Jesse Blackadder facts for kids
Jesse Blackadder (born June 1964, died June 10, 2020) was a talented Australian writer. She wrote many stories and books for both children and adults. Her book, The Raven's Heart, won important literary awards in 2013. Jesse was also the first woman to receive two special Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowships. These fellowships allowed her to visit Antarctica and write about her amazing experiences there.
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About Jesse's Life
Jesse Blackadder grew up in Sydney, Australia. She studied at the University of Technology and later earned two advanced degrees from Western Sydney University. A difficult experience from her childhood, when she was 12, deeply influenced her life and writing. She lived in Byron Bay, New South Wales, with her partner Andi for many years. Jesse passed away in Byron Bay on June 10, 2020, after battling pancreatic cancer.
Jesse's Writing Career
Jesse Blackadder's first novel was After the Party (2005). It was listed as one of Australia's favorite novels of the 21st century.
The Raven's Heart
Her second novel was The Raven's Heart: A Story of a Quest, a Castle and Mary Queen of Scots (2011). This book is historical fiction. Jesse wrote it partly because people often asked if she was related to Rowan Atkinson. He created the TV show Blackadder. The Raven's Heart won the Benjamin Franklin House annual literary prize. It also won Golden Crown Literary Society awards in 2013.
Adventures in Antarctica
In 2011, Jesse received an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship. This special award allowed her to visit Davis Station in Antarctica for six weeks. She used her research from this trip for her Doctorate degree. This led to her historical novel, Chasing the Light (2013). This book is about Ingrid Christensen, the first woman to see Antarctica. It also tells about the women who traveled with her.
The trip also inspired a children's book called Stay: The Last Dog in Antarctica (2013). This book features Stay, a special fibreglass guide dog. Stay kept Jesse company during her field trips in Antarctica.
Writing About Life's Challenges
Jesse had a manuscript about a childhood experience. She later used this to write the novel Sixty Seconds (2017). This book explores feelings of sadness and responsibility. It looks at how families cope with difficult situations. The book was published in the United States as In the Blink of an Eye in 2019.
More Antarctic Adventures
In 2018, Jesse received another Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship. This time, she won it with screenwriter Jane Allen. They visited Mawson Station in Antarctica from November 2018 to February 2019. During this trip, they started writing an adventure novel for young readers. They also planned a TV series about life at an Antarctic research station. These projects were still being developed when Jesse passed away.
Journalism and Other Works
As a journalist, Jesse Blackadder wrote many articles. Her article "The first woman and the last dog in Antarctica" won an award in 2012. She also wrote a lot about farming and protecting the environment.
Her book Frankie, co-written with Laura Bloom, was shortlisted for the 2019 Children's Peace Literature Award.
Jesse Blackadder's Books
Books for Adults
- After the Party (2005)
- The Raven's Heart: A Story of a Quest, a Castle and Mary Queen of Scots (2011)
- Chasing the Light (2013)
- Sixty Seconds (2017) – Published as In the Blink of an Eye (2019) in the USA
Books for Children
- Dexter: The Courageous Koala (2015)
- Paruku: The Desert Brumby (2014)
- Stay: The Last Dog in Antarctica (2013)
- Frankie (Dream Riders #1) (2019) – written with Laura Bloom
- Storm (Dream Riders #2) (2019) – written with Laura Bloom
