Elle McNicoll is a contemporary British author known for her work in children's and young adult literature. She has gained recognition for her efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in literature. McNicoll is particularly noted for writing stories that feature neurodiverse characters, drawing from her own experiences as an autistic person. Her debut novel, "A Kind of Spark," published in 2020, received praise for its sensitive portrayal of an autistic protagonist. McNicoll's writing aims to foster understanding and empathy while highlighting the perspectives of marginalized individuals.
What books are on your bedside table?
Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald and I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron.
Which book or author do you always return to?
Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Nora Ephron. Malorie Blackman. Helen Hoang. Talia Hibbert. Lots of playwrights. Tony Kushner, Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen. I like Dorothy Parker.
What kind of reader were you as a child?
A very private one.
When working on a new project, how do you sift through competing ideas in order to move forward?
The ones that can't go away are usually the ones I tend to follow. The ones that insert themselves into daily life. It's very difficult as a novelist, because you know what would be commercial and in line with trends, it sometimes stares at you in the face, but I can never bring myself to write that way. I go where the nagging thought is.
What writing habit do you have that is impossible to shift? (e.g. a particular snack, writing hours, location, caffeine consumption etc.)
Diet Coke and cancelling plans.
The international literature festival berlin (ilb) has become essential to Berlin’s literary calendar. What do you connect with the city?
Incredible art. Diversity of thought. Fashion. My family's history. Books. The colour of gold. Amazing landmarks. Memorials.
I'll be the first in my family to visit in a very long time. I'm grateful to have been invited.
