NeuroQueer Author Night with CJ DeBarra and Hannah Silva

Join us for an evening at The Scarlett Letters bookshop in conversation with authors CJ DeBarra and Hannah Silva, authors of NeuroQueer: A Neurodivergent Guide to Love, Sex, and Everything in Between and My Child, The Algorithm: An Alternatively Intelligent Book of Love.

Growing up in West Cork, Ireland, CJ knew they were ADHD, but its implications remained mysterious. Drawing on their background as an ADHD journalist, NeuroQueer fearlessly explores the raw realities of heartbreak, love, and sexuality, and delves into the complexities of desire, the impact of distractions during intimacy, the role of dopamine, and the allure of unconventional sexual experiences. Moreover, the book sheds light on alarmingly low diagnosis rates for women, transgender individuals, and non-binary individuals, urging readers to advocate for improved healthcare.

My Child, the Algorithm weaves memoir and fiction about love and queer parenting through conversations with a toddler and an early, glitchy open source Large Language Model. It was named a Granta Book Of The Year 2023.

Doors will open just after 6pm for a 6:30pm start.

About the authors

CJ DeBarra (they/them) is an Irish journalist and author based in Nottingham. CJ is also the founder of the Notts Queer History Archive which documents LGBT+ history through oral history, objects and newspaper articles. they are due to release two history books in 2025 and are working on a book about neuroqueer dating and relationships.

Hannah Silva is a writer and performer confronting big ideas through formal innovation and a seriously playful approach to language, voice and technology. Known for looping, vocal gymnastics and neuroqueering AI, their work spans two decades of critically acclaimed poetry and performance.  Hannah lives in East London and is working on a novel about autism, universal credit, and theft.