Their history, geology, and mystery fascinate me, which means I've done a lot of reading about them. That's when I'm researching the background for a possible book. If the background clicks, I use it. If not, I lose it. When I've chosen a piece of string for a book, I research it more thoroughly.
Intensive research lasts for several months.
Then comes the synopsis stage, when I think through my characters and all the background that won't end up in the novel. This usually lasts a month. Then comes the writing, which takes as long as it takes. When we write together as A. E. Maxwell, Evan and I choose characters and plot together, then Evan writes while I work on an Elizabeth Lowell manuscript. When Evan is done with the first draft, I run it through my computer.