About The Author
Writing has been part of my life since I was 10 years old, when I began writing poems, stories, novels, and music as a way to turn thoughts and emotions into something meaningful.
I’m Special is my first novel, but it is rooted in a lifelong love of storytelling and a deep connection to my family. What makes this book especially meaningful is that it brings together two things that have always shaped me:
my passion for writing
my sister Natasha’s extraordinary journey
Through this story, I hope to use words not only to entertain young readers, but to encourage empathy, challenge assumptions, and celebrate the individuality that makes each of us special!
The Inspiration
At the heart of I’m Special is my sister, Natasha Stasiuk, who has Intellectual disabilities and Autism, has always understood that she was different. Growing up, I never saw those differences as something to diminish; I saw them as part of what made Natasha remarkable. Despite being told by professionals and doctors that she would never graduate high school or attend college, Natasha continued to prove that other people's expectations do not have to become our limitations.
Today, she is ranked #1 in Canada in the Women’s Adaptive category, #10th in the World, and is coming off an incredible six consecutive championship wins at the Canadian All Abilities Championship. She also brought home a Bronze Medal at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany in 2023!
Her courage, determination, and accomplishments are the heartbeat of this story — a reminder that disability may be part of someone's story, but it should never be allowed to define the ending!
How the Book Came to Be
The origins of I’m Special can be traced back to a poem I wrote for Natasha when I was just 11 years old. That poem was published in my school newspaper.My parents were incredibly proud, not simply because I had written something that was published, but because they could see that I understood my sister and proudly celebrated every one of her unique qualities.
My mother recognized something in that poem that I hadn't yet fully understood: a story with the potential to reach beyond our family and help children see difference through a lens of empathy, inclusion, and love. She encouraged me to take that first little poem and turn it into something BIGGER!
Her belief in the message, and her lifelong lessons in
unconditional love
Compassion
empathy
inclusion
