Autism Awareness Month

Autism doesn’t just affect children. Autistic children grow up to be autistic adults.

Today I’m participating in something near and dear to my heart: a blog hop for Autism Awareness. When I first signed up for this it was already something I believed in wholeheartedly, but it has become even more important since I’m on my own journey with my youngest son for a diagnosis, and while the diagnosis is not autism so far, I have been told he has autistic tendencies. He’s just more social than a lot of autistic kids (with adults), and they’re being cautious about diagnosing him with it for now.

But on to what the post is supposed to be about today: childhood toys. I have eight children, so my experiences with children’s toys are vast and wide, but since this is an autism blog hop, I’m going to focus on the toys my youngest loves. He’s a solitary player, so his favorites require no participation from anyone else at all. Sometimes his favorites are frustrating for him, but he loves them so much and has learned to come to me to “fix” it. I spend a lot of time putting small Legos together because he also has hyper elasticity in his joints and doesn’t have the coordination for the smaller Legos. Legos are his jam, and he can spend hours playing with them and making a huge mess.

As he is a bit obsessive about what he’s into, Legos are the end all and be all for him. He will reluctantly play with other toys, especially heavy things (my kettle bells are a source of endless, yet scary, amusement) because the weight soothes him, but he always returns to the Lego table in the end.

My Books

I have two books out currently and book 2 in my The Bearer of Truth series will be releasing in June. It’s called Surviving the Shadows.

You must read book 1, Shadowing the Light, before you read book 2. I also have a novella that’s connected to the world though not directly in the story line called A Blaze in the Dark.

Surviving the Shadows Blurb

Gabriel has been gone longer than predicted, and Evander is growing increasingly worried each day that passes without his mate’s return. Confounded by their leaders’ lack of answers, Evander and the team begin to fear the worst.

In the midst of fruitlessly searching Miami for clues to the Daemon Abaddon’s whereabouts, Evander begins to have disturbingly vivid dreams. With a little help from a newly-returned and empty-handed Michael and Barabbas, Evander discovers Gabriel has been calling out for help across their nascent mate bond. With a little backup from an unlikely source, they set off to rescue Gabriel from the depths of the hell.

Gabriel is old friends with torture, and his captors haven’t been gentle. He survives the physical pain, despite growing weaker every day. Gabriel resolves to survive long enough for rescue, or to die fighting, until a Dark Seer begins to dredge up the terror of Gabriel’s horrific childhood, threatening to destroy his mind and soul. Nearing the end, Gabriel manages a last-ditch effort to contact help, reaching out to Evander in his dreams.

Against all odds, Evander and the team fight through hell to reach Gabriel, and they all face the ultimate price. Sacrifices made for the bonds of brotherhood nearly break them, and Gabriel learns the hard way that embracing the darkness while fighting for the light may be the only way to survive.

From the underbelly of Reno to the glitz and glam of Vegas, Gabriel, Evander, and the men they call family will be tested, and the final confrontation with Gabriel’s maker may be the end of everything they hold dear.

Surviving the Shadows is an LGBTQ urban fantasy with a romantic subplot. It is a direct sequel to Shadowing the Light and reading the first book in the series is essential to enjoying this one.  

I will be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner. All you have to do is comment and tell me what your favorite childhood toy was.

Visit RJ Scott’s website to see everyone who is participating in the blog hop.

Charity

I am supporting the The Ehlers-Danlos Society. My son suffers from hyper elasticity in his joints and struggles to do minor things on a daily basis. It affects everything from how he holds a spoon to the way he sits and can be very frustrating for him.

“The Ehlers-Danlos Society seeks world-wide awareness—and a better quality of life for all who suffer from these conditions.

From genetic research and international medical symposia, to patient support and learning conferences, every gift, no matter the size, helps to advance our cause.

Donations to The Ehlers-Danlos Society are critical to our continued ability to raise awareness and visibility of EDS among the general public. Your contribution of any amount will assist in our overall mission and is sincerely appreciated.”

Donate here.