Interview with Fantasy Author Laura Kehoe

Laura Kehoe is a fantasy author from Washington State. When she isn't writing, she loves to read, snuggle with furry creatures, and drink copious amounts of coffee and tea. ​

Interview with Laura Kehoe

Can you tell us about what you're currently working on?
​
My current project is a fantasy novel, with portals and magic, and possibly dragons. I have just finished the general outline, so it will be a bit before the book is anywhere close to ready. But I think it could turn out really cool!


Do you write under a pen name? If so, can you tell us why?

Sort of. I started publishing books before I was married, so I used my maiden name. Even though my real last name is different now, I didn’t want to confuse anyone by changing my author name, so I stuck with Kehoe.


What do you like best about the books you read? What do you like least?

I love seeing what other creative minds come up with, especially when it comes to world-building. It’s so much fun to see what other crazy, exciting ideas are out there in the world.

​One of the things I like the least, however, is when characters are flat and uninteresting. If I don’t care about any of the characters, no matter how good the plot and world-building are, I most likely won’t like the book.


Were you “born to write” or did you discover your passion for writing later in life?

I do feel like I was “born to write.” Ever since I learned how to form cohesive sentences, I have been making up stories for myself and, later on, for other people.


Where did the idea of your story come from?

My books, Royal Thief and Redemption , were inspired from a mix of a couple different stories. The biggest influences were Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance series and Les Misérables .


Do you have complete control over your characters or do they ever control you?

It’s definitely a mix of both! When I talk to my non-writer friends and mention that my characters have minds of their own, my friends think I’m crazy! But it’s true that sometimes you can’t help following where a character leads you.


A lot of authors are frustrated by readers who don’t understand how important reviews are. What would you say to a reader who doesn’t think his or her review matters?

Reviews are incredibly important! I know a lot of people don’t get that, but to them I would say that reviews are the best way for other readers to learn about a book. Some sites, like Amazon, will give priority to books with a certain number of reviews, but even if that’s not the case, a review can give potential readers a glimpse into what exactly the book is like. They really are one of the most important tools a writer can have.


What, in your opinion, is the worst mistake an author can make?

I think one of the worse mistakes an author can make is writing a book they hate. Sometimes authors will write a book they aren’t interested in, but that they think readers will want to read, or are encouraged to write a book for some other reason. But I think in most cases, the author’s disinterest or dislike shows through in their book. And if they don’t like the book, how can a reader be expected to?


Do you have any advice for new authors?

I’m by no means an expert on writing, but one of the best pieces of advice I ever received is keep writing. What I mean is, even when you feel stuck, or when you can’t think of anything good to write, just write something. First drafts are supposed to be kind of bad. You can always edit things later when you go back through your work.

---

If you could go to any fictional world, where would you go? Why?

I know it’s cliché, but I’m going to have to go with Middle Earth. Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamt of traipsing through The Shire, exploring the magical forests of Lothlórien, and just going all over that land. It all seems so magical.


I’d go just to hang out with Eowyn.

If you could have one magical ability/superpower, what would it be? How would you use it?

There are a lot of superpowers and magic abilities I wish I had! But I think the one I want the most is invisibility. I think it would be so fun to just watch people go about their lives without anyone judging me for staring too long at complete strangers. (I promise I’m not a stalker). Plus then I could get some quality, uninterrupted reading time without trouble!


What is your Hogwarts House and why?

I’m not at all embarrassed to say I’ve spent a bit of time thinking about this question! I have waffled between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, but I think I lean more towards Hufflepuff.

​
Saaame!

What creature is better: dragons, zombies, or aliens?
That’s such a tough one! I have always loved dragons and aliens, but if I had to choose one above the other, I have to go with dragons.

---

---

Connect with Laura!

You can find Laura on her blog here .

She's also on social media!
Facebook
Twitter
Tumblr
and Instagram .

Thank you for joining me on my blog, Laura!