Ethan Knight — Author

Ethan is a 19-year-old author who brings a rare and heartfelt perspective to the topic of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in his debut book — written when he was just 18.

Struggling with learning and speech difficulties in early childhood, Ethan was unable to read until the age of ten. His journey to becoming an author has been shaped by perseverance, resilience, and a deep commitment to sharing his lived experience.

Having overcome challenges that once made everyday communication difficult, Ethan has written a book that offers genuine insight into the realities of life with PDA. Through his words, he aims to help others better understand the unique struggles — and strengths — of people like him.

Ethan’s story is a powerful reminder that with determination, even the steepest obstacles can be transformed into opportunities to create change and foster understanding.

When it comes to challenging the myths about autism and PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), brothers Callum and Ethan Knight aren't just speaking out — they're writing their way into hearts and minds.

Callum's book, The Secrets of My Spectrum, has already reached thousands, while Ethan's brand-new book, The PDA Effect, is now available to pre-order from Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

We sat down for a quick interview with Callum and Ethan to hear a little more about their journey:

How did it feel to write about your own experiences?
Ethan: "I was nervous about it because I always worry about the kind of feedback I'll get and whether I've been able to explain myself well enough to make a difference."
Callum: "I was hoping I could help autism generally be better understood."

What's one myth you really wanted to set straight?
Ethan: "That PDA is neurological, not behavioural — it has nothing to do with parenting or even behaviour. It's a reaction I can't control."
Callum: "The biggest myth for me was that autistic people don't have empathy."

What would you say to another teenager who feels alone because of their autism or PDA?
Ethan: "Don't give up. If, like me, you struggle to express your feelings in words, you're not alone."
Callum: "I would tell them that although their feelings are valid, they aren't alone in their struggles. We are all finding ourselves lost and unsure where to turn at times, but it's important to reach out whenever you can to people you trust."

What was the most challenging part about writing your book, and what was the best part?
Ethan: "The hardest part was working out how to express myself and the insecurity of not knowing whether I was making any sense to people who don't understand what PDA feels like. The best part was when I saw the book for the first time — it felt surreal knowing that I wrote it."
Callum: "I didn't really find the writing hard because I find it easier to express myself than Ethan does. The best part was finding out that it had become a bestseller and people were finding it helpful — I didn't think that would happen, so it was a huge shock, but a really good one."

If you could sum up the message of your book in one sentence, what would it be?
Ethan: "It's a book that hopefully will help people understand and accept that PDA isn't a choice."
Callum: "Don't be hard on yourself — just do the best you can day to day and don't compare yourself to other kids your age because we're all on a different path, and there are so many different ways to get there."

Through their honesty, strength, and hope, Callum and Ethan are helping to rewrite the story around autism and PDA — one page, one heart, and one conversation at a time.