As part of this work, I am interviewing artists, writers, academics, and public figures who are actively working with and through the work of Austen. I am particularly interested in speaking with individuals who have successfully deployed Austen to engage diverse audiences.
Jane Austen, by Richard Bentley, after Cassandra Austen, stipple engraving 1870 (used by permission, National Portrait Gallery)
Completed Interviews
- Dr. Patricia A. Matthew, Director, The Race and Regency Lab, Associate Professor, Montclair State University
- Soniah Kamal, author of Unmarriageable
- Dr. Robert Newman, former President, National Humanities Center
- Dr. Robert B. Townsend, Program Director for Humanities, Arts, and Culture, American Academy of Arts & Sciences
- Dr. Heather Hewett, former program officer, American Council of Learned Societies
- Dr. Stephanie Shonekan, Dean, College of Arts & Humanities, University of Maryland
- Dr. Lyndon Dominique, Associate Professor, Lehigh University
- Dr. Claudia L. Johnson, Murray Professor of Literature, Princeton University
- Uzma Jalaluddin, author of Austen adaptations Ayesha at Last (2018) and Much Ado About Nada (2023)
- Dr. Nikki Payne, author of Austen adaptations Pride and Protest (2022) and Sex, Lies, and Sensibility (2024)
- Dr. Jennifer Kloester, author of Jane Austen’s Ghost (2019)
- Dr. Meenakshi Bharat, Professor, Department of English, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Mahesh Rao, author of Polite Society (2019), an adaptation of Emma set in Delhi
- Dr. Usha Mudiganti, Professor, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Dr. Mandakini Dubey, Ashoka University
- Dr. Meenakshi Bharat, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Dr. Saikat Majumdar, Ashoka University
- Dr. Sambudha Sen, Shiv Nadar University
- Laaleen Sukhera, editor of Austenistan (2017), a collection of seven stories inspired by Austen set in contemporary Pakistan
- Maan Jalal, author and journalist at The National
- Dr. Jan Merriman, author of Jane Austen’s Remarkable Aunt, Philadelphia Hancock: A Girl of Genius and Feeling (2024)
- Dr. Ruth Wilson, author of The Jane Austen Remedy (2022)
- Dr. Penny Gay, author of Jane Austen and the Theatre (2002)
- Susannah Fullerton, president of the Jane Austen Society of Australia
- Dr. Joanne Wilkes, professor Emerita, University of Auckland and author Unfinished Austen (2024)
- Penny Ashton and Lori Dungey, actors and performers of Jane Austen improv comedies, including Promise and Promiscuity
- Dr. Javaria Farooqui, University of Islamabad, Lahore Campus
- KC MacMillan, playwright and dramatist, co-author, The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged
- Laura Klein, professional musician, doctoral candidate, and creator of the The Jane Austen Playlist
- Francine Mathews, author of Jane Austen mystery series, written under name of Stephanie Barron
- Dr. Ania Grant, University of Auckland, author of Evolution, Feminism, and Romantic Fiction: From Mr. Darcy to Mr. Big.
- Dr. Brian Boyd, Professor Emeritus, University of Auckland
- Sam Brooks, Auckland-based playwright and journalist, adaptor of Em
- Carolyn Miller, Australian author of Austen adaptations and Austen-inspired fiction
- Dr. Jocelyn Harris, Professor Emeritus, University of Otago, author of Satire, Celebrity and Politics in Jane Austen
- Dr. Leigh-Michil George, The UCLA Geffen Academy
- Syrie James, author of Jane Austen in 89 Minutes, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen and other Austen-inspired historical fictions
- Rev. Michael Giffin, Ph.D. scholar of Austen and religion
- Dr. Olivia Murphy, author of Jane Austen the Reader: The Artist as Critic
- Renata Dennis, Regional Coordinator for JASNA, Georgia Region and member of JASNA’s Board of Directors
- Dr. Jason Solinger, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Mississippi and Regional Coordinator of JASNA, Mississippi Region
- Adam Kay, CEO, Global Mosaic Foundation
- Dr. Vivek Sachdeva, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
- Georgie Castilla, Duniath Comics
- Deborah Yaffe, author of Among the Janeites
Upcoming Interviews
- Sonali Dev, author of multiple Austen adaptations
- Dr. Larissa Behrendt, Distinguished Professor, Jumbunna Indigenous House of LearningUniversity of Technology, Sydney, Australia, author of After Story
- Sarah Rose Kearns, artistic director of The Holy Theatre, playwright and dramatist, author of The Austens and Manydown
- Dr. Alda Björk Valdimarsdóttir, Professor, University of Iceland
- Dr. Kimiyo Ogawa, Professor, University of Sofia, Tokyo
- Damianee Scott, founder, Black Girl Loves Jane Austen
- Amanda Jacobs, co-writer, Austen’s Pride
- Jamilah Jane Bennet, founder, Homegirls of Jane Austen
- Sharmini Kumar, Australian writer, playwright, physician, and founder of 24 Carrot Productions
- Lizzie Dunford, Director, Jane Austen’s House Museum
- Sophie Reynolds, Head of Collections, Interpretation, and Engagement, Jane Austen’s House Museum
- Dr. Kim Simpson, Deputy Director, Chawton House
- Katie Childs, Chief Executive, Chawton House
- Dr. Gillian Dow, Associate Professor, University of Southampton, Co-Organizer, The Global Jane Austen Conference
- Dr. Ollie Taylor, Head of Visitor Experience and Exhibitions, Winchester Cathedral
- Dr. Maria Clara Biajoli, Universidade Federal de Alfenas
Literaturas de Língua Inglesa, Brazil
- Dr. Renata Colasante, UNIMEP, English, Faculty Member, Brazilian Translator of Austen Letters
- Adriana Jasbra Sales, English Teacher at CEFET-MG, Jane Austen Society in Brazil
- Yerimen Iglesias, Jane Austen Society of Argentina
- Adam Rattray, Head of Art History, Curator, Wellington College, advisor on restorations at No. 8 College Street, Winchester
- Dr. Janet Saidi, Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, The Austen Connection Podcast
- Jennifer Weinbrecht, Jane Austen Books
- Dr. Sarah Marsh, Associate Professor, Seton Hill University, Co-Director, Jane Austen Summer Program
- Dr. Inger S. B. Brodey, Professor, University of North Carolina, Co-founder and Director, Jane Austen Summer Program
- Gabriel Montero, JASMX–Jane Austen Society México
- Ely Ramirez, JASMX–Jane Austen Society México
- Dave Morris, improv artist who produces Austen-based improv shows in Victoria, British Columbia
- Mary Mintz, President, Jane Austen Society of North America
- Mirta Ines Trupp, author of Austenesque fiction that draws on Jewish culture and history
- Keiko Kimura Parker, translator of Austen
- Dr. Will Christie, Professor Emeritus, Australian National University