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Rose and Raptor Publishing

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Memoir

The Falling Mask: An Autistic Woman's Diary of COVID-19

'Show, don't tell', it's the golden rule of cinema, and the core principle behind my autistic COVID-19 diary.

Kathryn Rose likes Harry Potter, Lego, designing archival publications for her employer, and quizzing supermarket executives about their financial reports on weekends. Then, after a lovely trip to London in March, she finds that someone has hit the 'mute' button on everyday life. Kathryn has high-functioning autism, and her new task is to continue functioning at a high level while the world around her turns into a pandemic movie.

This diary is about connection, a human need that came with challenges before the pandemic. As she spent the majority of lockdown alone in her flat, Kathryn was quick to make the most of 2020's digital communication boom. The online world certainly promises easy and convenient access to human connection; this diary explores how far that promise is delivered.

A testament to resilience in unprecedented times.

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About The Author

Kathryn Rose was employed in archival publishing for 12 years, including the year covered by this diary, and many universities have purchased publications that she designed. During the pandemic, Kathryn also served on the National Members' Council of the largest consumer co-operative in the UK. She still enjoys research and has a significant Lego collection.

Since writing this diary, Kathryn has started playing Minecraft, and she is now a big fan of HermitCraft. She hopes to learn more about autism in the years to come.

Why "Rose and Raptor"? I wanted a brand name that would make me smile whenever I saw it. I have a lovely memory of going on a Hawk Hike at the National Centre for Birds of Prey, in Helmsley, and that felt perfect. So the Rose is me, given my surname, and the Raptor is the Harris Hawk that I met on that hike. The moment of the Harris Hawk (Raptor) landing on my arm (the Rose) created the Rose and Raptor.

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