One of the features of the ‘Saltbury Chronicles’ series has been the wealth of different characters. Apparently creative writing courses recommend that you stick with maybe four main characters, and perhaps twice as many more minor characters. Hummn. I have just been updating my character database after sending ‘Rachel’ away to be proofread and, oh dear! I seem to have 18 people I would consider major characters and in all 71 characters who appear in speaking roles. There are also another 44 named characters, plus various doctors, taxi drivers, bar staff and the like who appear unnamed, who in a film you might call extras. No wonder no one wants me to write film scripts. I’d be very expensive in actors!