The idea factory…

Persons I meet at book events and other social situations often ask “How do you get your ideas?” after learning I’m a full-time fiction writer. It’s a ubiquitous question that I’m sure other writers are asked. I certainly prefer that question to “Do you make any money writing?” (not much) or “I don’t have time to even read books, so how do you find time to write them?” (no comment here).

My answers to that first question vary, but there are some general themes. First, I can say that I’ve had...