In this week’s double author interview episode, Carly sits down with Katie Bernet, author of the wildly buzzed-about YA thriller ‘Beth Is Dead’ — a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection that has already earned three starred reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness). Katie shares the story behind her explosive debut: a modern, twisty, murder-mystery reimagining of ‘Little Women’ where Beth doesn’t die of illness… She's found murdered on page one. If you love smart thrillers, literary retellings, or stories about how breakthrough books get made, this episode is for you. In part two of this week’s episode, Deepa Anappara shares her journey from aspiring writer to published author, discussing the challenges of overcoming self-doubt and the importance of persistence in the writing process. She emphasizes the significance of storytelling from marginalized perspectives and the intentionality behind choosing narrative points of view. Deepa also highlights the role of research and observation in crafting authentic characters and settings, as well as the delicate balance of language and style in her writing.Note: Cece Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.