Welcome to my bi-monthly newsletter, Lyndi's Love Notes.

Contents of this issue:

Lyndi's News
Monthly Column: Coffee Culture
Excerpt from Seducing The Enemy
Featured Author: Lacey Savage
Featured Book: I, Nefertiti
Quotes for the Month: The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West
This Month's Contest
Lyndi's Books

News

My latest release, Seducing The Enemy, is part of the Prying Eyes AmberPax(TM). It's the story of Sally Young, an American spy, who falls in love, and into bed, with the British officer quartered in her home. I've included an excerpt from the story in this month's newsletter.

At the end of March, I attended Celebrate Romance in Long Beach, California. On Saturday afternoon, Jina Bacarr and I led a discussion on Erotic Romance which was a lot of fun. We performed a skit from the Greek drama Lysistrata in which the women of Greece refuse to have sex with their men until the men stop fighting. We did our presentation three times, and the third time it was filmed by a documentary crew shooting a film about romance readers. The film crew will be at the upcoming Romantic Times Convention in Daytona Beach.

Preparing for the presentation led me to write an article about erotica which is now posted on my website. Click here to read it.

I'm writing the newsletter early this month as I leave on May 12 for a visit to a friend before Romantic Times. If you are going to be there, look for me at the Amber Quill Press table at Club RT. Click here for more about the convention.

Reminders:

Amber Quill Press is having an E-Spring Sale, with all erotica novels and novellas (including Lily And The Gambler) discounted by 25%. Some of the AmberPaxes are even discounted 25%, which is a big savings! The sale will continue through the end of May.

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When I needed a setting for newest release, Seducing The Enemy, I chose a coffee house in Revolutionary War Philadelphia. While 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. Thanks to the Boston Tea Party, coffee became the patriotic drink of choice for Americans.

Seducing The Enemy was released earlier this month. In the story, my heroine, an American spy, 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.

Lyndi

© 2006 by Lyndi Lamont
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

(Note: this article first appeared at the Amber Quill Authors blog)

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Featured Author: Award-winning Author Lacey Savage

Lacey Savage began her love affair with romance at an early age. In high school, she checked out steamy romance novels from the public library and would often be found reading them in the middle of class. Lacey still reads more than she cares to admit, and probably more than her husband would like, considering how many books she keeps bringing into the house. Her favorite genres have always been erotica, romance, fantasy, science fiction and mystery, so she tries to incorporate a little of each into her writing.

A hopeless romantic, Lacey loves writing about the intimate, sensual side of relationships. She currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her loving husband and their mischievous cat. You can learn more about Lacey by visiting her website at http://www.laceysavage.com.

Interview with Erotica Author Lacey Savage

LL: Lacey, congratulations on your erotic time travel romance, I, Nefertiti, winning the 2006 EPPIE Award for Best Erotic Romance/Erotica with Paranormal Elements. Tell us how you got the idea for this wonderful book.

LS: Thanks so much, Lyndi! I still have to pinch myself whenever I think of that award. :) As for the idea, well, I was working in a bookstore when I stumbled upon a huge encyclopedia of mythology. It included myths from all over the world, in very pretty, glossy format, with lots of great images. I spent much more money on it than I should have considering my earning potential at the time, but I brought it home and remained glued to it for days.

In the entire 700-page encyclopedia, there was only one mention of Nefertiti and Akhenaten, in regards to Akhenaten's worship of the sun god, Aten. Well, one mention was all it took. I immediately thought... what if a woman from the 20th century fell through a portal and landed in Ancient Egypt -- and into Nefertiti's body?

The full story developed over a period of about a year, during which I researched Egyptian history, culture, beliefs, religion... you name it. I agonized over the submission process because I took quite a few liberties with the actual historical facts. My story is fiction inspired by real characters, and I wasn't sure how well that would go over. Luckily, my editor at Loose Id was as excited about the project as I was, and since we work incredibly well together, revisions were a breeze.

LL: You write a lot of stories in the paranormal/fantasy romance genres. What draws you to this genre?

LS: I think more than anything, it's the knowledge that in a paranormal/fantasy romance, anything can happen -- and often does. I love the idea of love without boundaries, relationships without limits, passion without "real-life" constraints. To me, there's something incredibly exciting about the possibility of magic and supernatural critters. Of course, it helps that I've always been a believer in the paranormal. Yes, I really do think that ghosts exist, psychic telepathy is possible and there is life after death. Do I believe in vampires, werewolves and other mythical creatures, too? Well, I was born in Romania, where belief in magic and superstition still abounds. Some say, for good reason. :)

LL: Your newsletter, Whispering Wonders, is what inspired me to start Lyndi's Love Notes. Tell readers a little about your newsletter and where they can go to sign up.

LS: Ah, yes, my little labor of love. :) It takes ages to write, but it's worth every moment. Each issue includes news, sexy celebrity quotes, book spotlights, contests, excerpts, hunk features and sexy pictures -- you name it! I try to mix things up a bit every now and again, so you never know what new item you'll find in the next issue. Readers interested in signing up can find Whispering Wonders at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lacey_savage_news/

LL: How has becoming a published author changed or influenced your life? What have you learned in the process?

LS: Oh, boy. This is a difficult question, since my life has changed tremendously since Trace first emailed me to offer me a contract with Amber Quill Press for OCEANBOUND. That was two years and eleven books ago. My day-to-day life has changed so much since then. I think about my work in progress constantly, whether I'm at work, driving around town, or making supper. My characters never stop talking! I gave up watching TV, with the exception of a few hours a week when my husband just wants to snuggle on the couch. And when I do watch TV and movies, I do so with a critical eye, always analyzing and trying to figure out how I'd have done things if I'd written that screenplay / script.

As for what I've learned, here's just a small sample:

- Writing the best book you can is only half the battle. The other half? Promotion, promotion, promotion... and luck. Being in the right place at the right time is often more important than writing a great book.

- Writing new material often takes a back seat to other business-related endeavors (promotional emails, interviews, cover art request forms, blurb worksheets, contests, newsletters, spending time on reader loops, etc.).

- You can never, ever stop learning. Craft books and workshops are priceless, no matter how long you've been writing.

- One email from a reader makes every moment of doubt, sweat and tears that went into writing a book worthwhile.

- Having a support group made up of other authors is probably one of the most important things for a writer. And yes, Lyndi, this one's directed at you.

LL: What can readers expect from Lacey Savage in the next few months?

LS: In a word: MORE. More paranormal stories, more fantasy novellas, more sexy, erotic books that push the envelope. I have two more books contracted in my "Feral" werewolf series at Changeling, and I'll be participating in a number of Amber Pax collections available this year from Amber Quill Press. In addition, I'm also extremely excited about an upcoming endeavor I have in the works with some incredible Amber Quill Authors. Keep an eye out for more news about the Amber Gem collections within the coming months.

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Featured Book: I, Nefertiti

Becoming an Egyptian queen is a lot harder than playing one in the movies...

Nefertiti. An ancient queen of fabled beauty, intelligence and charm.

Plagued by erotic dreams she can't ignore, Nell Winters abandons the set of her latest movie to go in search of a lover unlike any other. He can stir her deepest longings with the lightest ghost touch, overwhelm her dreams and waking hours, and she barely even knows his name. So what if he's been dead for over three thousand years?

Nell is determined to find him. She craves the release only he can bring. A release from the disturbing dreams, the overwhelming lust, the sheer need. But one woman stands in her way. And to have him, Nell must become her: Nefertiti, Akhenaten's Queen.

Excerpt from I, Nefertiti by Lacey Savage

Nell dreamt of him again.

He hovered over her, his cock pressed against her swollen folds. When his image began to fade, she reached out to him, willing him to stay.

For once, she thought he might.

Her labored breathing turned raw, savage. She panted and grasped his shoulders, pulling him near, watching with despair and relief as he shifted from a shimmering spirit into solid, breathtaking flesh.

"Stay," she murmured against his lips.

He didn't answer. He never did.

Instead, he propped himself on his elbows and ran his tongue along her lower lip. Nell opened to him, her soft moan urging him to dive deeper, to thrust his tongue between her lips, her teeth, filling her with his taste -- sweet and decadent.

Nell craved more, and as her orgasm neared, she thrust her hips up and arched her back, silently pleading for him to fill her. His passionate kisses overwhelmed her, but they were never enough. Her pussy remained agonizingly empty, his cock poised just at her entrance.

An anguished sob broke free from her throat, echoing off the walls of the small room, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him to her. He chuckled against her mouth, his body trembling with mirth, but his cock remained out of reach. The more she wanted him, the less he was willing to give, and she struggled to contain her growing panic.

He wouldn't fuck her tonight, this encounter a repeat performance of every other night of the past year. He toyed with her as if she were nothing more than a source of perverse amusement.

Anger, swift and consuming, rushed through Nell. She deserved better, even from a dream lover.

"If you leave tonight, don't bother coming back tomorrow," she said. Even as the words tumbled out, she sighed, remembering a thousand similar threats. He came every time she slept, no matter what she said or did in an effort to stop him. If she remained awake for an entire night, he was furious the next, ravaging her body in ways that left her utterly exhausted the next morning.

The fight drained out of her as quickly as it had appeared. She was exhausted, her body taut with need, her mind filled with thoughts of him . Raking her fingers over his smooth chest, she imprinted every solid muscle on her memory. He shuddered beneath her touch, and she smiled, content with the small victory. Perhaps he wasn't as steadfast in his resolve as he wanted her to think.

When he broke the kiss, his ragged, hot breath caressed her cheek. She pulled back to look at him, but his face was half hidden in shadow. She yearned to see him in sunlight, his dark hair glistening brightly, his tan skin sparkling with a sheen of sweat in the shimmering light.

He brought her to the same place every night: a dimly lit room with no more than a bed on which she could recline while he teased her mercilessly until dawn crept upon them. There were no windows, no doors, no escape from this man who held her spellbound hour after restless hour.

Tonight, he'd started by slowly lavishing her pussy with greedy attention. Her former lovers had never performed oral sex for longer than a minute or two, content to finish the job with as little effort as possible. But he was nothing like the others. His tongue swept lazily over every bit of flesh until Nell thought she'd tremble away into nothing as a riveting orgasm crashed repeatedly through her body in wave after furious wave.

He was relentless, incessant in his drive to consume her even as her every nerve ending thrummed with painful sensitivity after the earth-shattering climax. Begging him to stop, to let her recover, never did any good. He'd only pause long enough to caress her clit before sweeping down to lap the cream from her thighs; and if his tongue wasn't in her, his fingers were.

And now, hours after they'd started, when her pussy craved a frenzied fuck more than she'd ever thought possible, he was ready to pull away, to evaporate into nothing more than a maddening memory.

"You can't leave me again." The words came out as another threat, but it was feeble, and they both knew it. His green, lust-filled gaze assessed her face, and Nell sucked in a breath at the intensity she saw in his eyes. It was as if he were ready to devour her whole.

She bit her lower lip, her legs still wrapped around him, and let her fingers skim across his ribs to cup his firm ass. "Stay," she repeated, softer this time, as she writhed beneath him, eager to make contact with his cock. "Stay forever."

His rock-hard body didn't give an inch. He didn't move or pull away from her. He didn't have to. Instead, his image began to flicker and fade until she held nothing but air where his warm, solid flesh had been only seconds before.

Nell screamed, the sound agonizing even to her own ears, despair clogging her throat. She scanned the corners of the dark, empty room in vain, looking for any hint of an out-of-place shadow, any indication that he could still be there, watching her.

"I won't wait for you," she whispered into the still air. Blinking back tears, she clutched the thin bed sheets in her fists. "One night, you'll come for me, and I won't be here."

From somewhere in the distance, she thought she heard him chuckle. The infuriating sound grazed over her skin, and Nell shivered, feeling more alone than ever.

Copyright 2005 by Lacey Savage

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The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West

Good sex is like good Bridge... If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand.

I like my clothes to be tight enough to show I'm a woman... but loose enough to show I'm a lady.

When I'm good I'm very good, but when I'm bad I'm better.

This month's Giveaway:

This month's giveaway is a download of I, Nefertiti by Lacey Savage, published by Loose Id.

A winner will be drawn from among all active members of my Lyndi Lamont Yahoo Group, i.e. account not set to No Mail or Special Notices, and messages not bouncing. Click here to join, or contact me at lyndilamont@yahoo.com to request an email invitation. A winner will be chosen before the next newsletter comes out in July.

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Lyndi’s Books:

DARE ALL FOR LOVE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF EROTIC ROMANCE

Historical Erotica Anthology

Join Lyndi Lamont for a journey into the past, where the men are roguish and the women daring.

A gambler disrupts the plans of a mail-order bride looking for one last fling...
A rakish officer wants to paint a respectable lady—in the nude...
A bold wench and a dashing pirate heat up the tropics...
A schoolmarm gives herself to the outlaw waiting in her bedroom...

Contents: Lily and the Gambler, Painting Penelope, Prepare To Be Boarded, Desperado

DESPERADO

Short Historical/Western Erotica
Rating: Graphic Sexual Content/Graphic Language

Schoolmarm Esther McFarland comes home to find an outlaw waiting in her bedroom. Why does she find this desperado so irresistible? All she wants from life is a home and family of her own, but all he has to offer is danger and delight.

Bart Braddock is a wanted man. Though he knows Esther is the only woman for him, he can’t promise her the home she wants. But that doesn’t stop him from taking her body and stealing her heart...

Click here to read an excerpt.

PREPARE TO BE BOARDED

Short Historical Erotica
Rating: Graphic Sexual Content/Graphic Language

When the ship on which Eliza Honeyfield is traveling is stopped by pirates, she meets the man of her dreams. But dare she give her heart, and body, to a pirate?

Morgan Price is delighted with the bold and saucy English wench. But is she enough to make him give up his wild pirate ways?

Click here to read an excerpt.

LILY AND THE GAMBLER

Historical/Western Erotica Novella
Rating: Moderate Sexual Content/Graphic Language

On the way to meet her groom-to-be, mail order bride Lily Albright can't resist one last fling with a sexy gambler. After one night with Lily, Creighton "King" Callaway knows he has found his Queen of Hearts. But can he convince her to pass up a sober businessman for a foot-loose card sharp? Only Lady Luck knows for sure...

Click here to read an excerpt.

PAINTING PENELOPE

Short Historical Erotica
Rating: Moderate Sexual Content/Language

Respectable Penelope Porter is appalled when she learns she is expected to pay her father's gaming debts by posing for rakish Captain Logan Wilding—in the nude!

As Logan feared, painting Penelope turns out to be pure torture—until she decides to let him touch as well as look...

Click here to read an excerpt.

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I hope you enjoyed this issue of Lyndi's Love Notes. Watch for the next issue in July.

So long for now.

Lyndi