Masked Innocence by Alessandra Torre…Book Spotlight and GIVEAWAY

Happy Saturday!  I have an amazing book to spotlight for you today (and one I currently have on my to-read list)…

Masked Innocence by Alessandra Torre

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads 

Synopsis:

The man was sinful. It wasn’t just the looks that made him dangerous, it was the cocky confidence that dominated every move, every touch. And the frustrating yet ecstatic fact about the whole package was that he could back it all up…

Julia Campbell never knows what to expect with win-at-all-costs Brad De Luca. And she’s starting to like it that way. She gave up safe, conventional relationships when she let the elite divorce attorney seduce her into his world. Now that he’s determined to strip her naked of every inhibition, she’s in danger of falling too deep and too fast.

But their affair begins to feel even more dangerous when a murder leaves a trail of suspicion that points straight to the mob…and Brad. Trusting a man with a bad reputation and a past full of secrets seems like a mistake. But when she’s forced to make a choice, the consequences will take her further than she could ever have imagined.

Q&A with Alessandra:

Tell us a little bit about your upcoming release, “Masked Innocence” the follow-up to your debut novel, “Blindfolded Innocence.”

 Masked Innocence takes Brad and Julia’s courtship and takes it to the next level. Their relationship, and their sex life, dives further and deeper while a murder uncovers hidden secrets.

 

What book is on your next to-buy list?

The Siren by Tiffany Reisz

 

What’s your go-to snack when you’re writing?

Nutty Bars or navel oranges

 

 What was the first erotica book you ever read?

Fifty Shades of Grey

 

If you could be with any fictional character for one night, who would it be and why?

Thor. I’d like to see his hammer.

 

Where do you do most of your writing? Do you have a certain place that inspires you the most?

I have a big comfy chair that I like to settle into. It’s surrounded by windows and has plenty of room for my two dogs. If I need inspiration I set aside the computer and take the dogs for a walk.

 

What are the must have essentials in your purse for a night out on the town?

Chapstick, cash, my cell, and a peppermint.

 

What is the difference between erotica and romance books? What about erotic fiction vs. porn?

Erotica contains explicit descriptions of sex, while traditional romance novels contain more ‘fade to black’ love scenes. Erotic fiction versus porn – words versus actuality and actions.

 What are some of your favorite adjectives to describe sex scenes?

Thick, intense, slick, fevered, hard

 

 Why did you choose to self-publish?

What are the pros and cons of self-publishing? Control. Flexibility. The ability to change covers, blurbs, and price on my own, and to see and track my own sales.

 

 How did you come up the characters Julia Campbell and Brad De Luca? Did you draw inspiration from characters in other books or movies?

Julia and Brad are loosely based on me and my husband and the situation surrounding our meeting/courtship. Once I created their roles, the characters sort of took lives of their own and ran wild.

 

In Masked Innocence, how did you maintain a perfect balance between the erotic parts and the suspense?

The plot wound its own path, there are times in the book when it is erotic-focused, times when it takes a more dramatic turn. There are places when it needed sex, or a lighter note, in order to keep the book from getting too dark.

 

Why did you start writing erotica?

I didn’t think that there was a market for plot-based stories with explicit sex – but after seeing Fifty Shades fever, it finally felt like the timing was right to dive into that genre.

 

 Are you for or against books being turned into movies?

I am certainly for books being turned into movies. So many individuals don’t read, movies allow them to experience these great stories in a different way.

 

 Who would you cast as your lead roles for “Masked Innocence”?

As far as my series, it is very difficult to cast this couple, but I would go with Minka Kelly and Joe Manganiello.

 

 Who is your favorite indie erotica author?

CD Reiss or Pam Godwin

 

What is the best and worse advice you have heard authors give writers?

Best advice: don’t publish a book until it is ready. Prepare it properly, with a professional book cover and editing. Worst advice: get an agent, or wait until you have a traditional publishing deal in order to get your work out there.

 

 What type of feedback do you get from your fans?

Everything. Some readers will love scene XYZ while another reader hates it. Readers write in with praise and criticism. The best thing is that they care enough to write.  Any emotion, positive or negative, is better than no emotion.

 

Why do you write under a pen name and would you recommend it for other erotica authors?

I don’t see any reason to not write under a pen name. A pen name gives a degree of privacy to my everyday life. I would recommend it for other authors, but especially erotica authors.

 

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I’m polishing up the final book in the Blindfolded Innocence trilogy. It releases on March 25^th and takes Brad and Julia’s relationship to the next stage.

 

Did you learn anything from writing your books?

I’ve learned a lot in my research, about different sexual fetishes, practices, and motivations. I’ve learned to be a lot more open minded and accepting.

 

Your first book was a #1 Ebook seller. Why do you think Erotica does so well in digital format?

Because of the ability to read erotica privately, without others knowing what smut you hide on your Kindle.

 

What advice would you give to a writer starting out on the self-publishing path?

Don’t put a book out there until it is ready. Pay an editor and cover designer. Prepare your skin, toughen it up.

 

What’s your favorite genre within erotica and why?

Erotic suspense. Alpha male.

 

What’s your biggest writing achievement?

Making the USA Today Bestseller List.

 

Giveaway:

I have one paperback copy of Masked Innocence to give away to one lucky winner!  Simply comment on this blog post to be entered to win.  I will be picking a winner a week from today, 3/15/14.  

Thanks for stopping by!

About the author:

Alessandra Torre is an exciting new author who astonished the publishing world with the success of her first novel, Blindfolded Innocence. Initially self-published, the intriguing romance and erotica title quickly rose to the top of the charts on Kindle and Amazon where it attracted the interest of major publishing houses. Currently available on Kindle, iBookstore and Nook, Blindfolded Innocence will be available in print in through Harlequin Publishing on January 25, 2014.

Torre’s captivating story about a young intern’s sexual awakening has won praise and rave reviews from numerous critics, bloggers and book reviewers, including the acclaimed Dr. Laura Berman. In her recent article “35 to Read After 50″ in Everyday Health, Dr. Berman recommended Blindfolded as a must-read for book enthusiasts searching for a new fix after Fifty Shades of Grey. The book has also received high marks from readers on Goodreads and other literary web sites where fans frequently remark they can’t wait for a Blindfolded sequel.

Momentarily stunned by the book’s rapid success, Torre resumed her daily writing routine and published ‘The Girl in 6E’, an erotic thriller that explores the hidden fetishes men covet and the life of a female recluse who battles an overwhelming desire for murder. The Girl in 6E will be released in Summer 2014, as a hardcover novel, through Redhook, an imprint of Hachette.

From her home near the warm waters of the Emerald Coast in Florida, she devotes several hours each day to various writing projects and interacting with her fans on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Happily married to her “best friend” and with one son, she loves watching SEC football games, horseback riding, reading and watching movies.

Email her at: alessandratorre4@gmail.com
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