2/10/2012

GET LOST IN A STORY'S HEATHER SNOW

Sweet Enemy...
A Veiled Seduction Novel ~ Book One

Geoffrey Wentworth, a war hero and rising political star, never wanted to be the Earl, but when his brother dies, he knows his duty—take up the responsibility for his family’s estates. His mother’s definition of duty differs from his, however, and can be summed up in one word—heirs. When Geoffrey rushes home to answer her urgent summons, he finds himself host to a house full of women, all vying to become the next Countess of Stratford. But his love is Parliament, where he wields his influence and reputation to better the lives of ex-soldiers, until a tempting houseguest and a secret from his past threaten his freedom…and his heart.

Liliana Claremont, a brilliant chemist, doesn’t want to be any man’s wife, much less a countess. If she had tuppence for every time she’d been told her place was filling the nursery, not experimenting in the laboratory, she could buy the Tower Bridge. However, when she receives a coveted invitation to the Earl’s house party, she trades in her beakers for ball gowns and gladly takes on the guise of husband hunter—for the chance to uncover what the Earl had to do with the murder of her father.

Liliana believes the best way to get the answers she needs is to keep her enemy close, though romance is not part of her formula. But it only takes one kiss to start a reaction she can't control...





If  that blurb isn't enough to make you rush right out and buy SWEET ENEMY, allow me to tell you a little story.  After all, that's what GET LOST IN A STORY is all about.  Only this time, the story I'm about to tell you is true.  I'm not even changing the names to protect the innocent.  Consider this an exposé on Ms. Heather Snow.  
Readers might not know how the GET LOST crew came to be, but many of us are 2010 Golden Heart sisters.  The Golden Heart is Romance Writers of America's most prestigious nomination, e.g. it tells editors and agents that judges found a manuscript worthy to rise to the top level of more than 1,100 manuscripts. 
That's some competition.
Heather, during this time, hadn't just entered The Golden Heart.  She writes mystery and romantic suspense after all.  So, she entered a contest that is near and dear to me--THE DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MYSTERY/SUSPENSE.  I was Overall Coordinator that year, and when you're collecting the scores for the manuscripts coming in, you see a pattern of what aspiring authors are doing very well.  The Daphne has four judges per manuscript, and to final, well, particularly in Historical, you have to have perfect scores.  Heather had no problem achieving this goal.
Fast forward to the announcement week, while Heather and so many others had traveled to RWA National and nervously awaited the outcome of contests like The Golden Heart and the Daphne. 
I was in the background getting the awards ready for the Kiss of Death Chapter's well known party, Death by Chocolate.  As coordinator, I already knew Heather's outcome.  She'd won her subgenre of the contest, and both an editor and agent had requested, SWEET ENEMY.  Moreover, during that week, she'd started a phenomenon that we don't see often at National.  Instead of  aspiring authors clamoring to pitch to an agent or editor, the agents were clamoring  all over Heather, saying, "Pick me, pick me. I want to represent you."
While preparing the stage that evening, I overheard an agent say about Heather, "I'd never read a manuscript so perfect.  It got to the point that if this writer had one comma out of place, she was going down!" 
Heather and the eventual agent she chose, Barbara Poelle
Well, color me impressed after that, and darn curious.  I hope it impresses you and piques your curiosity as well.  Heather has waited many, many months for SWEET ENEMY to hit the shelves.  And now it's here.  Ms. Snow, I wish you the very best with with your debut release, the series and with your stellar writing career!  Well done!!!
~ Donnell
 Question for today:  WHAT FAMOUS HEROINE HAD A PARTNER BY THE NAME OF JOHN STEED?  Answer correctly and tell what us Geoffrey Wentworth's mother's definition of duty is for a chance to win a $10 B&N or Amazon Gift Certificate -- winner's choice.  
Please help Heather spread the word!

For more information and her blog tour dates and locations, check out her fabulous
website
 
READERS DON’T FORGET to follow us on Facebook & Twitter (#GetLostStories) for a daily update on who’s visiting GLIAS and what they might be giving away!

15 comments:

  1. Emma Peel was Steed's partner in The Avengers. Diana Rigg was looked great in her leather catsuit.

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    1. Jane, you're right about The Avengers. You answered half the question :)

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    2. Oops. Geoffrey's mother's definition of duty is heirs.

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  2. Emma Peel who replaced Cathy Gale in The Avengers.

    His mother's definition of duty is HEIRS!!!

    This is an amazing story of a first time author. I can't wait to read this book and future ones.

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    1. Well done, June, you read the entire question. You're entered into today's drawing. I so agree about Heather's success story.

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  3. WHAT FAMOUS HEROINE HAD A PARTNER BY THE NAME OF JOHN STEED? - Emma Peel

    Geoffrey Wentworth's mother's definition of duty is HEIRS.

    This has been such a fun week with Heather!

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  4. Donnell~

    Great post! You did Heather proud, my friend. I had no clue about John Steed or Emma Peel or heirs and spares. LOL! Loved the Avengers, though. Shucks.

    Wonderful story about Heather's agent. It's one for the history books on all-time greatest "call" stories.

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  5. Another wonderful post, Donnell.

    I'm Tweeting and Booking, Heather !!
    ~Angi

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  6. Emma Peel was John Steed's partner and Geoffery's mother's deffination for duty is Heirs.

    Thanks Heather for visiting with us the week and sharing with us. Its been a great week.

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  7. Emma Peel was a terrific television heroine. She could always get herself out of impossible situations. Accoding to your helpful intro, Geoffrey's mother's definition of duty is to have heirs.
    penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  8. Emma Peel was the partner and Geoffrey's mother's definition of duty is 'heirs'.

    Read the excerpt and now can't wait for my book to arrive!
    kristal_shepherd(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  9. Hi everyone! Sorry to be so late to my own party :) Spent the day getting the house and boys ready for a weekend alone with Daddy (he's never had both of them by himself overnight...) so I could drive to St. Louis for my first EVER booksigning! I'm in my hotel room now, and catching up on the day.

    THANK YOU, my sisters at GLIAS, for making my debut week so special. I really appreciate all that you do.

    And THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by this week and left comments and good wishes. They are very much appreciated!

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  10. Emma Peel.... I loved that show!!! and so did my dad --

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  11. 1. Emma Peel
    2. heirs

    Congratulations on the book!

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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