Show Us Who You Are: Interview with ND author Elle McNicoll

Show Us Who You Are is the second novel from award-winning neurodivergent author Elle McNicoll. Set in the future, it combines sci-fi concepts and neurodivergent representation, into an amazing story for middle grade readers (and beyond!).
If you like a story that's a cross between Black Mirror, Gillian Cross and arguing in an online autism group about person-first language... this one's for you!
Watch my interview with Elle about A Kind of Spark from last year: • A Kind of Spark: autho...
Affiliates links to purchase:
UK orders:
Show Us Who You Are: uk.bookshop.org/a/3373/978191...
A Kind of Spark: uk.bookshop.org/a/3373/978191...
US orders:
A Kind of Spark PREORDER: bookshop.org/a/16677/97805933...
#ShowUsWhoYouAre #ElleMcNicoll

[@YoSamdySam]

Thanks to the wonderful Elle McNicoll for this interview!

[@LELIE-]

During High School, I was forced to read books that I had no interest in, so I slowly started to hate reading. And I have been hesitant to start again. But I bought A Kind of Spark after your interview with Elle last time, and I really loved that book. I finished it within a day. For me, that was quite the accomplishment. I just couldn't stop reading. :) I pre-ordered Show Us Who You Are, but it hasn’t arrived yet (since I’m not in England). But I can’t wait to read that one too. I’ve also followed Elle’s lockdown writing class the last couple of weeks. I’ve taken notes, even though I don’t have any book ideas, hahaha. But maybe someday in the future? So thank you for introducing me to a writer that made me enjoy reading a book again.

[@HAlC-up4hm]

I'm actually crying as I write this, but having a female ASD protagonist is incredible. Grief is hard enough, but not being able to recognize and describe your emotions well just adds to the difficulty. I was born in 1990 and like many women I didn't get a diagnosis until after college despite significant challenges. The closest thing I had to representation was Ella in Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. She was a unique girl who didn't fit in because an uncontrollable force (technically curse...the analogy isn't 100%) made her behave is weird ways and she couldn't tell people why. Ella Enchanted is my security blanket (movie is a certifiable train wreck) and I've loved it since I was 9, but I didn't understand why it was so important to me until I was an adult. Having access to representation and language as a kid could have made a huge difference, and now these books get to be that. Thank you

[@helenm1085]

This was also one of my favourite books as a kid. How nice to be reminded of it

[@jeanetterios7337]

OMG I love this! My daughter was diagnosed a few months ago! And I’ve wanted to build a library of books with autistic characters as well as books written by authors on the spectrum! I can’t wait to have these available in the US 💓

[@coopersy]

Hearing her talk about school being different in the 90’s made me think about how school was different in the 1960’s... My teachers did protect me a little bit from the bullying but they more unknowingly taught me to mask which allowed me to be minimally socially acceptable while finding every opportunity to hide, and becoming an expert in hiding. When hiding was unsuccessful I was expert in what to say to make the interaction as short as possible, so I could get back to my books and safe cave of a room... I still default to this.

[@seejendo3290]

Wonderful!! Pre-ordered A kind of Spark on Audible and I’ll pick up this one when it’s audiobook too! Books like this are so important to have for kids - especially girls! Brandon Sanderson is another amazing fantasy author (who’s also wildly prolific if you want binge reads). Many many neurodivergent male and female characters! Great work Sam - I’m a huge fan ☺️

[@bumblebeebazaar4018]

We need more of this in America

[@hannahr5643]

Great interview! I just finished reading the book today (literally half an hour ago), only started reading it yesterday but just whizzed right through it which could be to do with the reading age but honestly was mostly down to the fact that it was just So Good! So many good quotes, and the final chapter really made me tear up (it was the "you're my best friend" part). Anyway great interview and I can't wait for Elle's next book (and Sam's next interview of her) lol

[@ceilinh6004]

I'll have a long wait for this one (A Kind of Spark is not yet available in my country) but I am looking forward to it. I adore science fiction, and my kids are about the right age for these books.

[@JRVan-ez4yi]

Love the headphones, I have similar ones in purple.

[@statickaeder29]

You chose to write Science Fiction because it's excellent (no opinions, here), and while I realize that you may have heard this, oh, honey, got your diagnosis when you were nine? I got mine 3 years ago, when I was 40. - To clarify - I am Very Glad for you that you got your diagnosis so early, and that you didn't go through all that I did. Go you! Also, I am very happy for you in your authorship success - may you write many a wonderful thing!

[@bumblebeebazaar4018]

I hope you've been doing well. It's been a wheel-o of a roller coaster here in Florida. Good to see you and your guests. I have needed to extract myself from my norm of the fam. It's been a rare form of odd for sure. still trying to work ongoing digital with my characteristics.... love you and thank you for helping me to be me

[@sophiegibbons2522]

Loved this! I'm obsessed with both books. Thank you Elle and Sam ❤️

[@garyfrancis5015]

Grief, like in Johnny Cash version of hurt, Everyone I know goes away in the end, that's describes the sadness of grief.

[@annalisaely4298]

I just got Show Us in the mail and I'm so excited to start it!

[@theartisticautist3123]

I love the topics she discusses in her books and I will definitely give those books to my kids 😊

[@SueLyons1]

fantastic interview 👏👏👏

[@TheOakleysworld]

Elle is super cool! Great interview Sam

[@francescoleman-williams911]

I’ve not read the book(s) but if adults aren’t able to talk about certain topics, perhaps they need to be in kids books to help them talk about them... 💜

[@SueLyons1]

' grieving... talking about it is so much better than not '

[@lynettebishop6295]

OMG! I need those kitty headphones in my life, like now!! They are adorable!

[@ygmath]

I just finally watched this and I'm super confused. I'm in the US and I preordered "A kind of spark", but there's also a version of "A kind of spark" that's currently available. I don't understand what that means.

[@xwatersoulx]

Amazing Interview! I hope the books become available in Canada soon too 💜 Just curious: where are your headphones from? They're so cute!

[@YoSamdySam]

They are Razer

[@gennylittletreats148]

I want to read Elle's books so much. What about Canada?

[@synneflstad7057]

Is there a audio book of the books? 😍

[@smileythesnail5213]

Awww i live a kind of spark

[@SueLyons1]

' seeing someone walk through self-love and self-acceptance... and I thought I can do that too'

[@blpao]

Where did you get those cat ears headphones??

[@nunyabusiness4698]

CAT HEADPHONES!!!!

[@sophiekerr8964]

Is there a kindle edition?

[@YoSamdySam]

There definitely is for A Kind of Spark, not sure about this one yet. I'm sure it's coming though.

[@sophiekerr8964]

@@YoSamdySam thank you so much! And I hope you're feeling a bit better now that first trimester is done 😊

[@seejendo3290]

Preach - fellow autistic momma of toddlers here - hope you’re well!

[@VictorScrooge]

Hey, I just wanted to ask a quick, not really, question. How do you approach a fandom as a person with asperger? There is a huge gap between the fandom dwellers and the aspi. The conversationa normally don't go in favor of the Aspi. Mainly, I guess, because of perspective and perception of the subject matter. I am puzzled, lost and deeply annoyed tbh. 🤷‍♂️

[@bucket6487]

The term "asberger" is now incredibly outdated. Most countries have removed it as a diagnosis, people who would have previously have been diagnosed with asburgers are now simply diagnosed with Autism. It is being removed due to modern research into Autism and its commorbidities (there is lots of accessible information on this topic online) as well as the term asburgers link to the nazi eugenicist Hans Asburger. He was (from all the evidence gathered) a deplorable person with very skewed views on human rights and psycology. (Really sorry but I have absolutely no idea how to answer your actual question)

[@tracik1277]

Instant like for pink cat ears.

[@SueLyons1]

' confident on steroids ' 👍

[@SueLyons1]

' I write from my lens but I don't write from my life '

[@KrysBowbrick]

Books and I are not friends, I find reading difficult, I have even tried using a reading ruler. The only reason I don't like reading is because I struggle with it.

[@YoSamdySam]

Have you tried audio books?

[@KrysBowbrick]

None of the books I like have an audiobook available.

[@bucket6487]

Have you been assessed for Dyslexia and/or Visual issues? I was having similar problems and I now have a glasses prescription and a dyslexia diagnosis. I actually never considered either of these things before I was assessed. I thought my vision was perfect and that "I can't be dyslexic, I can read and use grammar" but it turns out I read much better on pink lol.

[@KrysBowbrick]

@@bucket6487 I wear glasses, but, haven't had a diagnosis of dyslexia or anything

[@bucket6487]

@@KrysBowbrick If you're having further issues despite your prescription I'd definitely recommend that you look into Dyslexia. I wish you luck, I know how annoying it is to not be able to read properly.

[@markvick6138]

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