MyChurch: Bren's Profile

I was raised a Baptist, and was baptized at the age of thirteen. Not that I was unhappy in my religion, but at sixteen, I developed a curiosity about other faiths, and began to explore other religions--from Catholicism to Buddism. For many years, I wandered, I strayed, but I was never completely lost, even though I became a non-practicing Christian. While I retained my core Baptist beliefs, with the exception of weddings and funerals, I avoided organized religion. I walked into Windermere Union United Church of Christ one Sunday morning, and knew I was "home." After all my wandering, I had finally discovered a church that embodied the spirit of everything I had learned, as stated in its' purpose--"that they may all be one." Because, after all, Isn't that what Christ asked of us ?
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Not because I'm uniquely qualified for the job, but because I started it, I currently serve as the Moderator for the Windermere Union United Church of Christ page here on MyChurch. What's the old saying, "God does not call the equipped; He equips the called." I sure hope so! I'm playing it by ear, but so far--so good. :-) Though the name that accompanies my picture is Bren, members of my church know me as Kay. I know that requires a bit of explaining, so here you go...

My entire name is Brenda Kay Yarbrough Bruhn. My mother, my family, and most of my friends call me Kay. But when I started a business many years ago, it became apparent that it was easier to use my first name for business purposes, since that's how my customers addressed me.  Brenda was eventually shortened to Bren, and when I published my books, I used the name Bren Yarbrough Bruhn.   And that's how I became Bren.   More than you wanted to know, right?

Well, I'm not done! You know those writers and politicians... once you get them started...

A true "mutt," my heritage is a mixture of English, Irish, and Native American. I am first and foremost, a Christian and a proud Southern Belle. I was born and raised in Newnan, Georgia, but I have been in Florida long enough to be an "honorary" native.   I 've been married to my husband, Gary, for 25 years. He is currently serving his third term as mayor of our town. He has a son, Mike, from a previous marriage, who is also married, to the sweet and lovely, Jenny. They live in Wisconsin where Mike works at the State Capital.

Speaking of working... I could never decide what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I guess I tried a little bit of everything,  including teaching nursery school (when I was much, much younger and had nerves of steel). I was also a waitress/model, a pharmacy assistant, and a bookeeper.  But my first love has always been writing, even if it didn't pay the bills. I 've been writing since I was a teenager, heavily influenced by the work of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Margaret Mitchell. Fiction is my passion, but I've also written non-fiction articles for national publications, too.

I am also interested and actively involved with art. I'm always trying some new craft, or involved in some artistic project. In 1998, I started selling repainted fashion dolls on ebay under the name "Lovely Painted Ladies." If you want to see some of my creations, click on the link below.
http://www.geocities.com/lovelypaintedladies/index.html

Most of the dolls I sold were dressed in period costumes and accompanied by a romantic short story. Soon the stories began to get as much attention as the dolls. My clients, and even absolute strangers, urged me to write a book. So... I pulled out the novel I'd begun years ago, dusted it off, and spent a year re-writing it. The result was my first historical romance novel, "The Price Of Eden." My second book in the Florida series is, "Far From Paradise."

Both books have been well received, and I'm quite proud of the glowing reviews that continue to come in. If you'd like to know more about me or my books, and what I have planned for the future, stop by and visit my website, Bren's Romances.
http://www.geocities.com/daydreamin365/index.html