Please note, this session has been recorded from a live event and is available to watch flexibly in your own time.

This ‘fireside chat’ is inspired by the NFWI’s campaign, Thinking Differently: Autistic and ADHD Women and Girls and was recorded in January 2025.

Holly Smale is a UK author who writes both Young Adult and Adult fiction. Her debut novel, Geek Girl, became the No.1 Young Adult title in the UK and was the first in her best-selling Geek Girl series. It was released as a Netflix adaptation, the Geek Girl TV show, in May 2024. Main character,  Harriet Manners is socially awkward yet navigates the world from her own unique perspective. Holly drew on her own experiences of growing-up and struggling to fit-in during her teen years in order to create Harriet. 

Holly was diagnosed with Autism and Dyspraxia at the age of 39 – but didn’t have these diagnoses when starting her novels.  Holly is proud to have ‘inadvertently’ created a neurodivergent heroine who brings joy to millions of young women.

Join Holly as she talks to Melissa Green, CEO of the NFWI, about her experiences, the importance of recognising neurodivergence in women and girls, the impact of her late diagnosis and the inspiration behind her books.

 

Find out more about Thinking Differently: Autistic and ADHD Women and Girls 

Listen to the WI’s Podcast (first episode focuses on the Thinking Differently campaign)

 

Zoom recording link to view this session will be included at the bottom of your confirmation email after you have registered.