This wonderful question was posed this week by a KCMSA book club member in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have given it quite a bit of thought. A writer is a student of human nature–at its best and worst and everywhere in between. We are trained to observe people and think deeply about their motives. Although we may find elements of ourselves in our characters, we are not these people. If we get to know our characters on a deeper level, we may see them acting or speaking in ways that surprise us. This is the magic of writing. What are your thoughts/ Does this answer surprise you?