Kathleen Hall asked Erik Larson:

Do you 'know' your characters when you begin or do they develop as you move the story forward? If the later, was there ever a time when you were shocked or surprised by the attitudes, reaction or voice of the character?

Erik Larson By the time I start writing, I have a good idea who my cast of characters will be, and I have a pretty good grasp of what makes them tick. They evolve during the writing, of course. For example, I had no idea that Kptlt. Walther Schwieger, the "villain" in Dead Wake, would turn out to be such a sympathetic character. But, you have to go with what history gives you. Villains have good sides. Heroes have bad sides. Though I have been surprised to learn from several readers that much to their horror they found themselves rooting for Schwieger.

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