Episode 339-An Autistic Author’s Journey From Blog To Book- with Michael Tanzer

A blog that almost stalled. A book that took shape anyway. And a voice that keeps getting louder. We sit down with Michael, an autistic author from Ontario, to trace how “Michaelism: My POV on Life with Autism” went from idea to self-published reality—and why persistence beat perfection at every turn.

Michael opens up about the early days when the word autism felt abstract, while picture-based learning made the world click. That contrast sets the tone for an honest look at communication, school, and the moments that defy low expectations—like a cherished trip to Ottawa and friendships that still carry into his weekly routine. We unpack the power of special interests, from J-pop and K-pop to EDM and dance, and reframe them not as obsessions but as engines for joy, structure, and community. If you’re searching for real stories about autism acceptance, sensory choices, and everyday advocacy, this conversation meets you where you are.

We also dive into the nuts and bolts of self-publishing with IngramSpark, why Michael chose that path, and how book signings and autism conferences in Toronto helped him connect with readers. He walks through key themes from his book—anxiety, emotions, making friends, money and math, communication, volunteering—and shows how each chapter anchors practical skills in lived experience. Through family support, grief, and growth, Michael models what it looks like to claim identity, wear it proudly, and keep moving forward with compassion.

Hit play to meet a writer who leads with heart and clarity. If his mantra—stay strong, never give up—resonates with you, share this episode with someone who needs it. Subscribe for more stories from autistic advocates, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell us: which special interest has shaped your life?

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Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Season Framing
• 0:42 Meet Michael: Author And Advocate
• 2:13 The Making Of “Michaelism”
• 3:15 Understanding Diagnosis And Early Language
• 4:39 School Challenges And Wins
• 6:02 Family, Late Diagnosis, And Support
• 7:24 Hobbies, Music, And Special Interests
• 9:06 Grief, Siblings, And Growing Up
• 10:25 Confidence, Community, And Acceptance
• 12:03 Book Tours, Conferences, And Self‑Publishing
• 13:50 Volunteering And Work Experience
• 15:03 Sensory Choices And Public Life
• 16:18 Tattoos, Symbols, And Identity
• 17:15 Summit Invitation And Future Plans
• 18:18 Final Advice And Holiday Gift Plug
• 21:57 Subscribe And Closing Notes

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:00

The SJ Child Show is back. Join Sarah Bracker at the SJ Child Show team as they explore the world of autism and share stories of hope and inspiration. This season, we're excited to bring you more autism summits featuring experts and advocates from around the world. Go to SJchilds.org.

SPEAKER_00: 0:29

Oh, yeah. Stories of love and could jump throughout the night.

SPEAKER_03: 0:36

Welcome back, everyone. It's so great to be here today. Welcome to the SJ Child Show. I have a special guest today. He is coming all the way from Canada.

SPEAKER_06: 0:46

Yep.

SPEAKER_03: 0:47

Our neighbor from the north, Michael. Hello, how are you today? A-OK. Ah, I love that. Thank you. What part of Canada are you in? Ontario. Wonderful. How's your weather today?

SPEAKER_05: 1:02

So far, good.

SPEAKER_03: 1:04

Love that. It's a little windy and breezy here down in Salt Lake City, Utah today. So yeah. Oh my gosh. Great to meet you. Tell us about yourself. Introduce yourself. Tell us about kind of where it started for you.

SPEAKER_05: 1:21

So, anyways, uh, my name is Michael Deser. Uh, I am from Thornell, Artario, Canada. I'm honestly with Autism Canada since October 2021. And yes, I'm the author of my book. It's called Michaelism, my PLV on like with autism.

SPEAKER_03: 1:36

I love that.

SPEAKER_05: 1:38

So please get to know me, everyone.

SPEAKER_03: 1:41

I think that's a fantastic way to do it. Everybody needs to check that out. And is it on Amazon?

SPEAKER_05: 1:47

Indeed, yes.

SPEAKER_03: 1:49

Perfect. And I'm sure we'll have the links available for everyone. Tell us about Michaelism and how how what happened during the writing process.

SPEAKER_05: 1:59

Well, it all started when I decided to start my almost blog after doing articles for Autism Ontario. And when I first do it, I I I tend to give up, but my parents told me to just keep going.

SPEAKER_03: 2:14

I'm so proud of you.

SPEAKER_05: 2:17

And to be fair, it was a one heck of a writing process that I survived very great. But I even did completed since COVID-19.

SPEAKER_03: 2:28

Oh wow. You know, writing take a long time. I I understand that.

SPEAKER_05: 2:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 2:35

Tell us a little bit about your childhood. Well, what at what age are you diagnosed?

SPEAKER_05: 2:45

Well, allow me to uh okay, anyways, I'm gonna I'm gonna read a little part of my page from this. Okay, here we go. I believe there are a lot of things that you should know about having autism special order means for me. I am not here to tell you having autism is like internal because everyone is different and so are their experience. For me, I for me, I haven't. I must admit that I did not always think this, especially if I am having a really hard day. When I found out about my autism, I cannot remember what at what age. My word, it was a word I had her overheard my parents say before, but I never understood what it looked like or sounded like. I mean, what my therapists were teaching me how to speak an understanding language, a picture of a car or a toy car with a label car on it was much easier to learn and understand. It was a clear clear example of something concrete, but this word autism, no clue.

SPEAKER_03: 3:55

I love that paragraph. I mean, I think that that sums it up perfectly. You know, Michael, I'm late diagnosed autistic as well.

SPEAKER_04: 4:06

Nice, nice.

SPEAKER_03: 4:08

And when I realized that I could kind of understand my son and my daughter and my husband, who all are autistic, and I oh way, yep. So it's a really special kind of um site that I can have for my family and give them all the accommodations they need.

SPEAKER_05: 4:34

Sorry, and it's wonderful.

SPEAKER_03: 4:36

Yeah, thank you so much. I appreciate that. Tell us about your experiences going through school. How was that? Was it hard?

SPEAKER_05: 4:45

I survived and I got pretty good grades. So let me rephrase it. Let us face it, school can't be hard for any kid, especially a kid who was diagnosed with autism. As I grew up, I attended four different schools when thankfully and my friends, some of these friends are still my good, longtime friends. Pretty cool, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02: 5:05

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_05: 5:06

And what was the best part of school? Well, it was great. It was going to Ottawa on the school trip, but friends, I am 100% sure my parents and teachers did not think I would ever be able to school trip myself when I was young. Well, they were wrong, weren't they?

SPEAKER_03: 5:25

And who knew you were gonna be doing podcasts, sir?

SPEAKER_05: 5:28

That would be me.

SPEAKER_03: 5:30

Mm-hmm. That's right. Good job. So proud of you. Ah, this is a wonderful discussion. So, how old were you when you decided to start writing the book?

SPEAKER_05: 5:41

It was like around 2018.

SPEAKER_03: 5:43

Okay. Wow. And it takes a lot of time to write a book. Like you said, you survived the writing process.

SPEAKER_05: 5:52

Yep. It took me like two years and the making. But in the end, I kept going and I kept going and I kept going non-stop, 24 hours constantly.

SPEAKER_03: 6:04

Good for you. What do your parents think about that now?

SPEAKER_05: 6:08

They were 100% proud of me. They told me to keep going and they were the best within me.

SPEAKER_03: 6:15

I love that. What are your plans next?

SPEAKER_05: 6:17

Well, to keep spreading artism awareness like I always do.

SPEAKER_03: 6:21

Good.

SPEAKER_05: 6:21

And promote the books and else like I did before, but even better.

SPEAKER_03: 6:27

I love that. Show us that book again. I love did you choose those colors?

SPEAKER_05: 6:34

Yep, I did it. Red, green, blue, and yellow.

SPEAKER_03: 6:39

Why did you choose those colors?

SPEAKER_05: 6:41

Because it suits me perfectly.

SPEAKER_03: 6:43

It does. It does suit you perfectly. What is what's about those colors that you feel like relates to you?

SPEAKER_05: 6:52

Everything, including my autism.

SPEAKER_03: 6:55

Really?

SPEAKER_05: 6:56

Yep.

SPEAKER_03: 6:57

Oh, that's amazing. So, what kind of stuff do you do with your friends now?

SPEAKER_05: 7:02

I bought one of my friends on every Thursday at a mall near me.

SPEAKER_03: 7:06

Really?

SPEAKER_05: 7:08

Yeah. It turns out they were my absolute longtime friends from high school.

SPEAKER_03: 7:12

Do you is there like a store that you love to go to the most?

SPEAKER_05: 7:16

Let's see. They got Sun Money's records, and that's probably it, you know?

SPEAKER_03: 7:21

Oh, okay. Good. Do you like music?

SPEAKER_05: 7:24

Yeah, I like J pop and K-pop and EDM electronic dance music. Do you like to dance? Uh yep, I do actually, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 7:35

Oh, that's great, Michael. And that's great exercise. Dance, it's like fun and good for you all at the same time. That's my favorite thing. So tell us about some of your other favorite things. What other interests do you have?

SPEAKER_05: 7:50

Okay, I'm gonna okay. Here we go. Many people with ASD have hobbies. Sometimes people say that though these hobbies are obsessions. I do not like it when I hear people say that it is an obsession. Yes, it's a special interest. When I hear non-autistic people say it, it sounds like it's it is a bad thing. Hobby hobbies are a normal for everyone, not a big deal.

SPEAKER_03: 8:17

Not a big deal. So, my you know, it's funny too because I kind of grew up, I'm an only child. I don't know about you. Do you have brothers and sisters?

SPEAKER_05: 8:27

I have one brother, I used to have two sisters, but one sister died from overdose. But I'm gonna I'm not gonna mention it, but I'm gonna keep it. Sorry about that, but it's it's okay. But my brother, but my brother is doing well in Brock University, he's doing well.

SPEAKER_03: 8:44

Wonderful.

SPEAKER_05: 8:45

I love it. And I gotta admit it. He's he's a he's an awesome but funny brother to me. The best within me.

SPEAKER_03: 8:54

I love special. Yep, absolutely. So what about? And I should have asked you before we were off the show, and you tell me if you don't want to talk about it, you just say, no, nothing. Uh, but what about um how about dating?

SPEAKER_05: 9:10

I'm not I'm not prepared for that date, actually, no, but I'm I I will get there eventually.

SPEAKER_03: 9:15

Yeah, that's great.

SPEAKER_05: 9:16

Whatever who knows?

SPEAKER_03: 9:18

Who knows? Well, I'll tell you what. Some of I didn't know that hobbies could be such a great thing for people until I met my husband, and he had such amazing hobbies. Wow, he really taught me how to take time out of what I thought was my busy schedule and do things for myself, you know, as my own hobbies. And so it's it's really it's something I had to learn how to do because I don't think I was allowed to do it when I was younger.

SPEAKER_05: 9:51

Thanks! Wow, right?

SPEAKER_03: 9:53

And so just we're always learning about ourselves throughout our whole life, right?

SPEAKER_05: 9:59

Oh, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 10:01

So here we are, and fifth, oh my almost 50. Oh, 50.

SPEAKER_06: 10:07

Why?

SPEAKER_03: 10:08

Thank you. Um, and it's great because now I'm taking a whole new approach to my life and doing way more stuff for me.

SPEAKER_05: 10:19

Wow.

SPEAKER_03: 10:20

Don't get it's about time. I love it.

SPEAKER_05: 10:24

Tell us about your shirt and your love of Bob's burgers. I've seen every episode and I love the characters. One of my favorites is Tina Boucher. She loves horses, but zombies, and she often writes heroic porn or something, but I don't know why, but it's a quirks.

SPEAKER_03: 10:45

That's funny. Oh my gosh. I haven't seen that show in quite some time.

SPEAKER_05: 10:50

If there are any other shows that you like, I like a stop art and Ricky Morty, and and sometimes I like Game of Thrones.

SPEAKER_03: 10:58

Oh, me too. I like all of those shows. Yeah, me and my husband watch all of those shows together.

SPEAKER_05: 11:04

Yeah, uh, I gotta admit it. I love my I love my family, I love my friends, everyone cares about me, and they accept me for the way I am.

SPEAKER_03: 11:15

That's exactly how it should be, Michael. That's how my household is. I love my children just the way they are. We we call it don't should on anyone. You should be this or you should be that. No shoulding on anyone over here. I love that. I love that. It's funny, huh? Oh, this is so much fun to get to know you.

SPEAKER_05: 11:37

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 11:38

So tell me kind of what you're doing for your book sales. Do you go and do like book signings?

SPEAKER_05: 11:45

I do that. Uh, yes. This year I'm gonna be attending an autism conference this coming December.

SPEAKER_03: 11:52

Where?

SPEAKER_05: 11:53

In a hotel in downtown Toronto.

SPEAKER_03: 11:56

Wow, that is gonna be so exciting! Is this your first time speaking in person? Or are you?

SPEAKER_05: 12:02

I did the sign, actually. Yeah, and I saw with money. Oh, wow! But yeah, I did. Um just like back in 2024, and I did it.

SPEAKER_03: 12:12

Same thing. I'm so proud of you. You're gonna do great, of course. No doubt. And I want to hear all about it when you get back and you're done. Like, I want to hear the full report. Nice.

SPEAKER_04: 12:27

Oh, yes, good.

SPEAKER_03: 12:29

Now we have now you have a new friend in your life, Michael. Oh, yes, definitely. This is exciting. So let's approve, holla! Woo! I live in so tell me about um do you like to go out and like watch any kind of sports or anything like that?

SPEAKER_05: 12:50

I love hockey, I love baseball, and I love basketball, you know?

SPEAKER_03: 12:54

Ooh, what's your favorite like play?

SPEAKER_05: 12:59

Ooh, blue chase, actually, and the Toronto Mantle Leaves. They're all my favorite sports teams, you know.

SPEAKER_03: 13:07

Oh, that's so much fun. Do you is there any sports that you like to play?

SPEAKER_05: 13:13

I went bowling, you know.

SPEAKER_03: 13:15

Okay, yeah, I like bowling too. You know, I grew up in Reno, Nevada, and they have the world's largest bowling alley. Mm-hmm. Really? You'll have to go there someday.

SPEAKER_05: 13:29

Thanks. I might do that just in case, but who knows?

SPEAKER_03: 13:33

Who knows? You might get a big gig down in the US and have to come down here. I agree. Maybe you'll get on Love on the Spectrum Canada. I don't know. Are they doing that? I no clue.

SPEAKER_06: 13:46

No, no clue idea.

SPEAKER_03: 13:48

Oh, this has been so much fun. Tell us about a little bit more about your book. Um, anyhow.

SPEAKER_05: 13:57

I just had to go with self-publishing like Ingram's Bark. Yeah. I was going to uh major publishing, but I decided to go with this company called Ingram's Bark. And they it was the best choice for me ever that I ever ended up going with.

SPEAKER_02: 14:12

I'm so glad you did that. I self-published some books too.

SPEAKER_05: 14:17

And for the viewers, you're gonna have to learn some Japanese from me. So listen, everyone, it's time for a Japanese lesson 1-0. Here we go. Okay, Kiteska Ari Gato Jehi Jo for autism, and finally Kazoku family.

SPEAKER_03: 14:48

I love that. You know, Michael, my son speaks Japanese as well.

SPEAKER_05: 14:53

Oh wow, beauty.

SPEAKER_03: 14:54

His name's DJ, and he is 15. Wow. Oh wow. Speaks Japanese and guess how many other languages?

SPEAKER_05: 15:03

Tell, tell.

SPEAKER_03: 15:06

Yikes! Yikes, right? Give him a woo-hoo! Yahoo! Love it. This is so much fun. This is one of the funnest podcasts I've ever done, Michael. You're a lot of fun. So tell me about your family. Tell me about your mom and dad.

SPEAKER_05: 15:25

My mom's a stay-home person, and my dad is a doctor. Doctor. He works on a doctor at Northwick General Hospital. He helps people to make them feel better.

SPEAKER_03: 15:37

That's amazing.

SPEAKER_05: 15:39

Yeah. And I do love my family a lot. But it's okay to get the arguments, but not a lot. Because in the end, people pass things up and they forgive each other.

SPEAKER_03: 15:50

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Life's all about the relationships that we have with one another, I think. And that's hard sometimes for the autistic community, isn't it?

SPEAKER_05: 16:01

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 16:02

So that's a it's like a big challenge, but a big uh reward as well.

SPEAKER_05: 16:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 16:10

I like to look at it that way.

SPEAKER_04: 16:12

Really, huh?

SPEAKER_03: 16:14

Yeah. If you look at both sides, then it's easier to see why it's so good.

SPEAKER_04: 16:21

That's fascination. That's fascinating.

SPEAKER_03: 16:26

Thank you. I like to explore things through a lot of measurement and data. Like I like to understand why things are the way they are.

SPEAKER_05: 16:35

And I like to research stuff on the internet.

SPEAKER_03: 16:38

Yeah, me too. Do you use chat GPT?

SPEAKER_05: 16:41

I do, yes.

SPEAKER_03: 16:42

Me too.

SPEAKER_05: 16:43

I do, yes.

SPEAKER_03: 16:45

That's amazing.

SPEAKER_05: 16:46

Chat GPT, dude. Oh, sorry. Anyhow.

SPEAKER_03: 16:50

Mine is called Bestie. Bestie?

unknown: 16:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 16:55

Like my best friend, my bestie. So it gives me good advice. Because it's looking out for my best interest, I hope.

SPEAKER_04: 17:08

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 17:09

So when people go to look for your book, they can find out on Amazon.

SPEAKER_04: 17:13

Yep.

SPEAKER_03: 17:14

And how much does it cost?

SPEAKER_05: 17:18

Let's see. Like around$20 or something.

SPEAKER_03: 17:22

Perfect. That's a wonderful gift. Or if you want to buy it for yourself to read, but please go and support Michael by purchasing his book on Amazon. And is there uh Michaelism by Michael Tanzer?

SPEAKER_05: 17:37

And he is from Fortnite, Ontario, and I'm 34 years old.

SPEAKER_03: 17:43

34. He's just, yes, just in his prime, getting his authorship out there. Good job. I love it. What else do you talk about in your book that people can look forward to?

SPEAKER_05: 17:59

Anxiety. Anxiety about myself. And of course, school. Yada yada. Emotions and making new friends. Oh, wonderful. And money in the math. And of course, communication. And volunteering.

SPEAKER_03: 18:19

Oh, those are great. Oh, let's talk about your volunteering. I want to know more about that.

SPEAKER_05: 18:24

I'm all I'm all years. Okay, here we go. Volunteering is so important for people on the spectrum. I started volunteering when I was in high school to graduate. I have to do 40 hours of volunteering. The first place I volunteered was HMV chauffeur, his master's voice. And then I helped at Best Buy. I think everyone I think oh sorry. I think I enjoyed volunteering at HMV so much because of my interest in music.

SPEAKER_02: 18:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 18:56

Great. What kind of music? Tell us about your love of music.

SPEAKER_05: 19:00

I really love EDM, J pop, and K-pop.

SPEAKER_03: 19:04

And do you like to play any instruments?

SPEAKER_05: 19:07

No, I just I just I just dance.

SPEAKER_03: 19:09

Just dance and enjoy it. Yep. I love that. So when you go out to public and you go out and stuff with your family, do you like to wear headphones or anything like that? Is there any way that you kind of signal to people that you might need more accommodations?

SPEAKER_05: 19:27

I prefer to say let's use it at home because I want to I want to be more public. You know? That's why my family is encouraging me to do that.

SPEAKER_03: 19:37

I think that's fantastic. We all need to have good experiences out there, don't we? To shape us as a person.

SPEAKER_05: 19:45

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03: 19:46

Well, Michael, I want to thank you so much for joining me today.

SPEAKER_04: 19:51

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_03: 19:52

Is that a beautiful tattoo on your arm? Let me see. Wow, look at that. I love it. And you know what?

SPEAKER_05: 20:01

It's part of my autism.

SPEAKER_03: 20:02

It is so great. I actually have a rainbow butterfly on my legs. Nice butterfly tattoo. Yeah, it's so fun. And I love the infinity symbol. That is, you can probably see, I'll I'll put my sign up. There's my awesome SJ Child's Infinity Symbol. And the next time I have an autism summit, I would love to formally invite you to be a part of that with us.

SPEAKER_05: 20:34

Remotely, but yes, but on Remotely, yes, definitely.

SPEAKER_03: 20:38

Yes. Perfect. All right. Remote. So you can begin. In fact, the International Autism Summit, the third annual, will be in April. So I'll get in touch with you, okay? All right then. Oh, it's so nice to have you on the show today, Michael. Anything else you want to say to the view or the listeners?

SPEAKER_05: 20:58

Word my advice? Stay strong 24 hours seven and never give up.

SPEAKER_03: 21:03

Never give up. And never surrender. Answer. Here we go. Thank you so much for joining us today. What a fun time we've had. And can't wait to go support you by buying your book, Michaelism.

SPEAKER_05: 21:21

My POV with autism, actually.

SPEAKER_03: 21:23

Say that again.

SPEAKER_05: 21:24

My POV on life with autism, actually.

SPEAKER_03: 21:27

Perfect. Oh, I love that. Okay. Well, we're gonna have the links and everything down in the description so you can go and buy that for your Christmas because this is gonna be coming out right before Christmas time.

SPEAKER_05: 21:39

It's alright out since 2020.

SPEAKER_03: 21:42

Okay, that's great. And we will make sure to get all the information. It's been so much fun, Michael. Thanks for being here today. Have a great one. We'll see you next time.

SPEAKER_05: 21:55

See ya. See ya, everyone. Don't forget to subscribe and follow me on Instagram. Peace. Michael Tesser out.

SPEAKER_06: 22:03

Perfect.

SPEAKER_00: 22:17

The heart of the city, she shines right. Oh yeah, stories of love and good.