Kelly Gardiner writes historical fiction, fantasy, and crime fiction for all ages. Her new crime novel, Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective, is inspired by Jane Austen and co-authored with Sharmini Kumar. Kelly’s recent series is The Firewatcher Chronicles and her other books include 1917, shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Young People’s History Prize; Act of Faith and The Sultan’s Eyes, both shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards; and the Swashbuckler pirate trilogy. Goddess, her novel based on the life of the seventeenth-century sword-fighting, cross-dressing opera star, Mademoiselle de Maupin, is being adapted for the screen.
Sunday 19 October
2.45pm (bar from 2)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that 2025 is the 250th year since the birth of Jane Austen! Contemporary regency authors Kelly Gardiner, Sharmini Kumar and Alison Goodman will explore Austen’s wide appeal and ongoing relevance and explain why they love to write novels set in the regency era. Afternoon tea and champagne will be served, regency costumes will be on display, and we’ll learn a simple regency dance! With Elizabeth McCarthy.
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