An Interview with Andrea Moriarty

Andrea Moriarty offers a refreshingly honest and uplifting take on the challenges and triumphs of parenting her son with autism. Her practicality and undying hope are cherished by both parents and professionals.

Moriarty cofounded Banding Together, a music therapy nonprofit, and has served on the boards of Young Life Capernaum, New Village Arts, and Able Arts Work in San Diego. She and her husband, Jim, are adoptive parents of grown twins. Allie is a board-certified music therapist at the League School of Boston. Reid is a musician, front man of Jungle Poppins band, and podcast host of Talk Time with Reid Moriarty.

When she is not thrifting with Reid, Andrea cooks from scratch and whistles while she works in Solana Beach, California.

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Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

It is quite looooong, but it made people laugh every single time, so I stuck with it.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

I wanted the artwork to get a laugh and be a visual pun. When we got the daffodil bulb just right, I was excited. And even more so when the UPS man delivered my ten cartons of books. I wish I had videotaped that fun interaction.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Dog Days Are Over, Strong Enough, Nick of Time, Just One Victory, Beautiful Things, Good Life.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope that other autism moms would take away this truth: There is always hope!

What creative projects are you currently working on?

My son has written a musical of his own original songs, and we are working on staging that with a neurodiverse integrated cast. It will be hilarious and rollicking!

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere Press gave me a qualified team including a challenging developmental editor who believed in my project and a ruthless copyeditor. I tell other authors you can never have too many editors! Books get better and better with each layer of editing.

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