Moriah, 26, who uses they/them pronouns and is proudly neurodivergent, says they became an author by accident.
Now a successful learner, communicator, and creative, they will be a guest speaker at the Queenstown Writers Festival.
"I am a creative person and love drawing.
"Long story short, someone sent some screen shots to Verb Wellington [writers festival] and two hours later, I had a publisher."
The result is a fruitful, four-year relationship with publisher Allen & Unwin.
As a young adult, Moriah began to question why English at school was so hard, yet art was enjoyable and maths was easy.
They also wondered why they felt different from others.
Moriah welcomed an autism diagnosis at 21, ADHD at 22, and dyslexia at 25.
They produced their first book, I am Autistic, in 2022 and it quickly became an award-winning best-seller.
This is ADHD was received with similar enthusiasm in 2023, while I am Dyslexic was released to bookstores last month.
A diagnosis of dyslexia — a learning difficulty affecting the way a person’s brain processes words — is made for about every one in 10 people worldwide, according to dyslexia support groups and websites.
Moriah struggled at school with courses that required a lot of word processing, for example writing essays, but did not seek a dyslexia diagnosis until publishers asked about the possibility of a book on dyslexia.
At the Queenstown Writers Festival, they will focus on the message that neurodivergent people are intelligent, successful and not alone.
"I love my brain. I am neurodivergent and I love being neurodivergent.
"It is who I am and I love who I am."
Moriah will take part in the festival’s ‘Moments of Truth’ panel discussion at Te Atamira on October 31, then speak about their experiences with neurodiversity and dyslexia at the same venue on November 2.
Queenstown neurodiversity advocate Lisa Leftley says Moriah’s books are well-laid out, with information in small, bite-sized chunks and easily accessible for young people.
Leftley, who founded Pivotal Point Charitable Trust in 2021 to support the district’s neurodivergent community, says it’s important for young people to see neurodivergent people identifying themselves positively.
● For information on tickets, see qtwritersfestival.nz. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to Pivotal Point.
