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Ben Jackson

@storiesbybenjaminjackson

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Children's author and school leader writing gentle stories about masking. My Mask: The Long List, out 29 Oct 2026 with Pegasus.

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🥹📚❤️ IT’S OFFICIAL! MY BOOK IS OUT TODAY AT WATERSTONES! ❤️📚 https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-mask/benjamin-jackson/9781805715894

I can hardly believe I’m writing this! 🥹 My book, My Mask: The Long List, is officially out today, and you can now purchase your copy from Waterstones! 😭❤️

This story is incredibly close to my heart. My hope is that it helps people understand the experiences of children who mask their struggles, particularly autistic girls who may be finding life harder than they let on.

If you could support me by purchasing a copy, sharing this post or spreading the word, I would be so grateful. Every single bit of support means the world to me, and I can’t thank you all enough for being part of this journey. ❤️

📚 OUT NOW AT WATERSTONES AND AMAZON!

A dream that once felt so far away is finally a reality. I’M A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! 🥹😭❤️

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 🥰 xxxxx

#BookLaunch #Waterstones #AutismAwareness #ChildrensBooks PublishedAuthor by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

🚨📚 IT’S OFFICIAL! MY BOOK IS OUT NOW ON AMAZON! 🥹❤️

The moment I’ve been waiting for is finally here! 😭✨ My Mask: The Long List is officially available to purchase on Amazon!

This book means so much to me, and I hope it helps more people understand the experiences of children who mask their struggles, particularly autistic girls who may be struggling silently behind the scenes. 💜

If you’d like to support me on this incredible journey, please consider purchasing a copy, sharing this post or telling your friends and family. Every order, share and kind message makes such a difference. 🥹❤️

📖 MY MASK: THE LONG LIST IS AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON!

From dreaming of becoming a published author to seeing my book out in the world, I’m so proud and grateful that this day has finally arrived! 😭🥰

Thank you all for your amazing support. It really does mean the world to me! ❤️ xxxxx

#BookLaunch #AmazonBooks #AutismAwareness #ChildrensBooks #PublishedAuthor by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

🎤✨ Well… this is a headline I never expected to see! AND PHOTO! 😱😳

“Nottingham’s singing and dancing headteacher” 😂

What started with a few songs and silly performances has somehow turned into sequins, costumes, dancing, questionable choreography… and now a feature in the Nottingham & Hucknall Dispatch! 🕺🎶

But behind all the silliness is something I genuinely believe in: joy matters.

Music can bring people together, create memories, build confidence and make school feel like a place where you can simply be yourself.

I’m incredibly proud that something so playful has become such an important part of what we do.

And yes… there will definitely be more costumes. 😂✨

Thank you to the Nottingham & Hucknall Dispatch for telling the story. ❤️

📰 Read the full article here:
Nottingham & Hucknall Dispatch — The Singing Headteacher

The Singing Headteacher lives to sing another day! 🎤✨

#SingingHeadteacher #Nottingham #Hucknall #PrimaryEducation #SchoolLeadership MusicInSchools SchoolCommunity Education by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

📚💙 EXCITING NEWS! MY BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE AT FOYLES! 💙📚

I’m absolutely delighted to share that My Mask: The Long List is now available to purchase online at Foyles! 🥹📖

This book is incredibly close to my heart. It tells a story that shines a light on autism, masking and the hidden emotions that so many children experience every single day.

My hope is that Lily’s story will help children feel understood, encourage adults to look beyond what they see on the outside, and remind us all how important it is to create a world where every child feels accepted for who they truly are. 💙

🙏 PLEASE PURCHASE YOUR COPY AND HELP ME SPREAD THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE!

Every purchase, share and recommendation makes a difference. Together, we can reach more children, families and educators and help raise awareness of autism masking.

🔗 BUY YOUR COPY ONLINE AT FOYLES HERE:
https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/my-mask/benjamin-jackson/9781805715894

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me on this journey. Your kindness and encouragement mean more than you know! ❤️

📖 My Mask: The Long List by Benjamin Jackson

#AutismAwareness #Neurodiversity #ChildrensBooks #AutismAcceptance #ChildrensAuthor Inclusion by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

💙💛 PLEASE HELP ME SPREAD THIS MESSAGE! 💛💙

I still can’t quite believe that My Mask: The Long List is officially out and available to purchase on Amazon AND Waterstones! 📚🥹

This book means so much to me because its message is bigger than the story itself. It is about the children who smile when they are struggling, who try their hardest to fit in, and who sometimes feel they have to hide who they really are just to belong.

I want to help more people understand masking, particularly in autistic girls, and remind every child that they should never have to pretend to be someone else to be accepted. 💜

If you are able to purchase a copy, I would be incredibly grateful. Every purchase helps me share this important message with more children, families and educators.

🙏 Please purchase on BOTH Amazon and Waterstones, and help me spread this message far and wide!

If you cannot buy a copy yourself, sharing this post would mean the world to me. Every share helps this message reach someone who might need it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey. I wrote this book hoping it might make a difference, and together, we can help more children feel seen, understood and accepted for exactly who they are. 💙💛💜

📚 Available now on Amazon and Waterstones!

#AutismAcceptance #AutismAwareness #Neurodiversity #AutismInGirls #ChildrensBooks by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

🎭 Sometimes, the smile is a mask. 💜

Have you ever wondered how a child can look perfectly happy on the outside while struggling on the inside?

Autistic masking is when someone hides their feelings, needs or natural behaviours to fit in, avoid judgement or meet other people’s expectations.

It might look like:
💜 Smiling when they feel overwhelmed.
💜 Copying the behaviour of others to fit in.
💜 Hiding anxiety or holding back emotions.
💜 Appearing confident while feeling exhausted inside.

The difficult thing about masking is that it can make a child’s struggles invisible. They might seem fine at school, with friends or in public, only to feel completely overwhelmed when they finally reach a safe space.

Just because a child looks okay doesn’t mean they feel okay.

Let’s create a world where children feel safe enough to be themselves, without feeling they have to wear a mask to belong. Every child deserves to be understood, accepted and celebrated for who they truly are. 💜

This is one of the reasons I wrote My Mask: The Long List, a story exploring the experience of a girl who masks her autism.

Let’s keep talking about masking and help more people understand what might be happening beneath the surface.

💜 Share this post to help raise awareness.

#AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutismInGirls by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

For a lot of children, this week means back to school after half term, and for some of them it also means the mask goes back on.

This book means so much to me. It is all about autism, masking and helping people understand the feelings and experiences that some children hide behind a smile. My hope is that it helps children feel seen, understood and accepted for who they truly are.

My Mask: The Long List is out now:
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/0dbBI4DM
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-mask/benjamin-jackson/9781805715894

For school staff, my free guide has signs to look for and practical classroom supports: https://ko-fi.com/s/865ba351a6

Cover and character artwork from My Mask: The Long List by Benjamin Jackson, used with permission from Pegasus Publishers.

#MyMaskTheLongList #AutismMasking #Neurodiversity #ChildrensBooks #AutismAcceptance by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

Tomorrow the mask goes back on. 💙

Half term is over, and for some children Monday morning means putting the "I'm fine" face back on for the whole school day.

Here's what the grown-ups can look for: a child who holds it together all day and falls apart at home, real tiredness after school, and an "I'm fine" that doesn't quite fit. The National Autistic Society notes that the distress linked to masking often shows where a child feels safe, like at home.

My Mask: The Long List is for the grown-ups who notice. Out now.

📚 Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/0dbBI4DM
📖 Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-mask/benjamin-jackson/9781805715894

Cover and character artwork from My Mask: The Long List by Benjamin Jackson, used with permission from Pegasus Publishers.

#MyMaskTheLongList #AutismMasking #BackToSchool #SENDParenting #PictureBooks by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

🎙️🎧 Listen to the best bits of today’s interview! 💙

What an amazing experience! Thank you to BBC Radio for the opportunity to talk about my journey, my passion for education, and my children’s book, My Mask: The Long List 📚💙

It was brilliant to share the story behind the book and why raising awareness of autism, masking and understanding differences is so important.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey. It genuinely means the world! 🥹🙌

🎧 Listen to the highlights and let me know what you think!

📻 @BBCSounds @BBCRadio @BBCNottingham

#BBC #BBCRadio #BBCNottingham #RadioInterview #AutismAwareness Neurodiversity ChildrensBooks AuthorLife Education SingingHeadteacher by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

🎙️💙 What a pleasure it was to be live on BBC Radio today with the wonderful Kelly Hinch!

Thank you, Kelly, for such a lovely conversation and for giving me the opportunity to talk about my children’s book, My Mask: The Long List. 📚

This book means so much to me. It is all about autism, masking and helping people understand the feelings and experiences that some children hide behind a smile. My hope is that it helps children feel seen, understood and accepted for who they truly are. 💙

📖 My Mask: The Long List is OUT NOW!

🎧 Want to hear the conversation? Listen to the clip here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_nottingham

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey so far. It really does mean the world!

#BBC #BBCRadio #BBCNottingham #RadioNottingham #AutismAwareness Neurodiversity ChildrensBooks AutismAcceptance by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

🎙️💜 TUNE IN TODAY!

I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Kelly Hinch on BBC Radio this afternoon to talk about something incredibly close to my heart, my children’s book, My Mask: The Long List. 📚💙

We’ll be discussing the story behind the book, autism, masking, and why it’s so important that we recognise and understand the children who might be hiding their struggles behind a smile.

As a first time author, it’s a real privilege to have the opportunity to share this message with more people and hopefully make a difference to children and families.

📻 BBC Radio Nottingham, Derby and Leicester
🗓️ Sunday 1st November
⏰ 1:15pm

Please tune in, give it a listen and share this post to help spread the word! 💙

#AutismAwareness #Neurodiversity #ChildrensBooks #BBCNottingham #autismacceptance by @storiesbybenjaminjackson

The scariest mask isn't on Halloween. 🎃

Tonight's masks come off at bedtime. Some children wear a quieter one every school day, the one that says I'm fine.

My Mask: The Long List is for the grown-ups who notice. Out now with Pegasus.

📚 Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/0dbBI4DM
📖 Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-mask/benjamin-jackson/9781805715894

Happy Halloween. 💙

Cover and character artwork from My Mask: The Long List by Benjamin Jackson, used with permission from Pegasus Publishers.

#MyMaskTheLongList #Halloween #HappyHalloween #AutismMasking #PictureBooks by @storiesbybenjaminjackson