Teresa Carmody Publishes New Book

March 4th, 2025

Literature is just one way that readers and authors alike can learn more about themselves or their world through words. For author Dr. Teresa Carmody, writing has always been a self-reflective practice.  

Throughout her childhood and early adulthood, Carmody mainly wrote in her journal. It was during her mid-twenties that she began to focus on writing professionally. After studying to become an anthropologist, Carmody’s passion for writing led her to pursue the life of an author. Through the years of writing books and refining her style, Carmody developed a preference towards autobiographical fiction. 

Carmody’s writing often centers around her own experiences or impactful emotions to fuel the events that take place in her books. An emphasis on topics such as deep friendship or past trauma within her works allows Carmody to untangle her thoughts through her writing. While this process is helpful, it also makes each book deeply personal to write.   

One of the reoccurring themes throughout Carmody’s books is the character, Marie. When writing her first published book, Maison Femme: A Fiction, Carmody’s wife at the time offered the name for the character based on her. Marie features in almost every book Carmody has written, whether she is named or not.   

 Carmody’s newest published book, A Healthy Interest in the Lives of Others, follows Marie once again. Gossip is featured heavily as the running theme of the book. Carmody’s PhD in gossip inspired her fascination with the different motivations people have for gossiping.   

The book takes place over the course of 25 years in Marie’s life. Snippets of Marie with her friend Monette are placed between 11 short autofictions. Each autofiction includes an illustrated diagram that offers a sneak peek into the contents of the stories. The stories are based around themes of community, growth, and the deep friendship between Marie and Monette. 

For more information about A Healthy Interest in the Lives of Others and Carmody’s other works, you can visit her website at www.teresacarmody.com