It depends on the story. Some ideas need more research than others, and I like to make sure that I have all my story elements nailed down before I write the book, things such as plot, conflict, characterization, etc. Character driven books seem to come more easily to me and require less time before actually writing the book. It's amazing where I get my ideas. I can be reading a book and one sentence can develop into an idea that has nothing whatsoever to do with the story I'm reading.
Everyday life is full of stories and plots and relationships.
Sometimes the idea works and everything falls together and clicks the way an idea should. I never throw away any ideas I think up, because too many times I've developed the story months or years after thinking I had no story at all. Well, I have four books scheduled for 1999. It's very different from my first two Blazes, which were very character driven. Thank you, Janelle, for an informative, entertaining, and fun interview.