Today we’d like to introduce you to Author Britt W..
Hi Author Britt, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m author Britt W., a Black romance author from D.C.
Writing has been a huge part of my life since adolescence. Initially, I wrote in journals about the things I couldn’t always express verbally. Writing became therapy for me—a safe haven where I could vent, process my emotions, and be completely honest on the page.
At such a young age, I had no idea whether I was actually talented. That changed when I entered a poetry contest in elementary school. The prompt was simple: write something you’re grateful for. I chose to write about my mother.
I never imagined I would win, and when I did, my excitement was short-lived. The organizer accused me of plagiarism because she didn’t believe a nine-year-old could have written the poem on her own.
That same day, I proved her wrong.
She asked me to write another piece in front of her, and after reading it, she realized, “Wow, this child really did write that poem.”
That moment stayed with me. It showed me that I was doing more than putting words on paper. I had a voice, and it needed to be heard.
Writing remained a major part of my life, and it has always brought me closest to my most honest and vulnerable self. But in early adulthood, I explored other talents and eventually stepped away from writing. I spent nearly a decade in the beauty industry, and while I’m grateful for everything that season taught me, somewhere along the way, I started missing the writer in me. I also began craving a change in my life.
Then the pandemic hit.
Like so many people, I had time to slow down and reflect. I came to terms with the fact that there were parts of my trauma and childhood experiences I had never truly dealt with. I was burned out, going through the motions, and feeling more robotic than alive.
So I booked a trip to Puerto Rico.
That trip changed the trajectory of my life.
While I was there, I realized it was time to start living more intentionally and reconnect with the core parts of who I was. When I returned home, I started attending therapy. A few months into my sessions, my therapist encouraged me to channel some of my growth, healing, and pain into something creative.
Right then and there, it hit me.
It was time to write again.
I started working on my debut novel, and over the next eight months, I wrote both parts of my duology, You, Me, & My Toxicity. I’ve been on my author journey ever since.
Like anything in life, this journey has come with learning curves, hard lessons, unexpected moments, and plenty of opportunities to discover who I truly am. And honestly, I wouldn’t change any of it.
I believe there is a calling on my life to inspire, encourage, and motivate others through my work.
I write Black romance because I want to show the beautiful complexity of falling in love. I want to tell stories that remind us that you can be healing and still find your soulmate. You can overcome betrayal and still meet someone willing to love you correctly. You can be a work in progress and still be worthy of a love that feels whole.
That’s what I hope to showcase through my stories.
My third book, Open For Business: A Ruevielle Romance, was nominated for a Black Girls Who Write Black Romance literary award. That recognition from the book community meant more to me than simply having my work acknowledged. It felt like confirmation to keep going. To keep telling these stories. To keep putting my heart on the page.
My motto is “Pen in Hand, Heart on the Page,” because every title I write carries a piece of me. My hope is that readers see themselves somewhere in my stories, feel something while reading them, and walk away believing that if my characters can overcome what they’ve faced, maybe they can too.
I’m grateful for every reader who has connected with my work, every person who has supported my journey, and every opportunity that continues to remind me that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
And one day, I’d love to see these stories make their way beyond the page and onto the screen.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges has been finding my way back to writing. I spent nearly a decade in the beauty industry, so when I decided to return to something that had always been a part of me, I had to reconnect with that creative side of myself. There was excitement, but there was also a lot of figuring things out and trusting that I still had something to say.
Another challenge has been learning that being an author is about so much more than writing the book. Once I became an Indie author, I had to learn the business side—marketing, branding, selling books, networking, events, bookstores, and building a community around my work. I had to become comfortable putting myself and my stories out there.
I’ve also had to learn not to compare my journey to anyone else’s. It’s easy to look around and see another author doing something bigger or reaching milestones faster and wonder if you’re doing enough. I’ve had to remind myself that my journey is my own and that every opportunity, every reader, and every milestone matters.
And honestly, learning to believe in myself has been a challenge too. Writing is vulnerable. You’re putting pieces of yourself on the page and then asking strangers to connect with them. There have been moments where I’ve questioned myself, but I keep coming back to the little girl who started writing because she had something to say. She reminds me that I’ve been doing this longer than I realized.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I think sets me apart is the depth I bring to my characters and their experiences. I don’t write cookie-cutter romance where everything is perfect and love magically fixes everything. My characters are flawed, they make mistakes, they carry baggage, and they have to do the work. I want readers to see themselves in my stories and feel like they’re experiencing more than a romance—they’re having a conversation about life, love, and healing.
I’m also proud of the fact that I found my way back to writing after nearly a decade away from it. More than anything, I’m proud that I’m doing it my way. I’m still growing and still learning, but I know exactly what I want my readers to feel when they close one of my books: seen, entertained, and maybe a little more hopeful about love.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I think one of the biggest things I’d love readers to know is that there’s a lot more to me than being an author. I’m a big believer in enjoying life, trying new things, traveling, taking care of myself, and making room for the things that bring me joy. I love beauty and skincare, I love a good movie, and I’m definitely a hopeless romantic at heart.
I’m also really big on faith, gratitude, and trusting the timing of my life. I’ve learned that sometimes the things you think are detours are actually preparing you for where you’re supposed to be.
And for anyone reading this who has a dream they’ve been putting off, I’d say start. You don’t have to have everything figured out. I didn’t. I just knew I had a story to tell, and I decided to bet on myself.
I’m still building, still learning, and still dreaming bigger. And I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next.
Pricing:
- You, Me, & My Toxicity, Part I — $18.99
- You, Me, & My Toxicity, Part II — $18.99
- Open For Business: A Ruevielle Romance — $20.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brittwauthor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittwonthepage?stkn=MXh5OWx2ZDg5cjczaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.amazon.com/stores/BRITT-W/author/B0DKNHTN9S?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=f93ebb5d-5b21-4b0b-af29-d536dcbf8ff7
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nonelikebrittw?_r=1&_t=ZP-9AHkEY9uo5G
Image Credits
Personal Author: Samuel Barksdale/ Unique VZN
Photo #6 Natea Tapper
