Beyond Imagination: Writing with Aphantasia and Autism - Alina Bellchambers

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In this episode of Neurodivergent Mates, Will chats with South Australian author Alina Bellchambers, whose fantasy duo-logy The Order of Masks and The Weight of Crowns (Pan Macmillan) is being called a “feminist Game of Thrones.”

Diagnosed as autistic at 29 and living with aphantasia, Alina shares how she writes epic worlds without mental imagery, her journey from struggling student to breakout author and actor, and how embracing her neurodivergence has shaped her creativity and success.

Questions

1. Alina, to kick things off, could you introduce yourself and share a little about your journey into writing?
2. You grew up surrounded by stories in your family’s Adelaide bookshop — how did that environment shape your love for storytelling?
3. You’ve spoken about writing being a retreat for you during difficult times growing up. Can you tell us what role writing played in your life back then?
4. You were diagnosed as autistic at 29, after years of searching for answers. How did finally receiving that diagnosis change things for you?
5. You also live with aphantasia, which means you can’t visualise images in your mind. How does that affect the way you create such vivid and epic fantasy worlds?
6. Your duology The Order of Masks and The Weight of Crowns has been described as a “feminist Game of Thrones.” What inspired these stories and the strong female protagonists at the heart of them?
7. On top of being an author, you’re also an actor, recently appearing in Bring Her Back. How do writing and acting complement each other for you?
8. Finally, where can our listeners find your books, follow your work, and connect with you online?

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