Coffee Culture

Lyndi Lamont blog for April 30, 2006

Subject: Coffee Houses

My name is Lyndi Lamont and I'm a coffee addict. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this since my parents were both big coffee drinkers. I can't even blame my habit on caffeine since I was forced to decaffeinate myself some years ago for medicinal reasons. Of course, coffee has always been an acquired taste.

When I needed a setting for newest release, SEDUCING THE ENEMY, it seemed natural to choose a coffee house. In researching the story, I discovered some interesting facts about the history of the brew and the first coffee houses.

Coffee made its appearance in the European luxury market in the mid-seventeenth century. Coffee had become popular in Arabic culture in the 15th century, though it had been used earlier for medicinal purposes. In fact, legend claims that coffee cured the prophet Mohammed of narcolepsy.

The advent of coffee quite literally had a sobering effect on European society. In the Middle Ages, beer was second to bread as the primary sources of nourishment for European peasants. In the latter half of the seventeenth century, as coffee drinking was becoming popular among the upper classes, many English families consumed as much as three liters of beer per person daily, including children.

The first recorded coffee house in England opened in Oxford in 1650, and by 1700 there were more than 2,000 coffee houses in London. Lloyd's Coffee House catered to the maritime trades, including insurance brokers, and later evolved into Lloyd's of London, the world's largest and most famous insurance company.

Coffee houses became popular meeting places for men and a great deal of business was conducted over a cup of coffee. Not all establishments catered to businessmen. Some were centers for political, journalistic and/or intellectual discourse. Charles II complained about the free speech permitted in the houses and "evil reports" about the government that circulated from the coffee houses to the rest of the nation.

One of the oddest complaints about the coffee houses was "The Women's Petition against Coffee" in 1673, in which the women claimed that men were becoming addicted to coffee and neglecting their wives and had become "as unfruitful as the deserts, from where that unhappy berry is said to be brought". Perhaps the women were simply unhappy about being excluded from the coffee houses.

London's coffee houses were knows as "penny universities" and credited with being a great equalizer. For the price of a cup of coffee, any man could enter and take part in the conversations. Even the illiterate benefitted as they could listen to the newspaper being read aloud or to poets reciting and critiquing their works. Current gossip and political scandal were served up along with the popular brew.

Coffee houses crossed the Atlantic and became popular meeting places. The Sons of Liberty met at the Green Dragon Inn, Tavern and Coffee House in Boston. Wouldn't it be ironic if the Boston Tea Party was planned in a coffeehouse? Thanks to the British efforts to force East India Company tea on the colonies, coffee became the patriotic drink of choice for Americans.

SEDUCING THE ENEMY was released earlier this year. In the story, my heroine, an American spies, operates a Philadelphia coffee house during the British occupation of the city. The last thing she expects to do is fall in love with the enemy officer she is spying on. There's an excerpt posted at my website: http://www.lyndilamont.com.

Any other coffee addicts out there? How do you like you're coffee. If you're an aficianado of Starbuck's or another coffee house, what is your favorite concoction? My drink of choice is decaf sugar-free hazelnut Cafe Americano. In fact, I like the sugar-free hazelnut syrup so much, I bought a bottle to put in my coffee at home.

Have a great day!

Lyndi

And another Heat Wave cover

Here's another cover for one of this year's winning Heat Wave stories...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

The Streets Of Florence by Pepper Espinoza (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Upcoming Heat Wave Cover

Here's another cover for one of the Heat Wave releases...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Unloved by Nina Merrill (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Ripping out and starting over

I've had an interesting last few months since I found out that I was one of the winners of this year's Heat Wave contest. It was the start of a cycle of big highs and low lows. This last week, I've been working on clearing things off of my plate so that I can start "fresh" with the start of the new month.

One of the creative things that I do with my precious free time is knitting. My latest project is a cardigan using the Haiku pattern from Knitty. It's going to be a belated first birthday present for my cousin's daughter. I'm at the point that I have one sleeve left to do. Last night I had planned on finishing it. I started off by misremembering how many sets of the pattern stitch I needed to do in order to finish the sleeve itself. However, I didn't realize this right away. Moving on, it took me four tries to get the seam for the sleeve properly done. Two starts was what was required to get the sleeve attached to the body. After all of that work, I laid the cardigan out. Looking at it, really looking at it, I realized that the sleeve I had just finished was...off. Pulling out my measuring tape, I realized that it was a full inch shorter than my other sleeve. Luckily, I hadn't done some of the finishing work and could easily pull the sleeve off. As I've got extra yarn, I decided to start the sleeve all over as doing reconstructive work just wouldn't look as nice as it should.

What does this long and rambling story have to do with writing you ask? A lot. There are times when I'm writing and I feel like I just can't do anything right. It's those times that I have to take a step back from the story. I may need to set it aside for an hour, a day, a week and then come back to it. When I come back to it, the first thing I'll do is read it over. Get an idea of the twists and turns of the story. Often, when I've been wrestling with something and set it aside, I discover that something is "off" with the story when I go back to it. Sometimes, it just needs a little reconstructive work and it's fine. Other times, like with the sleeve, the reconstructive work won't make it as nice as it could be and you have to rip things out and start over.

Next week I'll be starting work on my next story to submit to AQP. I haven't done much more than work on the premise for the story. However, it still isn't gelling for me. Sometimes I can start writing with only a germ of an idea and it works itself out as I write. I'm going to go over the premise a few more times first though in the hopes that the only major ripping out and starting over that I have to do is virtual.

New cover

Here's a cover for an upcoming erotica release...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Bachelor Number Four by Megan Hart (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Another Heat Wave cover

Here's another cover for one of the Heat Wave releases...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Cup Of Fate by Cassandra Curtis (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Back to Fundamentals

It was interesting, I had a conversation with my sister the other day and we happened to be talking about the trades--such as carpentry, plumbing, those kinds of trades. Now she's six years (more or less) younger than me and her children are younger, so she made the comment that schools are constantly pushing kids toward college and achieving in the business world, and those kinds of positions in their future. Who's looking after the young folks who enjoy working with their hands, their bodies, their minds in the trades--those blue collar workers we often take for granted? Who's letting them know they're just as important to the fabric of our lives?

I watched a show last night on the Samurai and they featured a swordmaker--he was something like the twenty-fourth generation in his line. Would a swordmaker's expertise be worth more than a twenty-fourth generation carpenter or builder? My father was a carpenter, his father before him was a carpenter, and he comes from a family of farmers and builders, so that kind of thing is ingrained into my genetic makeup, I think. My grandfather on my mother's side, was an immigrant, who came to this country as a young man from Italy. He was a railroad worker--one of those men making the railways safe for us to travel--and he worked long hours to do just that. My great-grandfather and his sons also worked on the railroad. As a matter of fact, that's how my grandmother met my grandfather--one of my great-uncles brought him home for dinner one night These are the types of people who build the foundations of our society.

I was so pleased and excited when Trace put out the call for am AmberPax that embraced the blue collar worker. I couldn't help but jump into this one with both feet (or hands, well, maybe, and hands) The Helping Hands AmberPax came out this weekend and I was so excited to have my story as a part of this AmberPax. Smooth Finish, my contribution, is a tribute to my husband's profession--that of the wood floor refinisher. Yet I also tried to touch on the ideas that women's equality in the workplace doesn't just come in the business world, in management--it also comes into play in the blue collar workplace. Cody, my wood floor refinisher is a woman, more than capable of handling the job. Finding the man who understands who she is, and not trying to categorize her as a woman who wants to be a man, doing an historically "man's job," is a challenge for Cody. She's already dumped one lover who made her feel less than a woman because he was threatened by her strength, can she find the right man to love her for who she is?

Did I mention that my daughter likes working on cars? And she married someone who likes to race cars and work on them--and appreciates her for who she is. I think she found her soulmate.

I come from a generation where women, for the most part, weren't encouraged in trade positions, nor management positions. You can't do this and you can't do that because you're a woman. We've come a long way, but still have farther to go.

You might see a touch of my husband and a touch of my daughter in Smooth Finish, because, well...we do draw from life to write. If you pass by someone you recognize as a blue collar worker today, take a moment and thank them for the silent, sometimes unrecognized expertise they bring to getting that job done and making our life easier.

When my husband goes shopping with me, it's not uncommon for him to stop by the woman or man or boy stocking the shelves and say "Thank you. You're doing a great job."

Have a great day!

Adrianna

Another new cover

Here's a new cover for a May erotica release...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Cooking With K. C. by Kelsey Lewis (Available May 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Amber Quill Press Authors

Amber Quill Press Authors

Happy Friday, all! Don't you love those covers? Muy Caliente!

I just emerged from the depths of what can only be described as "martian death flu." Even my hair hurt. I hibernated beneath three blankets through eighty-degree temperatures, shivering like a wet chihuahua. On Wednesday I emerged briefly to communicate a feverish epiphany to my understanding employer, which later turned out to be pure jibberish. Shucks... I thought I had solved all of our budget problems.

Last night, I had the strangest experience, almost like an acid trip. (not that I'd know what that was like.) I picked up my hand and waved it in front of my face, it was bright orange, the room seemed bathed in an eerie blue light and my hand and arm stood out like a neon sign. My arm looked skinny and smooth in the weird blue light, and I was breathing clearly for the first time in days. I turned it over and waved it around, it was beautiful. I don't know if it was a dream, since I woke up as foggy and congested as ever.

I don't know what they're putting in Nyquil these days, but I'm not going to complain! I'm feeling downright adequate today, though. I even brushed my teeth! A proud and happy moment for the DH, believe me.

I'm cracking on first edits of Diary of a Dirty Cowboy and celebrating the new cover. Isn't Trace a genius? He took my awkward suggestions and turned them into a masterpiece!

So, I just keep adding names to the list of people I have to thank profusely. You know the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child?" The same can be said for a book. Crit groups, beta readers, editor, publisher, cover artist, reviewer... Diary of a Dirty Cowboy practically has its own zip code.

Well, if you got all the way to the bottom of this post, you're a trooper.

Have an incredible weekend,

Jade

Two new covers...

Here are two covers for upcoming releases...(click on the thumbnails for the full-sized versions)....

  

Diary of a Dirty Cowboy by Jade Rivers (Available June 2006)
Margarita Chica by Jacki King (Available May 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

New Heat Wave Cover

Here's a cover for another of this year's contest winners...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Poker Brat by Barrie Abalard (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Critique Groups - your best friends, and the people you'd most like to murder in their sleep!

Critique groups or critique partners - those people we bravely show our work to when it's no where near ready for prime time. I've been in several critique groups since the middle of my first writing class, almost ten years ago. I love them, but I can tell you that they're not for the faint of heart. So here are my top ten things to know about critique groups before you join one, or as you try to survive the one you're in. 10. If you want someone to pat you on the head, call your mother. Critique groups are a lot of time and work. You’re preparing stuff to submit on a deadline, and you often have a lot of reading to do. For all that effort, you expect and deserve something valuable in return, not ‘it’s really nice dear’. So develop a thick skin because people are going to sling arrows at you. Hopefully some of those arrows are going to pierce through to the heart of your story (sorry, couldn’t resist a metaphor!) 9. It's your work, not theirs. Tie goes to the writer. That last line is Stephen King’s, but I’ll often pull it out if we’re arguing about something at a meeting. The point is, don’t ever forget that it’s your work. You’re never under any ‘obligation’ to change a word, even if everyone in the group has spent three hours at it and disagrees with you. It’s a risk, however… 8. The answer to - 'that doesn't work for me' is 'thank you for telling me.' There is nothing, absolutely nothing, worse than someone who forgets rule number 9 and endlessly argues at a critique group meeting. Gag! It drags on the meeting and makes everyone uncomfortable. Zip your mouth, listen, file the information away, and use it or not when you get home – but don’t argue! Critique groups are not places to defend your work – because there’s nothing to defend. Each person’s response is valid. Your job is to decide if their comments will help you to tell the story the way you want. If not, throw them out. 7. Everyone needs something different, at different times - respect that. Sometimes people need a character evaluation, sometimes people need a brainstorm, sometimes people need a line edit. The group is most valuable for everyone if it doesn’t have only one format or one goal. 6. Their joys are your joys. It’s hard getting published and it’s hard making money with your writing. But just as it’s magical seeing your own name in print and getting a check with your name on it, it’s also wonderful to see your name in a dedication or a story that you helped with in print. Sharing the success of your fellow writers keeps you motivated and excited. 5. Submit ahead of time. Okay, not everything here is philosophical. I’ve been in a number of groups, and the most productive ones submit their materials a few days ahead of time (the few days part was a jab at my very busy friend Lynda who almost always submits the night before. If she wasn’t funny and a great writer we would have killed her a long time ago.) It’s really hard (I would say impossible) to give a good critique after just listening, especially if it’s ten or twelve pages long. 4. Create rules for adding new members before someone says "I have this friend who's working on a novel..." We’ve actually had some nasty and uncomfortable incidents over this one. Is the group permanently closed until someone leaves, is it only for writers in one genre, are you going to audition them first to test their abilities and how they get along with everyone else? You can go a lot of ways – the important thing is to decide this ahead of time to avoid problems. 3. Only writers understand… Duh! The funniest thing is when someone tells a story like ‘I stopped the car at the side of the road and wrote the idea down on the side of the tissue box in lipstick’ – the writers in the room nod their heads and the non-writers think the person is a nut case. It can be nice to send emails around when you're tearing your hair out, and people give you advice that keeps you going. You know that they've been in the dark place you can't seem to find your way out of, and they hold the flashlights. 2. It’s a great role model for your kids. This was one of those wonderful and unexpected bonuses. My kids have grown up with writers coming to the house and arguing about stories (I have dreams about them later writing memoirs about their mother’s literary salons, but that’s another story). They’ve seen that writing is not a ‘one draft’ process, but is a lot of hard work and constant rewriting. They’ve seen that writing is fun and interesting and something adults enjoy doing. I’m working on a YA story and they help me with it. They’ve also participated when YA stories or stories in a genre they’re interested in were being critiqued. 1. Join one! Sometimes I want to (and do!) throw things at the writers across the table, sometimes I want to throttle them, and sometimes I completely disagree with them. But they’ve become some of my best friends and I know my writing is better because of them. So be brave and join one. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

New erotica cover

Here's a new cover for a May erotica release...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Thief Of Hearts by Caitlyn Willows (Available May 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Another new cover

Here's a cover for a May release...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

The Quest For Gillian's Heart by Catherine Snodgrass (Available May, 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

How Appropriate

I found this via another erotica author blog, and thought it fun for a sunny Saturday:



Напиши еще?


I don't know the language it's in, but you can click the link, select this or any other format, put your name or word into the box, and click the button.

Go see what your name looks like in naked bodies!

New cover

Here's a cover for a May release...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Party For Two by Trixie Stilletto (Available May, 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Thomas Jefferson...and my parents

Today is a great day. April 13th marks the anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth. It may surprise some of you to know I've had a crush on TJ since I was twelve. I don't know what it is about tall, masculine men... Add to TJ's height his indescribable love for our country--not to mention his home and his phenomenal way with words--and Oh, my God!

Now, make no mistake. I know the guy had his faults, but what man (or woman, for that matter) doesn't? If he isn't leaving his dirty boxers in my drawing room, I'm willing to chalk him up in the America's Hotties column. I'm also willing to admit I may be more enamored with Monticello than with the man who built it. I'm a sucker for a sweet pile of bricks, and the first time I saw TJ's home on a rainy day, I just about creamed my jeans. But I digress.

I suppose my love for home design can be attributed to my mother, and my love for historical figures, to my father, who shares TJ's birthday. Happy Birthday to the man who still calls me "Pudge Butt." Like TJ, my father has innumerable faults, and I've accepted these, too.

As TJ and my father are two of the most influential men in my life, it's a no-brainer that they've inspired me in the writing realm. Both men lost their wives at a fairly early age (Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson died in childbirth, and my mother divorced my father after...well, every marital problem thus far known to man.) Both men remained bachelors and relied on their daughters to hold the homefront together. Coincidentally, I became keeper of my father's accounts, purchaser of gifts for a slew of girlfriends, and cook and pastry chef for my daddy right around the time I fell for Thomas Jefferson. Go figure.

My May release, Rolling In Clover, stars Luke Jackson, a derivative of my father, and Kimberley Roderick, an evolved version of my mother. My parents have become great friends over their years apart, and they've at long last forgiven one another for countless trespasses. (I should commend my stepfather, here, as well, who welcomes my daddy into his home on holidays, always with a handshake and a smile.) Rolling In Clover is chock full of emotional trauma, family issues, spicy connections...and beautiful houses. Interestingly enough, my parents' fifteen-year marriage was concocted with much of the same. I'm sure Freud would have a field day analyzing this book, and I hope many of you will enjoy it, too. Tag your calendars! It's coming soon!

Ancient History, release date TBA, involves an ex-husband and -wife team (Is there a theme here?) working together to refurbish the third floor of Jefferson's Monticello. I enjoyed the dickens out researching this piece, I assure you! Take yourself on a tour of TJ's mansion...and on a wild ride with Scottie--professor of history--and Molly--furniture historian. Release details to follow, as I receive them from the almighty AQP staff!

So what will I be doing this April 13th? In addition to wondering how boxers appear in mysterious places, I'll be celebrating the birthday of two amazing Americans by paging through pictures of Monticello...and my baby book, to remember a very valuable lesson:

A person's faults make him interesting. Acceptance, while a challenge, can be inspiring.

And you know what? I'm gonna call my father on that ridiculous nickname. I do NOT have a pudgy ass.

So yesterday is one of my fave mail days of the month: Cosmo Day! Yes, I love coming home to my new Cosmo, and this month didn't fail to disappoint. I love the "behind the scenes" stories of people who interact with stars then spill the dirt on what they're really like.

The one that cracked me up the most was the one about the supermodel who was a complete pig--never showered, went to bed with her makeup on, and even had crumbs in her bed! I realize these stories could be completely fake , but I love the idea that some glamorous woman--who will blow through more money in a month than I will see all year and who has things waxed and plucked that I wouldn't dream of--is a total slob.

Makes me feel like there's some justice in the world.

Many thanks to Isabella for the kind words about my story in the new Amber Pax PRYING EYES. That hunkalicious bouncer Mr. G is one of my favorite heroes I've ever written. That boy is so yummy you could eat him up with a spoon in each hand! As the heroine says, "He looked like most bouncers, muscles as far as the eye could see, and a body fat percentage that could be measured in negative numbers. His thick, jet black hair begged my fingers to dive in for a romp every time I walked by, and he had a way of smiling when he said my name that could make me melt every day of the week and twice on Sunday."

I'll have one of those, please!

I really hope you enjoy The Glamorous Life and all the other stories in the collection. Happy reading!

Jacki

So I'm going to Daytona (aka now what do I do? LOL)

I have to start by saying that I'm VERY lucky in that I am going with two author friends who know the ropes and have taken care of the room reservations, the rental car. It's great. All I have to do is figure out how to get food and I can live there.

Here's the thing...

Then what do I do? LOL What do I WANT to do? What SHOULD I do? What should I avoid like hot tamales on buffet night? Talk to me. What has your RT Conference experience been like?

Isy the Intimidated

Hey Better Late Than Never

I'm always running a little behind. It started when I had children. LOL

I do keep up with great reads however. Take this fabulous AmberPax for example:



Some of my favorite authors are in this collection. Heck, they even talk to me when I'm on the loops. Wonderful ladies. =)

The Glamorous Life by Jacki King - Jackie Collins has nothing on this very talented writer who brings the glamorous life of the title to life with great penache. Very steamy read, wonderful characters...

A Matter of Choice by Natalie Damschroder - no one does emotion like Natalie. I've been a fan of this very prolific author for quite some time and she doesn't disappoint here. Don't miss this story that has a little magic, a lot of steam and incredible amount of heart. =)

Immortal Treasure by Adrianna Dane - one of my favorite authors. I will be a little biased here. LOL Here she is focusing on one of my favorite themes - Egypt. There is little more you could possibly want from an entertaining read - the heat, the details, the characters that make you sigh when you finish the story...

Seducing the Enemy by Lyndi Lamont - another personal favorite of mine. You don't find many stories with this particular historical setting - much to my dismay because I love it. NO ONE does it like Lyndi. I love this author's voice, the care she takes in developing her story and pulling you completely into it. Did I mention her writing is incredibly hot. LOL It is...

Finally, Silk Sheath by Carolina Valdez - What an intelligent and sharp story. What an incredibly sexy hero. The chemistry between these characters was amazing to me. This is a story I'll read again...

I LOVE the AmberPax collections. Who wouldn't? You're guaranteed 5 amazing stories, you get a discount. What more is you looking for? LOL

New Horror Cover

Here's the cover flat for a forthcoming paperback....(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Nobody Told The Wind by T. K. Sheils (Available May 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

The Spice Girls - What Flavor is Your Heroine?

They say girls are made of ‘sugar and spice’ and it’s the spice that makes a good heroine.

We talk about heroes a lot here at Amber Quill. Dark, sexy, tortured, alpha males are part of what makes romance so fabulous. But what would a hero be without his heroine? Behind every good man stands the woman who spurs him to greater heights, the one who captures his heart and makes him a little crazy with lust besides.

A good heroine is a mixture of attitude and vulnerability. She has to rise above her circumstances, make the hero stop in his tracks and say, “Whoa.” She can’t just be a pretty face anymore. She has to roll with the punches and handle whatever life, and the hero, throws at her. Good heroines don’t all come from the same mold. They have different flavors that make them appealing.

Here are just a few of the spices I could think of:

Sassy Spice – She’s the girl with snap, crackle and pop. She tells the hero like it is and doesn’t take BS from anyone. Her one-liners sizzle and sting and the hero better watch himself around her. She’s tough and self-sufficient and taming her is going to take every ounce of strength he has.

Magical Spice – She’s the girl with something extra. She may be a powerful witch, a faerie or even an alien princess with amazing abilities. If the hero’s not careful he could end up hopping around the lily pond for the rest of his days, but he can’t resist her magical allure.

Brainy Spice – She’s the scientist, the professor, the go-to tech and gadget girl. She’s the expedition leader, the one in the know and the hero usually has his hands full keeping her out of danger while she saves the world.

Tangy Spice – Ay carumba! She’s the exotic beauty from a strange land. The hero has never met anyone quite like her and he never will. She makes him sweat just by looking at him but he’d better watch out. All that heat will burn him to a crisp if he isn’t careful.

Mystery Spice - She’s the wild card. The hero can’t figure her out, but he can’t help trying. Peeling away the layers that cover her secret desires will keep him busy for a long time. When he gets to the heart of her, what will he find?

Who’s your favorite Spice girl?


PS: If you entered my Birthday Bonanza contest, the winners have been posted on my Blog! Thank you everyone who entered!

Cover Art

Here's a cover for a May release...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

A Perfect Fit by Megan Hart (Available May, 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Dear Devon

Dear Devon,

I’m on a plane, my usual location these days when you’re on your way home. I don’t know why it’s so hard to face you.

Maybe it’s the tension you carry, as if any second you expect me to leave you. I hate making you feel that way, but I don’t know how to assure you when I can’t assure myself.

Uncertainty is driving me, and you know how I am. I can’t stand it. You tell me you love me, and I wonder if you really do, or if the magic just makes you believe it. It shouldn’t matter what compels it. I should just be satisfied with what is. But I can’t, especially because when I say it back, I don’t know if it’s any more true for me. What happens if the bond fails?

Cowardice is not my way. Agents don’t get far being cowards, and I’m one of the best agents The Guild has. That’s why they keep sending me on assignment, why I’m always winging it somewhere else, even when you’ve just done a Chicago-London turnaround in three days. At least I can pretend it’s not fear.

I’m going to flush this down the toilet in a minute. They say writing down your feelings is supposed to make you feel better.

It’s not working.

I love you, Devon.

I think.

Maggie

Maggie and Devon from Elemental Passion are struggling with the compulsion of the bond that identified them as soulmates. Find out how they handle it in A Matter of Choice, released today as part of the Prying Eyes AmberPax.

New cover

Here's a cover for a May release in e-book and paperback...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Rolling In Clover by Penny Dawn (Available May 1, 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Bacchi Birthday Blog

Hi, everyone! Laura Bacchi here.

First off, congrats to all the AQP bestsellers for this quarter! I was tickled to see Chosen: The Chronicles of Winter in the number four spot. In fact, it was better than all the birthday gifts I got today! I did get a cool present yesterday from new Amber Heat author Jade Rivers - an online tarot card reading. And not just any reading; it was a very promising reading filled with optimism and good writing karma. Thanks, Jade!

Last night, I rambled on at my own blog about birthdays, and I thought I'd share some of it here...

I don't celebrate birth-days - I have birthday months or birthday weeks. My husband seems to think I'm getting too old to drag the event out over a long period of time anymore, so I cheer quietly when no one's in the room and eat lots of cake when nobody's looking. And I still would like a party every birthday, but my daughter's birthday is the day before mine (I wanted a child before I turned 30 and made it by 13 hours. Whew!), so mine generally takes a back seat to hers. That doesn't mean I can't influence the type of party she has...

Most of you probably don't know this, but I've got a pirate fetish. I'm not quite sure what that means - maybe I'm attracted to peg legs and parrots and mouths ravaged by scurvy. While looking for my daughter's birthday stuff in Party America, I happened upon the pirate aisle:

"Why don't you have a pirate birthday, hon?" I asked with a straight face. And I tried very hard to keep the puppy-dog eyes in check.

"No, mom. I want something else."

"But pirates are cool! Look at this pirate hat! And this amazing shark pinata! We could stuff it with chocolate doubloons. Wouldn't that be great?!"

My husband patted me on the shoulder. "Um, Laura..."

"Yeah?"

"We're shopping for Heather's party."

"But..."

"Laura, you're not having a party."

"But I could have a party."

"Hon, you know all of five people up here. Who would you invite?"

Good question. Too bad I don't know a motley crew of sea-going lads dressed in frilly shirts, tight breeches, and tall leather boots. I do, however, have some favorite hunks from Trace Zaber's awesome Amber Heat covers that I would like to see in pirate garb, preferably with the shirts unlaced and the breeches tight. Here's who I would invite:

Shandar from Sasha White's Petshani. Nipple rings. Need I say more?

Mangus from Grace Draven's Draconus. Yum.

Daniel from Jennifer Colgan's Wolfsbane. Double-yum.

Drago from Cherry Sloe's Roman Dagger. He'll have to ditch the blade though - it'll make the guys in eye patches kinda nervous.

I want some authentic pirates, too. So all the hotties on the Shiver M'Timbers AmberPax are welcome aboard!

And of course I'll be inviting all my cover hunks, but too bad for Lucky - I seem to have run out pirate costumes. Guess he'll just have to come as he is... ;)

But why should I have all the fun? If you wanna win a present on my birthday weekend, post your eye candy of choice on the Amber Heat Readers Loop, and I'll draw a winner from the entries. All entries must be posted before midnight EST on Saturday, April 8th. From those who post, I'll pick a winner for Chosen: The Chronicles of Winter!

Good luck!!!

AQP Best Seller List - 1st Quarter 2006

AMBER QUILL PRESS, LLC
is proud to announce our best-sellers
for 1st Quarter (January-March) 2006!


Electronic Books

1) Ken'Ja by Bernadette Gardner (Futuristic Erotica)
2) Arena by Grace Draven (Futuristic Erotica)
3) Take It On Faith by M. L. Rhodes (Contemporary Erotica)
4) Chosen: The Chronicles Of Winter by Laura Bacchi (Futuristic Erotica)
5) (tie) Draconus by Grace Draven (Fantasy Erotica)
5) (tie) Forbidden Fruit by Caitlyn Willows (Contemporary Erotica)
6) Snaring The Huntress by Sylvia Day (Futuristic Erotica)
7) Night Shadows, Book I: Night Shadows by M. L. Rhodes (Vampire Erotica)
8) Out Of Space by Brit Blaise (Futuristic Erotica)
9) (tie) High Roller by Caitlyn Willows (Futuristic Erotica)
9) (tie) Institutional Sex by Natalie J. Damschroder (Contemporary Erotica)
10) Amber Circle by T. C. Jilké (Soap Opera)

Paperbacks

1) Talking To Trees by Kathryn Sullivan (Fantasy)
2) Measuring Up by Penny Dawn (Contemporary Romance)
3) Cave Creek Cowboys by Brit Blaise (Erotic Romance Anthology)
4) Midnight, Magic, & Naughty Things by Isabella Jordan (Erotic Romance Anthology)
5) The Academy by Scarlett Dean (Horror)
6) Scent Of The Wolf by Tracy Jones (Paranormal Gothic Romance)
7) Sophie's Playboy by Natalie J. Damschroder (Contemporary Romance)
8) Captain Sinister's Lady by Darlene Marshall (Historical Romance)
9) Images Of Desire by Adrianna Dane (Erotica Romance Anthology)
10) My Secret Yankee by T. D. McKinney & Aimee Maison (Historical Romance)

June Heat Wave Cover

Here's another cover for a Heat Wave Contest winner...(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Tales Of The Pride: Awakening by Larissa Lyons (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Reviews: The Good, the Bad and the Undecipherable

Reviews: as authors we all get them. We love some, we hate some, we cringe at some and we try to ignore a few! Because reviewers are people and have opinions and prejudices just like the rest of us, it is often possible for reviews to differ widely, so widely you would not think they were talking about the same book. Take these clips, for example:

" The interactions between the two while humorous were also unrealistic. The sex was unimaginative and not arousing. The use of analogies and euphemisms made it hard to accept ... as an erotic romance."

"The sex is erotic and will have you heating up very quickly. If you are in the mood for a western with a very hot cowboy then this is the book for you."

"Skip was a great character for generating tremendous sexual hunger. The heated scenes between Tracey and Skip are beautifully written... This story really sizzles."

Now, would you think these were all talking about the same piece of writing? Obviously the reviewers read it with different expectations and reactions. The work being reviewed was the third of my Rodeo Girls stories, Cowboy First Aid. The first snip was from Sin St. Luke for JERR, the second from Sherry for Coffee Time, and the third from Ellen for TRS. I'm still a little puzzled at what the JERR reviewer expected but finally just had to conclude that you cannot please all the reviewers all the time. I thought I was pretty blunt and used mostly common and some of the more vulgar or slangy terms (that I had heard in cowboy and rodeo circles myself) but obviously she did not see it that way.

If you are a new writer, you may as well reconcile yourself to that fact that some reviewers will just not "get" your work, some will praise it but not tell you (or the readers) anything concrete, some will give you some positive suggestions that may help you improve your next effort and some will be so much on your wave length that it is almost uncanny! I have come to accept reviews for what they are--one person's opinion. Sure, a really bad one makes me depressed for a bit but I shrug this off much quicker than I did the first time or two. The good ones paste a big grin on my face, but I also realize now that a good review is not necessarily the key to big sales and many dollars in the bank. It may help a little, that's all. So enjoy but don't get too elated. It's just all part of this crazy game called being a writer.

My suggestion is to use them as best you can. All but the really awful ones usually have a few words you can snip out and use to your advantage in promo work. Occasionally a reviewer will gift you with some wonderfully quotable words. Use them for all they are worth! Otherwise, look for suggestions, just as you would in an editor's rejection letter, as to how you might have made this book better. Perhaps you can use them in your WIP. Above all, don't take the bad ones to heart for more than a few minutes. Have your cry or cuss and then move on.

Regardless of the content, do try to send a thank you to every reviewer. Most can be reached through the site they review for--some have direct links and just about all have a web mistress or someone in charge who will relay your thanks. A few nice words do mean a lot. This person took the time to read your book and comment so she deserves a response, courteous please! Many reviewers are either frustrated or wannabe writers and this is their claim to fame, at least for now. Their name is attached to something that is published, so it is a big deal. Respect that.

Now how can a reader use reviews to help find books that will appeal to her? I see this as a kind of trial and error process. You will want to scope out as many of the review sites as you can and read a lot of reviews. Then, see if you can find reviews for books you have read and really liked or disliked. (Google titles as a quick way to pop up all the available reviews for a certain book, putting the title in quotes so the whole phrase is used to search.) See what the reviewer said and look for those whose opinions seem to parallel yours the most.

Once you find a few reviewers who seem to share your slant on life, love and reading, you can probably trust their comments on new books and new authors to lead you to enjoyable reads. By contrast you may also find some reviewers whose visions diametrically oppose yours and if they hate a book, it is likely that you will enjoy it! There are a tremendous number of books being written and published today with new publishers emerging almost daily. Obviously you do not want to waste time and money on books that you will not enjoy. More of the publishers are giving 'heat ratings', subject or sub-genre information and similar guides to help steer your choices. If you don't care for cowboys or vampires or menage stories, it's nice to know which titles fall into those groups. Reviews can help here when the publisher's site does not give enough information.

In short, for both writers and readers reviews can be a valuable tool. The key to using them effectively is to recognize that they are an opinion or reaction to a piece of literature and no two people are going to read the same book. This is because each one will bring a unique set of perceptions, prejudices, and pre-conceived ideas to her reading. If you keep this in mind, you'll find reviews much more understandable and useful.

If you are still with me, I definitely owe you a contest! Post a comment here or drop me a line at azwriter427@yahoo.com and you will be entered. I'll be giving away a couple of small prizes. A "reader's comfort kit" which includes a couple of bookmarks and coasters done in plastic canvas and a clip-on book light. Yep, I do some handcrafts on the side, a great way to unwind from writing! And for readers, your choice of my available works with Amber Quill in whatever electronic format you prefer. I'll contact you for your selection.

Have a great day and of course read and/or write happy! BTW, donning my Celtic hat--er, make that a glengarry!-- today is Tartan Day, a special celebration of the Scots culture and the here in the 'states' the contributions of many Scottish Americans from the colonial days on. Kiss a Scot today ;-)

Deirdre

Take It On Faith!

I'm running behind today. Ack!! Seems the story of my life. Always busy, and never enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I'd like. But in all honesty, I'd rather be a little too busy than not busy enough. :)

My newest erotica story, TAKE IT ON FAITH, was released in late March, so today I thought I'd share a bit of it with you!

Hotel heiress Elizabeth Sandringham is in Mexico for her wedding. But two nights before the nuptials, her fiancé reveals he's more into his best man than his future bride. Disgusted and disillusioned with love, Elizabeth ditches the ceremony only to end up stranded in a seedy bar in the middle of nowhere. When a drug war shoot ‘em up breaks out, she’s kidnapped by gun-toting bad guys. She assumes her situation can't get any worse...until the gang's leader claims her as his own. Suddenly, Elizabeth's trouble becomes a whole lot more intimate.

Miguel Delgado is every woman's bad boy fantasy. He’s brooding. Dangerous. And hot enough to singe the panties off a good girl like Elizabeth. Although he attempts to maintain an air of steely control around her, there’s no stopping the heat that rises between them. Even as she seeks a way to escape, she's drawn in by the powerful magnetism and erotic lure of the sexy desperado. But forbidden passion with an outlaw can only lead to one thing—heartbreak.

Unless a girl’s willing to take it on faith…

Release date: March 2006
AQP Heat Level: 3 (Amber Quill's hottest level of sensuality)
Length: Extended Novella (39k words)
Price (electronic): $4.50

And here's an excerpt for you...

“Let me lay out your situation for you.” He leaned down until he was inches from her face. His eyes, a rich velvet brown, narrowed into mere slits. His breath, like the rest of him, was warm and clean.

“My men would like nothing better than to use your body in ways a nice woman like you couldn’t begin to fathom. And when they finished with you, they would dump you in a pit in the ground like yesterday’s garbage. No one would find your remains. If you so much as set a foot outside that door”—he pointed to the wooden portal that sealed her off from the nightmare of Ramirez and Christo—“they’ll rape you and you’ll wish for death.”

The trembling began again, starting with her awkward, bandaged hands and spreading out into her arms and legs.

“I’ve claimed you as my woman, and as long as you stay close to me, they’ll respect that. They won’t like it and they’ll want to kill me as well, but they will respect it. ¿Comprendes?”

Elizabeth stared at him, shaking for all she was worth.

“I won’t let them touch you, but you must do exactly as I say.” He gripped her face between his long fingers, and stared into her eyes. “If I tell you to jump, you’ll do it. If I tell you to be quiet, you will be. If I tell you to touch me, or bare your breasts for me, or touch yourself for me, you’ll do that, too. Do you understand?”

She stared at him in defiance, her mind rebelling at what he was saying, but her body oddly tingling at the same time.

“Do—you—understand?” he growled, his hand squeezing harder.

She nodded.

His mouth came down onto hers, scorching and demanding, and she was certain in that instant he was, indeed, the devil, and she'd just made a pact with him. But then his assault turned from hard to hungry. His tongue flicked out to trace her lower lip, sensuously teased her mouth open, and sought entry.

A jolt of unbridled electricity shot through her when his tongue met hers, twisting and seducing her in a primitive dance. And she found herself, to her horror, ensnared by the passion of it.
This was nothing like Lionel’s cool, sophisticated kisses. This man tasted like unadulterated sex and danger—things that should have terrified her. Yet she moaned into his mouth, and her weightless, inebriated body arched upward of its own free will, seeking his touch. Which he gave, sliding a hand under her almost-bare fanny and lifting her until her silk panty-covered mound pressed against the granite in the crotch of his jeans.

A sudden vision filled her head of what his cock would look like—long, ribbed with veins, impossibly stiff, and eager to fill her, stretch her, fuck her. She groaned.

He pulled his mouth off hers and lowered her back to the bed, and she blinked up at him, reeling and confused at her own reaction. But he paused an inch or so above her mouth and whispered in a husky tone, “I won’t let them touch you.”

Want more? You can buy it at Amber Quill Press right now!

Hugs and happy reading,
ML

Yet Another Heat Wave Cover

Here's one more cover for a Heat Wave Contest winner...gigantic battle axe and all....(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Darkson's Forfeit by Marie Harte (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

New Heat Wave Cover

Here's another cover for one of the Heat Wave Contest winners....(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

The Claiming by Sherrill Quinn (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Writing Erotica

Hi,

I'm Lyndi Lamont and I thought I'd write a bit about romantic erotica, its meaning and its history.

Last weekend I attended the Celebrate Romance conference in Long Beach, California, a small, intimate conference of romance readers and authors. We all had a lovely time. AQP author Sylvia Day was also in attendance, which gave us a chance to meet face-to-face.

On Saturday afternoon, Harlequin Spice author Jina Bacarr and I led a discussion on Erotic Romance. One of the questions we were asked is what is the difference between erotica and pornography. Jina said erotica was more sophisticated. I said that erotica has more literary merit, in the sense of having a plot beyond the sexual activities, character development, etc. And romantic erotica often has the obligatory happily-ever-after (HEA) ending romance readers have come to expect.

Not completely satisfied with our answers, I did a little research yesterday. I discovered that the word pornography literally means "writing about prostitutes", and in the 19th century, it was used for factual reports about prostitution.

Erotica, on the other hand, comes from Eros, the Greek god of love. So a literal definition might be that pornography is solely about the lusts of the body, while erotica is about the longings of the heart as well. In practical terms, the definition is always somewhat subjective. As Tom Lehrer said in his brilliant satirical song, Smut:

All books can be indecent books,
Though recent books are bolder,
For filth, I'm glad to say,
Is in the mind of the beholder.

Ribaldry is as old as humanity, as Jina pointed out when she suggested we start our presentation by reciting some lines from Lysistrata, written by Greek playwritght Aristophanes in 411 BC. Set during the Peloponnesian Wars, Lysistrata tells how the women of Greece ended the war by refusing to have sex with their husbands and lovers until they laid down their swords. Not a bad idea when you think of it. The play is still performed today.

Ancient societies were more matter-of-fact in their attitudes toward sex than Western society has been. Ancient art depicts nude fertility goddesses and men and women engaged in sexual activity. Check out the wall paintings in Pompeii, for instance. India has the Kama Sutra, and the Japanese their "pillow books" which are often given to young couples on their wedding night.

During the Dark Ages and into the Middle Ages, learning was kept alive by the Catholic Church, which censored anything considered blasphemous or pronographic. The invention of the printing press took publication out of religious hands, and opened things up both politically and culturally.

In 1524, Italian poet Pietro Aretino published a book of sonnets, Sonnetti Lussuriosi, containing illustrations of sixteen sexual positions drawn by Giuliano Romano, a pupil of Raphael. Casanova mentions the book in his memoirs. Its publication caused such a controversy, Aretino had to flee and the Church burned the books. No complete copy survived, unless there is one in the Vatican's secret archives. However the sonnets did, as well as engravings by Marcantonio Raimondi based on Romano's drawings.

Fanny Hill or The Memoris of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland is widely regarded as the first erotic novel. First published in 1749, it depicted the life of a young courtesan with more detail than seen before. More scandalous, perhaps, is the fact that Fanny is "of a warm nature" and doesn't seem to mind being a woman of pleasure. The most shocking scene for the time is one in which Fanny observes the activities of two gay men, a scene Cleland swore he did not write, but which he claimed was inserted later in a pirated edition.

Both author and publisher were arrested for "corrupting the King's subjects", but were cleared and released. Fanny Hill was banned in the United States in 1821 and not cleared until 1966 when the Supreme Court decided it did not meet the standard for obscenity, i.e. "without redeeming social importance".

By today's standards, Fanny Hill seems fairly tame. The sex scenes are full of florid language and the kind of euphemisms that are so often criticized in historical romances, but there's never any question of who is doing what to whom. It can also be viewed as a romance, since Fanny's true love returns at the end to marry her, giving her the obligatory HEA ending, and redeeming her in society's eyes.

When I was thinking about trying my hand at erotica, I talked to my friend Caitlyn Willows about it. She said writing erotica was freeing, and she was right. It's a license to be naughty, and at my age, those opportunities don't come along very often.

My next "naughty" story is Seducing the Enemy, part of the Prying Eyes AmberPax, due for release next week. There's an excerpt posted at my website: http://www.lyndilamont.com

Lyndi

Never give up (never surrender!)

Hi! I'm Kelsey Lewis and this is my first Amber Quill blog. I'm a forty-something American ex-pat living in Canada, chasing my three kids and trying to write while they're in school. When I signed up to do this I basically had no idea what I was going to write about. In the shower this morning, I thought I'd do that horrid thing that mothers can't resist - give advice! I'll call it 'the best writing advice I've heard over the years' or 'what I wish people had told me when I was scribbling stories in high school.' Here goes: 10. You're a writer if you write - not if you're published. I'll be the first to admit, there's nothing cooler than being published, and seeing your new cover, going over edits and galleys (and being able to tell people you're doing that!) and all the fun stuff that goes with being published. But not everyone writes stuff that's publishable, and not everyone writes stuff that there's currently a market for. It's not a waste of time or effort to just write. It's wonderful therapy for anyone, but especially, I think, mothers who feel isolated at times, and kids trying to deal with growing up. It can help you to purge or clarify feelings, and deal with things in a clearer manner. And who knows, life changes, time frees up - if you want to be published, then the time may come later in your life to pull out all of those raw stories and journal ramblings and turn them into something that can be submitted to a publisher. 9. If you really want to get serious about writing, take a creative writing class - first! This is for when you're ready. Local universities and community colleges have wonderful classes. A creative writing course lets you speak the same language as other writers. If you don't know what a McGuffin is or how POV works, you're going to have trouble. Local classes help you find other writers in your area for critique partners or groups. A good class also helps you develop a thick skin in a gentle environment. 8. Don't fall in love with your words. Isn't this the truest, and the hardest, thing to convince yourself. I've written amazing, funny, wonderful scenes and characters, but they've ended up on the cutting floor. The important thing, always, is to create a story that works, not a scene. (and hey, you can always reuse it somewhere else!) 7. Let yourself write crap. I've heard this a thousand times, but this really hit home last Fall when I was trying to write Desirable Enemy, but it was refusing to be written! Other writers were emailing at the time, and I wrote that I was basically taking my hair scrunchie in and out a hundred times but not actually writing anything. A dear friend (thank you Lynda!) said - put hair up, put it down, pull it all out, but let yourself write crap. We'll help you separate the wheat from the chaff later. And so I did! (Shameless plug - if you pick up the story, you can see if I succeeded!) I also give this advice to my kids when they're frustrated with school work, and I gave it to my brother when he was writing a eulogy recently and was struggling. People who don't write fiction extensively often seem to think that every sentence has to perfect when it's created. To me, this is the best piece of advice you can pass on to people who write occasionally. 6. Don't quit your day job. I wish someone had told me when I was going to college and loved to write that most writers have day jobs for a long time (or spouses that help support them, or are independently wealthy, I guess). If I had known that, I wouldn't have felt like I either had to support myself writing or do something else. I personally know only two writers who support themselves writing full time. It is possible to get there, but not easy. And not immediately. So, just like with point 10, you're still a writer even if you're also an accountant or a secretary or whatever. 5. You can't just write - you have to stand on a soapbox and shout about what you've written also. I took a class with Robert Sawyer this summer - an SF writer who won the Hugo a few years ago, and someone I consider one of the best SF writers in the world. He said he spends a considerable percentage of his time doing promotion. If he has to do it, the rest of us are doomed. It's not a writer's favorite thing to do, but I once heard Heather Graham speak at a conference and describe books like little puppies in a basket, all calling out 'choose me, choose me'! You have to make your puppy stand out, because there are a lot of other choices. 4. It's okay to have a life and take a break. One of my favorite, albeit less than inspired, sayings is 'life ebbs and flows'. Sometimes you take, sometimes you give, sometimes you write a lot and sometimes you just read a lot and dream of writing. Don't beat yourself up if you're too busy to write - it happens to all of us. I've had years when I haven't written. I'm back to it now and publishing. Just don't take too big of a break. 3. Critique groups: they're good, they're bad, they're ugly. Join one. I could write a whole blog on critique groups (maybe I will someday, and I apologize if someone else already did and I missed it!). Writing is lonely and it's nice to connect with other writers - sometimes because you need help with your writing, sometimes because only other writers understand what it's like to wake up at four am and need to rush to your computer because you finally understand why the couple broke up and how they can get back together. Not everyone likes them, and they can be deadening too, but I'd be lost without mine. 2. Don't stop learning. I still take classes, read and reread writing books, and attend conferences. They boost your energy, teach you new things, remind you of stuff you forgot. I always leave a writing book or a class with a renewed vow to write and to do a better job telling stories. 1. Never give up, never surrender! I just love this line, so I had to throw it in. Don't give up. If stories are in your head, and you're dying to get them out, then keep writing them down. If you want to be published, new markets open up all the time. You can't be published if you don't write. A lot. A real lot. Thanks for reading! I have a new website (www.Kelsey-lewis.com) going along with that promotion thing, so check it out if you get a chance. -Kelsey

New Paperback Cover

Here's the cover flat for a forthcoming paperback....(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Conflict Of Interests by Alan M. Brooker (Available May 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Details

Happy Sunday Everyone,

Sorry, I'm late putting this up, but some days life has a habit of interrupting.

I love to write stories set in far off places—to share with my readers the smell of exotic spices and all the other colorful sights and sounds as my characters wander through the souk in Tangiers, or maybe it’s a romantic night-time stroll along the Seine with the hero of my story, or, if the heroine is in jeopardy, a race for time through a confusing maze of back streets and narrow alleys in Moscow, Madrid or Marseilles with the hounds of hell snapping at our heels.

Even with extensive research, using locations you’ve never visited can be tricky. Using locations you think you know well can be even trickier—especially if you haven’t been to that particular spot in several years. I was born in London, England, and thought I knew it pretty well. The last time I was in the East End, once the home of the London Docks, it was full of ancient, crumbling wharves and warehouses, so, when I wrote WHERE’S MICHELLE (a romantic suspense involving the kidnap of a 9-year old girl) an old abandoned wharf seemed like the perfect place to set the opening scene. Fortunately, I’d made the exact location of the wharf very vague which was just as well because on my next visit some years later, shortly after the book was published, I discovered huge changes had occurred. There are still a few pockets of decay awaiting rejuvenation and historically significant sites have been preserved, but most of what I remember has gone. The streets are still there, but most of those old warehouses have been replaced by expensive Thameside condos.

In WITHOUT A CLUE—a romantic suspense set in Paris, I was the victim of what I can only describe as absolute and outright sabotage on the part of the French people I’ve visited Paris many times and, since I prefer to walk rather than ride, I’m familiar with the layout and have visited all but one of the famous tourist attractions on more than one occasion. So imagine my shock the last time I was in Paris and I found an expressway running through part of the Tuileries Gardens--the exact spot where my heroine was to make contact with the “mystery woman”. At this point, Clue hadn’t been published, so it was simply a matter of finding a new location for the scene. I finally decided on the Palais Royal which turned out to be an even better choice because many of the boutiques in the Palais gardens have both front and back entrances and this allowed me to escalate “the chase”.

I’m currently working on SEEING CAN BE DECEIVING, the second Liz Moretti mystery. But when I started the research, once again I discovered that what I remembered is not the way it is now. In the opening scene, one of the main characters has just been released after spending 20 years in prison. The London train takes him to St. Pancras Station and, since I was in England visiting with my sister, I thought I’d go over and check it out. I hadn’t been to that part of London in at least 20 years, so I figured that would be the perfect opportunity to see it all again through Kenny’s eyes. As it turned out, we both got the shock of our lives. The St. Pancras Station we knew and loved is no more—the old brick station, black with smoke from the days of steam trains has been torn down and replaced with a brand new shiny glass and steel building to help with the increased Chunnel traffic. My character thought he’d gone to the wrong station and for a moment, so did I.

And the moral of this story is, when it comes to details, rely on what you saw this morning with your own eyes. Otherwise, be vague—as vague as possible.

Chris

New cover

Here's a cover for one of the Heat Wave Contest winners....(click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version)....

Her Black Little Heart by Selah March (Available June 2006)

Trace Edward Zaber
Owner/Editorial Director/Creative Director
Amber Quill Press, LLC
The Gold Standard In Publishing!
http://amberquill.com

Qualities A Man Must Have

And here I am -- blogging again. :)

Before I get into my topic, I thought I'd do a quick recap of my month. Of course, those of you who subscribe to my free monthly newsletter will get the full details. If you would like to join that newsletter, just a blank email to CatherineSnodgrassNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

I went to the EPIC Conference in San Antonio and had a marvelous time. I was also able to do a little sightseeing. Linda McLaughlin, Kathryn Sullivan, and I spent over two hours at the Institue of Texas Cultures Museum. It was great seeing everyone at the conference. If you're an ebook author and have never been to one of these, you owe it to yourself to go. Next year it will be in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This is a very positive, upbeat, and informative conference. The link to EPIC is www.epicauthors.com.

I received word yesterday that my erotic romantic suspense, UNDERCOVER LOVER, (writing as Caitlyn Willows), is a finalist in the Spicy category of the HOLT Medallion award. I was beyond thrilled. The winners will be announced in June.

And now....onto my topic.

This was briefly mentioned on one of the Amber Quill reader loops, but I thought it would be fun to discuss here. Besides the obvious equipment and skills...what do you look for in a man?

Here's my list:
-Must have a sense of humor. (Sidenote: Be careful what you wish for. When I was making my wish list for a spouse, this was on it. My husband does have a sense of humor...however, it is a little warped.) I like a man who can make me laugh.
-Must love me no matter what. Fat, thin, sweet, or ill-tempered...he must be able to love me through all my many moods and incarnations.
-Must love children and animals.
-Must like nature.
-Must have goals and ambitions and be willing to grow as an individual.
-Must be handy around the house.
-Must be a tad more domineering than me. I'm a very strong personality. In my family we call it the Margaret-Buckheit-bossy-gene (that would be my grandmother). This trait seems to be passed down to most of the females in the family.
-Must allow me to handle the bills and the money. (That bossy gene again.)
-Must be nurturing and supportive.

I'm sure there are others if I think long enough about it, but this is a nice start.

So...what's on your list?

Catherine Snodgrass www.catherinesnodgrass.com
aka Caitlyn Willows www.caitlynwillows.com