My writing is occupied with characters, journeys, quests and challenges. I'm drawn to folklore and legends, well-known and little-known slices of history that have played an important role in defining our past. I enjoy sharing those stories and imaginatively reconstructing some of the curious characters and inspiring events that colour our history. 

When we think of Australian outlaws, Ned Kelly, Ben Hall and Thunderbolt spring to mind. However, women also left their mark on bushranging history. To survive and thrive in tough times, they had to be cunning and quick-witted, not to mention highly skilled at riding horses and shooting a rifle. The aim of The Legend of Jessie Hickman was to create a stand-out, non-fiction picture book, highlighting the little-known story of a free-spirited young girl who led a life of adventure, action and danger. The book pays tribute to the last bushranger, a formidable woman who lived outside society's norms.

Jessie Hickman's story is uniquely Australian. She grew up in a travelling bush circus and quickly became a skilled performer, a whip cracker and a crack shot. At age 14, she was a rough riding champion. After the circus closed, Jessie settled in the Wollemi Mountains region of New South Wales, where she overcame poverty and started her career as a cattle rustler. She used more than a dozen names but was best known as `The Lady Bushranger'. Police set traps to capture her, but she often gave them the slip with her superb horsemanship. At its heart, Jessie's story is about finding hope and a home when all seems lost.

Jessie Hickman was not known for blazing gunfights or robbing banks. Her story celebrates bravery, determination and highlights themes of overcoming fear, discovering hidden strengths, ingenuity and courage. The writer's task is to fossick for stories that connect readers of all ages to people and situations, so they can develop a passion for history through stories that inspire deeper study and learning. Our intention with The Legend of Jessie Hickman was to fill a gap in the market regarding the historical representation of women in picture books, where a strong female protagonist is missing from the Australian outlaw narrative.

Picture books colour in the facts and give readers a sense of atmosphere and excitement about bygone eras. Within the safe pages of a book, young people can develop an understanding of complex events, struggles and perspectives. Visual literacy plays a substantial role in historical interpretation. Illustrations add meaning to simple, understated text, setting up mood and tone. In The Legend of Jessie Hickman, the visual vibrancy of Frané Lessac's illustrations brings the charm of a travelling bush circus to life and provides a window into Jessie Hickman's early life and the reasons she later became a wanted outlaw.

To balance creative interpretation with historical authenticity, the Library was a vital source of research, providing access to photographs, maps, books, pamphlets, and newspaper articles via Trove. Archival photos and Jessie's prison mugshot were reprinted in the book. Advice received through Copies Direct and the Ask A Librarian online service was highly valued and a crucial resource that helped brush away the layers of time, capture the setting, enhance the narrative, and reconstruct the life and times of Australia's last bushranger - Elizabeth 'Jessie' Hickman.

About the author and illustrator

Mark Greenwood and Frané Lessac are a husband-and-wife team who have collaborated on many award-winning picture books. Their previous titles examining history and multicultural themes have been published and honoured internationally. Specific books tackling Australian bushranger legends include Ned Kelly and the Green Sash, a Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Book and winner of the West Australian Young Readers Award Hoffman Award. The Legend of Moondyne Joe was the winner of the West Australian Premier's Award for Children's Literature.