Linda Goodman

Linda Goodman, best selling astrologer and poet, was born on April 9th as Mary Alice Kemery. By some accounts she was born in her parent’s hometown of Parkersburg, West Virginia and in her own account she was born in her maternal grandparents’ house on Kingwood Street in Morgantown, West Virginia. Although Ms. Goodman gave out conflicting information regarding her birth year, it is believed to be 1925.

She graduated from Central High School in Parkersburg, home of the Big Reds, in 1943. The school is now called Parkersburg High School.

She assumed the name Linda during World War II for a popular radio show that she hosted called Love Letters from Linda. Each show consisted of Linda reading letters between soldiers and their loved ones punctuated with popular songs of the day. While working in radio, she met her second husband, Sam O. Goodman and took his last name.

Linda Goodman began her career writing for newspapers in the eastern and southeastern United States. She also wrote speeches for black American civil rights leader Whitney Young, who served for several years as president of the National Urban League.

Some suggest that Linda Goodman is responsible for jump starting the new age movement because of the unprecedented success of her first astrology book Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs (1968). It was the first astrology book ever to earn a spot on the New York Times Bestseller List. Followed by yet another success with Linda Goodman's Love Signs (1978), which also made the New York Times Bestseller List.

Other books by Linda Goodman include:

• Venus Trines at Midnight (1970)
• Linda Goodman’s Love Poems (1980)
• Linda Goodman’s Star Signs: the secret codes of the universe (1987)
• Gooberz (1989)
• Linda Goodman’s Relationship Signs (1998)

Gooberz is a thinly veiled autobiographical novel, which explores her three significant romantic relationships. The first, her marriage to William Snyder, and then Sam Goodman, and the last, her love affair with marine biologist Robert Brewer. It also touches on the birth of her four children Sally Snyder, Bill Snyder, Jill Goodman and Michael Goodman. The book surveys her ideas on reincarnation, karma, love, and miracles.

Linda Goodman’s books also acknowledge the disappearance of her eldest daughter Sally Snyder and the mystery around her reported murder. Linda Goodman spent much money and many, many years trying to solve this tragic, still unsolved mystery.

She made Cripple Creek, Colorado her home for most of her adult life.

Linda Goodman frequently collaborated with other writers and artists including Fred Astaire, Crystal Bush, Vincent J. Cardinal, Hermes Pan, and Carolyn Reynolds.

Linda Goodman died October 21, 1995 in Colorado from the complications of diabetes.