Brita Addams's Blog, page 17

Christmas Reflections

It's Christmas Eve and I am waiting for everyone in the house to stir so I can start the baking. I don't make dozens of cookies and candies, just everyone's favorite pies, pumpkin for my daughter, lemon meringue for Mr. A and apple for my sister. 

I'm also going to make cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, so we can nibble while opening the gifts. My mother used to make banana nut bread, as I have for many years, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to do that this year. Maybe I'm missing her more this year. I'm feeling her absence profoundly.

Family is all important - the smiles on their faces when they discover you actually got the hints they'd been throwing about for months. I love those smiles and the love that lies behind them. 

I love when they say to me, "You are going to love what I got for you." And I know they will love what I got for them too, because I am quite attuned to catching their hints. See there's a theme to this - LOVE.

At this time of year, I always reflect on the months and years past. This year has been extraordinary for me. I became a published author and my royalty checks are getting larger, as is my backlist and I'm celebrating that wonderful triumph.

Years pass very quickly and I don't want to miss a moment. I love life and I love the people who are in mine. To them, on this, my favorite day of the year, I say, "Thank you." I thank my family for their unfailing support, I'd be no where without you.

To my friends, sorry for the neglect, but writing is such a solitary pursuit. You've hung in there with me, and I thank you for that.

To Margie, Amy, Dakota, Kharisma, Blak, Keta and Dena - RLJ will see great heights in 2011. We've only just begun.

And speaking of Keta Diablo, I send my love and deepest gratitude for your mentoring, your friendship and guidance this last year. You will never know how much it has all meant to me, as I don't have the words to convey such profundity. I am proud to call you friend, writing partner and a fellow Red Lipstick Journals gal. 

To my husband, who is my best friend, the father of my children and the dearest, sweetest man on the earth, I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and I give you my sincerest thanks for all your encouragement, unconditional love and those morning talks. They mean more every day.


To my readers - the biggest THANK YOU of all. You've bought my books, loved my stories and asked me to write others. No author could ask for more, except that you do it all over again in 2011. 


Merry Christmas everyone! 

Love,
Brita 

Sapphire Club series - A Phenomenon

I got an email today from someone who would rather not be identified, for reasons obvious to them and to me, however, the message was one I can share. 

My Sapphire Club series, in this person's opinion, is a phenomenon. It is historical, which generally doesn't sell well in the e-book world, and yet, it is selling phenomenally well. 

They have an erotic twist, the BDSM elements that are strong throughout the series. These aren't your run of the mill historical novels. The heroines are strong, but the heroes are masterful, which is just what the ladies want - they wish to be mastered, lovingly, as only Lucien and Prentice can do. 

Lucien Damrill is the hero in Serenity's Dream. He owns the Sapphire Club, what we might think of today as a BDSM club, but even though, it is also a place where people with certain proclivities, can go to fulfill every sexual fantasy, no matter now perverse, save for the usual no-nos of rape, incest and bestiality.

Prentice Hyde, in Lord Decadent's Obsession, is Lucien's friend and is probably the most perverse of all the folks you meet at the Sapphire Club. Let's just say, he's not called Lord Decadent for nothing. He meets his match in Desiree Huntington, a woman who has a score to settle and will go to any lengths to see to it that Prentice, the almighty Marquis of Wycroft, pays for his past, which is riddled with sin and decadence. Can she give the sinful lord his comeuppance without engaging her heart and her body in his world? Hmm. 


The third book of the series is Chocolate, Tea and the Duchess. Phillip Allard, the Duke of Thornhill, appears in the other two books, but only as the Duke of Thornhill. Originally, he was never intended to be the subject of a book of this own. However, in combing through the characters for a third book, he called to me and Duchess was born.


Phillip prefers the company of men, something simply not acceptable, in fact, illegal, in 1816 England. The Sapphire Club allows him to engage in sexual congress with a man, while being protected by the code of silence that exists among the close-knit clientèle. When the other man is tired of Phillip's lack of emotional engagement and walks away, Phillip is left empty and at odds with himself and his new wife, Lady Felicity Linden, a young woman twenty years his junior, who he was forced to marry when she set her cap for him and compromised herself by arranging for them to be alone. As fortune would have it, they were discovered, and being the honorable man he is, Phillip reluctantly marries her.

He does find her appealing and soon, discovers a world he rather enjoys. He does not, however, intend to give up his need for another man, and to that end, meets Alexander Chilton, a handsome, enigmatic gent, who can, as we say today, "swing both ways." 

With this in mind, the three begin a marriage of sorts, all quite happy to share one another. As Phillip explains to Felicity on night after a rather steamy lovemaking session, "Sometimes one might prefer chocolate with their meal, and then there are times one might prefer tea. But there are those occasions when one prefers both."


There will be more Sapphire Club tales - I've been asked to write more and how can I refuse?


Who would you like to see have their own stories? I'd love to know.

If you purchase any or all of the Sapphire Club series this week - through Christmas, you will receive a FREE Noble Romance Holiday Nibbles e-Cookbook, filled with wonderful recipes from some of your favorite Noble authors, including me, who contributed the Best New York Cheesecake and Tina, who shared my mother's Banana Nut Bread recipe.

Fill up that new e-reader with great stories and join me in 2011 for many more.

Love to you all, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and see you after all the presents are unwrapped!


Brita and Tina

Noble Romance Christmas Party

Come on by the Noble Romance Publishing Reader Christmas Party and you could win some nice prizes. We'll have a grand prize package each hour and every attendee will get a FREE Noble Holiday Nibble e-Cookbook, loaded with recipes from some of your favorite Noble Romance authors.

I contributed my New York Cheesecake recipe and my alter-ego, Tina Ordone, gave up my mother's Banana Nut Bread triumph. I even included the sugar-free versions.

I'll also be giving away some of my books.

To be eligible to win a copy of Serenity's Dream, you must be the first to answer this question: Who was Lucien Damrill married to?

To be eligible to win a copy of Lord Decadent's Obsession, you must be the first to answer: What is Lord Decadent's real name?

To be eligible to win a copy of Chocolate, Tea & the Duchess, you must be the first to answer: What is Felicity's maiden name?

To be eligible to win a copy of my Tina Ordone - Her Timeless Obsession, you must be the first to answer: Who is Honoria Danby Smythe concerned about?

All the answers can be found on this website. 

Come join the fun and win.

Luv, 
Brita

The Coming of Noelle

I happily announce the coming of the first Red Lipstick Journals' first anthology, Noelle's Revenge. this is a sizzling hot tale you don't want to miss. 


Starting December 24th and running through December 31st, we are running our serial. 
About Noelle's Revenge:


About Noelle's RevengeNoelle St. James thought her new boyfriend would keep her fires lit through the holidays. When she finds out what he's really like, she tosses him out and heads to Jamaica with her girlfriend, Stephanie, for a week-long vacation of self-indulgence. The Honeysuckle Bay Resort lives up to its reputation as the best spot in the Caribbean for erotic vacationing. Clothing is definitely optional and it doesn't take Noelle to scrub her loser boyfriend from her mind and get into a very hot Christmas spirit.



This was a great story to work on, we all had such a good time writing it. Go to Red Lipstick Journals every day over the holiday. You don't want to miss one word of this story.

New Cover for Spendid Captivity

I want to share the new cover for my next release, Splendid Captivity, to be released on January 22. This is a menage historical, with two hunky men, in love with each other and the woman who comes into their lives. 

There is an underlying humor to this story, but the love between Julian and Nick is one of long-standing. They are highwaymen who enjoy what they do as well as each other. Enter Isabella, a woman who wishes to experience an adventure at the hands of the Falcon, Julian's alter-ego. 

When Isabella is in the carriage the Falcon and Nick decide to stop, Julian finds her in a very compromising situation and decides to kidnap her on an impulse. It is shortly after that he realizes he can't let her go, lest she tell the authorities about the Falcon as well as the fact that she is being held by two men who enjoy more than each other's company.

Circumstances are such that Isabella is destined to a life of Splendid Captivity.

Merry Christmas, Santa Claus

This is the time of year I've always loved the most. My mother was Mrs. Christmas, no available surface free of snowmen and fat-bellied Santas. Her tree went up on Thanksgiving afternoon, while my Dad snoozed in the chair, something I always thought was a convenient method of avoidance.


That's Mom and me putting the icicles on the tree. I felt privileged, as she didn't trust anyone to do that but herself. Mom did everything, decorated outside and in, transforming our old Victorian rental into a winter wonderland.


When I married, she gave me many of the ornaments I remembered her putting on the tree every year. I began collecting ornaments for my children, one or two each year, purchased on the basis of their particular interests or accomplishments that year. That's my boy on his first Christmas.

And so the tradition continues. Family traditions are only important after we've left our parents and begin our own lives. It is then we fully appreciate all our folks did for us, all the little and big sacrifices they made and all the wonderful surprises they kept hidden in their bedroom closet.


My Mom has been gone now for eleven years, and I miss her influence, especially at this time of year. Somehow, my banana nut bread smells different when I make it. She had knack with baking that I've never seen. Here she is making Christmas pies with my daughter. I always would laugh, because, she'd give the grandkids a piece of dough and let them do their own thing with it. Amazing patience my mother had, just amazing. 
She always wrapped presents well before Christmas Eve, but we never saw any until Christmas morning, because Santa delivered them.  There was always one gift from Mom and Dad, but the rest came from the Jolly Old Elf, even when I was eighteen and spend my last Christmas with them as a resident of the household. Somehow, we believed in Santa a lot longer in those days. 


We are now past spending Christmas at our house, as it is hosted by our oldest daughter, her husband and our grandson. They live twenty minutes away and put on a great spread every year, though I bring the banana nut bread and pumpkin pie. 


Christmas memories have compounded over the years, all pleasant, all recalled at this time every year. "Yes, Virginia, there is a Christmas" is read, though no one but me cares. Baking is a bit less, what with consideration for weight and health, but the items that are baked are looked forward to.


My year, the year Tina Ordone became known as Brita Addams, has been a marvel and one I shan't forget too soon. Books published, new friendships forged where a mutual interest exists and the realization of a dream long held. I'm an author, something I've wanted to say all my life. 

Thank you, everyone, for making that dream come true. I promise to keep the stories coming.


As I look forward to the excitement of spending time with our family, my sister will be here, as always, I have to remember those we lost this year. My uncle, a man I sadly didn't know well in my adult life, but did spend a few days with a few years ago, passed away this year. When I last saw him, he was so happy to entertain his oldest sister's daughter and I was happy to talk genealogy with him. 


Just a couple of weeks ago, the dear husband of a lifelong friend passed away, leaving her to head their family of three children and a passel of grandchildren. My heart breaks for her, as they had a real life love story.


Everyone, I wish you a marvelous holiday, for our house to yours. May your family descend upon your homes, marvel at how wonderful your banana nut bread is this year and get every gift they asked for and some they didn't. 


May you enjoy all the books you love to read and have some time to reflect on how wonderful your year has been. 


As my favorite old Maxwell House Coffee commercial used to say, "Merry Christmas, Santa Claus." Take some time for yourselves.


My love to you all,
Brita, aka Tina

Great Release Day and Chat

Today has been amazing, with the release of my first m/m vampire historical, Love Immortal AND as though wasn't enough, Jimmy Thomas was a guest in my chat room. We had a great chat with several others and we all learned a lot about his career.

Thank everyone who attended.

Welcome to the Release Party & Chatfor Love Imm...

 Welcome to the Release Party & Chatfor Love Immortal. Jimmy Thomas and I are waiting for you, so   Come on in, you're in the right place. Click "Brita's Chat Room" there to the rightand follow the steps to the chat room. 

Jimmy Thomas Chat

On Saturday, December 4th, you are invited to join me for my Book Release Party, celebrating the release of my m/m vampire novel, Love Immortal. To celebrate an already wonderful day, I am so happy to announce that, at 5 eastern, 4 central and 2 pacific time, Romance Novel model Jimmy Thomas will be joining, me right here in my chat room.

Everyone is invited to celebrate the release of my book. Jimmy is my Laurent, the character created to look like him. I admit, I am a fan! What can I say.

I will be giving away a copy or two of the book, so please stop by with your questions.

Until then,
Luv,
Brita

Launch Party for Love Immortal

Help me celebrate the release of Love Immortal.  
Could I be more excited about my upcoming release, Love Immortal? Ah, no! This is a story that has percolated in my head for a long time and this coming Saturday is the day. This is the first book in the Mysterious Moonlight series, which puts Laurent Kinsdale and Sebastian FitzHugh through their paces, fighting evil.

Leave me a comment and you could win a copy of this book. I'd love to hear why you love vampire. 

So answer this questions: What about vampires appeals to you the most?

You can purchase the book at Silver Publishing. Follow this link and become the proud owner of this book. Did I mention that the gorgeous Jimmy Thomas is my Laurent. He even told me was proud to be my Laurent! Doesn't get better than that. I actually wrote Laurent with Jimmy in mind - true story.


Here's the blurb from Love Immortal:

Born in 1620, Laurent Kinsdale, an orphan at ten and a vampire at twenty five, goes against all his sire has taught him, when, on an impulse, he turns his lover, Graham Symonds. Graham does not take the turning well, his anger towards the man he's loved for four years knows no bounds. After he commits unconscionable acts directed at destroying Laurent, he disappears for a century and a half. 
In 1820, Laurent meets Sebastian FitzHugh. The two men have common sexual interests, each other, despite the fact that Sebastian doesn't know about Laurent's vampirism. Their lives are disrupted by the re-emergence of Graham, who insinuates himself in the middle of their idyll and forces Laurent to make a gut-wrenching decision that could tear his and Sebastian's world apart. Does he care for Sebastian enough to let him go or will he repeat the mistakes of his past?
Buy at Silver Publishing 
The confetti and balloons are being prepared, so stay for awhile.

Luv,
Brita