Chloë Heuch
About Author
Chloë Heuch introduces her new novel, A History of my Weird, which challenges our perceptions of autism.
Chloë was born in Taunton and lives near Pwllheli on the North Wales coast with her partner, two children, her psychopath cat and the dog. She currently divides her time between her children, her writing and teaching teenagers.
She has a Creative Writing MA from Lancaster University and is a member of SCBWI. Her YA novel Too Dark to See was published by Firefly in 2020.
Interview
A History of my Weird (Firefly Press)
July 2024
In A History of my Weird, we meet Mo as she navigates the challenges of starting high school, including confronting bullies, making new friends, and finding the support she needs as an autistic student.
Author Chloë Heuch introduces her new novel, and talks about challenging misconceptions of autism; why keeping a diary can help budding writers, and why representation is important to her as a writer.
Read a Chapter from A History of my Weird
Q&A with Chloë Heuch, introducing A History of My Weird
"It was important to me to show the mix and blend of experience that I see
in young people's lives."
1. What brought you into writing for young people and how did you develop your creative writing skills?
I started writing for adults but I think I am just a big child so my style works better for kids! I love writing for young people as the world feels so new and experiences so vivid from their perspective. I also think working with young people helps me keep aware of what life is like for them now, so I am not just basing my ideas on my own experiences.
2. Can you tell us what happens in your new book, A History of my Weird? Why did you choose this title?
I came up with the title first and then I came up with Mo. Mo had a different story that she didn't really fit. She jumped into this one instead! Mo is starting high school and it just sucks.
She makes friends with Carys, which makes life feel a bit easier at least. Her new obsession is the Victorians. Carys and Mo decide to explore an abandoned asylum together, for the purposes of research, of course. Dark, scary and very exciting, their adventure takes a turn for the worse...
"Mo, however, has grown up knowing she is autistic and accepting it as part of herself.
She just is who she is and her family love and accept her."
3. Do you draw on your own teenage years in any of Mo's experiences?
I wasn't like Mo at school, I was very, very quiet and would never have stood up for myself like she does! I wasn't diagnosed until I was an adult, so spent my childhood feeling I was wrong. Mo, however, has grown up knowing she is autistic and accepting it as part of herself. She just is who she is and her family love and accept her.
She goes to a main stream school but not all of the teachers, or students, are as understanding as at home. With less and less money going into ALN (additional learning needs) services, only the students who present with real obvious challenges tend to get support in main stream schools. Mo slips through the net in terms of support and so she finds it really hard at first.
4. Why did you choose to write Mo's story in the first person, and how did you find her voice?
I have written since I was a child and write a journal. This helps with writing in first person. I also love drama, like Mo. I think acting helps you find voices for people. First person is immediate and you can really get into the character's life and story.
"There is a saying, if you meet one autistic person...you have met one autistic person.
We are all unique."
5. How did you research what it is like for young people to be autistic in a world that doesn't always understand what it means to be autistic?
I teach some students who are autistic and they have taught me so much. My own children are diagnosed, as am I. There is a saying, if you meet one autistic person...you have met one autistic person. We are all unique, though we all communicate and interact in ways that neurotypical people don't always understand. I have read a lot, and there are lots of supportive groups on line too.
6. Some of Mo's teachers at her new school are not sympathetic towards her - but do you feel that that climate is changing? What would you like adult readers to take from Mo's story?
I think all the teachers I meet nowadays are sympathetic or well meaning, but as I mentioned before, the squeeze on education and budgets hits ALN hard, and some students slip through the net. There are larger class sizes, less money in real terms to offer support where it is needed. Teachers work incredibly hard but the demands are unreal. Mo is new to a big, busy school and in the first term some of the teachers misunderstand her. This is a real experience for some students, unfortunately. I have taken a little liberty with Miss Pool for dramatic effect!
"Sadly some young people use 'autistic' as a slur. I am enjoying exploring that judgement
and challenging some misconceptions."
7. Mo also faces bullying from her peers. By writing A History of my Weird, do you hope to educate younger readers, too, about what their autistic peers might be experiencing?
This is a really interesting question. I am already getting out into primary schools and it is the first thing we talk about. Sadly some young people use 'autistic' as a slur. I am enjoying exploring that judgement and challenging some misconceptions. Students come up to me at the end of the sessions so excited as they can relate to Mo. I really hope she can help autistic young people feel more confident in themselves.
8. Why did you decide to explore the history of a mental institution within the story, and is it based on a real place and true stories?
My own personal history includes a family member who was in an institution in the early 1900s. This led me to do some research and I found how people didn't know what autism was, or have a term for autistic people. They were misdiagnosed and suffered much ill treatment. Autism does run in families, which is how I came up with my title.
"It was important to me to show the mix and blend of experience that I see
in young people's lives."
9. You also touch on other themes in A History of my Weird, including blended families, gender identity and domestic violence. Is representation important to you as a writer?
I just think it is important to be kind and accepting of who people are. Onyx has her own journey in the novel and her own reasons for needing acceptance. It was important to me to show the mix and blend of experience that I see in young people's lives.
10. Will you be returning to Mo in further stories? What are you writing currently? What kinds of things do you enjoy doing to relax when you're away from your writing desk?
I am writing another Mo story. She has made it year 8 and life seems good, until Jess joins the school! I love peace and quiet and my own space, so walking the dog, reading, swimming and snoozing are all good things!