Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Bernet.
Hi Katie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started writing my first novel in college, but it took me about a decade to get published. During that time, I worked in advertising, a career that I loved. I worked as both a strategist and a copywriter (eventually a creative director), so I gained confidence presenting in front of large groups, I learned how to generate ideas on demand, and I developed thick skin. All these things set me up for success as an author. While working in advertising, I wrote novels in the margins of my life—mostly in the early morning before work. I finished five manuscripts that got closer and closer to publication but each fell short. Then finally, my sixth manuscript—a novel called BETH IS DEAD—sold in a six-house auction to Simon & Schuster as a two-book deal. This moment changed my life, because it gave me the ability to leave my corporate job and focus on writing full-time. Today, Im working on my second book that will be published by Simon & Schuster and gearing up to promote BETH IS DEAD, a modern reimagining of “Little Women” as a young adult mystery/thriller, which is launching on January 6, 2026.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. My road to publication was very rocky, but I believe that all the challenges and setbacks prepared me for where I am today. Each of the five manuscripts that I ended up shelving taught me something new about writing, the publishing industry, and myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an author, and I currently write young adult novels—specifically young adult mystery/thrillers. I’m proud of my debut novel, BETH IS DEAD, because it offers a fresh take on a literary classic, “Little Women.” In BETH IS DEAD, Beth March is found dead in chapter one, and her sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect one another. As the oldest of three sisters, I’m a diehard fan of “Little Women,” and I had so much fun twisting this story, especially because it gave me an opportunity to write about the unique bond of sisterhood.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Professionally, I love getting lost in a scene. Getting into a state of flow, so that I look up and think—where has the time gone? Personally, I love spending time with my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katiebernet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiebernet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.bernet.1/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-bernet-94722549/
- Other: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Beth-Is-Dead/Katie-Bernet/9781665988698
