Michelle Dorothy Riksman has survived fire, flood, and iris melanoma. The Australian-born author, photographer, and autism advocate is known for her heartfelt exploration of grief and neurodivergence. As analytical as she is creative, writing and photography became instinctual. With personability and wit, Michelle expresses the inexpressible in subtle and explicit ways, a visceral descriptor of her inner self. Michelle's unparalleled debut memoir, inner riches – an autistic woman's story of love & motherloss published in 2019, delves into her profound bond with her mother, the intense grief she experienced following her mother's sudden death, how she coped and later healed. The book is a gift for grieving people who need solace in the moment and hope for the future. The narrative also chronicles her late-in-life autism diagnosis, offering readers a unique perspective on how autistic individuals process loss and emotion. The book has been praised for its emotional depth and candid storytelling, resonating with autistic and neurotypical audiences.

 

Beyond her memoir, Michelle has contributed poetry to the anthology Love IS, written by people of the world for people of the world - square-shaped circles - a home for round pegs. Her photography has been featured in publications such as Dog Breeds of Australia, Titles of the Champions, and Showcase of Champions, and was featured twice in the Dog Breeds of Australia Calendar.

​

Michelle founded Autistic Women Everywhere (AWE) in 2019, a global initiative to celebrate women's lives on the spectrum. She lives in NSW with her spouse, Sonia, and their cats, William and Sidney.