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Fallen Angel Reviews
is proud to welcome Alessia Brio this afternoon for a look at an author who not only writes but also puts
her words where her mouth is by supporting foundations that fight for our online freedoms. Alessia, welcome
and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am you took time to visit with our readers this today.
Alessia: I gotta tell ya, Rachelle, that these interviews are WAY fun
for me. I never have any trouble talkin’ about myself. (Can’t imagine why! *wink*) So, I’m just as excited –
especially since you’ve already mentioned one of my favorite pet projects.
Okay. I just poured a fresh cuppa ginger-peach tea and settled in to my comfy chair with my laptop on my legs. I’m ready. Fire away!
Rachelle: I have to admit I have so many questions and no clue which one to start with. ;) Let’s start with one of your releases from
Phaze, Fine
Flickering Hungers. How did you come up with such a catchy name?
Alessia: Well, first off (to be nit-picky), it’s fine flickering hungers – all lower case. The reason it’s written
that way is because I swiped it from a poem entitled “The Moon Is Always Female” by Marge Piercy (my favorite poet). Here’s the passage:
There is knowing
with the teeth as well as knowing with
the tongue and knowing with the fingertips
as well as knowing with words and with all
the fine flickering hungers of the brain.
It has come to
symbolize all of the desires we so often keep locked
inside – either repressed or concealed. My goal with
this book, and really with everything I write, is to
throw those doors wide open to expose our innate
sexual nature as healthy and powerful – to celebrate
it rather than hide it as if it’s “dirty.”
Rachelle: You have
electronic books, free short stories and are part of
the print anthology Coming Together: An Erotic
Cocktail. When you think of all the work that went
into completing each project, which brings with it the
most pride and fulfillment?
Alessia: While I
am very proud of my publications with Phaze and
Torquere Press (and hope to have many more), my true
fulfillment comes from altruistic endeavors. Thus,
Coming Together is more important to me than my
own personal success. It truly is a labor of love.
Rachelle: Since I
mentioned it, I would be remiss not to ask you to tell
our readers about the anthology Coming Together: An
Erotic Cocktail. Can you explain a little about
how this collection of novels came to be and your
personal reasons for participating in such a worthy
cause?
Alessia: For the
past few years, I’ve been a part of an online forum
for authors of erotica – really terrific people with
some amazing talent. Last spring, we were tossing
around ideas on how to put out a print collection of
our best work. The timing coincided with a free speech
writing contest, and we decided that was an ideal
cause to which to donate our revenues. Our first
volume went on sale in June 2005, and we’ve published
three more volumes since then (roughly quarterly) –
with another coming soon. Each is a collection of
erotic short stories, poetry, and original
illustrations: hot stuff in a variety of sub-genres
(hence the “cocktail” part).
Coming Together is an all volunteer effort
managed entirely by consensus of the forum
participants. We really have, as the title implies,
“come together” to produce this series. I hope it
continues indefinitely!
Here, lemme plug the site:
www.EroticAnthology.com
Rachelle: I went
to the Erotic Anthology store and noticed a special
edition version of Coming Together. I was
impressed all proceeds go to help Hurricane Katrina
victims. That is very giving and compassionate and I’m
sure our readers would agree that you all deserve a
big thank you. Has this special edition been well
received?
Alessia: Actually,
all the editions have been equally well received. The
special edition is our only themed issue (to date) in
that each story and poem, appropriately, relates to
storms.
Rachelle: Along
with being an erotic writer you are also an
entrepreneur. Would you like to tell our readers about
Alessia’s Erotique and where they can go to experience
the pleasure to be had at your online store?
Alessia: The
online toy store was kind of an afterthought. A lot of
my stories feature sex toys, and I figured one way to
promote those stories was to show the readers where
they could find them – and buy them, if interested.
Thus, I created an affiliation with a large vendor
such that I receive a percentage of any sales
generated through my website and/or blog. I pump all
the income back into promotions and professional
development. Folks can visit Alessia’s Erotique at
www.sextoysex.com/alessia
I’ve also started an independent sex toy review blog
entitled “Toys for Tarts” where visitors can read,
write, or request a review of any product – all
anonymously, of course. Its home is
http://toys-for-tarts.blogspot.com
Rachelle: Now that
we’ve discussed your writing and business I want to
give our readers a broader view about you and wondered
if you could tell us a little about your home life. In
your blog you mentioned being a stay at home mom. Do
you find it hard to keep a writing schedule or are you
strict with your creative time?
Alessia: Writing
schedule? BWAH! With three pre-teen kids, any sort of
schedule that centers around anything other than kids’
activities is a pipe dream. And, now that I’m
published, writing time must also be balanced with
promo time (like doing interviews *grin*). I write
whenever I can sneak it into my day – usually while
waiting for the dryer to stop so I can fold yet
another load of laundry. (Sexy, huh?) I do find,
however, that when nearing completion on a story, I
can get rather snarky. (I know, I know. It’s hard to
believe!) When that happens, I lock myself in a room
and have meals poked in with a stick.
Rachelle: When
you’re not spending time with your family or writing
what do you do in your spare time for personal
enjoyment?
Alessia: What
spare time? I have trouble squeezing a shower and a
meal into each day. Besides, writing IS personal
enjoyment. Getting paid for it is just icing.
“Researching” is also verrrry enjoyable.
Rachelle: Alessia,
for pure entertainment and to get another angle of you
as a person, if you were stranded in the rainforest
and could keep three items from your luggage as you
worked your way back to civilization what would those
items be?
Alessia: A
rainforest, eh? Having been to a rainforest, I would
opt for a bug net, spare shoes, and a super sexy tour
guide. (I always carry a super sexy tour guide in my
luggage. Don’t you?)
Rachelle: With
most of your work being in an electronic format, is
this your preferred method of reading or do you find
the need to curl up with a paperback from time to
time?
Alessia: When I
read, I still prefer print. Eye strain is part of the
reason, but the rest is just habit that I hope to
shake – since I believe eBooks will eventually replace
print.
Rachelle: As a
blossoming author, what or who has had the most
influence in guiding your writing career?
Alessia: I’m
blossoming? Cool. *grin* I’d really have to say that
my colleagues in the Author’s Hangout (forum) at
Literotica have influenced me the most. And a big note
of thanks to accomplished erotic author
Gwen Masters who has
provided a ton of sage advice along the way.
Rachelle: I
noticed you have a release coming this month from
Torquere Press called Hallowing Eve, can you
tell us a little bit about the story?
Alessia:
Hallowing Eve is a short-short story – a hot
little vignette, really – about female friends who
become lovers during a weekend getaway. I’m told it
will appear in the March issue of Fresh Off the
Vine, which should be released any day now. I’m
hoping it’s just the first work I’m able to share
through Torquere.
Rachelle: For
readers who would love to know more about you and your
work do you have any upcoming chats or appearances
scheduled? If so, please let our fans know when and
where.
Alessia: I join a
number of regular (monthly) chats with the other Phaze
authors. Folks can visit my blog at
http://alessiabrio.blogspot.com
to view my calendar (right sidebar – scroll way down).
Appearances are tougher to manage, as they invariably
involve travel away from home & family, but I hope to
participate in the upcoming NYC event “Phaze in the
City.” (Stay tuned for details!)
Rachelle: Alessia,
I thank you for being candid and granting this
interview which allows our readers into your world so
they could have a clearer view of the real person
behind the fabulous work. So our readers won’t lose
track of any updates, where can readers and fans find
additional information about you?
Alessia: Readers
can stay on top of me… (Wait, that didn’t come out
right!) Ahem. Everything you ever wanted to know about
Alessia Brio can be found via
www.AlessiaBrio.com
Rachelle: Thank
you again and I eagerly await your new release
Hallowing Eve.
Alessia: Thank
YOU, Rachelle!
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