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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: 3.5 · 143 ratings · 25 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
	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 4.50 avg rating — 6 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
	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
	Raven Mother: War, family and inheritance: a memoir 4.50 avg rating — 4 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
	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 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

Jane Messer is currently reading

A Common Humanity: Thinking about Love and Truth and Justice

by Raimond Gaita

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Apr 15, 2026 08:55PM

Jane Messer is currently reading

The Time of Our Lives: Growing Older Well

by Robert Dessaix

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Mar 17, 2026 02:39PM

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Jane’s Recent Updates

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
Apr 29, 2026 04:39PM · like
Jane Messer wants to read 58 Facets: On law, violence and revolution by Marika Sosnowski	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
Apr 21, 2026 02:42AM · like
Jane Messer rated a book it was amazing The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (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
Apr 15, 2026 09:15PM · like
Jane Messer rated a book really liked it Elizabeth Jane Howard Double: The Long View / The Sea Change by Elizabeth Jane Howard	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
Apr 15, 2026 09:14PM · like
Jane Messer rated a book it was amazing All Change (Cazalet Chronicles, #5) by Elizabeth Jane Howard	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
Apr 15, 2026 09:12PM · like
Jane Messer rated a book it was amazing Casting Off (Cazalet Chronicles, #4) by Elizabeth Jane Howard	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
Apr 15, 2026 09:12PM · like
Jane Messer rated a book it was amazing Confusion (Cazalet Chronicles, #3) by Elizabeth Jane Howard	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
Apr 15, 2026 09:12PM · like
Jane Messer has read Casting Off (Cazalet Chronicles, #4) by Elizabeth Jane Howard	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
Apr 15, 2026 09:12PM · like
Jane Messer rated a book it was amazing Confusion (Cazalet Chronicles, #3) by Elizabeth Jane Howard	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
Apr 15, 2026 09:12PM · like