Brita Addams - Serenity's Dream

Emma: Today, I am featuring an interview with Brita Addams, author of Serenity's Dream, available from Noble Romance Publishing.

Blurb:

In 1814 London, Serenity, the long-estranged wife of Lucien Damrill, suddenly reappears after she hears of the sex club he owns. Rumors of his considerable sexual prowess, something she never gave him time to exhibit, now warm her in the most interesting places. She claims to want him, his spankings, which she secretly craves, and the ecstasy of his lovemaking. But is this the real reason she's back or is it a well-thought out ruse?

Though skeptical of her sudden reappearance, Lucien Damrill, though mistrustful, is willing to take her at her word and institutes a spanking regimen that Serenity simply adores.  Lucien’s sexual abilities are beyond her wildest dreams and soon they fall into a frenzied, erotic life with “The Sapphire Club” as their backdrop.

Bliss doesn’t last nearly long enough however. When someone from her past suddenly appears, her deceit is uncovered and she soon her husband’s skepticism is accompanied by all-out apathy.  Can they overcome the obstacles and create the life of which Serenity dreams?

Welcome, Brita.

Quick questions for you as a reader:

1) Where do you like to settle in for a good read? I read in bed every night, but a real comfy place for me is in my sunroom. I can't read with a lot of commotion going on around me, no more than I can write that way. I curl up in my cushy chair, listen to my wind chimes outside my window and lose myself in another time and place. Pure heaven!   

2) What is your favorite genre? I love Regency and since I write erotic Regency, that would be my favorite. However, I have read many different romance genres and find that historicals of any sort are my faves. Recently I read a wonderful book by Ava March, From Afar, a m/m erotic about vampires. Simply loved it. I will now read more vampire stories. I also loved Aleksandr Voinov and Raev Gray's Test of Faith, which takes place in 1187. It is a m/m historical that packs a real punch. You will be breathless at the end. Positively a breathtaking book. An absolute favorite author for me is Keta Diablo and I love her historicals, particularly Land of the Falling Stars. Her m/m's are great as well. Please everyone, check out all these authors because they are fabulous. 
(Oooh! Thanks for the great tips. I'm always looking for a great m/m story.)

3) What length do you favor…shorts/novellas/novels? I love novels because the stories are more developed but if the blurb interests me, I will read any length. For writing, I have only written novels, usually between 45,000 and 55,000 thousand words. I write like I talk, so lengthy is better for me. I have one early novel that I wrote, which I simply love, but it is 110,000 words and I don't see how I can cut it down. One day I will revisit it and get it prepped for my editor, though because it is a story I'd like the world to read.    

4) Whose POV do you prefer…hero/heroine/villain? I actually love the hero's point of view. In my novels, the heroes are always broken in some way. The path he travels to redemption always fascinates me. The most striking example is in the third book of my Sapphire Club series. Without going into detail, because you must read the book, but the hero is emotionally scarred and the heroine, with little in the way of knowledge of life, slowly shows him he is worthy of love. It was a wonderful book to write, though by the end, I was drained.

5) Do you like first/second/third person? I have read several novels written in first person and found them interesting, almost like reading a diary. It allows you to become a voyeur with the character's permission. I don't like second person at all. I prefer third person as I enjoy narrative as much as I do dialog. For me, the narrative tells the story almost as well as dialog, in that we as readers can understand things that dialog can't always reveal. I write in third person, using both dialog and narrative to unfold the story. I also find I can say things in narrative that might not come out in conversation, such as thoughts and feelings the characters are unable to own.  

Emma: What has been your greatest fear you’ve had to overcome as a writer?

Brita: That I would never start writing seriously. It took many years to overcome negativity from someone who should have been cheering me on. He's gone now and I had to overcome his voice in my head, which I have happily done. Other than that, I have had no fears. All a publisher can say is NO and I take everything else in stride.

Emma: What/who has been your greatest inspiration?

Brita: I suppose, in one way, the person who was less than encouraging, because it's made me want to do it despite what he said. Realistically, I am inspired by every day things and people, each one with a wonderful story to tell. I am encouraged by my family and close friends who are thrilled that I have finally done what they knew I could do all along.

Emma: What do you hope to accomplish with your writing? Do you have a goal?

Brita: I would love to be altruistic here and say something about helping others, etc., but the honest answer is that I want to write as many books as I can and have them loved by as many people as I can reach. The idea that a story can be created inside my head and that others will not only read it but look forward to reading more of your work is an unbelievable validation of what I do. 

Emma: What makes your writing unique?

Brita: I believe I take my characters on a journey of discovery, sometimes in much harsher terms than the sensual Regencies that I write under my real name, Tina Ordone.

I love taking a heroine and making her different from her counterparts. Rebellious, more mature, independent. She goes after what she wants, usually at the peril of the hero. She is sexual, wants to learn more about her body and the pleasures stored within and she wants her hero to take her to her peak of endurance. My heroines are modern day ladies, born in the wrong century and they know it.

My stories are a journey, embarked upon by two disparate people who eventually discover common ground. Through their mutual discoveries they find that romance is something they both not only need but crave.

Emma: What appeals to you about your genre?

Brita: I love history, which brought me to Regencies to begin with. The "innocence" of the time, the social morays, the hypocrisy, all factor into its appeal. The silly rules and the serious consequences for breaking them all beg for stories where all the rules are broken with as blatant a flouting of them as I can muster.  

Emma: How do you deal with criticism?

Brita: At this point, the only criticism I have received is from myself and I am my harshest critic. I am sure someone else along the way will replace me in that role, but I've not had it yet. (Please everyone, love my books!!!) However, I am old enough to know that not everyone will love them. I would hope they would fair and not personal in their critiques.

Writers put much into creating stories. Having them published is the final step, after months and sometimes years of agonizing over every word. We are sensitive creatures, us writers, who wouldn't do what we do if we didn't have a love of storytelling. No more than we would ever want to hear our children are ugly, we don't want that said of our writing. To each their own. I don't like certain kinds of books, but I understand what goes into creating them and I have the utmost respect for the authors who do so.  

Emma: What do you do when you hit a wall? (Can’t figure out a character’s emotions, where the plot should go next, etc.)

Brita: I sit with my husband, who has read every word I have written and is a very savvy guy. He has a wonderful mind for stories and has always helped me to see past where I am. He's my greatest champion, my best friend and my hero!!

Emma: What other works have you published?

Brita: The second book in The Sapphire Club series, "Lord Decadent's Obsession" will come out at Noble Romance on July 19^th.  The third book in the series, Chocolate, Tea and The Duchess is under contract. 

(I love a good trilogy!)

Her Timeless Obsession, which I wrote as Tina Ordone, is also under contract, but as now, I have no release dates.

Emma: What are you working on now?

Brita: I am finishing up a stand-alone book called Splendid Captivity. It is a m/m/f ménage story, set in Regency England. Great fun to write!

Emma: Thank you for your time, Brita, and good luck with your future books!

Brita: Thank you, Emma for asking me to join you. I appreciate the opportunity to connect with you and your readers. I hope all of you will read "Serenity's Dream" and the other books in The Sapphire Club series. I look forward to their comments and selecting one commenter to win a copy of Serenity's Dream.

This has been great fun. I hope you will ask me back sometime. 
(Anytime! The door's always open!)

 Click here to buy now!

News

I know I've been rather silent of late. I've been running to keep up with the baby, who is now 9 months old. We go from six in the morning until ten at night. He's what is known as an active baby. I love him, but he's quite exhausting.

When I'm not chasing after him, I'm working to get my next story completed. My first full-length book, if all goes well.

Thanks to everyone who still checks in! Remember, I always have guest spots open. Feel free to drop me an email.

Five Fun Facts - Caroline Clemmons

(1) Early in life I learned that I could not fly like Superman, even if I wore a red towel pinned to my shirt when I jumped out of our tree. Other disappointments followed, such as learning I could not grow up to be Dale Evans because that job was already taken. Still, I have had a good life.

(2) My daughter and I used to be antique dealers with three booths and sold almost as much as we took home. Our greatest purchase, in my opinion, was a beautiful oriental screen we bought at an estate sale--just as a policeman closed down the sale because the seller had no city permit. We still laugh about what a sight we must have been, hoofing it down the street carrying the screen between us.

(3) When we lived in Florida I submitted so many stories to the local newspaper that the editor asked me to write for them. I wrote and wrote and the owner credited me with doubling their subscriptions.

(4) I drove on the Autobahn in Germany. Very lovely experience. Very clean country.

(5) My husband and I have loved visiting Ireland. I wouldn't let him kiss the Blarney Stone, though. I mean, he can spin a good tale now and enough is enough. LOL

Seven Wonders - Donna Hatch

7 things I love about being published, my book, blurb and excerpt:

1. I've finally achieved a goal I set way back in my early teens -- being a published author.

2. I find if surprising and wonderful that my brother has read all my romances.

3. My regency romances are available in both digital and paperback.

4. I adore my bookcovers because they are very eye-catching (not that I had much to do with the design). But something really fun is on the cover of The Guise of a Gentleman; a quote from New York Times best-selling author, Jennifer Ashley:
"Combining Jane Austen with swashbuckling adventure, The Guise of a Gentleman is a fine specimen of pirate romance!"

5. Getting fan mail is the most rewarding part of writing books.

6. My back cover blurb gives enough info to tell you the basic story, doesn't give away any surprises...and yes, there are surprises.


Blurb:
The widowed Elise is a perfect English lady living within the confines of Regency English society for the sake of her impressionable young son. Her quiet world is shattered when she meets the impulsive and scandalous Jared Amesbury. His roguish charm awakens her yearning for freedom and adventure. But his irrepressible grin and sea-green eyes hide a secret.

A gentleman by day, a pirate by night, Jared accepts one last assignment before he can be truly free. Elise gives him hope that he, too, can find love and belonging. His hopes are crushed when his best laid plans go awry and Elise is dragged into his world of violence and deceit. She may not survive the revelation of Jared’s past…or still love him when the truth is revealed.


7. And...here's an excerpt from where they first meet in chapter one, right after she rescues him from the villains:


“You are a woman of great courage to face those cutthroats.”

His fingers closed around hers as if she were a lifeline. Her late husband's hands had always been smooth and soft, the hands of a gentleman, so unlike this man's calluses which bespoke hard work.

She marveled at their size, and at the tingles that traveled up her arm.

A flush crept over her face as she realized the direction of her thoughts. “I saw a cruel act and felt compelled to intervene. I could do nothing less.”


His eyes darted over her face and he said in a stronger voice, “They might have turned on you.”

“I'm an excellent shot.”


“And did you not consider that you may have been in danger from me as well?”

She suspected many women found him a very great danger, but not for the reason he spoke. Swallowing against a dry mouth, she lifted her chin. “You hardly looked dangerous at the time. And I daresay you lack the strength to offer any threat now.”


The barest hint of smile twitched his mouth.