RedHotRomance

I've been struggling these past few months with a linked anthology and single title idea. Two of the novellas and the single title have been brewing for several months now, but I've been at a loss to figure out a third novella to close out the anthology. Until Saturday night, when a conversation with a colleague of my husband's sparked something. On the drive home from the city, a comment she made kept echoing through my brain, and Sunday morning I woke up with that tiny sprout that I hope will grow into a full blown idea. Fortunately, I think I can write it such that she won't recognize herself (assuming someone likes it enough to buy it :)).

How about you all? When do you get your creative sparks? When is the last time you were in mid conversation with someone and had to stop yourself from saying "Let me get a pen. Mind if I use that in my next book?"

And the corollary to this is, have you ever been busted for using something from real life or having a character that hit a little too close to home with someone?