Jane Messer author

02/09/2026

I'm going to be in conversation with ELEANOR LIMPRECHT

I’m delighted to be in conversation with Eleanor Limprecht about Raven Mother and some of the difficult questions at the heart of the book — and increasingly at the heart of our public and private lives.

We’ll talk about the role of literature in a time of polarisation, writing about family history and war, and the stories and histories that have been erased, silenced or forgotten.

In the wake of October 7, these questions have taken on an especially urgent dimension. How do we write about histories of conflict and displacement? How do we inherit stories of war? What happens when family memory collides with disputed histories — or when the past refuses to stay in the past?

And what can literature offer when public conversation becomes increasingly divided and difficult?

Raven Mother traces my German-Jewish grandmother’s journey from pre-war Berlin to Tel Aviv and Melbourne, and my own attempt, as a daughter and granddaughter, to understand the histories, silences and inheritances that shaped our family.

I’m looking forward to a wide-ranging conversation with Eleanor about literature, memory, family, war, erasure and the possibilities of storytelling in unsettled times.
📍 The Carrington Hotel
📅 Saturday 31 October
⏰ 5–6pm
🎟️ Book now: https://shorturl.at/NZ9sC

29/08/2026

Lots coming up over the next few months. I'm on the road giving talks and a hands-on writing workshop. Come along!

SEPTEMBER
📚 Oran Public Library
Thursday 24 September, 6pm
FREE: https://shorturl.at/2jQE4

OCTOBER
📚 Canberra Writers Festival
Saturday 17 October
11.45am & 3.15pm
Book now: https://shorturl.at/wPMkL
📚 Blue Mountains Writers Festival
Saturday 31 October
More info at: https://shorturl.at/T8g18

NOVEMBER
📚 Manly Public Library
Friday 6 November, 2pm
FREE – Details to come
📚 Ku-ring-gai Public Library, Gordon
Thursday 12 November
FREE – Details to come

WORKSHOP
✍️ The Craft of Revision
Friday 30 October, 1.15–4.15pm
Blue Mountains Writers Festival
Book now: https://shorturl.at/KYZpx

More details and bookings in my Linktr.ee: https://shorturl.at/xrM2w

27/08/2026

THE CRAFT OF REVISION with Jane Messer ✍️

First, second and third drafts are only the beginning.

Join me for an afternoon exploring the craft of deep revision: how to approach a draft with fresh eyes, find what’s working (and what isn’t), and make changes that bring a story into sharper focus. We’ll look at strategies for both light and deep revision, from language and characterisation to dialogue, scenes, structure and the themes beneath the story.

If you’re an emerging writer, or have a draft sitting around that you know could be better but aren’t quite sure how to approach it, book in.

📍 Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Workshop Room
📅 Friday 30 October
⏰ 1.15–4.15pm
🎟️ Spaces are limited. Book now: https://shorturl.at/KYZpx

Bring a draft, a work-in-progress, or simply an idea you’d like to work on.

23/08/2026

I’m thrilled to announce StorySALOON's board. As StorySALOON's founder and creative director it’s very exciting to have launched StorySALOON Ltd this year as a Not for Profit. The aim is to create a living, growing archive of Australian short stories read live by talented actors and recorded for podcast, now and into the future. This is such a wonderful, brave board with the experience, skills and perspectives to help shape the organisation as we continue to grow our audiences for Australian short stories.

Dr Sharmila Jayasinghe brings extensive board experience in the not-for-profit sector to StorySALOON Ltd, having served with organisations including The Sri Lankan Association of NSW, Hills Women's Shed and the Lisa Harnum Foundation.

Rachael Adamson is a creative producer from Western Sydney with a love of witty comedy, bold theatricality and work that leads with heart. She currently produces at Hayes Theatre Co.

Sue Fagan brings a wealth of experience in marketing, communications and the contemporary arts to StorySALOON. With a diverse international career spanning media, marketing and communications, she is passionate about supporting artists and connecting them with audiences to strengthen Australia's cultural landscape.

Martin Searle has extensive executive experience across several sectors, managing significant resources and leading organisational development; and expertise in business process improvement, recruitment and development, and commercial management in professional services.

Who we next need: an arts-loving Treasurer. If you’re an accountant or bookkeeper, please contact me.

Next show: Get your tickets now! Thursday Dec 3, at The Vanguard, Newtown
In partnership with the Australasian Association of Writing Programs.
With funding from the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.
au

21/08/2026

Thanks to the Centre for Creative and Cultural Research and the Faculty of Arts and Design, University Canberra for hosting my talk last Thursday, and to everyone who came.

If you missed it, you can now listen to the talk via: https://shorturl.at/0hb1z

19/08/2026

Wow- Jane Novak - get there if you can

Join literary agent Jane Novak in conversation with Katherine McLean, Director of Hunter Writers’ Centre, for a candid discussion about pitching, publishing, and finding the right fit for your work. Jane will share insights from her 30 years in the industry including what makes a submission stand out, what turns agents off, and what to expect from the agent-writer relationship.

Whether you’re getting ready to submit a manuscript or just beginning to think about publication, this session offers a chance to ask real questions and get honest answers from someone who’s seen it all.

Saturday 29 August 2026
2 pm - 3 pm
Foghorn Brewery + Online
Booking essential.
Book at https://hunterwriterscentre.org/.../trade-talks-with.../

•••

Following the public talk, Jane will provide individual feedback to a limited number of writers on their manuscript pitch. We invite pitch applications for works of fiction, non-fiction, memoir and crime fiction. Applications close 5 pm, Friday 21 August. Applicants will be notified of the outcome on Monday 24 August.
More information about this opportunity is available at https://hunterwriterscentre.org/.../trade-talks-pitch.../

18/08/2026

The ASA’s Pitch Perfect workshops are brilliant. So worth it. 👍

Crafting an impactful non-fiction book proposal is a skill that requires an understanding of the essential proposal elements, from expected industry standards to the required materials and their content. You will also need to know how to position your work to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate market potential.

Over 2 one-hour sessions, award-winning author Rebecca Giggs will detail:

- How non-fiction books are acquired in the Australian publishing landscape
- How and when you should begin composing your non-fiction proposal
- The submission materials you need to prepare
- How to identify and clearly communicate your hook
- How to avoid the common mistakes that can lead to rejection

Whether you’ve been submitting without success and want to identify the areas of improvement in your materials, are new to the genre and want to know what publishers and agents look for, or you’re planning to start pitching your non-fiction concept in the coming months, Rebecca’s expert guidance will equip you with the tips and knowledge you need to craft compelling book proposals.

There will be time for questions from the audience in each session.

At the conclusion of the first session, a detailed handout document will be provided via email to all registered participants.

To book your spot visit: https://www.asauthors.org.au/events/pitch-perfect-non-fiction-book-proposals/

18/08/2026

One of my favourite festivals!

The program will be out very soon, with Early Bird tickets already on sale at: https://www.bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au/

Looking forward to sharing more with you soon.

18/08/2026

My paver, so proud! One of many hundreds that writers and supporters contributed towards to raise funds for the new building. Varuna, The National Writers' House has evolved over the years but what stays the same is the respect for writers and the warmth of the welcome every writer is given.

It's a delightful coincidence that I was place alongside Cynthia Banham, seeing as we've been talking about Raven Mother and Mother Shadow at various bookstores and festivals together! I was up there last week for the glorious opening of the new building, the Reading Room. Seen here is Veechi Stuart, Varuna's remarkable Executive Director (and bushwalking writer) at the official opening, and Creative Director Maeve Marsden (and theatre maker) adroitly practicing her soccer moves after all the seriou stuff was over.

15/08/2026

Here's a personal story about refugees. My father Michael Messer arrived in Melbourne as a stateless person aged 20, having lived separated from his German Jewish family for over 10 years following their flight from N**i Germany. At the University of Melbourne he studied, graduating with a PhD in Biochemistry, a new field of science at the time. After graduating, Dad worked as a researcher and lecturer at various universities including Stanford, London University of Economics, Copenhagen (we moved around a lot) and finally at the University of Sydney.

He began to research the constituents of Australia's unique monotreme and marsupial milk. This was 'pure research': knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Commercial application was not its primary rationale. Some colleagues thought his focus was eccentric, even perverse.

The image is my photo of the cover of the esteemed journal Science, showing two Australian coins that illustrate the article that my father published in that issue. The coins pictured honour Australia's two most distinctive and unique monotremes, the echidna and the platypus— and the subjects of his research. Michael is understandably proud even all these years later. It's not every day that your name is on the cover of Science!

Years after its publication and the many other papers on monotreme milk that he published, wildlife conservationists, volunteer carers and zoos realised the research had important real-life application. Here was the information they needed to create monotreme and marsupial infant milk formulas that could mimic a species' natural milks. The research was free to be used to guide the production of formulas — milk formulas which are now used by zoos and wildlife rescue organisations caring for orphaned animals.

There is so much history to be found about , , , , research and in this small story.

Long live multicultural Australia. Thank you to the First Nations peoples who share their unceded lands with us and have provided safe harbour to so many.