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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]
Jessica 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]
Jessica 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]
The Nevermoor series
- 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]
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