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About the Author: find Faith Jacobs on Goodreads.com
“If ever I create something according to the standards and rules of the crowd, I will have lost the art of being an artist to begin with.
Always go against the grain, it makes people unhappy.”
Faith jacobs
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Although I've been writing all my life, and only recently have taken the leap into the publishing world, I've been jumping into the acting realm as well! Here, in the link below, you can check out my resume, my body of work, my demo reels, self tapes, and other projects I've directed, edited, acted in, cast, written, produced, and even been nominated for! I began in 2020 and though I am focusing on my journey as an author for now, I'm always open to being behind the mic too. Be it as a podcast host for my Show, CoffeeBreak or as an actor in a scripted fiction podcast, I'm open and eager for all facets of the artistic world! Are you Looking for a Neurodivergent voice at all? I'm your gal!
Not only an author and a voice actor, but I'm also a podcast host! Often speaking with Neurodivergent peers on acting and representation, I've been lucky to speak to so many unique guests. From stage actors to musical theatre creatives and authors! There's a seat for everyone on my show.
Neurodivergent voices matter in the world of the arts. Our Neurodiversity is diversity and it’s time we lifted our voices in this field because we are capable as such. Join me, Faith Jacobs, Autistic writer, indie Audiodrama director, as i speak with colleges, peers, and others on The world of acting and beyond through our own unique Neurodiverse voices. #Neurodivergent #Acting #Interviews #AutisticVoices
For Autism Acceptance Month 2025
Unheard Voices: Empathy, Acceptance and the Infinite possibilities of Autistic Individuals Faith Jacobs When the word Autism comes to one’s mind, what do you think of? Do you think of the stereotypes that have been invasive and are still invasive in hollywood? Do you think someone with autism has a certain look to them? Or are you unfamiliar? In that case, allow me to begin by kindly inviting you to step into our shoes, through the eyes of empathy and most importantly, acceptance. I would like to invite you into my shoes and to start, let’s purge the thought that Autism is something of a tragic diagnosis as portrayed by horrific organizations out there that try to paint a picture of a person who will never be successful. I balk at this because here I am, a self made young autistic woman who is a successful creator in her own right and I could list all I’ve ever done, though we’d be here all day if I rambled! I must say, however, that I am not a tragedy, my future is unlimited, and I am capable. Autism does not define me and is no oh poor pity me party. Its label is not tragic and It was not for me when I received my diagnosis some years ago. I refute such things. On that note, If we wish to talk about acceptance we need to begin with us, the autistics, and self acceptance. To preface, self acceptance of your own place on the autism spectrum will look vastly different than say, mine. Perhaps Jane over here in this corner, was diagnosed late and she experiences grief. That is her experience with an autistic diagnosis and her acceptance of herself may come later through the proper support she needs. Whereas mine was instant acceptance, and would you believe I was quite happy when I learned I was autistic? I was. It’s unheard of, I suppose, but I was. I accepted myself right away, because I realized nothing had changed about me. I didn’t change, I was simply me, how great is that! Why be sad, I thought, when I knew all my life that I had never been typical; I had no word for why I wasn’t typical but I had a feeling I was different. And with that, there was no reason to say oh woe is me, in my case. I thrived in my quirks before the diagnosis, and I haven’t stopped since getting it. The downside, however, to acceptance of autism, is that those around me were not so keen to see the beauties of what a late diagnosis means. They weren’t so enthusiastic to understanding how this diagnosis, Autism, led to more self acceptance than self loathing. The whole self loathing and fear only came in when I realized the people around me began to treat me differently because of the label, not because I was diagnosed late or that I had a whole world that would open up for me to learn and understand what made me who I am on the spectrum. You see, for me, learning what autism was should have led to joy and good support, however, it instead lead to opposition and people poking fun at the labels of things that come along with Autism, like special interests, hyperfixation, stimming or any of these things that advocates talk about. When I learned about all these things I was so excited and thought, so my hyperfixations are my passions and my deep need for all the little details are special interests and when I like to use my tangle or I tap my fingers together, that’s stimming! How cool! I was over the moon and ready to embrace it, there was no fear, no loathing. However, that shifted when I saw that the only ones resistant to me being autistic, were those who couldn’t understand that I have always been me, and having the label autistic did not change who I was. Even with it, I was still me, and I still am me, albeit sometimes facing bullies and learning who is not so good. Beyond the label, I am still a silly, funny, intelligent, bright young woman who loves her coffee dates, adores a good movie, or going out for ice cream and shopping, I’m a social person, I actually crave social time and hugs, and all these things that I had wanted and needed before the diagnosis. In my opinion, All that my diagnosis did was simply give a name as to why I didn’t like certain textures of food or clothing and I had a reason why noise, smells, and external stimuli wasn’t always friendly or kind or easily ignorable to me. I at last had a reason why I was and remain forward, why I may have sounded blunt, why people mistake my honesty and directness for rudeness and the ways I am that do not conform to the norm of society. But in all that I am and remained myself and learned that self acceptance means being ok with the differences which make me stand out. I will say that not everyone’s experience or story is mine and I only speak to my journey on the spectrum. That, above all else, is what makes the autistic spectrum a loop of infinite possibility and why those who are part of said spectrum, are also tapestries of infinite possibilities, because we all have various types of stories, we are not one thing, we are something you may have never seen before. For example, I exist on the side of low support needs, meaning I can care for myself in various ways. I make my own food, I take care of my hygiene, I’m even an author, and a creative of many facets from voice acting to self created shows and digital art. I am a tapestry of infinite possibilities, but you simply have to let me be me. I won’t conform to what you wish me to be or to do, and what you might call argumentative is in fact me merely stating facts and using logic over illogical reasoning and regurgitation of things I’ve heard on the television. The fact is, autism doesn’t change us, it is simply one part of who we, as people, are, and our journeys of self acceptance can be marred with unpleasantness by the outside forces of unacceptance from peers and family and employers or perfect strangers who aren’t in our bodies. They don’t understand us or why we are as we are sometimes. Though you are quite lucky if you do have those around you who accept that this is simply how your brain works and is wired differently from the norm. The ties between acceptance and empathy are profound for me, and it is because of my journey to accept myself despite the people around me who look on me with the eyes of disbelief, or with the eyes of incapability simply because I will no longer conform to their standards of what I shall label typical-isms. I simply can’t and never will fit into the box you think I ought to, be it having proper eye contact, body language, having skills you think I should have because everyone else does X or Y and therefore I ought to do X and Y too, when I can only do B and C! And sometimes not even that is possible if its a bad sensory day. I believe there are many of my fellow Auties who understand this mindset of mine and my thoughts. It remains that the bar set by the norm of society, clashes with my acceptance of myself as someone who is Autistic. The question then is, why should I conform to the well worn path by those who never lived with my trials or my difficulties when I can stand out, walk to the beat of my own inner drum, be proud of myself and who I am? It must be said best that there is an inner confidence that is hard to build for those of us on the spectrum because we have desires and wants that conflict and most neurotypical people can’t fathom it. I would say that many of us want to be seen as we are and also treated no differently than anyone else. We want the freedom of expression that everyone else is allowed to have while not being scrutinized for things that we may enjoy, our passions and hobbies and all the joys that we find in this life should not be seen in a light where the word people use is “she’s obsessed with dinosaurs” for example or “he never shuts up about trains” for another. Yet If a typical person talks about their incessant love of sports like rugby or football or something mundane, then that is completely acceptable, but the minute an autistic person falls passionately in love with something, it becomes “you are obsessed” or “You’re so single minded” or “let’s talk about something else” or insert here some negative comment. In my life, I love history and facts and deep conversation and am used to either being brushed off, or laughed at, or having people nod in a way that doesn’t signal they are listening or interested. Instead they poke, they laugh, they think it’s funny and I don’t enjoy conversations with these people. And I mean that. When I, as an autistic person say something, I really mean it. There is no subtext, there is no underlying meaning, I say what I mean and I mean what I say and that, like anything else in the life of an autistic, also contributes to if we are accepted or not by those around us. We have no filters, we have, quite truthfully, mouths of honesty and if you can’t learn to go along with it, this tact that doesn’t exist within some of us, you may as well pack your bags and find a typical person to talk to. And that choice, to me, is the saddest fact, because if you didn’t ghost, if you didn’t cut us off, if you didn’t ignore and leave us out, if you chose unacceptance versus acceptance, you might see that we think and feel, love and laugh, care a lot, have emotions, and wants, desires for companionship and friendship, and that in accepting the unconventional ways we express ourselves, it could be how we share our affections. But the tides of bullying and unkindness, of abuse and an unwillingness to let us be ourselves, to shut us down, to keep us quiet, to refuse understanding of our lingo, or the way we may experience the world is why advocacy and empathy and showing you our strengths and our possibilities, our limitless potential, matters. Acceptance of those on the spectrum is not merely allowing them to sit at the table, it is giving them the space to freely be themselves with kindness, compassion, to hear their voices, to let them tell their stories, to allow them to dress how they want, speak how they desire, be where they are comfortable, and talk about the things that both hurt, hinder, or make them feel as if acceptance of who they are is not possible. There are negatives as much as there are positives and when you don’t allow their voices to rise and be part of conversations about them, or movies and tv shows and books and all matter of areas where they are shut out and not allowed the chance to be heard, then you are against the acceptance they crave. You see, in the end, we can have all the self acceptance of ourselves, we can do the work to loving who we are, but at the end of the day, do you love us and accept us? Do you foster spaces where it is ok if we don’t conform to your vision of what it means to simply be a person? Who we are, those of us on the autistic spectrum, and the way we express ourselves is not a reflection on you. If I choose to dress in something that makes me feel comfortable and happy, and you sit there and think “this outfit reflects badly on me”! I will ask you, how? I chose it for myself, and I am happy in this, why are you unhappy? We are not your mirrors, we are ripples of ourselves, and we have preferences that we ought to be allowed to wear or to say or to like because, no one is the same. Acceptance of those who are autistic includes non conformity, in the safest of ways. A red shirt with rainbow pants won’t hurt you, or your child, teen, young adult, etc. choosing to dress in an outfit akin to their favorite character won’t hurt you. There are ways that we choose to express ourselves, and If our expressions are not harmful then you needn’t try to fix it. In conclusion, sometimes you need to step into our world for a bit, you need to be empathetic to our plights, and you need to realize that Autism and acceptance means a whole lot more than just saying we include autistic people at the helm. That, however, is a good beginning, but it goes much deeper than it. With acceptance and touting more than just awareness, it is also allowing them to be who they were born to be, wholly beautiful, intelligent, and bright minds who, in the words of the great, Alan Turing, “it is those who no one imagines anything of, who do the things no one can imagine.” The fact remains that we are limitless, you simply have to allow us to blossom into who we are rather than trying to make us into what you think we should be. -Faith Jacobs
How do you define neurodiversity, and celebrate your neurodivergent identity; One of my absolute favorite quotes comes from the film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium and it says: “There are a million things one might do with a block of wood. But what do you think might happen if someone, just once, believed in it?” To me, this is one of the most powerful ideas in regards to Neurodiversity. It is a beautiful tapestry of infinite possibilities and roads that you may not ever think are a possibility. However, as The greatest and most brilliant mind in the world once said, “The people no one imagines anything of, often do things no one can imagine.” It rings true to that point. To be neurodivergent is an infinite loop, in which I can create things and think of things that perhaps no one can imagine and with belief, in who I am and in all the capabilities that I have, I am that block of wood, that can become anything it so dreams. Perhaps I’ll sketch or mold A mighty ship out of that wood, create a fortress, or perhaps build a toy sword so that I May be as brave as Prince Caspian himself! Or maybe I’ll use the pencil that wood was made of; pour over the composition notebook my grandmother gave me, pages upon pages of stories, allow my imagination to flow, and with the world of Narnia playing on a CD player, lay the foundation of what is celebrating my neurodivergent identity. It started with a lion, a witch, and a wardrobe CD, and began with a girl, her love of Disney, the video game kingdom hearts, and a pencil. And through a love of good literature such as Sherlock, Little women, Secret garden, and a book called the Outsiders, along with Radio theatere, and voice acting, Celebrating neurodivergence for me became at the age of twelve and continues to be in my young adulthood, creating stories with authentic disabled voices at the helm. If you had said to me when I was ten that in eighteen years I would have a voice acted passion project of mine nominated and shown at a film fest, or that In the past five years currently I have virtually met and worked with over fifty incredible neurodivergent actors from across the globe, from England to Austria to California, I would have told you, me? Impossible. Yet I now have a group of amazing Neurodiverse performers who have lent their voices, as well as their beliefs and encouragement, to my original works such as the project faithfully Yours Mozart or our fan adaptation of The chronicles of Narnia: the Silver chair, and more. If you would say I’d be laughing and creating something with the kindest and most beautiful voices I’ve ever known, I would have said it was a dream. Yet out there to be heard, These are things I have written, adapted, directed, acted in, cast for, and edited entirely on my own, with the most profound and amazing voices I could ask for from so many unique actors all over the globe. They bring their own selves to everything we’ve ever created together, and through our conversations we share and find commonalities. All the While Hollywood was saying this can’t be done, I believed, despite some opposition from peers, I wholly believe that neurodivergent rep is important. I believe That we can tell our own stories and impact those around us with our beautiful voices and the beautiful languages that we speak because of our neurodivergence. Therefore, I and people like my fellow neurodiverse actors and advocates, Jack, Ross, and Emma, sit down on podcasts like Mine, CoffeeBreak: a Retro-spectivepod, to talk about our experiences. Like me, they advocate for neurodiverse voices in the arts, we bounce ideas, we collaborate, and when we aren’t doing that, I create the scripted audio drama stories that feature our voices and the voices of those around us who have ADHD, Dyslexia. dyspraxia, Autism and more. And like the characters in the series made, these actors are not treated any differently, but instead included at the helm Where they voice characters who are openly autistic, openly disabled, and beautifully so to the benefit and positivity of others. My greatest character who embodies this view, was that of Jacob Faust, a sixteen year old Autistic boy whose story I am currently writing into book form, is about kindness, love, acceptance, compassion, growth, and most importantly sharing that unconditional love with others. Being Neurodivergent, being openly autistic has given me a beautiful insight to create authentic stories that feature autistic and other neurodiverse talent at the helm, be it through interviews with my peers or in bringing disability/autistic acceptance to forefront through my art and book writing. This is Especially true for my most current passion project, a two book series called Faithfully yours Mozart. The Faithfully yours Mozart project has been a gift and from the start it tackles many aspects of humanizing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, through the eyes of love, courage, and compassion. One of these many ideas, inspired by a conversation on my podcast with my friend Jack, is that Mozart, the world’s greatest classical composer, is suspected and debated by modern society as having been a neurodivergent person himself. For my passion project he is treated as so, and He is voiced for an audiobook, along with many in the cast of characters for my project, by neurodivergent voice actors who have found themselves relating to the world of Wolfgang and his struggles to make his way in the world, through my dramatization of his young adulthood. Many neurodivergent individuals within the realm of the arts have flocked to faithfully yours Mozart, expressing the need for such a profound story, as It seems to them, that it is a way to say, that perhaps even we were a part of history too. And isn’t that the most beautiful thing, to have the chance to write something that allows neurodivergent minds to see themselves through the eyes of history? I believe that in being neurodivergent, we need to tell stories not just in the modern world but to look at those who contributed to the good of history, through a different lens, perhaps through the lens of neurodiversity if you will? What might we learn and how might this generation of neurodiverse individuals be impacted to know James Madison faced Epilepsy? That Thomas Jefferson was possibly on the autism spectrum too? Did you know him and Mozart actually met and that he composed music for Thomas Jefferson? Or that Mozart and Beethoven, the deaf composer, met too! That’s what we call a tangent express, by the way, it’s a common thread with neurodivergence! we tend to, as my friend Jack says, “ramble”! And Yes, You’re allowed to laugh, it’s something I do quite often. To conclude, however, I fully believe neurodivergence is a tapestry of possibilities, it’s an infinite loop of colors and perspectives and stories. What I wish for people to understand and my friend Jack once said it best, “autism, neurodivergence, is not this or that. Sometimes it’s something people have never imagined or seen before.” The people I know are part of that, they are something people have never seen before, and My journey with being neurodivergent and all I’ve been able to achieve, is merely one of many strands interwoven with the lives of others like me. In part, all I am was made entirely possible through my love of the creative arts, be it writing, drawing, acting, or voice work. Would you believe I grew up with a stutter and a difficulty of word pronunciation issues? I was once monotone, according to other people; I was made fun of because of my voice. Yet my voice soars because I fell into voice acting work, and I was allowed to develop my own voice and I only became better because I found something that made it easier to learn how to speak! and I wanted it. I speak for myself now, and isn’t it beautiful to want something like that? And now to be a voice for those who need one. If just given the chance to bring our authentic voice into the fold, imagine the impact. That could be me and the colleagues I have made along this road because we are Neurodivergent. And I, like my friends, tell our own story. We lift our voices to encourage others, We are infinitely limitless in telling humanized stories about the spectrum of disability through our eyes. Perhaps it’s impossible, some say, but in truth, we can open doors through our voices. And to me that is what it means to be neurodivergent, to celebrate neurodivergence at the heart of my story with it. while it would be a lie to say that I don’t have my challenges, I do, being neurodivergent is beautiful. We are beautiful minds, who can do the things no one can imagine.
All Ages Geek Interview: 1.What initially inspired you to become a creator, and how has that inspiration evolved throughout your creative journey? Faith Jacobs: I think it started back in highschool when I was super into the whole world of Star wars, including the old 90’s expanded universe. My first script that i was super proud of, was a story based on the book from the new jedi order, called Traitor. I happened to be a huge fan of Jacen Solo, and the story fascinated me about how he met his future teacher, a strange creature named Vergere. I was determined to write this short film with someone i knew who happened to have an interest in filmmaking. Unfortunately that film never panned out for multiple reasons and there was a little bit of discouragement around me about the things i wanted to create. It was with this defeat (as i saw it at the time) that i began seeking the world of voice acting and audiodramas instead, wanting to create stories and worlds similar to that of the amazing Chronicles of Nania radio theater plays i grew up listening to, with sound effects and casts of amazing british Voice actors like Jamie Glover or Paul Schoalfield. 2.Can you share a specific moment or experience that fueled your passion for your current creative project? Faith Jacobs: My current project is known as Faithfully yours, Mozart, and the story for this about seven months of research long. Back in Late august to early september of 2023, a friend of mine from England, this amazing neurodivergent stage actor by the name of Jack Moorby, (I’ve worked with him on several projects and could sing his praises all day. I really believe he deserves a world of opportunities). He recommended two things to me, one, that i watch Amadeus and two, Flowers for Algernon. This happened as Him and I had done a podcast episode together where i was interviewing him about his journey as an actor. he mentioned to me that if he could play anyone on stage, he’d love to play Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from the peter schaffer play, Amadeus. I was intrigued why, and my friend mentioned that some scholars debate if Mozart himself had been a neurodivergent individual. With this in mind, jack recommended if i could watch the movie or the play (i’ve seen both at this point) he said that i should. Having chanced upon seeing the film formally available on Amazon prime that fall, i took a gamble, gave Amadeus a go, and completely fell in love with researching who Mozart really was. From there, i was rewatching the film one day (which i now have the director’s cut in my dvd collection) and the thing that struck me was this playful scene from the movie between Tom Hulce (who plays Mozart) and Elizabeth Berridge (who plays his wife, constanze webber). As i watched this scene i was so in love with their chemistry that i wondered, who this Constanze weber really was and if she’d been a real person. Turns out she was very real, and she married the real W.A. Mozart in 1782. From that, it was the hunt for good research books and articles and anything i could get my hands on, to get where i am in the present, writing about their subsequent courtship and eventual marriage in a georgian era/Regency style historical fictional story, which you can even hear a concept pilot for on Youtube, with Jack Moorby playing my take on Mozart. Just search, Faithfully yours Mozart: Pompous Bastards & Viperous tongues. the whole cast was phenomenal, from my friend Emma who played Constanze, to the fun take on Mozart’s ex employer, Archbishop colloredo voiced by Mark Stiehel. All in all, that’s Faithfully yours Mozart, and i’m excited to share it as soon as i can. 3.What challenges have you encountered as an indie creator, and how have they shaped your approach to your work? Faith Jacobs: Goodness me, I'd say the biggest challenge these last five years has been trying to build an audience. It’s hard when you don’t know what people think, or if they even listen to the things you and the whole crew of voice actors behind you, put time and effort into. What many don’t realize is the main three projects i’ve helmed were helmed entirely by me alone behind the scenes from late 2021 onward. I am the writer, the editor, the casting director, I find the sound effects/foley, sometimes I even create the original soundtracks such as i did for our fan adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia the Silver Chair. While i had to learn a lot on my own, given i had very little experience prior to december of 2020 when i began my journey as an indie creator/director of audio dramas. However, the one thing besides trying to find an audience for the amazing projects, of which have been gifted such talented voices, like Ross K. Foad or Nathan Hall, to breathe life into, (And their voices deserve to be heard, as does everyone i’ve ever had the joy of working alongside) if there was a learning curve, i had to do it through the act of creating. It is the rough edges that make my first time projects stand out, but without the hard act of simply learning as i went, i would not have such beautiful projects like Silver chair or Faithfully yours, Mozart. We have to create in order to gain experience, one cannot spend hours and hours of making progress without a few dents in the road, and to think otherwise means you believe in perfection. I however, do not. I believe that even unpolished gold is still beautiful, and that it matters as much as the jewels which sparkle in the sun. 4.Are there any particular creators who have significantly influenced your style or approach? How do you incorporate those influences into your own unique voice? Faith Jacobs: Elle Mcnicoll and Jessica Scott Whyte are two amazing writers who are paving the way, in my opinion, for autistic individuals like me, to finally have our voices heard. In their works I felt seen. One of them I've personally interviewed and I highly recommend that you read A Kind of Spark and The Asparagus Bunch. Both Elle and Jessica have written the most beautiful and realistic stories with Autistic characters at the helm who finally feel like real, living, breathing people. It doesn’t feel like I'm reading some carticure, or a joke of a character who is disabled. They remind me of myself and that makes my heart soar. Being able to witness the waves that these books are making, has my heart on fire with the hope that I too, in my pursuit to adapt and write my project, Chaotic idiots the series, into book form, and share my own unique Neurodivergent voice. If anything, the way they’ve influenced me has been positive, and i hope the world of Jacob Faust and his family/friends can do the same as they did for me. 5. How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to feedback from your audience or collaborators? Faith Jacobs: I believe in compromise, and have done this with several voice actors who are a part of my projects. I believe in flexible deadlines and open communication. If there is something that needs changed or moved around, i am open to hearing it from those i work with. As for feedback from anyone else, i sadly don’t have much of an audience, but for the small handful of people who have given me feedback, and good feedback at that, most of the time people have told me they related to my characters, like Jacob or his friend Leroy, and its always lovely to hear how seen people feel with them. 6.Can you recall a memorable success story or milestone in your indie creator journey that stands out as a turning point for you? Faith Jacobs: There’s definitely a few. One that stands out quite recently as of Last year in May of 2023, i was celebrating four years of my original neurodivergent lead project, Chaotic idiots the series, and i was casting for a special episode titled, a day without you. The episode featured a full length cast of male autistic actors playing autistic characters. You see, For the longest time, i have seen so many shows out there, particularly such as the good doctor and Atypical, having an autistic character at the helm, played by neurotypicals. With both these projects, it seemed to me that there was this refusal to cast autistic actors in those kinds of roles, or to be very honest, any roles. Especially ones that don’t rely on stereotypes. While i am a believer that great strides have been made for Autistic girls with an amazing show called a Kind of Spark, and many other amazing authors out there, i really think that the boys on the spectrum deserve a chance to have their voices too. Wishing for this, i wrote the special called: A Day without you, which focuses on my original character, Jacob Faust, (who i voice as i am a neurodivergent myself) and his group of friends who are all on the Autism Spectrum,as they enjoy a day out together as all teenagers do. From going shopping to having coffee at a cafe, and nabbing ice cream, its a chill episode that focuses on the heart of friendship and dealing with the ups and downs of being a teeager. And While the actors who play the characters are both on the spectrum, the point of the show is not what many before have done. It’s not about how their differences are a problem, a burden, or an issue. being autistic is just one part of what makes up their identity and they’re all unique. I am proud of this episode because it is proof once again that you can cast authentically and tell a beautiful story with authentic voices at the head. It’s my hope that more shows, especially ones with autistic boys at the head, will actually be played by autistic actors, because they can utilize their own voices, just as much as autistic girls do. I think a far as it being a turning point, it was the second time i realized that neurodivergent actors really are seeking opportunities to use their authentic voices as part of the arts, and that matters a great deal. Their own lived experiences matter, and it is needed more than ever in the world of the creative arts, be it voice acting, stage acting, on television, and film. 7.What role do setbacks or failures play in your creative process, and how do you overcome them to keep moving forward? Faith Jacobs: Setbacks are the worst, no lie. There were many times i thought my computer would die, had files get lost or corrupted, and i had several frustrations in regards to working with people. Sometimes they either dipped for no reason, decided the project wasn’t important and dragged their feet, I had someone lambast my work, or had someone decide to ghost and abandon. Those kinds of situations can make a heart like mine, sink and drown. I put all of my heart into the things i craft and i want others to be a part of that journey, i want them to come along with me and see the beautiful things that could be. But sometimes people disappoint, refuse to wait, and it hurts when someone doesn’t see value in what you do. It hurts as much as Losing a voice actor and having to replace them when they couldn’t give you the time of day to say, i cant do this anymore and tell you why. I can say it is honestly the worst. I would not recommend doing that to anyone. If you can’t face the person you said you’d help, you’re very much a coward. Your actions hurt the one on the receiving end, because the person who wanted to work with you, loses trust as a result. And i’ve had to put up boundaries of expectations because of too many situations where the opposite happened and i was either disrespected to my face or abandoned by an actor while working on a project. As for moving beyond them and moving forward, i’m a big fan of history. Even Walter elias Disney and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had their failures and set backs and people who let them down. Yet even in the face of every obstacle, they achieved amazing things. I may not be Walt elias disney, nor Mozart, but if my heroes faced the odds, so can I. And i’ll keep moving forward. As my favorite Walt Quote says, "Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious … and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." 8. How do you manage your time and energy to sustain a consistent creative output while juggling other aspects of life? To paraphrase my favorite jedi, obi wan kenobi “This creativity is your life.” Honestly, I used to not manage my time very well for a lot of years, and eventually it all caught up to me. The year after our second season for the chaotic idiots project, i spent three months doing serious self care. Lots of resting, and lots of me time. It was the hardest thing to do as i didn’t write anything for the longest of time. After what i can only describe as Neurodivergent burnout, i took my time to make sure that while i’m in creator/management mode, i take care of my health such as hygeine, eating well, enjoying a good tv show from time to time (i recently started watching Belgravira, Bridgeton, and Percy Jackson, and while they’re all total 180’s of each other, i love them. Regency on one hand and Fantasy on the other? Sounds as good as blueberry tea and jammie dodgers to me! ) in essence, balancing the creative grind with the need for self care, isn’t always easy, but it’s nevertheless necessary. So, nab the cozy lounge wear and set aside time to pour yourself that decaf vanilla chai and indulge in a custard cream or two. I promise you’ll thank yourself for not incurring burnout. 9.Have you found any unexpected joys or rewards in the indie creator community, and how has it contributed to your overall experience? Faith Jacobs: Meeting other Autistic voice actors has to be one of the most unexpected joys of my five years being at this. The day i met Jack is a highlight to me, because it was the first time i’d approached an openly neurodivergent actor for a neurodivergent role (I can happily say, three years since that meeting i now consider him a good colleague and i’ll be cheering him on always as much as he’s encouraged and cheered me on). It was 4 a.m my way when we met on Zoom for a 9 a.m meeting his way (Uk time Is wild!), and at the time i was good at rising early (not so much these days, lol.) But the takeaway from meeting him was that he helped me realize that Authentic neurodivergent voices were needed in the world of voice acting, with his enthusiasm for the character of Edgar Faust, (he happens to be an adult character who is Neurodivergent in my original passion project). I’ll never forget that day because his joy ultimately made me excited to go on this journey, even with the ups and downs. From meeting jack, i took a chance on writing more and more neurodiverse characters and that lead to meeting Ross K. Foad, who would lovingly voice Chris Hendrix. From there that lead to meeting Aaaron relf, and so many other beautiful voices on the spectrum of disability. Meeting them was encouraging because it meant I wasn't alone in wanting to be a Voice actor and that my disability did not define me. I was not barred from being a voice actor and I have four beautiful credits to my name (including being part of some fan doctor who audiodramas). I am so happy to be a part of the things that i have been, because i met people who have done and keep doing amazing things. They’re an encouragement and i hope they all soar. That’s the joy I've felt, is meeting the most incredible, encouraging, kind, talented people who i adore and will cheer on as much as they’ve cheered me on. There will always be the occasional bad egg, but i’ve had so many more beautiful people than i’ve had bad eggs, and i love every single one of those incredibly talented souls. They deserve every opportunity, and i genuinely mean that. They deserve good things and i hope they all take flight. 10.If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring creators, what would it be based on your own lessons learned? Don’t be afraid to find the people who will help you move mountains. Even from across the ocean, and in the most distant places from where you are, there are so many who will believe in your vision and make it come alive. They will breathe life into your creation, as much as they’ll breathe life into your heart. Although, I would caution you young and new creators not to believe that everyone will stay. The unfortunate reality is that Some may go, some will break your heart, some will cause you confusion, and then, in a twist of beauty, there are some who will stick it out and make you laugh if you’ll let them. They’ll teach you the lessons you need to hear, and show you light when things feel darkest, and you’ll have more gratitude than can be expressed in words, overflowing in your soul. But, that's part of the ups and downs of the whole process. They’ll change your mind, they’ll show you kindness, they’ll encourage you not to quit, and you’ll find the next stepping stone. So Be kind. Be bold. Stick to those boundaries of expectation, but don’t be scared to open your heart to the lights that come alongside you, and lift them up as much as i hope they lift you up. We exist in this world to be lights to each other. Don’t tear people down. Keep being kind, keep being courageous, and above all stay be honest. Be upfront, and remain humble. Lift up those around you and walk along with them. No one is your competition. They are only peers or passerby’s who will either help you, or show you what you should not be. 11. Goals for 2024? Currently working hard on the final season of the chaotic idiots audiodrama, although it’s a long process, it will be worthwhile as much as the mozart project is worthwhile. Those are my current goals, on top of returning to the world of book writing for the book adaptation of chaotic idiots overall, i’ve got a lot of things to get cracking on as soon as i can.
Author Interview 2024: Introduce yourself! Hello, my name is Faith Jacobs, I’m a neurodivergent author, podcaster, audiodrama director, occasional voice actress, and a freelance historical researcher. Rather recently I was part of the research and development team for a Westend workshop of an upcoming musical known as Mozart: Her Story. I’ve been a part of fiction podcasts such as Last Call at Bluebell Café (season 2), and I champion neurodiversity in the world of the acting as an advocate for inclusivity. I’m entirely independent and I’ve helmed several projects (either original or fan made) on my own. What’s the first book you remember reading? Oooh! This is somewhere between the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Oborn and the Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Werner. As a child, I loved facts and mystery and of course, history, so Boxcar Children and Magic Tree House were my gateway into the world of loving books. I will shout out that I have my mother, of course, to thank for finding these books and instilling in me a love of reading good literature. I would not be the bookworm I am today without that foundation. Tell us what you’re currently reading! Geek Girl by Holly Smale. It is a coming of age story about a girl named Harriet Manners and in a way – as the author was undiagnosed as Autistic when she wrote this – I would say Geek Girl is for all the neurodivergent ladies who went undiagnosed in their teens and into their adulthood. Personally, Harriet speaks to me on so many levels as I too was a “geek girl” when I was younger. I had my quirks and I was never very popular with my peers; I was bullied and treated differently; and then later, my quirkiness turned out to be an invisible diagnosis I’d had all my life. In essence, I have to say, if you have ever felt unseen or unheard, Geek Girl by Holly Smale will have you feeling heard and validated. I’ll mention there is also a tv series now of the book and the lead actor is on the spectrum themselves. It is an equally cathartic watch as much as it is a fast paced read. Highly recommended, it’s a ten out of ten for me! Are there any books you’re looking forward to in 2025? As a matter of fact yes, there is. I’m researching Mozart right now and my favorite researcher, Jane Glover, is releasing a book about Young Mozart’s coming of age in Italy, so I’m very excited to purchase this novel! It’s coming out in August, so two months after my birthday, and I will gladly be making a purchase swift as I can. Tell us your favourite way to consume books: Paperback, hardback, audiobook or ebook? Why? You know, I’m about fifty/fifty on this. As a child, I actually struggled to read (I did eventually get there, with much perseverance!) But when it was tough, I developed a deep appreciation of the world of audiobooks or as they were once called – ‘books on tape’. It was the audiobook world that fueled my imagination as a child and led me to the path that would take me where I am now. However, in the present day, there are at times, some books I want to have in my hands, such as any and all books with disabled rep; sometimes I’d rather have those physically in my hands to read because I like to really dive into those books and there are so many beautiful neurodiverse- and disabled-led books out there now. However, when it comes to things like classics or exciting novels like Shadow and Bone, for example, or Pride and Prejudice, I’d rather listen to an audiobook. To be honest, I love all facets of the reading world, audiobooks are great for when I’m busy writing or need to unwind, and then when I want peace and quiet with a cup of tea and some biscuits, I love a good paperback/hardcover in my hands. I love the feel of the paper and the weight of a grand story in my fingertips. Pick a genre, any genre! Hmmm … I’m somewhere between science fiction and dystopian. I find those to be the most fascinating of the genres, such as Fahrenheit 451, The Hunger Games, or The Giver. They offer the chance to think critically and really make you ponder some facets of reality as we know it. Does the genre you read most differ from what you most write? Oh most definitely. I read a lot of modern day fiction such as Geek Girl, Keedie, A Kind of Spark, The Asparagus Bunch, to name a few, and I would say the genre of a lot of these are young coming of age stories about empowerment and finding your voice, while the things I write currently are a far cry from that. My content is more aimed at people in their early twenties. What book shaped your childhood the most? Do you still love it as much now as you did then? C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia is the foundation of my childhood, it fueled my desire to craft and create the kinds of stories that I do now, either in my writing of historical fiction or fantasy. I would spend hours upon hours lying at the foot of my bed when I was little, drawing Prince Caspian or Shasta from The Horse and His Boy, listening to the tale of Prince Rillian and his escape from the Lady of the Green Kirtle; I escaped into the wardrobe from a world of unkind peers; I was a princess of Narnia in my own mind; and I loved dearest Lucy the best. As an adult, I find that Narnia has become a precious piece of literature that I return to when I need to be reminded that there are tales of knights and great battles, when the world is too much, the wardrobe is always there to walk through, as much as the Dawn Treader sails for the Lone Islands over and over, or Shasta makes his way with Bree to Narnia and the North! I would say, yes, I cherish it deeply and even more so than when I was little, it is a great comfort in times of trial and uncertainty. What quote from a book really inspires you? “Courage, dear heart.” Aslan says this to Lucy, and it is a beautiful quote, so simple and yet so powerful. There were times in my life when I was not so brave, and there are still times when I am not so brave and I am hesitant, afraid, and timid. To take a metaphorical leap into the unknown as an author and a creator, especially an indie creator, requires much courage, even if it is small, it is an act of facing the lions in spite of your fear. “Courage, dear heart.” It is something so precious to me, Lewis had such a way with words, he is another one of my writing heroes, even long after he is gone, his words echo into my heart and inspire me often when I am in need. When did you first start writing? I was ten years old, and I expressed to my grandmother that I wanted to have a journal and a pen – you see, I was always taking spare paper and my grandfather, stars love him and his patience, would take these papers and staple them together to help me make little paper books. I wanted to be a writer; I couldn’t tell you when I consciously decided this, for a time I thought I might be an Egyptologist! But, at some point, something inspired me to be a writer and so, one day, my grandmother presented me with a composition notebook and pen – I was about ten years of age – and sure, it may not have made much sense to anyone, what small child’s ramblings do? Children just have free flowing thoughts, but I was beyond stapled paper books. I was a real writer, I thought! I was so happy, and from that point on my grandparents bought me stacks of composition notebooks and from those would be another layer of the foundation that became my path to where I am now as a self-published author. It all started with a lion, a witch, a wardrobe, a pen, and a composition notebook given to a little girl by her grandparents. I wouldn’t be writing now if I hadn’t started there. Have you ever written fanfiction? Oh yes! But nothing public mind you. I actually started, to bring the last question into the fold, my first stories were that of Kingdom Hearts fanfiction, stories about Sora and those part of the Square Enix video game, those notebooks were full of silly childhood fan stories I made up, and then at some point I transitioned into my first original piece of fiction afterward. What made you want to write? Does it still hold true? Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Grey. At some point in my high school life I had to read twenty-five books (every year) and five of them had to be classics, so, as I was allowed to choose my literature, I picked up a public domain copy of Dorian Grey and upon reading that first page, I was instantly transported into a world of sensory and visualization of this artist’s room filled by the scent of roses. I cannot begin to describe how the way Oscar Wilde wrote had the most profound effect on me, not only did I learn how exquisitely delicate and alluring words could be, but I saw the power of strong literature and vocabulary. I was determined to bring back those kinds of books, I was determined to bring back this elegance in writing. I was absolutely and breathtakingly moved by my reading of The Picture of Dorian Grey, and when I go back and I listen or I read the book on the occasion that the mood strikes me, I am reminded how I read and re-read the last page over and over. It is a story that sticks with me and I would absolutely say it inspired me to pursue being an author in much the same vein as my literature icons were. What book/poem/story are you most proud of creating? I would have to say Faithfully Yours, Mozart is the proudest achievement currently. I’ve written a lot of stories over the years but none have ever come so close to being something I am more proud of than Faithfully Yours, Mozart. It challenged me in ways I never imagined with my writing and my research, it gave me a space to confront myself and how I looked at myself as a neurodivergent/disabled creator, and it taught me that there is a need for us in the space of historical narratives, if only we are willing to take a chance and entertain the untypical. Did you publish your first book or is it for your eyes only? Oh yes, Faithfully Yours, Mozart is published, just came out last year on December 5th 2024 and if you would like to make a purchase, I would be beyond grateful. You can find Faithfully Yours, Mozart: The Courtship, internationally on whatever Amazon service you use, and I will say, it is only me at the helm. I created the cover art you see, I did the editing, I am doing the marketing, everything is me, there is no middle man, no team behind me. The sequels to this first book as well are also all me. So anything earned goes to me; it was published on my own and I aim to stay that way, too. How many books have you published so far? Currently I am at two total (I don’t count the standardized paperback version of Faithfully Yours, Mozart: The Courtship, as my third publication it’s just a different variant of the novel for people who want a standardized edition). The second book for the Faithfully Yours, Mozart series is coming on the 27th of January as of writing this. It is called Love’s Enduring Symphony (hardcover edition comes out in March, on the 7th) and I am excited to continue marketing this series to people. It’s a historical fictional romance drama about the love story between Mozart and his wife, Constanze, told through the eyes of disability, mental health, chronic illness, and compassionate empathy; it is for a neurodivergent/disabled audience and I hope you will check out both books when you can. Is there a genre you struggle to write? Why? Comedy and science fiction. I have always struggled to write both, as much as I love a good comedic novel and I adore science fiction, I’ve attempted over the years to try and write novels that are akin to things like Babylon 5 or Star Wars or even Doctor Who; I find I am not so adept at creating within these genres. My sense of humor is very dry, and science fiction is a lot more than just laser swords and blasters. Do you do research for your writing or make it up as you go? Always research. The worst thing you can do to set yourself up for failure as a writer is not to do research. I have to tell you, it shows when someone doesn’t go the extra mile to research for their novel. Now in my case, as I was researching the era of 1781 to 1791 for my Mozart novel, I did thirteen months of research on not just Mozart but the era he was in from the food he eats in the book (I read historical cookery books from the era to get it right), to the places he goes, to the games he plays, and the way he talks; the lingo, the clothing, the settings, the medicine (again, historically preserved medical book – everyman, his own doctor – has all the credit as well as colonial era historical sites). Everything was meticulously researched. And you have to, it’s historical fiction; at least for me, the history informs the fiction. There is wiggle room sometimes, but you may find that fantasy is easier than historical fiction! You can fly by the seat of your pants with fantasy, and I certainly can speak to this having written fantasy for a lot of years, there is a massive difference in the ease of original fantasy fiction over historical fiction for sure! But with everything else, you have to do lots of research. It’s the foundation underneath your feet for sure! To plan, or not to plan, your plot? I believe this is where I will frustrate the traditional method of most writers and say, no. I don’t like to box myself in creatively, I choose instead to do what I call “Flow”. I have always had a hard time expressing this but, I never create outlines, I never sit there and plan plan plan the story beats. Whenever I have tried this method I found it was like trying to swim against a strong current in the water; I can try and fight it but it’s going to sweep me away. What I do instead, is I begin with a basic idea, and then I write. I let the words freely “flow” from my pen or my keyboard and whatever comes out first, in that “madman” type of stage of creativity, I let it be. After I let everything in my head flow and get out the ideas I was thinking, only afterwards do I come in as the “architect” of sorts and take what the madman phase of writing was, and sharpen and polish up. But if I set out to try and hit this plot point and that plot point, I feel as if I am walking a tight-rope; I cannot be free creatively if I have something I try to stick to. For some reason this method of mine has always angered people, but I simply call it “flowing”. I allow my ideas to freely be, and eventually, with time, they become what I have before me, Faithfully Yours, Mozart was done the same way as any project before it and it has never failed me. What route of publishing have you chosen (indie, trad, hybrid)? Do you plan to stick with it? I will 100% remain indie through Amazon’s KDP program, I don’t like what I’ve seen lately from the traditional publishing world, I think it’s a bad sign when the very world designed to give us information, can choose to take it away so easily. Faithfully Yours, Mozart is mine and mine alone and any other novels that come after it will remain mine and mine alone, no one will ever come into my space ever again and tell me how to write my stories. The idea of editors (based on some bad past experiences) has left me with a negative taste in my mouth. I will clarify, not everyone is me, not everyone can do it themselves, but collaborations in such a manner as that, has never gone well for me. I was often disrespected, so I decided to do much of it myself and will remain so for the foreseeable future as long as I am able. If you could live inside another author’s universe, which one would you pick? (Ex: Middle-earth, Narnia, Ravka, etc.) You named all three of the lands I would absolutely live in so, yes! Perhaps between the three, I might choose Narnia and Ravka (Hello, Darkling!) I am a total Grisha. I’ll spend my time between chilling in Narnia and facing down chaos in Ravka with the dearest Darkling. “Make me your VILLAIN!” Ha ha! (Absolutely loved Ben Barnes in the role of Kirigan, and am a massive fan of Mattias as well) both the books and show deserve so much love. Do you currently have a WIP? Tell us about it! Yes, three in fact, for the sequels of Faithfully Yours, Mozart, but my lips are sealed, I can’t give away everything. 😀 Tell us about the character you’ve created who is dearest to your heart. So, I will never know if this story will ever see the light of day but I once tried to bring my own coming of age story to the table and the main protagonist was this little fae/vampire called Jacob Faust. He was autistic and he was personal representation for me, and much like his uncle, Edgar Faust, who is also autistic, these characters are the most precious to me partly because their purpose was to provide boys on the spectrum good, sound representations of kindness and healing. Edgar was meant for the young men on the spectrum who have been left behind by society, and Jacob was written as a means to show that we can have boys on the spectrum who champion kindness, encouragement, and friendship in a coming of age story about facing the world and your differences through various lessons. Jacob was surrounded by a cast of diverse characters who all were on the spectrum of autism, ADHD, and other disabilities, and I still have hopes to break through the writer’s block and share this beautifully colorful world of Jacob and his friends some day, partly because, boys on the spectrum need good representation, too. I think we need to consider that they, like the girls on the spectrum, don’t have much, either. What do you consider your *current* magnum opus, or is it a work in progress and yet to be revealed? Well, Beyond Mozart there is a project coming that will be a total 180 from what I have put out there so far and yes, I haven’t revealed it yet, it’s a massive undertaking and it’s weighty. It’s actually a heavy subject but it will be powerful and impactful when I can share more. Do you have a favourite romance in your books? Or, if yours features no romance, tell us about your favourite character friendship! Of course as mentioned, Faithfully Yours, Mozart has a romance at its core and I could say, I adore Constanze and Wolfgang, and I could ramble on for pages upon pages about that, but I think I’ll go with a friendship in the series instead. One part that I love is getting to write Sophia and Wolfgang’s friendship. Sophia is Constanze Weber’s younger sister and my biggest inspiration for Sophia and Wolfgang actually came from the 1994 version of Little Women through Laurie and Amy, but if Laurie and Amy had remained only friends instead of becoming husband and wife. I like to imagine Wolfgang was like a big brother to Sophia Weber. There’s so much evidence to suggest that he and her developed the sweetest friendship; he wrote in her prayer book something along the lines of, “Forever your friend, Wolfgang”, and I thought, now that’s adorable. With Sophia, Wolfgang gets to be playful and silly and he teases her and she teases him back, they have an adorable little relationship in Faithfully Yours, Mozart: The Courtship. (A fun fact, too: I believe Sophia married one of Mozart’s friends so, perhaps he played matchmaker! Which is very sweet to think about that he set her up with someone he knew.) Do you listen to music as you write? Recommend a favourite writing song or share a writing playlist! Absolutely. Music has always helped me to visualize the scenes I am writing and I have full playlists you can find on Spotify for Faithfully Yours, Mozart that are both for Wolfgang and Constanze and the series as a whole. I listen to a lot of violin/classical orchestra covers of pop songs, you know, like Bridgerton style, when writing this, but then for my fantasy writing I tend to listen to things like Owl City or Tommee Profitt, Sam Tinnesz, Boy Epic, Ruelle, Poets of the Fall, Globus, and other kinds of cinematic music which helps fuel my creative brain. Do you listen to writing podcasts? Rec one! I sadly do not. If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be? “Reading your story is like opening a window into your heart.” – Little Women, 1994 What story do you carry upon your heart? In mine I would say, I have a hope that kindness will see through the walls I have built and that someone might be willing to come along and fight not just for me, but with me. I believe, whatever story you carry upon your heart is yours and yours alone, you only “need to have the courage to write it” and that above all else is the most important thing. “Courage, dear heart,” you are going to face the lions of injustice and sometimes be faced by opposition, you may not believe you can begin, you might not even know where to start, but sometimes all it takes is an idea and that metaphorical leap from the lion’s head, a handful of good people around you who believe you will get your chance, and then you run with that encouragement, even in the face of every odd, and take a chance. Write the story upon your heart and see how far you go because “Often it those who no one imagines anything of, who do the things that no one can imagine.” – Alan Turing Have you entered any writer contests? Tell us about your experience! I did once, the BBC Short Trips contest, but I never heard anything back about it. It was fun all the same to try at least. Who are your top 5-10 favourite writers? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Elle Mcnicoll, Holly Smale, Jessica Scott-Whyte, Robert Louis Stevenson, S.E. Hinton, Lois Lowery. Honorable mention: Ray Bradbury. Do you have a moodboard for your book(s)? Let’s see! Sadly, no, I do not. Do you have any character art for your books, whether by you or another artist? (Be sure to credit/link! No AI generated images please, human artists only.) Yes! Actually I’m a bit of a former comic/digital artist, I use Medibang paint, though I do occasionally still draw, you can see some of my art here on Instagram. Link us your book/twitter/goodreads/website or wherever we can best connect with you! Thank you so much for this opportunity! If you would like to connect more easily with me you can find me here on the following links below: Goodreads | Website | Instagram | Book Audiodrama: Prologue, Chapters 1 and 2 A side note from me, the book is international so anywhere you are in the world you can buy it via amazon.com in your region. We also have an audiobook/audiodrama version currently airing on Spotify (totally independently produced, directed, and edited by me). Thank you again for your time, and I look forward to 2025 with you all and remember, as darling Mozart once said, “Kindness is the mark of a great soul.”