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Today, I attended the Capital Food Market with my debut book, You Can’t Rush Friendships, which was recently launched. As an autistic...

When you’re a kid, you don’t usually have the language to describe who you are. You just know you’re trying to figure it out. Sometimes that’s a quick discovery, sometimes it’s a long, winding journey. For me, it was definitely the long kind. Over six years, I tried on more labels than most people in my life could keep up with. Each one felt right for a while...until it didn’t. But every step taught me something important about who I am today. Mum used to tell me that labels

I still can’t quite believe it, the Magbean!™ book launch actually happened, and it was more incredible than I ever could have imagined. Walking into that space and seeing it filled with love, support, and pride for the stories I’ve created was completely overwhelming in the best way. I’ve never felt more seen, accepted, or uplifted. Thank you to every single person who came along, cheered from afar, helped behind the scenes, or simply believed in me and this project. You’ve

In the lead-up to the print release of You Can’t Rush Friendships  through IngramSpark, I made what felt like a smart decision. I updated the publication date to 12 August to give us time to review proof copies and make any final tweaks. It felt careful, thoughtful, and aligned with our perfectionist hopes of getting everything just right. What I didn’t know was that this small change would temporarily remove the book from sale on Amazon, where it had already been available f

A Journey of Growth and Understanding You have been the greatest gift. Not just in the way all children are gifts, but in how you've opened my eyes to things I never truly understood. Through you, I’ve learned patience, resilience, compassion, empathy, strength, honesty, and so much more. Has it always been easy? No. Has it been worth it? Absolutely, without question. Embracing Change Together We’ve both had to grow, unlearn, and re-learn. I’ve watched you blossom from a quie

Nat and Shane share a joyful moment after Nat discovers a cherished drawing from the past. Neurodiverse children often struggle to communicate their needs in direct ways. Rather than explicitly asking for something, they may wait for it to happen, or drop subtle cues through their interests and conversations. These moments of chatter, often filled with talk about their favourite topics, can be their quiet way of reaching out. It’s almost like an unspoken plea for connection o

Creative Moment, Nat crafting a vibrant book page illustration on the computer screen. It’s hard to believe it’s been four months since we officially launched Zosimos Curra™, and only recently released You Can’t Rush Friendships , the first book in the Magbean!™  series. As we settle into this next chapter of sharing Nat’s work with the world, I’ve been reflecting on how it all started, the night this journey really began. It was February, and we were having dinner when Nat s

Nat sketching characters Who would have thought that just five years after my diagnosis, I’d be here; an artist, writer, and illustrator...

When I was little and feeling left out, uncertain, or like the odd bean out, Mum would always say: “Be yourself; everyone else is taken.” She said it whenever we were unsure about who we are. Honestly? It’s magic. The Challenge of Being Yourself Here’s the thing: Being yourself isn’t always easy. It can feel risky, especially when you don’t see anyone around you who thinks, moves, or feels the way you do. But Mum never wanted me to be anyone else. She never asked me to chang

Couldn’t Do It Without You: Meet the Magbean!™ Dream Team by Nat Bannerman Creating Magbean!™ has been a big journey, filled with...

Reflections from a parent of an autistic child. Parenting an autistic child is not a straight road, it’s a winding path filled with unexpected stops, slow climbs, surprising detours, and moments of breathtaking beauty. It’s not always easy. But it is deeply meaningful. Over the years, I’ve learned lessons that didn’t come from books, they came from real experiences, from tears and triumphs, from meltdowns and magical moments. These reflections are for any parent or carer n

When I posted a photo of Nat’s very first book, a little story I’d found while cleaning out the garage, someone commented, “That’s so awesome! What a precious memory to have kept and now found.” And they were absolutely right. The book is called The Totodile Adventure . Nat wrote and illustrated it when they were about 7 or 8 years old. It was based on Pokémon characters, filled with bright drawings and a full storyline from start to finish. Even then, Nat had a natural fe

Mum and Nat share a joyful moment I’ll never forget the moment Nat held the proof copy of their first book. The look on their face, a mix of pride, wonder, and quiet excitement said it all. This wasn’t just paper and ink. This was years of dreaming, drawing, and growing. Years of challenges, creativity, and courage bound into one vibrant, bean-shaped book. The Early Days of Creativity Even before Nat could talk, they could draw. We noticed it early on. While other kids were l

It’s really  happening! The first proof of my book, held right in my hands. There’s something surreal and completely magical about...

"When the world is too loud, too fast, and too much… I don’t melt down. I shut down." This is something I posted recently on social...

Hi, I’m Nat — the autistic author and illustrator behind the Magbean!™  series and founder of Zosimos Curra™. At 16, I decided to create...