Miss Caroline Bingley’s unceasing attempts at world domination continue. We can’t stop her. God knows we’ve tried, but she persists, and who are we, mere authors, to stand in her way?

Coming up soon:

Warm Winter Reads, Northcote Library: 16 July

I’m looking forward to giving an author talk as part of the Winter Reads series at Darebin Libraries, on Wednesday 16 July at 6pm. You’ll hear about how and what I write, and especially the influence of Miss Austen and our version of Caroline Bingley. It’s free, but do book here. Fairfield Bookshop will be on hand and I believe there may even be cake! I know it’s hard to leave the house on a Melbourne winter night, but it’ll be worth it.

Virtual JaneCon, online: 19 July

Virtual JaneCon is billed as a “radically inclusive Jane Austen event”, and it’s held online so people can attend anywhere in the world. My co-author Sharmini and I appear with our dear colleague Dr Kylie Mirmohamadi, talking about Miss Bingley and Mary Bennet, two characters Jane Austen doesn’t seem to like much, and all the other sessions look fascinating. It’s over the weekend July 19-20, with video sessions posted on YouTube. You can see all the details here.

Afternoon tea, Antipodes bookshop Sorrento: 30 July

Join me and Sharmini for a special afternoon tea celebration of Miss Austen’s 250th birthday in Sorrento, at the always-stylish Antipodes Bookshop. Murder, mystery, and afternoon tea (there will be no actual murder, you understand, just discussion of imaginary murders). Also bubbles. 2pm on Wednesday 30 July. Bookings essential and details here.

Bendigo Writers Festival, 16-17 August

Always a terrific writers’ festival, with a huge programme and always thoughtful guests. I’m involved in three events this year:

• On the Lam 10:15 am, Saturday 16 August. I’m part of a panel with Tara Calaby and Lucy Sussex, chaired by Steph Downes, on spirited women of the past – in fact and fiction.
• Carrying On 10:30 am, Sunday 17 August. I look forward to interviewing Melanie Cheng, Kylie Mirmohamadi and Jock Serong on the nature of grief and ghosts, legacies and loss and their beautiful novels.
• Edinburgh: Midnight and Blue 11:45 am, Sunday 17 August. I’m interrogating crime writers Fiona Hardy and Jock Serong about Ian Rankin and his take on justice, redemption and the blurred lines between right and wrong in the book, Midnight and Blue.

Bendigo’s full program is here, and it’s a ripper.

Words in Winter, Hepburn Springs, 24 August

Talking crime with champion chair Jacqui Horwood and Zane Lovitt, author of The Body Next Door. We’ll be trying to answer the enormous questions, crime fiction: who writes it and why? 11.30am, Sunday 24 August, Hotel Bellinzona, Hepburn Springs. Tickets and details here, and check out the rest of the program because there are some great writers involved (Tony Birch, Nadia Mahjouri, Izzy Roberts-Orr and many more!). 

Hope to see you out there!

PS This time two years ago I was walking (well, at this point, plodding along slowly and painfully with boots full of blisters) the length of Hadrian’s Wall, so here’s a gratuitous photo of that most spectacular country, because it never ceases to amaze me. In fact, I’ve written a whole novel set there now (still rewriting).