A new interview!

Will & I are interviewed this month at Fallen Angel Reviews!

Will Belegon and Alessia Brio Interview

Hello, Will Belegon and Alessia Brio, and welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews. It is really great to have you with us. The readers are eager to learn more about WillAlessia.

Before we start on your book releases, why not tell us a bit about Will and Alessia?

Alessia: Let me tell you a bit about Will (and then he can tell you a bit about me). This could get interesting. You go first, partner. *snicker*

Will: Notice that she contradicts herself there? *grin* What to say about Alessia? Well, there is a lot more to her than meets the eye. Because she can be so very straightforward, you might think it is very quick and easy to get to know her. It's not. But the effort is completely worth the reward. She is very altruistic, yet also quite willing to tell you she is doing something because she wants to do it and that's all there is to it. She is often unaware of how powerful her presence is. People that meet her may have varying emotions about her, but all of them are strong.

Alessia: Notice that he oh-so-tactfully alludes to how stubborn and opinionated I can be. *wink* Will balances my impulsiveness with... inertia. It's highly frustrating at times, but I will admit that there have been more than a few times when his restraint has resulted in a better book, a tighter plot, and a more emotionally satisfying outcome. We balance one another in many ways, and that makes for a powerful partnership.

Will is much better suited for the limelight than I am. In fact, I believe he's in his element amidst a gaggle of adoring fans -- regardless of whether they're adoring his books, his kilt, or his trademark jeans. He is more gifted with metaphor, and I am quite envious of his ability to capture the minutiae of a moment in exquisite detail.

Will: A gaggle? I think Alessia exaggerates. I wish I had a gaggle of fans! A gaggle of "adoring" fans would be even better.

Alessia: Authors of erotic romance are predominantly female. Toss a hunky man in the mix and the readers--also predominantly female--flock to him.

Will: Why do you think I write in this genre? Hey! Did you just call me hunky? What is this, junior high?

I will let you choose which book you would like to discuss with us? You do have an impressive list of titles. Would you like to talk about your most recent?

Will: I'm still quite excited about our most recent release, ArtiFactual. Not only because we found out we're going to print in September, but because the longer work opens doors for us. I think it is our best release yet, but I honestly can say that about everything because I think we grow with every release. For example, we just finished the sequel to Artistically Inclined, and I do consider that to be a very strong and tight story. It may not appeal to all of the same people that ArtiFactual does, especially since Bound For Success is straight contemporary without any hint of urban fantasy or the supernatural like Bruce & Mandy always face. But I think it's a very well crafted story about an innovative couple who intrigue me. It's scheduled for early September release, as well. Of course, I also have my first non-anthology solo release coming up in July. San Francisco Surrender is part of the Phaze Force line of HeatSheets and is also in the Umbra (dark) category.

Alessia: Of course, I encourage readers to check out all of our (and my) work. The project I'm really jazzed about at the moment is the charity anthology I'm editing -- Coming Together: For the Cure. It's got a terrific line up of 20 erotic short stories by some amazing authors. The submissions I had to turn away were terrific, too. It was the toughest decision I've had to make as an editor. Anyway, the e-release is scheduled for mid-August, print for October. All proceeds from its sale will benefit the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. And Phaze just showed its faith in me by announcing a call for submissions for another charity anthology -- Coming Together: With Pride -- which will benefit HIV/AIDS research. As Will said, I am very altruistic. I could happily spend all my time on such endeavors, but they don't pay my bills.

I'm also excited about the series Will & I just started writing. Andrea Spring, our hot-blooded protagonist, is a LOT of fun to write because she's my polar opposite in some ways ... and my mirror image in others. And, no, I'm not gonna tell you which is which. The first title in this series, Double Header, is scheduled for early October release from Phaze.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?

Will: I've always thought of myself as a poet; I wrote poetry and songs all the way back in my early high school days. I wrote for the school paper and yearbook, was Sports Editor senior year and thought about a journalism career, but real life intervened. I never tried any fiction until a few years ago, although I must say that my storytelling was honed by various things including role-playing games and an ex-girlfriend who just liked to hear me make stuff up. I told her an entire air-spun tale about an elven prince and princess that is lost forever now, since I never wrote any of it down. It will always remain hers alone, I guess.

Alessia: I first thought about it (and did it) in the fall of 2003. From the get-go, I never allowed my work to stagnate, so I started posting it to Literotica. That's where I met Will where our partnership was born. You can download our very first collaboration, a short story entitled Bleep!, free from our site. To say that writing changed my life would be the understatement of the decade. There is no aspect of my existence that hasn't been enriched by the endeavor.

I submitted my first work for professional publication in April 2005. That would be fine flickering hungers. While I was working on the manuscript for the first volume of Coming Together, a multi-author anthology, it occurred to me that I could pull all of my short stories together in the same fashion. Initially, I simply planned to self-publish a single copy as a gift for someone special, but once I got eighteen months' worth of poetry and prose wrapped up in one pretty file, I figured I didn't have anything to lose by submitting it to a publisher. I didn't tell anyone, though, 'cause I didn't want anyone to know if it was rejected. Two months later, I had a contract. That book recently won an EPPIE Award for Best Erotica and is now in print.

Will: My first submission was not my decision. Alessia wanted to do a sequel to her Shiver HeatSheet, Erotique, but the story she had in mind really needed a male perspective. She asked me to do it, and I agreed. That story became Switch. Once it was finished, she informed me she was submitting it. Given the choice between facing rejection and disappointing someone I care about, I chose the former.

Alessia: Smart man.

Will: After that, everything I submitted was co-written with Alessia until this past winter when I worked up the courage to submit Mixed Blessings and San Francisco Surrender to Phaze. Having joint work published did nothing to lessen my nerves about solo submission. I agonized over them despite the assurances of my partner that I would be fine. She was right.

What does the future hold for Will and Alessia in upcoming projects?

Will: Alessia brought up our next new direction earlier, talking about Andrea Spring. She's a strong female protagonist and very definitely a rule breaker. She is proving to be a lot of fun to write, although I can easily imagine her rebelling against us. On the solo side, I've been submitting more poetry lately and have had some picked up by Clean Sheets and Oysters & Chocolate. I also still have a half completed novel to finish, one which is mostly plotted out but keeps getting pushed back by other projects. We have two books already mapped for Andi, and we will be returning to the adventures of our couples. Bruce and Mandy from ArtiFactual have more exotic travels in their future. Kevin & Cyndi from Artistically Inclined have unfinished business, not only with each other but also because we still need to cage a few plot bunnies that got loose to nibble on our toes.

Alessia: A string of NY Times bestsellers, movie deals, and a cozy retirement. What else? I don't need a gaggle...

Will: Movies! Someday. Someday I want to write a movie. Of course, the kind of movie I want to write and direct really doesn't exist. I want to do a full budget romance that doesn't fade away when the couple starts kissing. A truly adult romantic film. I think the market may be there, but it's a hard one to peg and it's fractured. Despite recent movement in publishing, in the more action-oriented visual mediums (TV & film), eroticism and romance are still considered separate goals.

What do you find are the elements of a good story?

Alessia: First and foremost: engaging characters. Then, they must experience unusual or challenging circumstances. I think flipping those priorities has the potential to result in a flat read if the author is not a master storyteller. The world an author builds might indeed have enough of a "personality" to be considered a character in & of itself, especially with paranormal elements, but without intriguing inhabitants, it's just not worth reading about.

Will: Like she said, characters. You'll read good characters with a bad plot but the best plot fails without at least a decent protagonist. If you can achieve a minimum "investment" in your characters, then plot alone can carry you farther. But you have to have a reason for the audience to care about your plot and that only happens when they care about to whom everything is happening.

Alessia: I believe we just said the same thing. Imagine that!

Will : Imagine. Seriously, you asked me to write with you at least partially because you knew I shared that priority, so it's no surprise...

When you are not composing what kind of books do you like to read?

Will: Erotica, Fantasy & Science Fiction. Most of my to-be-read pile consists of authors I've met, though. That is not constrained by my most favored genres. Because of meeting certain writers, I've read more mysteries and thrillers in the last six months than ever before, for example.

Alessia: When I look back at the series I've re-re-re-read, they're all heavy with socio-political themes: Herbert's Dune, McCaffrey's Pern, Asimov's Foundation, Tolkien's Middle Earth, Heinlein's Long family, Anthony's Space Tyrant. See a pattern? I think it's the advocate in me, always looking at broad social mores & the forces that challenge them. Interesting, though, because each of these series seems to have begun with my secondary priority -- the world/circumstances in which the characters interact. They're not flat, though, because the authors ARE skilled storytellers and the ensemble casts are certainly memorable. I can say the same for the television/movie series that have managed to hold my attention: Star Trek, Babylon 5, FarScape, Star Wars, Firefly ...

What is the hardest part of writing and the easiest for you?

Will: The hardest part is getting started on a consistent basis and then stopping. When I get on a roll I could easily go all night, but my day job is still very much a necessity. I hate breaking off a good night to go to bed. Sometimes it is really difficult to get the words to start coming and so I hate having to stop their progress. The easiest part is that time in the middle, when the dialogue is audible and the crack of a pistol or squeal of the tires on the road sound as real as any Hollywood sound effect.

Alessia: The hardest part is actually typing the words. I've never been able to write in draft mode. My first effort is damned close to final copy. It makes for a slow process if I'm not disciplined... well, even if I am disciplined. I'm just not the type to crank out more than 1,000 words a day. The easiest part is planning & plotting.

Have you experienced writer's block? If so, how did you work through it?

Will: I'm hoping that it's like a pit stop in a NASCAR race, and that after each pause I'll take off and build back up to speed on the track. So far, I always have. Also, to carry on that analogy, I think things happen in that downtime that give you fuel to keep writing and that without the down time you would run out of gas. As far as working through it, the only thing I know to do is shift focus until I hit upon something that's speaking to me. Once I do that the momentum seems to carry over to other work.

Alessia: I think, as a writer of erotic fiction, that the best cure for writer's block is more research. Lots. More. Research. I do agree with Will about shifting focus, though. When one set of characters isn't speaking to me, I shift to others. When they're all being quiet, I turn to other pursuits. I have a budding career as a cover artist that gives me a great deal of creative fulfillment -- not quite as much as writing, but it's nice to have a fall back position.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Will: Well, it's not the money. Not that I don't want the money, or that I downplay the rush that goes along with knowing people are willing to invest something they have a limited amount of in my words. I take the need to be worthy of that investment very seriously. But at this time, it is more about the sense of accomplishment. First it was the goal of getting people to like my writing, then of getting published... now it's about increasing my readership. Because I do want to put myself in a place where writing is my job. Some people say they want to avoid that, but not me. I'll gladly take the pressure of deadlines and expectations to be able to write for a living. Besides, increased readership also increases the likelihood of my other creative craving... feedback. I still love the feedback, just like I did at the beginning. Recently I had a person whose opinion I respect tell me how she was reading a climatic scene in Mixed Blessings (from Phaze Fantasies II) and she found herself making the moves she imagined the character would be making, physically reacting to the scene. That has to be one of my greatest moments as a writer, knowing I was able to communicate it that intensely.

Alessia: Again, research. That, and the rush of touching people with my words, of evoking an emotional response and making an impression. Then there's the creative fulfillment. I'm happiest when my creative energies are engaged and the results are appreciated. That's true of any of my endeavors, whether professional or personal.

Again, I agree with Will about the responsibility of being a worthy investment of a reader's hard-earned cash -- not only from an artistic perspective but from a fiscal one as well. Writing is an art, but publishing is a business. I plan to earn a living with my art, so I can't lose sight of that fact.

Do you do most of the promoting of your books?

Will: I'm blessed to have the wonderful staff at Phaze and a wonderful co-writer, because promo can be very challenging for me. Mostly due to time, or rather the lack of it. I mean, I work a full time job (and, believe me, the next week I only put in 40 hours will be the first), I have two kids with homework & Little League, etc., and in addition to writing fiction I also write two non-fiction columns under another name. When I have the chance, I put in the time I can. I do have the edge on marketing education, and I feel like I have good instincts, but I'm very happy I have Alessia to share the burden. When I do have my chances, I try to take full advantage.

Alessia: Unlike Will, I don't punch a time clock. Or perhaps more accurately, I never punch out. I'm "merely" a work-from-home mom... and we all know that means I have tons of free time with which to fart around online and pimp our work. *rolls eyes* I won't regale you with a laundry list of my time constraints, but it's fair to say my days are quite full. I don't have Will's eau de schmooze, unfortunately. I am able to do what I do because I'm extremely organized, efficient, and skilled with time management.

However, I think promo is a challenge for all authors. Part of that is not knowing where our time, money, and energy are paying off. All we have to go by are website hit counters and aggregate sales numbers. We're all searching for that magic promo formula. Most of the online efforts are, I fear, just authors talking to one another. Sure, authors are also readers -- but not in the numbers we need in order to earn a living through book sales.

Phaze is fortunate to have a wonderful promo goddess, Crystal. How she juggles our stable of 100+ authors, sending out ARCs for review, chat schedules, setting up interviews, posting reviews, in addition to writing herself & working a full-time job is a mystery to me... but I'd love to have some of her promo mojo.

Do you have any encouraging words for up and coming writers?

Will: Keep working and please... Show somebody your work. Best friend, significant other, anybody! There are so many people out there who fill notebooks and never show another soul. I was one of them. I just got to the point where I knew some of my stuff was better than what I was reading. But just as important is the need to seek out honest opinion and real reaction. "That's great!" and "This sucks!" have one key thing in common. They are worthless when it comes to helping you improve. Find someone who can and will tell you what they like, what they hate and, if possible, why for both.

Alessia: I just answered this question earlier this week, so I'm gonna cheat and paste my answer here, too:

Proofread your shower shoes... erm, work. In the words of Crash Davis: "Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob." Don't expect an editor to punctuate your work or catch your homonymic errors. Have some respect for yourself and for your publisher/editor.

Besides this website www.alessiabrio.com, do you have any other blogs or MySpace that you would like to share?

Will: Um, I think my partner's got this one...

Alessia: Yeah *cough* just a few:

Sites: Artistically Inclined, LLP | Coming Together

MySpace profiles: Alessia | Will | Coming Together | Artistically Inclined, LLP

Blogs: Alessia | Will

Yahoo!Groups: Will | Alessia

There are also the random profiles on Ning, Bebo, Xanga, TagWorld, Yahoo!360, LiveJournal, etc. We're going for the web domination thing. Every time you turn around, one of us will be in your face -- either Will's denim clad-crotch or my "sensual, succulent, satisfying" dripping-with-eroticism, chocolate-covered cherry. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

Just for Fun: What is your favorite candy? A place you would love to visit?

Will: Sour exterior, sweet interior. I love sour candy and gummis. When it comes to chocolate, I like it dark. I also like the various Mexican candies that have some heat to them.

For a place, my first choice would be Scotland. Family and all that. After that, what interests me is history. Especially the pre-medieval periods. So I would say Rome, Jerusalem, Greece, Egypt, Macchu Picchu. The so-called ancient world, but not just limited to the "the west." India, China, Japan. It all fascinates me.

Alessia: Dark chocolate? Blech! And "heat" in candy? Um, pass. Right now, I'm stuck on these yummy vanilla caramels by Judy's Candy, but I also love the chocolate-covered raisins from The South Bend Chocolate Company. Anything from Sarris Candies is delicious, too. (All sugar-free, of course, because I'm a devout low carber. Some might say a zealot. *shrug* It works for me on so many levels.) I put all those links in there just in case someone wants to buy me treats. *grin* Ain't I sneaky?

As for a place I'd love to visit... That depends on the company. I'm quite content to hike alone in my mountains or snooze under a tree on a Jamaican beach, but if sharing my time with an adventurous companion, I want to explore places of mutual interest. I'd like to visit Easter Island with Will since we wrote about it in Amichu, one of the four novellas that comprise ArtiFactual. Mayan ruins. Egyptian pyramids. Stonehenge. The Alps. Gorky Park on ice skates. Glacier National on mountain bikes. The list is virtually endless with the right company.

Are you more of a night person or a day person? A beach person or someone who loves to be at a ski-lodge?

Will: Totally a night person. I'm allergic to mornings. Luckily, there's treatment available in the form of coffee. I do most of my best writing in the wee hours, and I've always felt like noon was just about the right time to be getting out of bed. I only get up earlier because I have no choice.

I'd have to say the ski lodge. I love skiing, although I started late and have been away for awhile what with raising a family and the costs involved. In college, I skied a lot. Mind you, I'm not hanging around the lodge. I want to be out on the slopes. I love being at the top, looking out from that great height with the air crisp in my lungs. I also love pushing myself to get better. I always felt a day of skiing where I didn't wipe-out much was wasted. Unless it was the company, of course. There are things to be said for a casual cruise with the right company. I do really adore the beach at night, though. I'm pale, and I burn in the day, so I avoid the reflection of the water and the lack of cover. But at night? With the moon reflected on the water and the line of white foam appearing in the blackness in time with the sound of the surf? I love that.

Alessia: I have the most creative energy in the mornings, but I'm certainly capable of closing down the party... again, with the right company. If I'm not stimulated by the people or the place (or if I'm feeling like a warthog), I'd rather seek a quiet space by myself or tender time with a considerate partner.

Never been skiing, although I have decorated a lodge or two in my day. Although I'm not fair-skinned like Will, I do prefer the beach at night more than during the heat of the day. I think it has more to do with the meat market atmosphere of most beaches during the day. It's the same reason I don't much care for clubs.

Will and Alessia, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend with us today. We look forward to reading your excellent books.

Will: It was great to be asked. And anyone who does read, please don't hesitate to share your thoughts! Feedback is always desirable.

Alessia: Thanks, Linda! A pleasure, as always.

Interviewed by: Linda L.

fine flickering friday

My ADD/OCD is in overdrive. I need pharmaceutical help. I doubt I'll get it, but I need it. So, I'll blog my distractions cum obsessions. (Beavis voice: I said cum. Heh heh. Heh heh.)

First, I've again been tagged on the 8 Things meme. The first time, I replied on MySpace. I totally ignored the other tags. Rude of me, I know. I have anti-social tendencies -- not to mention bitch tendencies -- and a maddeningly short attention span for fluffy stuff.

However, since I'm unable to focus on the WIP at the moment, I shall again share 8 things ... 8 ADD/OCD things. There my cooperation ends. I refuse to tag others. I'm a rebel. Deal. Here goes:

1. If I get stuck on a song (see below), I tend to play it on loop for days at a time. (I told you I needed medication, didn't I?)


2. If I get stuck on a food, I tend to eat it 3x/day for days at a time. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)


3. If I find an article of clothing I really like, I have to have one in every color -- maybe even two. (Just for backup, y'know?)


4. The collection of skin care products -- lotions, creams, oils -- in my bathroom could stock a Walgreens for several months.


5. Let's not talk about sex toys in this context, but I'm sure you can guess.


6. I go through at least one box of Ziploc bags every time I travel. Everything spillable must have it's own bag. Um, I'll also admit to occasionally even double bagging.


7. My collection of blank journals is most impressive. I can't bring myself to write in them, though, 'cause if I made a stray mark, I'd have to start over. Blank, they're pure potential ... pristine and perfect.


8. My random facts must have a theme. (There are DSM-IV diagnoses for me. That's plural: diagnoses.)

Next stop on the ADD/OCD train: I'm stuck on a song. It's looping on WMP & has been since about 6am. I love Natasha Bedingfield's voice, and there's one line of lyrics that just grabbed me and won't let go. I've got it on my MySpace profile, if you're interested in listening. Be the first to guess which line & I'll send you a signed copy of fine flickering hungers.

Moving on ...

I've been PaintShopping some of my poems -- the Hallmark-y ones. You can now buy me on postcards, greeting cards, and 11x17 posters. (See the latest on Implexity.) I have a burning desire to do more of these. It's quite *cough* distracting. However, most of my poetry is not well-suited, being fraught with more angst.

The whole graphic arts thing has me enchanted right now. (Notice the new blog banner/header up there?) The non-visually-stimulated part of my psyche is hovering between amused and annoyed.

Time for me to try to focus on the WIP. Have a fine flickering weekend, y'all.

New stuff posted

Neither piece is erotic, but I've new poetry & prose posted at Literotica. The "story" arose from a 100-word flash fiction challenge. I wrote 7 of them, then decided to glue them together with an 8th.

wither

Sum of Its Parts

Feedback welcome.

Only R?

*sigh* I'm slipping.

Author Interview

I'm interviewed today on the "Authors of MySpace" blog ...

Author: Alessia Brio

How long have you been writing, and what influenced you to get into it?

I penned my first fiction in the fall of 2003. I started writing because I couldn't find what I wanted to read on the free sites I visited online, namely well-written erotica. I started posting my stories at Literotica.com, and in less than two years, I had a publication contract. The rest, as they say, is history.

How many books have you published ?

At this writing (June 2007), I have thirteen published ebook titles. Four of those are Coming Together anthologies which I've edited. I have one title in print (fine flickering hungers), which is available from Amazon and other online booksellers. In its ebook form, it won the 2007 EPPIE Award for Best Erotica.

Have any of them been national releases, if so through which publisher?

They're all available online for purchase by any adult with Internet access anywhere in the world. Readers can find them at FictionWise, All Romance eBooks, Phaze, and Charles River Press.

What current book/books are you promoting?

I'm currently pimping ArtiFactual: Tales of the Erotique Mystique. It's a collection of four novellas written with Will Belegon about a unique sex toy shop & museum.

What projects do you have coming up in the future?

Will & I just finished a novella entitled Bound for Success that will be released in early September, and we just started working on a new series featuring a very sexually liberated woman named Andrea Spring. Double Header will be released in October, and its sequel in the spring of 2008. In addition, the print release of ArtiFactual is scheduled for September.

I'll have another volume of Coming Together released in ebook in August (and print in October) entitled For the Cure. It will benefit the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The Special Hurricane Relief Edition of Coming Together will also be released in print this fall. It benefits the American Red Cross and victims of weather-related disasters.

Amidst all that, I'm trying to find time to work on my solo projects.

What author/authors influenced you to start a writing career for yourself?

Bad ones. Seriously. I thought, "I can do better than THAT." I have, and I will continue to do so.

Are you a member of a writing group/organization?

I belong to EPIC and RWA, although I don't consider myself a "romance" writer.

What are some of your favorite hobbies other than writing?

I sew, do genealogy research, paint, and lose myself in SuDoku. And, of course, I read.

Has "The Authors of Myspace"/or Myspace itself helped you out with sales or networking/friends?

It's difficult to determine which online promotional activities are producing results. Other than website hit counters, we authors don't have much data with which to correlate our specific efforts & expenditures with sales. I'd like to think every little bit helps in some way, even if it's just increasing name recognition.

What tips do you have for beginning writers?

Proofread your shower shoes... erm, work. In the words of Crash Davis: "Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob." Don't expect an editor to punctuate your work or fix your homonymic errors.

Leave your Myspace URL below:

Alessia Brio's MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/alessia_brio
Coming Together's MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/erotic_anthology
Artistically Inclined, LLP's MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/artistically_inclined_llp

Additional Comments:

Thanks for the interview opportunity!

It's all about the focus

As a writer of erotica, I completely agree with this take on the matter by EPIC President, Brenna Lyons, on the differences between sensual romance, erotic romance, erotica, and porn (posted with permission):

What does sensual/erotic/erotica mean? It varies from person to person and company to company; there is not a standardized definition, in the publishing industry, for these terms, as much as readers and authors would like there to be one. A good portion of learning what fits a line...or which lines match your personal ideas about the terms...will come in the form of research/trial and error. When a company has a rating system, you might want to study it and start applying it to your own sensibilities.

Some companies are confusing the issue further by having lines that, for instance, state on the spine that they are erotic romance, state on their guidelines they are erotica and (in reality) accept both. This is not a good situation for readers, IMO...and there are plenty of blog posts complaining about it, as well. You see, it's not that the majority of readers of erotic romance would be offended by erotica, though some might be, since they prefer the HEA of a romance genre, which is not guaranteed in erotica. The problem is that they choose something that is REPRESENTED as what they are searching for, buy it and discover it's a bait and switch. Who would be happy about that? It is a disservice to the reader, the book and the author.

Back to the generally-accepted definitions, in most of the publishers I deal with. There are others, but we'll focus on the definitions from many indie/e-publishers. Independent press is where these genres first gained their popularity and audience. NY is the newcomer to the game, and I find their definitions range even further from the norm.

So, what is the difference? FOCUS is the important thing...and content to a lesser extent.

• Sensual Romance- Take a traditional romance that doesn't fade to black. There is sexual tension between the characters, who definitely DO consummate the relationship, at some point in the book (unlike traditional romance, which may leave the characters, before that step occurs). In a sensual romance BOOK, it is expected that consummation will occur. In a sensual romance short story, it may not. Just thought I'd make that distinction clear.
  
  Sensual books, by definition, engage the senses of the reader. You have a moderate amount of detail in the sex scene and not amorphous emotional responses to unknown stimuli, as you find in some romances. In addition, such books may contain a bit of mild BDSM/bondage play, toys, etc. Sensual romance may also include more than one sexual interest for the main character, sometimes both realized sexual partners at some point in the book, usually not consecutively in sensual books. (Think of the woman who leaves a bad relationship and enters another. Or...a woman who has two sexual interests and settles on one, but usually not sleeping with both, if it's sensual.) As stated before, the development of the romance is the central (or in the case of cross-genre, co-central) plotline. I disagree with the RWA (as per the Passionate Pen definitions) that the scenes can necessarily be removed and still have a strong book. Since all sex scenes should advance characterization and/or plot, deleting sex scenes should (theoretically) make the book weaker. HOWEVER, I do agree that the scenes in a sensual romance can often be toned down. I've recently done this, and I don't think I lost much of anything, in the bargain, because I lost detail...not emotion, not characterization, not plot. Sensual romance MUST include a HEA, unless you are writing a sensual dark romance.
  


• Erotic Romance- Erotic romance MAY include (but does not necessarily include in any given book): more frequent sex scenes than a sensual romance, more detailed sex scenes, multiple sexual partners (in the book or even at the same time...in fact, poly relationships are perfectly fine in erotic romance), harsher language/coarser language, extreme sexual play/BDSM...as long as it's consensual (it MUST be safe, sane and consensual), a more intense sexual/sensual experience. (In an erotic romance BOOK, it is expected that consummation will occur. In an erotic romance short story, it may not. Just thought I'd make that distinction clear.) An erotic romance MUST include a HEA, unless you are writing erotic dark romance. Contrary to what the RWA says, an erotic romance certainly CAN explore the sexual journey/discoveries of the individual and how that affects the individual, which they reserve for erotica. It may also explore the sexual mores and how they affect sexuality or how sexuality challenges them. This is one of the MANY reasons I think the RWA definition falls short of the reality of the offerings out there already. They are too narrow, by my estimate.
  


• Erotica- Erotica does not have the requirement of a HEA. It does not have the requirement of a romantic relationship. In fact, many erotica stories are about f**k-buddies, mistresses, BDSM trainers, one-night-stands...even complete strangers. Erotica is sex for the sake of sex and what the individuals learn/experience, not always with a mind to the repercussions of said acts. It might be about the sexual discovery, the sexual journey, the challenge of sexual mores and expectations... It might simply be someone with a need to experience, to break out, etc. It depends on the needs of the plot and characters. Again, the sex scenes should serve a purpose. They should advance characterization and/or plot. They should be safe, sane and consensual. A modicum of respect between the characters is my personal rule, but some "erotica publishers" don't expect it. I do.
  
  Now, let me go back a moment. Erotica doesn't require a romance, but if it had one, some people would assume that would make it erotic romance. Wrong. Why? The proof is in the focus. Is the focus ON the relationship, as explored through sexuality? You have erotic romance. Is the focus on the sexual discovery, from which a romantic involvement evolves? You have erotica.
  


• Porn- When you leave SSC behind...or respect...or sex scenes that serve a purpose and advance plot/characterization... When you sacrifice plot and characterization to "stroke fiction"... At that point, you delve into my personal definition of porn. You don't have to do all of them to accomplish that switch.
  

~ ~ ~

Fantasies I Reviewed at Erotica Revealed

Fantasies I: Four Tales of Erotic Fiction
By Alessia Brio, Leigh Ellwood, Bridget Midway, and Ann Regentin
Phaze
ISBN: 1-59426-556-9
March, 2007

Review by Lisabet Sarai

Short stories can be frustrating. Just when you're getting interested in the characters, really eager to discover what happens next, the story ends. Sometimes, too, a short tale can produce sexual frustration; there's rarely enough space for more than one steamy scene, and who can really be satisfied with just one?

Fantasies I, an eBook published by Phaze, offers a solution. This volume is comprised of four multi-chapter erotic novellas, each about sixty pages long, by four woman authors. Each can be read in a single sitting; each offers a generous helping of sexual shenanigans along with more plot and character development than could be crammed into the word limits of a typical short story.

Alessia Brio leads off with "¡Pura Vida!", a sizzling exploration of polyamorous, pansexual relationships. Charlie hasn't seen Stormy in a while, but has white-hot memories of their previous encounters. When his travel business brings him to Costa Rica to consult with Stormy about an advertising campaign, she meets Charlie at the airport with her handsome Latin assistant Pietro in tow. She makes it clear that Pietro is her lover as well as her business associate, but that doesn't bother Charlie - if anything, he finds it exciting. He's used to sexual groupings that are flexible with regard to both gender and partners, since his company back in the States is made up of individuals who tend to mix business with pleasure. In the course of this story, we don't meet Jess or Sam, while Mia and Richard are just voices on the phone, but we're told that:

"If intimacy was the sun, they orbited it like planets – each independent, but influenced by the pull of the others...While their interactions might seem seedy and tabloid-worthy to the unfamiliar, within their ranks they functioned much like a Heinlein family."

The reference here, of course, is to Heinlein's classic exposition of free love, Stranger in a Strange Land.

Stormy, Charlie and Pietro embark on a quest that takes them through the exotic landscapes of Costa Rica, trying to capture the essence of what makes the country so special as a travel destination. At the same time, they explore the sexual territory of their mutual interactions. Ms Brio treats the reader to a variety of couplings and menagés, including an intelligent, realistic and arousing scene in which Charlie and Pietro help Stormy to truly release control and simply allow her body to react. The tale climaxes with an incandescent male-male scene that is no less intense for its inevitability.

I grew up with Heinlein. I find nothing sexier than mixed gender, multi-person menagés, where inhibitions and prejudices drop away and nobody is jealous because everyone is sexually and emotionally satisfied. Hence, Ms Brio’s story strongly appealed to me. However, I felt that it suffered from excessive description and too much backstory.

Costa Rica provides an appropriately exotic backdrop for this amorous tale. Sometimes though, the author seems to forget that this is just the setting. I think she's personally in love with the place, and it shows. However, I occasionally found myself getting annoyed at all the cultural details. I wanted to focus on the action.

This story is clearly part of a series involving the same characters. There are too many references to these past adventures, including allusions to events that seem irrelevant to the current tale. It may be that Ms Brio is trying to influence her readers to go back and read the other installments. Personally, though, I think this made the current story less coherent and compelling.

The second tale in Fantasies I is Leigh Ellwood's "Midnight Passions". Colleen is a divorced single mother who's trying to balance her own sexual needs with the desire to be a responsible parent to her pre-teen daughter. Her self-centered boyfriend Daryl doesn't make life any easier, but he turns Colleen on so much that she doesn't dare to complain. She endures his crassness and sexual selfishness, until the night she discovers that he's also seeing other women. As she tries to throw him out, her rented duplex begins to rattle and shake and the air is filled with a menacing voice, ordering Daryl to leave. He scuttles away, terrified, clutching his jeans in front of his genitals.

Naked and dazed, Colleen steps out onto her front porch to survey the damage from what she supposes is an earthquake. But all is quiet. Just as she realizes that anyone in the neighborhood can see her nude body, her neighbor and landlord, Professor Spence, steps up and offers her a luxurious satin robe to cover herself. Thus begins a series of erotic surprises that ultimately bring Colleen more love and fulfillment than she had ever dreamed of.

The delightful and unexpected twists in this story are one of its best points, so I won't spoil the experience by revealing any more of the plot. All I'll say is that it involves literature, magic, and lots of sex. "Midnight Passions" turns out to be a genuinely fantastical story. The outrageous events later in the story, and its sexy fairy tale resolution, contrast sharply with the painfully mundane but realistic description of Colleen's relationship with Daryl. In fact, if I hadn't been working on a review, I might have given up the story in the face of Daryl's churlishness and Colleen's insecurity. They were just too real to be enjoyable. I'm glad that I kept reading.

"Service Recall" by Bridget Midway is the third story in this collection. This is more of a conventional romance; an impoverished, discouraged and sex starved divorceé meets the man of her dreams when she calls for a plumber to unplug her sink. Although this is familiar territory, the story is engaging and well written. Unfashionably voluptuous Carla is convincingly needy but has a bit of sass. Duke is competent, solid and warm, middle-aged attractive and believably unsure of himself. Their torrid couplings will raise your temperature, and you're guaranteed to despise cruel and sarcastic Roy (Carla's ex) and the cold, upwardly mobile Allyson (Duke's previous girlfriend).

The final tale in this volume is Ann Regentin's "Midnight Conversations". Although it includes romantic elements, this story is also a beautifully crafted exploration of individual and societal attitudes toward sex, as well as a sensitive portrayal of the effects of emotional abuse.

The story begins in the middle of a conversation between two unidentified voices:

"'He was amazing in bed. That's why I married him.'"

"'Tell me,' I said. I needed to hear as much as she needed an audience."

The story of seduction continues, the speaker and the listener both find release, and we still do not know the participants in this conversation.

Gradually Ms Regentin reveals the truth about the voices, ghosts in a house left vacant for thirty years because of its haunting. Little by little we get to know the narrator Cass, a frightened and angry woman pursued by her own ghosts. As Cass works on the old house, strips the wallpaper away and rips up linoleum to expose hardwood floors, we slowly learn more about Cass and her past and why it is so difficult for her to trust anyone. Meanwhile, the ghosts converse with her in the night, sharing their experiences of sexual highs and lows: audacious seductions, impossible attractions, extramarital affairs and forbidden loves.

Gradually, too, Tristan Millman, the former owner of the house who originally refused to sell it to her, woos Cass, tries to show her how the future could be different from the past. She resists him every step of the way, despite being drawn to his generosity, calmness and self-confidence. The story is over before the two of them actually climb into bed together. Still the growth of their mutual attraction mirrors the intensity of Cass' midnight conversations, and the result is a story at least as arousing as the three more explicit tales that precede it.

Together, the four tales in Fantasies I offer a welcome relief from short story frustration. I look forward to reading other offerings from Phaze.

Join Will & me at CTR!

We're featured throughout the month of June in the Coffee Time Romance Reader's Retreat. C'mon over for a cuppa & check out what's happening in our worlds.

Free @ Phaze

My short story entitled Pantheism 101: Sexual Synæsthesia is now available as a Phaze Flare (which means it's FREE). It will also appear in the Spring 2007 issue of The Shadow Sacrament.

BLURB:

Sensuality surrounds us--in the air we breathe and the earth beneath our feet. We need only open our selves to the magic. Let Alessia take you on a spiritual journey of erotic exploration.

Now, concentrate!

Yours truly is one of the 18 tiles featured in today's Concentration game at LinkTiles. Have fun!

Stock Up Sale!

A few of the good things about an ebook TBR stack are that: (a) you don't have to dust it, (b) its presence on your nightstand doesn't constantly remind you that there aren't enough hours in the day, (c) your visiting pastor can't see your collection of smut, and (d) you can take it with you wherever you go.

And now -- Yes, right NOW -- at FictionWise, you can beef up your ebook library with all the titles you've been wanting at a 25% discount! Everything's on sale "for a limited time," and that includes my stuff.

"Time Warp" gets the WHOLE bottle!

Wilga Hill Boomerang of Cocktail Reviews gave my Phaze Fury the highest possible rating! Check it out:

This review isn’t going to give much away about the plot as it will spoil it for readers. I will admit, when I began to read Time Warp, finding out that Alex is married to Dan, that they were about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, I winced just a little bit at picking a book to read that seemed too peachy, too ‘Alex’s world is wonderful’ for my current mood. It then becomes apparent that things aren’t so ‘cute’.

Scene one: Time Warp begins with Alex making preparations for her first wedding anniversary. All seems wonderful, peachy…

Scene Two: Same scene start, subtle differences. I liked those. Third anniversary, not first. And the small things that creep into a relationship once it begins to age are shown well here.

And then the shocker…

Littered with lines from the song The Time Warp, which, I might add, lends an incredibly creepy/Alex is whacko feel to the whole story, I could NOT put this book down.

Favourite line that had me laughing along with Alex in an insane manner, my eyes narrowed with the excitement and spite of retribution as if I myself were Alex: She chuckled and sang, “That really drives you insa-a-a-a-a-ane.”

I will say no more, except that if you like revenge stories, this is the one for you. If you want to see a deranged woman in action, doing everything you wished you could do to your ex partner, read this.

It makes you feel as if you’ve actually done it. Most satisfying.

Big smile.

Vote for Time Warp as June's Book of the Month!

From the Phaze News list:

EPPIE-winning author, Alessia Brio, has a book in the running for book of the month on Sensual Reads and Reviews! Please vote for her "Time Warp" for June's Book of the Month! And spread the word!

Here's a blurb:

Dan doesn't appreciate Alex any longer, and Alex just does not appreciate Dan's infidelity. When cunning and creativity combine in a woman scorned, revenge turns criminally delicious. Who's really the guilty party in this twisted tale of torment?

Vote for June's Book of the Month

Time Warp by Alessia Brio

Um, yeah -- I removed all the other options. You're gonna have to go HERE if you want to vote against me.

We have a winner!

On Saturday afternoon, my book trailer for fine flickering hungers won a Cameo Award in the Amateur Division. Yay, me! Check out the video HERE.

RRT Reviews ArtiFactual

ARTIFACTUAL is a highly entertaining erotic tale about a pair of likable people and a very unusual erotic shop and museum. The sex is sizzling, the dialogue witty and the character interaction charming. Watching the relationship unfold between Mandy and Bruce from a close friendship in Erotique, to a completely committed couple in Closing Arguments is the best part of the anthology. However, the evolving mystery about Aunt Vivian, Erotique, the shop, and the "haunted" sexual apparatuses in the museum is just as enjoyable. Secondary characters are not really present in the first two stories, but Professor Eddie features prominently in Amichu and Closing Arguments, and Aunt Vivian may be dead, but she's never really far away. While the sex is hot in each story, the last two tales focus more on plot and characterization than on sex -- my favorite of them all is Switch. It was fun, different and extremely sensual.

ARTIFACTUAL is an enjoyable collection of stories about a couple who are realistically and lovingly portrayed with enough sizzling sex to please any reader. Don't miss this fun and sexy read.

Isabelle Spencer

Read the entire review HERE.

Third Time's the Charm

Mrs. Giggles reviews Coming Together v3:

I can see that many of the contributors in Coming Together: An Erotic Cocktail Volume 3 are familiar since they also did their thing in the previous two volumes of this charity anthology series. I suppose by now I can easily skip those that I know will be pretentious literary-erotica wannabe stories but of course, being the genteel person that I am, I will endeavor to be fair and give them my due attention during my reading.

Like the previous volumes, this was previously self-published via Cafépress and is revised this time around with some stories in the previous edition removed and replaced by different stories due to copyright reasons. Oh, and Jess Malarkey opting to be called such this time around instead of "Rumple Foreskin". I suppose it's much more enjoyable to brag to a bunch of charming young folks at the local Starbucks, "I, Jess Malarkey, handsome and debonair author of literary erotica (check out my charming Johnny Depp style goatee), am a published author!" instead of "You know, I am a published author, I really am - just check out the works of Rumple Foreskin, which is my pseudonym... hey, where are you guys running off to? I thought we are all going to my place to read pseudointellectual poetry together?"

Guys and gals, choose your published pseudonym wisely. You never know when it will show up to haunt you.

And finally, all proceeds from sales are, as usual, going to the Electronic Frontier Foundation so it is always a nice thing to purchase this anthology even if the phrase "Rumple Foreskin" no longer shows up in this version of the anthology.

This collection kicks off with Alessia Brio's poem Someone. It probably reflects my own failing here but I have a great time screeching this one aloud in my Natalie Wood on helium mode to the tune of Somewhere from that musical West Side Story.

This one sets off the tone of the collection. This anthology is so much more enjoyable than the dire second volume for both right and wrong reasons. There are more enjoyable tales of smut here that actually have sex, a concept that seems bewilderingly alien in the second volume, and the bad ones are comical rather than excruciating to read while the good ones are, well, good. I can't review all the stories in this collection so I'll just mention the ones I find memorable for various reasons.

I really like Encore by Dave Edgar, a charming little story of outdoor sex and adultery. It will be even better if everyone gets together for a massive outdoor orgy but maybe that's for another day. Web pornographer Vassily in Anna Lyzer's Creativity In The Flesh is such an adorable brute as he teaches an employee how to get the better of a haughty woman who undermined his authority. He's not handsome but he has this irresistibly nasty and politically incorrect air about him that makes him a compelling character. The always charmingly nom-de-plumed Alex de Kok offers a story of teenagers losing their virginities together just in time for college in Take Me By Surprise. This is a sweet love story that makes a nice contrast to some of the naughtier stuff going on in other stories. The sex is too unrealistically prolonged (not to mention too perfect) to me, especially for a first time thing, but still, this one isn't too bad.

Sarah Rose's His Toy Story has a wife surprised and later intrigued by the realization that her husband, which is stereotypically macho and masculine in every way, has a secret yearning to be sodomized by a woman. What is a loving wife to do other than to bring out the strap-on? This one is a very nice balance of rough spicy language and tenderness that reflects very well on how much fun the two are having. It's sexy and fun at the same time, the way things should be. 4degrees' Does Not Do Well is seriously twisted in a fiendish but fun way as our main character is stuck with a brother who is a chronic masturbator in public situations. The brother in question whips out his big buddy when they are trapped in a restaurant while a crazy fellow is shooting at all of them, would you believe it? Our hero can't believe it either but he has to lend a hand, he suppose. AB Guye's Second Chances is a sweet if rather familiar story of two men meeting long after having graduated from high school only to learn that the apparently straight guy is gay and available so it's time to party.

Will Amado's The Blow Job is an interesting and even sensual rambling of a man's thoughts on giving head. Elizabeth McKenna's Private Property: No Trespassing has a familiar premise - reclusive woman meets hot guy skinny-dipping - but the end result is a story that is scorching hot yet sweetly romantic in the most unexpected ways. I think it's my favorite story of the bunch here.

Rumple Foreskin, I mean, Jess Malarkey continues to adventures of the Calamity Jane of sex, Angie, in Angie's Waterfall Woes. I find the previous installment trying too hard to be a script for a Farrelly Brothers movie and I have the same feeling about this one. The funniest thing about this Calamity Jane story would have been the part where it says, most appropriately right below Angie's Waterfall Woes in the header, "By Rumple Foreskin". "By Jess Malarkey" doesn't have the same effect. On the other hand, Rideme Cowgirl gets it right as Anal Sex Is For Buttholes, an account of a painful accident indeed, is too hilarious for words. It has me laughing out loud, which is heartless of me as the main characters are in such pain and humiliation when they are done.

Sherry Hawk offers The Warrior, in which our heroine Sherry Hawk (no, really, this is a third-person story) offers me plenty of Native American mumbo-jumbo but not enough smut to go along with it. How does this story end up in this collection? Where is the sex? I want Pocahontas Gone Wild, not this... whatever this is. I have no idea what shereads' A Walker's Guide To Gulf Stream is doing here. It's about a woman learning to dive in the sea, I think. What this has to do with eroticism, I have no idea. Maybe shereads is taking the whole concept of "intellectual erotica" to unheard-of heights. "Ooh, the sand burps up a stingray! Omigosh, my brain is having an orgasm! Oh, oh, oh!"

Burps aside, Coming Together: An Erotic Cocktail Volume 3 is such a vast improvement that I believe it is actually the best of the three volumes in the series so far. The good stories are really enjoyable while the bad ones are good for a laugh and fortunately few in number. Third time is really the charm, it seems.

Rating: 86

Giggles Not Amused

ArtiFactual is a collection of the authors' previous standalone short stories featuring the Energizer-powered lovebirds Mandy and Bruce: Erotique, Switch, and Amichu. Also included is a brand new story, Closing Arguments. Needless to say, I strongly recommend purchasing this collection instead of the individual stories if you are new to the enthusiastic shagbunny adventures of Mandy and Bruce since you'll be getting more value for money here. Oh, and I finally learn Mandy's full name here - Amanda Long.

This review will be solely on Closing Arguments since the other stories are already previously reviewed. I'm hoping that it will take off where Amichu ends but somehow we've moved forward and now our lovebirds are facing some legal issues. A "holier-than-thou bitch" Mary Elizabeth Snow bought a dildo from their store and is now suing them because the dildo apparently not only didn't do its job, it also "impaired her fertility" and "ruined her marriage prospects". I wonder how that dildo was used until it damaged her ovaries. Do I even want to know? That's just the tip of the iceberg for this story which is longer than the other stories. There are ghosts and more revelations about the late Aunt Viv's life and loves plus the introduction of some new friends. Contrary to its title, I don't think I will see the last of Mandy and Bruce after this story.

As much as I find Closing Arguments a more substantial story, plot-wise, I am quite disappointed in how tame it is compared to the earlier adventures of Mandy and Bruce in Erotique and Switch. These two characters are still rather superficial and I don't know much about them to comment on them as characters even after four stories so I'm afraid all that backstory and new revelations in Closing Arguments bore me considerably since I hardly know Bruce and Mandy to begin with (I don't even know Mandy's full name until now!) so I am not entirely too concerned about their lives outside the bedroom.

If the authors want to have a more "plot-oriented" direction for future Bruce and Mandy stories, I think they probably should take some time in a future book to flesh out Bruce and Mandy by giving them a deeper backstory each as well as more discernible personalities so that readers like me will have an easier time getting into their stories. The first two books in the series are slanted towards eroticism and I suspect the eroticism is why readers would want to follow the series. Ms Brio and Mr Belegon need to have something good to keep these readers reading and the main characters being nice and happy people aren't enough in this case to be much of a hook where I am concerned.

I've simply added up the collective grades of the three previously reviewed books and my score for Closing Arguments and use the average as the score for this book. This gives ArtiFactual a final rating of 67.

Romance Galleria Cameo Awards

fine flickering hungers

On the other hand ...

On the same day as Mrs. Giggles' less-than-stellar review of Time Warp, my twisted tale of revenge gets a recommended read from Joyfully Reviewed! There is balance in my universe.

Tera says:

I loved Time Warp! I cannot stress enough how much I loved this book. Alessia did a great job with this one. And no, it’s not just because The Rocky Horror Picture Show is my favorite movie of all time. But sadly, I can’t say too awful much about the plot, or I’ll give the story away. And being blind going in to it and finding out what happens is what makes this a great read. The ending was phenomenal and I loved what Alex did. She’s a woman after my own heart. This one is definitely going on my “Read Again and Again” shelf!!

Aunty Giggles reviews "Time Warp"

Time Warp is not a paranormal shagfest inspired by too many bad Star Trek episodes and even more vodka, in case you're wondering. The title directly refers to the song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show that Daniel Gallagher was dancing to when Alex, our heroine, first met him seven years ago and indirectly a play on the fact that the first anniversary dinner is a blissful moment for the two of them while the current anniversary dinner, despite some deliberate similarities to that in the first year, is far from magical. Today, the marriage is over but Alex invites Dan for one special anniversary dinner. For old time's sake, of course. Hey, is that the theme song for that old TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents playing in the background?

Time Warp is one of the first two stories that kick off Phaze's Fury line, which is a revenge-themed line of short stories. Talk about spoiling the fun a little because revenge isn't just best served cold, it's should be sprung on both the victim and the reader without advance notice. The fact that this story is published under the Fury imprint robs it of most of its suspense. At any rate, I'm not going to spoil this story any more than I probably have already, although you can probably guess by now that Alex is going to sic it real good on Dan.

I can actually see the twist at the end coming from a mile away but I must say, I do have a chuckle at the over-the-top crazy antics of Alex in this story. This story is really too short to offer anything more than a revenge fantasy, so it's not as if I can say much about it here. However, the storyline in Time Warp is very dependent on catching the reader by surprise due to its straightforward nature that leaves not much room for twists and other surprises. With Phaze putting out this story under its revenge fantasy imprint, half the pleasure from being surprised is already gone before the party has ever started.

Time Warp is a quick read that is easy to read and forget. However, if you want ideas on getting back at that ex-boyfriend or ex-husband, you can probably do worse than investing $2.00 on this story.

Rating: 56

Butterfly

I am thrilled to announce that my story, Butterfly, has received an honorable mention in Desdmona's Titillating Tattoo Story Contest! Click HERE to read it.

Yeah, baby! Yeah!

Two Releases Today!

ArtiFactual: Tales of the Erotique Mystique
ISBN 1-59426-908-4

Together in one volume, Phaze is proud to present the Tales of the Erotique Mystique. From the incredible writing team of Alessia Brio and Will Belegon comes a vivid collection of stories of passion, adventure, and exotic toys. ArtiFactual includes Phaze favorites "Erotique," "Switch" (a P&E Readers Poll Winner!), "Amichu," and a never-before-published novella, "Closing Arguments," in the continuing adventures of the playful and sexy couple, Amanda Long and Bruce Winfield.

Coming soon to print.

Length: Eclipse
Rating: Nova - 4 (includes scenes of violence and some F/F scenes)





Time Warp
ISBN 1-59426-522-4

A Phaze Fury/Umbra Release!

Dan doesn't appreciate Alex any longer, and Alex just does not appreciate Dan's infidelity. When cunning and creativity combine in a woman scorned, revenge turns criminally delicious. Who's really the guilty party in this twisted tale of torment?

Length: HeatSheet
Rating: Nova/Umbra - 5

You can also pick up these and my other titles at FictionWise

Sensual Reads Reviews "Time Warp"

"Time Warp," my Phaze Fury HeatSheet, and the first release in its new Umbra (dark) line, received 5 Roses from Crystal at Sensual Reads & Reviews:

Time Warp is a surprising and erotic story. Alessia Brio knows how to write a story about revenge. She has nailed this one perfectly. If I went through what Alex did, I would plan the same thing. This is a must read for everyone.

CTR Reviews "Time Warp"

Caro from Coffee Time Romance had this to say about my Phaze Fury HeatSheet "Time Warp" (which will be released on Sunday) ...

Ms Brio has written an illuminatingly dark tale of fury. Time Warp, as part of Phaze's new Umbra (dark) line, nurtures fantasy within all who have been betrayed by those once loved and trusted. This is not a romance; it is instead a tale amply showing that hell hath no fury... Sometimes, revenge is not best served cold! Sometimes, in our fantasies at least, revenge burns hotter than love ever did. Beware the sizzle of this erotic yet thought provoking tale.

A New Interview & A New (Free!) Story

The kids are off school this week for spring break, and it's putting a real damper on my focus for writing. Fortunately, I've lots of cover art assignments, promo for the upcoming releases of "Time Warp" and ArtiFactual, and preparations for the rapidly-approaching Romantic Times Convention to keep me busy while the little distractions are being... well, distracting.

Up today on The Blushing Ladies Journal is my interview by Gracie Passette: If Love Is Blind, What Are Romance and Arousal?

... and ...

Over at Oysters & Chocolate, you can read my sexy little vignette entitled Listen To Me in the April issue. And it's FREE! I love the artwork O&C posted with it, too >>>

Check 'em out! Then, lemme know your thoughts.

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

On my knees

Okay, I'm not too proud to beg for votes. *grin* Yours truly is nominated (for the second consecutive year) as Literotica's Most Influential Writer under my Lit-o-nym "impressive." I would be much obliged if you'd toss your vote my way. You must be registered with Literotica in order to vote, but it's free (and I promise you won't get any SPAM).

While you're there, be sure to give my partner some love, too! He has a character nominated as Sexiest Male Character in a Literotica Story.

RT Review of ArtiFactual

ARTIFACTUAL: TALES OF THE EROTIQUE MYSTIQUE
by Alessia Brio and Will Belegon

These four stories follow the main characters as they discover the amazing time-travel properties of sexual artifacts, where they participate in consensual bondage, same-gender sex, masturbation and much oral sex. This fascinating premise is disappointingly undeveloped and the last story presents an anti-morality message that has the heroine appearing mean-spirited.

—Susan Mobley

Now at FictionWise!

Excerpt: Time Warp

Alex bounced down the stairs and into the kitchen just in time to see the final seconds tick off the oven's timer. Hair and make-up were complete, but she still wore her old fuzzy bathrobe. She'd get dressed as soon as the meal preparations were complete rather than risk a spill on her new outfit. Whistling, she donned the oven mitts and extracted the Bundt pan, carefully lowering it into a shallow bowl of cold water. It hissed momentarily as the change in temperature halted the baking process, and Alex jerked her head to the side to avoid the rising steam.

"It's astounding. Time is fleeting," she sang.

Dan would be home in about an hour, and she still had much to do. Their third anniversary celebration was going to be extra special: traditional, yet new and exciting.

As Alex began to prepare the cake's black icing, the Rocky Horror DVD on the kitchen table caught her eye. Pity that none of the nearby cinemas were playing the classic film at midnight. She recalled the first time she'd laid eyes on Dan as he did the Time Warp in the aisle of the old Warner Theater downtown. Perhaps "love at first sight" was a bit cliché, but in Dan's case, she believed it. Seven years later, her feelings for him had only deepened.

He'd had to extricate himself from his first marriage before they could be together openly, and that took considerable time and energy. It wasn't easy on either of them. Fortunately, the ex-Mrs. Goody-Two-Shoes, Beth, didn't make much of a fuss. Alex despised her graciousness while at the same time appreciating the qualities that made her such a sweet little doormat.

"Madness...takes its toll."

Halloween became "their" holiday. So much so, that they even married at the stroke of midnight on November first after a night of revelry, with the reception preceding, rather than following, the ceremony. Friends loved it. Family thought it way weird. Neither Alex nor Dan cared.

This year, rather than pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters then hit a rowdy costume party, Alex planned a much quieter anniversary celebration at home. A shiver passed through her as she anticipated Dan's surprise. Her outfit alone would shock him to the core. The third was traditionally the leather anniversary, after all.

"But listen closely...not for very much longer..."

Alex spread the thick, black icing over the cake and topped it with a few dozen orange candied spiders. Setting the dessert aside, she turned her attention to the rest of the meal. Nothing fancy, just their favorites. Once everything was ready, she dashed up the stairs to finish her preparations, still singing.

The black leather corset and miniskirt cost a small fortune, but Alex splurged anyway. They'd only ever have one leather anniversary, and she wanted to make sure Dan never forgot it. Even her lace undergarments were trimmed in leather, although red rather than black. She was nothing if not thorough. The matching fingerless opera gloves topped her ensemble, and Alex paused before the mirror only long enough to make sure her décolletage was evenly overflowing.

"I've got to...keep control."

Descending the stairs—slower this time due to the spike-heeled Morgan black Victoriana lace-up leather boots—she saw the splash of headlights across the window as Dan's car pulled into the driveway. With a grin, she lit the black pillar candles on the dining room table and dimmed the lights. She waited until she heard him come in the side door and put his briefcase on the counter before moving toward the kitchen.

Schweet!

Little things often make my day ... like finding this on All Romance eBooks:

And the EPPIE goes to ...

If I don't do this right now, before I pack up the laptop & head for the closing breakfast here at EPICon, it'll be just one of many more things to tackle when I get home this evening ... after a 7 hour drive ... after two previous nights of less than 4 hours' sleep ... after the adrenaline is gone ...

The Pink Banana

Well, we didn't sign many books last night, but we had a good time ... and yours truly dropped a chunk of change on lingerie. *blush*

Shara Lanel posted this pix from the signing on her blog:


That's yours truly in black.

Greetings from EPICon

When I catch my breath, I'll tell you what a rush it is to have Sherrilyn Kenyon ask for your card!

Fantasies I

Phaze Fantasies, Vol. I
by Alessia Brio, Leigh Ellwood, Bridget Midway and Ann Regentin
March, 2007
ISBN 1-59426-556-9

Four tales of erotic fiction by four Phaze favorites! Alessia Brio continues the Costa Rican adventure that launched fine flickering hungers, her 2007 EPPIE Finalist for Best Erotica. Bridget Midway shines with "Service Recall," a tale of relationship rebound done right. Leigh Ellwood opens the door to a magical menagé in "Midnight Passions." And Ann Regentin's "Midnight Conversations" explores the sexual memories of a fixer-upper's past occupants.

Length: Quasar (Anthology - 94,000 words)
Rating: Nova - 5 (Stories include scenes of MMF and MFM sex)

Sexography Reviews ArtiFactual

Carrie White, of Sexography, reviews Artifactual: Tales of the Erotique Mystique:

With the obvious success of the erotic adventures of Bruce and Mandy, Alessia Brio and Will Belegon have really pulled out all the stops to round this collection off perfectly. The newest addition to this series, Closing Arguments, is much longer than the rest but, I feel, is by far the best of the bunch.

Hauntings, erotic, passionate scenes and intrigue are just a few of the treats awaiting you from one of the finest writer collaborations in the Erotic genre.

RT Review of Phaze Fantasies I

Fantasies I will be released on 5 March:

CTR Reviews "Artistically Inclined"

Coffee Time Romance had some really nice things to say about Artistically Inclined:

The first two pages immediately draw you in and hook you. The description of the art and the feeling Cyndi has while painting it are vibrant and colorful. The reader can practically feel the passion she has for her work, and particularly this piece. Bring in the Alpha male and you have a passionate explosion worthy of reading time and time again. This story will definitely not leave you wanting for anything. The sex is exhilarating, but tastefully done at the same time.

New Reviews at FAR

Amanda H. from Fallen Angel Reviews had some really nice things to say about our recent and upcoming releases:

"What a fantastically fun read. San Diego Sunset was definitely not what I expected when I first started reading it; although I should have known it would be amazing with authors Alessia Brio and Will Belegon. Everything these two write together is outstanding. Somehow, they always manage to keep their stories and characters fresh and full of fun."








"Hold onto your seats ladies and gentlemen, we have lift off! What an energetic, engaging, passionate, lust-filled story. Authors Alessia Brio and Will Belegon are amazing together. I loved Cyndi and Kevin. Both of these characters came from bad previous relationships and were willing to do anything to be creative and keep this new relationship on fire. Everything about Artistically Inclined was superb, from the characters and the plot to the hot and heavy sex scenes. I cannot wait to read more from these two amazing authors."

And, with regard to our Mandy & Bruce anthology which contains the previously published stories (Erotique, Switch, and Amichu) plus a brand new story (Closing Arguments) that's longer than the earlier three combined: "If you’re looking for a collection of stories with the same characters throughout with a ton of crazy sex with items you’ve probably never even thought of, then this story is definitely for you. However, I do suggest buying this whole collection instead of each individual book..."

NOTE: Previous FAR reviews of a couple of the stories in ArtiFactual: Erotique and Switch.

Whoop!

We SO rock!

Giggling

Mrs. Giggles reviewed Amichu. I'm not gonna comment about the review itself on this blog. If you wanna read my thoughts, pop on over to MySpace.

Amichu is the latest sexual adventure of Mandy and Bruce (Erotique, Switch). Well, after experiencing their body switch, they've now switched back into their old bodies again for an adventure to Rapa Nui to collect an artefact, a "huamanga carving", for their antique shop Erotique. As you can predict, these two spend most of their journey on their back.

Perhaps it is tough to follow up to a body switch act, but nonetheless Amichu is a disappointing story. The sex scenes are pretty mundane when I'm expecting the authors to at least incorporate some wild conga jungle monkey sex here or there. In fact, the story ends when our boinking twosome reach their destination so the story is less exotic that I'm led to believe. I'm hoping for more erotic jungle fever moments like Ms Brio has offered me in her collection of short stories fine flickering hungers but Amichu, at only 30 pages, is just begging me to ask in a most sarcastic manner, "Why is this short little thing even published in the first place?"

The sex isn't as good as that in the previous book and the story is actually half a story since it ends abruptly as if it's initially meant to be a part of a longer story. I believe these two authors are actually some of the few romantic erotica authors capable of writing erotic stories that actually make me curl my toes so it is a waste if they insist on putting out half-baked stories like Amichu. Why not wait a while to expand the story a little more and then publish it? Maybe Mommy needs new shoes, I suppose. I understand that the authors and Phaze have plans to package all the boinkersome adventures of Paul [sic] and Mandy into one collection. I'd suggest that people wait for that collection to come out instead of paying for something as short and unsatisfyingly truncated as Amichu.

Rating: 51

Promo Flyer

An EPICon Event Announcement

Phaze's Rad 80s Party!

Break out your Jordache jeans, high-top Reeboks and flourescent clothes! Phaze, the erotic imprint of Mundania Press, LLC, is taking you back to the 1980s with their Rad 80s Party complete with food and drinks, a cash bar, a DJ spinning all of the old 80s tunes, and gift baskets and prizes for lucky attendees! The party will be March 10th at 9:30 p.m. directly after the EPPIES awards banquet at the Surfside Inn at 1211 Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Come dressed to impress in your best 80s-era gear. During the party, Phaze will unveil their newest find, the Phaze Phenom, the new face of Phaze. Authors, be ready. Along with the unveiling, Phaze will announce a special contest. Get a jump on the competition by being on the groundfloor when the announcement is made!

So come join the fun. The party is free and open to the public, however conference and/or banquet attendees will have a guaranteed spot in the party. Don't wait! The last day to register for the conference is February 15th, and the last day to purchase tickets to attend just the banquet is February 22nd! For more information on the conference and the hotel, go to http://www.epic-conference.com

Mrs. Giggles Reviews "Artistically Inclined"

I suppose we were due for a spanking from Mrs. Giggles. However, I can't help but be amused by her criticisms of Artistically Inclined:

Do take note that Artistically Inclined was published only a few months ago by Venus Press and the authors have merely switched book publisher after Venus Press starts experiencing perplexing mysterious issues like telephones and emails that never work without making any changes to the story.

In our story, Cyndi is in a relationship with Kevin. She's an artist while he sells sport equipment and all, so this could either end up in pieces or work beautifully to the grand finish. Currently, however, she feels that their sex life has fallen into a rut and, inspired by a sexy work she's been working on for an anonymous client, she decides to spice up things between her and Kevin this Valentine's day. They will exchange a list of five sexual fantasies and if they have any same sexual fantasy in their lists, they'll do that one come Valentine's Day. Boy, this could be asking for trouble, especially if the other person comes up with a list that includes not just his ex-girlfriend or Dakota Fanning but also his mother, the family bulldog, or something he's seen in a Japanese dirty cartoon involving tentacles.

Artistically Inclined is not a bad read at all but I feel that the payoff isn't as good as the build-up. For one, I'm intrigued by the painting Cyndi did since it was supposed to be sexy while at the same time fit for display in, say, a church or in a school. What is it that she ends up painting, I wonder? Also, the story has Cyndi thinking about how she'll only let Kevin do the backdoor thing to her if he's willing to take it backdoor as well or how Karen, Kevin's secretary, has a thing for Cyndi so I'm really looking forward for all kinds of mind-boggling permutations and combinations one can have for two guys and two gals in a bisexual free-for-all. However, the payoff is pretty mundane in comparison to the build-up since the sexual fantasy Kevin and Cyndi opt to carry out doesn't even cover a fraction of such possibility. I won't spoil what they end up doing, but Artistically Inclined doesn't push the envelope as much as it seems to promise me at the start of the story.

Perhaps if this is a longer story it would deliver all the graphic and naughty things it promises to in its set-up, but in its current short length, all it does is to set my expectations high and then leaves me hanging high and dry. That's not a very nice thing to do, I must say.

Rating: 73

Can You Say PRINT?

Buy it HERE.

Let's Do the Time Warp ...

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

My short story Time Warp was selected as one of Phaze's FURY line of HeatSheets. In addition, it will be the first release in Phaze's new UMBRA category.

Release is scheduled for April 9, 2007 which, coincidentally, is my birthday. *grin*

It's February!

With the new month comes new ... ME! *grin*

I have an interview posted at Coffee Time Romance.  (It was supposed to go up in December, but they had some staff issues. I updated the interview for them, but apparently it got misplaced 'cause the version posted still mentions the holidays. *sigh*)

And, I have a new story in this month's issue of Oysters & Chocolate!

The 2006 Preditors & Editors polling ended last night at midnight.  Unofficially, it appears that I finished in the Top 10 in three categories:

Poet
Poem (Tapestry)
... and with Will ...
Short Story (Switch)