In the early stages of developing plot and characters for the novel Balloon Ship Armageddon, the seventh and final Jack Commer, Supreme Commander adventure, the author interviewed twelve characters from the previous six books, wanting to know what energies they could bring to the project. Each character got a post on the author's blog over a four-week period, by turns musing, arguing, and pleading with their creator for a chance to star in this last Jack Commer novel. All surprised the author with their eloquence and their concerns, even those characters who were eventually cut from the book.