Muse and More

2011-10-16T13:01:00.000-04:00

Thanks, everyone, for the awesome title suggestions. I've bundled them up and sent them off to my editor at Harlequin American Romance. Hopefully, she'll choose one of your ideas for the title of my June release. I'll keep you posted!

In the meantime, the random number generator spit out the names of two lucky people who will win copies of The Officer's Girl and The Daddy Catch.

Those names are....drum roll, please....Marian Griffin and Karna Bodman. So, Marian and Karna, if you'll get in touch with me, please, I'll put those books in the mail to you.

Congratulations to our lucky winners and, again, thanks for pitching in with some great title suggestions

I Need A Title

2011-10-10T08:36:00.000-04:00

Remember those “How I spent my summer” essays we had to write in grade school? If I had to turn one in today, it would consist of only one word: writing. With a deadline looming for my third Harlequin American, I spent July and August in a writing marathon with the extremely talented Roxanne St. Claire, author of the popular Guardian Angelino and Bullet Catcher series; Kristen Painter, whose awesome Blood Rights, hit store shelves this month; and one of Siren Bookstrand’s best-selling authors, Lara Santiago. With all that talent in one room, we had to be successful, didn’t we? And we were, each of us meeting tight deadlines in a summer of writing, writing, writing.

Now that Book Three is in the hands of my editor, it’s title time, and I’m afraid my creative well has run dry. So, I’m turning to you for help. Can you help me name my latest Harlequin American Romance? Here’s a little blurb about the story to get you started:

His childhood sweetheart is the last person single dad Mitch Goodwin expects to see when he walks into family court determined to retain custody of his four-year-old daughter. But the prosecuting attorney’s carefully structured world quickly crumples. Following a playground mishap, a bad-tempered judge permits the doting father only supervised visitation with his child…under the wary gaze of former rodeo star Amanda Markette, the one woman whose trust Mitch fears he’ll never win.

Having spent her formative years on the professional rodeo circuit, Amanda dreams of a home without wheels and a husband who makes family his first priority. That man is definitely not career-driven Mitch Goodwin, rumored to become the county’s next District Attorney. The lanky teen she fell in love with one long-ago summer has grown into a devilishly handsome man, but his demanding job has already cost him one marriage, and Amanda vows to keep her distance.

So, there you have it. Ideas, please?

Just keep in mind that Harlequin American titles are usually short—3 or 4 words, tops. And it’s strictly first-come, first-served. If two people suggest the same title, the first one to show up in the comments section of this blog gets the credit.

I haven’t submitted any ideas to my publisher yet, but these title suggestions have already been made:

His Rodeo Surprise
Rodeo Reunion
His Rodeo Girl
Dude Ranch Reunion
Lassoing His Rodeo Girl
Rodeo Star Reunion
Rodeo Daughter Reunion
A Rodeo Star for Hailey
Custody Courtship
The Prosecutor’s Pride
Cowgirl Princess

Of course, I don’t get the final say—that’s up to the editorial staff. But if your suggestion passes muster and Harlequin chooses it as the title of this book, I’ll send you an autographed copy of the book when it’s released next June.

As an added plus, all the names of those who comment on this blog with title suggestions for this new book between October 10th and October 15th, 2011 will go into a random drawing. I’ll pull two names out of the proverbial hat (aka random number generator). Those two winners will each receive one autographed copy of my current Harlequin American’s: The Officer’s Girl and The Daddy Catch. Shipping addresses must be US or Canadian only.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

How I Spent My Summer

2011-09-16T08:15:00.000-04:00

Summer in the Duncan household usually means vacation and time to put the boat in the water. But not this year when news of a two-book contract with Harlequin American Romance arrived in early July. Since my publisher wants both books for 2012 releases, I spent most of the summer writing, writing, writing. And now, RODEO DAUGHTER, the first of those two books, is in my editor's hands.

You're sure to love Mitch and Amanda's reunion story. He's a driven prosecuting attorney, a single dad with a mercurial four-year-old. She's a former barrel racing champion who never got over her teen-age crush on the boy she met at rodeo camp. What happens when these two meet again? Mitch's carefully structured world crumples, that's what. Especially when, following a playground mishap, a family court judge permits this doting father only supervised visitation...under the distrustful gaze of the woman he ditched at the end of rodeo camp.

RODEO DAUGHTER should hit store shelves next June. Before that, it'll need a new title and, hopefully, you'll help me find a great one. Any ideas?

A Terrific Contest!

2011-08-09T15:04:00.003-04:00

This terrific contest has resulted in many requests for manuscripts from top editors and agents, and quite a few sales. Enter today!

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged***

The 2011 Launching A Star Contest Ends August 25th!!

Don’t miss out on the chance to get great feedback on your manuscript and
the opportunity to get your manuscript before great editors and agents!! For
more information go to www.authorsofromance.com and click on the contest
links on our website.

It’s easy to enter - Just the first twenty-five pages of your manuscript –
no synopsis! --sent electronically in one of the following eight categories
– including women’s fiction! Entry deadline is Midnight Eastern Daylight
Time, August 25, 2011.

OUR FANTASTIC FINAL JUDGES:

Single Title: Editor –Emilia Pisani/Simon &
Schuster Gallery Books

(Including WF) Agent-Sara Megabow/Nelson Literary
Agency

General Paranormal: Editor-Meredith Giordan/Berkley Jove

Agent-Marlene Stringer/The
Stringer Agency

Futuristic/Fantasy: Editor-Leah
Hultenschmidt/Sr.Editor/Casablanca-Sourcebooks

Agent-Ethan Ellenberg/Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency

Historical: Editor-Amanda Bergeron/Harper
Collins Publishers

Agent-Laura Bradford/The
Bradford Literary Agency

Series Contemporary: Editor-Susan Litman/Harlequin Special Edition

Agent-Roberta Brown/Brown
Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense: Editor-Holly Blanck/St. Martin’s Press

Agent-Chelsea Gilmore/Maria
Carvainis Agency

Inspirational: Editor-Natalie Hanemann/Thomas
Nelson

Agent-Suzie Townsend/Fine
Print Agency

Young Adult: Editor-Kristin Daly Rens/Harper
Collins

Agent-Becca Stumpf/The
Prospect Agency

Diane Burke's Double Identity

2011-06-24T15:32:00.003-04:00

Hey, if you're reading this, you're in the wrong place. You should be at Everybody Needs A Little Romance where PRO Liaison Cyndi D'Alba has posted a terrific review of my good friend Diane Burke's latest release, DOUBLE IDENTITY.

Swing by

http://everybodyneedsalittleromance.com/2011/06/24/double-identity-by-diane-burke-a-review

Leave a comment.

There's a prize drawing.

If It's Tuesday, Where Am I?

2011-06-14T09:40:00.003-04:00

I'm at Behind The Book, of course at http://author-secrets.blogspot.com. Where my good friend Maggie Jaimeson is asking all kinds of questions about THE DADDY CATCH.

Drop by and ask your own questions. Or just stop in to say, "Hello." I'll be there all day.

Simply cut/paste this link into your web browser:

http://author-secrets.blogspot.com/

If it's Monday, I'm at Harlequin

2011-06-13T09:20:00.004-04:00

No, not actually in the building. Or rather, one of the buildings. There are many.

But today, my post is up at the Harlequin blog where I'm talking about fly fishing and romance. It's a winning combination.

I'd love to have you stop by. Leave a comment if you'd like.

Copy/paste the following link into your web browser:

http://harlequinblog.com/2011/06/fly-fishing-and-romance-%E2%80%93-a-winning-combination/

A Blogging We Will Go...

2011-06-10T07:22:00.003-04:00

Today, I'm talking about the Awful, Terrible, Crazy camping trip that made my kids vow they'd never camp again and led hubby to abandon bait fishing in favor of fly rods. LOL

Swing by Everybody Needs A Little Romance (http://everybodyneedsalittleromance.com) and share your experiences with the great outdoors. Have a laugh. Or just leave a comment so I'm not lonely.

The Daddy Catch Kick-Off

2011-06-08T13:00:00.003-04:00

If it's Release Day, there must be a book signing, right? Roxanne St. Claire, one of my all-time favorite people, along with upcoming new author Linda Wright and I celebrated the release of THE DADDY CATCH by selling quite a few books at the Barnes & Noble in W Melbourne, FL last night.

It was great to greet fans like Dave (who always shows up with a list!), see old friends (Joyce, I was so glad to see you!), meet new ones (Hi, Mary!) and visit with family (I have the BEST sister!).

A special thanks to Kaori Suzuki-Fischer, RWA's Book Seller of the Year, who arranged the signing, and to all the Barnes & Noble staff, but especially Steve and Ron and Allie, who made sure every detail was perfect.

Most of all, thanks to good friends like Lara Santiago (l) and Rachel Hauck (r). Each gifted authors, their encouragement and support saw me through years of rejection. It sure is fun to celebrate with you today!

This Saturday, June 11th, I'll be signing copies of THE DADDY CATCH from 1-3 PM at The Fly Fisherman in Titusville. Stop on by. There'll be loads of fun activities, including fly tying demonstrations and a terrific display of boats. You might even pick up a book or two.

It's Release Day!

2011-06-07T07:52:00.004-04:00

Today THE DADDY CATCH officially hits the shelves in book stores. To celebrate, I've sent all the workmen home. For the first time in for-evah, no jack hammers, no nail guns, no "Oh, fiddle-de-sticks!" ringing out through the house when someone hammers their thumb instead of a nail. Instead, there's peace and quiet at my house.

It reminds me of a calm day on the water. Like the ones Jess and Dan experience in THE DADDY CATCH. Dan Hamilton is a foster care success story whose wildest dreams are within reach when he's asked to join in building a medical center on Florida's east coast. Widowed Jessica Cofer wants little more than to help her young son grow into an honest man and preserve the natural beauty of Phelps Cove.

But when Dan costs her little boy the catch of a lifetime, Jess seriously considers stranding the interloper in the Cove where mosquitoes will carry him off… if the panthers don't get him first.

My Very First Book Trailer!

2011-05-31T05:31:00.004-04:00

Just in time for its June 7th release, THE DADDY CATCH has recieved a couple of very nice reviews. Romantic Times gave it 4 1/2 stars, calling the book "a charming romance with a solid plot." Bruce Harang, who reviews books for the Federation of Fly Fishers, said THE DADDY CATCH is "a well-written novel set against a backdrop of fly fishing and guiding," and he was impressed with the way I handled the details. (Thanks, Bruce. Coming from you, that's high praise indeed.)

Last week, Long and Short Reviews awarded THE DADDY CATCH 4 1/2 books, saying this Harlequin American was "romance with a heart...with engaging scenes that grab the empathy and imagination of the reader." And, thanks to a slew of people who voted for it, LASR even featured THE DADDY CATCH as their Book of the Week. Along with the nifty pink button I get to display for that award, LASR created a book trailer especially for The Daddy Catch. Take a peek and let me know what you think.

2011-05-08T07:40:00.002-04:00

My mother passed on in 2003, days after her 84th birthday. This week, I stumbled on a history of sorts I'd written about her life. Mother's Day seemed like the right time to share her story.

It is winter in Central Florida. The Chinese ting is almost naked. Only a handful of stubborn brown leaves cling to its bare gray branches. Outside, Old Sol warms the clean, crisp bite of early mornings; by mid-day, a light sweater feels just right. Inside, the house is toasty warm, but Mom is cold. These days, she is always cold.

Doctors describe her health as fragile. She laughs. Fragile. The word evokes the image of fine china or the porcelain dolls arrayed in Victorian splendor. Neither image fits my mom. About the only thing she has in common with the decked-out dolls she collects is her size. At an even five feet, Mom has bulled her way through life.

They don’t make dolls that look like sturdy Irish peasant stock. Or ones that bear the rippled scars of the decades-old scalding that put ten-year-old Marion in the hospital – under heat lamps no less – for three months. (Today, we know better than to put heat on a burn, but in 1929 it was the standard of care.) It took amazing strength to survive that ordeal. And to endure it alone. Fresh off the boat, Mama’s Mama worked as a maid and came to the hospital once a week. On Sunday. After mass. Alone and in pain, my mom survived that hospital stay. She says the experience made her stronger.

Her father, a veteran of World War I, suffered shell shock. There were no drugs, no therapies for post-traumatic stress back then. Nor did the Church condone divorce. Mama’s mama did the only thing she could – she fled, taking her six children to safety. And when mom’s father found them and again punched holes in the walls and imagined himself a sniper taking aim at the enemy – his children – they moved again. And again.

College was never an option for my mother. Neither was a job. As a teen, she worked the lunch counter for the Union News. The day she made manager at Southie (South Boston) was cause for celebration. With her brothers away at the second war to end all wars, she treated her mother and sister to a rare meal in a real restaurant. She looked up to see her sister’s current beau enter with a tall, rangy sailor in tow.

“That’s the man I’m going to marry,” my mother whispered to her mother. And despite their differences, he was.

Rhuday was a farm boy, Alabama born and bred. He sent his city wife ‘home’ during the war to stay with his Mama. On a farm sixty miles from the closest Catholic church. On a farm with an outhouse and no running water. She says laughter got her through those days as she trekked outside to do her business. She bathed in a tin tub on Saturdays. She attended the Baptist church on Sundays – and got kicked out of the Catholic one for her efforts. She spent two years trying to lift the spirits of her sisters-in-law and toiling beside her mother-in-law. She wrote daily letters to her brand-new husband. And she prayed. When the war ended and he returned unscathed, she waited a week before she moved him back to the city.

They bought a house with money she had hoarded during his years away at sea. Dad got a job with Boston Gas and, to make ends meet, they rented out the upstairs. After seven barren years, Mom gave birth to a daughter – me – and nearly died in the process. Two years after that my sister arrived, albeit this time by a planned C-section. Things were looking up until, just before Christmas in 1955, the boys upstairs played with lighter fluid. They burned the house down. My parents lost everything. Everything but that which was most important—their lives, their daughters. Soon after, they moved to Florida where, Rhuday promised, opportunities were greater.

And for him, a machinist who valued education but had none, they were. Expansion at Patrick AFB and the Cape created a vacuum that sucked people into Florida. For the men, steady jobs meant security, the chance for a better life, but little change in their daily lives. They still left home before sunrise carrying lunch in a steel box and coffee in a Stanley thermos. They still came home around sundown. There were still lawns to mow, cars to maintain, houses to paint. For them, life was pretty much the same as in the city.

For the women, it was different. In the mid-50’s, Brevard County had little but fear to offer a young wife and mother. With slight warning, blue skies became hurricanes that struck while the men pulled down overtime. The only things thicker than the clouds of dust that rose from the dirt roads were the swarms of mosquitoes. Palmetto bugs, spiders and alligators ignored the brand new housing developments and refused to go elsewhere. A boy fishing at Clearlake died when he mistook baby water moccasins for worms and used them as bait.

But at least there were no outhouses. My mom could still laugh. And she was not alone.

Squared off, cement block houses surrounded hers. Each held a family as new and raw to Florida as her own. She sought solace in the company of other wives, and they in hers. Our house became a gathering spot where laughter flowed more often than tears. Along with other big city transplants, events were planned. Lonely, stultifying drives through sixty miles of scrub pine and palmetto to the closest grocery store became grand shopping excursions that mandated lunch at Ronnie’s. Where corned beef didn’t come from a can, and vinegar – not mayonnaise – moistened the slaw. Backyard cookouts and progressive dinners took the place of Cocoa’s non-existent restaurants. The nearest movie theater was in Orlando, and it was expensive. The beach was closer, and it was free. Like air-conditioning, nightclubs and dinner theaters were years in the future. Girls-night-out became Bingo Club (a group that has since out-lived its founders).

Laugher and her friends saw Mom through long hospital stays and Rhuday’s violent migraines. Thyroid cancer bent her knees in prayer as she asked God to let her live long enough to raise her girls.

He did, but life was never easy. Mom’s prayers became her mantra the week Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon and a heart attack took forty-eight year old Rhuday. Dreams of college for their girls wavered. Mom would not let them die. She found strength and a job that let her do what she did best – raise children. She taught herself to drive. She refused to let us feel sorry for ourselves. She pushed everyone, including herself, to do better. She managed a nursery until her first charges began pulling up to the gate with their own children. After that, her focus shifted to grandchildren, and she brought her own brand of stability to my family as we moved from California to Virginia to Florida.

Today, Mom’s health is fragile. She is anything but. She’ll hopes to turn eighty-four next month. Some days, we think she might. Some days, the prospect dims. In the meantime, we find humor where we can.

Her nails are a source of pride though she hates having them done. Even more so now when little things sap her strength. Today is nail day. I remove the old polish. She takes a nap. I file her nails. She takes another nap. By evening, the final coat of polish is still wet when she begins to squirm.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“I have to go to the bathroom, but I don’t to mess up my nails,” comes the answer.

“If there’s a choice, I’d rather re-paint your nails,” I say dryly.

She makes a beeline for the bathroom.

My eyes glisten, but we still laugh because that--and prayer--get us past the rough spots.

Catching Up On My Reading List

2011-04-15T16:38:00.003-04:00

I was too busy writing last year to read as much as I wanted. Which is a shame because there are soooo many good books! I’m trying to make up for that this year. Just in case you’re curious as to what I’ve been reading, here’s a list of what I’ve read so far in 2011. I’ve starred (*) the books that were favorites.

Bring on the Night by Jeri Smith-Ready
Dining with Joy* by Rachel Hauck
Double Identity* by Diane Burke
Edge of Sight* by Roxanne St. Claire
Faithful by Janet Fox
Hachet* by Gary Paulsen
How to Bake a Perfect Life* by Barbara O’Neal
How to Knit a Love Song by Rachel Herron
Maid for the Single Dad* by Susan Meier
Murder of a Wedding Belle by Denise Swanson
My Favorite Cowboy by Shelley Galloway
Lost by Joy Fielding
Ride the Fire by Jo Davis
Rodeo Daddy by Marin Thomas
Shiver of Fear* by Roxanne St. Claire
Sing You Home* by Jodi Picoult
Softly and Tenderly* by Sara Evans
Still Life by Joy Fielding
The Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
The Perfect Dish* by Kristen Painter
The Wild Zone by Joy Fielding
Water for Elephants* by Sara Gruen
Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

Whew! And that doesn't contest entries or the occasional magazine article. No wonder I've been accused of always having my face in a book.

What’s next???

Face of Danger by Roxanne St. Claire the minute it downloads to my Nook.

And then?

Maybe some women’s fiction. Last year, I read all the finalist entries in the “Novels with Romantic Elements” category for RWA’s top writing award, the Rita. I enjoyed them so much, I might do the same thing again this year.

2011-04-11T13:12:00.003-04:00

With Edge of Sight, the award-winning Roxanne St. Claire once again delivers on her promise to give the reader a heart-thumping page turner. Hunky, strong, proficient heros are Roxanne's forte, and Zach Angelino definitely follows the pattern. But more than ever before, the author provides insight into what actually makes Zack tick which, in turn, makes him more alive and super appealing. A great story from opening scene to closing line, Edge of Sight kicks off a new series and leaves the reader breathlessly waiting for the next Guardian Angelino book.

With every new book, Roxanne St. Claire raises the standard in Romantic Suspense and, with Shiver of Fear, she’s done it again. A hero who comes so alive the pages actually crackle with sexual tension. A beautiful widow who hides her secrets behind a shell of utter perfection. An adoptee’s search for birth parents. Bio-terrorism. Intrigue. Flying bullets. All set against the amazing backdrop of Ireland’s massive cemeteries, ancient churches and cobblestone streets. Wow!
This one goes on the Keeper Shelf alongside Edge of Sight while I wait, rather impatiently, for the third book in this series, Face of Danger.

Of RITA Books and Other Reading

2011-01-27T08:28:00.005-05:00

For romance authors, receiving a RITA award is akin to getting the movie industry's Oscar. And this is RITA season. Throughout the world, authors who are published in romance have received a box of books to evaluate in this year's RITA contest. My own stack is seven novels high and, with just over a month to read and evaluate them, I'm buried in books.

But this week, I took a break from RITA reading to focus on Softly And Tenderly, the second in the Songbird series written by country music star Sara Evans and RITA finalist Rachel Hauck. And what a nice break it was!

A couple of years have passed since the ending of The Sweet By and By, in which Jade and Max discovered their love for one another. But, as in real life, all is not perfect in their world. Secrets hide beneath Whisper Hollow’s quiet façade. As Jade worries that her barrenness might be a punishment for past mistakes, those secrets bubble to the surface. Max’s demons threaten their future when his own past and present struggles are revealed. His parents’ seemingly perfect marriage falters. Jade’s mom, Beryl, approaches the end of her fight against leukemia. And through it all, Jade struggles in her role as the glue that holds everything together.

Sara and Rachel have done an amazing job of “keeping it real” in this poignant next installment in Jade and Max’s journey. I’m a huge fan of romance novels, but every once in a while I hunger for something beyond that happily-ever-after moment. In Softly and Tenderly, I found what I was looking for. The authors delivered a story that touched my heart, made me glad for a handy box of tissues, and kept me rooting for the main characters all the way through.

And the ending of Softly and Tenderly left me with only one question—how soon can I read the next book in the Songbird series, Love Lifted Me?

Barbara O'Neal's "How To Bake A Perfect Life"

2011-01-11T09:07:00.003-05:00

With “How To Bake A Perfect Life,” Barbara O’Neal once again shows why the Romance Writers of America awarded her their top prize for novels with romantic elements in 2010. And, in my opinion, she’s baked her own slice of perfection in this book. Yummy recipes and sensual descriptions of bread making and baking will satisfy the cravings of an ardent foodie. Those who want a story about family rifts and healing will find it in Ramona’s dealings with her strong, restaurant-owning clan. Lost love and teenage angst play against a hearty dose of war’s realism.

The creation of a book, much like the making of a loaf of bread, requires the careful combination and layering of many aspects—plot, structure, characterization, voice. “How To Bake A Perfect Life” takes all those elements and adds a dash of the unknown, a willingness to take a chance by focusing the story on an older heroine. There’s a lot going on, but somehow Ms. O’Neal simply makes it work, and the result is one of the best books I’ve read in ages.

Starting off the New Year with Some Magic

2011-01-01T11:00:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!

I started off the New Year by endulging myself with one of my fav activities. No, not eating. Reading. But I have to admit, the book I chose did have something to do with food. And it was a treat to read "The Perfect Dish" by Kristen Painter.

Food, fashion and romance--this book delivers on all three counts. The author even folds in a little bit of magic, just in case someone wants more than a hunky Texan who hand-delivers spicy chocolates and has FTD on speed-dial. As for me, Chef Kelly was yummy enough, but I savored the way his love for Meredith grew out of an honest desire to help his grief-stricken sister. Yes, magic is in the air--and elsewhere--but "The Perfect Dish" offers more than a great love story. Vivid word pictures, witty dialogue and a very engaging cast of characters keep the pages turning until, all too soon, it's time to look forward to Kristen's next great book. This is definitely an author who has earned a spot on my must-buy list.

So, that's the first book I read for 2011. I'm hoping to read many, many more. I hope you'll check back from time to time to see what I'm reading. And maybe to suggest a book or two from your own collection.

Thanks for dropping by

2010-12-16T16:52:00.003-05:00

Many thanks to those of you who stopped by the Harlequin Open House yesterday. And especially, the Harlequin American authors' chat last night. If I missed you during the chat, I'm sorry. Things were flying across the screen, weren't they? But it was so much fun that I can't wait to do it again!

Harlequin Open House this Wednesday

2010-12-14T08:07:00.002-05:00

Harlequin is hosting an Open House—with prizes and give-aways—Wednesday, December 15th. Details for this all-day event are at www.eharlequin.com, but I wanted to let you know about my part in this wonderful party. I’ll be joining a couple of other Harlequin American Romance authors in the chat room from 7-8 pm EST Wednesday. I hope you can join me there. This is my first on-line chat, and I'm so excited that I've been invited to the party! Won't you join me there, too? I'd love to see some familiar names!

Accessing the chat room is as easy as, well, pie! Just get onto the internet and type http://chat.eharlequin.com in the browser line. A log-in sheet will appear momentarily and you’ll be asked to Log in. Type whatever name you want to be “known by” in the chat room. It’d be nice if you made it something I could recognize so I can give you a shout-out. Though the screen asks for a password, there’s no password necessary. Yay!

Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be placed in a Waiting Room. From there, use the pull down menu (click on the Waiting Room bar at the top of the page and other chat rooms will appear), to select the chat room you want to visit. Hopefully, there will be one that says “Harlequin American Romance”. Look at the bottom of the screen. That’s where you’ll type your comments/ask questions/etc.

So, come on over to the Harlequin party! See you there!

Awesome Corn Pudding Recipe

2010-12-13T09:14:00.004-05:00

I treasure my grandmother's recipes. She was born, raised, and lived most of her life on a farm in southern Alabama. Though I try very hard to follow her recipes, my results always fall short of hers. I think it has to do with the eggs she gathered from nests that morning, or the unpasturized, un-whatevered, milk and butter that came from a cow she milked herself.

But one recipe I have had success with came, not from my grandmother, but from my husband's great aunt. She used to fix this Corn Pudding dish every time we visited. Preparing it yesterday for my local RWA chapter's holiday party brought back so many good memories.

Oh, and the pudding? Several at the party--including the fabulous Roxanne St. Claire and the amazing Kristen Painter--said it was to-die-for. Enjoy!

Awesome Corn Pudding a la Leigh Duncan

1/4 cup butter
3 eggs
3 tbs. flour
1/2 cup sugar (or less, if you like)
2 cups milk (I use 1 can evaporated and add enough reduced fat milk to make the 2 cups)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups creamed corn (I buy a frozen "roll" of creamed corn and defrost it)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Melt butter in 9" square pan or oven-safe casserole.

Whisk eggs in large bowl. Whisk in flour, sugar, milk and salt until smooth.

Stir in corn. Immediately pour into prepared pan.

Bake 45 min. - 1 hour, until pudding is firm or doesn't slosh when the pan is gently shaken.

If the top starts looking too brown, tent aluminum foil over the casserole until it finishes baking. Do not let the aluminum rest on the pudding or it will rip off the beautiful crust.

Flash Mob at the Mall

2010-12-01T09:39:00.001-05:00

According to Wikepedia, a flash mob occurs when a rather large group of people gather in a public place—like a mall or a stadium—where they put on an unexpected performance…and then disperse. Of course, it’d be pointless without someone there to record the event and post it on YouTube.

In this case, I’m so glad they did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

Busted Rodeo

2010-11-15T08:55:00.002-05:00

Well, phooey! Hubby and I didn't get to the rodeo afterall. The entrance fee was an almost-reasonable $12, but...according to Friday's paper, admission also required $12 to get into the fair taking place on the same grounds and $5 per person for parking. Yikes! That's a lot of moo-la to put out for a small rodeo.

Not to dispair, though. I've checked the calendar, and there are a surprising number of rodeos in the sunshine state. Arcadia, Orlando and the Silver Spurs in Kissimmee (don't ya just love the names of Florida towns?) are all in our future. We'll mosey on over to a couple of them.

Writin' and Ropin'

2010-11-11T09:40:00.003-05:00

I'm back to work on Rodeo Daughter and falling more in love with these characters with every word. And what's not to love? She's a Family Law specialist who once won a gold buckle on the rodeo circuit. He's a driven prosecuting attorney whose ex-wife sues for custody of their little girl. Any guesses on who the ex- hires as her attorney? Today, I'll introduce the four-year-old who can go from sweetheart to brat on a whim...and fun ensues!

Tomorrow night, hubby and I are pulling on our own boots and spurs and heading out because the rodeo is in town. Pictures to follow!

Breathe In. Breathe Out.

2010-10-10T14:01:00.002-04:00

This week was a great week for breathing in and breathing out.

On Thursday, my good friend Kristen Painter and I jumped in the car and took a little ride across the state for the Novelists, Inc. (or NINC) conference in St. Petersburg. There, the focus was on breathing in—or taking in—information about the explosive growth in electronic publishing and what that means to the average writer. From every side we heard that change is coming and traditional print publishers are struggling to adapt to a digital marketplace. Industry professionals listed areas where publishers needed to make changes: Make books available in both print and e-formats; release back lists in e-formats; train authors to use social media tools, like Facebook and Twitter. I have to admit, as a Harlequin author I felt some warm fuzzies when Donna Hayes, CEO of Harlequin Enterprises, repeatedly said, “We already do that.” Check, check and double-check.

On Saturday, it was time to breathe out—this time sharing the story of my road to publication at the monthly meeting of First Coast Romance Writers in Jacksonville, FL. Let’s face it, selling a manuscript to a major publisher can be a daunting task. According to the statistics, less than one in a thousand writers makes the leap from “aspiring” to “published” author. We all get discouraged along the way, but why can’t you be the one who makes it? I did, and if my story inspires just one promising author to stick with it, then a three-hundred mile car trip is worth the effort. From what I heard and saw at FCRW this weekend, quite a few of their members are ready to make that leap.

By the way, FCRW’s annual contest, Beacon, is short on entries and has extended its deadline until Friday, October 15th. For more information on this all-electronic contest, go to: http://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com/contest_un.htm.
Contests are a great place to test your work, and finaling in one is a short-cut to getting your work before an acquiring editor or agent. Or in the Beacon’s case, both.

If You Thing POV is an Economy Car...

2010-10-04T13:14:00.003-04:00

So, I was talking with a couple of my writing pals about the mistakes we made as beginning writers, and I came up with this list of things every romance writer needs to know. Take a moment. Enjoy a laugh.

- If someone says “head hopping” and you think “rabbits,” you’re not ready to publish.

- If you think POV is a new kind of economy car, you’re not ready to publish.

- If your manuscript includes the phrases “swashbuckling hero” or “ripped bodice,” you’re out of touch with today's market.

- If you think goal and motivation are the same thing, you could use a workshop or two. By the same token, if you’ve never heard of Deb Dixon, you’re not ready to publish.

- If someone says your story needs GMC and you go looking for car dealerships, you’re not ready to publish.

- If you think a black moment has something to do with the stock exchange, you’re not ready to publish.

- If you think conflict is an argument, you’re not ready to publish.

- If you’re writing romantic suspense and don’t have a villian, you’re not ready to publish.

- If the hero of your series contemporary doesn’t appear before the third chapter, you’re not ready to publish.

- If you think HEA is a sexually transmitted disease, you’re not ready to publish.

- If your hero and heroine fall in love at first glance and lovingly hold hands right through their happily-ever-after moment, you need to join RWA and educate yourself on romance in today’s marketplace.

- If you chose to write romance because you thought it was easy, you’re not ready to publish.

Leigh's Best Moments of the 2010 RWA Conference

2010-08-02T14:44:00.002-04:00

That's fellow Harlequin American author Laura Bradford and Yours Truly on the big screen at the amazing Harlequin party Friday evening. And below are some of my fav moments from the 2010 RWA Conference.

Biggest thrill - Debbie Macomber stopped in hall to speak with me… And she knew my name!

Best news - My editor, Laura Barth, wants to see more of my new proposal and thinks the story is on the right track. Yay!

Best Business News - Sales of romance books are up 7% and publishers are buying! E-books are bringing romance to wider markets.

Best Moment – As the RITA finalists were announced, I turned just in time to see Barbara O’Neal grab Christopher Robin’s hand. So touchingly sweet. Such a well-deserved win!

Best Banquet – The first, of course. Lunch-time Thursday, the meal included herb-crusted chicken with baby patty pan squash. (The same chicken with a different sauce was slightly less wonderful on Friday, and definitely not so wonderful on Saturday night. LOL)

Best coffee - The first cup I poured myself on Monday morning...at home.

Best new friends - Met with several Harlequin American Romance authors who, like me, have just a couple of books under their belts. C.C. Coburn, Megan Long, Laura Bradford, Dominique Burton and Barbara. I am so proud to be among this group of fabulous writers.

Best and Most Nerve-wracking Moment - Meeting my editor, Laura Barth, in person for the first time. I shouldn't have worried. She's even more encouraging and receptive in person than she is on the phone and in her emails.

Best Vicarious Moments - Hearing all about the VIP treatment the Dolphin GM lavished on good friends Roxanne St. Claire, Kristen Painter, Lara Santiago, Kresley Cole and Louisa Edwards. Oh, to be a few years younger and blonde! There’s not much I can do about the years, but there’s a bottle of Clairol Golden Ash in my future. See you in New York, girls!

The Cody's: First Family of Rodeo

2010-07-16T09:40:00.003-04:00

Mosey on over to the Harlequin Authors blog and check out the great new mini-series, The Cody's: First Family of Rodeo. For all ya'll cowboy fans, this month's release is Dexter: Honorable Cowboy

Go to: www.harauthors.blogspot.com

Harlequin Authors' Blog

2010-06-25T10:26:00.002-04:00

I'm talking about Florida's theme park attractions on the Harlequin Authors' blog. Stop by at: http://harauthors.blogspot.com/

2010-05-31T11:56:00.002-04:00

Happy Memorial Day! My thanks go out to all who have given so much to keep our country safe. My prayers, for all who do the same today.

If you have a free moment today, stop by the Harlequin American Romance blog and read my post about the end of a (television) series at: http://harauthors.blogspot.com/

Recipe for a First Sale

2010-05-10T08:44:00.003-04:00

Today, I'm sharing my sure-fire recipe for publication at the Women's Fiction chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Drop by their blog at http://www.rwa-wf.com/2010/05/10/recipe-for-a-first-sale As always, I'd love to hear what you think about my recipe and how it compares to your own.

Why Do We Write?

2010-05-06T08:22:00.001-04:00

Why do we write? Whether you write or read romance, hop on over to Riding with the Top Down (http://ridingwiththetopdown.blogspot.com) and see what authors say about the motivation behind their writing.

2010-04-13T12:33:00.001-04:00

Woo Hoo! The Officer's Girl is #1 among Series Romances on Amazon.com

Bestsellers in Harlequin American Romance
Any Category > Books > Romance > Series > Harlequin American Romance (Updated hourly)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. The Officer's Girl (Harlequin American Romance Series) by Leigh Duncan
(1 customer review) | 1 customer discussion
In Stock
Price: $4.99

13 used & new from $3.74

2010-04-13T07:00:00.002-04:00

Dear Friends, Family, and Fans,

There were times when I thought this day would never get here, but persistence, hard work—and a lot of luck—have paid off. The Officer’s Girl is officially in stores and available for order on-line today! I’m practically giddy at the concept of walking into a book store and seeing my book on the shelves.

It seems a few of the book stores were so eager to have my book on their shelves that they filled the Harlequin displays with copies of The Officer’s Girl a few days before the official release day. Which is why I can share this photo taken Sunday at the Barnes & Noble in Melbourne, Fl. Do you recognize the beaming face of a new author?

Over the next six weeks, I’ll be holding several book signings, beginning with one this Friday in Boonsboro, MD where I’ll be joining Nora Roberts, Charlaine Harris, Roxanne St. Claire, Ruth Langan/RC Ryan, Gail Barrett, Ellen Dugan, Susan Donovan, Lavinia Kent, Michelle Monkou, and Christine Trent at the Turn the Page Bookstore & Café. To see a complete list of book signings and appearances, visit the News Page on my website at www.leighduncan.com

For all of you who’ve hung in there and kept the faith for me, thank you! I hope you enjoy The Officer’s Girl. Drop me a line at leigh@leighduncan.com to let me know what you think of it.

Reviewers love Harlequin American Romance The Officer’s Girl by Leigh Duncan:

Gives “beach read” a whole new meaning (in a good way).
Romance B(uy) the Book

A heartwarming novel…very believable characters…secondary characters (are) brilliant.
CK’S Kwips and Kritiques

A strong story from its stormy beginning to its happy ending.
Coffee Time Romance & More

2010-04-08T08:23:00.002-04:00

Whooo-eee! The Officer's Girl hits the book shelves in 5 days! In honor of this momentous occasion, I'm talking about what it takes to write a book (hint: It Takes A Village) over at Everybody Needs a Little Romance (http://everybodyneedsalittleromance.com/). Drop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Officer's Girl.

2010-04-01T09:12:00.002-04:00

Hey, Everyone! Sorry I haven’t had much to say the last couple of months. I’ve been pouring all my efforts, and most of my words, into my 2nd book for Harlequin American, Catch of a Lifetime. My editor would really like to have it on her desk April 15th, so I’ve been working, working, working to get it finished. The good news is, I’m almost done. Yippee!

The other fabulous news is that my debut book, The Officer’s Girl, will be available in less than two weeks! April 13th is “release day” for this lighthearted romance, and I’ve been thrilled by what the reviewers have had to say about the book.

Becke Davis of Romance B(uy) The Book made The Officer’s Girl a featured review and said it “gives the term ‘beach read’ a whole new meaning” (in a good way, of course!).

Coffee Time Romance says, “Leigh Duncan creates a strong story from its stormy beginning to its happy ending. The setting is a fabulous choice and the description so realistic that I could almost smell the s’mores at the (hurricane) shelter. I loved that the storyline revolved around two strong-minded characters.”

Kwips and Kritiques gave The Officer’s Girl a rave review saying it “is a heartwarming novel (which) gives us a glimpse into the lives of very believable characters who are trying each day to work through the challenges and monkey wrenches that come their way. I really enjoyed the attention to the emotional development of both Brett and Stephanie, as well as the way that each event had consequences that moved the plot in certain directions. The secondary characters of the twin girls was brilliant, allowing us to see a softer side of the two protagonists.

I hope you’ll read The Officer’s Girl and let me know if you agree with the reviewer’s assessment. Check out my website, www.leighduncan.com, for places to buy the book and a list of appearances, starting with April 16th when I’ll join Nora Roberts, Roxanne St. Claire and Charlaine Harris for a book signing at Turn The Page in Boonsboro, MD.

2010-02-25T07:55:00.002-05:00

I'm blogging today on the Harlequin American Authors' site. I'd love it if you stopped by and left a comment:
http://harauthors.blogspot.com/2010/02/tipsy-robins.html

2010-01-04T09:42:00.000-05:00

Author Susan Crandall joins us today to talk about her latest release, SLEEP NO MORE. Sue is the author of ten romantic suspense and women’s fiction novels, and the winner of several writing awards, including the prestigious RITA.

So, Sue, tell me about your book.

SLEEP NO MORE is the story of Abby Whitman, who was a sleepwalker as a child, setting a fire that destroyed the ancestral home and scarred her younger sister for life. Abby's sleepwalking passed with puberty, but the guilt did not. She lives alone, structuring her life to insure that if her sleepwalking reoccurs no one else will be in harm's way.

Now Abby's mother has recently died, her sister is being her usual manipulative self, and her father is showing signs of Alzheimer's. And her sleepwalking has returned.

One night Abby awakens behind the wheel of her van at a fatal accident. Sleepwalking, or more specifically, sleep-driving, is the only explanation she can come up with for her presence at the scene. But it soon becomes clear that there was a third party involved, and that person begins making threats for Abby not to tell what she saw. But Abby has no recollection of the accident. She seeks the help of afamily acquaintance and psychiatrist, Jason Coble to try to figure out what happened at the accident and why someone is threatening her.

Abby's journey toward truth and self-forgiveness uncovers long buried secrets in both her family and her town. Secrets someone will go to any lengths to protect.

That sounds facinating, Sue. I see you’re the author of ten novels. When did you first begin writing?

I didn't actually begin writing until I was in my thirties. My younger sister sort of dragged me into it. She came to me one day with a stack of paper and admitted she'd been writing in secret and wanted me to look over her work. Being the older sister and an avid reader, naturally I had an opinion. We worked on some stories together, then she stopped writing, but I was totally hooked. I could no more stop writing than I could stop reading. The first novel I wrote solo was RITA and National Readers Choice winner, BACK ROADS.

What is your favorite thing about writing? What is your least favorite thing?

I absolutely love the beginning stages of writing a book. I love the brainstorming, the research, the exploring of possibilities, the laying awake at night pondering "what ifs." It's the stage when everything is possible and you aren't yet hampered with the reality of making all of the parts work.

My least favorite? This may sound contradictory, but it's the blank page, the blinking cursor waiting like a teacher with a tapping foot. It's that stage between all of the daydreaming and actually having something concrete to work with. It's the place where you have to begin to make the real choices that will chart the course of your character's journey. Once I have something started, it's fun to work with it, expand, delve more deeply into my characters.

Sue, this year I sold my first book, The Officer’s Girl, to Harlequin American. And recently, Harlequin bought my second book for a 2011 release. What advice do you have for people like myself, who are just starting out in their writing careers, and for aspiring writers?

Because my son is writing his first novel, this is an easy question; I give the same advice on a weekly basis:

1) Read widely, and read like a writer. When an author has elicited a particular emotion from you as a reader, take the work apart and figure out how he/she achieved it. Study the story construction, the pacing.

2) Continually hone your craft. Learn from workshops, classes, and just chatting with other writers.

3) Learn to trust your writing instincts. We writers are filled with self-doubt, constantly questioning the quality of our work. If you're a writer, there is something special inside you that lead you to it. Don't follow every suggestion made by everyone who has glanced at your work. Carefully evaluate criticism. It's a valuable tool, but it must be weighed.

4) And lastly, put on your armor and send your work out there into the world. No one is going to come knocking on your door and say, "I heard you're writing a book. I'd like to publish it." Yes, you'll probably receive rejections. That's all part of the process.

Now that SLEEP NO MORE is on the book shelves, what is next for you?

I'm focusing on two novels. One is a mainstream women's fiction. The other is a slow-boil psychological suspense. I'm having a great time with both of them!

Good luck with those new books, and I’ll definitely put SLEEP NO MORE on my shopping list. Sue, thanks so much for stopping by. It's been a pleasure talking with you today!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T14:24:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

This is Leigh, raising a cyber toast that 2010 brings happiness and success and all good things to each and everyone of us!

I hope you’ll join me throughout the year as I chat about new books and the authors I’ve discovered—some old friends and some new ones. I look forward to talking about the impact writing has had on my life and I’d love to share with you all the great things that are going on in our lives.

Check back with me on Monday, January 4th for a special interview with Susan Crandall, author of Sleep No More.