Nell Stevens

Nell Stevens is remarkable. Her 2017 book, Bleaker House, detailed her decision to move to an empty island in the Falklands in order to try and write a novel. She failed – but the memoir she wrote instead went on to become a critical and commercial hit, described by Lena Dunham as her favourite book that year. She has followed it with Mrs Gaskell and me, another (sort-of) memoir, detailing a doomed love affair and Nell’s growing obsession with Elizabeth Gaskell, which has just come out in paperback. I love Nell’s books, they’re really funny and totally strange and brilliant. Here we chat about baring her soul in print, surviving on just 1,085-calories when on the island, her friendship with Lena Dunham, and why she is drawn to surreal situations. She also reveals the one piece of advice she’d give to any aspiring writer. Buy Mrs Gaskell & Me here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/mrs-gaskell-and-me/nell-stevens/9781509868186 Twitter: @aliceazania @Nell Stevens Instagram: @aliceazania @nellstevens Edited by Chelsey Moore