MB: What or who inspired your "Hot Ticket" short story?

GB: My inspiration for this short story was a "what" -- a pet peeve, actually, that I think most women can relate to -- and that's lines at the ladies room, whether in the airport, at a concert, or a sporting venue. Almost any place there are mixed crowds, there'll be a wait at the ladies bathroom that men never face at the men's room. After that, building a story was a matter of asking 'what if...'

JL: What a coincidence, Geri -- the inspiration for my short story came when I was standing in line at a bathroom somewhere! In fact, I knocked out the first two chapters in the same line. Seriously, what do women do that takes so long?!)

GB: Exactly. It's a universal problem.

JL: My novella, "Lucky Charm," is a tie-in to a series I am doing, "Thrillseekers Anonymous," about four guys who like living on the edge, and have formed a members-only adventure service that caters to the rich and famous. The hero of "Lucky Charm" is the brother to one of the "Thrillseeker" guys, so naturally, he had to be larger than life -- a major league baseball player worth a lot of scratch.

The inspiration came from my husband, who once played in the minor leagues, is still ravenous about the sport today, and a little superstitious, too. I could just imagine him back in the day wigging out over something that he believed messed with his game. Of course the novella evolved from there, but the old boy gets the credit. That, and the line at the bathroom.

GB: Say, I like the sound of an adventure service with hunky guys, Julia. Makes me think Tom Selleck, or am I dating myself?

JL: Thinking of Tom Selleck makes you timeless, Geri. He's a hunk for the ages.

GB: For anyone who wonders how writers come up with their ideas, what Julia and I have said is a good example that just about anything is fodder for the imagination. You'll never know when you might have a writer standing in line behind you and taking mental notes.

MB: What do you like most about your stories in "Hot Ticket?"

GB: I like the word count, which may sound weird, but stay with me.

Some writers don't care to write the shorter form, ever. But I find it refreshing to change routine. Sort of like doing soup and salad versus a full meal -- it's a nice break.

JL: There is definitely something to be said for the word count. I like the shorter format, too, Geri. It's not as complex as a full novel, which means I don't have to think quite as hard, and any day I don't have to think too hard is a good day. But I also like the characters -- they were so much fun to create. A superstitious baseball player, a woman trying to claw her way up in a man's world -- the possibilities for conflict were endless.

GB: Now Julia's hit on something that beginning writers often forget, and that is using the short story as a learning tool. Shorts are easier to achieve than a novel and faster to get feedback on, which is what makes them ideal for exploring craft elements, such as conflict, as Julia's mentioned, or style, language, character, etc.

MB: Who is the most heroic person you know?

GB: I believe heroes are all around us every day. Right now, the most heroic person I know is my 28-year-old son-in-law. This young man is amazing. He's a former captain in the Marines, a veteran of the war in Iraq, and he's battling cancer. It's humbling to witness his determination, his inner strength, and his courage in facing what comes next for himself and his family.

JL: That's a hard question. Like Geri, I see so many heroes around us. I am so moved by ordinary people who become heroes by a twist of fate. The heroes of 9/11, for example, such as the heroes of Flight 93. And more recently, the ordinary heroes of Katrina and Rita who banded together to save lives and salvage what they could.

Those acts of heroism are so moving and inspiring to me as a person and a writer.

GB: I so agree Julia. As readers, we're not so much interested in what happens as in who it happens to. When we hear about a dramatic event, we think how sad.

But when we actually look behind the headlines to the faces and know these are real people involved, that we're seeing living, breathing beings just like us, with hopes and dreams, happiness and heartaches, regrets and joys … that's what inspires good story telling.

JL: I agree, Geri. That's what I keep telling my husband. I'm not nosey. I'm a writer. OK, maybe a little nosey, but mostly, the human condition, whatever it is, fascinates the writers in us.

MB: Who's your romance hero: dark, brooding bad boy or white knight in shining armor?

GB: My romance hero's a bit of both, depending on his mood.

JL: What about one of each? Personally, I'm not big on the brooding bad boys -- too much baggage -- but I do love just a plain ol' bad boy, especially if he becomes a knight in shining armor and all of his attention is directed at me, me, me.

GB: Yep, I like how Julia thinks. Why settle for routine and monotonous, when there's sensual fun, excitement, joy, and passion to be had.

I love to watch the hero being captivated and mesmerized, and then reaching the point where he feels there's nothing he wouldn't do for his woman.

JL: Oooh, I love that part, too!

MB: Answer the question you wish an interviewer would ask.

GB: Okay, the answer is yes, but only once, and that was with my grandmother, my mother, and my daughter in the car. Oh...did you want the question, too?

JL: Geri, you just gave me an idea for a new novella.

GB: No problem, J. My bill's in the mail.

JL: Here is my answer to the question that I hope will be asked one day before I am dead or too old to enjoy it: Really, being on the New York Times bestseller list is no different than any other day. (I am such a liar).

GB: I'm smiling. And having a senior moment, I guess, because I can't think of anything interesting that I'm waiting for someone to ask me.

The question that goes with my answer above: What was my most ill-timed moment ... and that was when I got my one and only speeding ticket. Think I could do it when I was by myself? I should be so lucky.