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All characters come from people I know, but after the initial inspiration, I tend to modify the characters so they fit with the story.

I believe that, like most writers, my personality comes through in the fiction. So in that respect my writing can't be like any other author's really.

It's really a misconception to identify the writer with the main character, given that the author creates all the characters in the book. In certain ways, I'm every character.

I think all characters are facets of the writer. In a way, they have to be if you're going to write them convincingly.

In one book, CACHALOT, just for my own amusement, every character is based directly on someone I have known.

Every character a writer creates has some of themselves in it somewhere.

Authors are influenced by everything they've ever read. If you've read widely enough, it helps you create your own mix.

Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him.

People always want to identify a writer with their protagonist.

I always get inspiration from whatever characters say about my character.