Don't say I never gave you anything!

Expiring TODAY, here's an online coupon for $10 off a $50+ purchase from Books-a-Million: MAYSTEBP

So what? you ask. Well, if you forward your order confirmation email to me at alessia [at] eroticanthology.com and it contains at least 3 titles in the Coming Together charity anthology series, I'll buy you a Millionnaire's Club membership.

Further, if you want to have your order shipped to me, I'll sign the books and send them on to you. Just contact me via the email address above so I can give you my shipping address.

Offer expires at midnight Eastern today, 31 May 2008. :)

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

From tedious to orgasmic

THIS makes balancing your checkbook kinda fun! *grin*

Surrender

I adore this cover. It's just so damned yummy! And to make it even more delicious, I am under the covers with some terrific company.

Watch for this print compilation featuring Eden Bradley, Eliza Gayle, Reese Gabriel, and yours truly on 23 June 2008 from Phaze Books.

A Hand-y way to fund RAISE

In 1995, Good Vibrations decreed May as National Masturbation Month in protest of the firing of Clinton-appointed U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders, who spoke positively of masturbation. The capstone event -- the annual Masturbate-a-Thon -- was added in 1998 and went live in 2000 at the same time promoters launched The Center For Sex & Culture, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization devoted to positive sex education for adults.

This year's orgasmic event is TOMORROW! With its locus in San Francisco, there are venues worldwide and in cyberspace. There are Featured Masturbators accepting pledges on various sites, with proceeds benefiting The Center For Sex & Culture. You can watch live feeds of the event, and you can play along at home! If you're a Twitter user, you can follow (and add to) the O count through TheBiggestO. There is also a Facebook profile.

From the Masturbate-a-Thon website:

Although most men and women today are aware that masturbation isn't a "degrading act," as past generations might have been taught, many are still constrained by the notion that it's a selfish, immature activity or a second-rate substitute for partner sex. We live in a society in which sexual expression has always been legislated and restricted and the pursuit of pure pleasure is frequently condemned as egoistic or childish. A lot of people who consider themselves free of sexual hang-ups have simply rewritten the equation "sex is only good if it involves procreation" to "sex is only good if it involves two people." The fact that masturbation is a pleasurable end in itself gets short shrift in many mainstream sex manuals, which focus on masturbation as a useful tool in the building of a better sex life with one's partner. The Masturbate-a-Thon is dedicated to honoring masturbation as an excellent way to have sex while also raising money for non-profits.

I heartily agree. Self-stimulation, with or without anyone else in the room (or on the phone... or the webcam... or the chat window), is a healthy part of one's sex life. In some cases, it's ALL of it -- whether by choice or by circumstance. It's the safest form of sex on (or off) the planet. And it's HOT.

With Pride's First Review

I'm not the least bit surprised to read a glowing, A+ review about this book. As an editor, the quality of the submissions simply blew me away. Here's what Shira from Simply Romance Reviews had to say:

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Coming Together - With Pride. This collection of stories and poems took me on an emotional roller coaster- joy, pain, arousal, laughter, enlightenment, love, disgust, passion, and submission. Every story was an eye-opener.

These stories were perfect in the way that they complimented each other and fit together in harmony. I highly recommend this book not just because all the proceeds go towards a greatly needed cause but because it was a beautiful collection of stories that I felt came straight from each author's soul.

Coming Together: With Pride goes on sale (ebook & print) in less than 3 weeks!

Philly Book Festival

Well, I'm home. Even with the Sunday afternoon rains, which cut the day short, the Festival was a smashing success! Many thanks to Tilly Greene, Stella Price, and the rest of the East Coast Authors event organizers for doing such a terrific job. I look forward to next year, when I hope to do a little sightseeing in addition to pimpin' my books. There are murals all over the downtown area. This one (below) was on the building adjacent to the parking lot on 19th and Callowhill. I'd love to see them all.

With 11 authors sharing two tent-booths, we were each limited to 18" in display space along the front tables. I was very glad I recently unearthed my old laptop case. It makes the perfect compact display.

The event was very well attended. Most of the time, I was in the street, passing out bookmarks and candy. Of course, no street fair is complete without an appearance by the 501st. Saturday afternoon, the Stormtroopers stopped for a photo. Sunday, I snagged Darth Vadar. "Darth!" I squealed, throwing my arms wide. In his breathy, mechanical voice, he replied, "I missed you!" as he swept me into a hug. *grin*

In addition, there were various characters roaming the streets -- Wild Things, Pat the Bunny, Pooh, jugglers, etc. I heard, but didn't get to see, Bernadette Peters perform. The main stage was around the corner. Everyone said Barbara Walters gave a great talk, too. I was busy selling books -- and, happily, it was my most successful event to date. I came home with far fewer books. :)

Advertising with Alison

Wanna win a copy of my & Will's latest print release, Artistically Bound? Just leave a comment on Alison Kent's blog entry & you'll be entered into the drawing for tomorrow (Sunday 18th)!

Off to Philly

Well, I'm off to the Philadelphia Book Festival for the weekend where I'll be signing and schmoozing with the East Coast Authors. Apparently, we have primo real estate, as our booths are #29-30 between Wood and Callowhill on 19th Street, near the Free Library entrance where the restrooms are. Everybody has to pass by us in order to pee. How sweet is that? We might not snag 'em on their way IN, but we'll get 'em on their way OUT -- and we'll give 'em candy. Smut writers with candy. Perhaps I should wear my trench coat.

The Program Exhibitors page says:

[29-30] East Coast Authors

Shake up your reading with East Coast Authors Christine Norris, Philippa Grey-Gerou, Alessia Brio, Leigh Ellwood, Karyna DaRosa, Rayna Vause, Donna Michaels, Bridget Midway, Cat Johnson, Robin Slick, Stella Price, and Tilly Greene. From YA to Erotica, dark fantasy to contemporary, altruistic anthologies to single titles, there's something for everyone.

Anyway, if you're anywhere near Philly this weekend, please hit the Book Festival and stop by our booth. I'll give you candy! *wink*

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

Tasting Him: Oral Sex Stories

Coming (pun intended) in September, but available for pre-cum... erm, order... NOW:

Tasting Him: Oral Sex Stories

Introduction: The Power and Pleasure of Cocksucking

Gloss by Rachel Kramer Bussel
A Treatise of Human Nature by Robert Peregrine
Quite a Mouthful: Confessions of a Sweet Cocksucker by Tish Andersen
This Just In by Heidi Champa
Blessed Benediction by Radclyffe
How I Learned to Give Good Head by Amanda Earl
Without Eyes by Terri Pray
Tony Tempo by Tsaurah Litzky
A Tongue is Just a Tongue by Michelle Robinson
It's a Wonderful Blowjob by Simon Sheppard
Down on the Beach by Alessia Brio
Getting Used to It by Tenille Brown
Cocksucker by Lori Selke
Prego by Alison Tyler
Equanimity Unbounded by Craig J. Sorensen
Fellatio: A Love Story by Scarlett French
Logic by Jacqueline Applebee
Frosted by Kristina Wright
Long Relief by T. Hitman
Open Wide by Marina Saint
Sketch of a Suckoff by Thomas S. Roche
Sculpted by Shanna Germain
After Dinner Mint by Donna George Storey

Joyfully Reviewed reviews SDS

Erys at Joyfully Reviewed had this to say about our Phaze Snuggler HeatSheet:

San Diego Sunset is a romantic story about what happens when two people are fated to meet. I enjoyed the way it feels as if they could be anyone, even the woman or man next door. Alessia Brio and Will Belegon write so well together you cannot tell this is written by more than one author.

Whoa, Mama!

Whether you're a mother or not, you can save 20% on Mother's Day at Phaze! To get the discount, enter the code HOTMAMA at checkout.

Happy reading!

Sale good all day on Mother's Day, Sunday 11 May 2008.

Cyclone Nargis

Coming Together's up to something... again. Something good. Check it out!

Off Topic Rant

I am seriously annoyed that I have to lug the eldest to the pediatrician to get a note for school saying he doesn't have conjunctivitis. Damned new nurse at the high school is feeling her oats. She doesn't know my son and is too arrogant to trust those who do.

These "professionals" -- bureaucrats & administrators -- don't have a fucking clue what it's like to have a kid with multiple disabilities. They don't see a trip to the doctor as the total pain in the ass that it is -- the wheelchair, the lifting, the ramps, the van, the parking, the diapers & extra clothes that have to accompany you everywhere you go, the logistics of finding a suitable (safe/clean/discreet) place to change a 75# young man's diaper if it becomes necessary, the hassle of recapping 15 years of complex medical history to a clinic doctor who is unfamiliar with your child & who doesn't have the time/energy to scan all 3 volumes (each 3" thick) of his "chart" -- because you couldn't get in to see his regular doctor on such short notice.



And they wonder why we insist that it's not our children themselves who are the stressors.

At least the weather's nice.

Quote:

Where Are the Parents? By Sue Stuyvesant, Parent Hey everyone. For those of you who don't know me (I'm only an occasional poster) I am mom to Michelle, 9 years old, microcephalic, athetoid/spastic CP, cortical visual impairment, seizure disorder -- and CUTE! OK, now for the reason I'm posting. To make a long story short, earlier this week a question was asked by some nitwit official as to why there weren't more parents (of special needs kids) involved in the local PTA and other issues that have come up that directly involve our kids. His question, which was passed on to me was, "Where are the parents?" I went home that night, started thinking - and boy was I pi**ed - and banged this "little" essay out the next day on my lunch break. By the way, I took copies of this to the school board meeting that night, gave it to a couple of influential people and it WILL get around............. Where are the parents? They are on the phone to doctors and hospitals and fighting with insurance companies, wading through the red tape in order that their child's medical needs can be properly addressed. They are buried under a mountain of paperwork and medical bills, trying to make sense of a system that seems designed to confuse and intimidate all but the very savvy. Where are the parents? They are at home, diapering their 15 year old son, or trying to lift their 100 lb. daughter onto the toilet. They are spending an hour at each meal to feed a child who cannot chew, or laboriously and carefully feeding their child through a g-tube. They are administering medications, changing catheters and switching oxygen tanks. Where are the parents? They are sitting, bleary eyed and exhausted, in hospital emergency rooms, waiting for tests results to come back and wondering, "Is this the time when my child doesn't pull through?" They are sitting patiently in hospital rooms as their child recovers from yet another surgery to lengthen hamstrings or straighten backs or repair a faulty internal organ. They are waiting in long lines in county clinics because no insurance company will touch their child. Where are the parents? They are sleeping in shifts because their child won't sleep more than 2 or 3 hours a night, and must constantly be watched, lest he do himself, or another member of the family, harm. They are sitting at home with their child because family and friends are either too intimidated or too unwilling to help with child care and the state agencies that are designed to help are suffering cut backs of their own. Where are the parents? They are trying to spend time with their non-disabled children, as they try to make up for the extra time and effort that is critical to keeping their disabled child alive. They are struggling to keep a marriage together, because adversity does not always bring you closer. They are working 2 and sometime 3 jobs in order to keep up with the extra expenses. And sometimes they are a single parent struggling to do it all by themselves. Where are the parents? They are trying to survive in a society that pays lip service to helping those in need, as long as it doesn't cost them anything. They are trying to patch their broken dreams together so that they might have some sort of normal life for their children and their families. They are busy, trying to survive. ~ ~ ~ Sue Stuyvesant 10/15/96: Permission to duplicate or distribute this document is granted with the provision that the document remains intact. Sue passed away in October 2003. Michelle passed away a week before she was to turn 18 in September 2005.

BBM reviews Bound

Natasha Brooks, editor-in-chief for Bare Back Magazine, had some wonderful things to say about Bound for Success in the May 2008 issue:

Bound For Success is the follow up from the writing duo, Will Belegon and Alessia Brio (from their previous book entitled Artistically Inclined). The story picks up where Cyndi is anxious because she's having her first solo art show. Despite Cyndi feeling anxious about the art show, Kevin seemed to find time to relieve Cyndi's tension about that night in very creative and sensual ways.

The writing duo created very unique and kinky love scenes which included a taste of BDSM and sex in the most uncommon places...

The clear amount of creativity put into the love scenes makes the story extra hot!

The story line reveals a stronger relationship between Cyndi and Kevin which actually brought more credibility to the story. What really strikes my attention is the characters' playful dialogue and how their relationship seemed to flow so well throughout the story.

The story overall makes for a good read! If you liked the first installment from the writing duo then you'll surely enjoy Bound for Success even better.

Four Stars!

Reviewed by Natasha Brooks, editor-in-chief, Bare Back Magazine
Posted May 2008

Artistically Inclined (ebook) + Bound for Success (ebook) = Artistically Bound (print)