Wednesday, February 22, 2006



Brenda F. Porter

Welcome to my world...

Pseudonyms:
Canice Brown-Porter - Historical, Time Travel
Brenda Brown-Porter - Contemporary
Tara Brown-Porter - Erotica



A Bit About Me...

Okay...a little background history on me. I am a native Virginian, the third child of six. I am, by age, the proverbial "middle child". I lived in upstate New York for six years. Now...when I say upstate, I'm talking about up in the far northeast corner of the state affectionately referred to by locals as the Northern Tier. From my upstairs office, I could see Vermont across beautiful Lake Champlain to my east, or look to the north and see Quebec, Canada. I spent 13 months in Toledo, Ohio. I relocated to the deep south moving to a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina called Cayce (pronounced K-see). In 2004, I purchased my home in Virginia, returning to my native state to once again be closer to my family.

I'm married to a wonderful man whom I met online back in the Spring of 1999. I have two sons from a previous marriage who are literally the boomerrang syndrome kids. But, that's okay. They have their own place downstairs in the basement and they work full time jobs with lots of overtime. And...all of us live in this home because Mr. Purr allows us to live with him.

I have an extensive background in graphic design, website development, administrative and secretarial fields. I was self-employed for about 10 years and was owner, publisher, and editor of a weekly community newspaper while living in New York and Virginia.

I have been on hiatus for the past seven years due to life changing situations, but am now ready to jump back into my writing with both feet. I've pulled out all five contemporary romance novels I have completed and brushed off the dustbunnies, dirt and cobwebs. I don't even want to venture a guess as to how many times I have rewritten, critiqued and edited the first one. I even burned it a couple of times, but the characters just wouldn't die! I initially wrote the first contemporary around the age of 16.

I had an agent at one time, but unfortunately, she chose to close up shop and move on to bigger and better things. I owe her a lot of gratitude for believing in my work. She critiqued two of the books before she left, and I must admit, she certainly made the characters thoughts and actions more fluid. We have remained friends over the past...hmmm...almost a decade now.

Due to the events of my life over the past decade or two, I am still unpublished. Only because you can't expect to publish if you don't submit your manuscript.

A Bit About My Novels...

Yesterday's Innocence - Pt 1-The Learning Curve; Pt 2-The Growing Pains; & Pt 3-Success With A Price - can be stand alones, but from the reaction of about 50 reviewers both male and female in all walks of life, I don't think anyone would just want to "not" know what the main characters are involved in "down the road". Mark had plans to be a career officer in the Navy as his father had been. Michelle, a junior in high school, changed all that with the simple touch of her hand and the crystal blue depths that swallowed him into an ocean of turmoil. (Yes, I know all about under-18-years-old characters. However, this book just doesn't work any other way. Besides, back in the 70s when I initially wrote this book, sex wasn't taboo with someone under 18 years old.)

My fourth contemporary romance is entitled Society's Child and brings back the "Cinderella" syndrome in full 21st century style. Jet-setting Bostonians tangle with a young southern belle as she struggles to hold onto her pride and dignity in their world of deceit and power.

Duel Roles is the essence of money, power, and business. Corporate contracts bring together two handsome, powerful men...two beautiful women...making the scene just a little too tempting. What's better than a romance with a handsome, dashing hero and a beautiful, sensual heroine? How about a romance that has two of each? That's what you get in Duel Roles.

Novel number six is in its infancy stages. However, I've switched genres. It started out as an historical, but has ended up as a time travel. The working title is Romancing the Rogue.

I've also begun submitting my novels to contests. This is new to me as I've never done this before. But, it's a great way to have your work critiqued by the pros.

Goals? I plan to be a published author before the end of 2006.

5 Comments:

Blogger Silma said...

First, LOVE your black cat! As for the goals, you go for it, chica. You can do it. Here's keeping my fingers crossed that you get published this year. *g*

9:12 PM, February 23, 2006  
Blogger Brenda (aka: Canice Brown-Porter) said...

Thanks for stopping by, Silma. And for the encouragement. *grin*

3:42 PM, February 24, 2006  
Blogger Unknown said...

now...tell me WHICH publisher requested to read the 1st of the series...I like dish on blogs :)

5:30 PM, February 28, 2006  
Blogger Brenda (aka: Canice Brown-Porter) said...

Cobblestone Press was the publisher. Still some interest there since I've done the revisions.

2:05 AM, March 07, 2006  
Blogger Brenda (aka: Canice Brown-Porter) said...

Good luck with your publisher. I think they will do well. I haven't given up on Cobblestone. Deanna and Sable gave me really good feedback on the manuscript.

Thanks, Vivianne. These books have actually haunted me for the past 11+ years. The first one was written when I was 16. I've trashed it, burned it and rewritten it over the years so many times I've lost count. The characters just won't die. And I've had approximately 50+ reviews by "everyday people" from top execs down to housewives begging for "autographed copies" when these publish. (I was even "threatened" by a reviewer if the heroine succumbed...lol) So, the enthusiasm keeps me going. I know the books will sell once published. Just a matter of finding the right "house" for it.

LOL...my pic or Mr. Purr's?

9:35 AM, March 11, 2006  

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