Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

What drew you to the genre you write?
I grew up watching mystery TV shows with my mother and grandmother (think Murder, She Wrote and Columbo) and always loved books in this genre as a kid—yeah, I read the Baby-Sitters Club, but I preferred Encyclopedia Brown, Howliday Inn, and whatever iteration of Nancy Drew there was in the 90s! I always wanted to write my own mysteries, especially since it was hard to find books or series that featured Black female sleuths.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
n/a—I did the work, so I want MY name as the byline!

Tell us how you got into writing?
I’ve always loved to write. Ask any of my teachers or friends from elementary school through college—I was always writing a story, often when I should’ve been focusing on something else. For years, I thought I wanted to write literary fiction, but my heart kept tugging me back to writing mysteries. There was a writing hiatus when I had toddlers/little kids running around the house, but now that most of them are old enough to entertain themselves, I have more time to devote to writing seriously!

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I’m actually an elementary school teacher. This is Year 20 for me! I’ve taught in St. Thomas and in North Carolina. I’ve taught every elementary grade except 4th, but I’ve been teaching 1st grade for the past 11 years. I love being part of a dynamic school community and watching students grow from little kindergarteners to confident 5th graders ready to take on middle school.

How many books do you have published?
I actually write a lot of short fiction, and I’ve had eleven short stories published with six more scheduled for next year or beyond! THE BUSH TEA MURDER will be my debut novel-length work.

Where do you write?
Wherever there isn’t somebody else, haha! I live in a house with my husband, kids, mother, and pets, and it’s sometimes hard to find a quiet spot to focus on writing. Last Christmas, I did convert a small room in the basement into a cozy writerly space—new paint and wallpaper, repainting and covering old chairs and tables, finding soft lamps and cozy accessories at Goodwill—and I love it. However, I’m starting to find LEGOs and snack wrappers in that space, so I guess my kids love it too!

What’s your favorite genre to read?
I love to read what I write—mystery/crime fiction—and my favorite subgenre is the traditional mystery/amateur sleuth category. I love that, in this genre, the adventure of solving a crime can be anyone’s…especially with the right skillset and an abundance of logical thought.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m a seventh-generation Virgin Islander, and I come from a family of proud culture-bearers! My grandmother, Ruth Moolenaar, was also an educator (teacher and principal) and a writer, although her books focus on historical figures of the Virgin Islands and the neighborhood in which she grew up on St. Thomas. I grew up in St. Thomas and our oldest 3 kids were born there.

Who is an author you admire?
There are so many to choose from, but I’m going to highlight Barbara Neely. In 2024, I was honored to win a grant created by MWA in her memory. She was a pioneer in creating a Black female amateur sleuth with lots of personality and a strong voice, especially in a landscape that didn’t include a very diverse pool of sleuths. Ms. Neely definitely paved the way for writers like me, and I appreciate her.

Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
First, seek out your community and find ways to contribute. The crime/mystery writing community has brought me into contact with some of the most generous, knowledgeable, talented writers around. We genuinely enjoy watching each other succeed. There’s so much to learn, and so many people who are generous with their time and advice. Then, once you get your footing, try to be that writer who’s generous with your time and advice.

Next, don’t be afraid to tell the story you have in your head. There were so many things I was afraid of at first—for example, how the Caribbean dialect I write for my characters would be received by editors or readers unfamiliar with it—that proved to be less of an issue than I thought. Although it’s great to take advice from others, hold on to the spark that makes your stories yours.

What is next for you?
My novel-length debut, THE BUSH TEA MURDER, will be released on April 21st from Crooked Lane Books! I’ll also have a short story called “Two-Hour Vacation” in the March/April issue of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. There are several other stories that have been accepted for publication in various anthologies, but I don’t have firm publication dates for those yet.

Where can we find you?
Check out my website: ashleyruthbernier.com ! I’m also on Facebook as Ashley-Ruth Moolenaar Bernier, and on Threads, Instagram, and Bluesky as @armbernier

Now to have some fun . . .

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Um, I can eat breakfast three times a day. Breakfast-for-dinner? Yes, please! Pass the eggs and pancakes!

Fruits or vegetables
Veggies, actually! I love green beans and zucchini!

Sweet or salty snacks
This one’s hard. I guess I’d go with sweet, but I’ll never say no to a potato chip.

Ice cream or cake
CAKE, all the way! Every student I’ve ever taught knows that Mrs. Bernier’s favorite food in the world is cake. Make it a Virgin Islands Vienna Cake, and I’m in heaven!

Cooking or baking
Well, the end result of baking is usually cake, so…

Dining in or dining out
Now that most of my kiddos are older, dining out is an enjoyable experience—and there’s no cleaning up afterwards!

City life or country living
I grew up on an island and love the quiet sweetness of a small community. Country living matches that well. I’m not sure that I would enjoy living in a city.

Beach or mountain
Whew—definitely a St. Thomas beach, but a North Carolina mountain is a VERY close second!

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Having grown up in a place that doesn’t experience the four seasons, I find that I appreciate and enjoy the fall. It’s a beautiful and cozy time, and I love seeing the leaves change!

Extrovert or introvert
I’m an introvert who can play an extrovert really, really well.

And even more fun . . .

What is your favorite movie?
To watch WITH kids: Encanto or How to Train Your Dragon.
To watch WITHOUT kids: Recent favorites include Sinners, the Knives Out movies, and American Fiction.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Machete, insect repellent/citronella candle, and sturdy shoes!

My bio:
Ashley-Ruth Bernier’s work has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, Stone’s Throw, Smoking Pen Press, Malice Domestic’s Mystery Most Devious and Mystery Most Humorous, The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2023, and other esteemed anthologies. Originally from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ashley-Ruth writes mysteries highlighting the vibrant culture of her home. Ashley-Ruth is a 2023 SMFS Derringer finalist, a 2023 and 2024 Killer Nashville Claymore finalist, and one of the 2024 recipients of MWA’s Barbara Neely grant for Black mystery writers. Her first novel length work is forthcoming from Crooked Lane books in Spring 2026. She currently lives with her family and teaches first grade in North Carolina.