Terrie Figueroa from Romance Reviews Today (RRT) Erotic gives our Venus Press debut a "Multiple O’s" rating!"Public sex, ménage à trois -- what will this intrepid pair dare?Read the entire review HERE. (You'll have to scroll down a bit.) Buy the book HERE.
"Sexual tension starts on page one and the consummation is incendiary!"
Last minute shopping got you down? I have the perfect solution for the avid readers on your list! FictionWise, the industry leader in eBook sales, is having a fantasic end-of-year sale:Now through December 31, every MultiFormat eBook is discounted 20% and every Secure eBook receives a 20% Micropay rebate. These discounts also apply when you use the "Buy this eBook for a friend!" button, which is located right below the "Add to Cart" button on every eBook description page. These are just like gift certificates -- you can email them now to your friends and family or send the gift letter to yourself to deliver on Christmas. Buywise [15%] discounts combine with these sale prices....But wait ... THERE'S MORE! *grin*
With winter chills looming on the horizon, the days may be getting colder, but the stories just keep getting hotter. Today, we have Alessia Brio joining us to talk about a new release, Coming Together, another offering in a series to benefit various charities, this time The American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. Welcome to Coffee Time Romance and thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to join us, Alessia.
Thanks, Charissa. It's my pleasure, especially given our topic.
To start things off, could you tell our readers a little about yourself?
This is, for me, the most difficult question to answer, and it always seems to come at the beginning of an interview (when I'm all tense-like). Labels kinda bug me. I could tell you that I'm a 40-something work-from-home mother of 3, but what does that really tell you about me as a person? *grin* I'm far more comfortable talking about my work.
Each of the Coming Together anthologies benefits a charitable organization. Where did this concept come from and how did you gather so many wonderful stories for each collection?
A couple years ago, some writer friends & I were tossing around ideas for bundling our short stories and poetry into a self-published print anthology. At the time, none of us were professionally published. We hammered out the details, but we got bogged down when the discussion turned to money and how to handle the distribution of the proceeds.
That's when the suggestion was made to donate the proceeds to charity. We realized that the sales income, once divided 15 or 20 ways, was never going to amount to much. But, if we came together, we could do some good AND get a wider audience for our work.
The first volume of Coming Together hit the cyber-shelves of CafePress in June of 2005. Three months later, a second volume followed. Then, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the
In all, there are 5 volumes of Coming Together currently available (4 in print, 1 electronically). Readers can check 'em out at www.eroticanthology.com
Outside of your assembly of these anthologies, you've written or co-written works as well. Can you tell the readers about those and how easy or difficult is it to have a co-writer?
Actually, it was my work on the first volume of Coming Together that prompted me to collect my own short stories and poetry into an anthology. At first, I simply intended to self-publish a single copy as a gift to a friend, but once I had the manuscript pieced together, I figured I had nothing to lose by sending it off to a publisher. fine flickering hungers was contracted by Phaze just a couple months later. J
I joined the Phaze family in the summer of 2005, just as its first round of themed HeatSheets (Sparklers) were being released. When the call was made for the second round (Shivers), I knew I wanted to be involved. I nearly drowned in the research for Erotique, but it was worth it. The story is part of the Shivers line, and it has inspired several more tales co-written with Will Belegon. We have Switch, which is a Surge, and Amichu, which is a Samba, and we're just finishing a fourth story called Closing Arguments, which will be bundled with the other three in an anthology called ArtiFactual. It will be released by Phaze early in 2007. February, I believe.
As for the ease or difficulty of having a co-writer, I'd say it all depends on communication. Will & I work remarkably well together, complementing one another's strengths and compensating for one another's weaknesses. I prefer it to working solo, although I do continue to write solo & will have a couple more solo releases in 2007.
Every author has a best and worst part of the writing process. What is your favorite aspect and what do you like the least?
This depends on whether I'm writing solo or with a partner. I love plotting with Will—hammering out the story line and building the characters. My least favorite part of collaborative writing is editing it. I'm always afraid I'll overstep my bounds and create friction.
On my own, my favorite aspect is weaving the words together into a symphony of sensation. I love the craft—down to minutiae of a perfectly executed phrase. Least favorite, at the moment, is the challenge I face in producing longer works. I have two novels in progress that are currently collecting dust while I meet some deadlines. I'm tempted to just resign myself to the fact that I'm primarily a short-story writer, but ... nah!
Have you ever wondered what it would be to live the life of one of your characters? If so, which one and why?
Who says I don't already? *wink* Hrm, I suppose "wondered" is not the word I'd choose. Certainly I've projected myself into some roles—lived vicariously through a character for a scene or a chapter or even an entire work. Which character and which story really depends on my mood du jour. There is a little (and in some instances, perhaps, a
What passions motivate you to get up and face each day?
The ultimate motivator for me is injustice. I will move mountains—and have—to right a wrong. I can't stand bigotry and intolerance. Discrimination makes my skin crawl. Until I began writing erotica and poetry a few years ago, all of my writing consisted of editorials and narrative non-fiction with a civil/human rights focus.
Do you have a single book or author who inspired you to put your own imagination to paper?
No, not really. My writing inspiration simply stems from a passion for... passion. However, I was undoubtedly influenced by those authors who filled my days and nights with their books as I was growing up: Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Piers Anthony, Stephen King, Peter Straub, John Irving, Leon Uris, John LeCarre, Lawrence Sanders, Anne McCaffrey, Anne Rice, Frank Herbert, J.R.R. Tolkein.
How that influence manifests itself, though, is a matter of opinion.
If you could spend one day with the person who has inspired you most, what would you plan?
To enact the scene from... Well, perhaps I'd better just take the Fifth on this one.
The world of erotica and erotic fiction is growing by leaps and bounds, becoming more mainstream and well embraced. Do you see it as just a passing trend or something here to stay?
Sex cannot be suppressed, and attempts to do so always fail—eventually. What we're witnessing of late is the dying gasps of another such failure. Digital publication is a boon for the author of erotic fiction because it's discreet. Your visiting pastor might notice what's on your bookshelves, but what's on your hard drive or eReader is not that evident. I look forward to the day when sex is not perceived as shameful... but I'm not holding my breath. Until then, I'll just be the delightfully perverted purveyor of erotic tales.
On your website, you mention another Coming Together anthology on the horizon. Could you share a few details about that and let our readers know what's coming up for you?
Ah, yes. Thanks for asking. Phaze is currently accepting submissions for a volume of Coming Together to benefit breast cancer research. As with the Special Hurricane Relief Edition, I'll be its editor. Submissions of erotic fiction up to 15K words will be accepted through June 1, 2007. Digital release is planned for August 2007 and print release following in October 2007. Please see the submission guidelines at www.phaze.com for details.
Thanks for the chance to talk about this project, Charissa. It means a great deal to me. Happy Holidays to you & yours... and to all the Coffee Time Romance readers out there!
peace & passion,
~ Alessia
SAN DIEGO SUNSET - Alessia Brio & Will Belegon
ISBN: 1-59426-567-4
December 2006
Erotic Paranormal Romance
Heat Rating: Pulsar
RRT Rating: Missionary ("Gets the job done.")
San Diego, CA - Present Day
She haunts his dreams with erotic promise and passion. Each night the dreams become more compelling and leave him restless and discontent. Dare he believe in the promise of the dream?
He haunts her dreams with erotic pleasure. She feels compelled to find him, yet, he is only a dream, even if the feelings she has for him seem more real than anything in her life. Dare she believe in the passion of the dream?
Two souls meant for each other, if only they dare to follow their dreams. SAN DIEGO SUNSET is a romantic and powerful short story about believing the impossible and making it come true.
Isabelle Spencer - 12/15/06
As two people dream of a meeting on a beach, they begin to wonder if it’s only a dream or a future meeting. Their stories are told concurrently, as they travel to what could be their destinies. Both have begun to realize there must be more to life, than what they have experienced so far. He begins to realize the beach is one from his past, close to where he grew up. For her it is somewhere new and exciting, although costing more than she’d anticipated. As they come closer to each other, the scents and sounds around them seem to change. Feelings of being unfulfilled no longer matter; they ignore everything as the dream takes them on a journey. A journey they have no way of knowing how it will end, if it is destiny or their imagination.
This reviewer found the story strange to begin with, but the prose was so enchanting, it swept me along. Despite very little dialogue, the story is easy to follow and interesting. The imagery is very strong throughout the tale. The conflict is within the two main characters, as they find themselves doing something completely out of their comfort zone. Moods become linked and the tale flows smoothly through doubts and worries as it wraps the characters and reader within its spell. The plot winds around them as they experience something new and exciting. Passion flares as they think about the culmination of the dream, taking the reader on a sensual journey of discovery. The ‘what if’s’ are left behind as the characters surprise themselves by their own audacity. As the sun finally sets, the reader is left with a feeling of peace as darkness blankets the characters.
San Diego Sunset is the story of two individuals who are about to be brought together by destiny. He dreams several times a week of lying on an empty warm beach, post-intimacy, with a woman, and waking just before he hears her name. On the days following the dream, he is both more creative and productive, and also more stressed. She finds the dream to intensify in vividness at the end of each month, and most especially at the year’s end. Both are determined to locate the location and to find each other.
San Diego Sunset is a fascinating short tale of two souls on a collision course with Destiny and each other. I found my heart catching in my throat as the two worked their way toward each other and then at first, passed by like two ships in the night, close but without contact. But Destiny won’t be denied.
This is the 3rd delightfully erotic romp for Alessia Brio. The story follows Mandy, who inherited Erotique, a successful upscale sex boutique and erotic museum and her lawyer boyfriend. While this is a short story it fulfils its promise with plenty of delicious titillation and even throws in a bit of mystery.
When a mysterious letter arrives requesting Mandy's deceased Aunt travel to Easter Island to retrieve and transport an artifact for the Museum, Mandy and Bruce decide to go themselves to see about the artifact. What lies ahead will no doubt cause you to think twice about the power of fertility artifacts from ancient civilizations and stop for a few moments longer the next time you visit a museum displaying such items.
Another terrific tale written with both humor and heat from a talented writing duo with interesting insights into the sexual psyches from the both points of view of both sexes.
Mandy and Bruce fly to South America to find out why a professor would write to Mandy's aunt. Curiosity leads them into a hunt for an artifact on Rapa Nui.
There is a lot of action, adventure, suspense and steamy loves scenes squeezed into this book. I'd have enjoyed it more if the story had more room to expand on some of the scenes. If you want the feel of a longer book but not a lot of time this would be good for you.
Mandy is the owner of a sex toy shop and museum named Erotique. Receiving a letter from a friend of her late aunt she soon learns of a generous donation of an artifact made to her museum. Embarking on the exciting trip to South America, she and her lover, Bruce, soon find that their journey becomes a battle not only for the safety of the Incan artifact but ultimately their own lives.
Although Amichu is the third in the series and I'm aware that I've not read the novels in the correct order, this is my first reading of this collaboration and I have to say the authors work extremely well together. Also, by reading novels in the incorrect order it does help to see if each book can adequately stand alone without their counterparts, and judging by things so far, it does appear that they can.
Much as I would love to know which bits are the brainchild of which author, it doesn't really matter because the final result is just pure masterpiece. There's a fine spattering of humour throughout the story and the sex scenes are naughty and fresh. Thorough research into the historical facts about the artefact and the different cultures encountered just strengthens the sense of credibility you receive whilst reading this book. Excellent read.
- Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
In the erotic genre, I love to read Alison Tyler. “Four on the Floor” was hot as hell. I’ve been a fan of Will Belegon from way back before he was published. I like Alessia Brio, Rachel Kramer Bussel and Bill Noble. And of course, I devour anything Susie Bright puts down on paper.
Switch is an exciting erotic story that is sure to have you feeling the currents jumping out of the book and into the room. Mandy and Bruce are both exciting characters that are fully developed and fun to read about. I love the whole idea of this story and found it very intriguing and extremely sexy. I can’t say too much more since I don’t want to give away the story, but let me just say that this is one story that you don’t want to miss.
