Newsletter ~ February - March 2009

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Conference season is upon us, with EPICon next week (*EEK*) and the Romantic Times BOOKlovers convention just a few short weeks later (*DOUBLE EEK*). In between the two, I have two fetish fairs (Washington & Baltimore) and a Litogether (Chicago), plus taekwondo (testing for my camo belt on the 18th) and ballroom dance classes. I figured I'd better put out a newsletter before the madness begins.  Then, I can recap said madness at the end of April -- with pictures, even. And, by that time, it'll be well into spring in my mountains. I'm so ready for warmer temperatures (and lower utility bills).

I don't have a clue what I'm going to wear to the Oscars, I mean EPPIEs. Last year, I had a gorgeous vintage gown that I found on eBay. This year, I'm digging through my closet to cut costs. Leaning toward a long-jacketed black suit and frilly white blouse. Stylish, understated, and (quite possibly) sexy. I'll be presenting in at least one category, so I want to look... well, presentable.  And, hopefully, I'll be taking the stage for at least one other award.  I have three covers in the running for the QUASAR. Them's goodish odds, assuming I didn't over-compete with myself.  And, I've been nominated again this year for EPIC's Friend of ePublishing honor due to my work with Coming Together. I'm thrilled that NYT bestselling author Robyn Carr will be my & Will's guest for the banquet. We met her last fall at the La Jolla Writers Conference. Wonderful lady! Wonderful conference. (I just registered for 2009.)

I'm vacillating (Sounds like an infection, dunnit?) on costume ideas for the parties at RT. I had planned to go to the Ellora's Cave jungle-themed party as Lara Croft, but I'm not sure I'll feel self-confident enough to pull it off, at least not in the short-shorts. The Seelie/Unseelie Ball? I may just recycle the white gown I wore to the Faerie Ball in Houston in '07 and add some different accessories. The vampire ball is comic-themed. (Comic-ula. How LAME is that?) No clue what to wear. NO. CLUE. Will & I have a cute idea for the Dorchester beach wear party, though.

In other news, I'm happy to report that for the third consecutive year, I finished in the Top 10 of the Preditors & Editors Readers Polls in the Poet and Poem categories. This in spite of the fact that I did very little poetry writing. Thank you to all who voted!

Until next time...

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

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New Releases & Coming Soon [TOP]

AVAILABLE NOW from PHAZE:
Sapphistocated: Tales of Mirror Geography
ISBN 978-1-60659-115-4 (print)

In The PowerBook, Jeannette Winterson writes:

"Sex between women is mirror geography. The subtlety of its secret--utterly the same, utterly different. You are a looking-glass world. You are the hidden place that opens to me on the other side of the glass. I touch your smooth surface and then my fingers sink through to the other side. You are what the mirror reflects and invents. I see myself, I see you, two, one, none. I don't know. Maybe I don't need to know."

Sapphistocated features four tales of mirror geography by four renowned authors of lesbian erotic fiction: Beth Wylde, Yeva Wiest, Jolie du Pré, and yours truly.
 

AVAILABLE NOW from eXcessica:
Focus: Highlighting the Power of the Short Story

From this exciting new epublisher comes a diverse collection of erotic short stories edited by Kev Henley.  My Amazon Short, Knead, is included.

COMING in APRIL exclusively from All Romance eBooks:
Coming Together: Al Fresco
Birds do it!  Bees do it! Have sex in the great outdoors, that is. All Romance eBooks, in partnership with editor, Alessia Brio, is proud to present Coming Together: Al Fresco. The theme of this collection is sex in the great outdoors. All proceeds from the sale of this special anthology will benefit Conservation International.

Release date is Earth Day 2009. Now available for pre-order from All Romance eBooks.

COMING in JUNE from Phaze Books:
Coming Together: Against the Odds
All behavior is communication. The trick is to figure out just what it's saying. No behavior communicates as clearly or on as many levels as sex. All the physical and emotional senses are engaged. Add the element of intrigue, and the intellect is engaged as well.

Phaze, in partnership with editor, Alessia Brio, is proud to present Coming Together: Against the Odds, a collection of erotic fiction with a mystery theme and an introduction written by the one & only Maxim Jakubowski.

All proceeds from the sale of this special anthology will benefit Autism Speaks.
 

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Interviews & Appearances [TOP]

As noted above: EPICon (March 4-6 in Las Vegas), The Crucible's Leather Fleamarket (March 14 in DC), Charm City Fetish Fair (April 4 in Baltimore), and Romantic Times BOOKlovers Convention (April 22-26 in Orlando). Plus, a Litogether (March 19-22 in Chicago) -- but that's just for fun. I'm not going to know if I'm coming or going.  On second thought, I'm certain I'll know when I'm coming. *wink*

On the poetry blog, nothing new by me. *sigh* However, my wonderful swirlfriend, who is a kickass photographer, did a composition including my poem, wither. Check it out! I also put it on a poster in Coming Together's Café Press shop.

Featured Backlist Title [TOP]

Two-Thirds (a free ebook)
Also free from Phaze Books and All Romance eBooks

Ever hopeful, Kess sets up a Valentine get-away with her partner. Described as "tragic and real," this short-short reminds us that the holiday isn't always as romantic as it's supposed to be.