Jessie Stephens Explained

Jessie Stephens
Birth Date:1990[1]

Jessie Stephens (born 21 November 1990)[1] is an Australian writer, editor, novellist, television presenter and podcast host. She is an executive editor for Mamamia's flagship podcast Mamamia Out Loud and co-hosts the show with Mia Freedman and Holly Wainwright.[2]

Stephens majored in Modern History and Gender Studies at the University of Sydney, and has a Master of Research.[3]

She joined the staff of Mamamia as an editorial assistant in 2015.[1]

Stephens has toured with her Mamamia Out Loud co-hosts as they present live shows in a similar format to the podcast to audiences around Australia.[4] They toured in 2018 (Tamworth, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Dubbo),[5] 2019 (Hobart, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide, Cairns, Orange, Geelong, Sydney),[6] 2022 (Orange, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne Sydney),[7] and 2024 (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney).[8] [9]

Stephens is also a regular presenter on television current affairs and talk show The Project.[10]

Books

Stephens is the author of two books published by Pan Australia: the non-fiction book Heartsick: Three Stories About Love And Loss, And What Happens In Between (2021)[11] and a novel, Something Bad is Going to Happen (2023).[12]

Heartsick was received very favourably. It was voted #8 in Booktopia's Favourite Australian Book (FAB) award for 2021[13] and was included in the top 101 recommended books for 2022 by major Australian bookseller Dymocks.[14] It was also shortlisted as general nonfiction book of the year at the Australian Book Industry Awards in 2022.[11] It was published internationally by Pan Macmillan in the UK[15] and by Henry Holt in the US.[16] Reviewer Rebecca Wu in Glam Adelaide highlighted Stephens' "wonderful skill of interweaving seemingly ordinary occasions of life in a way that tells a story without any drudgery. In fact, she makes it enticing."[17] Although Emily Paull's review in The AU Review was generally unfavourable, she acknowledged that "the ideas behind the book are strong, and that there is a need for more books which examine the not so happy endings in life, and don't hold romantic partnerships up to be the thing that completes us as humans."[18]

The enthusiastic reception of the book in the US led Sue Smethurst in The Australian to call Stephens "our [Australian literature's] next big thing".[19]

Something Bad is Going to Happen deals with themes of the mental health of its young protagonists. For this, it has been likened to "a modern-day Bell Jar",[20] and Alexandra Hill in The Australian called it "a very important new release."[21]

Personal life

Stephens' identical twin sister, Clare Stephens, also works for Mamamia.[1] [3] In 2023, Jessie married Luca Lavigne, son of Mamamia founder Mia Freedman.[22] [23] The couple's first child, Luna, was born later that year.[24]

Notes and References

  1. News: 'The interdependence isn't healthy': the twins navigating life, love – and the same workplace . Wood . Stephanie . 26 March 2021 . . 7 May 2024.
  2. Web site: Jessie Stephens: Executive Editor . Mamamia . 7 May 2024 .
  3. Web site: About . Thinkspo . 7 May 2024 .
  4. Hogan . Tamara . October 2019 . What Women Want . Duo . 155 . Ayr, Queensland . Burdekin Local News . 7 May 2024.
  5. Web site: Events . Mamamia Team . 7 September 2022 . Facebook . 7 May 2024 .
  6. Web site: Upcoming Events . . . Mamamia . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190801032203/https://www.mamamia.com.au/events/ . 2019-08-01.
  7. Web site: Buy your ticket to the Mamamia Out Loud Live tour. . Mamamia Team . 7 September 2022 . Mamamia . 7 May 2024 .
  8. Web site: Everything you need to know about our brand new live show. . Mamamia Team . 13 March 2024 . Mamamia . 7 May 2024 .
  9. Web site: Mamamia Out Loud LIVE . . . Mamamia Out Loud LIVE . Mamamia . 7 May 2024 .
  10. Web site: Jessie Stephens . Creative Representation . 7 May 2024 .
  11. Web site: Heartsick: Three Stories About Love And Loss, And What Happens In Between . Macmillan (Australia) . 7 May 2024 .
  12. Web site: Something Bad is Going to Happen . Macmillan (Australia) . 7 May 2024 .
  13. Web site: Nat's the way to do it! Social media sensation Nat's What I Reckon wins Booktopia's Favourite Australian Book Award . Booktopia . 7 May 2024 .
  14. Web site: TOP 101 2022 . Dymocks . 7 May 2024 .
  15. Web site: Heartsick: Three Stories About Love And Loss, And What Happens In Between . Macmillan (UK) . 7 May 2024 .
  16. Web site: Heartsick: Three Stories About Love And Loss, And What Happens In Between . Macmillan (US) . 7 May 2024 .
  17. News: Book Review: Heartsick, by Jessie Stephens . Wu . Rebecca . 14 January 2022 . Glam Adelaide. 7 May 2024.
  18. News: Book Review: Heartsick offers hope to the heartbroken but not much in the way of healing . Paull . Emily . 11 May 2021 . The AU Review. 7 May 2024.
  19. News: Heartsick author Jessie Stephens is our next big thing . Smethurst . Sue . 17 September 2021 . The Australian . 7 May 2024.
  20. Web site: Jessie Stephens . Q+A . . 7 May 2024 .
  21. News: Jessie Stephens’s new book Something Bad is Going to Happen examines the mental health struggles of young Australians . Hill . Alexandra . 1 September 2023 . The Australian . 7 May 2024.
  22. Web site: My boss is about to become my mother-in-law. So I wrote a list of 7 rules for her to follow. . Jessie Stephens . 17 November 2022 . Mamamia . 7 May 2024 .
  23. Web site: 'I got married at 6 months pregnant. Here's what I wish someone told me.' . Jessie Stephens . 14 June 2023 . Mamamia . 7 May 2024 .
  24. Web site: JESSIE STEPHENS: Why it’s so hard to tell the truth, the whole truth, about the first six weeks. . Jessie Stephens . 17 August 2023 . Mamamia . 7 May 2024 .