Webchat with Kathy Lette, now Wednesday 17 April, 1-2pm

GeraldineGransnet

We're thrilled that the feisty and funny queen of puns and one-liners will be joining us for a live webchat on Wednesday 10 April. Kathy Lette is the author of 10 comic novels, which have been translated into 14 languages.

She'll be coming in to GNHQ to mark the paperback publication of her latest, The Boy Who Fell To Earth, about a boy with autism, based on her experiences of having a son with Asperger's. We have five signed copies of the book to give away to gransnetters who post a question.

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ajanela

Do you think that Autism is being used to cover too wide a range of conditions.

Hello. I do think there is a lot of undiagnosed autism out there. All those plane and train spotters etc. We now know with diagnostic hindsight that Mozart and Einstein and Van Gogh and many artists and musicians and scientists were on the spectrum. But then again, some people are using "aspergers" as an excuse for their lack of communication or general grumpiness, which does dilute the impression of the condition for others.

kitty31

Think i may have missed out on getting a copy of Kathy Lettes book - but would love to know what motiviated her to write this book apart from the obvious one

Hello. I only write because it's cheaper than therapy! I actually didn't mean to write this novel but it just came pouring out of the end of my pen. Even though I'm so candid, I never mentioned the fact that my child was on the spectrum. Mainly because I didn't want to invade his privacy. But now he's 22, he's given me permission. It's not a non fiction book though, it's a made up story, but inspired by my real life experiences with autism.

j08

Do you still visit Julian Assange? I have read you think he has a degree of aspergers. How is he coping with life in the embassy? Is he still working on Wikileaks? Do you by any chance know how Bradley Manning is getting on? Does anyone visit him for afternoon tea?

Yes, Julian Assange is a pal. My husband is a human rights lawyer which means that I've had a lot of interesting people hiding out in my attic, everyone from Salman Rushdie during the Fatwa days to James Hewitt and Julian Assange. I've had everyone in my attic but Anne Frank! And yes, I do think he is on the spectrum. Often the most interesting people are! I wrote his dialogue for his cameo appearance in the 500th episode of the Simpsons. In the show he is doing a barbecue and Marg asks for his recipe to which I have him reply that he "never reveals his sauces." Not bad at short notice!

tinkywinky

I love your humour and your puns always make me laugh. But after so many years of success do you find people expect this from you? Is it exhausting always having to be the perky and funny one? Or are you morose and grumpy behind closed doors?

Yes, so bugger off.
No! I'm joking. I think i'm pretty much the same on and off stage - deranged and demented. Although it has been an immense relief 'coming out' about my son being autistic. It was so cathartic to write the novel. And now, people are more understanding about the times I drink too much and swing from a chandelier!

floribunda

Hello Kathy. I believe you also have another child (a daughter)? Do you (or does she) find it difficult that so much attention is focussed on your son - both in "real life" and through the book?

Great question! But do you know what? Julius, my son, felt that all the media attention in our family was focused on my daughter, Georgie, as he was kept under wraps, to protect his privacy.

But yes, it's very hard on the sibling of a child with special needs as all the energy in the family goes into helping the most vulnerable sibling. But on the positive side, they grow up to be the most compassionate, independent, wonderful adults. And as for publicity, Georgie is now a student of politics and history and is at the barricades. Today she's doing interviews for the BBC , Al Jazeera and the ABC as she protests against Margaret Thatcher's funeral costs! So, she's doing fine.

mrsp

Given you are in your mid 50s how on earth do you look so blooming glamorous all the time? And can you give me some tips?

The greatest beauty aid known to woman kind is the dimmer switch. Keep the lights low! And also, get much older friends. It also helps to only be seen out with older , plainer people. My best friend was John Mortimer. He thought I was a nymphette! He used to call himself my 'toy boy', but said that it would take him three weeks to get a soft on.

ticktock

Hi Kathy. Have you read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time? Do you think Christopher Boone's character is a realistic representation of someone with Asperger's? Have you seen/are you planning to see the theatre production?

I loved the book and adored the play. I took my son to a 'soft' production, meaning the audience was full of people with autism and other disabilities. Their reactions were so spontaneous and funny. I think Christopher Boone rang completely true. The only aspect of the book I disagreed with, is that the mother left. Sadly, it is usually the fathers who abandon ship. Rates of divorce, unemployment and depression are, sadly, much higher in families where there is a child with special needs. I suppose you could describe my novel as "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" told from the mother's point of view. It's a romantic comedy about a mother of an autistic boy, in her quirky quest for love. x

grannyhubbard

Kathy, I just love this book. It moved me to tears. That terribly bureaucracy! I don't know anyone close to me who suffers from autism but I feel more informed now about it. What concerns me is that horrible 'what do I say/do that is appropriate rather than offensive?' for example I struggled with the sentence above (is it wrong to say 'suffers' from autism?'
Presumably you want to interact with a child with autism as normally as possible, but still bearing in mind that they may react differently than what you are used to. What's the best thing to do?

What a lovely message! I now think that there is no such thing as "normal" and "abnormal", but "ordinary" and "extraordinary" - and people with aspergers have a literal, lateral,tangential logic which can be disarmingly charming. While experts were telling me my child was 'retarded' , he was asking me the most interesting questions. At four he said "mum, if onions make you cry, are there vegetables which make you happy?" And "what is the speed of dark?" But they also do suffer from chronic anxiety and OCD. So yes, it is hard, but often hilarious.

Best thing to do, talk to them normally, but we aware that they'll take what you say quite literally. When I asked jules to get me the "good scissors" , he presumed there were evil , bad ones out to get him! x