Quick Six with Leigh Duncan
Please welcome Leigh Duncan to Quick Six! Leigh is an award winning author who writes fab stories for Harlequin American. If you’d like a chance to win a copy of her book, The Officer’s Girl! All you have to do is leave answer her question in the comments section.
More than the landscape changes when a hurricane practically blows Florida’s newest resident into the arms of the disillusioned cop standing on her front porch. The broad-shouldered Adonis cannot fathom why the sassy beauty didn’t flee Cocoa Beach when the evacuation order was posted, but she has her reasons. With a big promotion at stake, the approaching storm doesn’t figure into her plans any more than falling for the hunkiest cop in Florida. While the last thing he wants in his life is another self-centered woman, the keys to his emotional survival dangle from her perfectly sculpted nails.
Plotter or Pantzer? I’m a plotter, no question about it. Organization is both my blessing and my curse, and if I had to sit down and write a book from beginning to end without knowing where I was headed, well, it wouldn’t be much of a book. My usual process is to start with the characters, learn their strengths and weaknesses. Once I have that nailed down, I plot out their story, working from big ideas and conflicts down to specific scenes. Before I actually sit down to write, I’ve roughed out the GMC and POV for each scene.
Black Coffee or with Cream and Sugar? I’m pretty easy going about almost everything. But as my kids’ll tell you, I can be a tad fussy about the coffee. I drink way more of it than I should and I like it hot, hot, hot and with half-and-half. Okay, maybe a little dollop of cream once in a while, but no fat-free anything, thank you very much. No sugar and no flavorings.
Guitar or Drums? Guitar. Acoustic finger-pickin’, toe-tappin’ bluegrass. Though he’d never admit it, my DH (dear hubby) “plays a little”, which is Southern for he’s “really” good. And he usually entertains us by playing while we’re watching TV or relaxing in the evenings.
Big Dogs or Little Dogs? Ooooh, big, clumsy, goofy Black Labs are my all-time fav. Talk about unconditional, and uncomplicated, love!
Mascara or Lip-gloss? Can’t a girl have both?
Live underwater or in space? What does it matter? I can’t, can’t, can’t breathe in either one. But since I’ve lived most of my life in Central Florida—home to Kennedy Space Center, the Shuttle and rocket launches—I’d have to say “in space.” Especially if the astronauts are cute.
My question: Water Skiing or Snow Skiing?
Award-winning author Leigh Duncan believes solid relationships lay the foundation for true happiness. Married to the love of her life and mother of two wonderful young adults, Leigh enjoys watching Shuttle launches from her home on Central Florida’s east coast. She writes the kind of books she loves to read, ones where home, family and community are key to the happy endings everyone deserves. When she isn’t busy working on her next book for Harlequin American, Leigh loves nothing better than to curl up in her favorite chair with a cup of hot coffee and a great book. She invites readers to contact her at PO Box 410787, Melbourne, FL 32941, or to visit her online at www.leighduncan.com.
Sadly, I’ve never done either. I’ve grown up around water all my life. In my hometown we had lakes and rivers and now I live not far from the Gulf of Mexico, but still I have not had the opportunity presented to me to learn how to water ski. It’s something I’d like to try at least once, but the thought of a boat dragging me across the water scares me a little.
Snow skiing is on my Bucket List of things to do. I hope to be able to learn to do so in the next couple of years. However, that’s going to require a vacation because we are no where near any mountains.
Hi Leigh. Your book sounds great. I have never water skiied or snow skiied.
Jill and Crystal — Good morning! Or, on the East Coast, good afternoon. I’ve spent all morning traveling to CT where I’m speaking at the Fiction Fest tomorrow. Now that I’ve finally arrived, it was such a pleasure to find out the hotel offers free wi fi service! Hooray!
So, neither of you have either snow or water skied? I’ve tried water skiing, but wasn’t much good at it. Never attempted snow skiing, but in Florida, there’s not much snow. LOL
Hi Leigh and welcome!! I love your book cover. Can you tell us a little about the story?
And for me, no skiing is good skiing. I’m a total klutz, and fall much too easily in shoes so the idea of trying to stand on water OR snow is scary *g*
Tawny, hey! What author doesn’t love talking about their stories? The seed for “The Officer’s Girl” was planted shortly after we moved (back) to Florida and lived through our first hurricane evacuation. What if someone refused to evacuate, I wondered. Or even better, what if they didn’t realize the evacuation orders applied to them? Those questions led me to Stephanie, a gal who’s worked very hard to earn her big chance at the Corporate Brass Ring and whose arrival in Cocoa Beach coincides with a hurricane. Reassured by her real estate agent that hurricanes have never landed in Cocoa Beach (not quite a lie, but they do come perilously close), Stephanie faces her worst nightmare when her well-laid plans are upset by hunky Brett Lincoln and a hurricane bearing her own name.
Congrats on the new release! I have it in my Amazon cart, just haven’t checked out yet (Roxanne St. Claire mentioned loving it on Twitter a couple of weeks ago).
I’ve tried water skiing but wasn’t very good at it. Have always regretted never snow skiing, but think I’m too old (and chicken) to try it now!
Don’t you just love Roxanne?!? I just spent the weekend with her at the Washington Romance Writers’ Retreat where she gave a fabulous keynote address. We also signed books with–be still my heart–Nora Roberts and Charlaine Harris at an amazing book store in Boonsboro, MD called Turn the Page.
Thanks so much for buying “The Officer’s Girl”, Laurie! Hope it sweeps you away!
Hi, Tawny! Hi, Leigh! I’ve never tried water skiing, but maybe it’d be fun to try (assuming I can avoid breaking anything
) As for snow skiing, we just went for the first time as a family last month–we all signed up for ski school. We had a good time, and while my husband and I are already outskiied by our kids, we count it a success 
BTW, no need to enter me–I’m delighted to have already read Leigh’s debut, and look forward to more of her writing! What a treat!
Fedora, soooo glad you enjoyed “The Officer’s Girl”! You’re in good company. It hit #1 in Harlequin American sales on amazon.com and stayed there for a week, to my amazement.
As for more books, I just–and I mean, just before boarding the plane on this trip–turned in my second book for Harlequin American Romance. Tentatively titled “Catch of a Lifetime”, it’s the story of a widowed fly fishing guide who tangles with a dark-eyed hunk of a doctor when he wants to build a medical center on land designated as a protected habitat. It doesn’t help that the riverside property is home to the area’s best fishing grounds, or that his development project will enable him to fund a home for foster kids.
Hey Tawny and Leigh. Don’t count me in okay. I already have the book. I just wanted to say hello to Leigh, and tell her how much I like The Officer’s Girl.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Hey, Paula! Thanks so much for stopping by.
You are very welcome. I will see you at Fiction Fest tomorrow. I will stop by to say hello.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Love the cover. I’ve done neither, but I would try snow skiing. I wouldn’t even attempt water because I don’t know how to swim.
Nicole, isn’t that cover wonderful? I think it’s fantastic!
I don’t have a desire to do either but if I did water skiing would win. I’m not crazy about snow and if I’m in the water that means it’s nice and warm.
Leni, I’ve tried water skiing, but kept letting go of the tow rope before I could stand. Since I’m a Florida gal, I’m with you on the cold — water skiing is warmer!
Hi! Neat question. Makes me think. Hmmm….
I guess snow skiing. I learned how to snow ski when my kids were in Grades 2 & 4, as I was a parent volunteer on trips till the youngest was in Grade 6. I wasn’t the greatest, but I did it a few times every year.
I learned how to water ski when I was a teenager. My lips always turned blue and I just froze out there on Lake Ontario.
I say snow skiing because I can bundle up on the slopes, whereas wearing a parka, hat, scarves, and ski pants probably would be frowned upon when water skiing (and drag me down into the water most likely)!
Book sounds great. I can’t relate to “perfectly sculpted nails”, but I’d like to see what else I might have in common with the heroine!
Laney4, Great humor! The thing about Stephanie is that underneath that Corporate-ordered makeover beats the heart of a gal who wants the same love and happiness we all seek.
Makes sense. That’s why we read these books and watch for their HEAs! Thanks for sharing your blog comments (and your book, of course!) — especially “the approaching storm doesn’t figure into her plans”, as I’m guessing that there’s more than one storm she’ll have to weather, LOL! I’m looking forward to reading all about it/them! Thanks again.