Inside a Beloved Story: Little Women Retellings, Creativity, & Sisterhood with Katie Bernet (E190)
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Katie Bernet. Katie is an author living in Dallas, Texas. She’s an award-winning creative director, a long-standing member of the DFW Writer’s Workshop, and the director of the 2025 DFW Writer’s Conference. The oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women. We are here today to discuss her debut novel, Beth is Dead.
Episode Highlights:
Writing Beth is Dead while living with her sisters, and how those real-life dynamics quietly found their way onto the page.
A simple but powerful writing exercise that helped her move past resistance: making a love/hate list and choosing to write toward what felt hard.
What changed for her when she reached the end of revisions and realized she understood Beth March in an entirely new way.
She talks about which March sister was the most challenging character to write.
A gentle reminder that creativity isn’t exclusive or earned - it’s something we all carry.
Connect with Katie:
Show Notes
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Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (full-cast audio)
Enchantment by Orson Scott Card
Girl Dinner by Olivia Blake
The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson
Book Flight
Little Women by Louise May Alcott
So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow
Little Monsters by Máire Roche
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