Jesse Blackadder is an award-winning Australian novelist and screenwriter known for her evocative storytelling centered on landscapes, adventurous women, and extreme environments. Her works include "In the Blink of an Eye" (published as "Sixty Seconds" in Australia), a novel inspired by her childhood experience of losing her sister in a swimming pool. She also penned "Chasing the Light," a historical fiction novel based on the first women to reach Antarctica, and "The Raven's Heart," which emerged from her research into the origins of her surname. Her debut novel, "After the Party," was named among Australian Book Review's all-time favorite Australian novels in 2010.
Blackadder's writing often explores themes of resilience and discovery, fueled by her firsthand research in remote locations. She is a two-time recipient of the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship, which enabled her to live at Mawson Station while developing a television series and junior novel series set in Antarctica. Her fascination with cold places also led her to write "Chasing the Light" after traveling to Antarctica in 2011. Additionally, she has held residencies in Alaska, the Australian outback, and Byron Bay, further enriching her literary perspective.
Educated with a Doctor of Creative Arts from the University of Western Sydney, Blackadder has been a fellow at Varuna The Writers' House multiple times. Originally from Sydney, she now resides near Byron Bay, continuing to craft stories that blend historical depth with emotional intensity. Her forthcoming projects reflect her enduring commitment to narratives set in some of the world's most challenging environments.