Jan Sayer

Jan Sayer's career has taken her from backstage at the Sydney Opera House to a writer's life on the Dutch island of Texel.

After studying English and Drama at university, Jan managed a bookshop for two years before returning to the theatre. She worked across Europe as a stage manager and lighting designer, then spent a decade at the Sydney Opera House. She later produced events for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Her crime novels, Exposure (set in Nova Scotia) and We Can't All Die Like Buddy Holly (a UK regional crime story), deliver psychological suspense with unusual characters. Writing as Jessika Jenvieve, she created the CyberCat series, where adventure blends feline mischief with wit and imagination.

In a new departure, Jan has turned to historical fiction with The Silk & The Sea, published alongside its Dutch edition, De Zijde & De Zee, both inspired by the Palmwood Wreck and her volunteer work as a museum guide on Texel.