Read Clem Bastow’s new non-fiction book Late Bloomer and it will change the way you think about autism. 

Clem 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. 

Purchase Late Bloomer here 

Visit www.clembastow.com  

Read&nbsp;Clem&nbsp;Bastow&rsquo;s&nbsp;new non-fiction book Late Bloomer and it will change the way you think about autism. 
Clem grew up feeling like she&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;t just &lsquo;personality quirks&rsquo; but autistic traits that shaped Clem&rsquo;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.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/late-bloomer-by-clem-bastow/9781743796009">Purchase Late Bloomer here</a>&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.clembastow.com/">www.clembastow.com</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

We're a podcast for women looking for style, substance, and solidarity. We celebrate the paradox of modern motherhood; the struggle and the beauty, the joy and the relentlessness. We’re known for our refreshingly honest and insightful conversations with parents, from celebrities to the extraordinary, ordinary women and men raising the next generation. The Grace Tales covers everything from the big questions (‘how to raise good humans’) to the very little ones (‘are cardigans cool again?’)

Our host is former Australian VOGUE deputy editor Georgie Abay. Back in 2013, pregnant with her first child, Georgie no longer felt quite at home in the glossy magazine world, but nor did she see herself reflected in the sea of mummy blogs and online forums. Thus, The Grace Tales was born – a content-first platform covering profiles, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, interiors and food.

We're a podcast for women looking for style, substance, and solidarity. We celebrate the paradox of modern motherhood; the struggle and the beauty, the joy and the relentlessness. We&rsquo;re known for our refreshingly honest and insightful conversations with parents, from celebrities to the extraordinary, ordinary women and men raising the next generation. The Grace Tales covers everything from the big questions (&lsquo;how to raise good humans&rsquo;) to the very little ones (&lsquo;are cardigans cool again?&rsquo;)
Our host is former Australian VOGUE deputy editor Georgie Abay. Back in 2013, pregnant with her first child, Georgie no longer felt quite at home in the glossy magazine world, but nor did she see herself reflected in the sea of mummy blogs and online forums. Thus, The Grace Tales was born &ndash; a content-first platform covering profiles, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, interiors and food.

The struggle, the juggle and the joy of motherhood

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