The Neurodivergent Publishing Conference is a conference by and for ND people.
The Neurodivergent Publishing Conference (NPC) is a virtual writing and publishing conference designed for and by neurodivergent people. Our goals are simple: to create a neurodivergent space in the publishing world, discuss the unique challenges and triumphs of neurodivergent people, and to discuss tools, solutions, and options that exist for neurodivergent members of the publishing community.
So what’s different?
Well, the NPC has three planned tracks: for authors, for editors, and neurodivergent life. While we will have general topics you might find at all writing conferences (such as: how do I market this dang book!?), our focus is on doing so with a mind on how these experiences may be different for neurodivergent people. Also, the conference space is designed with neurodivergent comfort in mind. Our virtual conference space (hosted on Gather) is going to be easy to navigate, fun to explore, and have spaces and ways for people to communicate (or not) however they choose to!
While we are in the process of putting together our speakers list and vendors, please check back soon to receive updates on where we are and what the schedule is shaping up to look like!
For more information about the platform we have chosen to use, check out the video below!
History
A post was made in a Facebook editing group one evening by a person wondering if there was a group for neurodivergent editors because she was writing an article. The response to that post was overwhelming, and in that chaos, Ellis considered the void that existed. So many voices asked for such a thing to exist and wishing it did. Being an experienced online community builder, Ellis did the only thing they could: started a Facebook group to fill that need.
What began as a small collection of individuals has quickly grown, and shortly after founding, Leslie heard about it during a conversation between herself and Ellis. Deciding she liked the idea, Leslie asked if she could create a partner group for neurodivergent writers. Ellis said, “Heck yes!” and thus was begun the collective.
After several months of steady growth, warm companionship, excited sharing of special interests and tools to help neurodivergent people navigate the writing and publishing space, Ellis had another idea. It percolated a long time, but eventually she approached Leslie again and said, “So… what if we made a conference?”
After that it was only a short period of time before Melanie and Lisa volunteered to assist with the conference, and the four were off to the races at the beginning of 2022.
The Council
Leslie E. Heath
Leslie E. Heath is a mother, runner, animal lover, nurse and writer. She resides with her family and a number of rescued pets in a quaint North Carolina town, near the Outer Banks. When Leslie is not cozied up at home writing, she finds inspiration for her work by spending time basking or running at the nearby beach or trails. Her love of writing began when she was ten years old, when she first read The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, and has grown with every passing year. Her affinity with fantasy allows creativity when it comes to character development, settings, and a little magic.
Lisa Hislop
I am a freelance editor who works specifically with short story manuscripts (1000-7500 words), short fiction collections, and anthologies. Oops, I mean I work with authors who write such things, to prepare their work for submission and publication.
Once you know me, this will be an endearing joke because you will find out that I prefer to make eye contact with words, rather than humans, and that most of my communication is as stilted as my original prose. Fortunately, I make up for these idiosyncrasies with my incisive critical analysis, unparalleled eye for detail, and passionate love of the short story form. And I promise you, we will never have a meeting that could have been an email.
My other interests are things conducive to the simultaneous contemplation of short stories: walking, birding, building Lego and having one sided conversations with friends. I also spend a significant amount of time analyzing the literary value of Star Trek re-runs.
Melanie Stormm
Known in some circles as a Multi-Octave Songstress, in others she’s known as a Poet and Writer of Speculative Fiction that Leans Literary. In still other circles she’s know for taking too long to respond to text messages.
Melanie Stormm is a science-fantasy writer of novels, short fiction, and audio theatre whose work is known for its unusual, immersive quality, deep themes, sly humor, and captivating worlds.
She served as guest editor for the All Black Everything issue of Star*Line Magazine, an issue focused exclusively on Black voices. Her sci-fan novella, Last Poet of Wyrld’s End is available now through Candlemark & Gleam.
Current works-in-progress include a sword and sorcery novel set in Wyrld’s End and a cyberpunk science-fantasy audio-play earmarked for release in 2022. She holds a degree in Fiction Writing from SNHU.
Dark and sparkly like shattered hematite.
Is currently de-tangling her hair.
Ellis Prybylski
Beginning the trip into the publishing world in 2009, Ellis joined Divertir Publishing as an acquisitions editor. Fast forward to now, they’ve been working as an editor for over a decade while learning the many skills needed to forge their own writing career. Currently, they serve as Insomnia Publishing’s creative director. After publishing a number of short story fiction pieces over the years, they began writing Fallen during lockdown in 2020, inspired by their husband and their shared love of text-based roleplay (which is how they met).
When they’re not writing, E. is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (OSR fencer in the East Kingdom), a violinist, and a great lover of the fiber arts from spinning to weaving to crochet and embroidery. They always have a project in their hands.
Finally, E. is physically disabled and struggles with severe chronic migraines and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and its many comorbidities. They try to write characters who are authentic to this experience and don’t shy away from writing about disability, mental health, gender, and other challenging topics.