Hi Brianna! Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule this holiday season to visit with us. I know that I appreciate this opportunity to visit with you as I am sure that the readers out there are too.

In your new book, Dark Night of the Soul, you have created an erotic vampire story that is receiving wonderful reviews. If you were going to quickly describe this story to someone that has never heard of it or read the blurb, what would you tell them in your own words?

"Dark Night of the Soul", is an erotic vampire romance with a twist, sprinkled with a touch of suspense and time travel.

Can you give us an idea what inspired this story?

An old boyfriend of mine just kept instigating me in my nightly dreams. Lol...he just wouldn’t let go of being the devil in disguise that is how my story came into existence.

This is your second vampire novel best I can tell. Do vampires have a special place in your writing?

I love anything and everything that has vampires, angels and romance in it. All of those three play a major role in my writing at this point in time. I have written a thriller, but I’m not ready to look at that manuscript again as I have another novel in mind about a nun and biker. I wrote this one for my soul mate a few years ago back, it was my first published erotica.

I see you have two upcoming releases that are children’s picture books. What kind of pictures do you find the most rewarding? Do these two books have a general theme or are they random pictures?

Both are educational, inspirational angel picture books. The first one I wrote with my son. Seeing that it got a good response from my former employer, the day care staff including the children I decided to go ahead and turn this Angelic interactive series for children of all ages. All of the colorful pictures are realistic and gorgeously illustrated by a top Canadian illustrator. It will be released in ebook format downloadable, CD ROM, and soft cover in 2006.

Can we get a teaser for what else you are working on right now? (grin)

To be honest I can’t think of one right now. I’m suffering from Timmes withdrawal.

If you had to pin point the moment or person that motivated you to make the send that first story into a publisher, when or who would it be?

Yes, my friend kept on insisting to send in my manuscript and that I’d get a response. I was surprised that on my first entry it was accepted.

Per your website, I found out that you live in Canada. When you are not writing, what is your favorite thing to do or place to visit there?

I love Toronto, its my home and I love Italy. For me living in Toronto is my life with my family and friends. I love the city but I also love living in a small Italian town. In Italy there is the ocean, the endless beaches, the sun, men and everyone’s lives is more tranquil, more laid back.
In Toronto this summer I took a tour with the children, we visited places that I didn’t even know existed within the city. Next year we plan to explore Ottawa, the capital of Canada and move throughout the province. My everyday life consists of working full time, the children and writing. As for my favorite place to visit is St. Michael Cathedral it has that European touch and it’s so peaceful. I get most of my inspirational ideas while meditating there.

Would you say that your outside interests contribute to your writing?

Yes, it does everything I do contribute to my writing not only outdoors, but my everyday life, and the people surrounding me.

How do you manage to balance your writing, deadlines, and a family?

I work out my days in a schedule per say, get up in the morning get the kids ready for school, do the usual housework then move on to my writing for a few hours. Teach for an hour after school, pick up my children from school and back home to being SuperMom lol.

Can you remember where you were and what you were doing when you received the message that your first story had been contracted by a publisher? How did you celebrate?

Yes I was in bed nursing the worst flu of my life, after getting the flu shot. I had a bad reaction to it. So here I was feeling sorry for myself and thought that nothing was going to make me feel better. That phone call that I unexpectedly received from my publisher changed my life.

I have learned that many writers are in fact avid readers. Do you have a particular author or style of book that you enjoy? What would we find on your bookshelf?

Oh yes, I love Beatrice Small, and Jo Ann Simons I’ve read and reread all of her books and every time I read them I’m on a roll of inspiration. My bookshelf, heavens my house is not big enough I got over 8,000 romances which I have read and been collecting since I was a young girl. From Debbie Macomber, all of Harlequin, Blazes, Luna, Time swept lines, Anne Rice, Nora Roberts, Margaret Moore, Margaret Atwood, Emma Holly, Nino Ricci, Stephen King, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Marsha Canham, Virginia Henley, Judith McNaught, Nicholas Spark, Jayne Ann Krentz, Kathleen E Woodiwiss, and the list goes on. I have to include Julia Child, Emeril, Doreen Virtue, Gerald G Jampolsky among other that are non fiction authors that sit on my shelf and are regularly reread a few chapters or pages when in need.

With the holiday season upon us, do you have a favorite tradition or fond memory that you would like to share with us?

Throughout the years I’ve collected all of the Christmas decorations that we hung up on the tree. Mostly all of them are from my grandparents 1930's Christmases. The oldest I have is a wooden angel that grandpa gave to me when I was two. He made it when he was in his teens. Every year I place it in a fresh handmade wreath to hang up near the entrance of our family room.

Your website also mentioned that you have a cookbook coming out. Can you give us an idea of one of your favorite holiday recipes?

Yes of course, the cookbook is for couples and my favorite recipe is the Tiramisu which means PICK ME UP Torte this recipe has been changed to adapt to a party of 12 people. Depending on the portions you will be serving and it’s great for the Holiday season or anytime of the year.

TIRAMISU
Ingredients
1 package of Italian mascapone cream
1 package of whipping cream
1 package of Italian lady fingers biscotti
1/4 cup of Frangelico’s liquer which can be substituted *** see below
2 medium size eggs separated
4 tablespoon of sugar
1 ½ cup of espresso
2 ounces of grated dark semi sweet chocolate flakes
1 ounce of grated white chocolate
1 ounce of unsweeten cocoa powder
Directions:
1. Kiss your lover deeply that something is about to happen between you two with this recipe it’s PICK ME UP time.
2. In a medium size bowl, mix by hand or mixer the egg yolk and sugar until fluffy white peaks.
3. In a separated bowl mix the egg white adding the mascarpone and whipping cream until it’s stiff;)
4. Pour the Frangelico, and remit on low speed until it’s a light golden cream.
5. Incorporate all of the mixtures together to form a smooth creamy mixture.
6. At this point in time you can play with the mixture by pouring it on your lovers body drop by drop and licking it off or you can proceed with the recipe...
7. Refrigerate the mixture until cool for about 20 minutes. During this time you may incorporate some form of foreplay with your lover and proceed to the next step after semi excitement.
8. In a serving dish or pan place one layers of ladyfinger on the bottom of the dish,
9. Generously drizzle the ladyfinger with the espresso. You may add a sprinkle of Franangelico liqueur.
10. Top the first layer with the mascapone mixture and sprinkle a little with the chocolate flakes.
11. Add another layer of ladyfingers same as above.
12. Proceed until you’re done or you may leave it half way the choice is yours.
13. Sprinkle the chocolates flakes all over you both or all over the top of the torte.
14. Refrigerate for a few hours and serve, or serve after 24hr until settled.
Buon appetitio! Eh...Don’t forget to lick each other again;)
*** you may use Marsalla, Vermouth, ice wine, or even champagne as a substitute for the Frangelico
liqueur.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I want to thank you Jessica and Fallen Angel Reviews for this wonderful interview. I also wish to all of the readers and writers who took there time to email and write to me about my book. I've received such a positive feedback from everyone. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will continue to write as long as you continue to write to me and tell me what you want to read about.

Thank you so much for stopping by Brianna. Readers be sure to stop by Brianna’s website to see what you definitely don’t want to miss. It has been a pleasure talking with you and I hope that there are many more stories out there waiting to be told.

Interviewed by: Jessica