Why Brita Writes Fanciful Tales @britaaddams #RLFblog #gayromance
Please welcome
Brita Addams to the Romance Lives Forever blog, with her take on writing and
the not-always-smooth life of an author.
– – –
I will not deny that being a published
author is a wonderful advent in my life. It is also one that I never expected to
happen.
author is a wonderful advent in my life. It is also one that I never expected to
happen.
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| Brita Addams |
I’ve written all my life, started
at about age ten, with a diary that my parents gave me for Christmas. I so clearly
remember sitting in my bedroom, on January 1, and writing that first entry. I poured
my heart and soul into those pages and over the years, I filled many a volume. I
had missed years in there, as life does tend to get in the way of our best intentions.
Sometimes, I was too heartbroken to even tell Dear Diary all about it, after all,
the conversation is always one way.
When I married for the second time,
I already had two children. My wonderful husband took on the responsibility and
even told me, upon the marriage proposal, that “There are three of us you know,”
a play on the fact that I had told him the same thing when we started talking about
something more serious. Today, nearly 33 years later, he often playfully sides with
the kids, but now the ranks have grown considerably.
I already had two children. My wonderful husband took on the responsibility and
even told me, upon the marriage proposal, that “There are three of us you know,”
a play on the fact that I had told him the same thing when we started talking about
something more serious. Today, nearly 33 years later, he often playfully sides with
the kids, but now the ranks have grown considerably.
When we decided to have a child of
our own, I decided to chronicle the, at times, bumpy ride. I started a diary from
the day we said, “Yes, let’s do it,” right through the pregnancy, her
birth, and the long and sometimes discouraging journey through a world I knew nothing
about–that of a handicapped child, one who cannot bend her arms or her legs.
our own, I decided to chronicle the, at times, bumpy ride. I started a diary from
the day we said, “Yes, let’s do it,” right through the pregnancy, her
birth, and the long and sometimes discouraging journey through a world I knew nothing
about–that of a handicapped child, one who cannot bend her arms or her legs.
Having a physically disabled child
is heartbreaking and there is no way of sugar coating it. We tread water that, at
times, threatened to drown us, but then we’d look into her sweet little face and
that grounded us in what was most important.
is heartbreaking and there is no way of sugar coating it. We tread water that, at
times, threatened to drown us, but then we’d look into her sweet little face and
that grounded us in what was most important.
Her strength and fortitude, her uncomplaining
manner, inspired me then and inspires me now, 28 years later. She twice graduated
from college, is a published author, and is married now. She’s patient and impatient,
loving, kind, and has a caustic tongue at times. She is independent and takes no
prisoners. Oh, yes, and she does all the things the doctors said she’d never do–brush
her hair, her teeth, feed herself, walk, etc., but she is indeed above average in
intelligence, as they promised.
manner, inspired me then and inspires me now, 28 years later. She twice graduated
from college, is a published author, and is married now. She’s patient and impatient,
loving, kind, and has a caustic tongue at times. She is independent and takes no
prisoners. Oh, yes, and she does all the things the doctors said she’d never do–brush
her hair, her teeth, feed herself, walk, etc., but she is indeed above average in
intelligence, as they promised.
I tell you this because the diary
entries during this period were probably the most honest I’ve ever written. As an
adult, our daughter read them and has learned the true nature of my feelings, both
good and bad. She understands that the bad had to do with me, and she appreciates
knowing that Mom had that vulnerable side. Sometimes life isn’t all lollipops and
roses, and sometimes Mom caves under the pressure.
entries during this period were probably the most honest I’ve ever written. As an
adult, our daughter read them and has learned the true nature of my feelings, both
good and bad. She understands that the bad had to do with me, and she appreciates
knowing that Mom had that vulnerable side. Sometimes life isn’t all lollipops and
roses, and sometimes Mom caves under the pressure.
I loved English class, and wrote short
stories for them, with the encouragement of my teachers, who apparently saw a budding
writer in me. Today, I often dedicate my books to those teachers, for they are the
ones who inspired me early on, when I encountered resistance from those who should
have been the most encouraging.
stories for them, with the encouragement of my teachers, who apparently saw a budding
writer in me. Today, I often dedicate my books to those teachers, for they are the
ones who inspired me early on, when I encountered resistance from those who should
have been the most encouraging.
Raising a family occupied most of
my early adult life. We have three children and their ages span a 14 year difference
between oldest to youngest. There wasn’t a lot of Mom time back them.
my early adult life. We have three children and their ages span a 14 year difference
between oldest to youngest. There wasn’t a lot of Mom time back them.
Now, I have the time and I use it
to full advantage. I suppose most writers write because they can’t imagine not writing.
That’s the way it is for me. Yes, it’s nice when a publisher wants your work and
sends you a contract, but I have many stories on my hard drive that will never see
a publisher’s desk. Writing is a need in me, an urgency to say what I have on my
mind, without regard sometimes, to the marketability of the piece.
to full advantage. I suppose most writers write because they can’t imagine not writing.
That’s the way it is for me. Yes, it’s nice when a publisher wants your work and
sends you a contract, but I have many stories on my hard drive that will never see
a publisher’s desk. Writing is a need in me, an urgency to say what I have on my
mind, without regard sometimes, to the marketability of the piece.
Sometimes I write things and get part
way through and lose interest or find that a brick wall stands in the way of completion.
Sometimes, there was no story there at all. Just a few words. A smidge of an idea
that had no legs. It happens all the time.
way through and lose interest or find that a brick wall stands in the way of completion.
Sometimes, there was no story there at all. Just a few words. A smidge of an idea
that had no legs. It happens all the time.
I write because I can’t imagine not
writing. Aside from being a wife, mother, and grandmother, I am a writer. I’ve given
my all to raising a family, to employers along the way, to extended family. Now
is my time to fulfill the goals that I set aside for so long.
writing. Aside from being a wife, mother, and grandmother, I am a writer. I’ve given
my all to raising a family, to employers along the way, to extended family. Now
is my time to fulfill the goals that I set aside for so long.
Regrets? I have a few. Don’t we all?
But if I spent the rest of my life lamenting the “shoulda dones,” that
wouldn’t leave much time for anything else. Will I ever write the next great worldwide
best seller? Probably not. But I will write what is in my heart, and for me, that’s
the better gamble.
But if I spent the rest of my life lamenting the “shoulda dones,” that
wouldn’t leave much time for anything else. Will I ever write the next great worldwide
best seller? Probably not. But I will write what is in my heart, and for me, that’s
the better gamble.
Newest Releases
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| Serenity’s Dream |
Serenity’s Dream is book one of my Regency historical Sapphire
Club series. It originally came out in June of 2010. I recently revisited the series
and rewrote the books. My editor re-edited them and seemed please with the additional
thirteen thousand words I added to Serenity. I hope readers will be as well.
Club series. It originally came out in June of 2010. I recently revisited the series
and rewrote the books. My editor re-edited them and seemed please with the additional
thirteen thousand words I added to Serenity. I hope readers will be as well.
You can find Serenity’s Dream here.
Blurb: Serenity Damrill has returned to her husband, Lucien after
a ten-year absence. She carries with her a secret that could destroy her life and
possibly all that Lucien has built.
a ten-year absence. She carries with her a secret that could destroy her life and
possibly all that Lucien has built.
Lucien was quite happy in his life running the Sapphire Club
and has no need for the frigid wife who deserted him the day after they were married.
and has no need for the frigid wife who deserted him the day after they were married.
Can Lucien teach Serenity that her fear of the marriage bed is
unfounded? Will Serenity’s secret be the death knell for their marriage?
unfounded? Will Serenity’s secret be the death knell for their marriage?
I also have ForMen Like Us, which also takes place during the Regency. You can find it at Dreamspinner
Press. Just click the title to be magically transported.
Press. Just click the title to be magically transported.
Blurb for For Men Like Us: After Preston Meacham’s lover dies
trying to lend him aid at Salamanca,
hopelessness becomes his only way of life. Despite his best efforts at starting
again, he has no pride left, which leads him to sell himself for a pittance at a
molly house. The mindless sex affords him his only respite from the horrors he witnessed.
trying to lend him aid at Salamanca,
hopelessness becomes his only way of life. Despite his best efforts at starting
again, he has no pride left, which leads him to sell himself for a pittance at a
molly house. The mindless sex affords him his only respite from the horrors he witnessed.
The Napoleonic War left Benedict Wilmot haunted by the acts he
was forced to commit and the torture he endured at the hands of a superior, a man
who used the threat of a gruesome death to force Ben to do his bidding. Even sleep
gives Ben no reprieve, for he can’t escape the destruction he caused.
was forced to commit and the torture he endured at the hands of a superior, a man
who used the threat of a gruesome death to force Ben to do his bidding. Even sleep
gives Ben no reprieve, for he can’t escape the destruction he caused.
When their paths cross, Ben feels an overwhelming need to protect
Preston from his dangerous profession. As he explains,
“The streets are dangerous for men like us.”
Preston from his dangerous profession. As he explains,
“The streets are dangerous for men like us.”
In the April/May timeframe, Dreamspinner will publish Tarnished
Gold, set in 19-teens-1930 old Hollywood.
Gold, set in 19-teens-1930 old Hollywood.
About the Author
Born in Upstate New York, Brita Addams has made her home in the
sultry south for many years. Brita’s home is a happy place, where she lives with
her real-life hero, her husband, and a fat cat named Stormee.
sultry south for many years. Brita’s home is a happy place, where she lives with
her real-life hero, her husband, and a fat cat named Stormee.
She writes, for the most part, erotic historical romance, both
het and m/m, which is an ideal fit, given her love of British and American history.
Setting the tone for each historical is important. Research plays an indispensible
part in the writing of any historical work, romance or otherwise. A great deal of
reading and study goes into each work, to give the story the authenticity it deserves.
het and m/m, which is an ideal fit, given her love of British and American history.
Setting the tone for each historical is important. Research plays an indispensible
part in the writing of any historical work, romance or otherwise. A great deal of
reading and study goes into each work, to give the story the authenticity it deserves.
As a reader, Brita prefers historical works, romances and otherwise.
She believes herself born in the wrong century, though she says she would find it
difficult to live without air conditioning.
She believes herself born in the wrong century, though she says she would find it
difficult to live without air conditioning.
Brita and her husband love to travel, particularly cruises and
long road trips. They completed a Civil War battlefield tour a couple of years ago,
and have visited many places involved in the American Revolutionary War. In May,
2013, they are going to England
for two weeks, to visit the places Brita writes about in her books, including the
estate that inspired the setting for the Sapphire Club series. Not the activities,
just the floor plan.
long road trips. They completed a Civil War battlefield tour a couple of years ago,
and have visited many places involved in the American Revolutionary War. In May,
2013, they are going to England
for two weeks, to visit the places Brita writes about in her books, including the
estate that inspired the setting for the Sapphire Club series. Not the activities,
just the floor plan.
A bit of trivia – Brita pronounces her name, B-Rita, like the
woman’s name, and oddly, not like the famous water filter. Brita is her real middle
name, after her father’s ex-girlfriend.
woman’s name, and oddly, not like the famous water filter. Brita is her real middle
name, after her father’s ex-girlfriend.
Find Me Here
Website http://www.britaaddams.com/
Blog http://britaaddamsblog.blogspot.com/
Twitter http://twitter.com/britaaddams
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/britaaddams
