I just returned from the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America. The conference moves to different cities every year, but when I heard this year’s setting was Williamsburg, Virginia, I knew I wanted to attend. I was in good company, as the conference sold out almost immediately and was attended by over 800 people.
I attended for several reasons:
- To learn more about the era in which Jane Austen lived and wrote.
- To experience Colonial Williamsburg. Even though the setting is America and not England, the time period is much the same as when Jane Austen lived and wrote her novels. There is also a definite British feel to the place, and visiting its tradespeople would be similar to visiting a blacksmith, milliner, or tailor in an English village.
- To make connections with other Jane Austen-enthusiasts.
Highlights for me included:
LEARNING
Among the break-out sessions and workshops I attended, these were especially interesting and helpful:
A Cravat-Tying Class: I learned how to tie several different styles which will help me dress my fictional heroes (and my husband) in the future.
An English Country Dancing Class: Always fun and I learned several new dances that might make their way into a novel one day soon.
The Surprising History of Baseball vs. Cricket vs. Rounders. Did you know baseball was not invented in New York, U.S.A, but rather developed in the West Country of England? The sport is actually mentioned in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, was played in England prior to 1800, and originally the ball was hit by hand vs. bat. Fascinating class by Lisa Brown!
The differences between churches, chapels, cathedrals and abbeys in England. Very interesting and well researched class by Brenda Cox. She clarified the history and differences between them, and the important role of the church in Jane Austen’s life and writing.
A humorous and informative talk by the ever-engaging James Nagle who spoke eloquently about the British Army, and its importance to Regency England and Jane Austen.
ENJOYING
A costumed, torch-lit promenade through the historic streets of Colonial Williamsburg.
A Regency ball, where I could have danced all night!
An 18th Century Cricket Demonstration.
CONNECTING
Seeing old friends, making new friends, and meeting readers.
So much to highlight! (I will write about our time in Colonial Williamsburg separately, next time it’s my turn to blog.) In the meantime, would you enjoy attending a conference like this?
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The conference looks fascinating! I think it is always enjoyable to attend gatherings of like-minded people to learn, mingle, and enjoy.
You are so right, Rebecca. Well said.
Looks like fun, Julie. I love to get dressed up in long gowns. Don’t get to do it very often.
I’m sure you would look lovely in one of these gowns, Lynn. Thanks for commenting, my friend.
Looks like you had a great time!! I would love to attend something like this! My favorite books to read are from this era. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you, Beverly!
I would LOVE something like this! I would love to wear the gown in the third row from the bottom photo that you are wearing! This looks like so much fun! Maybe someday when my boys are grown, as well as my baby girl on the way… oh, I can dream, can’t I??? Someday….
Yes, keep dreaming! Your day will come, Courtney, and in the meantime, enjoy your precious children.
Wow! What a fabulous time! Thank you for sharing that with us, Julie! Your research always shines in your stories.
Thank you so much, Jocelyn!
What a wonderful event, Julie! That looks like so much fun. And what fabulous research gathering as well. Almost makes me want to switch subgenres so I can have an excuse to attend. Ha!
We would welcome you warmly, Karen. 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful time! I’d love to attend something like this; I absolutely soak up conferences, and anything historical is just 10 times better!
Hope you have a chance to attend something like this, too, Bree!
Oh, Julie! What a fabulous general meeting. I’m so glad you went. I can well imagine how much fun you had and how much you learned. 🙂
Thanks, Becky. 🙂
Awesome! The conference was here in DC several years ago. 🙂 Good to see it returned to the region (even though further away) again.
Yes, it was a great setting for an AGM!
Julie,
Your research is already so thorough! I just listened to the Innkeeper of Ivy Hill and it was excellent! The voices were perfect, and although I never heard of some of the things referenced, the book explained them quite well. I kept thinking to myself, How did she right this kind of period piece without living at that time? It is so authentic. What a fabulous job you did of conveying the place and time so perfectly.
Thank you so much, Marilyn. I sincerely appreciate your compliments. And I love the audio versions as well!
That’s awesome! It will inspire you to write more good books for us to read!
Thank you, Cheryl!
So glad you enjoyed it. I live an hour away from Williamsburg and would’ve loved to meet you as well as another of my favorite authors, Syrie James, who posted she was there. We used to take our 5th grade classes to Williamsburg. It is a wonderful place!
Love your books and looking forward to The Bridge to Belle Island.
Rats, Betty. Didn’t realize you lived so near there! And yes, I enjoyed seeing Syrie again.