Not so minor minor characters

We know that our main characters must be three-dimensional and fully developed, but what about minor ones?  Giving them personalities too enhances your story.

In Panthera : Death Spiral, I originally thought of the sentient AI Panthera as secondary to the three main humans.  But as I wrote, Pan insisted on making himself heard.  He wrote poetry to make sense of life, and became a commentator on humans and our culture and actions.  He was a useful tool for challenging things that are going on in present day.  

In Eyemind, the character of Uxiim, the Latoyan Intel Chief, is definitely secondary, but he plays a vital  role providing support and information to Keri and Bi when they get in tight spots.

Minor characters provide a change of pace and place.  And they can also be useful ways to link series books together.  In Points of Death, the second book in the Starseer Mysteries series, Uxiim briefs the main characters (and the reader) at the start of the story so that we can get right into the action.