Hi, Im Stella Deleuze, author. I also have ADHD.

For those of you who are not familiar with the condition: ADHD means Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. It sounds rather impressive, doesn’t it? In short: I'm an impatient, short attention span, always jumping around individual. Not. The condition is so much more complex. There are basically three types of ADD: the dreamy version, the fidgety person and the mix of both. I belong to the last group. 
Wait a minute, I hear you say, you said you're an author: doesn't that require sitting still for many long hours?

Yes, it does, but writing is not boring; it's what I chose to do and love. It also keeps my brain active and often even occupied, something I can't say for filling in lengthy forms, doing tax returns, or reading articles I'm not interested in. If I have to read it, I'll switch off at some point and won't take anything in, even when I read it three times or more. This can be a right pain in the back.

ADHD is normally inherited.  Either one or both parents have the gene and it's not curable. It is, however, manageable, either with behaviour therapy or medication. And it won't, despite common assumption, dissolve with puberty: you will have it forever. 

I’ve heard it all: 'But you can't still have it. Only kids have ADHD.' That's not true; adults have just adapted better, either due to upbringing or other influences. They quickly learn that being late at work means being sacked, or that interrupting others is seen as impolite. They often find ways to fit into society and you probably won't even know a person with ADHD. But they struggle – a lot. Kids are impulsive. Take sitting on the bus when I'm a little in a hurry and the bus stands for ages at a bus stop. I have to suppress the impulse to shout or jump up and get off the bus. A kid would probably do exactly that.

I personally think it's nothing to be ashamed of.  In fact, I think it's a great asset, for people with this particular condition are excitable; if you have someone with ADHD in your company, you can give them a new task every day and they will dive right in. They have enormous resources of energy and if they fail, they will get up, brush off their clothes and start again. That said, the condition often comes with a negative side: although the degree varies, many suffer from depression, panic attacks, some get aggressive or rather impulsive or everything together. It really depends on the person. Most lead a normal life, having found coping mechanisms to make up for deficits; they will appear like the average person to you.

Here are some main indicators:

• dreamy, not listening
  
• fidgety, not listening
  
• forgetting things/misplacing things regularly
  
• bursting out with answers/interrupting someone
  
• can't sit still for long/need to get up and walk around, even in conversations/meetings
  
• difficulties with attention to detail, especially with tasks they find boring
  
• can be extremely moody/falling from one extreme into the other
  
• easily distracted by a simple noise
  
• hyperfocusing on things they really like/staring at the computer for hours
  

Of course these points can suit almost everyone; it's a combination of things and ADHD can only be diagnosed by a specialist.

Writing, to me, is a perfect outlet. I love to play with words, to create stories that will let a reader forget about their life for a while. I write for myself and find it has a very positive affect on me; I feel more balanced. If I'm upset about something, I'll sit down with my laptop and let my soul pour into my fingers, that type the sentences. It might end up as a scene of a book or a short story. I was diagnosed in my early 30's and refused to take medication. And surprisingly enough, since I found my calling as an author and editor, I don't think I'll ever need to take it.

Writing allows me to 'work' whenever I feel I'm able to concentrate. It is also good training to focus, even when I don't feel like it. I will let off steam without putting my fist through a wall; frustration is a big part of ADHD, I can pour my heart out when I'm depressed and it really helps me to calm down. To me it's the best way to deal with the ups and downs of life. I feel more balanced since I started to write 2.5 years ago.


Many thanks to Stella for this enlightening post.  In case you’re wondering just what a writer with ADHD can achieve, check out this excerpt from Stella’s forthcoming book Candlelight Sinner:


Being madly in love with Tom, a rather good looking, immortal wish-consultant and working in her dream job, life seems to be perfect for 32-year-old Celia. If it wasn't for the dark side still being after her or Sam, a charismatic man asking for her help, causing dilemma. When Tom gets another demanding case, and Celia takes her friend on a trip to Lanzarote, everything's about to change. 

I climb into the black limousine, close the door and sink into the comfortable leather seats. The separation between the driver and me has been closed. 

“No small talk about the weather, then,” I mumble, looking out of the window. I'm not keen to get back to the place where it all happened, the place where I almost died, but apparently I have to. I sigh and feel the plaster on my forehead: a visible reminder. I press the button to communicate with the driver.

“Excuse me, could you please put on some music?”

“Very well, Miss Watson.” A second later, I'm lulled in an orchestra's soft tunes. Leaning back, I watch people and houses fly by. 

Fifteen minutes later, I knock the heavy door knocker to the wooden door of the solicitor's house. After a few seconds I hear footsteps and the door opens. 

“Hello, Miss Watson.”

“Please, call me Celia.”

“Fine, Celia, do come in.” Mr Brown leads me inside and into his office. I shudder as we pass the replaced mirror. I see him catching my reaction. He smiles briefly.

“Can I get you something to drink?” 

“A water please,” I answer. God knows how long this will take.

“Will be right back.” 

I look around his office. Nothing has changed since the last time I was here. As usual, I admire the beautiful antique mahogany desk. Rays of sunlight shine through dirt-stained windows. This house needs a thorough revamp.  Once upon a time it must have been a magnificent building. 

“Here you are.”

I didn't hear him come back and jump. 

“Did I startle you?” 

“A little, yes.”

“I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention.” He takes a seat opposite me, combing his fat, short fingers through the dark hair and opens a file. Why isn't he using a computer like everyone else?

“First of all, thank you for coming, Miss, er, Celia. I appreciate you feel a bit uncomfortable being here, but we have to go through it.” I nod and he continues, “As you know I'm the mediator between the dark and light side and after the recent incidents, I've been asked to let you in, and explain the rules.”

“Rules?” Now that's going to be fun! “What rules?”

“Well,” he clears his throat, loosening his tie, “as you will have realised, you're not going to lead what others would call a normal life.” 

“If you put it this way...”

“I'm sorry. It must have come as a shock when you found out about your 'heritage'.”

“You can say that again.”

“So, fact is, you have powers that need to be controlled at all times. Nobody knows how strong they are or will become, but you are indeed a walking lethal weapon.” 

“Err, come again?”

“I'm sorry to be so blunt about it, but there's really no way to put it nicely.” 

“Seems like it,” I answer. But you could've tried!  “What I would like to know: why me?”

“There's no easy explanation for it. Your parents are from different worlds. They fell in love and that's a very rare thing to happen.”

“You are aware of the fact that it all sounds rather surreal, aren't you?” 

He nods. “Yes, but it's reality, even though a different one that 'normal' people wouldn't know it exists.”

“I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen the proof.” I sigh, shuddering again at the memories.

“What your brother did–”

“I don't have a brother!” I cut him off. “He's the lethal weapon, he should sit here, being lectured about following rules, not me!” My voice, which was calm until about a minute ago has gained sharpness. 

“Please, Celia, hear me out.” 

I settle back into my seat.

© 2011 Stella Deleuze

A light-hearted flash, written in response to Haley Whitehall's September Flash Fiction Challenge.   It comes in at just over Haley's specified 500 words, for which I hope she'll forgive me. 

__________


It was all my fault.  After a lifetime of reading minds, I was bored with it.  I told my mentor that I wanted a change.

“Are you sure, Jackie? You know, it doesn’t always work when we swap our superpowers.  You might end up with half a skill, or no skill at all.  Do you really want to risk that?”

I looked him in the eye.  “I know all about how people think.  I’ve stopped more crimes than anyone on the planet.  I also divine that you’re trying to put me off, to save yourself the paperwork.”

He had the grace to look guilty.

“Oh Peter, please.  Look, I can even read your mind.  Just think, if you arrange a new power for me, I won’t be able to see through your excuses any more.  That’d make your life easier.”

I didn’t mention the paperwork this time.

“And,” I continued, “you’d have the satisfaction of actually mentoring me again, not just listening to me gloat about everything I’ve done.  Go on, admit – well, actually, you don’t need to, I already know – you’d love to be superior again.”

I won.  We completed the forms.   

The problem with requesting a change from the Superpower Commission is that you don’t know what new power you’ll get: you’re assigned whatever they feel is lacking in the contemporary world.  You’re also re-graded to Novice, no matter what your level in your former power.  It’s not a popular process, and few instigate it.

Peter’s face, when I waved the official envelope at him, was a picture of trepidation.  I’d known the Commission had made their decision when I’d noticed a decline in my abilities.  Unfortunately I’d had no clues so far about what my new power would be. 

“You read it.  I’m too excited.” 

I buried my face in my hands.  There was a pause, while Peter read the letter.  It lasted longer than I’d imagined, but there were a lot of documents in that package.  Finally, frustrated by his prolonged silence, I gave up.

“Well, come on then.  What am I to be?”

Cheep, said the duckling perched incongruously on Peter’s leather armchair.  Chip, chip, chip.

“Peter?”

Chip, chip, chip, chip, it chattered, waving its wing, if this were possible, at the discarded paper beside it. 

Oh no. 

I scanned the letter: in recognition of my services as a mind reader, I had been granted the power of turning people into small birds. 

What possible use could that be in contemporary society? 

Please approach your new superpower with caution, it said.  In the early stages you may not have sufficient experience to maintain control over unrecognised stimuli.

Those “unrecognised stimuli” – presumably excitement and dread – had led me to turn my valued mentor into a duckling.

“I’m sorry,” I called, as I went to find Peter some bread.  “I’ll reverse it as soon as I find out how.” 

I didn’t know if it was possible.  But one thing I can say for certain: even with my former power revoked, I knew exactly what Peter was thinking.  And I wasn’t in a great hurry to hear him say it. 

Reversal could wait.  I threw him a few crumbs and settled down to read the Commission’s guidelines.

 

I found this story this evening, sitting on my hard drive doing absolutely nothing.  I figured it was best out in the open, being read, hence posting it on here.  Contains a very small amount of adult language.  

___


Who’d have a little sister? Bloody Ashley barges into my bedroom without knocking.  Again. If I’ve told her once…

I go to shout at her (again), but looking at her, something’s not right.

She flops onto the bed.  “Tara, why’s Mum crying?”

“Don’t be silly.  Mum never cries.”

“She is.  She’s in the kitchen, crying.  Go and look if you don’t believe me.”

The easiest way to get rid of the little pest is to play along – besides, I’m a bit curious.  So I tell her to stay in my room (which I’ve never said before) and I sneak downstairs.  True enough, Mum’s at the kitchen table among a mountain of soggy tissues.

Ashley dashes past me.  “Mum, where’s dinner?”

Oh, the tact of the nine-year-old.  I drag her from the kitchen.  “I told you to stay upstairs.” 

“You’re hurting me.”  Her voice rises to a wail.  “Mum…”

“I’ll hurt you even more if you don’t sod off.”

Back in the kitchen, I clear the tissues and sit down.  “Mum?”

“It’s nothing, Tara.  Go and look after your sister.”

“Yeah, like you’d be sat there blubbing over nothing.  What’s happened?”

Then I realise: Ashley was right.  It’s half past seven.  There’s no dinner.  “Is it Dad? He’s normally home by now.  Where’s Dad?”

It’s like Mum’s whole body collapses in front of me.  “He’s not coming home, Tara.  He’s left us.  Your father…“  More tears.  “Your father’s moved out.  To rediscover himself.”

I collapse, too.  Dad’s gone? Where? To rediscover what?

“I don’t know what we’re going to do, Tara.  Ask anything you want, although I doubt I‘ll have answers yet.  But if you’ve the faintest idea about how I’m going to tell Ashley, then for God’s sake say so.  I know she just won’t understand.”

Yeah.  Like I do.

***

Caitlyn, my best friend, is all worldly-wise.  “It’s a mid-life crisis,” she announces, swinging her freshly-painted toenails up onto the bed to dry.  “He’ll have a tattoo and a younger woman the next time you see him.” 

“So sensitive.  What makes you the expert?”

“I heard Mum talking to our neighbour, ages ago.  She was wondering how long before my dad has one.”  Caitlyn stares.  “Omigod, you don’t think he will?”

“Well, I didn’t see it coming with mine, did I? I can hardly be the judge of yours.  And I’ll have my nail varnish back now, please.” 

She wiggles her purple toenails.  “You should call him.  Find out what’s going on.  Then you can tell me all about it and I’ll start watching Dad for tell-tale signs.”

***

Despite her self-interest, Caitlyn’s right, so I sneak off to the end of our garden after school.  Dad’s phone rings for ages; I’m just planning my voicemail when he picks up. 

“Tara? Hi.”

“You left us.”

“Er.  Well.  Yes.”

“Where are you?”

“Well, Tara, I’m in a lovely flat in the city.  There’s a spare room here for you and Ashley when you visit.  You’ll love it.  It’s – “

“I don’t care about your fucking flat.”  Did I just swear at my father? “Why, Dad? Ashley’s devastated.”

“Is she there? Can I talk to her?”

“For God’s sake.  Just tell me what’s going on.”

He sighs.  “Tara, I’m forty eight.  I’ve spent the last twenty years with your mother, the last fifteen of those making sure that all three of you are OK.  You know, money, food, school.  I’ve worked constantly.  I feel old and tired.  I still love you, but I just needed to get away, have a rest from responsibility.  Do you understand?”

“No.”

“Tara…”

Caitlyn’s words come back to me.  “What’s her name?”

“Love, don’t be like that.  Look, you know when you get bogged down with homework and revision? Well, that’s how I’ve been feeling.”

“But I didn’t run away! You made me carry on.  ‘Think of the future,’ you said.  So why’s this any different? You chose to have us.  I didn’t choose school.  How about you think of the future? Or perhaps you already are – so, what’s her name?”

I wonder if he’ll hang up.  But he doesn’t. 

“Michelle.” 

“I knew it.  How old is she?”

“Tara, I really don’t see…”

“How old?”

“She’s thirty.  She’s very friendly and she’s looking forward to meeting you and Ashley...”

It’s me who hangs up.  Dad calls back and I reject the call, cursing him to hell.  I chew my hair – something I can only do when Mum’s not around – and work through it all.

He’s had enough of responsibility, yet he’s moved in with another woman (my future step-mother, eugh) who he’ll have to support (along with us), and who will probably want kids of her own (my half siblings).  How long does this “mid-life” period last, I wonder.  Because it strikes me that when the next child turns fifteen he’ll do the same again.  But by then he’ll be sixty three at least.

Ashley finds me behind the shed.  “Was that Dad?”

“Yeah.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing.”

“What car is it?”

I look at her.  “Sorry?”

“Jenna said he’d have gone and got a new car.  All men do it, she says.”

And I’d thought Caitlyn was forward.  Jenna’s only a year older than Ashley. 

“Tara, why would he leave us just because he’s bought a new car?”

For once I don’t say she’s stupid.  I laugh.  Not at Ashley, but at her garbled understanding of all this.  She’s hurt and so confused, she thinks it’s all over a car.  She’s young, but she deserves the truth. 

“Tell you what, Ash – let’s get a Coke from the fridge and I’ll tell you what he said.”

“Does Mum know?”

“Mum can wait.”

“Our secret!”

But there have been too many secrets.  I’ll tell Mum later, but right now it’s Ashley who matters.  I tuck her in beside me as we walk towards the house.  Suddenly I feel the need to protect her.  My little sister. 

“Four of spades!” proclaimed Geoff with a flourish.  “Who’s next?”

His next volunteer smiled as she hid the card from her patient, the magician: no mean achievement, trapped as she was in a job which made her despair.

“That’s it, nurse.  Don’t let me see.”

She didn’t.

Written in response to Haley Whitehall's June flash fiction challenge, this comes in at just over 300 words.  

___


Paul’s shoulders tighten under my hands.  I can’t see his face, but I’m sure his eyes are darting all over the place.  I lean round slightly – yes, his jaw is clenched.  He’s about to lie to me. 

“I’ve had it a while.”  

I know this is rubbish.  He’s supposed to be earning a living from that computer, not playing.  I would lay money on his having bought this game today while I was working.

Well, if we had any money, I would.  On my salary alone our heads are just above water.  His tiny pension hardly counts: we can barely cover the mortgage; we live on own-brand food; we’ll have no holiday this year.  All because he wanted to retire early and start his own business. 

And he’s buying computer games? What of enterprise? Our hopes and dreams?

I watch him for a while as he clicks and grunts and even leans over with the effort.  Right now, it seems, his only hope or dream is to reach level 12. 

“You know,” I begin, about to remind him that this isn’t the way to get a fledgling business off the ground. 

“Oh, Helen, you made me jump.  Look, I’ve got to start all over again now.” 

Don’t tempt me. 

“Anyway,” he says, condescending to face me now his fun has stalled.  “Aren’t you meeting Lisa this evening?”

“Yes, I was just about to leave when I saw you were… Well, when I came over.” 

He leans back in the chair, eyes narrowed.  “Is that a new dress? I mean, it looks lovely, but you know, Helen…”

“This old thing?” I smile, opening my palms out to him.  “Nah, had it ages.”

“Are you…”

“Oh, there’s my cab! See you later!” 

I even manage a jaunty wave as I leave.  But as I close the taxi door, I hope that Paul's in there feeling as guilty as I am.

I’ll start off by declaring an interest here: my story The Food of Love was published today in the Spilling Ink Review e-zine (Issue 5), which is what spawned this post’s title.

Not that I’m blowing my own trumpet, you understand: I’m so familiar with my story that I’ve lost track of whether it’s good or not.  But the nice people at Spilling Ink decided it was good enough to include in the Review, and I know when best to keep quiet.    

Obviously, though, when you’re being showcased with a lot of other work, you get a little curious about the other pieces on offer.  So, this evening, I have wandered through Issue 5 and read a good selection of its contents.  And I have to say, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself! I’ve only covered short fiction and flash fiction so far, but if you’re a fan of either I’d suggest you take a look.  There is, as my title suggests, some mighty fine fiction on there. 

The Spilling Ink Review’s purpose is to promote new authors and put good quality prose out there for people to read. Judging by what I've read this evening, there are a lot of talented writers out there still waiting for recognition.  I’d suggest bookmarking the link above both for a quarterly fiction fix, and because one day you might be able to say, “I read them there first.” 

Even if you’re not necessarily saying it about me.  :-)

Read, nonetheless.  And enjoy.

This is a 50-word flash that I wrote a couple of years ago.  I thought I'd post it up as I wore odd socks today.  No better reason! 



Odd socks were one of his adolescent quirks.  Everyone said we were matching socks, yet to be paired.  It didn’t happen.

As adults, we meet.  Conversation is stilted.  His expensive shoes show only black above.

We’re as mismatched as his former footwear, I realise.  I bid my teenage dreams farewell.

Our mothers eventually met for coffee.  It had taken us ages to engineer it, with one always busy, another reluctant to ‘impose’ and only Jane’s mum being keen.  The date finally arranged, we parked them with their lattes and left them to it. 

Two hours later, we saw them through the window, laughing and smiling.  It had worked – these three lonely women could finally enjoy some weekly company.  And their daughters could relax a little.   

But as we walked in: “Ann drinks too much… Jane doesn’t eat enough… Sal looks too pale…”

And we thought we were now supposed to be looking after them!

__

In honour of Mother's Day I thought I'd post this little flash which I originally came up with a few years ago. 

David says, “You really didn’t like those steps.”  He’s right, I didn’t.  Outdoor steps.  Rustic.  Uneven and bumpy things, they are, and rotting leaves making the wood all slippy.  It took me a long time to climb up them.  I’m breathing heavily, too: it was hard work.

I’m not good on stairs at the best of times.  I lose my balance.  Always think I’m going to fall, even though David says, “Of course you won’t.  You’ve never fallen down the stairs, have you?”

Well, not in any of our houses I haven’t.  But I did when I was a child.  Fifty-odd years ago and I remember it clear as day.  I suppose it was more comical for my parents than traumatic: there was no agonising tumbling and rolling, just bump, bump, bump on my behind until I reached the bottom.  They didn’t laugh, bless them.  Mum came to help me but I could tell she wasn’t that concerned.  All I had to show for it was a bruised backside.

David wanted to come up because the hotel people told us the view’s lovely.  I told him, “Go up on your own, I’ll never make it up there,” but he insisted I didn’t want to miss the view. 

“After all, Nessa, it’s your holiday too,” he said, as though dragging me up a load of mucky steps would make my week.  I suggested he take photos and show me, but he just told me I always say I can’t and this time he wasn’t having it. 

So I puffed up the stairs and nearly fell back down them at least twice.  Now he wants me to admire the view, and all I want to do is get my breath back. 

“It’s fantastic,” he says. 

Despite my crabbiness, I can see what the hotel people meant.  Miles and miles of lush, deep green.  “I wish we had more trees at home,” I tell him. 

“Not the trees.  You.” 

Me? Fantastic? It’s been a few years since I heard those two together.  Especially from David.  I’m obviously surprised, so he says, “A year ago, you wouldn’t have got past the first step.  All that weight you’ve lost – see, it’s paid off.  Next year we’ll come back and you can run up them.”

True enough.  A year ago I’d barely leave the house, let alone go on holiday.  And these steps just wouldn’t have come into it.  I’ve dropped six stone, and I’ve got a long way to go yet.  He's right: I got up the steps!

But I’ll never run up any stairs.  Or down them.  I don’t think David’s twigged that getting me back down there is going to be twice as hard as making me climb up was.  I’m not good on stairs, remember.  And despite it being considerably smaller than it was, I still don’t want a bruised backside.  

__

I wrote this in response to a visual prompt at Prompts for Writers.  It's my first monologue in a few years, and while I'm sure it's not a perfect example, it flowed very easily.  Constructive feedback, as ever, is more than welcome.