by Riana Everly
Despite the great number of symptoms of ASD, most people on the spectrum do not exhibit all of them. As the saying goes, if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.
Mr. Darcy’s primary challenges include his difficulty in maintaining eye contact, his trouble understanding non-verbal communication such as tone of voice, facial expression, and metaphorical language, and his oversensitivity to sensory stimuli. For example, whereas a room full of chatting people might be an ignorable hum to many, some people with autism cannot filter out the background noise. Each sound fights for attention, each voice is part of an overwhelming din, and the person has to find some means of dealing with this assault.
Samuel shares some of Darcy’s challenges, but has some of his own. He has difficulty maintaining the usual back-and-forth of conversation and exhibits the repetitive mannerisms often associated with autism, such as rocking back and forth when under stress. He relies on rules and routines to guide his way through the day, and has a hard time adjusting when plans are changed suddenly.
Both Darcy and Sammy also have fixed interests in unusual topics and are not easily able to see things from other people’s points of view.
But along with the challenges autism brings, it can also carry with it great strengths, especially at the milder end of the spectrum. Both Darcy and Sammy have above-average intelligence, as well as unusual talents, such as Darcy’s perfect recall and Sammy’s mathematical skills. For this reason, many people consider ‘high-functioning’ autism not to be a disability at all, but a difference in ability, and speak proudly of neurodiversity, referring to the acceptance of people whose lenses are different and welcoming their strengths while supporting their challenges.
There are many organisations worldwide supporting autistic people and their families, and where you can read more about the condition. One such site is autisticadvocacy.org.
About the Author
Riana Everly was born in South Africa, but has called Canada home since she was eight years old. She has a Master’s degree in Medieval Studies and is trained as a classical musician, specialising in Baroque and early Classical music. She first encountered Jane Austen when her father handed her a copy of Emma at age 11, and has never looked back.
Riana now lives in Toronto with her family. When she is not writing, she can often be found playing string quartets with friends, biking around the beautiful province of Ontario with her husband, trying to improve her photography, thinking about what to make for dinner, and, of course, reading!
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Riana Everly loves connecting with readers on Facebook at facebook.com/RianaEverly/
Also, be sure to check out her website at rianaeverly.com for sneak peeks at coming works and links to works in progress!
More from Riana Everly
Teaching Eliza
A tale of love, manners, and the quest for perfect vowels.
From a new voice in historical romance comes this sparkling Regency tale, wherein the elegance of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and the wit of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion collide. The results are clever, funny, and often quite unexpected….
Professor Fitzwilliam Darcy, expert in phonetics and linguistics, wishes for nothing more than to spend some time in peace at his friend’s country estate, far from the parade of young ladies wishing for his hand, and further still from his aunt’s schemes to have him marry his cousin. How annoying it is when a young lady from the neighbourhood, with her atrocious Hertfordshire accent and country manners, comes seeking his help to learn how to behave and speak as do the finest ladies of high society.
Elizabeth Bennet has disliked the professor since overhearing his flippant comments about her provincial accent, but recognizes in him her one opportunity to survive a prospective season in London. Despite her ill feelings for the man, she asks him to take her on as a student, but is unprepared for the price he demands in exchange.
“With her clever mash-up of two classics, Riana Everly has fashioned a fresh, creative storyline with an inventive take on our favorite characters, delightful dialogue and laugh out loud humor. Teaching Eliza is certain to become a reader favorite. It’s a must read!” – Sophia Meredith (author of the acclaimed On Oakham Mount and Miss Darcy’s Companion)
Teaching Eliza is a full-length JAFF novel of about 110 000 words
The Assistant: Before Pride and Prejudice
A tale of love, secrets, and adventure across the ocean
When textile merchant Edward Gardiner rescues an injured youth, he has no notion that this simple act of kindness will change his life. The boy is bright and has a gift for numbers that soon makes him a valued assistant and part of the Gardiners’ business, but he also has secrets and a set of unusual acquaintances. When he introduces Edward to his sparkling and unconventional friend Miss Grant, Edward finds himself falling in love.
But who is this enigmatic woman who so quickly finds her way to Edward’s heart? Do the deep secrets she refuses to reveal have anything to do with the appearance of a sinister stranger, or with the rumours of a missing heir to a northern estate? As danger mounts, Edward must find the answers in order to save the woman who has bewitched him … but the answers themselves may destroy all his hopes.
Set against the background of Jane Austen’s London, this Pride and Prejudice prequel casts us into the world of Elizabeth Bennet’s beloved Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Their unlikely tale takes the reader from the woods of Derbyshire, to the ballrooms of London, to the shores of Nova Scotia. With so much at stake, can they find their Happily Ever After?
The Assistant is a full-length JAFF novel of about 90 000 words.
Recipient of the Jane Austen Award from Jane Austen Readers’ Awards.
“With a poignant storyline and colourful array of characters…Ms. Everly’s work demonstrates a commanding hold on narrative and history…”
