2025 - 2026 Members Meetings
September 27th Members Meeting
At our September 27th meeting, member Nicole Lam graciously stepped in at the last minute to present a fascinating program titled "Jane Austen and The Romance Novel." Nicole, a published author, gave an engaging overview of the history and development of the romance genre. She shared several compelling statistics:
• 82% of romance readers are female
• The average romance reader is between 35–39 years old
• Romance is the best-selling fiction genre, accounting for 23% of book sales
• It remains the fastest-growing genre, even as overall book sales decline
Nicole explored how romance novels have evolved over the last 200–300 years while still retaining many core elements. In Jane Austen’s era, the word “romance” referred to fantastical, non-historical stories—such as Ann Radcliffe’s Mysteries of Udolpho—rather than tales of love. Austen drew inspiration from the accomplished female writers who came before her, and many of today’s popular romance tropes can be traced directly back to her novels. Interestingly, many of the criticisms romance novels faced in the 18th century are still voiced today. To conclude the presentation, Nicole led a creative group activity. Each group was given a setting, two characters, and two classic tropes inspired by Austen’s works. The task was to craft a short romance story, which led to a lot of laughter, creativity, and fun as the stories were shared aloud. Thank you Nicole for stepping in and delivering such a thoughtful and entertaining presentation!
For those of you who missed the meeting, here is a bit more about Nicole.
Nicole Lam, is a Christian and closed-door romance author. She graduated from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in English, and she brings both heart and humour to everything she writes. When she’s not crafting love stories, you’ll often find her exploring new languages, sampling different caffeinated drinks, or diving into books that promise a happily ever after. Now, most writers are modest about their accomplishments—and Nicole is no exception. But curiosity got the better of me, so I did a little sleuthing and discovered her wonderful website! There, I learned even more about her writing journey and her deep passion for creating stories that blend faith, romance, and the hope of redemption. Nicole has an impressive 11 published novels to her name, including For the Record, The CEO and the Christian Girl, Saving the Single Dad’s Bookstore, and her most recent release, The Boyfriends List, which came out on August 8th of this year. Her books are filled with warmth, wit, and relatable characters who navigate love and life with grace and humour. We’re so fortunate to have Nicole as a JASNACalgary member, and I’m sure you’ll be inspired by her insights into storytelling, faith, and the joy of writing about love that lasts.
January 24th Members Meeting Recap
“Searching for Miss Lamb” - Presented by Renata Dennis
I think those who joined our latest meeting via Zoom, will agree that Renata did not disappoint. She delivered a thoughtful and engaging presentation entitled “Searching for Miss Lamb,” which explored possible real-life inspirations for the character of Miss Lamb in Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, Sanditon. Renata began by situating Miss Lamb within the text of Sanditon, noting Austen’s distinctive description of the character as “a young West Indian of large fortune,” “half mulatto,” “sickly and rich,” and “under the constant care of an experienced physician.” These details provided a foundation for examining historical women whose lives and circumstances may have informed Austen’s conception of the character. The presentation introduced three potential real-life inspirations:
Dido Elizabeth Belle (1761–1804), the daughter of Sir John Lindsay and Maria Bell, who was raised in the household of her great-uncle, Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice of England
Sarah Ann Redhead, the daughter of Samuel Redhead, a plantation manager in Antigua and Barbuda
Anne Murray Middleton, a woman of colour who was part of Jane Austen’s broader social circle in Southampton
1778 David Martin Artist (Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay & Lady Elizabeth Murray)
Renata explored the possible connections between Jane Austen and each of these women, with particular emphasis on Dido Elizabeth Belle, whose life is comparatively well documented. Considerable attention was given to Dido’s unique position within British society and her close relationship with Lord Mansfield, whose legal decisions—especially those touching on slavery—have long been of historical interest. A central focus of the discussion was the well-known portrait of Dido Belle alongside her cousin, Lady Elizabeth Murray. Renata analyzed the visual symbolism within the painting, explaining that elements such as Dido’s turban and the fruit she carries are widely interpreted as references to her Caribbean heritage. The portrait was noted as highly unusual for its time, as it presents a Black woman in a pose and scale that suggests near-equality with a white noblewoman—an exceptional representation in 18th-century British art. Renata also broadened the literary context by discussing other novels from the same period that featured characters of colour, including Maria Edgeworth’s Belinda and the anonymously published The Woman of Colour (1808). These works helped demonstrate that Austen was writing within a wider, if still limited, literary conversation about race, empire, and identity. The presentation concluded that while no single historical figure can be definitively identified as the model for Miss Lamb, the evidence suggests Austen was likely drawing upon real people and contemporary social realities. The portrait of Dido Belle, in particular, was highlighted as a powerful visual document—one that conveys important clues about status, origin, and representation in Georgian England, and which deepens our understanding of how Austen and her contemporaries may have viewed women of colour within their society. The talk prompted lively discussion and offered a rich, nuanced perspective on Sanditon, Austen's circle while living in Southampton, further illuminating the historical context behind one of Austen’s most intriguing characters.