Dennis Lehane: Patrick and Angie.

I love Dennis Lehane books. I think his writing is smart and hip and his plots are well constructed and engaging.

I stumbled upon this video and thought it was interesting how he says two of his most famous characters (Patrick and Angie) are the two sides of him (Logical and Emotional.)

Usually every character I create have a little bit of myself. Yes, even the bad ones, but it didn't quite click until I've heard what Dennis said.

I suppose pulling out specific traits from the writer's own personality (logical, emotional, etc.) to be the character's foundation help to systematically construct characters that are intrinsically intertwined and potentially opposites. What a recipe for conflict!