Aloha to Mary Kennedy, Talk Radio Mysteries, and STAYED TUNED FOR MURDER

Returning to SOS Aloha is Mary Kennedy - author, speaker, psychologist, and generous supporter of military families.  I "met" Mary when she interviewed me for an article in Publishers' Weekly about supporting military families, including the 389th Renegades.

From Mary's website,

Mary Kennedy is a national best-selling author, and a clinical psychologist in private practice on the east coast. She has sold forty novels, all to major New York publishers, and has made the Waldenbooks, BookScan and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists. Her early novels included middle grade fiction and young adult fiction for Scholastic and Penguin.

I am enjoying both Mary's YA books and her current series, The Talk Radio Mysteries:

Frasier” meets “Murder She Wrote” in this new cozy series by real-life psychologist, Mary Kennedy. Maggie Walsh leaves her clinical psychology practice in Manhattan to move to sunny Cypress Grove, a small south Florida town. She joins the staff of local radio station WYME to host a daily talk show called “On the Couch with Maggie Walsh” where she dispenses humor, advice and a few psychological insights.

But it's not all jokes and one-liners; Maggie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation in every book. With a host of zany characters at WYME, the help of her flamboyant mother, Lola, and a hot detective named Rafe, Maggie does her best to solve the murders and bring the killers to justice.

The series includes DEAD AIR, REEL MURDER, and released last week, STAY TUNED FOR MURDER. 

RT Book Reviews gave STAY TUNED FOR MURDER four and 1/2 stars,

"Radio psychologist Maggie Walsh returns for another adventure in this cozy that makes you want to fall into a comfy chair as you drink tea, eat chocolates and read. Just don't spill your tea while laughing! ... this series is guaranteed to gain more fans with each book."

In between patients and editors, Mary works tirelessly to support military families.  So I am giving her (and myself) the day off.  I invited my favorite TV psychiatrist, Dr. Frasier Crane, to interview Mary's Radio psychologist, Dr. Maggie Walsh from STAY TUNED FOR MURDER:

Psychologist Maggie Walsh matches wits with a phony psychic who blows into town and starts holding seances. Does Madame Chantel really have the power to talk to the dead? Two beloved old ladies attend one of her "ghostly chats" and wind up murdered. Meanwhile, Cypress Grove is gearing up for a celebration; the mayor is about to unearth a time capsule dating back fifty years and WYME is promoting the event. Maggie wonders if the contents of the time capsule could somehow be connected with the mysterious murders? People are dying to know what’s inside the capsule. Yes, literally dying! Stay tuned...

Frasier: I lived with Daphne, a self proclaimed psychic, for 11 years. I knew from the moment she first knocked on our door she was not "touched" as she claimed to be. How did you know that Madame Chantel was not psychic?

Maggie:  I knew Chantel wasn't a psychic as soon as she sat down at the control board. I was getting "grifter vibes" from her. I think it was something about the way she hogged the mike, the way she rolled her eyes at the questions from my listeners. I had the feeling that she really wasn't interested in helping people and that it was "all about her." A narcissist!

Frasier: We both broadcast on the radio. In my spare time, I dabbled in the restaurant business, Shakespeare production, and private practice. Yet you dabble in sleuthing. What elements of psychology can you apply to detective work? My father will, of course, scoff at any answer! 

Maggie:  I think I learned a lot from psychology about "asking the right questions." And I learned a lot about body language, watching for the quick glance, the microexpression that reveals what the person is really thinking. And I really try to notice speech patterns, pausing, stalling, when answering a question, repeating a question, acting defensive. My training in psychology has helped me determine if someone is telling the truth or not. Not that I'm always successful! I can be fooled like everyone else at times.

Frasier: I live with my father (and his dog), you live with your mother (and her acting pursuits). What we do for family!  Occasionally, my father has helped me on and off the air. Has your mother helped you?

Maggie:  My mother has definitely taught me to be astute about people, to always look for the little "telling" detail that reveals someone's true personality and not to be taken in by scoundrels. Because, as Mom tells it, there are a lot of players out in Hollywood and she had to learn pretty quickly how to tell the good guys from the bad guys. That information has served me well.

Frasier: Being a radio personality has its advantages and disadvantages. What are some that you have encountered?

Maggie:  Sometimes I get a better seat in restaurants because the owner is angling for a guest spot on my show! The downside is that I attract a lot of weirdos, conspiracy theorists and men who are convinced I'm their ideal woman. Since these men are usually goat herders, I don't take their advances too seriously.

Frasier: What's next for Maggie Walsh?

Maggie:  I wish I knew. I'd like to take a cruise or maybe visit an island and do remote broadcasts every day.  Or be a guest on Oprah.  Maybe I need a publicist!

Mahalo, Frasier and Maggie, for joining us at SOS Aloha!  In honor of Maggie's latest adventure, Mary is giving away a signed copy of STAY TUNED FOR MURDER.
 

To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment Mary, radio shrinks, and cozy mysteries.

2.  The giveaway is open only to US residents but ...

.... I welcome comments from all readers - whether or not you are entering the contest.

3. Comments are open through Friday, January 14, 12 pm Hawaii, to enter the giveaway.

4. If you are an international reader, I am happy to share Aloha with you - send your mailing address to sos.america@yahoo.com to receive a Hawaiian treat.

Join us Friday as we meet Jodi - an SOS Aloha reader - who started her own blog to share her passion of quilting.  Hence, new hobbies for a new year!  We'll give away two "romance" books related to needlework.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

In the PW article about the 389th Renegades, Mary wrote,

I wish everyone reading this piece could adopt a soldier and send books, candy, snacks, and, sure, homemade cookies or brownies. It's easy to do and it really means the world to our brave men and women in the military forces. As Janet Evanovich told me, "If Stephanie Plum could meet the Renegades, she'd give them a high-five and say, 'Well done!' "

I'd love for Stephanie, our favorite bonds enforcer, to accompany Mary on her frequent trips to the Dover AFB Middle School.  They would be quite a hit with the students who are interested in writing mysteries ... and solving them ala Plum.  Seriously, I appreciate Mary's generous heart,  

"There are very few times in life when a person drops in and gives the gift of herself. I am grateful that you gave us that gift. Your message was informative, motivational and genuinely kind."

- Kim Kroll, Middle School Librarian, Dover Air Force Base, Dover. DE

And to leave you with a not so serious thought, do you think Dr. Maggie Walsh could help Stephanie decide between Morelli or Ranger?!?!