Twilight type Book

So, here’s a surprise that should make Twi-hards rejoice—or, in some cases, maybe raise a confused eyebrow.

In honor of the 10th anniversary of her best-selling vampire romance, Twilight author Stephenie Meyer has written a 442-page reimagining of the novel that made her a publishing sensation. This time around, she’s switched the genders of her protagonists. Yes, it’s true. In the new tale titled Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined, Bella Swan is now a boy named Beau (short for Beaufort) and the brooding Edward Cullen is now Edythe. Meyer is expected to discuss the project in more detail during an appearance Tuesday morning on Good Morning America.

Meyer explains in her foreword to the anniversary edition of the novel that she decided to go with the gender bending to underscore her position that Bella isn’t a “damsel in distress” as certain critics have charged. Rather, the author insists, the character is a “human in distress,” or as Meyer calls her, “a normal human being surrounded on all sides by people who are basically superheroes and supervillains.” Meyer also takes issue with the criticism that Bella was “too consumed with her love interest, as if that’s somehow just a girl thing.” The author mentions, too, that Beau is “more OCD” than Bella was and that he’s “totally missing the chip Bella carries around on her shoulder all the time.”

Meyer says writing the piece was “fun, but also really fast and easy.” According to the foreword, the rewrite allowed her to correct some errors that always bothered her and to re-edit the piece for grammar and word choice issues. She also altered some elements of the mythology for consistency.

Meyer first announced that there would be bonus content packaged as a part of the anniversary edition during the Forever Twilight in Forks, Washington festival, last month, though she acknowledges that some fans will be disappointed not to see Midnight Sun, the telling of Twilight from Edward’s perspective, included here (that manuscript has been shelved for years after an online leak). In fact, she begins her foreword with “I’m So Sorry,” blaming the decision to omit Midnight Sun on lack of time. Let’s see if Life and Death appeases her ardent fans. It’s sure to get them talking.

Both the hardcover edition and the e-book of Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined will be available for purchase Tuesday.

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