Part of my NANO Research.

My NANO book has a 13-year-old as the main character. The character (not the plot) is based roughly on my niece Tulip. Tulip has been an interesting character since she was tiny. She's fierce and funny and scared and smart and mean and compassionate and very hard for me to understand. One day this winter I told her, "Tulip, I'm gonna write a book with you as the main character." She absolutely loved the idea. (Go figure.) So I've been interviewing her and analyzing her and trying to put myself in her shoes and surprise surprise: I've learned perhaps more about myself than I have about her. Go figure.