Book Nook: I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust - A Memoir of Autism and Hope

William Morrow is thrilled to be publishing I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust during National Autism Awareness and National Poetry month, April 2021.

“I have been buried under years of dust and now I have so much to say.”

These were the first words twenty-five-year-old Emily Grodin ever wrote. Born with nonverbal autism, Emily’s only means of communicating for 25 years had been only one-word responses or physical gestures until an unconventional therapy was finally able to give insight into the life, frustrations, and joys of a person with autism.

I wanted to share this wonderful review from Library Journal that points out the importance of the upcoming publication, I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust, “In this debut, Valerie Gilpeer writes a compelling narrative of motherhood, and her daughter, Emily Grodin, offers insight into how she began to express herself late in life, having been born with nonverbal autism. Gilpeer writes candidly, without falling into self-pity, and her early chapters offer personal reflections as well as resources for families affected by autism. … The sections Grodin contributed are engaging; she focuses on her successes and her determination to change perceptions around ASD in order to improve the lives of others. In the epilogue, Grodin writes, “I am with you.” And now, because of this book, she is with all of us. An impactful memoir of self-discovery.”

I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust: A Memoir of Autism and Hope by Valerie Gilpeer and Emily Grodin is about the journey that a mother and daughter took to get to a place where they could finally understand and communicate with each other. A miraculous breakthrough revealed a young woman with a rich and creative interior life, a poet, who’d been trapped inside for more than two decades. Emily was finally able to communicate with her parents and reveal all the emotions and intelligence residing within her; she became their guide into the autistic experience.

But their story is so much more than the challenges that Autism presented. It’s the story of a mother wanting to provide the world for her daughter but realizing that there were limitations to how much she could do for Emily, and the story of a daughter fighting for independence in a world that felt there was no way she could be autonomous. And the story of unconditional love for one another, even when that love could never be verbally communicated. Valerie and Emily’s story presents its own unique challenges but will resonate with all readers who will see themselves in its universal story of love between parent and child.

You can learn more in this interview.

Can you share a little bit about the title and what it means?
Those are the first words Emily typed out. That one sentence perfectly summed up 25 years of not being able to communicate. She hasn't stopped "talking" since.

Why did you write this book?
Emily’s breakthrough was transformative and so impressive given that it did not happen until she was 25. The book really is about never giving up, going with your gut and recognizing that the everyone has gifts that just make take a little longer to mine.

What do you wish other people knew about families who have a child with autism?
That those with autism have so much to share. I am particularly focused on those who are non verbal as they get the worst of it from society. Unfortunately so many people equate expressive language challenges with a lack of intelligence. This is simply not the case- and Emily is proof of that.

What advice would you give to parents and caregivers of children with autism?
Never give up hope, go with your gut. If a therapy is not working, try something else. And if your person is not talking by the age of 6 try alternative forms of communication. Most of all, try to be upbeat and cheerful and remember that everyone likes to be valued and respected.