Austlit

Janice Madden was born in Crewe, Cheshire, England. She spent her childhood and education in Cheshire, and trained as a Secondary teacher. She worked for many years as a teacher and co-ordinator specialising in English literature, creative writing and drama while teaching in various parts of England until 1987, when she migrated to South Australia. Since coming to S.A. she has specialised as a teacher of English as a Second Language, especially with New Arrivals to Australia.

Madden has written three collections of short stories, a biography and a novel, The Price, based on the story of Madden's aunt, Evelyn Madden, who was murdered in New Zealand in 1935. Her death was a famous case in New Zealand's criminal history as her murderer was the last person to be hanged in New Zealand. Madden spent seventeen years researching and writing The Price.