Happy Wednesday and Happy New Year, Everyone! Today I’m excited to have debut author Katie Bernet here to share about her YA mystery, Beth Is Dead. This is a mystery and a modern-day reimagining of Little Women. I loved Little Women and read a lot of mysteries, so I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:
.jpg)
Beth
March’s sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin
to suspect each other—in this debut thriller that’s also a bold, contemporary
reimagining of the beloved classic Little Women.
When Beth March is found dead in the woods on
New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.
Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has
feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend.
Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t
take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the
March girls had for doing the unthinkable.
Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on
social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for
the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her
aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of
hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all
costs.
Despite the growing suspicion within the family,
it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home.
After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when
their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth
could have been killed by anyone.
Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds
next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy
threatens to rip the Marches apart.
Before I get to Katie’s interview, I have my IWSG post.
Posting: The
first Wednesday is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group Day.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The
awesome co-hosts this month are: Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!
Optional Question: Is there anything in
your writing goals for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn’t get done
in 2025?
No, because I don’t have any writing plans right now. And I’m very content not writing fiction. My goals are to continue improving Literary Rambles, write more articles for my job where I get paid for my writing, crochet more amigurumi animals to donate, and strive to live a fulfilling life.
Interview With Katie Bernet
Hi
Katie! Thanks so much for joining us!
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Growing up, I loved to dance and trained very seriously. One summer, a dance choreographer asked us to write about the characters we were portraying in a performance, and I had so much fun drafting what ended up being one of my first short stories. After that, I wrote short stories here and there, but I didn’t start writing novels until my senior year of college. After graduation, I worked in advertising as a copywriter and eventually a creative director, and all the while, I was writing novels in the margins of my life. It took me ten years and six manuscripts to get published, but now I’m working as a full-time author and enjoying every minute.
2. Where did you get the idea for Beth Is Dead, and what made you decide to make it a reimagining of Little Women?
The initial idea came from a love/hate list—an exercise recommended by a fellow author. She suggested that I write a list of all the books, movies, tropes, themes, and life experiences that I love as well as those that I hate. Two things stood out to me on the love list: “Little Women” and mystery/thrillers—a combination that would help me explore and conquer a lot of themes on my hate list like loneliness, loss, and feeling trapped by the perceptions of others.
Your Writing Process
3. What an interesting way to come up with your story idea. How did you learn how to write a mystery? What are some tips on how to write a mystery that helped you as you wrote Beth Is Dead?
.jpg)
Honestly, I learned by reading books and watching TV series. I’ve taken many classes on the craft of writing through the years, but all my knowledge of how to write mysteries came from experiencing and studying good mysteries. For example, I was recently blown away by a TV series called “All Her Fault” which is based on a book with the same name by Andrea Mara. After watching, I opened my notes app and wrote down all the reasons I admired the storytelling, and I’m already trying to use those tools and techniques in my own writing.
4. Other authors I’ve interviewed also learned from reading and watching TV mystery series. Because this is based on Little Women but told in modern times, getting your characters—Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth—right is important to your story. How much of your characters’ qualities and development are based on the original characters, and how much is your own vision of them? How did you know how to create the right balance between the two?
I really wanted to maintain the heart of the characters while modernizing their circumstances, so I asked myself—How would, for instance, Beth March’s core struggle evolve in modern times? How would her goals and desires in the original story look different today? In the source material, a lot of the tension comes from expectations and limitations placed on women in the 1800s, so I had to figure out how each of the girls would be challenged in new ways in a modern world.
5. I love the title of your book because it so clearly tells us what your story’s about. How did your editor and you decide the title should be Beth Is Dead?
I like to joke that Jo March came up with the title of the book, because I had the idea while I was writing a scene in which Jo March names her own potential novel. So, thanks Jo!
Your Journey to Publication
6. Sara Crowe is your agent. Share how she became your agent and your road to getting your publishing contract.
I feel so lucky to be working with Sara. She was my dream agent for a long time, because she represented a handful of authors I really admire, including Nina Lacour and Jenny Martin. I contacted her with a good old fashioned query letter and survived the slush pile. I signed with a manuscript that ultimately didn’t sell, but Sara stuck by me, and the next project I finished ending up being “Beth Is Dead” which sold in a six-house auction to Simon & Schuster—a process that Sara managed with ease.
7. Talk about a way you feel your story became stronger from working with your agent or publisher. Why?
Funny enough, my agent
and editor are both named Sara(h), and the Sara(h)s played important roles in
shaping “Beth Is Dead.” Early in the drafting process, my agent, Sara Crowe,
asked me a question that seemed simple on the surface but ended up driving a
lot of my story decisions. She said, “What is your reason for writing this
retelling?” I realized that I needed a reason deeper than my love for the
source material, and finding that reason helped me shape not only the mystery
but the underlying themes in the novel. Working with my editor, Sarah Barley,
has been so much fun. Her love for the story was so clear from the very
beginning, and she helped me find ways to strengthen every aspect of the novel
from big picture themes to line-level word choices.
Promoting Your Book
8. I saw on your website that you have a book tour scheduled in January and that you’ll be attending a few book festivals in February-April. How were these events organized
Yes, I’m so excited. My wonderful publicist, Alex Kelleher-Nagorski, and his team organized the book tour and coordinated my participation in the book festivals. I’m so grateful for their help and can’t wait to hit the road.
9. Yes, Alex is a great publicist that I enjoy working with a lot. You’re a long-standing member of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Writers Group and were the director of the 2025 DFW Writers Conference. Have the connections you made through this group helped you with navigating being a debut author and your marketing plans for your book? If so, how?
Absolutely. I would not be a published author without the DFW Writer’s Workshop. I joined this group ten years ago when I graduated from college, and the writers in the group are like family to me. We meet weekly to read our work and receive critique from writers in all genres. That process has taught me so much and helped me gain confidence as a writer. I have also enjoyed serving on the committee for the DFW Writer’s Conference for many years. We organize a gathering of authors, agents, and editors each year, and it’s a great place to learn and build community.
10. What are you working on now?
I’m working on another retelling of a literary classic as a YA mystery-thriller. For now, I won’t tell which one, but I can’t wait to share.
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Katie. You can find Katie at katiebernet.com, Instagram, and Tik Tok.
Giveaway Details
Katie’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of Beth Is Dead for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by January 17th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.
If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Katie on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.
Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops
Monday, January 12, I have an interview with Jacquelyn Stolos and a giveaway of her MG Asterwood
Wednesday, January 14, I have an agent spotlight interview with A.J. Van Belle and a query critique giveaway
Friday, January 16, I’m participating in the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
Monday, January 19, I have a guest post by Leslie Vedder and a giveaway of her MG The Labyrinth of Souls and The November Beast
Wednesday, January 21, I have an agent spotlight interview with Alexandra Levick and a query critique giveaway
Monday, January 28, I have an interview with Tracy Wolff and a giveaway of her MG The Aftermyth
Sunday, February 1, I’m participating in the Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop
Monday, February 2, I have a guest post by V.T. Bidania and a giveaway of her MG A Year Without Home
Wednesday, February 3, I have an interview with Alichia Dow and a giveaway of her YA Until the Clock Strikes Midnight and my IWSG post
I hope to see you on Monday!
