Interview & Competition - Brita Addams

What do you like best about writing?

The creativity. I've channeled creativity into crafted projects and flower arranging, and now I write lives for other people.

There are stories aplenty to be told, different settings, characters with strengths and desires. I can't imagine not writing and letting all those stories go by the wayside.

When did you start writing?

I have written since I was in grade school. I was always creating stories, but most for assignments and my own amusement. I wrote weekly articles for my hometown newspaper, reporting on events at my school, plays, awards, etc. I even wrote articles for a bowling league for which I served as secretary during my high school years.

I've kept a journal for many, many years and have chronicled the life of our youngest child from before conception to today and she's 27.

On the creative side, I've always written fanciful stories, created characters that were not only outrageous but every day people. However, I had never decided to write for publication because I didn't know what I would write that anyone would care to read.

When I discovered romance novels a few years ago, I knew that was what I wanted to write and that's what I'll continue to write. My love of history only sweetens the pot.

Are you a plotter, or do you fly by the seat of your pants?

A bit of both.

Do you like edits?

Edits are a necessary part of writing and I've had good ones and horrible ones. I've gotten less thin skinned about them, but it's never easy to have a dispassionate person tell you what's wrong with your story or why it doesn't work for them.

The best editor is one that truly wants to teach you something and does it in a way that is palatable. I've had editors who've called my characters not so nice names and said things like, "WTF were you thinking when you wrote that?" That isn't something that I can live with, sorry about that.

An editor I greatly respect told me that "The natures of editing is mostly negative." I understand that, but it doesn't have to be done in a negative way. Respect on both sides makes it a much easier process and keeps feelings from being hurt on both sides.

The edits I get the most out of are the ones where I learn something along the way—something I can apply to future stories. I maintain that authors wouldn't get so bent out of shape if editors were less like the Gestapo and more people who want to help and not ride rough-shod over the author and the story.

Fateful words for me are "This didn't work for me," and "The beginning just didn't grab me by the throat." Not all stories work for everyone or grab you by the throat, but to have an editor look at the story like that somehow strikes me wrong.

Have you ever co-authored? If not, would you ever consider it?

I don't think I'm ready to co-author anything, to be honest. That entails a tremendous amount of trust on both parts, as well as a certain degree of loss of control.

Characters would necessarily be subject to both author's use of them and each author feels very territorial about their creations. Egos are fragile. Too many times co-authoring has destroyed friendships.

I admire anyone who can partner with another author, but it isn't something I think I'm cut out for.

That said, I can think of a few people I wouldn't mind collaborating with, if all the above arguments can be overcome. J

What's your fave genre?

I love historical romance, either het or m/m, writing and reading. I love the Regency era, but I've found I enjoy reading just about every historical period out there, from the American West to Medieval.

Are there any genres you'd love to try but haven't had a chance to tackle?

I've written contemporary, m/m and m/f historical and ménage. I can't think of anything else I'd rather write. Somehow, I don't see myself writing about fairies or droids, so I guess the simple answer is, I think I've found my niche. J

What's your fave writing accompaniment? Tea? Coffee? Large slab of chocolate cake with pretty sprinkles?

Actually, my puppy, Fiona, is my favorite accompaniment. She lays next to me and cuddles close. She makes me smile and makes the tea, coffee and cake taste so much better. J

If you could go anywhere in the world, money no object, where would you go, who with, and why?

Hands down, it would be England. (Emmy says: Come and visit me when you're here!) Most of my stories are set in England and I'd love to visit the places I write about.

Years ago, I visited Scotland, but time was limited and England was out of the question.

I would only travel such a distance with my husband and if we went without our youngest daughter, she'd skin us alive. It would be a wonderful trip, as we have friends to visit and so many places to see.

My new book, Demands of the Heart, takes place in 1807-1814 London. Here's the blurb.

In 1807, idealistic Richard Fanshaw and Victoria Bramhill are consumed with each other, their young love blooming amidst a series of carefree soirees and stolen moments.

But jealousy and greed turn what they have into something ugly and twisted. They're wrenched apart amid vile lies and deceit when Victoria's freedom is bought to pay her father's debts.

Six years later, Victoria is widowed and a cynical Richard has just returned to England after years in India.  Having been given the impression that Victoria's marriage was a happy one, a chance meeting renews Richard's anger over Victoria's betrayal and sets in motion a plan for revenge.

One must answer the demands of the heart.

To read an excerpt and purchase, click here: Demands of the Heart

I'd love to hear from you. You can find me at any of these places:

Email address: britaaddams@gmail.com

Website

Blog

Twitter: @britaaddams

Facebook

Goodreads Page

 20% off To celebrate the release of Demand's of the Heart, Noble Romance Publishing is offering my entire backlist at 20% off. This is for sales on the Noble Romance Publishing site only and only my titles.

There's no limit. Buy one book, or all seven, you'll get 20% off your purchase. The eligible titles are: Serenity's Dream; Lord Decadent's Obsession; Chocolate, Tea, and the Duchess; The Rogue's Salvation; A Minute After Midnight; An Evening at the Starlight, and the book I wrote under the name Tina Ordone, Her Timeless Obsession.

The price you'll see is the reduced price.

The sale will run from midnight, Pacific time, February 20 to 11:59 pm Pacific time, March 2.

This is a backlist sale, so it doesn't include Demands of the Heart.

I have several contests running during the book tour, ending at midnight, March 2.

Contest #1:

I'll choose a daily winner from the commenters. I'll will be giving away an ebook from my backlist at each stop. The only exclusion is Demands of the Heart. One book per commenter, please.

Contest #2:

Demands of the Heart T-Shirt Contest:

If you answer the three questions correctly, you could be one of four winners. The prize will be a T-Shirt with the cover of the book on it. The shirt also says that the cover is model, Jimmy Thomas's 1500^th cover. There will be four winners, each winning a T-Shirt and other swag.

All answers are found on Brita's website.

Please do NOT put the answers in the comments section of this blog or on Brita's site. Email them to Brita, with T-Shirt Answers in the subject line.

1. What book did I write under another name?
2. Who is the character, Lucien Damrill, patterned after?
3. Describe the signature brandy snifter at the Sapphire Club.

Contest #3: GRAND PRIZE

This contest is about Demands of the Heart. Of course, you're under no obligation to buy or read the book, but if you choose to, this contest is for you.

I've put three questions up on my website, all relating to my book, Demands of the Heart. Answer the questions and EMAIL me, with the answers, at britaaddams@gmail.com  Be sure to put GRAND PRIZE in the subject line.

You must have all three questions answered correctly to be entered into the drawing.

The Grand Prize is the entire Sapphire Club series in print, signed by the author. I'll also include some other signed swag.

Good luck and I hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you, Emmy, for having me. You're a peach!