Kia ora e ,

A writer friend of mine, Pat Whitaker, died last month. People say it's an "honour" to be with someone in their final days. Being allowed into this very vulnerable time is difficult to describe. You're grieving someone while they're still alive, watching as they deteriorate, but also just being with someone you care about.

It's strange that I can still see Pat in my head but I won't see him again. Raewyn and I plan to dedicate our book to him (still waiting to hear if we won the competition). We visited Otaki beach to mourn him (he's not having a funeral) and, despite it being the cusp of winter, I went into the water. You can't see me, but I'm in this picture.

I'm so grateful for Pat being part of my life, for his wanting us to be with him and to his family for allowing it too. This has been going on in the background for the last year or so while the rest of life continues ticking along.

Pat wrote to explore topics that interested him, he started in his 60's. Similarly his father painted in many styles, following where fancy took him, never making his works public. His brother was a scientist, a job and a vocation. The whole family valued exploration.

Life is short yada yada do things you love etc (I don't know how to end this)

Other things:

• The May Austen Society meeting was amazing - or so people tell me, I was busy organising the speakers
• Retreat booking in July, fingers crossed that goes well (get on the waitlist for first access to tickets)
• We have drinks in a couple of days
• Johnny Bowtie and I went looking for role playing venues for next year

Ngā mihi nui,

Frances Duncan (she/they)

Author, Austenite, Life Coach

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2025 Austen Society Events

25 June: Calling hour $10

24 July – 16 October: Group Read: Sense and Sensibility $30

26 July: After Austen: Em Eventbrite or Humanitix $30

27 August: Roleplaying $20

17 September: Calling hour $10

27 September: Costuming Austen's Characters Eventbrite or Humanitix $30

18 October: Book Club: Sense and Sensibility $25

19 November: Role playing $20

16 or 17 December: Austen’s 250th Birthday! TBC

Future Years Austen Society Events

2026: Diversity

• Group read/ book club: Unmarriageable, plus an online Q&A with the author Soniah Kamal (group read only)
• What if Wentworth Was a Woman. Talk by Amy Blythe, author of Within My Reach a Sapphic retelling of Austen’s Persuasion set in contemporary New Zealand
• Jane Austen and Bodily Diversity. An online talk by Kathleen James-Cavan 
• Beyond the Bookshelves: Diversity in Austen Retellings. A talk by Rachel Pilios

2027: Austen and Other Authors

• Harry Ricketts on Austen and Kipling
• Mark Houlahan on theatre in Mansfield Park with a focus on Lovers' Vows and Henry the Eighth
• Jocelyn Harris on Austen and Richardson
• Group read / book club: Old Friends and New Fancies (the first published Austen fanfiction)

2028: Austen and Medicine - seeking talks on topic

• Dr Emma Dunning on Gout in 19th Century Literature
• Group read / book club: Sandition