How to Create Original Characters

I did want to ask you about characters because you've written that says so 79 books and these are all fiction right. What are your tips for creating original characters that are not cardboard cutout plot devices or is originality overrated? I have one of my pilots he's like super superstitious and he has his little wooden dragon figuring that he kisses every time before he goes into danger. A side character in the current series I'm doing it's a contemporary fantasy she came to America to pursue the American dream, which really helped define that character.