Characters form the heart and soul of my novels. I develop each one’s biography, including their likes, dislikes, profession, and relationships with other characters. To solidify my vision of the three or four main characters in each story, I add a ‘casting’ photo. I strive for that photo to reflect the character’s personality and their role in the story. My usual picks are movie stars or athletes, because their photos show excellent expression and evocative facial features.

I find this casting process is not only fun, but useful. When I’m writing the story, I often gaze at my characters’ photos and glean a sense of what they would do in the situations they face, whether romantic, adventurous, or deathly peril.

One of my favorite movie stars is Russell Crowe, who I find can express a range of personality types, each appropriate to his role. Shown below with his typical no-nonsense expression, he is an ideal candidate for a main character. If you’re wondering which of my characters is played by Russell Crowe, the answer is – none. I leave it to my readers to form their own images, and enjoy the fun of casting.