~ HEATHER SNOW ~
I’ve developed a sort of crush on this ladies’ writing and I’m so excited that we get to hear from her today and I’m able to share her with all of you!
Welcome to UTC, Heather! Who is Heather Snow? Tell us 5 interesting things about yourself that readers wouldn’t know about you.
Thanks for having me! I’m very excited to be here. Okay. Hmm…I’m a sleep-deprived mother of two young boys, known affectionately on social media as The Heir and The Spare. I’m an avid reader…or at least I was before deadlines and diaper duty. Now I’m more of an avid listener—God bless audiobooks! I’m a cat person who somehow just got tricked into agreeing to get a dog this summer (rotten husband…and he said it in front of the boys, who are now over the moon. I would be an evil mommy to say no now…)—oh, and I write historical romance with heroines who put the blue in bluestocking, the men who love them and the mysteries they have to solve.
As for 5 things readers wouldn’t know about me…
- I was the youngest person to complete Red Cross beginners swimming in Kansas City at the age of four and got written up in the paper for it, complete with picture. My mom dressed me in a checked bikini…it was the last time I ever looked good in one.
- I started water skiing at the age of four, as well, and was slalom skiing by nine. Thankfully not in a bikini.
- In spite of the fact that I am perfectly fine being pulled behind a boat at ridiculous speeds, I have an irrational fear of going downhill. So no snow skiing for me, despite my name, even though everyone tells me it’s so much fun
- When I was a sophomore, I convinced a school board to give me permission to build a raised dance floor in the gym for prom, so that we could put a moat around it with waterfalls coming over the locker room doors and a river coming down the bleacher stairs into a star shaped pool. With goldfish. What were they thinking??? I was 15! One leak and I could have cost them big.
- I ran a prison ministry in two United States Penitentiaries for 5 years. Incidentally, strangers look at you rather strangely when they overhear you saying you were in prison for 5 years.
Not sure how interesting any of that was. It’s 2:20 a.m. here as I’m answering these questions…I may look back tomorrow and think, “Why did I tell them that?!?” 😉
You’ve recently released the third book in your Veiled Seduction series called SWEET MADNESS. Can you please tell us more about this book?
Sure! A lady debutante is content to live the privileged society life she was born to until her husband’s tragic death drives her to study the maladies of the mind and leads her to a traumatized soldier who needs her help…and her love. But she also finds that healing is a two way street, and to be able to follow our hero to the dark places she must go to reach him, she has to open up wounds of her own. It’s really a story about the healing power of love, with a little mystery and some racy bits thrown in!
What would you say is Gabriel’s best quality? What is something that he needs to work on?
He’s brave, he’s a fighter. He’s a strong man brought low, one now facing the terrifying prospect of losing his mind and yet hope burns eternal in his heart and he’s willing to do what it takes to get well. He needs to work on his stubbornness though, and accept help and love more easily.
Your female characters are always very smart. Was this planned or just how they came to you?
A bit of both. My debut, SWEET ENEMY, started with a very specific mystery in mind, one that just came to me and required one of the main characters to be a scientist. Enlightened female that I am, there was no question in my mind that my scientist would be the heroine, rather than the hero. I am happy to report that readers loved it, and asked for more heroines like Liliana. And so my science-savvy heroines were born.
Of ANY book character, who would you want to have a date with?
Anthony Mallory from Johanna Lindsey’s Tender Rebel…my teenage crush. Maybe it was just the tall drink of water on the cover, but I don’t think so. Tony was glib, funny, protective and quite sexy. He didn’t take himself too seriously, which I like. It was one of my favorite books back in the day, so I may just be carrying a leftover torch, but yum!
Which female character in ANY book would you take out for a drink?
Bridget Jones. Especially if we got to have that drink in London.
What authors are on your must buy list?
(Turning to look at my keeper shelf). Julie Garwood. Lisa Kleypas. Sabrina Jeffries. Julia Quinn. Sarah Maclean. Erin Knightley. Anna Lee Huber. Shana Galen. Elizabeth Hoyt. Lauren Willig. Tessa Dare. And that’s just the first shelf…
What made you decide to write in the Historical Romance genre?
Historical romance is my very favorite for many reasons. To me, it’s more like a grown-up fairy tale than other genres. I love the language…I attribute a considerable portion of my vocabulary to reading historical romance growing up. I love that you get to learn bits and pieces of history as you read. I love the fantasy of glittering balls and palatial estates with manicured gardens, without the everyday worries of our modern world. It’s like another layer of escape, one more step removed from the life I live.
Were there any particular writers that influenced your craft or your desire to be a writer?
Oh, certainly. There are so many writers I aspire to be like. Oh, how I wish I wrote like Lisa Kleypas. That woman is a genius! I’d be happy to spin a tale as beautifully as Sabrina Jeffries, too. Or Elizabeth Hoyt—so lush and descriptive. I wish I could do emotional angst as well as Laura Lee Guhrke, and witty dialogue like Julia Quinn, or create endearing characters like Julie Garwood… I could go on and on. One of the wonderful things about writing is reading, because you constantly have incredible examples to learn from.
If you only had twenty dollars in your purse,what would you buy?
Tamales. Okay, not really, but tamales are good. The survivalist in me says water and trail mix. The reader in me says books.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing with us!
Thank you for having me!
There’s a fine line between love and insanity.
An Untamed Mind
Ever since her husband’s sudden and tragic death, Lady Penelope Bridgeman has committed herself to studying the maladies of the mind, particularly treating traumatized soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars. It is this expertise that brings the Marquess of Bromwich’s family to her door.
Gabriel Devereaux’s unexpected and unpredictable episodes are unlike any Penelope has studied. The once proud soldier has been left shaken and withdrawn, but she manages to build a fragile trust between them. Strangely, Gabriel seems completely lucid when not in the grips of his mania, and in the calm between bouts, she is surprised by how much she is drawn to him.
Despite his own growing feelings, Gabriel knows that he is fit for no one, and is determined to keep Penelope away from his descent into madness. But even though she knows firsthand the folly of loving a broken man, Penelope cannot stop herself from trying to save him, no matter the cost.
Purchase Links
Rainy Day Books (my local indie)
Amazon (Kindle Edition)Amazon (Mass Market Paperback)Barnes and Noble
Books-A-Million
IndieBound
Ibooks
The Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
Walmart
Read the Prologue and First Chapter HERE…
*Sweet Madness is a story of the healing power of love, and just as important, of hope. Gabriel is a fictional war hero but there are many real life heroes and their families suffering today. Therefore, my husband and I have decided to donate a portion of all royalties earned from the sale of SWEET MADNESS to Hope For The Warriors®, an organization dedicated to “restoring a sense of self, restoring the family unit, and restoring hope for our service members and our military families.” You can find out more at http://www.heathersnowbooks.com/Hope_For_the_Warriors.html
About the Author
Heather Snow is an award winning historical romance author with a degree in Chemistry who discovered she preferred creating chemistry on the page rather than in the lab. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two rambunctious boys and one very put upon cat. Mr. Snow has promised the boys a dog this summer. The cat is not happy.
The final book in her Veiled Seduction series, SWEET MADNESS, hit shelves April 2, 2013. RT Book Reviews Magazine gives it 4 ½ stars, saying “In this emotional, compassionate romance…the powerful love story will sweep readers away.”
Find out more at www.HeatherSnowBooks.com or connect with Heather at www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherSnow , www.twitter.com/HeatherSnowRW or at her blog, Heather’s Historical Reader Salon at www.heathersnowbooksreadersalon.blogspot.com 
hmmmmm…. 1 I love to travel 2 I hate reality tv 3 I lose my voice when I drink beer (not that I let that stop me) 4 I’m the baby of my family (love it!) 5 my eyes are 2 different colors
I love to travel and hate reality tv, too! You’ve got me on the other ones 🙂 What two colors?
I love reading books, watching movies and I like animals. My weakness is ice cream 🙂
All good things! My weakness is tacos…yum!
The book and series sound really good.
I just started to read a couple of years ago. I’m very late to the game.
I don’t watch TV.
We live in Ohio but my husband works in Florida.
I hate beer but love Jack Daniels.
I’m a nail tech that hates to polish nails.
Maybe late to the game, but that just means you have more awesomeness ahead of you to discover!
Is there a part of being a nail tech that you really like?
This souds really good! 🙂
1.I own over 5000 books(yes its a problem lol)
2. My birthdays New Years Eve
3. I’ve loved watching horror movies ever since I was 2 years old
4.I have 3 older brothers
5.I’ve worked at 2 different bookstores.
5000 doesn’t sound like a problem to me? Does that sound like a problem to any of you??? 😉
Our birthday’s are close! I’m right between Christmas and New Years. Got my fair share of Ho Ho Happy Birthday cards 😉
I think a bookstore would be the BEST place to work…other than I would be broke all of the time. Wonder if it contributed to your 5000 book problem… 🙂
1. I am addicted to reading
2. love salted caramel dark chocolate!
3. my brother is a retired marine and now full time author (so proud)
4. my sisters are my best friends
5.hate doing laundry!!!
Does anyone love doing laundry? If so, could they please come do mine???
Awesome that your family is so close and good for your brother!
I just discovered salted caramel chocolate…dang that Hanna Martine!
Here’s a fact – I never learned to swim as a child – got the chicken pox when I was supposed to be taking lessons – and have taken introductory swimming lessons as an adult 5 times and so far have only managed to learn to float….lol….I’ve also met Heather in person at a book signing and she’s very sweet:)
Awww. Hi Maria! (waves furiously) Bummer about the chicken pox when you were supposed to be learning to swim. Floating is good, though! We’ll have to get you a nice comfy raft and toss you out in the lake with an umbrella drink. That’s where I spend a lot of my time in the water these days 🙂
Let’s see
1. I was an exchange student on Germany in high school
2. I have identical twin girls sandwiched in between 2 boys
3. I have 4 kids and 4 dogs ( only one husband )
4. I love frosting, I eat the cake out of pity
5. I took piano lessons for 7 years and can’t play
Thanks for the fun
I want to be an exchange student now! Think they let 30 somethings go? 🙂
I also wanted twins…until I had one and realized that I’d have never made two at the same time! I’m in awe of you 🙂
Cake out of pity, ha!!!
My one childhood regret is not learning to read music. I can play by ear passably, but difficult pieces are hard because it takes me forever to pick them out until I get the hang of it. I’d give anything to be able to just pick up a piece of music I love and be able to read it.
Thanks for stopping by! I’m loving hearing the awesome things about all of you!
Congrats on the new release, Heather.
1. Love to travel.
2. Addicted to fried foods.
3. I’m a bit of a hoarder.
4. I love British crime dramas.
5. Big comic book fan.
Thanks, Jane!
I’m with you on 1 and 2.
What do you hoard? I’m a bit of collector…ahem
I bet I would LOVE British crime dramas. Which ones are you hooked on? (as if I need something else pulling at my time!)
I’d love to read your series…the reviewers love it!
1. My real name is unique and I never have company when my name is called.
2. I fight depression so I wear LOTS of sparkle: rings, fingernails, bracelets…
3. I had my 2 children late in life so at almost 60 my youngest is a HS Senior.
4. I do deep water aerobics and 3 miles on the treadmill 3x/week
5. A am a book addict – I confess I have a bookstore in my bedroom & spare room, lol
Thanks Glittergirl! I’ve been thrilled with how much readers have liked my smarty pants heroines 🙂
Unique names are great. Unfortunately for the Heir, his name is very common. It wasn’t when I named him that. It’s his fault he came 7 years after I meant for him to
That sounds like a beautiful strategy to fight melancholy. I get your name now 🙂
I won’t quite be 60 when the Spare is a senior, but I won’t be too far from it. I’m mostly glad I waited, though. I think I have more patience than I would have years ago
Water aerobics rock!!!
1. I love to read and often times am reading more than one book at a time.
2. I love to cook but I started to cook so I would always have something I wsnted to eat since I sm picky.
3. I had a full hip replacement at age 35.
4. My dog is my child.
5. The tv must be on when I go to sleep.
Hi Leanna! I can’t read more than one book at a time…well, I guess I can if I’m listening to one and reading one. They’re kind of two different experiences for me!
Pets are such wonderful parts of our lives!
TV keeps me awake, though many times I can’t go to sleep without music or an audiobook to shut my own mind down and let me focus on something else. I go to sleep with earbuds in 9 nights out of 10
Thanks for stopping by!
1. I am addicted to buying and reading books.
2. I hate tomatoes but love salsa.
3. I did not learn to cook until by first child was born at the age of 30. I could make toast, but would burn everything else.
4. I hate cleaning the bathroom, especially the toliet.
5. I work at a hotel doing Front Desk, I do wash & fold about 5 to 7 loads of laundry and totals about 50+ sheets and 150+ towels.
Those kids make us stretch our boundaries, don’t they?
Do you also hate tomato sauces, like marinara or spaghetti?
OMG! Though I guess if I had to fold things, sheets and towels are better than a lot. At least you can put them in nice squares. I bet you meet tons of interesting people at the Front Desk!
I love reading and watching movies and tv. Thanks for the giveaway.
You’re welcome, Joy 🙂
I am addicted to reading. I have watched General Hospital for over 40yrs and I am an Aunt to 13 nieces and nephews…
13? That’s awesome 🙂 I have 4 nieces and nephews, and am expecting at least one more!
I used to watch GH…my mom and Nana were both avid fans. I’ve had to cut a lot of tv out of my life between the kids and the writing, but I have fond memories, particularly of Luke and Laura 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway! Five interesting things about me?
1. I was struck by lightning freshman year in college (not a direct hit.)
2. I have a 14 year old shih-tzu/toy poodle mix named Gershwin.
3. I have a BA in Contemporary Ministry with a minor in music.
4. I graduate for a second time from college with a BS in Integrated Marketing Communication in May.
5. I am a huge hockey fan and have actually gotten hit on by some of my hockey idols while out at bars.
mestith at gmail dot com
Lightning! Oh my!
The music minor explains the shih-tzu/poodle’s name 🙂 Speaking of composers, there’s a scene in SWEET ENEMY (my debut) you might particularly enjoy!
Congrats on the upcoming graduation!!!
Wow! Hit on by sports stars in nice 🙂 The closest thing I ever came to that was when I got hit in the head by a missed field goal during a Chief’s playoff game. Which we lost. By a missed field goal. Grrrrrr.
I was a big swimmer when I was younger too! I finished the Red Cross lifesaving classes by the time I was 12!
I loved to water ski too (although I haven’t done it since I was about 42 and I have never snow skied. Just seems to cold and the falls would be much harder!
As for 5 things about me:
1. I have 3 teenage daughters…most days it is a joy, but sometimes it can be a lot of emotions.
2. I dated my hubby 7 years before we got married. I was 17 when we met.
3. I worked as a computer programmer for 19 1/2 years and then I “retired” at the age of 42!
4. I love to read and I have an obsession with finding new authors.
5. I love sports! I played softball until I was 35. Then I coached a total of 22 teams that my girls were on!
Thanks for the chance to win!
suegaluska (at) yahoo (dot) com
Awesome! The lifesaving class is now walk in the park…or would that be lap around the pool? Anyway…
I agree! Not that I haven’t taken some hard falls waterskiing…when you’re going that fast, the water feels like rock when you smack, but still!
I was a little sad that I didn’t have any daughters, but in retrospect, I was never much of a girl when I was a girl, so the emotions would have flummoxed me.
How awesome that you’ve known your hubby most of your life! And retiring at 42? NICE…
OK Five things…
1. I love to read…duhh I guess on that.
2. I am in nursing school
3. I love staying up late
4. I ADORE coffee
5. I still cry about my mom.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
The book sounds awesome!
Mary
mary_reiss @ hotmail.com
Congrats on nursing school! It’s a profession that’s really a calling and I admire you for going into it!
I, too, an a night owl. I whip myself with the whole “early to bed, early to rise makes you healthy, wealthy and wise” stuff, but after nearly 40 years, I’m just going to have to admit I’m a night owl.
Sorry about your mom. I still cry for my grandmother, and it’s been 19 years this week
Hi everyone! So glad to be here! Sorry I’m late to the party…I’ve been at a booksigning all day. Responding from my phone now and loving all of the fascinating facts about you! I’ll respond individually when I get home tonight but I wanted to pop in and say hi!
1. I’m Australian
2. More importantly I’m a Queenslander.
3. I can actually say no to chocolate.
4. I love my craft work.
5. I love listening to favourite movies while I work on my crafts.
Hi Mary! One of these days, I’m going to make it to Australia!
I love to listen to favorite movies in the background when I’m not writing (but doing other business work like mailings and research, etc.) Do you have particulars that you put on? Right now, I tend to put on one of the 8 Harry Potters…over and over and over again. Another favorite is Heart and Souls… so cute!
Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Interesting facts….hmmmmm
1. I’m half Danish
2. I love to smell my books 🙂
3. I’m an aspiring author(unpublished) and a full time Reviewer!
4. I can duplicate almost any form of art from a picture, drawing, pastels. Etc.
5. I have an obsession with buying books. Mainly used. Which accounts for me having only read about 5% of the books on my shelves.
Half Danish? Awesome!
I love the smell of books too. Know what smells terrible, though? The Wall Street Journal. Seriously. I can smell one if it’s anywhere in the room and it bothers me terribly. Must be the ink they use or something.
We all started out aspiring! Best of luck to you!
That’s fascinating about your artistic ability.
I buy more books than I can possibly read myself.
1. I like to read a series back to back so sometimes I’ll collect books for years before starting a series
2. I love soap operas
3. I watch TV the same way I read. I collect 3 to 4 episodes before watching them back to back
4. Just watched The Walking Dead – 3 seasons in 5 days
5. I’d rather read than participate in any other activity
Well, good news then! Sweet Madness is the last in this series, so you’re all good 🙂
I used to be a huge GH and Days of our Lives fan. Oh, and One Life To Live. Sadly, I no longer have time for a lot of tv 🙁
What TV I do watch, though, is by season. I get them on DVD or Netflix, and blow through a season in a day or two. I hate waiting to find out what happens. So I don’t.
Ah, I see you do the same!
Right on. I love reading, too 🙂
I live in the Caribbean!
I’m jealous. 😉
Wow, that’s interesting. Love your 5 facts! Here’s mine:
1.) I have a black belt in taekwon-do.
2.) I’m asexual.
3.) I live in an area called Sherwood Forest where all the streets are named after places and characters from Robin Hood.
4.) I can talk to anyone and make friends with pretty much everyone.
5.) I owned a pair of cowboy boots for several years and it’s only recently that I’ve started wearing them.
Thanks for the giveaway!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Wow, Emily! You go!
We have a Nottingham neighborhood around us, but no Sherwood. How fun. I live in an area that’s named after English places. Like Regecy Park, Windsor Hills, Wellington Park, St. Andrews on the Green, Oxford Place, etc. Works for the anglophile in me.
It’s a gift to be able to talk to anyone!
A blackbelt in cowboy boots…Pure awesome 🙂
5 things…
1. I only discovered romance books 5 years ago but now I can’t stop reading them!
2. I llike all kinds of romance novels – except angel stories. Haven’t found one to love yet.
3. I love a good historical romance because it takes me to a time and place that I would never want to live in but I love to visit!
4. I haven’t read one of your books yet. I know, what’s up with that?
5. Your books are now on my wish list. And my fingers are croseed that I win this giveaway!
jepebATverizonDOTnet
Hi Jen!
It’s because romance is AWESOME!
Historical romance is my fav, too (though I am branching out…I read one the other day that had a were-chicken in it. And liked it)
I’m not sure what’s up with that (not reading my books yet), but I think you’re going to have to remedy that… 😉 Hopefully you’ll win one, LOVE it, and snatch up the other two!
(You know I’m playing, right? Okay, not really.) 😉
1. I’ve been reading romance for over 44 years, so I’m a “mature” fan.
2. I don’t like math, but have learned that a calculator is my friend.
3. Love amusement parks, especially riding roller coasters (even at my age). 😀
4. Worked at the same company (through several owners) for 35 years until 2 1/2 years ago and now have a very awesome job working at City Hall.
5. Am addicted to books, have book shelves in my office, bedroom, living room & guest room (and some boxes of books in the closet).
I’ve read and enjoyed Sweet Enemy, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of your books Heather.
Hi Barbara! I don’t believe it! Though I do like the term “mature fan” 🙂
Calculators are everyone’s friend 🙂 Although I do use math more in my everyday life than I thought I would as I was agonizing over it at school!
Amusement parks are awesome! Do you have a favorite coaster?
Bookshelves are the most indespensible pieces of furniture, aren’t they?
I’m so glad you enjoyed Sweet Enemy and hope you love Sweet Deception and Sweet Madness!
1.I’ve been reading historical romances since Jr. High School, that’s 25 years, more then half my life.
2.I’ve had the chicken pox 3 times.
3.I flew in a plan for the first time in 2010.
4.I’m the oldest of 3.
5.I’ve lived in Iowa my whole life.
Congrats Heather on your new book and the award for Sweet Deception!
5 things about me:
1) I love watching the Amazing Race, I like to travel vicariously through the show 🙂
2) I’m a night owl
3) I’d eat anything chocolatey and nutty
4) I love watching sports
5) And I love books!
Thanks for the giveaway Heather, looking forward to reading your new book!
Love your list and inspiration, =) my fav authors, too (among others)
My list:
1. I´ve got 3 Kindles, 1 tablet + read on my phone aswell. Yes, i´m a Kindleholic
2. We´ve got 6 dogs & 7 cats in our house. Fun but hairy =D
3. I´ve yet to take my drivers license, at 37 *sulks*
4. I´m the geek with my electronics and my hubby is the animal lover =)
5. I can´t read books that don´t have a HEA, it´s the one thing i must have =)
Thanks for the giveaway & Happy Sunday!
//Linda
Here’s my list of 5:
1.Bacon is a weakness of mine
2.I’m a big country music fan
3.I’m a wordsmith
4.I’m a tech geek
5.I love to read 🙂
Thanks for the contest, hope to win your second book although the whole series sounds like a good read!
1. I’m a twin…and we are not close and never have been!
2. My eyes change colors
3. I’m a veterans wife
4. I love to read
5. I have OCD…not as bad as it used to be!
Thanks for this chance to win!
I love to read, I have one older brother and two nephews, sweets never last long at my house, I collect frog figures, and even though I’m 25 I still don’t know how to cook anything more than scramble eggs.
#1– I won’t read or watch a movie that ends sad. I have to have my HEA!
#2– I become attached to things others wouldn’t think twice about.
#3– I adore everything Pride and Prejudice.
#4– Murder She Wrote and Sex and the City are my two very favorite TV shows.
#5– Romance novels based on Beauty and the Beast are my all-time favorite.
1. I like watching movies as much as I like reading books
2. I prefer reading a book curled up on my sofa to going out
3. My favorite place to read is my bath
4. I used to sneak books into the house so my parents wouldn’t see I bought books… again
5. I don’t like to read books without a happy ending
Congratulations on the new release.
1. I’m close with my sister
2. I enjoy reading
3. I still like reading paper books more than reading on my Nook
4. This season I’m watching Once Upon a Time, Bones & Castle.
5. Unlike most people, when I was in school, I actually enjoyed taking tests.
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your website in web explorer, could test this? IE nonetheless is the market leader and a good section of people will omit your great writing because of this problem.
1. I married the first guy I dated more than twice (my husband of 41 years).
2. I’m a big Star Trek fan.
3. I have many, many shelves and plastic bins full of books.
4. I keep a really detailed list of said books, so I know what I’ve read or haven’t read and where they are located (plus ratings). I also include books I’ve read but don’t own and books I want to read/own.
5. I don’t want to read or watch any type of romantic story that doesn’t have a HEA.