Author Interview with Mary Kennedy – part two
April 2, 2007 by Marianne H. Donley in category Archives tagged as Author Interview
Mary Kennedy is a multi-published author, and a clinical psychologist in private practice on the east coast. She specializes in forensic work, and her clients have included murderers, psychopaths and convicted felons. When not traveling to exotic locales, she lives with her husband and five neurotic cats. The cats have resisted all her efforts to psychoanalyze them, but she remains optimistic.
She writes young adult novels, middle grade fiction and mysteries. She has sold 37 novels, and has made both the Waldenbooks, BookScan and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists. Mary’s latest book, Secrets of a South Beach Princess, is available now from Berkley Trade.
Q – Do you ever run out of ideas? If so, how did you get past that?
Mary Kennedy – I’ve always had “day jobs” and I find that my experiences usually show up in my books. I was Public Relations Director for a major travel company and that inspired me to write SECRETS and set it in South Beach. I’ve done some celeb interviews and visited lots of Hollywood sets and that’s how I got the idea for TALES. As they say, “everything is material.”
Q – What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Mary Kennedy – Do you mean besides becoming a writer? Just kidding! I once showed up on a movie set with a bad case of the flu and 104 temperature. They were shooting all night, 10 hours in the freezing cold. I had a four line role in the film and I was determined not to miss my chance. In hindsight, it seems pretty crazy but at the time it made perfect sense to me.
Q – What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Mary Kennedy – Well, I wish I could say the money, but I’m afraid that’s not the case. A lot of writers say it’s the flexibility and being able to set your own hours, but I’ve always done that anyway. I’m a licensed psychologist, which allows me to have a very flexible schedule.
Q – What is your favorite word?
Mary Kennedy – Courage.
Q – What is your least favorite word?
Q – What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Mary Kennedy – Working with animals is enormously inspiring–I can’t imagine not having pets in my life. Volunteering with rescue organizations is also very important to me.
Q – What turns you off?
Q – What is your favorite curse word?
Mary Kennedy – You don’t really expect me to say that, do you?
Q – What sound or noise do you love?
Q – What sound or noise do you hate?
Mary Kennedy – Gunshots.
Q – What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Q – What profession would you not like to do?
Q – If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive?
Mary will be using her psychology experience to teach OCC/RWA’s April Online Class is INSIDE THE CRIMINAL MIND: CREATING THE PERFECT PSYCHOPATH.
Her class will run from April 16 to May 13 (four weeks). COST: $20 for OCC members and $30 for non-member. Enrollment deadline is April 14, 2007.
For more information about the class including how to enroll, please see our website http://occrwa.com/classes_April.htm
Part one of Mary’s interview was posted yesterday.
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