Jane Green Inspires Millions With Her Gifts for Storytelling, Teaching, and Reinvention
PHOTO: Jane Green, NewYork Times bestselling author and podcast creator, beautifully blends warmth and wisdom in her stories, capturing the heart of women’s journeys.
A Literary Icon Shaping Women’s Stories
Jane Green, bestselling author and pioneer of women’s fiction, shares her inspirations, challenges, and reading preferences while continuing to influence the literary world through books, podcasts, and mentorship programs.
In the world of contemporary fiction, few authors have left as indelible a mark as Jane Green. With twenty-one novels to her name, including eighteen New York Times bestsellers and over ten million books in print, Green stands as a monumental figure in women’s literature. Her name is synonymous with heartfelt, emotionally-resonant books that capture the intricacies of modern life.
A pioneer of “chick lit,” along with Helen Fielding of Bridget Jones’s Diary fame, Green helped establish a literary movement often likened to the rom-coms of the book world. Over the last twenty-seven years, however, her writing has evolved to reflect a richer palette of themes, focusing on the beauty, strength, and challenges of women navigating contemporary life.
Green’s influence extends beyond the pages of her novels. She’s “Dear Jane,” the much-loved advice columnist for the UK’s Daily Mail, and her words reach millions through one of the busiest news websites in the world. Additionally, her work has graced television screens; three of her novels—Tempting Fate, To Have and to Hold, and Family Pictures—were adapted into Lifetime network movies. She has also dabbled in the culinary arts, graduating from the International Culinary Center and authoring a cookbook, Good Taste.
Jane Green epitomizes literary brilliance with her heartfelt storytelling, unerring commitment to women’s voices, and transformative role in contemporary fiction and mentorship.
But Green’s contributions don’t stop there. She’s the founder of Emerald Audio, a female-led podcast network producing original audio dramas for women, some of which include Rainbow Girl, The Key of Love, and Bad Influencer. These dramas are available for streaming, offering a fresh and innovative way for fans to experience her storytelling.
Her passion for nurturing storytelling extends to teaching, having been a mentor at the Kauai Writer’s Conference, and recently launching her own Women and Writing Conference, Kitaba Marrakech, in Morocco. This latest venture reflects Green’s deep connection to her adopted city of Marrakech, where she now resides. After two decades of raising her four children in Westport, Connecticut, Green has embraced the vibrant colors and culture of Morocco, where she lives alone, resisting the temptation to adopt every stray kitten that shows up at her doorstep.
In an interview, Green shared noteworthy insights that reveal her love for writing, reading, and the literary voices that inspire her.
On Admiration and the State of Publishing
Green admires writers who persist in their craft despite the increasing challenges in publishing. She describes the industry as “brutal” and admits to finding it “utterly demoralizing.” After twenty-one novels, Green has had to make writing her side hustle, a shift she hadn’t anticipated.
Favorite Writers and Recommendations
When asked about her favorite authors, Green expresses admiration for Cathleen Schine, A.M. Homes, Jean Hanff Korelitz, and Stephen Macauley. She’s drawn to their ability to create quirky, disparate characters who come together to form chosen families. In terms of underappreciated voices, she wholeheartedly believes these writers deserve more recognition.
Her Reading Habits
While working on a book, Green avoids fiction to prevent unintentional plagiarism and instead reads memoirs and biographies, which often fuel inspiration for her own stories. As a reader, she gravitates toward memoir and literary fiction with a commercial edge.
Favorite Fictional Characters
One fictional character has particularly left a lasting impression on Green—Catherine from Barbara Trapido’s Brother of the More Famous Jack. Green adores Catherine for her duality of strength and fragility, and rereads the book regularly for the sheer pleasure of revisiting her journey.
The Voracious Reader as a Child
Green recalls an almost insatiable hunger for books growing up. Like many authors, she felt like an outsider as a child and found solace within the pages of stories, a theme that resonates with her readers to this day.
Classics She’s Yet to Tackle
Despite her impressive literary career, Green admits there are several classics she’s yet to read. Titles such as Ulysses and The Iliad remain on her to-read list.
The Comfort of Familiar Stories
When it comes to comfort reads, Green’s answer is straightforward: Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. For Green, revisiting this series is akin to catching up with old friends—a literary sanctuary she returns to repeatedly.
Looking Ahead to New Reads
Green is currently eyeing Barbara Kingsolver’s Devil Copperhead and a biography of Peter Beard, which, in her words, is “whispering [her] name very loudly.”
Jane Green’s journey from London native to bestselling author to Marrakech resident is a testament to her ability to weave storytelling into every corner of her life. Whether through novels, podcasts, or mentorship, she continues to inspire readers and writers alike. As she balances her literary endeavors, advice column, and podcasting endeavors, one thing remains certain: Jane Green is unwavering in her commitment to storytelling. For those of us who follow her work, her stories—whether fictional or audio—remain not just an escape, but a guide to navigating life’s complexities.
Readers can follow Green’s adventures in writing, wisdom, and even kitten-wrangling on her many platforms. Through her unparalleled candor and creative pursuits, Jane Green proves that the art of storytelling is timeless.
