From Simple Ideas to Full Lives: How My Characters Came to Life in The Twisted Branch

Throughout my stories in The Twisted Branch, characters pop up here and there, but I really wanted strong main ones who carry the tale through their thoughts, actions, and the way they behave. They had to feel real and had to be people readers could root for, worry about, or even fear a little.

Being a British writer aiming for an American audience, I had to include a proper English gentleman. Right from the start of Book 1, I pictured him as old-school with polite manners, a touch of formality in his speech, the kind of guy who says "jolly good" without irony. I named him Eli Archer, and he became the thread connecting all the stories.

I didn't want him alone, so I created his love interest as almost his female mirror image. Not right away, though. As their relationship grows through the twists and turns, they start picking up each other's traits. She softens some of his stiff edges and he gains a bit of her spark. It's fun watching them adapt and change together like real relationships do.

Since Book 1 is an anthology, I had tons of room to play and create all sorts of side characters. Some are loosely based on people I know in real life and others are just snatched from everyday moments you see everywhere. Think of the mum yelling at her lagging kid to "hurry up already!", the couple strolling down the street sharing an ice cream cone, the delivery driver zipping between shops, or a group of teens hanging out on the corner. No matter who they are, there are endless ways to turn them into someone with a secret, a wish, or a dark side that flips the story.

I love sharing how I take a simple idea, like "old-school gentleman" and build it into a full persona that shapes the whole book (and the series beyond). These characters didn't just sit on the page, they grew with me as I wrote and edited.

In the rest of this post, I'll walk you through a couple of examples of my imagination created real people. How Eli started as a basic sketch and became the heart of everything, why everyday people make the best twisted characters, and tips if you're building your own cast. It's all part of the fun of turning dreams into stories.

Eli Archer

Eli Archer

"This is how Eli first appeared in my head—stiff suit, serious gaze, standing in a dimly lit room like he's waiting for the next wish to go wrong. But he's yours to picture however you like once you dive into the stories. What does your Eli look like?”

Eli started as a simple "proper English gentleman" sketch—old-school manners, formal speech, "jolly good" vibes. But he grew into the emotional heart of the series: a man trying to do right, quietly paying every day for it. His internal conflict—wanting to help but reshaping fixes into cruelty—feels real because he's exhausted, not power-hungry. Rachel grounds him in those quiet, human moments. He carries the big question: What if stopping evil makes you part of it?

Rachel

Rachel

"Meet Rachel. My vision of the woman who starts as Eli's mirror and slowly becomes so much more. Fiery, fierce, and full of layers. But once you read the stories, she'll become yours to imagine however she feels right to you. What's your version of her like?"

Rachel began as Eli’s mirror—fierce, layered, with a spark he slowly absorbs. She evolves from warm anchor to strategic co-leader with real steel underneath. Their relationship is the emotional core: earned, grounding, unbreakable.

Thomas

Thomas

"Thomas is one of those characters pulled straight from everyday life, a regular family man you might spot in a group photo or on a porch. But as his story unfolds in The Twisted Branch, he becomes so much more. Layers of personalities that feel like a whole family living inside one person. Emmet (the wise grandfather), Adrian (the spirited grandson), Daniel (the bolder side), and the twins Sophia and Olivia. They all started as simple ideas that grew into full personas shaping his arc. Thomas came from everyday life—a regular family man. His story layers in personalities like a whole family inside one: wise Emmet, spirited Adrian, bolder Daniel, twins Sophia & Olivia. They grew into personas that shape his quiet heroism and search for peace.

Here's how I pictured that inner 'family'. A warm portrait that captures the connections and contrasts. But remember, this is my vision to help me write him. When you read his story, Thomas (and everyone inside him) will look and feel exactly right to you. What does your version of him bring to mind?"

Kyle

Kyle

"Kyle is my vision of one of those earnest, open-faced younger guys you spot in groups or leaning at a bar, sharing a laugh or a quiet moment. He started as a simple idea pulled from real life and part of the everyday crowd, but with traits that grow and shift in unexpected ways through the stories. Here's how he appeared to me, casual, approachable, but with eyes that hint at more. But as always, when you meet him in The Twisted Branch, he'll look and feel exactly right to you. What's your Kyle like?"

Kyle is the earnest everyman—loyal, scared, caught in the middle. He starts almost invisible, then grows into someone forced to make impossible choices. His vulnerability and budding connections make him deeply relatable.

Amy

Amy

"Amy is another one snatched from everyday possibilities. I pictured her as that confident woman behind the desk, with a smile that could mean anything. Fiery red hair, easy poise, ready for whatever twist comes next. Here's my version to help bring her to life while writing but once she's in the stories, she'll look and feel perfect to you. What's your Amy like?"

Amy began as the confident receptionist wildcard—fiery red hair, easy poise, hidden depths. She grows into a loyal ally willing to risk it all for the group. Her smile hides strength that belongs in the inner circle by the end.

Don’t Be Afraid To Write Your Weird

That’s how a handful of simple ideas, scribbled from dreams, snatched from everyday moments turned into the people who carry The Twisted Branch forward. Watching Eli, Rachel, Thomas, Kyle, Amy, and the rest grow on the page has been one of the most rewarding parts of writing this series. They started small, but they became real enough to surprise even me.

If you’ve got your own weird characters waiting to come to life, don’t hold back. Write them down, let them evolve, and see where they take you. The right readers are out there, ready for your kind of strange.

Want to meet these folks (and plenty more) for yourself? Grab The Twisted Branch: Be Careful What You Wish For on Amazon HERE.

I’d love to hear what you think and who you are most curious about.

Thanks for reading and there will be more stories (and behind-the-scenes) coming soon. 🖤