had multiple books the publisher just...hasn't promoted.

I want to know about *more books*. Not garlic-scented books?
Reposted by Larre Bildeston
delafina777.bsky.social
The interesting thing about studying the humanities is it doesn’t necessarily give you answers, but it can teach you to learn to live without them.

To live with others, to live with human frailty, and to explore rather than attempt to escape yourself.
Reposted by Larre Bildeston
reburnruffian12.bsky.social
Noise cancelling headphones. Hands down.
theautisticcoach.bsky.social
What has been the single most helpful accommodation for you as an autistic adult?
larreau.bsky.social
Unfortunately one of them was just released.

“Dr Mosley makes all sorts of claims about the benefits of eating together. She claims that not eating together creates entitled children who don’t fit in, and blames screen addictions and selfishness.”

—Dr Naomi Fisher
thebookseller.com
Octopus has acquired new books by Michael Mosley’s wife, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley and son Dr Jack Mosley. 👇 #BookSky
Octopus signs books by Dr Jack Mosley and Dr Clare Bailey Mosley
www.thebookseller.com