We chat with author Kennedy Cole about There Used to be People Here, which is set in 1970s Mississippi and follows a Black detective and his temporary partner who are assigned to a case that shifts from murder to paranormal conspiracy with life-altering repercussions.
Hi, Kennedy! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, readers!! I’m a 23-year-old author living on the East Coast with my fiance, and I’ve been writing stories since I was in fifth grade. I majored in Creative Writing and earned a Certificate in Publishing; originally, I was planning to work in the publishing industry in some capacity before I signed my book deal senior year of college. Currently, I work as a barista and an Assistant Editor with Chill Subs, which is the BEST online database for submitting your work to literary magazines. My dream has always been to be a published author; now, it’s true!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
As a fifth grader, my teacher at the time asked me to read a self-published book written by a sixth grader. Though I don’t remember anything about it (I really wish I did), I do remember feeling immediately inspired to try writing for myself. It turned out to be an innate talent, and something I truly loved beyond anything I’d done before. I’ve always gravitated toward writing long-form stories, so the majority of my projects since then have been “books.” Since then, I’ve always either been actively drafting a book, or planning to draft one.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Corduroy by Don Freeman. It’s such a precious children’s book about a teddy bear. My mom, who used to teach Kindergarden, would read this to me.
- The one that made you want to become an author: I CAN’T REMEMBER! But I do know it was self-published by a sixth grader, and it ignited the fire.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (my all time favorite!!)
Your debut novel, There Used to Be People Here, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Queer detectives investigating southern horrors.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a lot, actually! Samuel is a strong, definitive main character who undergoes immense pressure and manages to maintain his composure—until he can’t. Harvey is an unaspirational detective who, although isn’t the quickest to open up himself, is oddly capable of understanding Samuel’s wordless wants. There’s visceral descriptions of horror and gore, which I’ve heard has caused a few queasy readers to need breaks in between chapters. There’s a slow burn queer romance between two emotionally guarded, yet emboldened detectives. Themes of discovering self-identity and overcoming discrimination are a constant undergoing current throughout the narrative…Oh, and a hive-mind of parasitic invaders. That, too.
Where did the inspiration for There Used to Be People Here come from?
I first began There Used to Be People Here as a continuation of a short story I’d written sophomore year of college, expanding what’s now the prologue into a full on police procedural. I completed the first draft in three and a half months, and signed with an agent a year later between junior and senior year of college. While I was drafting, I used a method called “pantsing”, which is when a writer creates a story with no roadmap or guidelines. So, I had no idea where my debut was going when I started. Only that it was incredible by the time I finished.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Samuel is definitely the character I enjoyed exploring the most, considering how similar we are. Having been in rooms as the only Black person and discovering my queerness in college rather than when I was younger, I can relate to Samuel’s guarded personality and understand the huge dilemma that he’s faced with at the end of the story. As for moments I enjoyed, Samuel and Harvey’s coming out scene was a big deal for me to write. At the time, I was also deciding how to come out to my family; it felt comforting to live vicariously through my characters and imagine a space where they’re both immediately accepted. (Spoiler alert: I’m blessed to say my family wholeheartedly accepts me, too.) One last scene I looooved to write was directly in the middle of the story, when Samuel and Harvey are interrogating Jessie. It’s a high tension moment where everything I thought I knew about the plot shifted in a dramatic way. Plus, it’s super, super fun to read.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I think the biggest challenge I faced during my first draft was tying together all the seeds I’d planted! If you’re pantsing a novel (or at least, the way I did it) it’s pretty hard to connect the second half of your draft to the first. In the first half, I had a whimsical time dropping hints and ideas for future Kennedy. The second half is the tricky part, and it took some time, but I did manage to tie things up in a coherent way. To be honest, I don’t think this book fully started to become itself until after I signed my contract and turned in my first round of edits. Which, to answer your second question, was how I overcame this challenge: by trusting my editor.
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This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
It IS my debut novel! Boy oh boy, the road was paved by faith alone. I drafted this book sophomore year of college, signed with an agent during the summer after junior year, and landed a book deal that same Fall during my last semester of college. I’m so thankful for the quickness of my journey, and though I know I have many, many, many more challenges ahead, I never imagined that I’d be able to say I’m a PUBLISHED AUTHOR at 23 years old.
What’s next for you?
More books! My sophomore novel is another horror, though it isn’t a sequel to There Used to Be People Here. I’ve been saying it’s the opposite of my debut, actually. I’m so so so excited to share it!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up soon? Any you’ve got your eye on that are releasing in 2027?
I’m SUPER excited for my agent sibling CJ Vick’s debut Nobody Panic! (the exclamation point is part of the title) coming April 2027. I’m curious about Paris Match by Christopher Bollen, also coming April 2027. I’m also looking forward to picking up S.A. Cosby’s next book, Highway Full of Night.
