Just as fire destroys wood but hardens steel, a child's diagnosis of autism can either rip apart or strengthen a marriage. Calvin and Laura Wygant struggle to come to terms with their son Todd's new diagnosis and to keep their marriage intact.

This short story, written by the mother of a child with autism, depicts both the heartache experienced by parents of a newly-diagnosed child and the hope that endures. It is the author's goal that the tale should entertain, enlighten, and encourage both people who have family members on the spectrum and those who are simply curious about autism.

The Fires of Autism includes a bonus story. The Not-So-Great Escape occurs about a year after the events in main story. This humorous vignette demonstrates what happens when one momentarily forgets how literally children with autism might interpret what one says; it is based on an incident that the author had with her own son.

This is book one in the "Autism Chronicles" series.