Finding My Jane: On Writing, Representation, and the Power of Adaptation

In this reflective episode, Vanessa Riley shares her experience speaking at the Jane Austen Society of North America’s 250th anniversary celebration. From standing before 700 devoted Janeites to exploring how Austen’s world intersects with race, history, and adaptation, Vanessa invites listeners to see her Jane—a writer deeply aware of her times. This talk is both a love letter to storytelling and a call for inclusion: reminding us that every adaptation, every organization, and every community must make space for all who love the craft.

Keywords / TagsJane Austen, JASNA, Regency, Diversity in Literature, Vanessa Riley, Adaptation, Writing Craft, Historical Fiction, Representation, Sense and Sensibility, Regency Era, Inclusion, Women Writers, Literary History, Period Drama, Storytelling, Authors of Color, Film Consulting, Heritage, Janeites, Hallmark Movies

Episode Notes & Extras 


Find my full show notes, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and extras on Substack → vanessariley.substack.com 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to the Rite of Passage with Vanessa Riley, the
podcast where storytelling meets passion in every page turns into
a new adventure. I'm your host, Vanessa Riley, and together
we'll dive deep into untold histories, reflect on current events
through a historical lands, share behind the scenes writing insights,

(00:29):
and explore the ups and downs of the author's journey
from rich historical novels to unforgettable characters to pop culture's
intrusion on the written word. Hey, we're going to explore
it all. So grab your pen, your notebook, and let's
begin our journey through the written word. Let's start your

(00:54):
Right of passage finding my jay on writing, representation and
the power of adaptation. This marks the third week I've
been at a conference or retreat, three weeks of sharing
my craft and my conviction that writing can and does

(01:16):
change the world. This past week, I've had the distinct
privilege of speaking at the Jane Austen Society of North
America's annual General Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. Picture it nearly
eight hundred devoted Janeites, many dressed in exquisite regency attire,

(01:39):
their hearts united by a love of Austin's words and worlds.
Together we gather to celebrate her two hundred and fiftieth birthday,
to attend lectures by leading Austin scholars, to browse through
stalls of clever trinkets and custom a editions, and to

(02:01):
my amazement, to hear my thoughts on Austin's influence on
modern storytelling. I was invited to share my perspective on writing,
on adaptations and the enduring relevance of Jane Austen as
a historical consultant for Hallmark's twenty twenty four adaptation of

(02:22):
Sense and Sensibility. I've had the rare opportunity to help
bring Austin's timeless wit and social commentary into our dialogue.
With the day's audiences. Standing before hundreds of Austin lovers,
I found myself reflecting not only on her genius, but

(02:44):
how far the literary community and I have come. You
asked me five or even three years ago whether I
could imagine speaking at Jazna. I would have said no.
Those were turbulent for many organizations, grabbling with questions of

(03:05):
diversity and inclusion, questions about who gets to sit at
the table, whose stories are values? And whose art. The
Romance Writers of America r WA suffered a painful implosion
and has struggled to regain its footing. The Regency Fiction Writers,

(03:27):
formerly the Beaumont Chapter, took a different path, embracing diversity
of membership of stories of the Regency itself, and has
grown to over four hundred members. And now seeing Jasna's
visible efforts toward inclusion, I feel very hopeful. From what

(03:48):
I witnessed this weekend, it seems as though the society
is choosing the right side of history, the one where
everyone who loves Jane is welcomed. When I took the
stage in front of more than seven hundred people, I
spoke about my Jane, not the quaint figure of teacups

(04:08):
and curtseys, but a woman aware of her world, a
writer who knew not only of tea and indigo, but
of war and enslavement. I spoke of the broader Regency landscape,
of women like Dorothy Kirwin Thomas, who funded Kensington House,
a school for mixed race girls on Merlelybourne Street in London,

(04:33):
and the Queen of Haiti, whose reign overlapped precisely with
the English Regency Austin's world, I reminded, was never as
small or as whitewashed as it's often portrayed. When I

(04:54):
spoke of film adaptation, I shared how every detail, from
hair and costume to script and set design was chosen
with intention. On the Hallmark project, the goal was not
to modernize Austin, but to honor her and plausibly expand
the visible world that Jane knew, as evidenced by her

(05:18):
own inclusion of marginalized characters. We wanted to tell stories
that reflect pride and power without bowing to prejudice. I
think Hallmark succeeded. Yet, when I showed responses to the
announcement of the film and how vile or witless some

(05:41):
can be, I told the audience that the power of
adaptation is in their hands. How you respond, what you welcome,
makes a difference. On Thursday night, I sat with long
time jai as the members, women who've been part of

(06:02):
the society for ten, twenty, even thirty years. They insisted
that the organization wasn't just a bunch of readers in costume.
They were true believers in Austin's ideals of intelligence, integrity,
and independence of thought. If an organization is to thrive,

(06:24):
its reach must be more than cosplay. It must open
real seats at the table, and its members must open
their hearts and minds, actively creating spaces for everyone to
feel welcome. I am deeply grateful to the Jane Austin

(06:45):
Society of North America for their warmth, their curiosity, and
their courage to expand the conversation. This was so much
more than an AGM. It was a celebration of AWE.
Euston's two hundred and fiftieth birthday and the exhibition of
the living, breathing legacy she continues to inspire. This week's

(07:14):
booklist includes Jane Austen's Emma, a source book edited by
Paula Byrne. Read this to see how Austin's most socially
astute novel emerges from the same complex world of class, gender,
and perception that still challenges us to write and adapt

(07:37):
with awareness. The Making of Jane Austen by Devani Looser.
This lively history reveals how Austin herself has been continually
adapted and reimagined. A guide to Regency dress, from corsets
and breisets to bonnets and Muslims by Hilary Davidson, essentially

(08:00):
for understanding the textures and details that bring authenticity to
any adaptation. Jane Austen Visual Encyclopedia by Claire Sam and
Gwyn Gerrett A feast for the eyes and minds. This
illustrated compendium shows how Austin's world continues to inspire art, film,

(08:25):
and storytelling. This week, I'm highlighting braven Kind Bookshop through
their website and bookshop dot org. The preorder campaign has begun.
Get your collector cards for Fire, Sword and Sea. Help
me build momentum for this historical fiction. Tell your local

(08:48):
library to carry the novel. Come on, It's Lady Pirates
in the sixteen hundreds. This saga releases January thirteenth, twenty
twenty six. The link on my website shows retailers that
are in on the campaign. Get the collector cards while
supplies last. You can find my notes on substack for

(09:10):
on my website Vanessailly dot com under the podcast link
in the about tap our stories matter, Tap like, git, subscribe, share,
and let's keep this moment alive with rite of passage.
Thank you for listening. Hopefully you'll come again. This is

(09:34):
Vanessa Railey