When I used to write about radio for The Boston Globe we always talked about radio as the ubiquitous medium. You could listen while driving from work; you could tune n while cooking dinner. And if you're an on-air shrink, that means you have access to a huge range of people, both victims and murderers. Such is the premise of Mary Kennedy's Talk Radio Mysteries, which feature Maggie Walsh. Like Kennedy, Maggie is a clinical psychologist - but unlike her creator, Maggie has taken her talents to the airwaves of WYME, with wild results. Obsidian launched Kennedy's series in Jan., 2010, with Dead Air. We spoke with Mary on the eve of her second Talk Radio Mystery, REEL MURDER (You can also read more about Mary and Maggie at http://www.marykennedy.net)
Why does a talk radio psychologist make a natural detective?
Maggie has a tremendous advantage in solving crimes, because she comes in contact with a broad spectrum of people as a radio talk show host. Cypress Grove is a little south Florida town and everyone knows everyone else. And everyone listens to Maggie's show, so she has contacts everywhere. With the police department, the newspaper, all the advertisers and listeners. And of course, as a psychologist, she has an edge in solving crimes-she always focuses on getting inside people's heads and figuring out their motivations when she's going through her list of suspects. I used to work as a forensic psychologist, and like Maggie, I've "seen it all."
What is your own talk radio background, and how did it prepare you for writing mysteries?
I was a radio copywriter for WKDA, a terrific rock radio station in Nashville Tennessee. It was a fabulous, crazy-making job and I had 90 accounts to write for. But it was great training for novel-writing--I learned to write fast, to focus and to make deadlines. Plus it was a really fun environment.
In REEL MURDER, is Maggie still hosting her south Florida radio show and still solving murders?
Yes, Maggie is still at WYME Radio, but there's a new twist. When a Hollywood movie company comes to Cypress Grove, Maggie snares a job as a script consultant on the film. It's a psychological thriller, so Maggie's forensic psychology background comes into play. And of course, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
REEL MURDER is the second in the Talk Radio Mysteries. Was it easier to write?
In some ways, yes, I've spent a lot of time on movie sets, either as a bit player (an "under-five") or writing entertainment pieces. It's a new environment for Maggie and fish-out-of-water stories are always fun to do. There's a built-in conflict. And a movie set is always exciting, a hotbed of drama, intrigue and romance, the perfect place to set a murder mystery..
Do you research the south Florida locations for the Talk Radio Mysteries?
Yes, south Florida is one of my favorite places and I rent an ocean-front condo in Ft. Lauderdale every year. I use that as my base camp as I explore everywhere from Boca to South Beach.
I see that DEAD AIR, the first in the Talk Radio Mysteries, received a 4 star review from Romantic Times. And it hit the best-seller list on the Independent Mystery Book Sellers list. Heady stuff for your first venture into mysteries, right?
Yes, I was honored by the RT review and thrilled to see it make the best-seller list. I've written 37 young adult novels, so this is new territory for me.
But why did you turn to mysteries? What's the appeal?
I've always loved to read mysteries, and I like the fact that the plot is neatly tied up at the end of each book. Justice triumphs, evil is punished. If only real life could be that simple.
What was the toughest part of writing?
The hardest thing for me is to make sure all the suspects have a strong MMO (motive, means and opportunity) to commit the crime. The reader has to believe that each of them could be guilty, up until the very end.
You're a clinical psychologist in private practice. How does psychology play into your novels?
Maggie uses psychology in her radio talk show-she's like a female Frasier. In fact, my agent pitched and sold The Talk Radio Mysteries as "Frasier meets Murder She Wrote."
What are you doing to promote REEL MURDER? Any appearances planned?
Nothing at the moment, but I'm always open to suggestions. I speak at conferences, libraries, schools and military bases all over the country. People are intrigued by the fact that I used to be a forensic psychologist. I guess it's the "CSI effect" but people think forensic psychology is wildly glamorous, and I've spoken at over 100 places in the US. Some of my workshops are listed on my website www.marykennedy.net.
Do you listen to radio psychologists?
I love Kenny, Taylor and Victoria on COSMO Radio on Sirius. They're not shrinks but they tackle love, sex, relationships and all sorts of interesting topics. They're always entertaining.
Clea Simon gave up journalism after three nonfiction books for a life of crime (fiction). The author of two traditional ("cozy") mystery series, her sixth and most recent release is GREY MATTERS (Severn House, March 2010).
