Michael asked S.J. Kincaid:

I've read the Insignia series and The Diabolic (all great reads by the way!!). How do you approach character development? It is clear to me that you know what motivates each character so well and you can then create intrique/backstabbing etc by changing the opportunities and challenges which face the cast (brilliantly I might add). How do you get to that point?

S.J. Kincaid I mostly daydream about the characters. Usually I form a few solid characters like a show I am watching in my head when the barest bones of the larger book are there and then as I write more ideas come to me. Other side characters I craft deliberately in relationship to the protagonist. For example, in unpubbed story I have in mind now, I have

1) main character who has big insane life event
Which necessitates
2) father figure of sorts
3) sister figure of sorts <-- both are at the point where I am also solid in their speech patterns and personality

But next phase of story transitions to
1) mc's real mother
2) mc's real father
3) mc's real brother <--- only vague ideas of their characterization at this point but I know exactly what influences how they will develop mainly due to big life altering event of main character affecting them as well

Getting interested in the interplay of all these characters is what drives me to write the rest I.e. Mc's sister figure meeting real brother will be great
Mc's father figure vs real father for many screwed up reasons
And of course mc and her real parents in general

Already love mc and sister figure thing

And since mc is going to be in school in next phase of story I naturally have a fewanstock "school" people you find in every school who will then develop in one way or another to mc's primary initial story event.

I am pretty sure I will write this one. This is how I get into t and the characters. Whether it sells? Always up in the air.

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