Firstly, Jess thank you for taking the time to speak with StoryBox Hub - let’s get started!

Bernie Thinks in Boxes is a deeply insightful and beautifully written story about a young girl navigating change in a neurotypical world. Can you share what inspired you to write this book and how Bernie’s journey connects with your own experiences?

Like many of my best ideas, the concept for Bernie hit me when I was in the shower. Shower thinking is most certainly a side-effect of full-time-working-mum life, being pretty much the only place you get a moment to think. I was reflecting on how I think in boxes when my brain kindly presented me with a comical, literal interpretation of the phrase. Of course, I don’t go around sitting in boxes to do my thinking (I save that for the shower!). Thinking in boxes is an analogy for my very structured mind, which sometimes has trouble applying information from one context to another. But this play on the words sparked an idea that formed the first phrases of Bernie Thinks in Boxes.

While Bernie’s experiences in the book are her own, there are elements of me in her. For example, Bernie and I share the view that eggs are certainly not a dinner food and will never be found in our ‘dinner boxes’. We also both find it hard to recognise people out of context and find those encounters somewhat awkward. Aside from our similar thinking styles, I guess Bernie’s journey connects with my experiences in that I aspire to be like her. She knows her boundaries, and she respects them—something possibly many of us could work towards!

You’ve spoken about how writing this story coincided with your own autism diagnosis. How did that period of self-discovery shape Bernie’s character and the direction of the story?

When I began writing this story, I had not yet received my diagnosis, despite having been considering the possibility for some time. Bernie’s character started as Ben, an undiagnosed autistic boy who would push through the unboxed chaos of his friend’s party, emerging triumphant, having enjoyed it despite his anxieties. I was essentially asking the impossible of him. I afforded Ben no accommodations to living up to the social expectations of his peers.

So, it’s hardly surprising that it took me around a year to finish this story. I had to acknowledge my autism and internalised ableism before I could give my character a nudge in the right direction. Following my diagnosis, Ben became Bernie, aligning more with myself and reflecting the underrepresented cohort of autistic girls I was rapidly learning about. But the real ‘aha’ moment came one evening as I pondered how to help Bernie overcome her discomfort to stay at (and even enjoy) a friend’s party, something finally clicked. She didn’t need to stay. She didn’t need to enjoy it. And nor did I. This discovery was the little breath of freedom I needed, and it was also the answer to Bernie’s party problem.

Bernie’s way of categorising the world is such a powerful and relatable metaphor. How did you develop this concept, and what do you hope young readers—both neurodivergent and neurotypical—take away from her story?

I didn’t so much develop the concept as find a way to explain my thought processes in a tangible way. Bernie’s boxes give a simple explanation of my categorical thinking style, with the examples used in the book reflecting some of the things I found difficult as a child. As a late-diagnosed adult, I can now see the more subtle and complex ways this thinking impacts my communication, which I delve into more in this article. But, to create a story that speaks to a broad audience, the simple and relatable boxes analogy worked well.

It’s so important that children’s books reflect the diversity kids see in their peer groups. I love that Bernie Thinks in Boxes adds to a growing collection of literature providing insight into neurodivergent minds. Learning about our differences and unique challenges is a wonderful way to develop empathy and become more accepting and accommodating of our peers. For younger readers of any neurotype, I hope Bernie’s story encourages them to respect their

own needs and boundaries, as well as those of others. I hope it reminds them to choose curiosity over judgment and to accept difference with open arms. For the kids who see themselves in Bernie—those who think differently or find the world overwhelming—I hope Bernie will encourage them to be themselves, with unapologetic pride.

The moment when Bernie’s boxes “collide” is a turning point in the book. Why was it important for you to explore this experience, and what message do you hope children and their families gain from how Bernie finds a solution?

Allowing the reader to witness Bernie’s boxes colliding is essential to building understanding and empathy for Bernie. It’s a little insight into the ‘why’ behind Bernie’s behaviour, taking this story beyond simply depicting Bernie as nervous or shy—an experience many children can already relate to, but which doesn’t necessarily elicit the level of distress we observe in Bernie.

Importantly, we see that the collision of Bernie’s boxes is beyond her control. She wants to be a good friend, she wants to celebrate Toby’s birthday with him, but the limited scaffolding available to support her through this out-of-the-box situation is not something she can change. At least, not alone, which is why the message I want children and their families to gain from Bernie’s story is two-fold. Firstly, I hope it encourages readers of all ages to identify and communicate their needs and boundaries. And secondly, I hope it plants a seed about accessibility, encouraging people to consider how they can accommodate others. But also, I hope Bernie’s solution—celebrating Toby’s birthday in a way that works for her—demonstrates how we don’t need to fit the mould to be a good friend.

The collaboration between author and illustrator is crucial in picture books. What was it like working with Zoe Bennett, and how did her illustrations enhance or expand on your vision for Bernie’s world?

I’m not a very visual person, so I didn’t go into the illustration process with any set ideas about how Bernie’s story would look. It was such a thrill to receive the first sketches and to see Bernie coming to life. I absolutely love Zoe’s gentle illustrations, which depict an abstract concept with such clarity. She certainly had her work cut out for her—trying to illustrate my inner workings—and I’m thankful Bernie landed in such thoughtful and skilled hands. Zoe’s use of colours to symbolise each of Bernie’s boxes was a clever technique that really brings clarity to the analogy.

Seeing Bernie’s thoughts and emotions illustrated was an interesting experience because it made me dig even deeper into how Bernie’s mind worked. I know Zoe spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas for how best to capture Bernie’s inner world, and working through some of those details with her and our editor allowed me to clarify things about Bernie that I hadn’t previously considered. This collaboration resulted in what felt like a rich and authentic Narrative.

Alongside nailing the concept, Zoe brought Bernie to life with so many adorable details, gifting a new discovery with every read. I love that Bernie has a pet cat, that she’s into drawing, and that she has the coolest boots a kid could wish for—all these little additions give charm and depth to the story. And if you search for it, you’ll even spot what I believe to be Zoe’s favourite—a box just for Taylor Swift!

Bernie Thinks in Boxes has already been recognised as a CBCA Notable book—a huge achievement! What has the response been like from readers, especially from children or families who see themselves in Bernie?

Hearing from readers has been the greatest gift, and to be honest, a little surreal! I’ve been contacted by parents whose children have felt seen and validated by Bernie’s story, and adult readers who have felt the same. I’ve heard about wonderful conversations sparked by Bernie’s story, where families have reflected together on their thinking styles. It’s really special to consider that this story might encourage discussions that deepen people’s understanding of themselves or those they care about. And knowing that Bernie Thinks in Boxes resonates with so many people has been validating for me, too.

It was an honour to learn that Bernie Thinks in Boxes was recognised as a CBCA notable picture book, and I was blown away when I found out that it was to be one of five books included in the Victorian Government Prep Bags for all school starters in 2025. I couldn’t be more thankful that these opportunities helped Bernie to find her way into more homes and hopefully generate many more conversations about neurodiversity.

If you could go back and give advice to yourself at the start of your writing journey, what would it be? And what advice would you give to aspiring authors, particularly those wanting to tell stories that reflect neurodivergent experiences?

I always find this question hard to answer without sounding terribly cliché! But to myself, and any writers at the start of their journey, I’d say this: Writing is a labour of love. Do it for the stories. Do it for the community. Do it for the buzz that new idea brings. Of course, we want contracts. Of course, we want books on shelves. But we mustn’t forget our love of the craft while we strive for that elusive debut deal. Validation can take many forms. Right, that’s the pep talk out of the way. Now, for practical tips:

  • Make friends with feedback. Get used to rewriting. Signing a contract doesn’t make this go away.
  • Knowing which feedback to take on board is a skill. Listen and learn, but don’t lose sight of your story amongst the noise.
  • Writing more = writing better. If your first story is rejected, don’t quit! You’re just warming up. (Fun fact: Bernie was approximately my 60th submission.)
  • Take a course. Learn about narrative structure and how to pitch a story. Learn about the market. Learn about the publishers.

And for people writing stories that reflect a neurodivergent experience: Tell the story that’s yours to tell. Write from lived experience. Whatever your experience is—whether as a neurodivergent person, a parent or peer—it’s valid and worth telling. Tell it from your perspective, and your story will be authentic.

We thank Jess Horn for her time and incredible insight. Bernie Thinks in Boxes is available from 7th May.