Mystery...Romance...Sci Fi...Humor... The joy of writing fiction - meeting brand new people in places that don't yet exist.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Welcome, Mary Kennedy


Today I welcome my friend, Mary Kennedy.  Mary is a best-selling author and a practicing clinical pyschologist. She has sold forty novels, all to big New York publishers, and has made the Waldenbooks, BookScan and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists. Mary also won an award from the National Endowment for the Arts for "artistic excellence in literary fiction. 

Mary's most recent book, STAY TUNED FOR MURDER, is the third in the Talk Radio Mystery series, following DEAD AIR (released January 2010) and REEL MURDER (June 2010).  The series heroine is
Maggie Walsh, a psychologist who closes up her Manhattan practice and heads to sunny Florida to take a job as a radio talk show host. And, yes, she solves a murder in every book!

A little about STAY TUNED FOR MURDER...

Maggie Walsh, Florida’s newest radio talk show psychologist, thinks that being tucked away in her studio will keep her safe from all the crazies. But when she hits the airwaves, there’s no telling whom she’s reaching–and who wants to reach back.

Maggie is a natural on the radio, but she’s still learning how to play the ratings game. Her big guest star is self-proclaimed oracle Madame Chantel, whose on-air “chats” with the dead are the talk of Cypress Grove–until Chantel makes some grim predictions at a seance and one of the town’s most beloved citizens is found murdered.

Meanwhile WYME is busy promoting the opening of a fifty-year old time capsule. But the more Maggie learns about what might be unearthed, the more she suspects that the timing of the murder was no coincidence. The appearance of another body has Maggie rushing to find the killer–and wondering if there might be something to Chantel’s ghost stories.

Now a couple questions for Mary...

Mary, I know that you and Maggie are both psychologists and you both have experience working in radio but beyond that, how much of Mary Kennedy is there in Maggie Walsh?

Maggie and I are both psychologists, except she decided to be a radio talk show host in sunny Florida, and I'm in private practice here in the northeast. She does seem to have a knack for meeting interesting people and being open to new experiences and I'd like to think that we have that in common. In some ways, Maggie is living my fantasy life, because I think it would be terrific to have a radio talk show. And I really do love Florida.

In addition to your clinical practice and your writing, you are also involved in a number of worthy causes such as animal protection. Could you share a little about your work in that area?

I've been involved in animal welfare for a long time. Not just companion animals, although I do have 8 cats, but all animals. I belong to most of the major animal welfare groups, and I also find it helpful to contribute to grassroots groups that don't get a lot of press. For example, I donate all my speaking fees to Michael Budkie of SAEN (Save Animals from Exploitation Now). He works tirelessly to expose the cruel treatment of lab animals and he does it on a very limited budget. He's devoted his life to this cause. 

I also speak out against "institutionalized" violence against animals whenever I can, rodeos, bull-riding, bullfighting, circuses, greyhound racing etc. Animals used for entertainment lead miserable lives. It's hard to believe--and rather discouraging--to think that people ignore the suffering involved in these so-called "sports." And I'm very involved with cat rescue and trap-neuter-release programs.

 Thanks, Mary, for sharing and for being here today.  I loved all three of the Talk Radio Mysteries and hope Maggie returns for a fourth.

Now, the great news: Mary has not only generously offered a copy of STAY TURNED FOR MURDER for me to give away, she's adding a special bonus, a copy of the second Talk Radio Mystery, REEL MURDER. To be eligible, just leave your e-mail address in a comment.  If you already have a copy of REEL MURDER, please let me know and I'll give someone else a chance.  The winner will be announced on Monday morning.

Groaner of the Day: Undertakers Mal and Mel were storing embalming fluid. It was considered appropriate to place it in an area out of sight. Mel had his share stored promptly, but there was still a good portion left for Mal to take care of. When asked why he had not just stored it all, Mel said, "The rest is for Mal to hide."

33 comments:

Dru said...

Great interview and love hearing about animal rescue programs.

Don't include me in contest as I have both books.

Love the groaner.

Mary Kennedy said...

Hi Linda and Dru, I loved the groaner, as well! It brought a smile to my face. I was sitting looking out at the gray skies and dreary landscape (Ingmar Bergman, anyone?)thinking "another day in paradise--not!" The animal welfare work is pretty all consuming--I've been working on it for years (okay, decades) and people are still shooting wolves from planes, slaughtering exotic animals in canned hunts, harpooning whales, abandoning unwanted puppies and kittens, etc, etc. One of my friends always says, "Mary, you can't save them all." And I always think, "she's right, but I can save the ones I see." Okay, I'll quietly step off my soapbox now. Hope everyone is gearing up for a great day!

Mason Canyon said...

Linda, great interview.

Mary, it's always interesting to learn more about authors. I love the fact that you are so involved in animal protection. I have a copy of STAY TURNED FOR MURDER on my desk and hope to get to it soon. It sounds like an intriguing read. Best of luck.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Julie Hyzy said...

Mary, you do so much! As I said to a mutual friend today in an email - I am in awe!

Don't enter me in the giveaway - Mary's books are auto-buys for me!

Mary Kennedy said...

Hi Mason and Julie, thank you so much! Julie, can't wait to read Buffalo West Wing,the latest White House Chef release, it is at the top of my TBR pile and btw, amazon included it in an ad I received today. Will forward it to you.

Janice said...

Hi Sis - just stopped by to see what's going on. Very impressive - the number of books and blogs you've got going....no wonder you had to retire from the day job! I didn't know there was such a thing as a blog interview - how fun and interesting! Why am I not surprised that your guest shares your love for animals?

Linda Leszczuk said...

Hi Dru. Glad you enjoyed it. I'm not surprised you have both books. We both find the good ones.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Mary, thanks so much for being my guest today. And for sharing a cause that is near and dear to both our hearts.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Mason - Thanks for coming by. You'll love Stay Tuned. I know I did.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Julie - Thanks for stopping by.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Janice - Hey, Sis. Meet Mary. Mary, this is my adopted little sister. Who is just NOW figuring out how to follow my blog.

VeganCraftastic said...

What an awesome giveaway, thanks for the chance to win!

-craftytofu at yahoo dot com

Linda Leszczuk said...

Vegan - got you entered. Thanks for becoming a follower.

Mary Kennedy said...

Hey, Janice and Lala (Vegancraftastic) thanks for stopping by). Thought you might like to know that I'm a Pisces, too. Two fish swimming in opposite directions, one of my friends said "Mary, that's you! Always bucking the tide."

Mary Jane Maffini said...

Excellent interview, Mary (and Linda too!) Thanks for fighting the good fight for animals. I learned something today and you've given me something to think about.

I have your book and don't need to be in the giveaway!

Mary Kennedy said...

Hi Mary Jane--waving madly to fellow Penguin mystery author! Love CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL and hope everyone buys it. Also, I really have my fingers crossed the Camille (Camille MacPhee) is picked up as a television series, that would be so exciting! Thanks for stopping by...

kissablysweet1 said...

I can't wait to read these!! Sound terrific!
Macladie25@yahoo.com

Melissa said...

Enjoyed this post so much and reading about your work with animals. I admire you tremendously!!! My email is
melissa0908@hotmail.com

Mary Kennedy said...

I enjoyed being a guest, everyone! Happy reading and a big thank-you to Linda!!

Linda Leszczuk said...

Thanks for coming by, Mary Jane.

Melanie and Melissa - got you entered.

And Mary - thanks again for being my very first guest author.

Linda Leszczuk said...

To any latecomers - the giveaway does continue through Sunday night at midmight, so you can still leaving a comment to enter.

Kuzlin said...

Halfway through Dead Air and already planning on moving on to the next adventure. My email for the contest is kuzlin@aol.com. Thanks.

Jaymie said...

Would love one of the books - this is a series I have looked at but not read yet. jbrooxd@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

Wonderful interview and loved getting to know Mary!

Robert Guthrie said...

40 novels... wow. And very cool to hear about an author's other interests. Thank you for posting the interview!

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to read these. tracy.g.white@gmail.com

Linda Leszczuk said...

Kuzlin and Jaymie - got you entered. Thanks for coming by.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Liz - would you like to be entered in the drawing for Mary's books? If so, I need your e-mail address.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Tracy - thanks for coming by. Yes, I loved them both.

Kimber Leszczuk. said...

Great interview Linda and Mary. I had never really been into the mystery genre but I am currently in college studying psychology - your character and this series sounds like one I might really enjoy!! I am going to have to check them out and give mysteries another try. :)

Karin said...

Hi Linda! I left a comment on Wed but somehow it didn't post. Will try again. I loved your interview. Thanks for introducing me to another author. I love to read series in order back to back I think you were the person who introduced me to that concept and I enjoy following the character development.

Still chuckling at the groaner.

Karin

Todd said...

Sounds like a fun series of books.
I like that the character is an extension of the author ...we'll know that this character is authentic!
Blog interviews ... neat idea!
Todd

Linda Leszczuk said...

TC - got your entry in under the wire. Getting ready to do the drawing now.