Like most little girls, I found the lure of grown-up accessories astonishing - lipstick, perfume, hats and gloves. When I write female characters in my historical novels, getting these details right is vital.
Very often the characters people respond to best have little parts of reality they can relate to.
A word out of place or an interesting choice of vocabulary can spawn a whole character.
Sometimes I create a character from a scrap - a mere mention that has been left behind.
