Oh definitely. A conversation here, a character trait there... in fact feedback I got during my first draft, about a particular scene in my first book, said that it was unrealistic, but that scene almost was entirely accurate to something that actually happened.
One of the most important considerations there are. I'm very lucky to know my cover artist: she's my mother-in-law! Her work fits my books perfectly, and I'm so thankful for her and her pieces.
Oh my goodness; it's the single best feeling in the world. I'm 50% thankful and 40% in shock and disbelief and 20% wanting to cry and 10% aware of how bad I am at math.
Finding time to write. I'm a teacher; that is more than a full time job. Between marking essays, I try to squeeze out a page or two here and there, but time is always the big constraint.
