Gabriel Woods asked Lissa Oliver:

I have observed in your book Chantilly Dawns that some characters lead a very wealthy lifestyle from birth. There is a contrast with an extremely interesting character called Marcel, to me a complex and very likable character, who acquired wealth through his own means from his work as a jockey. Can you tell me where the inspiration came from to write such a variety of interesting characters?

Lissa Oliver I wish I knew where the inspiration came from, for times when it might fail me, but truthfully I don’t know. It all begins with the character and the variety is just because no two people are alike, not even those created by the same author. I think of this new person, my new lifelong friend, and I just keep asking “why?” until I know them inside out. In Marcel’s case, why is he such a good jockey? Why does he have such an affinity with horses? Why was he bullied? Why did his parents not give him the usual parental care? He answers that one himself at one point with a single throw-away line that belies the huge impact it may have had on his life. Sometimes the smallest things are the most important. Why was he defensive? So many whys until all my questions are answered. Then I understand what he wants and what his fears and weaknesses are, which I’ll use to obstruct him in his quest. The antagonist is just as important – why do they want to hinder or harm? Why do they feel this way? Why do they act this way? Why? I may not always know exactly why, some secrets they won’t give up, but I need enough empathy with all the characters to make my own guesses – as will the reader. It doesn’t matter how great the story is, how thrilling the plot is, if you don’t like the main character you just aren’t interested in what will happen to them.
If inspiration came from somewhere and not just magically emerging in my head, it would be from minor little mundane things daily seen or overheard or a look in someone’s eye. What are they thinking and why? What if...? Real people and events don’t inspire because it’s already happened, been done. But it’s when imagination takes hold and you think “what if..?” and wonder what it’s like in those shoes, for someone else, that a fictional person starts to emerge. Then I wait for them to reveal their desires and flaws so that they create their own story. As an author, I have very little input in that.

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