Scottish novelist David Keenan discussed his new novel Boyhood in a recent interview. The book is set in Glasgow, Derry, Mexico City and other locations. It centres on the disappearance of a young boy named Nemo in the 1970s.

Keenan's previous novel For the Good Times addressed the Troubles. Boyhood includes psychic remote viewers during that period. Keenan described remote viewing as a metaphor for writing, where the author mentally travels to record visions.

Keenan's father came from Ardoyne in north Belfast and moved to Scotland before adopting him. His father and uncles were illiterate but held strong faith in language. They recounted events from Belfast and Derry, competing to tell horrific stories in the funniest way.

Keenan finds magic in Northern Ireland place names and streets due to their history of adventure, joy and suffering. He has visited those places. He aims to redeem suffering through art in his work.

Boyhood took three years to write. Keenan has published six novels in ten years. He began novel-writing at age 46 after years as a music writer. He always writes and selects books that demand publication.

Keenan moved to Islington in London last year with his girlfriend. He lived in London during the 1990s before returning to Glasgow.