As much as I love reading, my favorite kinds of books are those that come in a series. I love revisiting characters, discovering aspects of their lives that might not appear during their starring role.
Write what you love, right? When I decided to write, I had an idea for a series set at a fictional sex club outside of London and Sapphire Club series was born. I wanted a historical with modern thinking characters. Characters that let it all go when it comes to sex.
The name of the club came easy, given that my youngest daughter is my greatest cheerleader. At her suggestion, I named it for her birthstone.
Aside from creating the first story, then Serenity’s Dream, I had to create the club itself, a decadent place where every sexual fantasy is fulfilled. Given that I set the club London’s posh St. John’s Wood area, I had to find an elegant estate as the model.
I googled English Estates, and came upon a beauty, located further away from London than St. John’s Wood.
The rooms suited my purpose—elaborately decorated with the most beautiful period furniture, paintings, tapestries, and statues. One thing I loved was the Marble Hall, an elaborate reception room with statuary, marble columns, and an unbelievable flight of stairs. But what caught my eye was the huge niches in the upstairs gallery.
In Serenity and Lucien, I fashion these niches as part of the reception room, where “players” at the club go to set up assignations. Each night, these niches are filled with naked people, in various poses. A job that takes patience to say the least.
In May of 2013, I went to the estate I’d patterned the club after as part of a trip to England that gave me a huge cross-off on my bucket list. The picture of the Marble Hall is one I took from a (Insert Marble Hall stairs) position opposite. The niches are all over the house and the statuary is all naked or scantily clothed. Here is a picture of the Hall head on. We walked up those steps and looked back from the landing—an amazing view.
The bedchambers in the Sapphire Club had to be sumptuous, elegant, inviting. Of course those at the real estate are. Here is one that figures into the story. As I wrote the first book, I clearly saw Serenity lounging on the bed, beneath the rich canopy. The opulence of these rooms speaks to unimaginable wealth. Of course, electric lamps weren’t used in 1810, but you get the idea by this picture.
To suit the members of the club, armoires and clothes presses are used as storage places for the implements used in each of the rooms—paddles, floggers, even Serenity’s preferred leather strap. Each room in the club is outfitted with an array of toys used for the pleasure of the guests.
Of course, Lucien Damrill spends a great deal of time in his library, which doubles as his office. It is here that he confronts Serenity after her return. When I visited the estate, the library fit my imagination perfectly. Bookshelves to the ceiling, seating scenarios, padded sofas for impromptu spanking sessions, and an overall comfortable atmosphere.
One piece of furniture plays a significant role in the series, and that is the Biedermeier chaise, with its rolled padded arms of different heights. Excellent spanking piece. Lucien outfits each room with one and has one in his office for sessions with his wife.
I wanted something that indicated a theme for the club, so I found a brandy snifter that featured the naked torso of a woman as the stem. This is mentioned throughout the series.
A few trivia facts – Lucien is named for my husband’s great-grandfather, but the person I had in mind when I created the character was Clark Gable. Gable had a swarthy quality about him that fits Lucien. His dark hair is how I imagine Lucien, with the occasional lock hanging unrestrained by pomade.
I will admit to an easy association between Vivian Leigh and Serenity, particularly as Miss Leigh and Clark played off each other so well in Gone with the Wind. Serenity starts the book with a great deal of naiveté as Scarlett did, and ends up older beyond her years. Life does that, doesn’t it?
With a cast of characters like Haynes, Simon, and Prentice Hyde, the book delves into issues that bring out the best and worst of each character.
In the second book, Prentice and Desiree, we get to know Prentice, and man of many layers. Haynes sticks around in a supporting role. In Serenity, you’ll meet the Duke of Thornhill. He had no first or last name when I wrote him in passing, but he haunted me throughout the first two books. He comes to life in the third book, Thornhill’s Dilemma, when we learn more about the inimitable Phillip Allard, the Duke of Thornhill.
I hope you enjoy Lucien and Serenity, and will continue to follow the series and the characters. Aside from a spanking good time, these characters each have stories that I truly enjoyed writing.
Here’s the blurb for Lucien and Serenity:
Fulfill your most decadent and debauched fantasies at The Sapphire Club
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. She needs Lucien’s protection, and she is determined to repair her marriage.
Quite happy running the Sapphire Club, where his clients live out their wildest fantasies, Lucien has no need for the frigid wife who deserted him the day after they were married. Though he still desires her, he doubts she’ll consent to the type of intimate relationship he craves.
But in the Sapphire Club, where rules don’t exist, anything is possible…
Contains elements of bondage, anal play, voyeurism, spanking, and lots of romance.
The book is available at Musa Publishing, Amazon
Prentice and Desiree will be released on September 12.
About Brita Addams:
Born in a small town in upstate New York, Brita Addams has made her home in the sultry south for many years. In the Frog Capital of the World, Brita shares her home with her real-life hero—her husband, and a fat cat named Stormee. All their children are grown.
Given her love of history, Brita writes both het and gay historical romance. Many of her historicals have appeared on category bestseller lists at various online retailers.
Musa Publishing has contracted a great many of Brita’s historical romances, including the rewritten and expanded, best-selling Sapphire Club series.
Tarnished Gold, the first in her gay romance Tarnished series for Dreamspinner Press, was a winner in the 2013 Rainbow Awards, Historical Romance category. The book also received nominations for Best Historical and Best Book of 2013 from the readers of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group.
A bit of trivia—Brita pronounces her name, Bree-ta, and not Brit-a, like the famous water filter. Brita Addams is a mash-up of her real middle name and her husband’s middle name, with an additional d and s.
Readers can find more information about Brita Addams at any of the following places:
Website/Blog
Twitter: @britaaddams
Facebook
Fan page
Pinterest
Booklikes
Monthly column at The Novel Approach
And the Rest is History WON Radio/Blog Talk Radio shows
Wow, Brita, you actually got to go and visit that great English estate where you set your stories. Gorgeous photos, too. I love what you said about writing a series and having some characters grow and take center stage in subsequent installments. That’s the best fun of all in writing one. Great post and I’m sharing it. Love and hugs and can’t wait to read Serenity’s Dream. You’ve got me all hot and bothered! :)
LOL. Glad you enjoyed the post. The estate is magnificent, though I wonder if the owners would appreciate the association. The book is Lucien and Serenity (the former incarnation was Serenity’s Dream.)
Writing a series is like building a family, isn’t it? You’ve done that and in each successive book, the characters get deeper, grow, and come into their own, even when the story isn’t about them. Series are great fun to read and write. Hugs, m’dear. So glad you stopped by.