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Our Voice: Brittney Holmes
Just thinking about the pending release of Living Consequences by the Stone Mountain, Georgia native Brittney Holmes makes me smile. We have so much in common: we both were seventeen at the release of our first titles, we both were juniors in high school, we both were very active in various student organizations with our eyes on the nation’s prominent HBCUs within reach. Zooming through her website, you see the young lady who has her act together and wants to encourage others to follow suit. I almost want to get into the car and drag my fourteen year old god-daughter with me so I can show her living proof of how far she can go if she just takes the time to pursue her own dreams.
Choosing Brittney for this month’s Our Voice feature was an easy and obvious choice: this site was created to market and promote books written to teens in her age group. Not too often are the doors being open for young artist with a pen. It’s more easier for those who are pursuing music or acting careers to get more love from the public than those who want to write books or pursue higher education. Unlike some of her peers, she’s not gyrating on stage or embarrassing her parents. No, she’s setting an example for what a young teen female should be.OTV: Being 17, you are one of the youngest published authors in the industry today, how does that feel?Brittney: It feels really wonderful. I never expected for something such as this to happen to me. Up until a few years ago, I had my heart set on becoming a doctor, but things have really changed. I knew my dreams would someday come true, just as most people's dreams do, but I never believed my dreams could become a reality so quickly.OTV: What do your classmates think of your success?Brittney: They love it! Sometimes I think they're more excited than I am. At least once a day, someone makes a joke about me forgetting about them when I make it big and they all want to support me. I haven't had anyone to belittle my success. As a matter of fact, my entire school is one of my biggest supporters.OTV: How did you balance writing the book with your homework, after school activities and other commitments?Brittney: It was really tough. I like school, but I love writing and sometimes my writing took precedence over my school work, but I make sure I get my assignments done. My academic and writing careers are already starting to clash--this summer I'll be forced to make time for both--but I believe that if I focus and prioritize, my schedule will run smoothly.OTV: Are you looking forward to touring and doing other engagements to promote your book?Brittney: Yes! I'm so excited that I can't wait to tour all over the country. I've only been out of the state of Georgia a few times throughout my life and I'm itching to see what other states and cities can offer--cultures and the like. It will give me a chance to travel at a very young age and I think that would be great in my quest to become a well-rounded person.OTV: How was working with your agent & publisher? Were they hesitant because you were so young?Brittney: My publishers, Urban Books (Urban Christian imprint), are great. I've worked with my editor, Joylynn Jossel, and she has been wonderful. When Urban Christian first received my manuscript, they had no idea who I was or how old I was. My mother wanted it that way so that my book wouldn't be accepted or rejected just because of who I knew and I appreciate that because it showed that I truly had talent.OTV: Your mother is a national bestselling author, do you feel any pressure because of this?Brittney: I guess anyone in my shoes would want to live up to their predecessor. My mother supports me and I hope that I can be as half as successful as she has been. I don't feel pressured, but I do want to make her proud, so I'm striving to live up to the standards she's already set.OTV: What separates your mother's work from your own?Brittney: My mother's writing is so much more advanced than mine, but we both have been blessed with the gift of writing, just as others in my family have been. Though anyone at any age or stage in life can read my work and could probably find themselves in the different situations, my writing is geared toward teens, so my writing style is mean to draw in that specific crowd. All of the issues that occur deal with what teens and young adults go through on a daily basis--peer pressure, social and educational decisions, making and fixing mistakes. My mother deals with more mature issues that older adults may go through. We both have various types of drama and entertainment within our works, but we write in a way that will draw in the audiences we wish to cater to.OTV: As a young writer, I was always asked how come I didn't take up English as a major (I majored in Business/Entrepreneurship); do you feel pressured to pursue English or Creative Writings in your studies?Brittney: Actually, I want to pursue a career as a journalist. I toyed with the idea of majoring in English, but the classes that are assigned with this major don't appeal to me. I like reading for fun and any class that forces me to analyze and break a piece of literature down into pieces takes away from the book's enjoyment. So majoring in English is not an option for me, but I would like to look into a Creative Writing minor because writing for fun and relaxation is what I love the most.OTV: How much are you like your main character? Different than your main character?Brittney: The main character in "Living Consequences" is Nevaeh Madison. She is a high school senior and has to deal with the fact that her boyfriend of three years is starting to change his views on the subject of abstinence. Nevaeh is very strong in her Christian faith and uses it to get through her situation. I am very much like her in that way because any and everything I go through, I try to use my beliefs and faith to get through it. I've learned from others' experiences that trying to go it alone won't work, but giving everything to God does. I believe Nevaeh and I lead very different social lives. She's captain of the cheerleading squad and one of the most popular people in school. She, as well as her boyfriend, have to deal with their peers being in their business and spreading rumors about them around school. I don't deal with this issue at all. I usually blend in with the crowd and try my best not to stand out. I have lots of friends, but only a small group of people who I can really trust. People have different opinions about me--some say I'm crazy, others believe I'm quiet--but I've never had to deal with the stress that comes along with popularity.OTV: What's next for you literary wise?Brittney: I just submitted the sequel to "Living Consequences", entitled "Testing Relationships," into Urban Books. My editor is looking over it now and if things go well, it should be released in the spring of 2008, right before my high school graduation--it's a wonderful way to end a chapter in my life. I hope to be a great success, but I hope even more to reach out to people my age and relay the message that they can handle anything they go through in life as long as they keep God first.
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