The following is an interview with writer Melodie Edwards regarding the release of the romance novel, Once Persuaded, Twice Shy, through Berklety. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Edwards about her creative process in adapting Persuasion for a modern audience, what she hopes that readers may connect with about the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of Once Persuaded, Twice Shy! As a follow-up to your work on the critically acclaimed Jane & Edward, what are you most excited for readers to experience with this adaptation?
Melodie Edwards: Thank you. I’m pretty excited for the opportunity to give new life to the themes, conflicts, and characters of centuries-old literature, while liberating them from what is, to many, antiquated language and outdated social/moral restrictions. Austen is not Bronte, so with this adaption I hope readers enjoy a lighter, more humorous treatment of the romantic yearning in Persuasion, without the very real survival drive of Jane Eyre.
BD: The creative process of approaching an adaptation of a prior work – especially one as well known as Persuasion – can be a daunting experience. How would you describe your approach to breathing new life into the story, and what did you find to be most rewarding/challenging about the process?
ME: I have to locate the timeless lesson, the human psychology that motivates the characters and forms the theme of the work. Once I have that, I need to imagine the modern equivalent. For example, concretely, the original story is about a young couple — she from an upper wealthy family; he a soldier without sufficient income to support a wife. She is persuaded to dump him and the perceived future poverty and social decline. Today, the problem is easily solved by her taking a paid job, but in Austen’s time that is not a possibility. But thinking deeper, the problem is really about her lack of faith in him and his inability to empathize with her trepidation. So, in my version, she’s finishing her MBA and preparing to take over the family business, while he’s a floundering undergrad who can’t choose a major and would rather sleep than study. Like Austen’s story, he comes back very changed 8 years later. The most challenging aspect of this adaptation was finding the obstacles to thwart their reunion, given our modern cyber-stalk-your-ex world. Again, human psychology from Austen still makes sense: You’d be shy, unsure, hurt, angry, embarrassed before you’d admit regret and slowly, cautiously risk an invitation or question about reuniting.
BD: What makes Berkley the perfect home for this story?
ME: Nobody does romance better!
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Anne and Ben’s story will connect with and impact today’s readers?
ME: I think that a story like Anne and Ben’s redirects us to the enduring human relationships that have real value and meaning. Their separation, caution, yearning, patience, and in the end their absolute clarity about what really matters is a life lesson for us all. They find faith in each other and in their love.
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
ME: I have outlines for reimaginings for other Austen works, and of some of her contemporaries, but right now I’m actively writing an original romance story. I have a thriller in mind, too, but it will have to wait.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Once Persuaded, Twice Shy and your other work?
ME: Always happy for people to come say hi on Instagram, and I post updates there pretty regularly. I’m also on Twitter, and my website is melodieedwards.com.
