MARK KEARNEY:

Debut Novel: Twisted Obsession.

Crime Thriller Author, Mark Kearney, is a Staunton, Virginia based writer. Kearney's debut novel, Twisted Obsession is a police thriller. In the opening chapter, the main character, Officer Jay Mundie, justifiably kills a suspect in the line of duty. This action causes him to go through emotional turmoil, which he does not weather well. He comes out of his funk abusing alcohol and his family and starts to develop a lust to kill again. He does.

Kearney is the co-founder of Book Em. The Book 'Em Foundation. The mission of The Book 'Em Foundation is to raise awareness of the link between high illiteracy rates and high crime rates, and to work with other non-profits such as the Reading Council and Friends of the Library to increase literacy rates, and with Crime Stoppers to assist police in solving crimes.

Currently Kearney, the father of two, will be touring his upcoming novel and working on the sequel for a 2008 release.

Awards for Mark Kearney:

2004 Shenandoah Valley Reading Council Celebrate Literacy Award

Waynesboro Police Department Officer of the Year 2004

Waynesboro East Augusta Rotary Club 2004-2005 Community Service Award

Read Aloud Virginia Community Program Award 2005-2006 (out of Richmond)

The *MHA-A Dr. and Mrs. C. Lennart Sandquist Prevention Award in recognition of outstanding efforts made in the field of mental illness prevention, November 17, 2006.

*Mental Health Association of Augusta. This was for Kearney's literacy work with kids.