Jessica Townsend (born 18 April 1985 in Caloundra, Queensland) is an Australian author known for the children's fantasy novel series, The Nevermoor series.[1][2]
Jessica Townsend | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jessica Townsend April 18, 1985 Caloundra, Queensland, Australia |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Genre | |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Notable works | |
Her debut novel Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow won the Book of the Year Award at the Australian Book Industry Awards,[3] and was shortlisted for the 2019 NSW Premier's Literary Awards' Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature.[4] At the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, Nevermoor won both the Premier's Award for best overall published work and the Children's Award.[5] It also won the 2018 Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Younger Fiction.[6] Film rights to Nevermoor were sold to 20th Century Fox in 2016. Screenwriter Drew Goddard has been selected to adapt the screenplay.[7]
Biography
editJessica Townsend grew up in Queensland, Australia. She wrote her first story at the age of 7, and it was published in a local library newsletter.[8] Townsend began writing what would become the first Nevermoor book the year she left high school.[1] She worked as a copywriter for 8 years[9] and at Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo for 5 years, including as an editor of its children's magazine Crikey![8] She moved to London at age 22 and has lived off and on in Queensland and London for the last 10 years.[8] The sale of the Nevermoor books has allowed Townsend to become a full-time writer.[1]
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow was Townsend's first novel.[9] Interest in the publishing rights began at the 2016 Frankfurt Book Fair, and the rights were bid on by eight different publishing companies.[8] Townsend chose to sell the rights to Hachette as part of a six-figure three-book contract.[1] In 2019 the contract with Hachette was expanded for three more books.[10] Townsend has stated that she has written plots for nine books in the series.[8]
Literary Influences
editJessica Townsend has referenced several literary influences for her writing. Written influences include Little Women, which she's called her favorite book, The Baby-Sitters Club, His Dark Materials, Wicked, Tomorrow When the War Began,[8] No Gun for Asmir,[11] and the Harry Potter series.[1] Her work has been compared to that of J. K. Rowling,[12] and she has cited Rowling as a major influence.[8] Film influences include Willow and Return to Oz.[1]
Critics have also noted similarities between the world of Nevermoor and contemporary London.[8] In particular, Courage Square in the novels is inspired by Trafalgar Square[8] and the Wunderground is inspired by the London Underground.[1]
Works
editThe Nevermoor series
edit- Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (2017)
- Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (2018)
- Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow (2020)[13]
- Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Expected 2 April 2025)[14]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Morris, Linda (28 September 2017). "Nevermoor author Jessica Townsend moves into JK Rowling territory". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "Jessica Townsend Books". www.hachette.com.au. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Jefferson, Dee (4 May 2018). "Nevermoor by first-time novelist Jessica Townsend wins Book of the Year at Australian Book Industry Awards". ABC News. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ Perkins, Cathy (Summer 2019). "Excellence in Literature and History". SL Magazine. 12 (4): 52–55.
- ^ "Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature winners announced". Books+Publishing. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2018 | Waterstones". www.waterstones.com. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ McNary, Dave (23 October 2017). "Drew Goddard Producing 'Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow' for Fox". Variety. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jessica Townsend | 'Life is really silly and it's really serious' | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Jessica Townsend". The Bent Agency. 30 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ "HCG signs three new books in Townsend's Nevermoor series | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ "Nevermoor series author Jessica Townsend on crafting diverse characters, comparisons to JK Rowling". Firstpost. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ On, Thuy (4 January 2018). "Nevermoor review: Jessica Townsend and the appeal of children's fantasy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ "Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow: Nevermoor 3". Hachette Australia.
- ^ "Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow: Nevermoor 4". Hachette. 24 August 2021.
External links
edit- Jessica Townsend at Hachette Australia