{{short description|American author}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> | image = | imagesize = | birth_name = Lynn Messina | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_date = 1972 | birth_place = Long Island, United States | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Author | nationality = American | period = 2003-present | genre = Regency Mystery, Romance, Young Adult, Children’s Literature | subject = | movement = | influenced = | signature = | website = {{URL|http://www.lynnmessina.com/}} }}
'''Lynn Messina''' is an American author<ref>Bass, Debra D. '' 'Fashionistas' pushed first time novelist to the pink carpet.'' St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 9, 2006, pB4</ref> of more than two dozen books<ref>{{Cite web |title=Books by Lynn Messina (Author of A Brazen Curiosity) |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/42550.Lynn_Messina |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> including her cozy mystery series set in England during the Regency era featuring sleuth Beatrice Hyde-Clare.
==Biography== Messina grew up on Long Island, New York. Her first job was a papergirl delivering Newsday newspapers after school. She co-edited her high school yearbook and newspaper.
At Washington University in St. Louis, she studied English Literature and Women Studies, spending her junior year studying at King's College London. After graduating she moved to Manhattan and worked as an editorial assistant at Avalon Books and the Museum of Television and Radio (now the Paley Center for Media).
She became a freelance copyeditor for magazines to focus on writing books. Red Dress Ink published her first novel ''Fashionistas,'' about scheming editors at a fashion magazine which became a bestseller, translated into 15 languages, and briefly optioned by producer Christine Peters as a vehicle for Lindsay Lohan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Michael |date=2004-06-03 |title=Paramount has designs on Lohan pic |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/paramount-has-designs-on-lohan-pic-1117905907/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> When ''Fashionistas'' was mentioned in Women’s Wear Daily, Messina lost her regular gig at ''InStyle''.<ref>{{Cite web |author=W. W. D. Staff |date=2003-02-28 |title=Memo Pad |url=https://wwd.com/feature/memo-pad-738414-1898029/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}</ref>
She published four more novels with legacy publishers including Harcourt and HarperCollins before finding success as an independent author with ''Prejudice & Pride''<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kubitschek |first=Missy Dehn |date=2003 |title=Truths Universally Acknowledged: Stereotypes of Women in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813) |url=https://doi.org/10.5040/9781440881664.0080 |journal=Women in Literature |pages=237–239 |doi=10.5040/9781440881664.0080|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and her Beatrice Hyde-Clare cozies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anne {{!}} |date=2022-12-16 |title=Lynn Messina: A Brazen Curiosity – Regency Reader |url=https://regrom.com/2022/12/16/lynn-messina-a-brazen-curiosity/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> set in Regency-era England and the Verity Lark spin-off mysteries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2023-10-25 |title=A Lark's Tale by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2023/10/25/a-larks-tale-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> ''A Brazen Curiosity'', the first Beatrice Hyde-Clare mystery, has also been published in translation by Harashobo<ref>{{Cite web |title=原書房 |url=http://www.harashobo.co.jp |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.harashobo.co.jp}}</ref> (Japanese), Les Escales<ref>{{Cite web |last=© Copyright © 2024 Lisez!, un site du groupe Editis. |title=Les Escales, tous les livres de la maison d'édition {{!}} Lisez! |url=https://www.lisez.com/les-escales/22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217220546/https://www.lisez.com/les-escales/22 |archive-date=2024-12-17 |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Lisez! |language=fr-FR}}</ref> (French), Knihy Dobrovský<ref>{{Cite web |last=KnihyDobrovsky.cz |date=2025-01-14 |title=Knihy Dobrovský {{!}} Vaše (nejen) online knihkupectví s tradicí |url=https://www.knihydobrovsky.cz/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Knihy Dobrovský |language=cs}}</ref> (Czech), Aula & Co.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Etusivu |url=https://aulakustannus.fi/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Aula & Co |language=fi}}</ref> (Finnish), Thiele Verlag<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thiele Verlag {{!}} |url=https://www.thiele-verlag.com/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.thiele-verlag.com}}</ref> (German), Pioneer (Hungarian), and Znak<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wydawnictwo Znak – To Twój Znak |url=https://www-wydawnictwoznak-pl.translate.goog/wydarzenia/wydawnictwo/znak-koncept?_x_tr_sl=pl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.wydawnictwoznak.pl |language=pl}}</ref> (Polish).
Other books she has published under the Potatoworks imprint include ''Girls’ Guide to Dating Zombies'' and the Love Takes Root series.
Her influences include Elizabeth Peters, Dorothy L. Sayers, Georgette Heyer, Baroness Orczy, Douglas Coupland, and Tom Stoppard.
==Books== * A Wretched Folly (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #14) (2026) * A Highly Courageous Adventure (A Flora Hyde-Clare Mystery, #2) (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reviews - A Highly Courageous Adventure {{!}} The StoryGraph |url=https://app.thestorygraph.com/book_reviews/42040f2a-5024-4b3e-a06e-84c47843aab5?written_explanations_only=true |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=app.thestorygraph.com}}</ref> * A Lark's Regret (A Verity Lark Mystery, #5) (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reviews - A Lark's regret {{!}} The StoryGraph |url=https://app.thestorygraph.com/book_reviews/9f862234-a3c5-4552-8ee4-e362e7d73ae6 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=app.thestorygraph.com}}</ref> * A Pernicious Fabrication (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #13) (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reviews - A Pernicious Fabrication {{!}} The StoryGraph |url=https://app.thestorygraph.com/book_reviews/003db500-911d-4ded-b249-2bf4564814fe |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=app.thestorygraph.com}}</ref> * A Lark's Release (A Verity Lark Mystery, #4) (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2024-10-23 |title=Review: A Lark's Release: A Regency Cozy by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2024/10/23/review-a-larks-release-a-regency-cozy-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * A Vicious Machination (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #12) (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2024-06-27 |title=A Vicious Machination by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2024/06/27/a-vicious-machination-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * A Lark's Conceit (A Verity Lark Mystery, #3) (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2024-03-13 |title=A Lark's Conceit by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2024/03/13/a-larks-conceit-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * A Murderous Tryst (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #11) (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2023-10-21 |title=A Murderous Tryst by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2023/10/21/a-murderous-tryst-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * A Lark's Flight (A Verity Lark Mystery, #2) (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2023-10-27 |title=A Lark's Flight by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2023/10/27/a-larks-flight-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * An Extravagant Duplicity (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #10) (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2023-01-07 |title=An Extravagant Duplicity by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2023/01/07/an-extravagant-duplicity-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * A Lark's Tale (A Verity Lark Mystery, #1) (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2023-10-25 |title=A Lark's Tale by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2023/10/25/a-larks-tale-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * An Ominous Explosion (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #9) (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2022-08-16 |title=An Ominous Explosion by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2022/08/16/an-ominous-explosion-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * A Malevolent Connection (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #8) (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Publishing |first=RoseLark |date=2021-11-19 |title=Book Review: A Malevolent Connection |url=https://www.roselarkpublishing.com/post/book-review-a-malevolent-connection |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=roselarkpublishing |language=en}}</ref> * A Ghastly Spectacle (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #7) (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reviews - A Ghastly Spectacle {{!}} The StoryGraph |url=https://app.thestorygraph.com/book_reviews/ee9a7840-6e7a-419b-a902-3f53e320e2b0?page=3 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=app.thestorygraph.com}}</ref> * A Boldly Daring Scheme (A Flora Hyde-Clare Mystery, #1) (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reviews - A Boldly Daring Scheme {{!}} The StoryGraph |url=https://app.thestorygraph.com/book_reviews/eb6062b1-b2ca-434b-bc50-962cc44d9e3b |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=app.thestorygraph.com}}</ref> * A Sinister Establishment (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #6) (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbara |date=2021-10-15 |title=A Sinister Establishment by Lynn Messina |url=https://flippinpages.blog/2021/10/15/a-sinister-establishment-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Flippin' Pages Book Reviews |language=en}}</ref> * A Treacherous Performance (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #5) (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helen |date=2019-11-14 |title=Review: A Treacherous Performance |url=https://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-treacherous-performance.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Royal Reviews}}</ref> * A Nefarious Engagement (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #4) (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anne {{!}} |date=2023-05-28 |title=Lynn Messina: A Nefarious Engagement – Regency Reader |url=https://regrom.com/2023/05/28/lynn-messina-a-nefarious-engagement/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> * Violet Venom's Rules for Life (2018) * An Infamous Betrayal (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries, #3) (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review: An Infamous Betrayal |url=https://www.hearingthings.co.uk/2019/06/review-infamous-betrayal.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Miss Lawrence is Hearing Things}}</ref> * A Scandalous Deception (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #2) (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review: A Scandalous Deception: A Regency Cozy |url=https://www.hearingthings.co.uk/2019/04/review-scandalous-deception-regency-cozy.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Miss Lawrence is Hearing Things}}</ref> * A Brazen Curiosity (A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery, #1) (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review: A Brazen Curiosity: A Regency Cozy |url=https://www.hearingthings.co.uk/2018/12/review-brazen-curiosity-regency-cozy.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Miss Lawrence is Hearing Things}}</ref> * The Impertinent Miss Templeton (Love Takes Root, #5) (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anne {{!}} |date=2018-10-30 |title=Lynn Messina: The Impertinent Miss Templeton – Regency Reader |url=https://regrom.com/2018/10/30/lynn-messina-the-impertinent-miss-templeton/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> * Prejudice & Pride (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Truths Universally Acknowledged: Stereotypes of Women in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813) |url=https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/encyclopedia-chapter?docid=b-9781440881664&tocid=b-9781440881664-0000707 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=www.bloomsburycollections.com |language=en |doi=10.5040/9781440881664.0080}}</ref> * Winner Takes All (2015) * The Bolingbrook Chit (Love Takes Root, #4) (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-09 |title=Guest Review: The Bolingbroke Chit by Lynn Messina |url=https://bookbinge.com/2015/07/guest-review-the-bolingbroke-chit-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Book Binge |language=en-US}}</ref> * The Fellingham Minx (Love Takes Root, #3) (2014) * Miss Fellingham's Rebellion (Love Takes Root, #2.5) (2014)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reviews - Miss Fellingham's Rebellion {{!}} The StoryGraph |url=https://app.thestorygraph.com/book_reviews/4e26b2c8-b8d8-4469-9ce2-4bb16e8f8221 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=app.thestorygraph.com}}</ref> * The Other Harlow Girl (Love Takes Root, #2) (2014)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erin |date=2019-02-26 |title=Review: The Other Harlow Girl by Lynn Messina (2014) |url=https://smutreport.com/2019/02/26/review-the-other-harlow-girl-by-lynn-messina-2014/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=The Smut Report |language=en}}</ref> * The Harlow Hoyden (Love Takes Root, #1) (2014)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erin |date=2019-02-13 |title=Review: The Harlow Hoyden by Lynn Messina (2014) |url=https://smutreport.com/2019/02/13/review-the-harlow-hoyden-by-lynn-messina-2014/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=The Smut Report |language=en}}</ref> * Henry and the Incredibly Incorrigible, Inconveniently Intelligent Smart Human (2012)<ref>{{Cite web |last=comments |first=Betsy Bird 4 |date=2012-12-31 |title=Review of the Day: Henry and the Incredibly Incorrigible, Inconveniently Intelligent Smart Human by Lynn Messina |url=https://afuse8production.slj.com/2012/12/31/review-of-the-day-henry-and-the-incredibly-incorrigible-inconveniently-intelligent-smart-human-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=A Fuse #8 Production |language=en-US}}</ref> * Bleak (2012)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lindsay Lohan's 'Fashionistas': a 'Bleak' experience for the author |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/05/lindsay-lohan-fashionistas-disaster/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> * The Girls' Guide to Dating Zombies (2012)<ref>[https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/51990/lynn-messina-offers-girls-guide-dating-zombies Lynn Messina Offers The Girls' Guide to Dating Zombies] Dread Central</ref> * Little Vampire Women (2010)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=2010-10-27 |title=Review "Little Vampire Women," "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/10/27/review-little-vampire-women-pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-and-abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> * Savvy Girl (2008)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreiber |first=Beth Gallaway |date=2006-07-22 |title=Savvy Girl by Lynn Messina |url=https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/2006/07/22/savvy-girl-by-lynn-messina/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Hip Librarians Book Blog |language=en}}</ref> * Mim Warner's Lost Her Cool (2005)<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-373-89513-7 "Fiction Reviews: Mim Warner's Lost Her Cool"], Publishers Weekly, 02/28/2005</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EW reviews the latest in chick lit |url=https://ew.com/article/2005/04/04/ew-reviews-latest-chick-lit-4/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> * Never on a Sundae (2004) * Tallulahland (2004)<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-373-25044-8 "Fiction Reviews: Tallulahland"], Publishers Weekly, 11/17/2003</ref> * Fashionistas (2003)<ref>[https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lynn-messina/fashionistas/ "Fashionistas"], Kirkus Reviews</ref><ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-373-25025-7 "Fiction Reviews: Fashionistas"], Publishers Weekly, 01/27/2003</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://lynnmessina.com/ Official Site]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Messina, Lynn}} Category:Living people Category:Washington University in St. Louis alumni Category:People from Long Island Category:21st-century American novelists Category:21st-century American women novelists Category:1972 births