Martha Tilyard asked Susan Schild:

I've read that some characters or stories just "present themselves" to an author and demand to be written. I was wondering how easily Linny came into being and whether now that she's in three novels, it's gotten easier to write her life or harder. Has she taken on a life of her own as you've lived with her?

Susan Schild Great question! Linny has taken on a life of her own and it's gotten easier to write about her. She's apparently taken an online assertiveness training course, too, because she's gotten more feisty and direct with every book.

To create a believable character, writers are supposed to decide up front on a character's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. I was never that methodical, but the more I wrote about Linny, the more all of those elements became clear to me.

Thanks for writing!

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