Lisette Auton Does Stuff With Words

My name is Lisette Auton and I’m passionate about telling the stories I struggled to find – those that reflect my northern, working class, disabled and neurodivergent experience – and making sure that everyone can see themselves in, or are authors of, the stories that are being told.

I’m an award-winning multidisciplinary artist based in Darlington, who works as an author, playwright, activist, creative practitioner, mentor, film and theatre maker, and performer. I create work for both children and adults, sometimes both at the same time. My focus is on place, process, and creative access.

Some people say I’m a word-artist – I say I do stuff with words.

One part of my work is writing for children, both plays and novels. You can find out more about my theatre work here. My middle grade novels THE SECRET OF HAVEN POINT, THE STICKLEBACK CATCHERS, LIGHTS UP and THE STARLIGHT REBEL are published by Puffin. You can find out more about them here as well as information about me if your school is researching me as an author. There is a suitable spoken word piece called One Seat Free on this page. Please don’t play the others in school, they’re very much for adults and contain swears! You can ORDER MY BOOKS HERE! (please and thank you)

Image shows Lisette in a purple t-shirt which reads disability is not a bad word, holding her walking stick with her eyes and mouth wide open.

photo description: Lisette in a purple t-shirt which reads ‘disability is not a bad word’, holding her purple walking stick with her eyes and mouth wide open. photo credit: Laura Tindall at PaperBoat Photography

Book cover of The Stickleback Catchers by Lisette Auton. Three friends stand on a riverbank, stars above, crows fly, and bottle with feathers in stand on the riverbank.

My book cover for THE SECRET OF HAVEN POINT illustrated by Gillian Gamble. A lighthouse with a group of disabled people at the top, with waves, mermaids, and a beautiful night sky. It says - Outsiders never come here. The magic doesn't let them...

I am represented by Molly Ker Hawn at The Bent Agency.

I make work for adults in lots of different forms; as a playwright, author, film and theatre maker, and multimedia live artist. I have created an award winning body of work entitled Writing the Missing; lyrical and mesmeric work that has been in written, live art and film form that you can find out more about here. You can find out about my plays by clicking here, my spoken word including an album with jazz band Archipelago by clicking here, and my written work here.

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I am ludicrously proud to be one of Tees Valley Artists of the Year 2024 which gives a career and life changing level of support for a whole year and beyond. You can read more about this incredible bold initiative here and an article on Arts Professions about how it came to be here.

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By clicking on the menu above, you can find out all about me and the things I get up to with words. If you’d like to work with me, please get in touch here.