Author Spotlight on T.M. Kehoe

Hi. I’m T.M. Kehoe. I was born and raised in St. Louis before traveling the world, then returning back to St. Louis. I write Urban Fantasy with a Supernatural twist. I came up with an idea, partnered up with Joseph Hagen, and behold: a trilogy.

How long have you been writing or when did you start?

I started writing in the first or second grade. I started writing a novel a few years ago. I began publishing short stories in January 2022. And our first book, “Dark Requiem,” is released December 11, 2022. The sequel, “Darker Hunts,” is released on December 29, 2022, and the final book in the trilogy, “Darkest Vengeance,” gets released on January 15, 2023.

Why paranormal/urban fantasy? What drew you to the genre?

Urban Fantasy was a good fit for me. I like writing fiction, I’m not into writing romance, or hard sci-fi. Urban Fantasy fits the stories I like to write. I love the supernatural, and it’s so fun and quirky to introduce that element into a story, then make the reader believe it. I think it adds spice to my stories.

What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?

The characters always come first. Why? Because characters drive the story. Without good characters, no reader is going to stick around to read the end of your books.

What’s your favorite type of paranormal creature and why?

I am partial to vampires. They have existed in folklore for thousands of years. I think it speaks to the vagaries of human nature, that such a creature should exist, in so many cultures and times.

Tell us about your heroine/hero. What inspired her/his quirks and struggles?

I can see a lot of myself when I was younger in Nikki, our heroine. She’s shy, painfully sincere, and cares so very much for those around her. She was inspired in no small part by a group of teenage girls I worked with as a volunteer, nearly a decade ago. They’re so strong, but they don’t know it. Our Nikki is like that, too.

Would you and your main character get along?

I would get along with Nikki, but would get frustrated with her at times.

Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?

Ladso is the character I relate to the most. He is so knowledgeable about his work, but so ignorant of socializing, and having friends. He grows from a fairly one-dimensional character before we meet him to a complex being who has learned and grown along the way.

What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?

Joseph Hagen really worked with me to improve the book. Joe helps breathe life into the characters, and is very good at writing scenes that draw in the reader. I know that “Dark Requiem,” which started life as “Bad Penguins” and then “Dark Tunes” before its present title, is a far better book than its first iteration.

Where can our readers find you? (Social media, website, etc.)

You can find myself and Joseph at our website: www.stlouisauthors.com We are always glad to hear from our readers, and will answer your emails personally.