I had such a great time chatting with April and I couldn't fit all of our conversation on one blog post. So without further ado, here is the second part of the interview. You can read Part 1 here.
Rummanah: Welcome back, April. As most of my readers know, I read Jane Eyre when I was in high school. I’m sure most people have read Jane Eyre as a teen even though it might be considered as an “adult” novel, but I definitely think that it has YA appeal. Did you always want to write Jane for a young adult audience or was that your publisher’s decision?
Rummanah: Me too. I love how I can go back and reread some of my favorites books from high school and come away with a fresh perspective and new reading experience. Jane Eyre has been adapted many times for the big and small screens. Do you have a favorite movie adaptation of Jane Eyre? What is it?
April: Definitely the 2006 Masterpiece Theater version with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. It compresses the whole story into roughly three hours and takes some liberties along the way, but it’s so steamy and smart, and the cast is perfect. Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens ARE Jane and Mr. Rochester.
Rummanah: That adaptation is a favorite for most people. What is your favorite quote from Jane Eyre?
Rummanah: Oh, that's my favorite quote too! It perfectly summarizes Jane's personality along with her admission that she does love Rochester but refuses to let go of her own beliefs. With Nico being a rock star (which is an awesome modern twist) I can’t help but wonder, do you have a Jane playlist?
Rummanah: I know this may sound totally random, but I pictured a young Bruce Springsteen as Nico while I read Jane. He just had The Boss's vibe, you know? Now I know it's not really a coincidence either. I heard through the grapevine that your next writing adventure will be a modern retelling of Wuthering Heights, which happens to be my favorite book of all time. Please spare me from the suspense and anxiety and say that it’s true. *Crosses fingers*
Rummanah: Yes! *Pumps fist in the air* Er, sorry. Please continue. *Blushes*
Rummanah: Heathcliff as a punk rocker makes complete sense. He defies authority yet I personally feel, completely misunderstood. I can't wait to read it! April, thank you so much for stopping by!
Rummanah: Welcome back, April. As most of my readers know, I read Jane Eyre when I was in high school. I’m sure most people have read Jane Eyre as a teen even though it might be considered as an “adult” novel, but I definitely think that it has YA appeal. Did you always want to write Jane for a young adult audience or was that your publisher’s decision?
April: While I was writing Jane, I thought of it as an adult novel. Though I’ve always been fascinated by the late teenage years, that fraught but thrilling time when a person is starting to choose her path in life, it never occurred to me that I was writing not just about young adults but for them. My brilliant agent Amy Williams saw that Jane had potential as a YA novel, and I’m so glad she did. The books I read when I was in high school and college thrilled me and shaped my psyche in a way nothing I read now is likely to do, no matter how wonderful it may be.
Rummanah: Me too. I love how I can go back and reread some of my favorites books from high school and come away with a fresh perspective and new reading experience. Jane Eyre has been adapted many times for the big and small screens. Do you have a favorite movie adaptation of Jane Eyre? What is it?
April: Definitely the 2006 Masterpiece Theater version with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. It compresses the whole story into roughly three hours and takes some liberties along the way, but it’s so steamy and smart, and the cast is perfect. Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens ARE Jane and Mr. Rochester. April: "Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? - You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty, and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you.” *Sigh*
April: Absolutely! I keep adding to it, but here it is, straight from my Ipod playlist:
It Happens Every Day (Dar Williams)
Bad Reputation (Freedy Johnston)
American Slang (The Gaslight Anthem)
Parachute (Train)
The Lucky One (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
My Love Will Not Let You Down (Bruce Springsteen)
Romeo’s Tune (Steve Forbert)
Hey, Soul Sister (Train)
Don’t Dream It’s Over (Crowded House)
Your Mind’s Playing Tricks on You (John Wesley Harding)
Rumors (Josh Ritter)
Janey Don’t You Lose Heart (Bruce Springsteen)
Troubled Times (Dar Williams)
Intro/Sweet Jane (Lou Reed)
Rummanah: I know this may sound totally random, but I pictured a young Bruce Springsteen as Nico while I read Jane. He just had The Boss's vibe, you know? Now I know it's not really a coincidence either. April: It’s true.
Rummanah: Yes! *Pumps fist in the air* Er, sorry. Please continue. *Blushes*
April: The setting is a night club on New York’s lower east side. The Heathcliff character is a punk rocker, and Cathy is the club owner’s daughter.
April: My pleasure.
Readers, if you haven't done so already, definitely check out Jane by April Lindner. You don't have to be familiar with Jane Eyre to enjoy this excellent Gothic romance thriller. To learn more about April, please visit her website or friend Jane on Facebook!
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That's one of my favorite quotes too! Although I have to say I still prefer the Timothy Dalton/Zelah Clarke movie version of Jane Eyre - I think it sticks more closely to the original story. I do like that the 2008 version shows some snippets to re-imagine Rochester's and Bertha's past though.
I enjoyed this interview very much. It's awesome that April came on your blog!!
Thanks, Kelli. I'm very grateful that April had a chance to stop by and chat.