Bringing Characters to Life

Characters don't appear fully formed. They grow, change and often surprise me along the way.

Before I write a single chapter, I spend time getting to know each character. I ask questions about their childhood, their fears, what they hope for and what they would sacrifice to protect the people they love. Much of this never appears in the finished novel, but it helps me understand how they think and why they make the choices they do.

For The Witch That Never Burnt, historical research is just as important as imagination. My characters are fictional, but they live in a very real Scotland, shaped by the beliefs, dangers and opportunities of 1662.

The greatest compliment I could receive is for a reader to say, "I forgot they weren't real."

— Rose Campbell Smith
The Saltwater Storyteller