Put on your lipstick and head on over...

to my weblog, where the latest podcast is live. This time, I feature Tula Caesar's Lipstick and Other Stories.

A new Surge of inspiration

Would you all believe me when I tell you I scrapped the 4000wds I had written on my Surge sub. I don't know, call it problem child syndrome!

It just didn't grab me and the plot was going nowhere, so I took it somewhere, the recycling bin. Now I feel as free as a bird and am 1000wds into my new one which is flowing like mustard out of a hot dog! (Is that a saying?)

I have created a whole new planet called Electranoid, which has a natural supply of electricity, a bit like our natural gases..ummm no....let me rephrase that. By our natural gases I don't mean Phaze has gas, I have not eaten any beans, I promise.

Anyways, Electranoid, small planet, big power, alien woman with body complex and you got it...ah no name yet *grin* I hope it's like Colgate and really does get in!

Music I'd be stranded with, hope it's a big island
All of Meatloaf and Jim Steinman
All of Bon Jovi
All of Robbie Williams
that's me in a coconut shell!

Arousingly Yours
Anna

It's Coming...It's Dare

My local radio station seems to be a bit behind in the new music trends. I don't know the Pussycat Dolls from a hole in the ground, but I do know Gorillaz has had Demon Days out for a while. We're just now hearing Dare in heavy rotation.

I like it. I'd like to think the Dareville stories played a role in inspiring it, but as it's not likely I'll settle for listing Demon Days among my "Desert Island Discs." We've talked before of adding this meme to the blog - what albums would you take with you to a desert island, assuming you had an eternal supply of batteries. I'd take this one for the morning workout. In addition:

Rush - A Farewell to Kings
Rush - Fly By Night
Dead Presidents Soundtrack
Pulp Fiction Soundtrack
Frank Zappa - Apostrophe
Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London
Traffic - Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys
REM - Automatic for the People

Did I ever tell you I've been to Michael Stipe's house? Actually, it's not so much I've been to the house, as I've driven past it a couple of times.

Next!

Great chat!

Thanks to the Romance Studio for hosting our chat. Had a great time talking about the Surge line and Muse. I think we're doing a regular gig with them, so if you missed out don't worry. You can catch us next month.

Stiletto

CONTESTANT: I'll take "Winners" for $500, please, Alex.

HOST: The answer is, "Memento."

CONTESTANT: What is Alessia Brio's winning entry in Desdmona's Stiletto Flash Contest?

HOST: You are correct!

Pirate Name

I know it has nothng to do wit anything but this was so much fun and something a little different.
Find out yours at the Phaze Phorum, The Starlight Lounge thanks to Bridget Midway, lol, the things that woman comes up with!

Sign up if you haven't already you'll find some funny stuff in the Fun Stuff, and with all us Phaze Authors there...well anything can happen!
Arousingly Yours
Anna Fallon

11,198

That's the final word count of my Surge submission, first draft. Jack of Diamonds is done, but not officially complete. Still need to edit and polish and submit, but it's done!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!

10 Things about Eva Gale

Dear Selah tagged me. Have you read her story, Moondance? Hot and lyrical.

Ten things you want to know about me? Hmm… this could be interesting. I’ll start off easy.

1. I’ve been a nanny, a fruit picker, Personal Care Assistant for the handicapped, worked in a jewelry store, then made and sold beadwork in said jewelry store. I’ve worked in kitchens, waited tables and been the person you slammed the telephone down on. Yes, a telemarketer. I hang my head at that one. Such shame.

2. I have a Doberman, who thinks he’s a Chihuahua, a rabbit, a cockatoo, and ferrets, which I lovingly call woozles.

3. I love camping. With a tent, and sleeping bags.

4. I think coffee intravenous’ should be an optional lifestyle choice. Although they would be cumbersome.

5. I’ve been deer hunting, and brought one home.

6. I am completely addicted to high heels, although I stop at vacuuming in them.

7. I suck at math. That is no surprise to others in my family.

8. I always paint my toenails. Always. They are now coral.

9. I love my toy stores. All for research of course. My UPS man is a busy boy.

10. I send my husband naughty e-mails all day long.

And I'm going to tag Eden Bradley. Her story Heat Wave is another favorite.

Eva Gale.

Four-play...

Don't ever say that Bridget Midway waits for an invitation to do anything. Actually, I didn't want to be tagged like a grizzly bear. So here it goes, folks.

4 jobs you have had in your life:
Box office cashier at a movie theater (loved that job)
Teller supervisor at a bank (hated that job)
Dispatcher to electric utility servicemen (yep, if your lights went out, I was the one who sent the serviceman to your house to restore power)
Pager. I don't know what you would call me. I actually typed and sent alpha-numeric pages to people's pagers. Yes, this was way before the advent of Blackberries, cameraphones and two-way. I did get to talk to Joan Rivers and the guy that played Roger Thomas on "What's Happenin'!"

4 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:
"Say Anything" with John Cusack
"Blade Runner" with Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer (I'm sure I butchered his name)
"The Color Purple" with Whoopi Goldberg
"The Wizard of Oz" - 'nuff said

4 Places You Have Lived:
Chesapeake, Virgina
Norfolk, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
And that's it. Boring, I know.

4 TV Shows You Love To Watch:
"Good Times"
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
"Golden Girls"

4 Places You Have Been On Vacation:
Williamsburg, Virginia
Bangor, Maine
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Acapulco, Mexico

4 Websites You Visit Daily:
Bridget Midway - to check my guestbook
Erotic Readers and Writers Association
Interracial Multicultural Romance Readers
Romance Divas

4 Of Your Favorite Foods:
String cheese
Strawberry yogurt
Mashed potatoes with gravy
My mom's homemade yeast rolls

4 Places You Would Rather Be Right Now:
The top of the New York Times Bestsellers list
Oprah's interview chair on her TV show
On the cover of Romantic Times magazine
In my man's bed with his arms around me

Okay, I don't know about Leigh, but I'm going to tag someone. I got Anna the last time. This time I have to hit up my girl, Laura Bacchi!

Stay sexy,
BridgeT

Gimme Four

I got hit with another meme, so why not continue the trend and answer here?

4 jobs you have had in your life:

Greeting card writer - dead serious; I worked part-time for this guy writing greeting card verse for his start up business. Worked from home, mailed the verse, got a check. Too bad it didn't pay much.
Customer service for Philip Morris - I answered phones for the Marlboro Miles program, that experience is a book in itself
Hostess at McDonald's - I did the birthday parties. Never again.
Substitute Teacher - Once a kid came to my class and was escorted away by the dean. Found out later he had a gun in his bag.

4 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:

Yellow Submarine
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - just before puberty hit and they were all still cute
Moonstruck
The Blues Brothers

4 Places You Have Lived:

Gwinnett, GA
Athens, GA
Williamsburg, VA
Orange Park, FL

4 TV Shows You Love To Watch:

M*A*S*H
Futurama
House
CSI: Miami

4 Places You Have Been On Vacation:

Puerto Rico
Hollywood
Alaska
Jamaica

4 Websites You Visit Daily:

MySpace
Phaze Forum
ERWA Forum
Rojo to check my feeds

4 Of Your Favorite Foods:

Anything pasta
Pizza
Eggs Benedict
Macaroni and Cheese

4 Places You Would Rather Be Right Now:

Toronto, Canada
St. Augustine, FL
Atlanta, GA
London, England

Here's the part where I'm supposed to tag four more bloggers, but I'll wait a while to see how the other meme pans out.

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Selah March:

Thank you, Tula. I like your name, too. :)

1. Some of my ancestors were among the original Dutch settlers of New York -- the state and the city. We were land barons known as "Patroons." Which means, once upon a time, we were RICH! And fabulously WEALTHY!

Today? Not so much.


2. I can milk a cow. If I must.


3. I've been employed as the following: chambermaid, waitress, administrative assistant, typist, camp counselor, horse groomer/stall-cleaner, dishwasher, housekeeper, salesgirl, daycare worker, nanny, and teacher. That degree in English Literature has served me well, oh yes it has.


4. I am allergic to Percocet. Which sucks, because I understand it's lovely.


5. I lived in nine different houses before I was eighteen -- all within the same county.


6. I struggle to control my very quick and irrational temper every single day. I get this from my father. Thanks, Dad.


7. I do not fear my own death.


8. I suck at managing money, but I'm getting better as I age. This is also a family trait, and probably part of the reason we are no longer RICH! Or FABULOUSLY WEALTHY!


9. I'll be 40 this year, and I'm more okay with it than I thought I'd be.


10. I have trouble finishing what I start. Like this list, for instance. Had to force myself to do it. "No more coffee till you finish," I told Myself. And Myself made a rude gesture and refused to comply. I had to threaten something really dire. You don't even want to know.

No. Really. You don't.

PS - It's been most politely pointed out to me that I forgot to tag someone. My bad.

Uhhh...Eva! I tag Eva Gale!

It's Leigh Ellwood week at the Phaze group

That's right, I'm list maven for the week at the Phaze Yahoo! group. All week I'll discuss my works and answer questions. As I work full time it won't be as busy as it is now, so come over and post.

Phaze Rocks Preditors & Editors

The votes have been tallied, and we're psyched to see such a strong Phaze showing in the 2005 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll.



2005 Readers Poll Results

Print/Electronic Novels:

• Romance
  
  • 21: Dare Me, Leigh Ellwood (Phaze)
  
  
  • 23: Apocalypse Dance, M. Barnette (Phaze)


• All other
  
  • 11: Three Days in New York City, Robin Slick (Phaze)

Short Stories:

• Romance
  
  • 16: Erotique, Alessia Brio (Phaze)
  
  
  • 16: Jack of Hearts, Leigh Ellwood (Phaze)
  
  
  • 17: Sweet Seductress, Mae Powers (Phaze)
  
  


• All other
  
  • 14: Heat Wave, Eden Bradley (Phaze)
  
  
  • 15: Night of Inspiration, Jenna Allen (Phaze)
  
  
  • 16: Walls, Bridget Midway (Phaze)
  
  

Authors

• 16: Eden Bradley


• 19: Emily Veinglory


• 20: Bridget Midway


• 21: Robin Slick


• 21: Leigh Ellwood

And 2006 is gonna be even betterer!

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Tula That You'll Be Sorry You Know After You Read This!

Well, thanks to the lovely Laura B., I have been tagged.

What do I want to tell?

1. I used to keep a list of every person I had ever slept with. Every single one. Whenever I slept with a guy, I would take this notepad out of my underwear drawer and record the guy's name and the date it happened. (I REFUSE to say how high the number got...or how low they remained for that matter...LOL) One of my boyfriends used to keep track of every time we had sex in the back of one of his notebooks -- he had a sheet with these random tally marks on it, and that was what they were for.

2. I know how to pole dance. One of my stripper girlfriends taught me. I have never been a stripper, but did participate in one of those amateur stripper nights at a nightclub on a dare after having too much to drink (I was only 19, so my naked body was a different visual experience than it is now.)

3. In high school I was in the Homecoming Court--I was Miss Senior. I rode on the senior class' homecoming float with Mr. Senior . I did the Miss America wave and everything.

4. More pageant shame -- I participated in the 1984 Miss Teen of Maryland pageant as one of 3 representatives from my area. The winner went on to the Miss Teen America pageant. I didn't win thank goodness, but I did get the Miss Congeniality award.

5. I have been engaged three times, and never have managed to get married. Even managed to have two kids and nary a husband in sight. Yes I kept the rings. I did offer to return them but the guys never wanted them back.

6. My favorite sex toy is my tongue vibrator...zoom zoom zoom.

7. My eleven year old son has cerebal palsy and is mildy autistic.

8. I was named after Petula Clark. If you don't know who she is, there's your homework for tonight.

9. In my book "Lipstick and Other Stories", "The September 11th Story" is the story that is most autobiographical. I was actually seeing a police officer from DC and was in his bed when 9/11 happened. The story is dedicated to him. Most of the other events in that story occurred as well...except for the happy ending of course.

10. When I was 18, I saw my first porno movie. It starred Vanessa Del Rio. I loved Vanessa Del Rio. I thought she was the sexiest woman I'd ever seen. She seemed so...I don't know. I just admired her. I wanted to be her. I used to watch her movies with my boyfriend and try to give head like she did. That was pretty much how I learned to do it...THANK YOU VANESSA WHEREVER YOU ARE!

That's it for now! I feel so naked! I think I'll tag Selah March, because I just love her name!

Stay in the light,

Tula

Ten Things...

...you don't know about Laura Bacchi. And may not want to know. Just kidding!

1. I just got all my hair cut off and colored. I am now...a blonde!

2. I once climbed up a tree as a teenager and couldn't get down. Well, was afraid to get down. Apparently I have a problem with heights--even a ride up the elevator gets me a bit queasy and puts a funny feeling in my stomach. My friend ran and got the hot neighborhood paramedic (thank God she hadn't called 911), and he helped me down.

3. About the same time as the tree incident, I fell in love. We did all the normal stuff horny teens do like make-out and exchange underwear. (Now I wonder what he did with mine...) I hid his in a hole of the lining of my favorite blue corduroy blazer. My mom and I were the same size, and one day without my knowledge, she wore it to work. That was not a good night.

4. I'm not crazy about dogs, and even as a child, I rarely wanted to pet them. One day, about the time of the tree and underwear episodes, I saw a raggedy lost dog. His coat looked terrible, and he reeeaaaallly wanted to be petted. Probably because he had the mange, as I found out first-hand later. So did my boyfriend...

5. I'm still not crazy about dogs.

6. I still have a baby tooth. It simply will not come out. Except with extensive oral surgery and braces. I plan to die with it still intact.

7. I studied Chinese brush-painting and calligraphy for a while in art school. My calligraphy professor and I are still good friends, and I went for a visit to the People's Republic of China in 1995. Had a blast.

8. I don't like to handle raw meat.

9. I collect salt and pepper shakers with faces on them.

10. I grew up Southern Baptist :)


Now let's hear from Tula. You've been tagged!

Laura

Surge...Will it be a surge of new writers for Phaze?

Hi, you all probably do not know who the heck I am. I'm Crystal and I'm the promotions manager (or Promo Ho as Laura Bacchi and I call the position) for Phaze. I'm so glad Leigh Ellwood threw down the challenge for authors to submit to this new Phaze line. As the promotions manager, I would love to see a crop of new writers come into the Phaze family. By the way, did Stacey L. King, Phaze publisher, mention just how many Surges that will be accepted? I know the Shivers were 6 and there were 12 Sparklers. Does that mean we'll get 15 Surges? Okay, Stacey, get off the floor. I was kidding. However if there is a number, let us know. Maybe knowing that you're only taking a small number will put a fire under some butts. Then again, some people may like a little flame licking their backsides.

Okay, time to crawl back into my shell. Until next time, folks!

Crystal***

Come What May

Hot on the heels of my Bare Back Magazine interview comes this one from May Reviews:

http://www.mayreviews.com/custom.html

The formatting is a bit off, though. For a cleaner copy, I've also posted the interview on my blog:

http://alessiabrio.blogspot.com/2006/01/may-reviews-interview.html

I get a kick out of doing these interviews. Makes me feel all tingly and celebrity-like ... kinda like sex. *grin*

Peace,

~ Alessia

A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR A NEW WRITER!

Hello all!

I had a very strange experience tonight...in fact I'm still in the midst of it right now so you'll have to forgive me if I'm a bit incoherent.

I got my first RAVE review.

So far the reviews I have gotten for "Lipstick" have been pretty good. I got one really crappy one, but hey, that's to be expected. I found one I hadn't seen tonight on Euro Reviews. Now I've developed my thick skin so that I deal withreviews, so I surf through the site, and finally get to my review. This is what it said...

Review: Lipstick and Other Stories by Petula Caesar

"Lipstick and other stories is a brilliant collection of erotic fiction. There’s a story to satisfy any man or woman’s sexual appetite. Each story is well thought out and is delivered superbly. The stories that are told are short and sweet, simply put. Petula Caesar has written a book that can serve as an example for how to write an erotic anthology. For a sizzling hot collection of stories to heat up those cold winter nights, pick up this book today. You may learn a thing or two that interests you."

I actually started to tremble. I have no idea why. None. My hands started to shake uncontrollably, and I actually grabbed my mouth to contain the scream that was on its way out. Didn't want to wake my kids. I stood up and ran through my house making strange little sounds that probably would have been screams if I had been home alone. I added the review to my site, and now I'm trying to calm down. You can check it out at http://euroreviews.eu.funpic.de/bookdetails.php?book_id=9.

I am soooo goofy!

Goodnite all! Stay in the light, and much love to ya,

Tula

The gauntlet is cast

Just when I think I have enough on my plate as a writer, Phaze has to go and post a call for the Surge Heatsheets! You know I have to reach for this brass ring - I have one Sparkler and one Shiver in the catalog, so you know I'm going for the whole set.

But what I really want to know...is which Phaze author will complete her submission first? As with all special Heatsheet calls, Phaze will consider works from all writers, but there are always a few in-house authors with material. The call went out today and I am already 500 words in. That number might not sound impressive, but consider I have a job and a toddler...500 in a day is Tolstoy to me.

So the gauntlet is cast, my dears. Will I see you at the finish line, or will I see you huffing toward me as I toy with the broken tape?

Riding Bare Back

Hey, y'all. G'morning! Happy February 'nd stuff. Just wanted to sneak in here to announce that my interview with Bare Back Magazine is now posted as part of its February issue.

Pop on over and check it out at http://www.barebackmag.com/interviewalessiabrio.html

Peace,

~ Alessia