The Inspiration behind Another Us

My debut novel, Another Us, was published on May 14th by Canelo. Having my first book come out in the middle of a global pandemic was somewhat surreal but – because I have nothing to compare it to – I have no real idea of what was actually different and I loved the whole experience.  

Another Us has been described as a ‘compassionate, funny and poignant’ novel about love, family and Asperger Syndrome. It tells the story of Emma, whose life is thrown into disarray after her middle child – ten-year-old Jack – is diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. ‘Accidentally’ quitting her job, she soon finds her marriage under pressure and temptation comes calling in the guise of the hot new dad at the school. The only thing that stays the same is everyone else. Emma realises it’s not them – it’s her. But if she’s not who she thought she was, can her old life fit in with the new Emma? 

To say I’ve been thrilled by the response to Another Us would be an understatement. As I write, Another Us has 66 4* and 5* reviews on Amazon UK, and – for a few heady days, it had best seller banners in the UK, Australia and Canada. 

I’m often asked about the inspiration behind my book. Well, they say write about what you know and, about ten years ago, my son was diagnosed with mild Asperger Syndrome. My son is not as far along the spectrum as I have written Jack (and is currently studying computer science at university) but, nonetheless, I remember his diagnosis as an anxious and upsetting time. Then several years later I decided to write a book. I’ve always talked about writing a novel but, apart from some really rubbish adventure stories I wrote as a child, I never did anything about it. Then, when my marketing consultancy went through a quiet spell, my best friend called me out on it. ‘Now’s your chance,’ she said. ‘You’ve always said that the only thing from stopping you writing a novel is time –l  now you’ve got the opportunity to get off your bum and do something about it!’ 

Well, that was scary. It’s one thing to say you’re going to do something and quite another to actually put yourself to the test. Anyway, about that time, I was clearing away some of the bumpf that I’d been given when my son had been diagnosed. Flicking through one of the pamphlets, I chanced upon a statistic which claimed that eight out of ten marriages with a child on the spectrum end before that child is 16. ‘That’s a cheer up,’ I thought, shortly followed by, ‘at least our son is already sixteen and I don’t have to worry about rubbish like that.’

I was about to chuck the pamphlet in the bin, when I got to thinking. Supposing I had come across that statistic when my son was ten and newly diagnosed? What then? Might that statistic have lodged my brain and got me thinking? Might it have made me worried for the future of my marriage? Might I even have done something different – either in an attempt to make sure that our marriage survived or to protect and cushion myself in the event it did not? I didn’t know – don’t know now – but in mulling the whole thing over, the idea behind Another Us was born. 

I bounced my idea off the family before I started writing. After all, I was using roughly where we had been as a family a decade ago as my start-point, even if I was planning to go off in a flight of fancy – literally ‘another us’?  Everyone was fine with it. My son is fond of pointing out that one in eighty-five people are on the spectrum and, as such, he thinks that they should be much more represented in literature. He did, however, offer me a word of caution. ‘Don’t feel that the person with Aspergers has to be the hero or the victim, Mum,’ he said. ‘They can just be a person.’

I really hope I’ve achieved that but I can’t be sure as to date my son hasn’t read Another Us. Preferring dystopian books, he says it simply isn’t his genre and fears it will be all about relationships. (It is!) But I have tried to make Jack just one of the ensemble, always there and just doing his thing – a catalyst but certainly not a victim or a villain. (I love Jack so maybe he is a tiny bit of a hero. To me at least.) 

Since Another Us has been published, I’ve been thrilled and truly humbled to have received messages from both parents of ASD children – who said they felt heard and that Another Us gave them hope – and from those without knowledge of the condition who said they felt educated and informed. One of my favourite reviews says: ‘It is no mean feat to make a reader laugh and cry and feel supported/understood, and also to help the uninitiated to understand/develop empathy all in one entertaining package. It’s the perfect dose of bibliotherapy – medicine so tasty and effective that you don’t even realize how much you needed it until you’ve gulped down the last delicious drop.’

Happy days!  

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ANOTHER US

‘The warm and witty novel you need in your beach-bag this year.’ Chrissie Manby
What if Emma isn’t the person she thought she was?
Her younger son has just been diagnosed with autism.

She’s accidentally quit her job.

The marriage she was dedicated to suddenly seems like a sham.

She’s pretty sure that she is going to have an affair with a hot new dad at the school.

The only thing that stays the same is everyone else. Emma realises it’s not them – it’s her. But if she’s not who she thought she was, can her old life fit in with the new Emma?

Compassionate, funny and poignant, Another Us is perfect for fans of Marian Keyes and Fiona Gibson.

Praise for Another Us:
‘Kirsten Hesketh’s debut is both painfully real and at times painfully funny. Another Us is the warm and witty novel you need in your beach-bag this year.’ Chrissie Manby, bestselling author of Seven Sunny Days

‘A real page-turner, with a wonderfully relatable main character. Kirsten has such a fresh new voice and I’m so excited to read whatever she writes next!’ Christina Pishiris, author of Love Songs for Sceptics

‘Delightful action-packed read that will break your heart only to glue the pieces back together, albeit in a slightly different order.’ Jenny O’Brien, author of Silent Cry

‘What may, at first, seem a light-hearted portrayal of playground politics becomes something brave and brilliant, which both entertains and informs. Kirsten Hesketh’s writing is assured and the pace never falters… a total must-read debut.’ Claire Dyer, author of The Moment

‘This accomplished debut is gripping, at times heart-breaking and wonderfully well-written. It sheds a piercing light on the choices and difficulties experienced when Asperger’s is a part of family life, but also shows the strength and power of courage, love and persistence. A searing and honest look at a family reaching breaking point.’ Maddie Please, author of The Summer of Second Chances

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Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips