Elysha asked Rachael Craw:

Hi Rachael! Just wanted to tell you that "Spark" was such a fantastic novel. I loved it. I am so excited to read the next one. September cannot come fast enough! What key elements did you focus on to ensure that Evie was such a strong character? I loved her genuine personality and strength. Such a wonderful character! :) Thank you!

Rachael Craw Hi there, Elysha:
What a gorgeous message. Thank you, thank you! I am delighted you loved Spark! It's such a buzz to share my imaginary world with people who love it like I do. And don't you worry, Sept will roll around fast! What a great question, too. My main focus for Evie was to create an authentic voice by putting myself in her shoes so-to-speak and asking the question "how would I feel if?". (not that she is me!)

Firstly to look at how grief can be very isolating and fatiguing and so there's a natural withdrawing and self protection. I have made Evie a very private and self contained person. She despises limelight/attention but not because she is necessarily shy or desperately insecure but probably a little proud and controlled and she cannot bear gossip. Okay of course she has some insecurities - Jamie stirs most of them to the surface but again I think he riles her because she likes to be in control and he makes her feel out of control. It's tricky because when you meet Evie she's already a broken person - you don't get to see what she was like pre-grief. I suppose you get glimpses of it in her relationship with Miriam and Kitty. Then of course she has all these mad things happening in her body and life turned upside down. I think she manages the best she can considering the circumstances and doesn't get always get it right.

I think core to her strength is her sense of justice and fairness, her loyalty and faithfulness where friendship and family is concerned - that's why its so upsetting when the 'Fixation Effect' causes her to fall out with Miriam. She wants to do what's right - that's why she struggles with her feelings for Jamie she doesn't want to be a traitor to the 'sisterhood'. She's compassionate and kind - you see that in her response to the way Aiden is bullied. Her natural reaction to injustice is to stand up to it - see how she reacts to Richard Dean. (To be honest that trait is straight from my childhood. I despised bullies - if I saw someone being picked on it would make so furious I would have to step in. As a result I spent a lot of time being chased down the road by angry boys on bicycles after I'd given them a mouthful for picking on some poor kid. Lucky me - I could run fast!)

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