When readers open a Jessica Owers book, they step into a world where journalism meets literary precision, where the history of horse racing becomes something profoundly human and beautifully told. The Australian author and journalist, best known for Peter Pan, Shannon, and her latest release, Magic Millions, has built a reputation for turning niche stories into compelling narrative nonfiction.
Born in Cork, Ireland, and raised between Sydney, Ireland, and Scotland, Jessica Owers earned a combined Honors degree in Environmental Science and Media Journalism from the University of Stirling. That unique foundation in research and communication shaped her signature approach, blending investigative depth with emotional storytelling. Drawing on her years in racing journalism, Owers transforms the sport’s significant figures and forgotten moments into vivid, human-centered stories of ambition, endurance, and legacy.
In our recent interview, Jessica Owers reflected on her journey from early bylines to becoming one of Australia’s most respected voices in narrative nonfiction, and on what it truly takes to write stories that last.
A Writer Born to Write
“I was always a writer,” Jessica Owers says simply. Her first byline appeared when she was seven, and the thrill of seeing her name in print never faded. From that moment, the path was set: journalism first, authorship next.
“Being an author was, as I grew up, the holy grail,” she recalls. “Journalism fed the appetite, but it was in publishing books that I really felt like myself.”
This early calling has shaped not only her career but her approach to storytelling, one defined by authenticity, craft, and commitment to the written word.
The Influences That Shaped Jessica Owers
Before writing her first biography, Jessica Owers immersed herself in the best of sports literature, names like Bill Nack’s Secretariat and Wild Ride: The Rise and Fall of Calumet Farm.
But it was two particular books that turned inspiration into action: Stephen King’s On Writing and Alison Baverstock’s Is There a Book in You?
Both, she says, “forced me to be both inspired and realistic about my first manuscript,” which led directly to her debut publishing contract with Penguin Random House.
The Discipline Behind the Craft
Jessica Owers is refreshingly honest about the realities of authorship, especially in nonfiction. “There are few sporting authors who could write books for a living and survive,” she admits.
Her process, however, is anything but casual. She writes her entire manuscripts in Microsoft Word, saving them to traditional desktop folders. While she has started experimenting with AI transcription tools for journalism, she keeps her book manuscripts old-school: structured, disciplined, and human.
Deadlines, too, are non-negotiable. “I submitted all three of my books on deadline,” she says. “When you demonstrate that level of professionalism to a top-shelf publisher, it will come back to you.”
It’s this professional integrity that has earned her a trusted relationship with Penguin Random House, three books deep, with the latest, Magic Millions, released in hardcover, audiobook (narrated by Owers herself), and eBook across Australia and New Zealand.
Motivation in the Hard Moments
Every author knows the slog, those long, research-heavy stretches where the joy of writing turns into endurance. For Owers, the solution came through a clever bit of self-coaching:
“I would interview myself while out walking the dog,” she says. “I’d ask questions as if I were on a radio interview, especially about the section I was working on. It reminded me why I was writing it and what I’d say later when the book was out in the world.”
That mental shift, focusing on the finished book instead of the unfinished chapter, kept her moving forward.
On AI and the Future of Publishing
Jessica Owers doesn’t shy away from the conversation around AI in publishing, but she’s clear about boundaries.
“It’s with reluctance that most authors admit AI is coming in hard and fast,” she says. “No software can replace a wordsmith.”
She acknowledges AI’s usefulness in design and production, where cost and time often weigh heavily on authors and publishers alike, but she’s cautious about relying on it for editorial precision:
“Eventually, AI might be just as sharp as the human eye and her red pen, but not yet.”
Legacy and Lessons for Writers
Asked what she hopes to leave behind, Jessica Owers answers simply yet poignantly:
“A story told beautifully.”
Not the most obvious story, not the easiest one, but the high-hanging fruit, those overlooked corners of culture that deserve a narrative spotlight.
Her latest book, Magic Millions, exemplifies that philosophy. What began as a biography of a Queensland auction house evolved into a sweeping look at the business and cultural forces that reshaped Australian horse racing.
“It matured me as an author,” she says. “Because of how far this book kicked me out of my comfort zone, I feel like I could write anything now.”
Key Takeaways for Writers
Jessica Owers’ career offers a blueprint for authors navigating the intersection of journalism, nonfiction, and publishing:
- Professionalism matters. Meeting deadlines and maintaining integrity builds long-term relationships with publishers.
- Discipline is creative fuel. Simplicity in tools can support clarity in storytelling.
- Stay grounded in purpose. Reconnect with your “why” when writing gets hard.
- Write what others overlook. True storytelling finds beauty in the unexpected.
Final Word
Jessica Owers reminds us that excellent writing isn’t about speed or shortcuts, it’s about patience, precision, and faith in the story’s worth. Whether you’re writing sports nonfiction or literary fiction, her lesson holds true: authenticity and craft always outlast trends.
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