More Tales from the Jane Austen Society Meeting

As a long time member of JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America), I’ve been to many of their annual conferences, held in different parts of the country every October. The one that took place in Huntington Beach, California, last weekend, was one of the best ever. I live about an hour’s drive north of there, but I wasn’t sure the location was ideal because Los Angeles is so spread out, with cultural centers of interest such as the two Getty Museums and the Huntington Library and its famous gardens being quite far away. However, it was a great success. The spa hotel on the beach was beautiful, making you feel as if you were away from the world in a golden pampered spot; and all the side trips were well managed.

Syrie James as Jane Austen and Diana Birchall as Charlotte Bronte in Diana’s play, “You are Passionate, Jane.”

In addition to helping with preparatory matters behind the scenes over the last couple of years (duties ranging from stuffing envelopes, to helping review the long list of speakers), I also participated on the front lines when the conference went live. I was glad that my play, “You are Passionate, Jane,” took place on the first night of the conference, as it was my big event and it was good to get it done so I could relax! The play is a two person dialogue between Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte in Heaven. Jane is the literary gatekeeper who decides which authors can enter, and she is not sure about Charlotte, whom she dislikes. She questions her rigorously, and Charlotte defends her choices passionately, so things become pretty intense – though it is a comedy. My friend Syrie James, best selling author and former Austen Variations associate member, played Jane Austen, while I was Charlotte Bronte. Syrie is a skilled actress who plays heavenly Jane with elegance, while I form a contrast, trying to be a fiery Charlotte! For me, as a writer, it is a thrilling experience  to perform in my own play, and to see, on the spot, how the audience responds to the words you have written! It’s a unique learning experience too, both for writing and acting. We’ve performed the play a few times, most recently at Chawton House Library in England, and each time I’ve seen what parts the audience responds to most, emotionally and comedically, and that has shown me how to say the speeches more effectively. I can honestly say I’ve seen ‘em laugh and seen ‘em cry, and it’s only made me want to write more plays!

Abigail Reynolds, Maria Grace, Syrie James, Diana Birchall

Idyllic Huntington Beach setting

But that wasn’t the end of the performance anxiety. In addition to introducing a couple of the speakers, and socializing with high speed intensity with Janeites from all over the country whom I’d met over the years, I also had the great fun and honor of participating on the Austen Variations panel with our group’s co-founders Maria Grace and Abigail Reynolds. This event turned out to be less formal than most of the speakers’ sessions, because it directly followed the grand banquet, and therefore took the form of a more relaxed, after-dinner sort of conversation. We talked about how we each came to Austenesque writing, how the group was founded, how it operates, how we find our inspirations, our methods of working together, and how we publish. Pretty interesting stuff, both technical, literary, and personal, and there were lots of audience questions.

Diana and friend in costume

So that was what I personally did at the AGM, but oh, there was so much more! More than 30 speeches, including brilliant keynote talks by Gillian Dow, head of Chawton House Library and the effervescent Devoney Looser; conversation with film director Whit Stillman and a screening of his film Love and Friendship; and so much more.  The Emporium was a wonder, full of Jane Austen merchandise, books, and gorgeous costumes for sale. And when you had enough of being indoors, a step outside took you to the beach, or to one of several very good restaurants, to sit at an outdoor table under an umbrella, gazing at the sparkling sea, everything bathed in the most glorious sunshine. At one point I was eating meringue with figs, pomegranate seeds and cream, while catching up with a bunch of like-minded friends both old and new, and felt as if I was in the heaven of my own play. And I  haven’t even mentioned the costumes and the ball! Well, I shall decorate the page with pictures I took, hoping to share the images and pleasures of the JASNA conference that danced before my eyes for four days.

Books I brought home!

Some gorgeous costumes. Abigail and Grace at lower left.

14 comments

Skip to comment form

    • Deb Creveling on October 17, 2017 at 8:46 am
    • Reply

    Thank you for sharing! I could not attend this year, but your observations brought back good memories of other AGMs. I did really miss the author table and collecting all my favorite Austen variation writers!

      • Diana Birchall on October 18, 2017 at 4:09 am
      • Reply

      I hope you will go another year, Deb – as you know, the AGMS are huge fun! Always a little different, with a new location to explore, but the same joy of books, costumes, friends old and new, and talk of Jane Austen.

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on October 17, 2017 at 11:54 am
    • Reply

    I kind of met Syrie James in a reading she did at a JASNA Chicago chapter. Though we didn’t speak, she did readings from her book and I was astounded to learn how knowledgeable she is of JA. Her research and speculation is so fascinating. I’m sure you all had a delightful time.

      • Diana Birchall on October 18, 2017 at 4:11 am
      • Reply

      Syrie is a force of nature, Jennifer – her research and focus as well as her writing and acting skills are amazing. I’ve had such rewarding, exciting times working with her, and I hope we’ll all meet up together another time!

      1. Diana and Jennifer, you are both too kind! I’m still smiling after reading this lovely post!

  1. Thanks for your tales, Diana! Oh, I would love to meet Syrie; I’ve read nearly all of her books multiple times, and I am entranced by her art of storytelling!

    As a fifth generation San Diegan, I’ve traveled up north for only two reasons: Disneyland and museums! It’s been many years since our family visited the Huntington, and I’ve been raring to see the gardens and explore the library and art galleries once again. My daughter and I toured the Getty a couple of years ago, just in time for the Turner exhibit–he’s my favorite non-medieval artist. 😉

    Your play sounds amazing! I love Charlotte Brontë and her works; Jane Eyre is my favorite novel (yes, even over Austen’s), and I love Villette and The Professor, too. I’m not much of an Emily Brontë fan, but I have enjoyed Anne’s novels very much. (Although it’s time for a re-read, methinks.) Syrie James’ book on the Brontë family was one of my favorite works of hers; I have borrowed it twice from the library and am saving my pennies to purchase my own copy.

    Thank you for the lovely photos (especially of the costumes and books!) and your wonderful report on the AGM!

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

      • Diana Birchall on October 18, 2017 at 4:16 am
      • Reply

      Susanne, I hope you don’t mind if I pass your kind comments on to Syrie! She is a multi-faceted talent, and I’m proud to have worked with her and to call her my friend. I’m sorry you didn’t make it up north to see us this time, but there’s always another AGM, or local JASNA-Southwest meeting, and they’re always fun. I loved imagining what would happen if Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte got together (in heaven!), and Syrie and I had a marvelous time portraying them. Thanks for commenting, and I’m glad you enjoyed reading about it all!

      1. Yes, please do pass along my admiration of Syrie’s writings! She seems like a lovely person as well as an extremely talented one! 🙂

        I am crossing my fingers and hoping for a JASNA meeting somewhere in my corner of the States. 🙂

        Now if we could get Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Elizabeth Gaskell all together in heaven, *that* would be even more amazing!! 😀

        Thank you, Diana, for your kind reply!

        Warmly,
        Susanne 🙂

        1. Hello Susanne, How nice to know that you live in San Diego…not too far away from me in L.A. You simply must attend one of our future JASNA – SW meetings so that we can meet in person. I’m thrilled to hear that you’ve read nearly all of my books (multiple times–wow, what a compliment)! I’m especially happy to hear that you love my Bronte book, which is truly a work of my heart. xoxo

    • Carole in Canada on October 17, 2017 at 3:44 pm
    • Reply

    Oh my Diana, I would have loved to have seen you and Syrie in action! What a novel idea for a play! Thank you for providing us with such eye candy as gowns and swag you secured! I’m planning to join JASNA next month and looked at where they are holding it in 2018/2109. I’m thinking 2019 in Virginia…who knows what will come up between now and then though! I really enjoyed the last photo…Claudine and Dung were in it and you got to meet them!!! Oh to one day meet all of you!

    Susanne, I totally agree about Syrie’s book on Charlotte Bronte. It too is one of my all time favourites!

      • Diana Birchall on October 18, 2017 at 4:18 am
      • Reply

      Thanks, Carole, it was enormous fun doing the play, “being” Jane and Charlotte, and seeing how the audience reacted. Congratulations on joining JASNA. I’ll be going to the Virginia AGM, too, and hope to meet you there!

    1. I’m thrilled, Carole, to hear that my book on Charlotte Bronte is one of your favorite. We authors work in such solitude and I rarely get feedback so, your comment made my day! (I’m a huge fan of All Things Canadian, by the way!)

    • Karen Holt on October 17, 2017 at 3:51 pm
    • Reply

    I live within 25 minutes of HB… all my favorite authors in one place!! Gahh!! How did I miss this???

      • Diana Birchall on October 18, 2017 at 4:19 am
      • Reply

      Oh dear! Sorry you missed it. Perhaps you’ll come up for the JASNA-SW meeting in December? Their website is jasnasw.org

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.