When someone asks me if I am writing about someone in particular, I tell them no but every writer gets their inspiration for a character from people that we know. It may be a small detail to the biggest flaw.
When I write, creating new characters, I try to focus on what I would like to be as a person and what would attract me towards them. I know it's kind of silly but it works for me.
In my new book, I came up with the names because that was what I was around. Jessa came from what I wanted to be named. I loved the name Jessica and thought every girl in school named that was special and I wanted to have the same name. So when I started the book, she was Jessica then it was shortened to Jess and then I wanted something alittle different so I added the a--Jessa. I love her name.
Roderick was the second character that I came up with. I originally had him as the only guy in the story, but she needed more of a struggle and that's why I added Micha.
Micha is a extra. My husbands friend is Michael and his wife is Jessica so I felt it was right.
Everyone else just kinda fell into place. They each reflect their name somehow, whether it's in their personalities or their looks.
I give the advice to look for inspiration around you, it doesn't matter how small or big. It's important to have a connection to it, so the reader can feel the emotion you feel when you wrote the character. That is what makes readers come back to read more.