Melissa Lucashenko is an Australian writer of mixed European and Murri (Aboriginal) heritage, who lives on Bundjalung land and writes about the lives of Aborigines, women and the poor.

Her award-winning novels include Steam Pigs, Hard Yards and Killing Darcy (University of Queensland Press, 1997, 1998 and 1999).

She was born in Brisbane and attended public primary and secondary schools there. After working as a barmaid, delivery driver and karate instructor, Melissa received an honours degree in public policy from Griffith University, graduating in 1990.

Melissa has since lived in other Australian states as well as the Kingdom of Tonga. She bases herself at Billinudgel, which is one and a half hours south of Brisbane, near Byron Bay. She also breeds Australian stock horses, and works in her local Koori community.