Jane Austen (and Hobbits) Down Under

What a globe-trotting couple of Austen years this has been!

My good friend, Austen scholar, and long-time president of the Austen Society of Australia, Dr Susannah Fullerton, did me the great honor of planning a fantastic day-long event around my book Jane Austen and the Price of Happiness. The day included a

tremendous array of diverse speakers, all on the provocative theme of "Jane Austen: Romance Novelist?"

Speakers included Carrie Kablean, David and Lisa Campbell, Jane Caro, Steve Rohan-Jones, and Scarlett Hopper, as well as yours tuly.

The event was well attended, beautifully organized, and very enriching. It was delightful to meet new Janeites, Refresh some old friendships, and see Sydney once again, after a three decade absence.

My daughter Clara and I also visited New Zealand for a week on Tolkien-themed touring. Hobbiton exceeded our expectations and we both discovered a life-long calling to work as creators at the Wētā Workshop in Wellington. I attach a couple of highlights below.