Hi, Oona,
Interesting question! I saw the girls as I see my daughter, who was 12 when I started writing MASTERMINDS. And I could see Eli and Malik quite clearly — I guess I’m just more accustomed to writing about boys, probably because I happen to be one. Eli is tall and dark-haired, with a strong build and the look (whatever that is!) of a smart person. Malik is a big guy, broad-shouldered, kind of muscular, tough-looking, even though we know he’s a big softie. Hector is small, on the skinny side, the kind of person who never looks you directly in the eye.
OK? I can’t really explain it better than that, except to say that I have a very clear view of the people I write about.
Thanks for posting, Oona.
—-Gordon Korman—-