Finding Belonging and Embracing Neurodiversity: The Heartfelt Journey of Kate McElderry’s New Novel Declan Someone (The Journey of Declan Noone). Kate McElderry’s highly anticipated debut – a coming-of-age story steeped in Celtic lore that follows a young man’s mystical journey in Ireland as he seeks roots, self-worth, and transformation – is a deeply personal and resonant story inspired by lived experience, decades of teaching, and a profound connection to place and identity. At its core, the book explores universal themes of belonging, kindness, and the complexities of navigating the world with neurodiversity. The spark for Declan Someone (The Journey of Declan Noone) came from a very real moment in an Irish pub that left a lasting impression on McElderry. She recalls: “I was locked out of a friend’s house one rainy Sunday night, feeling lost and anxious about a professional talk I had to prepare for the next day. When I walked into that pub, everyone turned to see me in my sorry, bedraggled state. But then, they just took me in. They bought me a meal, a pint, and encouraged me to practice my talk with them right there and then.” She continues, “One person said, ‘You belong here.’ That moment really touched and warmed me. I wanted to capture that spirit of shared humanity and kindness in Declan —how strangers can become mentors, friends, a kind of family on one’s journey.” Drawing on nearly three decades of teaching teens with ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety, McElderry created Declan as a character navigating the complexities of the contemporary world while living with neurodiversity. “Declan has been living inside me for a long time,” she says. “It’s a mix of my old teenage writing and new work. I even found journals and stories my mother had saved, which inspired me to turn these pieces into something meaningful.” What stands out from the earliest chapters is the vividness of Declan’s voice and setting. McElderry describes, “I could literally imagine Declan wilting in the heat of New York. His voice was there from the start, and U2’s song ‘New York’ played in my mind as I wrote about those hot summers.” Her affection for Ireland also informs the novel deeply. “Ireland, especially the Wild Atlantic Way, feels like a spiritual home to me,” McElderry explains. “My stints there taught me to reframe loss and adversity and find joy and community. The culture and literature of Ireland are woven through Declan’s story.” McElderry’s personal experiences shape the narrative. She describes her younger self: “If I had to sum up my childhood self with book characters, I’d say I was a cross between Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and Anne of Anne of Green Gables. Like Anne, I was a free spirit with a big imagination, and like Scout, I was a tomboy who questioned injustices.” She also shares, “I’m neurodiverse myself, living with dyscalculia and synesthesia. Great teachers helped me overcome the anxiety I had around math, and that personal journey gave me insight into Declan’s world.” Writing remains central to McElderry’s life. “I started writing as a teen, creatively and as therapy, and also as an activist—pleading with politicians to save our planet,” she says with a laugh. Though those letters went unread, her passion for writing deepened. “I’ve worked mostly in educational and technical writing, but fiction always called me back. Despite the differences, all writing involves crafting ideas and connecting with readers.” An avid reader herself, McElderry believes reading fuels writing. “I’m a big believer in read-alouds for any age because humans are wired for storytelling,” she explains. She’s recently enjoyed books like Cloe Dalton’s Raising Hare and Phil M Shirley’s The Happening of Magic, and is currently absorbed in David Thomson’s The People of the Sea, which explores British and Irish selkie and merfolk legends, underscoring her love of folklore and myth. At its heart, Declan Someone (The Journey of Declan Noone) is a story about finding one’s place in the world and the unexpected communities that support us along the way. McElderry invites readers to journey with Declan and “rediscover what it means to belong—not just to a place or people but to oneself.” Declan Someone (The Journey of Declan Noone) is scheduled for release in spring 2026 under our imprint Foreshore Books. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kate McElderry is passionate about storytelling, art, nature, and their confluence. She finds rocky coasts, tidepools, and the stories that both sides of the Atlantic hold, inspiring. Kate is neurodiverse and as a child was diagnosed with a learning difference. (Neurodivergent thinkers are often associated with ‘out of the box thinking,’ though due to her artist mother and creative teachers, Kate was never presented with a box nor put in a box. Instead, she was provided time, space, and opportunities to explore and create.) From her personal experience and career teaching students with dyslexia and ADHD, Kate is poised to write, speak, and educate about neurodiversity. She is the Director of Outreach and an educator at The Odyssey School in Baltimore County, Maryland. A published author, Kate, has written educational material, but Declan Someone (The Journey of Declan Noone) is her first novel. It weaves in writing from her teen years (a story and an essay) found in her mother’s attic with contemporary writing completed in Ireland. From afar, Kate is a member of the Irish Writers Centre, and other writing associations. When she is not teaching, speaking, or writing, Kate enjoys spending time with her family.
Foreshore has signed a timely, perceptive, and poignant book from the well-regarded American writer and academic Robert W. Norris, offering deep insight into themes of peace, resilience, and identity. Norris, a Vietnam War conscientious objector who was court-martialled in 1970 for refusing to fight, was released from military prison in 1971. Following this pivotal moment, he spent eleven years wandering the world, working labour and cooking jobs, attempting to write a novel, and searching for an elusive identity. In a last-ditch effort to find his place in life, he arrived in Japan with approximately two hundred dollars and a tenuous belief that fate would be kind. All That We Are chronicles the next twenty-four years of Norris’s life teaching at a women’s junior college and university on Kyushu Island, highlighting his deep involvement in peace education and activism. Central to his journey is his mentorship by Professor Ichikawa, a former radical student leader of the 1960s known for protesting American nuclear warships entering Japanese ports. This relationship profoundly shaped Norris’s commitment to peace and education. Alongside this, the memoir candidly explores Norris’s long and arduous battle with hepatitis C, during which he reflects deeply on the traumatic effects of PTSD experienced by war veterans, adding a poignant layer to his story of resilience and healing. The memoir also includes six appendices, two of which are academic papers focusing on the history of WWII conscientious objectors and a comparative study of GI resistance to the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. Other appendices provide peace education lesson plans, translated academic writings, and materials useful for educators and peace activists. All That We Are is scheduled for release in autumn 2026 under our imprint Foreshore Books. ROBERT W. NORRIS is an American writer and retired teacher who lives near Fukuoka, Japan. He is the author of several novels including Looking for the Summer (1996); The Many Roads to Japan: A Search for Identity (1997); Toraware (1998); Autumn Shadows in August (2006) and the memoir The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise (2023).
Author of children’s book, The Dog with No Fur -The Adventures of Leo, Michela Carbosiero talks about the inspiration behind her debut book and what’s coming next! Read on below to discover more about Michela, and Leo! … Could you tell us a bit about The Dog with No Fur -The Adventures of Leo? The Dog with No Fur is about a dog call Leo, born without any fur at all, who begins the book completely focused on one goal: to fix or hide his imperfections so he fits in and is not humiliated by other more popular dogs. But when nothing works Leo has to choose between hating himself and hiding away or standing out and feeling proud. The important lesson is loving yourself is the most important thing because everyone is special and unique. Leo is such a brilliant character. Where did the inspiration for him come from? The real Leo is a very special little dog. He has alopecia, which means he doesn’t have fur. But that never stops him from being the happiest dog with the brightest eyes and the kindest heart. Leo has a magical way of making people laugh—without even trying! He reminds us every day that joy doesn’t come from looking like everyone else. It comes from being proud of who you truly are. Transformation is a strong theme throughout the book. Was this always something you wanted to write about? I first wrote this story when I was just 14, while attending a hospital school and struggling with my mental health. Writing became my safe space, a way to express myself and transform something painful into something hopeful. You also include themes and issues that aren’t always talked about in children’s fiction, but you do it in such a sensitive and engaging way for the reader. Do you think there are more themes and issues that could be featured in fiction for young people? Through Leo, I found the perfect way to show children, and myself, that being different is not a weakness, it’s a superpower. When I was younger, I often felt “less than.” I worried every day that my differences made me weaker. But writing gave me confidence. It allowed me to create characters like Leo, who may be different, but in my eyes, shines brighter than the stars. His journey gave me a strength I didn’t know I had. As I watched this story unfold and grow, I realised how grateful I am, not just for writing, but for choosing myself. For choosing a life worth living. Leo’s story reflects my own journey he may have no fur, and I may not be perfect, but what I’ve learned is that self-love—real, unconditional self-love is what truly matters. What do you want readers to take away from this book? Kindness is key. And my greatest hope is that this book radiates kindness and hope to everyone who reads it. If my younger self could see me now, achieving a goal I once believed I wouldn’t live to reach, she would be proud. Proof that everyone has a place on this earth, and that we all carry a special presence. Being different is beautiful, and it’s something I would never change. What books/ stories/ authors have been an inspiration to you, and your writing? Julia Donaldson has always been a huge inspiration to me, and I adore Quentin Blake’s illustrations. When I was at school, I really looked up to Julia Donaldson’s work. Recently, I had the chance to watch her online course, Learn with Julia Donaldson: Create a Picture Book, and it truly inspired me to take the next step in my own creative journey! We’d love to know what’s up next for you. Are you writing anything new, or any other exciting news? I’m VERY excited about my next book, The Unique Universe: The Adventures of Leo, which will be out in 2026. It’s about a magical journey celebrating unique friends and unforgettable adventures. BUY THE BOOK Meet Leo — The Dog Who Learned to Shine Just as He Is! Now available for pre-order. Reserve your copy today! Add to Cart ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michela Carbosiero is a mental health advocate, social media content creator, and children’s book author driven by a deep passion for helping others. She believes that every person is wonderfully unique, and that individuality is something to be embraced and celebrated.
