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199 ratings | 67 reviews | avg rating:4.26

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Jane Messer

Goodreads Author

Born

Melbourne, Australia

Website

http://janemesser.com/

Genre

Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir

Member Since

July 2013

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/janemesser

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I write fiction and creative nonfiction—novels, memoir, radio plays, and short stories.

My latest book, Raven Mother: War, Family and Inheritance (NewSouth Publishing, 2026), is a memoir that traces the entanglements of history, inheritance, and family across generations.

I’m a devoted reader of Australian and international literature, especially writing in translation, alongside a long-standing love of genre—YA, speculative fiction, and fantasy.

Teaching writing has been a central part of my life. I’ve worked with writers since the early 1990s, including many years leading Creative Writing at Macquarie University. I now mentor writers one-on-one and run masterclasses.

In 2025, I founded StorySALOON—a live show and podcast bringing Australian s ...more

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Combine Editions
Jane Messer’s books

Average rating: 3.59 · 158 ratings · 31 reviews · 7 distinct works • Similar authors

	Hopscotch 3.35 avg rating — 93 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Raven Mother: War, Family and Inheritance, a memoir 4.53 avg rating — 19 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Provenance 3.52 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2007 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bedlam: An Anthology of Sleepless Nights 3.50 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 1997	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Raven Mother: War, family and inheritance: a memoir 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Night by night 3.67 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 1994	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Certifiable Truths : Stories of Love and Madness really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Jane Messer…

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Jane Messer's Blog: The art of narrative

Raven Mother: War, Family and Inheritance, a memoir — out now

For Sydneysiders, you’re invited to the launch of my new book, Raven Mother, on Tuesday March 24, being held at the bookstore I’ve had the longest relationship with, the award-winning independent bookstore, Gleebooks. Register/RSVP here: 6pm for 6.30 start. I’ll be in conversation with award-winning author and genius editor Kim Kelly.

Gleebooks events now have a podcast from their author events, G

Jane is Currently Reading

Jane Messer rated a book really liked it

Salvage

by Jennifer Mills (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, spec-fiction

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Aug 23, 2026 04:02PM

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Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza

by Peter Beinart

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jane Messer said: " Yesterday, hearing Peter Beinhart speak at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas and then later in conversation at another event in Sydney, Australia I realised I'd started reading Beinart ages ago when research and writing writing Raven Mother: War, Famil ...more "

Aug 23, 2026 04:00PM · see review

Jane Messer is currently reading

The Holocaust and the Nakba: A New Grammar of Trauma and History (Religion, Culture, and Public Life, 39)

by Bashir Bashir

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Apr 15, 2026 08:55PM

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Jane Messer wants to read Cul-de-Sac by Eleanor Limprecht (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Jane Messer rated a book really liked it Salvage by Jennifer Mills (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Jane Messer rated a book it was amazing Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza by Peter Beinart	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Yesterday, hearing Peter Beinhart speak at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas and then later in conversation at another event in Sydney, Australia I realised I'd started reading Beinart ages ago when research and writing writing Raven Mother: War, Famil ...more
Aug 23, 2026 03:48PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza by Peter Beinart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza by Peter Beinart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jane Messer rated a book it was amazing The Truth & Addy Loest by Kim Kelly (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Jun 27, 2026 04:28PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jane Messer is now following Katherine Center Author of The Bodyguard
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Jane Messer wants to read The Coast by Eleanor Limprecht (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Jane Messer liked Ruth's review of Singing My Sister Down and Other Stories: "I don't even know how a writer can have the imagination and depth that Lanagan has. The stories are so varied, in plot, storytelling tone and even genre. The first two scarred me somewhat. The first one, Singing my sister down, had me crying over my l" Read more of this review »
Apr 29, 2026 04:44PM · see review
Jane Messer rated a book it was amazing Singing My Sister Down and Other Stories by Margo Lanagan (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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