Submitted by Jenny Law, Brainerd Memorial Library
(May 8, 2024) — Katie (Devlin) Tietjen grew up in Higganum, attended RSD17 schools and is the daughter of English teachers. It makes sense then, that she became an author.
Her debut novel Death in the Details was released on April 9, 2024. Katie tells the story of Maple Bishop, who must save her home in Vermont after being left penniless. She creates and sells dollhouses; however, her first customer is found dead and Maple decides to use her miniature house skills to solve the crime.
Katie was inspired by a real-life miniaturist, Frances Glessner Lee, who made “nutshells” to recreate crime scenes. I asked Katie to talk about her inspiration and also to describe her writing process.
Why murder as the genre?
I’ve always been a big fan of murder mysteries! There’s something very satisfying about putting together clues and figuring out who did it and why. By the end of a mystery, I usually feel as if at least some element of order has been restored to the world.
Why that era in history, and how did you learn about Frances Glessner Lee?
I first learned about Frances Glessner Lee on NPR. Back in 2017, they aired a story about her “Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death.” Mrs. Lee made these miniature re-creations of death scenes in order to help train investigators; they’re actually still used to this day. I was instantly fascinated, and when I heard they were on display at the Smithsonian, I knew I wanted to take advantage of a rare opportunity to see them in person. I traveled to Washington, D.C., and then became completely captivated. Immediately, I knew I wanted to write a mystery series and base each book off a different one of the eighteen nutshells. I decided to set my story in the 1940s because that’s the time period when Mrs. Lee built her nutshells. Also, I really enjoy reading World War II-era books, and I thought it’d be interesting to explore the immediate postwar period.
Did you apply to writing workshops?
Initially, after seeing the nutshells in person, I drafted two Young Adult manuscripts in which my fictional version of Frances Glessner Lee was a mentor to teenage protagonists. I entered both of those stories in Connecticut’s Tassy Walden contest and won first place two years in a row! The kind people there and at the shoreline chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators were very encouraging and supportive. Then, I was lucky enough to earn a scholarship to participate in a writing program called The 5th Semester. That program started with a retreat in Chicago, and it was there that one of the mentors suggested I re-write the story as an adult cozy mystery and focus on the FGL character as the protagonist. I loved that idea and am delighted I decided to follow her advice. For the next six months, I got to check in with my mentor as I drafted; getting feedback along the way was immensely helpful.
What is your writing routine/process?
I usually do most of my writing very early in the morning before my family is up and before I go to my job as a high school library media specialist. I really enjoy this time of day! In terms of planning, I tend to sketch out the big ideas so that I have a sense of the pacing/major plot points, but I also enjoy when the characters surprise me along the way! While the drafting phase is exciting, I truly enjoy making revisions as well.
Did you get an agent, and what is that process like?
I have a wonderful agent, Chelsey Emmelhainz, from Copps Literary. Finding an agent can be daunting, but I got advice from my 5th Semester mentors about how to go about it. I used a lot of online resources to help me craft a query letter (basically an elevator pitch), research reputable agents who might be interested in my book, and send it out. Chelsey has given me a lot of great advice and ultimately found a great home for the book at Crooked Lane.
How long did it take to write your first draft, and how many rewrites?
It took me about a year from starting the manuscript until I began querying literary agents. During that time, most of my re-writing happened as I drafted and conferred with my mentor. I also had a critique partner, a fellow aspiring crime novelist, and we traded feedback on each other’s drafts. Once I signed with Chelsey, I revised it again before we starting sending it to editors. Once the book sold to Crooked Lane, I did one final round of light revisions with my editor, Faith Black Ross.
How long was the process from idea to writing to being published?
I started drafting this manuscript in February 2020, and the publication date was April 9, 2024.
On May 30, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., Katie Tietjen will be at Brainerd Memorial Library in Haddam to discuss her novel. Join us for discussion and refreshments.
If anyone would like more information about Katie’s book, she can be found at https://www.katietietjen.com/ which includes information about upcoming events. They can also follow her on Instagram @ktea_writes
