By Corrina Sisk-Casson
Correspondent
DUNLAP, Tenn. — The name Kathy Hogan Trocheck might ring some bells with fans of mystery novels. but the name Mary Kay Andrews probably sets up a louder clang
Ms. Trocheck is known for her series of mystery novels featuring cop-turned-maid Callahan Garrity.
But as Ms. Andrews, she’s the author of such as Southern-fried mysteries as “Savannah Blues,” “Hissy Fit,” “Little Bitty Lies” and “The Fixer Upper,” some of which have wound up on The New York Times bestseller list.
As the special guest at the recent Friends of the Sequatchie County Library’s annual meeting, the author captivated a crowd with her boisterous personality.
During her talk, she explained why she went adopted a pen name.
“As many of you library-lovers know, fiction is shelved alphabetically,” she said. “And when I was Kathy Trocheck with a ‘T,’ I was down by the floor. With Andrews with ‘A,’ I can be right here on the top shelf.”
Ms. Trocheck and Nina Hunt, one of the Friends of the Library committee members, have a mutual friend. Ms. Hunt wanted to do something special for the 50th anniversary of the Sequatchie County Library, so she invited Ms. Trocheck to speak.
The author agreed to forgo a fee. Her novels were for sale at the meeting, and part of the profits went to the group.
Anticipating Ms. Trocheck’s visit, Ms. Hunt started to reread “Savannah Blues,” first published in 2001.
“Her books are wildly entertaining,” she said.
Ms. Trocheck was one of five children who practically lived for periodic Bookmobile visits.
“When we got off the Bookmobile, the tires rose because we had checked out the maximum number of books,” she said. “I come from a book-loving and a library-loving family.”
She earned a journalism degree at the University of Georgia, and started her reporting career in Savannah, Ga., before going on to work for papers in Atlanta.
Her first novel was turned down by several publishers and didn’t get any offers. But she wanted to write books and have a career where she could stay at home with her two children, so she tried again.
She landed her first book contract with “Every Crooked Nanny” in 1990 and had quit reporting by May 1991. The book was a hit, and she followed up with nine more mysteries.
But her 10th book was not going to be a mystery, so she and her publisher decided to adopt a new name. She put her daughter’s name, Mary Kathleen, with her son’s, Andrew, together and came up with Mary Kay Andrews.
“Savannah Blues,” her first book under that name, became a New York Times best-seller, outselling all of her Trocheck mysteries combined.
Corrina Sisk-Casson is based in Dunlap. Contact her at corrinacasson1@aol.com.