Reading preferences question

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Hello there.

For those of you who have read/are reading books about autism/helping children. Would you prefer to read a large book about a variety of autism related topics, or a series of smaller books that deal with each topic individually?

Also, as far as reading preferences go. Would you prefer reading free PDFs from your computer, or would you prefer to have a paper back copy of the book even if it cost money to print out? And as I am aware that this forum auto-selects people who are comfortable with reading from the computer, do you feel that other people/parents would think differently about wanting a hard copy?

And lastly, do you strongly favor books specifically catered to your individual child's situation, or are you willing to read books that cover a a variety topics, some of which may not apply to your child? I.E. a book that covers aspects of 'Classic Autism' and 'Asperger's Syndrome' is not going to be a perfect fit for a child with asperger's syndrome, but by including information on classic autism, it may help the parent to develop a deeper understanding.

Anyways, let me know what your opinions are.

On the last question, I clearly prefer books focused on Asperger's b/c my son is very high functioning, especially since going GFCF. Info on classic autism could be included to add perspective or clarity. I'm the kind of reader who will read the whole thing and not skip the parts that won't pertain to my situation so it is better if I just don't pick up books which contain too broad a scope of info.

Hey, Tracker - the format you have your book in currently is helpful, but more difficult to share - and I find that I'm regularly sharing books that I've found helpful and vice versa. It would also be easier for you to sell a physical book (there are many ways to do so, Amazon being one - and many online services that will publish a book in small batches.) I sometimes share links - and I've shared your link, but a link to a downloadable book feels odd to share somehow.

However, something you may not have considered - you could write the "small books" you're considering as magazine articles, and see if you can find a magazine to publish them. They will then help you with the editing, visual layout, etc. There are actually tons of magazines that deal with children with special needs - even with autism specifically. I think if you did that, you should make sure to approach the beginning of each article by talking about your own experience: people who don't know you here are going to want to know more about you, why your perspective is relevant, and why the methods you suggest should work.

One person I read regularly, Lynne Soraya, posts for Psychology Today, and she discusses how she started out on the first page: http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/lynne-soraya Keep in mind if you start with a blog, you can keep the PayPal info on the front page, and you can also generate ad revenue, much as WrongPlanet does.

Hello!! Whether I prefer a book in print or digital depends on a few things. I have a nook and so does my hubby and my caregiver has a kindle. The pdf you have available now works great be we were all able to get a copy. Other books I am looking at on asp I am getting the paper version bc it would cost me quite a bit for everyone to be able to read it and I want to be able to hand it around when needed. I think having a paper book it definitely needed. I know for myself if I find something useful I will just hand it to whoever and say read this section.

And while I can see where it would be helpful to have some coverage of other autistic areas in a book I would prefer a book to be more on the one topic I am looking at but then I also dont mind skipping chapters that do not apply to me either so...

And I want to tell you how much I have enjoyed your other book online. Its just wonderful and couldnt have come at a better time.

My answers in bold.

one book, find it hard to read attention, get bored easily, I look for what I think applies otherwise I skip.

So, any body else want to give their input?

I know there are more than 5 people on this board (I've been counting )

Anyways, I am no where near done with my revisions, and I keep getting distracted with things like interviews, but I am working on my book, and any information I can get would be appreciated.

Hi Tracker, yes I'd go for an actual book, a paperback, much my preferred way of reading, and one on aspergers without classic autism. It would be very nice to see a book by you on the shelves and please put a picture of yourself on the back

I'd prefer one book, that way the information is all together and easy to find.



I'd prefer a hard copy book, but a PDF would be fine for me. Just means I can't carry it around and read it anywhere. (Even a laptop is less portable than a book.)



I'd prefer a book that covers a variety of things, because many children grow from one presentation to another or have characteristics of both. And because the same traits are present, just in different severity. Sometimes you can get a deeper understanding of a subtle trait when you see it taken to an extreme. Or if I had a lower functioning child, I'd want a book that could show me what he/she might be like if things go well, since many LFA children grow into HFA.

I actually have a request for you .. LOL I feel there is a huge gap in good aspergers guides for kids. I see for things for children and teens but what about the bright preteen who needs to know what to do? I can tell my girl something 100 times but is sinks in so much more if she can read it. Books for kids out there seem to be for the 5 yr old rather than the 10 yr old. My daughter is at a college reading level and from what I see that is not uncommon for aspergers kids that are highly verbal.

Soo... would you consider a book or series of articles to be read by the child on how to deal with their own stress, emotions, others ideas, etc. You have a very honest, humorous, open writing style that I believe my child and many others would respond to. So many books are 'this is what is wrong with you' in nature that easily offends and upsets my child. I think you could present a lot of needed information to this age group in a manner that it honest yet not condescending or negative. And it's soooo needed. I just cant find anything even an online article that she could read that would explain things to her. Everything is written to the parents about the child or is very simplified about what aspergers is without any real tools. And the teen books go into things she is not ready for and are more about social ends. She needs ways to control herself and understand herself. She just reacts and I dont think she has much understanding of you how her actions effect others.

She really liked the format of the little guides to friendship type books for girls and all but there just doesnt seem to be a book that will help her understand her self as an aspie. So if you know of something that I have missed I would love to hear about or can you pretty pretty please put something together for this age group?? Even a series of articles? anything?? LOL

This is actually an ideal that I have been kicking around. I am curious though, have you given her the original book that I wrote? I know its written from a 'your child' point of view instead of 'you', but the basic lesson is still there. Does that not seem to do it for her?

Anyways, I am afraid I probably wont be working on it much this week. I got a phone interview at SpaceX this Tuesday that I am prepping for, and a couple other things going on as well. So, if I do get to it, it wont be for a WHILE.

P.S. If you know somebody who works at SpaceX, tell them to hire me. I promise to show up most of the time.

I prefer a large book.



I like reading something that I can hold in my hand and that feels like a book or magazine. I got a Kindle and now I have the best of both worlds. I have the "book" shape that is convenient to read and your PDF is on my Kindle in a book format. People who don't own Kindles may not e aware that amazon will convert any PDF into a Kindle file. You email them your PDF and they send it back to you as a Kindle file. Your book is extremely convenient this way.

I think a lot of your potential readers prefer reading out of a book and many would rather be holding a physical book, even at a higher price. As Kindle use and other e-reader use becomes more common (and I think this will happen) perhaps more people will prefer to do as I have done and have a PDF on their Kindle (or other e-reader). I don't know if/how other e-readers support PDF files. I just know amazon has this conversion service for free.

If Kindles continue to grow in popularity, you might try pointing out on your website that amazon has this service because the Kindle instruction booklet doesn't make much of a point of it. They just have the instructions on how to convert as a little aside at the end of the instruction booklet, probably thinking there is not much demand for it. There are probably many Kindle owners who don't even know they can do this. I know because another Kindle owner told me. So point it out on your website and Kindle owners might be more inclined towards the PDF, knowing that it can go on their Kindle.



I prefer a large, general book (or PDF file re-formatted to fit Kindle ) that discusses things common across the autism spectrum and then looks at how those things might present differently depending on where somebody is on the spectrum. For instance, in discussing the need for predictability you could discuss PECS board schedules for the non-verbal child and clear, concise, spoken descriptions of what to expect for the verbal child. Both children need predictability but how parents meet the need varies depending on where the child is. And the non-verbal child may gain some words and move away from the PECS boards too, but the need for predictability stays the same.

It would be easier to self publish if you go digital. If you go to Amazon.com and look at the kindle section, I see self-published authors uploading their work all the time and charging $1-3 a download. It would be a good way to get a wider distribution and have more control over the product than you would with a publisher.

Small, focused articles would work well. You could charge a small amount for each and probably still make more than if you sold just the one book. Plus people could pick which article applies to them the most and just get that one.

I know T.A. Pratt/Tim Pratt has gone with this method over traditional book publication (he transitioned to digital from publisher) and seems to be having some success with it as he has transitioned completely to digital self publishing...

Self publishing in print form is also not difficult. I can personally recommend CreateSpace. They are affiliated with amazon.com and publications can be made widely available through amazon.

I have not given it to her to read. My girl is actually a pretty tough little cookie.. the title alone would horribly offend her as she is very easily offended. By that point she would not be open to anything you have to say. She would probably be upset to know I was reading it. LOL She is very very easily offended and that is one of our problems.

Also, she does not make leaps in the whole point of view arena. If it is written to the parent she will evaluate it as in 'does she approve of her parents reading it' but will not internalize it to herself. She is very rigid on those types of issues. Things do not carry over at all. It is what it is and thats all it will ever be kind of thinking.

I'm thinking of trying to write a social story for her which I full expect she will be bored and irritated by lol . the thing that makes me nervous there is that they say you should describe how they feel/act in a situation. This is really hard bc she is so specific and literal. If I say she is frustrated when she is irritated she is furious. She can be very touchy and volatile when it comes to word choices. Shes a great kid who always does what she is supposed to do but managing her emotionally or even in a conversation can be quite an undertaking.

Not sure what I could do about that... If I were to make a book for children I would probably entitle it, 'Congratulations, You're Strange.'