Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

About Heather
Heather Snow is a historical romance author with a degree in Chemistry who discovered she much preferred creating chemistry on the page, rather than in the lab. She is forever trying to wrangle her left and right brain to work together (some days with more success than others!), but if her two sides had to duke it out, left would win every time—which can be a creative challenge. Luckily, she loves challenges…she just goes about solving them analytically.

One of Heather's favorite quotes is from Carl Jung, who said, "The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." Her background in chemistry prepared her for writing romance better than one might think: There are rules to follow, and some you can break when you want to experiment. Historical romance, like science, requires careful research. Most chemical reactions require a catalyst to drive them, just like characters require motivation to drive the story forward. And finally, both chemistry and writing, if done well, involve a precise mixture of elements and careful manipulation to achieve that perfect reaction that makes you want to sigh with satisfaction.

Heather lives in the Midwest with her husband, two rambunctious boys and one very put upon cat. She sincerely hopes you find her stories have just the right chemistry…

Website
http://www.heathersnowbooks.com/

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeather...

Twitter
https://twitter.com/HeatherSnowRW

Books

- Available April 2, 2013

Giveaway
Heather will be giving away 10 copies of either Sweet Enemy or Sweet Deception to participants in the Q&A. They will be print copies and it will be open Worldwide

Welcome Heather, it's a pleasure having you with us!

I hope you enjoy your time with our members; and good luck to you all!


GUIDELINES FOR AUTHOR AND PARTICIPANTS:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

Members, if you can please write the questions in bold; it would be easier for Heather to know that you have asked a question and less chance that it will be missed. Thanks!


In order to bold-

Place < b > before the question you have for Heather and < /b > after the question. Make sure there are no spaces.

Hello everyone, and thank you for having me! Looking forward to our conversation :)

Here in KS, it's a snow day for the little ones, so I may be popping by only sporadically between building snowmen, igloos and sledding! But, it's the first proper snow we've had in 2 years, so the boys and I will be taking advantage of it!

If you're not familiar with me, I write historical romance with fairly unconventional heroines. My first series is set in Regency England, post Napoleonic wars and feature science savvy heroines, the men who love them and the mysteries they have to solve. Liliana, from Sweet Enemy, is a chemist going undercover as a husband hunter to discover who killed her father. Emma, from Sweet Deception, is a mathematical genius and criminologist who gets tangled up with a spy who is trying to catch a murderer and traitor. And Penelope, from the upcoming Sweet Madness, is a mental philosopher (the precurser to a psychologist) who is trying to help a soldier who has inexplicably gone mad.

Look forward to your questions!

i'm jealous that you have snow right now Heather - here in DC, we have gotten some sprinklings, but it has never lasted more than about an hour...

who would you say are your main influences when it comes to writing - authors, role-models, others?

I haven't really read much historical romances before but it's something that I'm looking in to, so will be looking up some of your books :)

What made you go in to writing historical romance?

Oooh I love that you got your degree in Chemistry. Judging from your character descriptions it sounds like you're applying that science background to your work. I love historical fiction and an a science need (a rock jock, to be precise), so I cannot wait to delve into your work.

I guess my biggest, and probably common, question is what caused the transition to becoming an author? What was your inspiration?

I love historicals, they are my favorite read. You can keep your snow because I don't want it. Not much of a snow person.

Do you see yourself writing any western historicals?

It's wonderful to see a fellow chemist here. I got my BS in chemistry from Purdue and MS in chemistry from Indiana University many moons ago. Since you're writing historical fiction here's a wild question for you along chemistry lines.In your stories do you work alchemy into them?

b I have couple of questions
1 When you do your book are they going to be sequel to them or do you just write them and then they end up being more than one
2 The cover are great eye catcher are you influence by the person who does them for you
3 When you go in to the story are you thinking of one person or mixture of the couples when you write
$ do you do swag on them if so how can we get them like book mark and then cover i have collections of the authors i read and blog on

Dee wrote: "i'm jealous that you have snow right now Heather - here in DC, we have gotten some sprinklings, but it has never lasted more than about an hour...

who would you say are your main influences when i..."

Hi Dee! This is truly the kind of snow to be jealous of, too :) The kind that weighs down every bough and bush with fluffy beauty! Makes me want to get out my Christmas CD's just to listen to Winter Wonderland!

My number one influence as a historical romance author is probably Lisa Kleypas. It was her writing that brought me back to historical romance after college, and after many years of not reading it. I also very much admire the writing of Elisabeth Hoyt and Sabrina Jeffries. I wish I wrote characters her were as endearing as those of Julie Garwood's. I am really enjoying Tessa Dare as well.

There are so many fabulous historical romance authors out there to admire. I can't tell you how many times I put down a novel and think, "Wow. I wish I wrote like that!" :)

Amanda wrote: "I haven't really read much historical romances before but it's something that I'm looking in to, so will be looking up some of your books :)

What made you go in to writing historical romance? "

Hi Amanda! Be prepared...historical romance is addictive!!! :) If you decide to pick up my novels, I hope you enjoy them. As in any genre, there are many different types of historical romances--light & witty, dark and mysterious, and everything in between. I would say mine are somewhere in the middle :)

I decided to write historical romance because, honestly, that is what I read and enjoyed the most! I read extensively, but historical romance was always my comfort read, my happiest of happily ever afters. When I decided to write, I knew that is what I wanted to create for others. Plus, historical romance has a very fairy-tale quality feel that I really enjoy.

Makenzie wrote: "Oooh I love that you got your degree in Chemistry. Judging from your character descriptions it sounds like you're applying that science background to your work. I love historical fiction and an a science need (a rock jock, to be precise), so I cannot wait to delve into your work.

I guess my biggest, and probably common, question is what caused the transition to becoming an author? What was your inspiration?"

Hi Makenzie! You might be surprised how many historical romance authors have science backgrounds :) I actually just wrote an article in RT Book Reviews magazine about that, featuring Julia Quinn, Emma Wildes (who, like you, studied geology!), Samantha Grace, Erin Kelley, Jennifer McQuiston and myself.

I'll post the link here and if you're interested, you can copy and paste it into your browser:

http://digitalmag.rtbookreviews.com/i...

Now, to your question: I always loved to read...it was my escape! I decided to try my hand at writing after I left my career to start a family. We thought parenthood would happen quickly, but it didn't and I ended up with extra time on my hands. So I decided to try to write my own novel. Of course, not long after I started it, our eldest decided to come along, so I took some time off writing it :) But when he was about 18 months old, I decided I might just want to finish that book. It ended up selling, and so when our second son came along, Mommy was on deadline. I wrote Sweet Deception VERY sleep deprived!

I always find it amazing the wide variety of careers that writers have come from - Eloisa James is a Professor of Shakespeare at a university in New York - man, I would have loved to have had her for a prof

Virginia wrote: "I love historicals, they are my favorite read. You can keep your snow because I don't want it. Not much of a snow person.

Do you see yourself writing any western historicals?"

Hi Virginia! Mine, too :) I'm not so much of snow person (despite my name!), but I do like a nice one every once in a while. I think I'm enjoying this one so much because it's been a while. Plus, my boys are 4 and 18 months, so THEY are really loving it. Makes me like it a little more :)

I don't see myself writing western historicals at this time. I'm an anglophile, through and through. While I enjoy reading western historicals (and I get to read some great ones! Two of my critique partners write it brilliantly), whenever a story pops into my head, it always seems to be set in England.

Larry wrote: "It's wonderful to see a fellow chemist here. I got my BS in chemistry from Purdue and MS in chemistry from Indiana University many moons ago. Since you're writing historical fiction here's a wild question for you along chemistry lines.In your stories do you work alchemy into them?
..."

Hi Larry! Pleasure to see you, too! I haven't used alchemy, mainly because I write early to mid nineteenth century, which was post chemical revolution, so alchemy was pretty much considered an occult science by then. My Regency era chemist is more the precursor to a biochemist, trying to make the connections between biology and chemistry for healing purposes.

Still, wouldn't it be fascinating to find the secret that would turn lead into gold? ;)

Desiree wrote: "b I have couple of questions
1 When you do your book are they going to be sequel to them or do you just write them and then they end up being more than one
2 The cover are great eye catcher are you influence by the person who does them for you
3 When you go in to the story are you thinking of one person or mixture of the couples when you write
$ do you do swag on them if so how can we get them like book mark and then cover i have collections of the authors i read and blog on /i>

Hello Desiree :)

1. When I wrote Sweet Enemy, it was intended to be one story. Of course, there were some secondary characters that I loved :) When my agent suggested we pitch it as a series, it was easy to create the other two stories! The next series I'm working on is intended to be a series from the beginning

2. The covers really are beatiful, aren't they??? I really lucked out! I didn't have much input into the first one (though it turned out lovely!). The second, Sweet Deception, I asked for the green dress and my editor asked the art department to incorporate Emma's maps into it (which they did so well!). Sweet Madness is probably my favorite, however. I asked for Penelope to be in a red dress, looking out of a window with lightning, and they did it SO well! I put that cover as my screen saver and looked at it often while writing. NAL's art department does the covers

3. It really depends. For example, in this first series, I approached each story differently. Sweet Enemy began with the mystery, and I devised a story to go around it, then created the characters to fit the story. Sweet Deception started with the idea of a scene, but really centered around the characters. Sweet Madness started with the title, actually, and I created a story from that, using a character who already existed. My next series is really being created from a theme, and I will spin characters and story line from that.

4. I do! Any one can send me a SASE to PO Box 23283, Overland Park, KS 66283 and I will be happy to send bookmarks, trading cards, and/or signed bookplates. Just let me know what and for which book you would like.

For readers who love my work and would like to help me spread the word, they can join my Sweet Street Team. Members get swag to share with friends and libraries/bookstores in their area, and also some special swag just for them. For more information, you can check out:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeathe...

I'll have to put your books on my "To Read" list. It's nice to see a fellow Kansan! Where/how do you do your research?

Hi Heather! Thanks for being here!

What in history recent or past inspires you the most?

Would love to win some of your books! Thank you so much for the giveaways!

Brrr its cold and snowing here too! I'm from Colorado.

Hi Heather, so glad you are able to spend some time with us. please forgive any bad spelling or fat fingring as I am a passenger on a very windy and bumpy road in the middle of a 4 hour drive home. I cut my teeth reading historicals and happily admit to my addiction. I especially love series and look forward to starting this one. To me a name is everything in setting mood and personality of charactor. How do you come up with the names of your players? and When thinking up the hot boys you write about do you have a main stream leading man in mind or is he someone from your imagination?

I'm a fellow writer as well. I've only had a few poems published. With technology so far there's more resources available. What are some sites or groups you would recommended to meet fellow writers as well as get advice locally as well as people from other places too?

Wow are you smart! :) I enjoy historical romance novels as well and have been passing my copies onto my grandmother that has severe dementia in an assisted living center. I find it helps her pass the time, but she does wind up reading it twice bc she often forgets where she was at. ;) I find it amazing how much accurate most authors tend to be.

I am writing from my iPad and am clueless on how to make the words bold so here is my question and I apologize if it is redundant!

( how much time do you spend researching a time period, country, of culture before you begin writing a book? )

What do you mean by Swag them? I'm clueless!

Thanks for sharing about your family - your boys sounds great! How do you stay creative (and channel that creativity) as a very busy mom? I feel like I was a very creative person before I had my son, but now when I sit down to write even a letter to a friend, all I can think of are to-do lists!

Michelle wrote: " What do you mean by Swag them? I'm clueless! "

I can answer this one - swag is stuff that authors give away at conventions - bookmarks, postcards, magnets, pencils that have their branding on it (book titles, name, stuff like that)

I love that! I've never had any of that!

Heather, are you a pants-er or a planner when it comes to writing?

I want to be in your street team please

Chris wrote: "I'll have to put your books on my "To Read" list. It's nice to see a fellow Kansan! Where/how do you do your research?"

Hi Chris! Where in KS are you?

As for research, many different ways. I have shelves of books on England/Europe in the 17-19th centuries. I pick up interesting books to add to it all of the time! I also am a big fan of the library system. The Inter-Library Loan program is FANTASTIC! I'm able to get books on myriad subjects that help.

Of course, I'd be hopeless without the internet. Even though not all of the information is always accurate, a good search will point you in the right direction and tell you what book to request from ILL! I can't imagine what I'd do without it! Just thinking of the historical authors of old with no internet...with no computers, even. I can't imagine writing on a typewriter! I revise too much...

I have been known to visit museum exhibitions to do research too...in fact, the story idea for Sweet Enemy came from a trip I took to the Linda Hall Science Library in Kansas City

Michelle wrote: " What in history recent or past inspires you the most? "

Hi Michelle,

I'm not sure that I am particularly inspired by history. Fascinated by it...hindsight is always 20/20 they say :) There are many things that I really like about writing historical fiction, least of which is that it allows me that separation from my daily life and what I write, giving me that fairy-tale feel that I like.

I particularly like writing in Regency and Victorian because the world was changing so fast. The chemical and scientific and industrial revolutions were all going on, social issues were finally coming to the fore and people were striving to change life and give more people opportunities. It's fun to write stories about good people striving to make a difference.

Marisa wrote: "... How do you come up with the names of your players? and When thinking up the hot boys you write about do you have a main stream leading man in mind or is he someone from your imagination?
."

Hi Marisa! I do hope you make it safely home :)

For names, I tend to make lists of names that were common in the time frame of the story I'm writing. Then, I sort of try them on to see if I like them, to see if they feel right for the character.

As for the men, they are pretty much in my imagination. I did see a magazine ad that I cut out of an unnamed model for Geoffrey, the hero in my first book, but not really for the other two. I'm not an overly visual person, anyway, so while I do give them physical descriptions, I hope you come to know my characters by their actions and their thoughts...that's what I think is sexiest about them! Who they are :)

Michelle wrote: " I'm a fellow writer as well. I've only had a few poems published. With technology so far there's more resources available. What are some sites or groups you would recommended to meet fellow writer..."

Hello again, Michelle. It really depends on what you're writing! For example, if you're writing romance, my best suggestion would be to join RWA http://www.rwa.org and find your local chapter. Other genres have national groups, as well.

Jennifer wrote: how much time do you spend researching a time period, country, of culture before you begin writing a book? ) ..."

Hi Jennifer! One of the reasons I love historical romance in the Regency and Victorian periods is that I've been reading it and other historical fiction for more years than I will admit! I've been very immersed in those worlds for a long time! I read historical nonfiction a lot, too.

If I were going to start a new time period/place, I would research as long as it took me to feel like I had a great handle on it. Sorry to not have a better answer! But I would read history, culture, watch programs about the time frame, read fiction written IN that time as well as ABOUT that time, etc, until I felt confident. Even then, I make mistakes :)

Mrs.soule wrote: "Thanks for sharing about your family - your boys sounds great! How do you stay creative (and channel that creativity) as a very busy mom? I feel like I was a very creative person before I had my so..."

Hello Mrs.soule :)

Now THAT'S a question, and the answer is, I don't. :) There are many many authors who are also mothers and I'm pretty certain they are all doing it better than I am! I suffer from mommy guilt that my writing takes time and energy away from my family, I write tired a lot, and I always feel torn. What I have to do is realize that I don't have the luxury to only write when I feel creative. I do my best to plan my time well, but as you know, being a mother comes first and there's many times I'm interrupted.

My big plan was to start writing when the first was born and have a few years to hone my craft before it was good enough to sell, then start publishing when they were in school. Who knew that first book would sell??? I'm years away from the little one being in kindergarten! I'm hoping it will get easier then!

Heather wrote: "Chris wrote: "I'll have to put your books on my "To Read" list. It's nice to see a fellow Kansan! Where/how do you do your research?"

Hi Chris! Where in KS are you?

As for research, many differ..."

Thanks, Heather!

I'm in Wichita. It's interesting to know that you've done your research by reading and using the Internet - I can't imagine how they wrote without it, either. There's hope for us all.

Michelle wrote: "I want to be in your street team please"

Wonderful! Are you on Facebook? There's a form you can fill out here:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeathe...

Dee wrote: "Heather, are you a pants-er or a planner when it comes to writing?"

Dee, I'm a bit of both. The analytical side of me screams, PLANNER PLANNER!!!

But the truth is, I've learned that the creative side of me needs at least some room to breathe. However, I can't write unless I know the high points of the story, what I'm aiming at, a lot about my characters and that the story I have in mind (especially the mystery and ending) COULD work. In that way, I'm a meticulous planner.

However, if some things change along the way, I've learned to trust my creative side and let that happen, and it's made for better stories!

Chris wrote: "I'm in Wichita."

Wichita? Oh, my goodness. I heard you guys got more snow that us! We've got at least a foot on the ground out there. Stay safe!!!

I've been thinking about doing a booksigning in Wichita. I know I have a few readers there and it's only 3 hours away!

Do you read much romance? The RTBookLovers Convention is coming to KC in May, and it's a fun event! There will be thousands of people here.

Oh, how fun! Is there a link to the details that you, know of? I am a huge Romance fan! If you have a book signing, let me know - I've never been to one before.

We did get quite a bit of snow last week (about 14 inches), but I didn't see much more that 3-4 inches from the last storm. It's certainly enough to keep me in the house reading.

Chris wrote: "Oh, how fun! Is there a link to the details that you, know of? I am a huge Romance fan! If you have a book signing, let me know - I've never been to one before.

We did get quite a bit of snow l..."

Chris, the link to the convention is:

http://www.rtconvention.com/

It can be an overwhelming experience. It's huge, expensive and FUN! Lots of parties, lots of face time with authors, lots of free books and fun swag! Very worth it, if you have it in the budget.

However, if you just want a taste of it, they are offering a one day pass for the Saturday big book signing (500+ authors) as well as a couple of workshops and a Fan-tastic Day Party for only $50. Since you're in Wichita, you wouldn't even need to stay in the hotel if you wanted to drive back. It's a fun way to give it a try without as big of an investment.

and if you can't make it to the RT convention - we are doing a challenge based off of it in the group with different levels and authors to read ;)

Do you ever plan on incorporating your faith in your books?

Do you ever plan on coming to Colorado Springs, Colorado for a booksigning? I would love to meet you!

Sorry so many questions LOL It said your link wasn't valid ...concerning the Street Teams would you consider emailing it to me maybe its my phone?

Michelle wrote: "Sorry so many questions LOL It said your link wasn't valid ...concerning the Street Teams would you consider emailing it to me maybe its my phone? "

Michelle - try this link - HERE

Heather - so excited for your new release. I absolutely devoured your first two and can wait to read Penelope's story. My question is: Can you give us a little sneak peek into your next project?<\b>

Michelle wrote: " Do you ever plan on incorporating your faith in your books? "

Hi Michelle :) Every story carries some of my belief system in it...that's part of an author's voice, the way she tells a story, the way she looks at things. However, as far as incorporating my faith, I tell my stories from my characters points of view, so any faith or lack thereof would be the characters own, whatever is true to them.

Michelle wrote: " Do you ever plan on coming to Colorado Springs, Colorado for a booksigning? I would love to meet you! "

I'd love to, but have no plans to at this point. With two young boys at home, it's difficult to get away! Of course, don't count it out in the next couple of years. We'll end up bringing the boys to see the mountains at some point and I'll try to squeeze in a signing then! :)