Elise Blackwell is an American novelist and writer. She is the author of five novels, as well as numerous short stories and essays.[1] Her books have been translated into five languages, adapted for the stage, and served as the inspiration for the song "When the War Came" by The Decemberists.[2] She is host and organizer of the literary series The Open Book at the University of South Carolina, where she also teaches.[3] In 2019, she was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors.[4]