At my first book festival, someone asked me a question that caught me off guard, so I didn't have an answer for him at the time. How did I, a female, end up writing about a male protagonist? My answer was a stupid one. "Well, most demigods were male in myths." No wonder he just put the book down and walked away. The truth is, when I am writing, I can be whoever I want to be. I can be male, female, short or tall, successful or dejected. Anyone. Anything.
And another question I get asked is, "which character is based on you?" And the answer to that, is all of them. They are all a part of me, some just the smallest or rarest parts, but still me. Who hasn't felt vanity? Even if just for a moment? Then you know how it feels to be vain. You can roll that into a character so wrapped up in herself that she can't think of anything else. And who would be the inspiration for that? Why me, of course. If I have ever felt the feeling, then I can write it, and imagine it, and create a character to embody it.
So how did I end up writing about a boy who is a demigod? Because he's me. I felt it and embodied it myself so I could write it all down for you. I am all of my characters, even the male son of a god.