I usually have a location and then I put the character there. I love place names. I think I'm tricking myself by being so specific - it suddenly becomes real to me. Just because I say it's Chicago, Illinois doesn't mean it's true, but place names sort of make me grounded and then I can put some people there.
Peter OrnerActually, youโre not famous at all. Maybe youโll get some traction after youโre dead?
Peter OrnerMy characters tend to be people who are looking back on a life lived, their joys, their regrets.
Peter Orner