We at Sinfully Tasty Reads are so happy to welcome back the lovely author Brita Addams. Today we got to interview her and find out all about her re-release of Serenity's Dream and some other great things you may not know about this phenomenal author. Brita is also giving to our followers because she is offering one lucky random commenter (Adult 18+ or older), who leaves a meaningful comment with their e-mail address, their choice from her backlist. Now without further ado I (Skyla) give you our interview.
1) How do you always come up with new unique ideas for your stories?
Honestly, it's difficult. They say that there are only seven tropes and
that all stories revolve around them. For example, the clichéd boy meets girl,
boy loves girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. Most all romances revolve
around a variation of that trope.
Often, publishers demand that we keep our stories within a formula, much
like a movie. When a publisher requires a happy ending or a happy for now
ending (which sets the reader up for a sequel,) it restricts the authors who
would write differently. I really think that readers are mature enough to accept
that not all romances end happily.
Some authors create new worlds, fantasy worlds, outer space, an
alternative universe, even alternative history. I can't do that, I guess I'm
too grounded in reality. What I do is place my characters in situations that
I've never read about or present them with situations that are unique to me.
I'm a huge reader of romance and I know that if the characters and setting are
different enough, the trope doesn't matter.
When I write historicals, I give them the flavor of the time period,
which requires a great deal of research. For me, there is nothing worse than
reading a purported historical and finding the author has simply dressed the
characters up, plunked them in the period, but they speak to each other as
though they just met at the corner bar.
That is a roundabout way of saying that I find inspiration everywhere.
Most recently, I've delved into my background as a genealogist. Some of those
interesting stories will show up in the next couple of years as novels.
2) If a movie studio approached you about turning one of your books into
a movie, which book would it be and why?
If that were the case, I would select my upcoming Tarnished Gold made into a movie. It is set in the early days of
Hollywood, 19teens to 1930s. The story traces the career of a star-struck young
man who goes to Hollywood to become a star and encounters a life he never
imagined. The ups and downs, the emotion, the redemption is something that I
think would make a great film.
3) You have recently decided to expand the three books in your Sapphire
Club Series. Can you explain why you decided to re-tool your series?
Actually, my editor approached me and asked if I would like to have the
books re-edited. In the four years since I first wrote them, I have thought,
off and on, about what I could add to them, as well as apply all that I'd
learned over the years. More than anything, I definitely wanted to have a good
re-edit on them. The stars aligned and I grabbed the opportunity.
Time also changed my view on some aspects of the stories. Reader comments
helped with that and I tried to implement changes/deletions/additions that I
thought would make the stories better. In the case of Serenity Dream and Lord
Decadent's Obsession, I have added about 13k to each. Serenity has a new
subplot that I envisioned when I wrote the original, but wasn't sure how to
implement. It's all there now and draws in one of my favorite characters,
Haynes. In LDO, I have bolstered the characters and given the story more meat.
For Thornhill's Dilemma,
formerly called Chocolate, Tea, and the Duchess, I have added a sequel to the
book, which greatly enhanced the word count to almost double the original. I
have also retooled the original story, using reader's comments as an impetus.
Alexander Chilton comes into the story much earlier and plays a pivotal part in
the entire book. I think readers of the original will be surprised by what I've
done, and new readers will love the dynamic between all the characters. A
vastly different story, with just a few things that stayed the same.
4) I am a huge music fanatic, and some authors are now including playlist
at the back of their books that helped inspire their stories so, my question
for you is do you have a playlist that helps inspire you or is there any other
thing that helps to set your writing mood?
One word—no. Though I love music, I don't listen to it often, and
definitely not when I'm writing. The house is quiet when I write, no TV, no
music, no chatter. I lose focus easily if there is a commotion going on around
me. Besides I'd end up either singing the words or making words up to
instrumentals, which again, isn't conducive to getting the writing done.
5) If you found a magic lamp and a Genie was going to grant you three
wishes (other than wishing for more wishes....lol) what would you wish for and
why?
First—many more years with the love of my life. There will never be
enough to spend with my amazing husband. Second—that my children have
comfortable lives and that they are always loved as much as we love them.
Third—A ton of do-overs. There's a few things that I didn't get right the first
time.
6) Out of all the stories you have written which one is your favorite and
why?
That is almost like trying to pick your favorite child, except books don't
get their feelings hurt. J I love what was Chocolate,
Tea, and the Duchess, which will be re-issued with the title Thornhill's Dilemma. Phillip and Alex
are two of my favorite characters and in the new story, and it is almost
completely new, Alex plays a much bigger role in the book.
In the story, Felicity understands Phillip's needs as well as her own
failures. I think that is very humane (not human.) Though young, she isn't
selfish in any way. Her thoughts are for Phillip, which makes him an extraordinary character to write.
She sees Phillip as no one else can, which causes him to cast a more critical
eye upon himself.
Phillip has always lived with honor and duty in mind. In Thornhill's Dilemma, the two collide
when Phillip loses his way for a bit. Dilemma is much grittier than Duchess,
deals with a full range of problems and emotions and more, Phillip is faced
with several crises that test the fabric of his life and his perception of who
he thought he was.
7) Which is scarier writing your novels or getting readers feedback and
why?
Definitely reader feedback. We always want readers to like our books and
when we get a bad review, it is devastating. I've gotten better at accepting
the criticism. I understand that not everyone will like what I write, and that
is okay. I don't like everything I read. However, I pour everything I have into
each story, so a bad review can hurt for a while.
8) What piece of advice would you give to someone who might want to
consider stepping into the writing arena?
If you aspire to be a writer, study your craft. You have to know how to
put a sentence together, know what passive voice is, learn grammar and
punctuation. You have to have a viable story that can develop into a book.
Never lose sight of the fact that people pay money for your book and you should
give them 110% of your effort with each new title.
It is a humbling experience to have someone buy a story that started out
as a germ of an idea on a dark night while you were trying to sleep. We should
always remember that.
9) If you could check off one or two things from your bucket list what
would they be and why?
*smiles* I actually have a bucket list! In May, my honey and I are going
to England, which is the number one thing on my list. We will spend two weeks
in England, Scotland, and Wales.
The second thing would be to ride in a helicopter, which I don't see
happening any time soon. My son-in-law rides in one every week for his job and
he says there's nothing to it, but I'm still scared.
10) What do you have coming up this year book wise (i.e. next book, book
signings, blog tour, etc)?
I have lots happening, though nothing happens quickly. I mentioned Tarnished Gold above. I've just finished
the first round of edits on it and it will be out in the April/May time frame
at Dreamspinner Press. I am very excited about that book. It's 100k+ and spans
nearly 20 years.
Lord Decadent's Obsession and Thornhill's Dilemma will come out in the next two months or so, to
round out the Sapphire Club series rewrite/reedit. Each has enhanced
storylines, and Thornhill is almost a completely new story. Even when I wrote
Chocolate, Tea, and the Duchess, I knew there was more story there, and now
I've written it.
I am working on a couple of new pieces, one the first book in a series I
am writing. Historical, this one set in 1754 in Upstate New York. Actually one
of those snatched from my genealogy research. This series will involve one
family, by generation and will span 100 years. I see five or six books in that
series, written over the next couple of years.
I'll also be rewriting Love
Immortal and Splendid Captivity,
as the rights were reverted to me in November. Once rewritten, they will go to
a new publisher.
Travel-wise, my husband and I are going to England in May. We'll actually
spend our anniversary in London. Then in Sept/Oct, we are going on a cruise
from Quebec to Boston, then driving across New York State to visit family and
friends, then on to Atlanta on October 16 for Gay Rom Lit. That will be a
month-long trip all told.
Newest Releases
I also have For
Men Like Us, which takes place during the Regency. You can find it at
Dreamspinner 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Can Lucien teach Serenity that her fear
of the marriage bed is unfounded? Will Serenity's secret be the death knell for
their marriage?
About Brita
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.
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.
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.
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. J
A bit of trivia – Brita
pronounces her name, B-Rita, like the woman's name, and oddly, not like the
famous water filter.
Please visit my
website, blog, say hello on Twitter or Facebook. I love to meet new people:
Skyla
