On Beyond the Page #23, I’m joined by author and professional violinist Brigid Kennedy, whose historical fantasy series grew from the real-life story of her treasure hunting ancestors.

Brigid shares the story of her great-grandfather Robert Patrick Kennedy, an Irish treasure hunter who acquired a map to a lost Incan city, traveled from Ireland to Peru, ventured repeatedly into the Amazon and eventually disappeared.

Years later, Brigid says her late grandmother appeared to her with a request: write her story.

What followed became more than a fantasy series. Brigid came to see the books as a way of reclaiming a piece of family history that had been left without an ending.

We talk about treasure hunting, Ireland and Peru, family history, mythology, the challenges of becoming a first-time novelist, and how Brigid used her background as a professional violinist to approach writing through rhythm, pacing, and musical structure.

We also discuss why she wrote her books before releasing them, her approach to age-appropriate fantasy, and how writing opened an entirely new creative chapter in her life.

🎙️ Listen to Beyond the Page #23 | Family Secrets, Lost Treasure & Writing the Story Her Grandmother Left Behind with Brigid Kennedy for the full conversation.