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Mother and daughter authors convey combined message

A mother-daughter pair of authors will be in Richmond Saturday for a book signing session that carries with it a special, combined purpose.
authors
Authors Janet Walmsley (left) and daughter Jenny Story will share their experiences as writers, as well as the challenges of autism at a book signing on Saturday. Photo submitted

A mother-daughter pair of authors will be in Richmond Saturday for a book signing session that carries with it a special, combined purpose.

In her book The Autistic Author and the Animator, Vancouver mom Janet Walmsley has written about her daughter’s – 23-year-old Jenny Story – journey through autism that has required commitment and courage. And Story’s book, Dysomia, a fantasy fiction novel about a young woman out to prove herself, serves as a triumph of that battle with autism and is the first installment in a trilogy for the young writer and animator.

Separately, the stories may not be connected, but together they intertwine to provide an overview of one family’s experience and determination to overcome.

“My first commitment was to my daughter and always thinking positively and full speed ahead, never looking back or listening to a doctor saying, she will never talk, never do well in school, never  be where her peers are, as each year goes by,” said Walmsley when asked what motivated her to write the book. “I promised Jenny that would never happen. And I wanted to share that commitment with other autistic children and parents.”

She added that too many families have slipped through the cracks in the health system, believing there is no hope for an autistic child.

“In shining a positive light on Jenny’s life journey, I could show that one with autism can lead a good life and push through barriers and obstacles and live their dreams and attain their goals,” Walmsley said. “Autism is not a death sentence, but a rich, fulfilled life sentence, so to speak. I promised to shed the stigma that still surrounds autism and enlighten people that autistic individuals are a huge asset in both the work force and society.”

She said her daughter is living proof of that and her successes can provide inspiration for them.

Story was diagnosed with low-functioning autism at the age of three. She graduated from high school in Vernon, BC with honours and enrolled at Vancouver Film School for Animation where she became a 2D classical and 3D digital character design animator. She recently finished working on a film for Super Channel with her animation and another one is in the works.

The road to Story’s productive and successful life today came with some significant challenges, said Walmsley.

First of all, Story’s diagnosis took a toll on Walmsley’s marriage and her spouse left the relationship.

“I saw Jenny go through bullying in school, awkwardness with socialization and she worked extra hard with her studies, too,” Walmsley said. “I watched this girl truck through the trenches, climb up the mountainside, reach the peak and then jump up on the clouds and fly high above them.

“So many people say that she has so many triumphs ­— which she richly deserves. And she wants other autistic individuals to have this, too.”

When Walmsley decided to write about her experience with her daughter, Story was fearful, at first. But if it resulted in helping one family or even an individual, the exercise would have been worthwhile, Walmsley said.

It’s no coincidence their two books were published at the same time. Walmsley said the stories needed to be presented alongside each other.

“When people see Jenny and I together and I talk about her story and then there she is beside me, with her best-selling fantasy fiction book, talking to people about it and being a professional 2D and 3D animator, as well, they are in happy tears and blown away,” Walmsley said. “We have people saying it has changed their lives.”

The book-signing for Walmsley and Story will take place at Indigo Books at Richmond Centre (6551 No. 3 Road) from 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.