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

I've read a few of your books and enjoyed them very much. Have you ever written any non fiction? And do you use experiences of friends and family in your fiction? And if so do they mind?

Hello Kathy - Do you think writing courses are helpful for aspiring writers and, if so, do you think a sustained course over several months is likely to be more beneficial than a short/weekend writing course?

Hi Kathy and looking forward to the webchat. I've another question, why do I hardly ever hear/read of girls/women being affected by autism? (I don't want to say 'suffer from it'). Is it in the genes? Do they have it and cope with it in a different way from the males? Or I guess put another way - why do more boys/men appear to have autism?

Your career has been pretty impressive - what are the highlights?

You are very lively and glam and often...forthright? Well not afraid of talking about sex and stuff. You are married to a successful lawyer who I imagine isn't allowed to be any of those things in his professional life. Do opposites attract?

I know you're a big feminist, and I'm a feminist too, but sometimes I struggle to relate to some of the drivel out there. In Western society, do you think we've almost reached equality? I sometimes think that some women are rooting for a matriarchy, rather than equality.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

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

Does Asperger's have different severities like Autism?

Hi Kathy. Do you watch the Doc Martin series and if so what do you think of the main character? From your own experience and bearing in mind that Doc Martin is fictional does he display any noticeable signs of Asperger's?

I have a 31 year old son who sees the world differently to the majority of people. He recently has decided that he is autistic although we have never had a diagnosis. Looking into this further I think that he is more likely to have Aspergers syndrome. I would love to read this book and would like to know how I can guide him towards getting a formal diagnosis, when every time I suggest something he thinks that I am controlling him.

Kathy Lette is a great author. I've read many of her books and tend to think of them as escapist, holiday reading so I'm interested in finding out about this seemingly more serious novel. I wonder if it was painful to put those experiences with Julius and his Aspergers to paper or somewhat cathartic.

i look after a gentleman with Aspergers, have you found that people dont understand that their is a problem even though the sufferer looks well.