{{Short description|Scottish children's writer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}{{Use Scottish English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox writer |name = Elle McNicoll |image = Elle McNicoll 20241203.jpg |caption = McNicoll, in Waterstones, Kensington, 2024 |birth_name = Elle McNicoll |birth_date = 5 October 1992 |birth_place = Scotland |death_date = |death_place = |resting_place = |occupation = Children's Author, screenwriter |language = English |education = |alma_mater = University College London |period = |genre = |subject = |movement = |notableworks = ''A Kind of Spark''<br />''Show Us Who You Are'' |spouse = |children = |relatives = |awards = 2021 Waterstones Children's Book Prize<br />2021 Blue Peter Book Award |years_active = 2020-present |website = |residence = }}
'''Elle McNicoll''' (born 5 October 1992) is a Scottish children's literature writer. ''The Guardian'' described her as "undoubtedly an outstanding new talent in children's books [who] will inspire readers young and old for generations to come".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/01/waterstones-prize-winner-elle-mcnicoll-i-never-saw-autistic-girls-in-books|title=Waterstones prize winner Elle McNicoll: 'I never saw autistic girls in books'|website=TheGuardian.com|date=July 2021}}</ref>
==Biography== McNicoll's debut novel, ''A Kind of Spark'' (2020), follows the efforts of an autistic<ref>{{cite web|last1=McNicoll|first1=Elle|title="I write about anything and everything, but I always write about neurodiversity": Elle McNicoll on being a neurodivergent author|url=https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2020/july/elle-mcnicoll-on-being-a-neurodivergent-author/|website=BookTrust|access-date=29 June 2021|date=6 July 2020}}</ref> eleven-year-old girl, Addie, to establish a memorial to the witch trials in her Scottish hometown. McNicoll is autistic herself.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McNicoll|first1=Elle|title=Stories from the Spectrum: Elle McNicoll|url=https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/stories/stories-from-the-spectrum-elle-mcnicoll|website=National Autistic Society|access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref> The book was children's book of the week in ''The Times'' and ''The Sunday Times'',<ref>Alex O'Connell, [https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/a-kind-of-spark-by-elle-mcnicoll-review-wsxwbxs36 Children's Book of the Week: A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll], ''The Times'', 6 June 2020. Accessed 7 June 2020.</ref><ref>Nicolette Jones, [https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/childrens-book-of-the-week-a-kind-of-spark-by-elle-mcnicoll-6g63q0qm7 Children's book of the week: A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll], ''Sunday Times'', 7 June 2020. Accessed 7 June 2020.</ref> and won both the Overall and Younger Fiction prizes at the 2021 Waterstones Children's Book Prize.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-07-02|title='A Kind of Spark' wins Waterstones Children's Book Prize|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/07/02/189112/a-kind-of-spark-wins-waterstones-childrens-book-prize/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191506/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/07/02/189112/a-kind-of-spark-wins-waterstones-childrens-book-prize/|archive-date=2021-07-09}}</ref> It also won the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story, voted for by children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/awards-and-prizes/current-prizes/blue-peter-book-awards/#!?sortOption=AtoZ&pageNo=1&pageSize=16|title=Blue Peter Book Awards 2022|access-date=13 July 2021|archive-date=14 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814133754/https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/awards-and-prizes/current-prizes/blue-peter-book-awards/#!?sortOption=AtoZ&pageNo=1&pageSize=16|url-status=dead}}</ref> McNicoll was nominated for the Branford Boase Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/getten-mcnicoll-and-pearson-feature-branford-boase-shortlist-1257224|title = Getten, McNicoll, Mann and Pearson feature on Branford Boase shortlist | the Bookseller}}</ref> and the Carnegie Medal. Her debut was named Overall Book of the Year by Blackwell's, beating titles in the Adult Market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/mcnicoll-bags-blackwells-book-year-1232502|title = McNicoll bags Blackwell's Book of the Year | the Bookseller}}</ref> McNicoll was awarded an honour by the Schneider Family Book Award in 2022 for the US edition of ''A Kind of Spark''. It was listed as number 75 in The 100 Greatest Children's Books of All Time by the BBC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230522-the-100-greatest-childrens-books-of-all-time|title=The 100 greatest children's books of all time|website=www.bbc.com}}</ref>
Her second novel, ''Show Us Who You Are'', was published in March, 2021, and was Children's Book of the Week in ''The Times''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/show-us-who-you-are-by-elle-mcnicoll-review-w8sz7gl5j|title = Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll review — tween boy-meets-girl love story meets sci-fi horror|last1 = O'Connell|first1 = Alex}}</ref> It was also the Children's Book of the Month, as chosen by ''Blackwell's''.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211208/Sw9v7qdk4Fw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210713221710/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw9v7qdk4Fw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw9v7qdk4Fw|title = Blackwell's Children's Book of the Month, March 2021 - Show Us Who You Are|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was nominated for Best Children's Fiction in the 2021 Books Are My Bag Awards, and McNicoll was also nominated for Best Breakthrough Author.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/rashford-sethi-and-mcanulty-books-are-my-bag-readers-awards-shortlists-1282829|title=Rashford, Sethi and McAnulty on Books Are My Bag Readers Awards shortlists}}</ref>
Her third novel, ''Like a Charm'', was published in February 2022 by Knights Of and was also Children's Book of the Week in ''The Times'',<ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Connell|first=Alex|title=Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll review — a wildly imaginative world of secrets and spells|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/like-a-charm-review-f7wmthcsr|access-date=2022-12-19|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> as well as being reviewed as "another fiercely gripping, superbly original story" by ''The Guardian''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-25|title=Children's and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/feb/25/childrens-and-teens-roundup-the-best-new-picture-books-and-novels|access-date=2022-12-19|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In 2022 McNicoll also wrote a story as part of the crime anthology ''The Very Merry Murder Club''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-16|title=I Will Be Writing a Neurodivergent Detective Story for Crime Anthology {{!}} Blog {{!}} Elle McNicoll|url=https://ellemcnicoll.com/blog/i-will-be-writing-a-neurodivergent-detective-story-for-crime-anthology|access-date=2022-12-19|website=I Will Be Writing a Neurodivergent Detective Story for Crime Anthology {{!}} Blog {{!}} Elle McNicoll|language=en}}</ref> edited by Serena Patel and Robin Stevens.
''A Kind of Spark'' was optioned for a television series from CBBC, with McNicoll acting as co-head writer on the programme.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC orders 'A Kind Of Spark' adaptation from Canada's 9 Story Media|url=https://tbivision.com/2021/10/12/bbc-orders-a-kind-of-spark-adaptation-from-canadas-9-story-media/|access-date=March 2, 2022|work=TBI Vision|date=October 12, 2021}}</ref> It premiered on BBC iPlayer in the UK on 31 March 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://9story.com/a-kind-of-spark-to-premiere-on-bbc-iplayer-and-cbbc/|title=A Kind of Spark to premiere on BBC iPlayer, CBBC, BYUtv and CBC!|date=24 March 2023}}</ref> In 2023, Macmillan won a five-publisher auction for the rights to two of McNicoll's young adult novels, ''Some Like it Cold'' (2024) and a novel to published in 2025.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Lauren|title=Macmillan Children's Books triumphs in five-way auction for award-winning McNicoll's YA debut|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/macmillan-childrens-books-triumphs-in-five-way-auction-for-award-winning-mcnicolls-ya-debut|access-date=1 October 2024|work=The Bookseller|date=February 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hill|first1=Amelia|title=Books with neurodivergent characters mark new chapter for publishers|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/14/books-with-neurodivergent-characters-mark-new-chapter-for-publishers|access-date=1 October 2024|work=The Guardian|date=14 June 2023}}</ref>
McNicoll also wrote and recorded an essay for BBC Radio 3's ''The Essay''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl8t/2023/w39|title=BBC Radio 3 - Schedules, 25 September - 1 October 2023}}</ref> The subject was Nora Ephron, a heroine of McNicoll's.
''Keedie'', the prequel to ''A Kind of Spark'', was published in 2024. In an episode of ''In the Reading Corner'', McNicoll talked about her nuanced exploration of teenage bullying and the stereotyping of neurodivergent characters.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2024-06-22|title=Elle McNicoll: Keedie - Just Imagine|url=https://justimagine.co.uk/podcast/elle-mcnicoll-keedie/|access-date=2024-06-22|website=Just Imagine - In The Reading Corner podcast|language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== McNicoll was born and raised in Scotland<ref name=":0" /> and currently lives in London.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sessions Details|url=https://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en-gb/whats-on/seminar-programme/programme/session-details.3614.214518.Adapting+a+Bestseller%253A+Elle+McNicoll+on+A+Kind+of+Spark.html|access-date=2024-12-04|website=www.londonbookfair.co.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref> She earned a master's degree in publishing from University College London in 2019, with her dissertation being on why children’s publishing needs more neurodiversity.<ref>{{Cite web|last=UCL|date=2023-05-02|title=Award-winning book by UCL alumna made into TV series|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/alumni/news/2023/may/award-winning-book-ucl-alumna-made-tv-series|access-date=2024-12-04|website=UCL Alumni|language=en}}</ref>
==Advocacy== McNicoll has been an outspoken advocate for better representations of neurodiversity in publishing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2020/july/elle-mcnicoll-on-being-a-neurodivergent-author/|title = Elle McNicoll on being a neurodivergent author | BookTrust}}</ref> She has been credited with kickstarting a revolution in publishers' attitudes to neurodiverse characters.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hill|first=Amelia|date=2023-06-14|title=Books with neurodivergent characters mark new chapter for publishers|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/14/books-with-neurodivergent-characters-mark-new-chapter-for-publishers|access-date=2024-03-31|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In 2022, McNicoll established The Adrien Prize, a prize for traditionally published children's books with a disabled lead character.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prizes for disabled writers: Four awards celebrating disability|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/features/prizes-for-disabled-writers-four-awards-celebrating-disability|access-date=2022-12-19|website=The Bookseller|language=En}}</ref> The longlist for The Adrien Prize 2022 was announced on Twitter and included ''The Night the Moon Went Out'' by Samantha Baines, ''The Secret of Haven Point'' by Lisette Auton, ''A Flash of Fireflies'' by Aisha Bushby, ''Wilder Than Midnight'' by Cerrie Burnell, ''The Great Fox Illusion'' by Justyn Edwards and ''The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks'' by Emily Kenny.<ref>{{Cite web|title= The Adrien Prize|url=https://twitter.com/adrienprize/status/1587491241947709441|access-date=2022-12-19|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref>
==Works== ===Novels=== * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=A Kind of Spark|publisher=Knights Of|location=London|year=2020}} * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Show Us Who You Are|publisher=Knights Of|location=London|year=2021}} * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Like a Charm|publisher=Knights Of|location=London|year=2022}} * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Like a Curse|publisher=Knights Of|location=London|year=2023}} * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Keedie|publisher=Knights Of|year=2024}} * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Some Like It Cold|publisher=Wednesday Books|year=2024}} * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Wish You Were Her|publisher=First Ink|year=2025}} * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Role Model|publisher=Knights Of|year=2025}} * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Unapologetic Love Story|publisher=Macmillan|year=2026}}
===Scripts=== * ''A Kind of Spark'', 2023.
===Short stories=== * {{cite book|last=McNicoll|first=Elle|author-mask=2|title=Matilda and the Naughty List, Charlie and the Christmas Factory|publisher=Puffin Books|year=2024}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://ellemcnicoll.com/ Official website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McNicoll, Elle}} Category:Living people Category:Alumni of University College London Category:Scottish children's writers Category:British women children's writers Category:British women television writers Category:British women science fiction and fantasy writers Category:21st-century Scottish women writers Category:Autistic writers Category:1992 births Category:Scottish autistic people