Modern Little Women: An Interview with Virginia Kantra

Have you seen Little Women yet?! It's been the first question out of every book lover's mouth since Christmas Day, when Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel finally hit theaters. BPL's bloggers are happy to report the movie is wonderful, it is everything, stop whatever you're doing and go see it. Even more good news: this interview with Virginia Kantra, author of Meg & Jo, the first installment of a two-book, contemporary retelling of Little Women. Whether you're a longtime Alcott reader or are brand new to March Sister fandom, you will love Kantra's take—in Meg & Jo, the award-winning writer adds fresh twists to the nostalgic story. Check out the interview below, then check out a copy of Virginia Kantra's new book!

What is your personal connection to Little Women? I can imagine it's intimidating to write a retelling of a book that is beloved by so many. Were you inspired by Little Women’s 150th publication anniversary or is this a project you've had in mind for a long time?

I grew up with Little Women, and it grew with me. I recently found a picture of me and writer Suzanne Brockmann standing in front of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in 2014, so I’ve been actively working on the project for at least that long. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of bringing my adult perspectives to the story—aging the girls up, exploring how their dreams and talents, family roles and expectations followed them into adulthood.

Of course, there’s a huge challenge in reimagining a classic because so many readers know and love the original, and they’re going to bring their own feelings and memories of reading Little Women (or watching the movie) to your story. I’m not sure you can ever live up to that kind of expectation. You can only be true to yourself, to your own experience, your own emotions.

Without a doubt, Meg & Jo is a novel that stands on its own. There are nods to Little Women throughout, but there are also a variety of (shocking! thrilling!) twists and departures from the source material. Can you describe the decision-making that went into your retelling—how did you choose which moments to preserve and which moments to flip the script?

The basic characters of the March sisters are the same. I wanted Meg & Jo to stand on its own, but there are certain formative events from Little Women that have always stuck with me, like Jo cutting her hair or Meg struggling to put her babies to bed. I wanted to keep those key scenes, but reimagine them in a fresh context.

It was important for me to keep the goodness and warmth of the original, but I did make a significant change in the character of Reverend March. I did a lot of reading about Louisa May Alcott, and Meg and Jo’s fictional father is based less on the saintly Mr. March of Little Women than on Louisa’s real life father, Bronson Alcott, a revered scholar and educator who was also—sadly—a terrible husband and provider.

I'm so curious to see if these two answers are different: Which March girl is your personal favorite? And which March girl have you most enjoyed writing about?

Jo was certainly the one I identified with most growing up—the outspoken aspiring writer. But I've also been a stay-at-home mom with three children under the age of five and I have so much sympathy for Meg. I admire Beth, dealing with her fears by herself. And Amy is sharp and clear, a pure joy to write. So, honestly? I love them all.

Your novel alternates viewpoints between Meg and Jo. Which sister's story was easier to tell? Did you struggle with one more than the other?

Meg was definitely harder. Her story is the “after” of the happily-ever-after. She’s struggling to balance being a wife/mother/daughter/person—something I think a lot of women can relate to—and I felt it was important to show her frustration without her coming across as self-pitying or angry.

You are a highly accomplished author who's written a slew of books. For Meg & Jo fans who are reading you for the first time, which of your books should they check out next?

Oh, thank you! The Dare Island series, definitely—contemporary romance with a strong family focus set in North Carolina’s outer banks.

What was your path to becoming a writer? Did you always know you wanted to be an author or did you consider other careers?

Like Jo, when I was growing up I wrote plays to perform on a neighbor’s porch. I always wanted to be either a writer or an actor. And as a writer, I get to play all the roles!

Give us a peek into your writing life. Do you have a set routine? Do you keep any special talismans on your desk? Are you like Jo March with her writing hat and mood pillow? :)

I write every day—mornings are best. And at the moment, my talisman is a paper doll of Jo March with a Post-It bubble above her head that says, “You should be writing!”

This is a library blog, so of course I have to ask a library question! Would you mind sharing a memory of a library from your past?

When I was a kid, my mom took me to our local library once a week. Later, when I could walk the mile and a half each way, I went at least that often, stopping in the old Episcopal church on the way to cool off and in the park on the way home to read. I read my way through the shelves of Andrew Lang fairy books and all of Madeleine L'Engle and finally, when there was nothing new in the children's department, the librarians there sent me downstairs to find books by Georgette Heyer and Mary Stewart. I met writer Lloyd Alexander there, who was so kind (and wrote back to me). I got my first job there, volunteering shelving books.

The library was my safe space and my enchanted kingdom and my home. Without the library and the people who worked there, I would not be a writer.

I went back for a visit this year. It looks very different now. The upstairs of the new building has pushed out the limits of the windows where I once curled up to read. The old building where I browsed the adult collection now houses offices. But the librarians still made me welcome. I am so, so grateful to them. (And to librarians everywhere!)