How do writers get inspired?

I get my inspiration for my cozy mystery romance stories using the ‘what if?’ question. What if this happened? What would my characters do? In Book 1 of the Barefoot by Moonlight Mystery Romance series, I started with, what if the heroine’s grandfather and the hero’s grandfather knew each other long ago where they got themselves into a bit of trouble they tried to cover up? That secret could have stayed buried, but what if the hero’s grandfather passed away and it’s discovered that he had a past on Orcas Island and there’s a piece of property there that the hero inherited? So, the hero (Jack) sets out for Orcas Island. What if the heroine (Marianne) is dared to return to her hometown on Orcas Island where she buys an old mansion? Unbeknownst to her, that mansion is believed to be the hiding place for stolen jewels. The mystery begins! Both actions put the hero and the heroine on the same ferry where they meet. The romance begins! But it doesn’t end there. The story grows as Jack and Marianne discover what it was that their grandfathers were involved in. And the final 'what if' is, what happens to Jack and Marianne, who have great chemistry, as they work close together to solve the mystery. What if they fall in love? If you're writing a novel and you're stuck for inspiration, try the 'what if?' as a prompt. Let your imagination do the rest.