Interview with Author Sierra Cartwright, Co-Author of the Clandestine Classics Edition of Jane Eyre
Today I'm interviewing Sierra Cartwright, the author of over thirty original romantic novels who recently revisited the classic Jane Eyre for Total-E-Bound's Clandestine Classics imprint, giving new life to Jane and Mr. Rochester's beloved story. You may have already read interviews with Sierra at the Clandestine Classics blog or at USA Today's site, but I believe I've asked her some questions no one else has yet. So without further ado, here's the inside scoop on Sierra and Jane Eyre.
RR: The Clandestine Classics imprint has received a lot of media attention. Were you surprised by any of it, and have your feelings toward the Clandestine Classics imprint and / or your edition of Jane Eyre changed?
SC: I was absolutely blown away by the amount of attention this project generated. I was honored to participate, but honestly, Ranae, I was nervous about tackling Jane Eyre. It’s such a beloved story, and trying to stay true to the original while also adding spicy content was a real challenge. I think the Clandestine Classics imprint is interesting. Don’t tell me no one, ever, has wondered what really happened behind closed doors…
RR: I think quite a few readers have wondered, even if some don't care to admit it. ;) Speaking of all the press, do you feel that the media’s portrayal of the CC imprint has been generally accurate, or do you think readers who pick up Jane Eyre will be surprised by its contents?
SC: One of my favorite sketches about CC was on the Jimmie Kimmel show. Kate Beckinsale did a fake excerpt from Moby Dick. It was an absolute scream! I think many members of the press had a ton of fun with this project. And I think that readers who pick up any of the Clandestine Classics, not just Jane Eyre, will be impressed by the quality of writing. The authors themselves love these stories. The publisher, Total-E-Bound is absolutely committed to a quality product.
RR: I remember when the Jimmie Kimmel skit came out. It was one of my favorites too. :) And I think you've brought up a good point. I believe that what many critics of the CC imprint have failed to consider or understand is that the authors (at least, I can speak for myself and I know that you feel the same, as I suspect the others do) love the classics and are fans of the originals, just like everyone else. I know my work on Wuthering Heights was a labor of love, and the TEB staff have put a lot of careful, thoughtful work into the production of the books as well. I also hope and believe that many readers who give CC a try will be pleased and impressed.
As for your CC edition of Jane Eyre, if you had to choose just three words to describe it, what would they be?
SC: Respectful. Scandalous. Long!
RR: I love that the CC books are nice long novels that readers will be able to become totally wrapped up in. As for the writing, how was working on Jane Eyre different from writing your own original books? How was it the same?
SC: I had a level of anxiety about adding scenes to Jane Eyre that is absent in my own writing. Starting with a story that is so rich and compelling was fascinating. I didn’t have to do character charts or graph the major plot points. And I’ve never been able to go to the video store and watch a movie I was going to be re-telling! How was it the same? The late nights, absolute focus on what I was doing, my craving for chocolate and other junk foods, the immersion to the point I have no idea of current events. My world becomes Starbucks and home.
RR: Yes, having access to film re-tellings of the classics has been really special. (It was the perfect excuse for me to re-watch the Tom Hardy version of Wuthering Heights - one of my favorite movies!) And the chocolate cravings ... also totally relatable, for writers and readers alike, I suspect. ;)
Clandestine Classics is a unique publishing imprint built around an unconventional idea, but if you had to say which one of your other books is most similar to Jane Eyre (in any way), which would it be? What are the similarities?
SC: I’d never really be arrogant enough to compare anything I have ever written to the genius of Charlotte Bronte, but Unbound Commitment is among the most emotionally rich stories I’ve ever written. Anytime a heroine loves a hero and has to confront her inner demons and refuses to compromise her ideals in order to earn her happily ever after, I think the read is emotionally satisfying.
RR: That makes sense - one of the things I really love about the Brontë sisters' work is the emotional richness.
As a reader, what’s your favorite (original) classic work of literature?
SC: How can you choose one? Among my favorite reads is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. So rich!
RR: That's one of my favorites as well. :)
Which Jane Eyre character do you personally relate to the most and why?
SC: I wish I were more like Jane! She’s was so brave and uncompromising, despite her love for Mr. Rochester. To leave the comfort and security of her life because of her beliefs is true heroine material.
RR: I couldn't agree more. As for Jane's creator, what do you admire most about Charlotte Brontë (author of the original Jane Eyre)?
SC: I admire Charlotte Brontë’s guts. Maybe she modeled Jane after herself. In order to publish, she took a male pseudonym. I love that she went for her dreams, despite obstacles that we as modern writers rarely face.
RR: That's certainly something to think about. Being a writer has enough challenges as is - imagine if one had to pretend to be male in order to achieve commercial success! I'm very glad times have changed in that respect.
Now that Jane Eyre has released, what can we expect next from you?
SC: What are you working on now and what can we expect next from you? I’ve just finished work on a billionaire story, and I’m planning a return to the Zones nightclub, as well as a trilogy set in Colorado.
RR: Billionaire stories are hot right now. It'll be interesting to see your take on the popular theme. Good luck with your current and future projects, and thank you very much for interviewing with me.
* * * *
Born in Northern England and raised in the Wild West, Sierra Cartwright pens book that are as untamed as the Rockies, Denver, she calls home. As one of the pioneers of Mommy Porn, featuring hot housewives and cougars in MILF and S&M scenes, she has set new standards.She’s an award-winning, multi-published writer who wrote her first book at age nine and hasn’t stopped since. Sierra invites you to share the complex journey of love and desire, of surrender and commitment.Her own journey has taught her that trusting takes guts and courage, and her work is a celebration for everyone who is willing to take that risk. www.sierracartwright.com Connect with Sierra on Twitter: @SierraWrites
One of the world's best loved books, Jane Eyre, is retold with scorching passion…
Mystery, betrayal, scandal, and a love that transcends time…
There was only him...
From the moment Jane Eyre sets eyes on her one and true master, Mr. Rochester, her life is irrevocably changed.
The tall, dark man is an enigma, complex, deep, compelling, frightening, and tempting beyond compare.
This stern, unyielding man brooks no refusal and demands all of what Jane has to offer as he invites her on a journey of the senses that would scandalise society. He demands her abject surrender. In his strong and athletic arms, Jane submits to his darkest desires and discovers hers are every bit as searing, plunging her into a world she never suspected and never wants to escape.
The thrilling and beloved novel is perhaps more relevant today than it ever was. Jane Eyre's struggles to live a life of grand passion, compromising nothing, willing to sacrifice everything for what she believes, resonates with the modern woman's struggles to have it all, to be it all, and to love with uncompromising abandon.
Available both as an ebook and in paperback. Purchase from Amazon or at the TEB store.
Learn more about the Clandestine Classics imprint and all its titles at:
www.clandestineclassics.blogspot.co.uk
RR: The Clandestine Classics imprint has received a lot of media attention. Were you surprised by any of it, and have your feelings toward the Clandestine Classics imprint and / or your edition of Jane Eyre changed?
SC: I was absolutely blown away by the amount of attention this project generated. I was honored to participate, but honestly, Ranae, I was nervous about tackling Jane Eyre. It’s such a beloved story, and trying to stay true to the original while also adding spicy content was a real challenge. I think the Clandestine Classics imprint is interesting. Don’t tell me no one, ever, has wondered what really happened behind closed doors…
RR: I think quite a few readers have wondered, even if some don't care to admit it. ;) Speaking of all the press, do you feel that the media’s portrayal of the CC imprint has been generally accurate, or do you think readers who pick up Jane Eyre will be surprised by its contents?
SC: One of my favorite sketches about CC was on the Jimmie Kimmel show. Kate Beckinsale did a fake excerpt from Moby Dick. It was an absolute scream! I think many members of the press had a ton of fun with this project. And I think that readers who pick up any of the Clandestine Classics, not just Jane Eyre, will be impressed by the quality of writing. The authors themselves love these stories. The publisher, Total-E-Bound is absolutely committed to a quality product.
RR: I remember when the Jimmie Kimmel skit came out. It was one of my favorites too. :) And I think you've brought up a good point. I believe that what many critics of the CC imprint have failed to consider or understand is that the authors (at least, I can speak for myself and I know that you feel the same, as I suspect the others do) love the classics and are fans of the originals, just like everyone else. I know my work on Wuthering Heights was a labor of love, and the TEB staff have put a lot of careful, thoughtful work into the production of the books as well. I also hope and believe that many readers who give CC a try will be pleased and impressed.
As for your CC edition of Jane Eyre, if you had to choose just three words to describe it, what would they be?
SC: Respectful. Scandalous. Long!
RR: I love that the CC books are nice long novels that readers will be able to become totally wrapped up in. As for the writing, how was working on Jane Eyre different from writing your own original books? How was it the same?
SC: I had a level of anxiety about adding scenes to Jane Eyre that is absent in my own writing. Starting with a story that is so rich and compelling was fascinating. I didn’t have to do character charts or graph the major plot points. And I’ve never been able to go to the video store and watch a movie I was going to be re-telling! How was it the same? The late nights, absolute focus on what I was doing, my craving for chocolate and other junk foods, the immersion to the point I have no idea of current events. My world becomes Starbucks and home.
RR: Yes, having access to film re-tellings of the classics has been really special. (It was the perfect excuse for me to re-watch the Tom Hardy version of Wuthering Heights - one of my favorite movies!) And the chocolate cravings ... also totally relatable, for writers and readers alike, I suspect. ;)
Clandestine Classics is a unique publishing imprint built around an unconventional idea, but if you had to say which one of your other books is most similar to Jane Eyre (in any way), which would it be? What are the similarities?
SC: I’d never really be arrogant enough to compare anything I have ever written to the genius of Charlotte Bronte, but Unbound Commitment is among the most emotionally rich stories I’ve ever written. Anytime a heroine loves a hero and has to confront her inner demons and refuses to compromise her ideals in order to earn her happily ever after, I think the read is emotionally satisfying.
RR: That makes sense - one of the things I really love about the Brontë sisters' work is the emotional richness.
As a reader, what’s your favorite (original) classic work of literature?
SC: How can you choose one? Among my favorite reads is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. So rich!
RR: That's one of my favorites as well. :)
Which Jane Eyre character do you personally relate to the most and why?
SC: I wish I were more like Jane! She’s was so brave and uncompromising, despite her love for Mr. Rochester. To leave the comfort and security of her life because of her beliefs is true heroine material.
RR: I couldn't agree more. As for Jane's creator, what do you admire most about Charlotte Brontë (author of the original Jane Eyre)?
SC: I admire Charlotte Brontë’s guts. Maybe she modeled Jane after herself. In order to publish, she took a male pseudonym. I love that she went for her dreams, despite obstacles that we as modern writers rarely face.
RR: That's certainly something to think about. Being a writer has enough challenges as is - imagine if one had to pretend to be male in order to achieve commercial success! I'm very glad times have changed in that respect.
Now that Jane Eyre has released, what can we expect next from you?
SC: What are you working on now and what can we expect next from you? I’ve just finished work on a billionaire story, and I’m planning a return to the Zones nightclub, as well as a trilogy set in Colorado.
RR: Billionaire stories are hot right now. It'll be interesting to see your take on the popular theme. Good luck with your current and future projects, and thank you very much for interviewing with me.
* * * *
Born in Northern England and raised in the Wild West, Sierra Cartwright pens book that are as untamed as the Rockies, Denver, she calls home. As one of the pioneers of Mommy Porn, featuring hot housewives and cougars in MILF and S&M scenes, she has set new standards.She’s an award-winning, multi-published writer who wrote her first book at age nine and hasn’t stopped since. Sierra invites you to share the complex journey of love and desire, of surrender and commitment.Her own journey has taught her that trusting takes guts and courage, and her work is a celebration for everyone who is willing to take that risk. www.sierracartwright.com Connect with Sierra on Twitter: @SierraWrites
One of the world's best loved books, Jane Eyre, is retold with scorching passion…
Mystery, betrayal, scandal, and a love that transcends time…
There was only him...
From the moment Jane Eyre sets eyes on her one and true master, Mr. Rochester, her life is irrevocably changed.
The tall, dark man is an enigma, complex, deep, compelling, frightening, and tempting beyond compare.
This stern, unyielding man brooks no refusal and demands all of what Jane has to offer as he invites her on a journey of the senses that would scandalise society. He demands her abject surrender. In his strong and athletic arms, Jane submits to his darkest desires and discovers hers are every bit as searing, plunging her into a world she never suspected and never wants to escape.
The thrilling and beloved novel is perhaps more relevant today than it ever was. Jane Eyre's struggles to live a life of grand passion, compromising nothing, willing to sacrifice everything for what she believes, resonates with the modern woman's struggles to have it all, to be it all, and to love with uncompromising abandon.
Available both as an ebook and in paperback. Purchase from Amazon or at the TEB store.
Learn more about the Clandestine Classics imprint and all its titles at:
www.clandestineclassics.blogspot.co.uk
No comments have been added yet.
