Abbey Woolgar
Twenty-odd years ago, when my twins were first diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum, I began giving presentations to parents just starting their own journeys. Sharing the funny, heartfelt, and chaotic moments of our lives felt so natural that professionals in education, health, and social care soon encouraged me to write a book. What started as three separate volumes of stories evolved into a single collection—a self-published book brimming with humour, honesty, and a touch of persuasion. Through word of mouth and my presentations, it became a way to connect, laugh, and reflect on how far we had come. And to my amazement, I sold over 500 copies without a single press release. It remains a meaningful project, though I must admit the book is long overdue for an update on our recent speed dating experiences and the dread of what might pop up on dating apps!
Fast-forward to three years ago, and I was stuck in a dull, grey civil service job that seemed determined to sap every bit of colour out of me. I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I turned to my imagination and began to write again on my daily commute; I started scribbling a story about my childhood imaginary friend—a squirrel who was mischievous, loyal, and always getting me into trouble or instead, that’s where I laid the blame! The book became a piece of auto-fiction for children, capturing not only the adventures of my younger self but also the sadness of losing my father at a young age.
With the help of a brilliant illustrator, Rachel Harris, the squirrel, and my childhood stuffed toys came to life. I loved writing it, even if it is peppered with some of the corniest jokes you’ve ever read (don’t say I didn’t warn you). This spark ignited a love for creating children’s stories that were quirky and full of personality. Next, I wrote The Spin Cycle Squad, inspired by children on the spectrum who are fascinated with spinning things. I did all the illustrations, spending hours researching washing machines and tumble dryers in catalogues. It was ridiculously fun to write and remains one of my favourite projects to date.From there, I moved on to Jasper the Super Wasp, a story that came to life thanks to my twins—now 24—and a terrified woman I met at the garden centre. My kids, like so many, would swipe at flying insects, and Jasper was my way of teaching them (and readers) to stay calm, blow gently, and let nature do its thing. Again, I illustrated this myself, adding my own playful touch to the buzzing hero.
Eventually, I left my civil service job and pursued writing full time. This led me back to Bournemouth University, where I’d graduated in 1993 (30 years earlier) when it had only just gained university status. Returning to study for an MA in Creative Writing felt like coming home, albeit a virtual experience. The course was incredible. I met brilliant creatives who inspired me to step out of my comfort zone, writing not just children’s fiction but comedy, poetry, and even experimental work. I hadn’t explored poetry since leaving university, but I created a piece about my 92-year-old stepfather published in a university Father’s Day collection. I also wrote and illustrated Fred’s First Comic Book, a playful homage to the rhymes of Dr. Seuss, which was an absolute labour of love to create because of my love of dogs, especially setters. I even dipped my toe into comedy writing, publishing Abysmal Octogenarians on Wattpad. After it had been read out out numerous Heard Word sessions. But perhaps my proudest MA moment was my dissertation—a comedy telephone log script piece about an automated call service that gets hacked and turns into an AI chatbot. Working with large language models on this project brought some hilarious moments, including a chatbot offering a pizza recipe that required sticking cheese on with super glue to prevent it from falling off (Yes, Google actually did this – albeit based on a Reddit response!).
Self-publishing might not make millions, but there’s something wonderful about knowing that someone, someday, might pick up one of my stories and fall in love with it. And now, I’m combining my passion for writing, autism, and large language models by pursuing a creative practice PhD. I’m exploring how stories written collaboratively with AI—and those crafted from my imagination—can engage children on the spectrum. I’m already working on a Christmas adventure for the Spin Cycle Squad, which might become part of my research because I can’t resist writing about those lovable spinning characters and adding the occasional corny joke.
Abbey Woolgar is a writer and storyteller whose work celebrates humour, resilience, and the joy of human connection. She is the author of Just Another Mum, a heartfelt and witty account of parenting twins on the autistic spectrum, and a collection of children’s stories designed to connect with a wide range of audiences.
Her recent self-published projects include Argonaut – His Second Mission, a children’s book about a therapy dog spreading joy and rekindling happy memories, and Abysmal Octogenarians, a comedic serial released weekly on Wattpad. She also created Flynn’s The Bin, a story to help people understand why flies are so important.
Born in Bedfordshire and now living in Milton Keynes, Abbey is passionate about crafting stories that bring laughter to readers of all ages.
