Jane Routley is an Australian fantasy author known for her strong female protagonists and richly imagined worlds. She has published seven books under her own name, including "Mage Heart," the Aurealis Award-winning "Fire Angels" and "Aramaya," as well as "The Three Sisters" and "The Melded Child." Her diverse bibliography also includes the queer time travel romance "A Shining Knight" and the recently launched "Shadow in the Empire of Light" series. Beyond novels, Routley's short fiction has appeared in publications like Meanjin and been broadcast on the ABC, while her work extends into game writing with Call of Cthulhu tabletop RPG publications.
Before establishing herself as a writer, Routley pursued varied careers across multiple countries, working as a singer, fruit picker, and librarian for the Theosophical Society during a decade spent living in Germany and Denmark. Now residing in Melbourne, she draws inspiration from literary influences ranging from Jane Austen's wit to Angela Carter's dark fantasy and Gail Carriger's genre-blending humor. Her writing frequently explores themes of empowerment, identity, and transformation within fantastical settings. Routley continues to balance her writing career with part-time work in railway customer service while maintaining her lifelong ambition to witness a volcanic eruption.