Kaitlin Saunders Talks About Her Book: A Modern Day Persuasion

Ahh…romance… (as I let out a contended sigh) Let me tell you what inspired me to write A Modern Day Persuasion, which is a modern day approach to the beloved classic, and my personal favorite, Persuasion.

Many of you, like myself, probably adore the multiple adaptations of Jane Austen films like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, and of course Persuasion. Yet, how many have the patience to tackle the Napoleonic-Era verbiage novels? Thus came my inspiration to introduce my friends to the magic of Jane’s pen in a language a modern day woman can relate to.

So whether you have read Jane Austen’s classics as is and are looking for another Austen-inspired novel to wet your romance-appetite, or you’re curious about sinking your teeth into what has spellbound both women and men for the past several hundreds of years in a 21st Century approach, you’ve found the right book.

My number goal while tackling the modernization of Jane's classic was to stay as close to the original as possible. Too many Austen-inspired novels and movies today stray too far from the beloved premise and therefore miss the mark. I didn't want to make that same mistake. My novel is a modern day adaptation.

Some circumstances had to be updated to make it more believable in this day and age such as Rick's career-gaining fortune, the fact that Anne, as a modern day girl, would have a job, and a better explanation for her family's retrenchment to Bath. It was also important to minimize the emphasis that Mr. Elliot, the man pursuing Anne, is her cousin. Those are just a few to mention, but when reading the book, one will find a handful of others. These “updates” don't mean drastic changes to characterization and circumstances like adding characters not in the original, etc. or giving them off-the-wall histories.

Persuasion, with all it's ups and downs, is a feel-good story. A Modern Day Persuasion takes its cue from the original, playing up Anne's heartbreak while also adding in satiric tid-bits, complementing Jane's already wonderful sense of humor. I hope my readers enjoy this modern approach, re-introducing themselves to a familiar friend, Anne, as they follow her present-day love story.

Author Bio: Kaitlin Saunders is proficient on the works of Jane Austen and finds that literature written by Austen serves to give her inspiration. At age sixteen, Kaitlin began her literary career writing her first screenplay, titled, “Caroline,” later bringing this period piece to life. Directing and producing this film, it gained popularity after being aired on local television. She was recently married and enjoys cuddling up with her husband to watch BBC.

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