Jessica Dettmann is an Australian author and performer.

Career

Dettmann worked as an editor for Random House Australia and HarperCollins Publishers Australia before becoming a writer.

Jessica Dettmann

In late 2018 her debut novel How to Be Second Best was published through HarperCollins, drawing comparisons to Liane Moriarty and Marian Keyes. The novel was endorsed by both Mia Freedman and Ben Elton, who labelled Dettmann "a fine comic writer". The Daily Telegraph called it "the first book you have to read in the new year".

Jessica Dettmann

In 2019 the Telegraph tipped her as "Australia’s next Liane Moriarty".

Jessica Dettmann

Dettmann has regularly performed her work at Giant Dwarf's Story Club. In July 2016 she performed 'The Chairs Are Gone'. In October 2018 she performed 'Yuletide MacGyver'.

Bibliography

Novels

How to Be Second Best (HarperCollins, 2018) This Has Been Absolutely Lovely (HarperCollins, 2021)

Short stories

'In Recognition of Fifteen Years’ Service' in Thanks for The Mammaries (Penguin, 2009)

Performance pieces

'64: The Chairs Are Gone' (Giant Dwarf Story Club, 2016) '139: Yuletide MacGyver' (Giant Dwarf Story Club, 2018)

Other

'Books that Changed Me' (The Sydney Morning Herald, 2019)

Reviews

ABC Radio Melbourne - What’s on at the library? Just ask Monica Dullard

The Daily Telegraph The first book you have to read in the new year

The Sydney Morning Herald How To Be Second Best review: Jessica Dettmann has fun with the rom-com novel

References

External links

21st-century Australian novelists

Australian women novelists

Living people

Writers from New South Wales

21st-century Australian women writers

21st-century Australian short story writers

University of Sydney alumni

Year of birth missing (living people)