I am autistic — and that is both a challenge and a gift. My mind works in images, patterns, and deep connections, which helps me make music, art, and stories that come straight from the heart. It also means I often feel the world more intensely — a bit like living without a skin. But instead of hiding, I’ve chosen to share: to turn my sensitivities into strength, and my inner world into something others can see, hear, and feel.
In 2023, a lifelong dream came true: I published my first solo book, Inside the Autside, about what it’s like to be autistic in a non-autistic world. To my surprise and deep emotion, it became a bestseller. In 2024, a revised hardcover edition was released, and I am still overwhelmed with gratitude for all the kind messages I’ve received from readers — both autistic and non-autistic — telling me how deeply the book moved them. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
If you like to read more, just click here for some of my blogs & articles on autism in English. If you are more of a visual person, you might like to check out some of my autistic artworks.
Works on Autism in Dutch
I contributed various chapters to the Dutch books “Lifehacks voor meiden met autisme” and “Lifehacks voor vrouwen met autisme“.
Unboxing Video
On request, I made a vlog style unboxing video of my reaction to the first book in the “Lifehacks” series, for the publisher’s website and social media.
Toolbox
Together with my friend Jolijn de Wolf, I created a creative toolbox called “Aut of the Box“, about the art of autism.
Scholarly work
Mussies, Martine. 2020. “Autiethnography.” In “Fan Studies Methodologies,” edited by Julia E. Largent, Milena Popova, and Elise Vist, special issue, Transformative Works and Cultures, no. 33. https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2020.1789. [Academia]
Talking about autism
To support autism awareness, I give talks and trainings both in- and outside academia. Just drop me a note if you like to invite me to speak at your event.