Lessons In Control and Poetry: News Round Up!

Posted on April 1, 2017April 1, 2017 by Jade A. Waters

Hi everyone! It’s been awhile, but I have lots of news I wanted to share today, both about the Lessons In Control series and a new mini-project I’m embarking on! Woo hoo!

I’ll start with Lessons In Control, specifically book one—I am delighted to share that The Assignment is a finalist for the Pauline Reage Novel award from the National Leather Association – International (NLA-I). Holy cow! The NLA-I is a leading organization for activists in the pansexual SM/leather/fetish community. Their annual awards are named after activists and writers to recognize excellence in writing and publishing about Leather, SM, bondage and fetishes. Whoa! This was some majorly happy news, and I’m thrilled to be a finalist. In the past, the award has been given in various categories to some seriously awesome authors. Here are this year’s finalists for the Pauline Reage category:

Risk Aware by Amelia C Gromley (Riptide Publishing)
Heart’s Master by Elizabeth Schechter (Circlet Press)
The Viscountess Interrogates: A Dominion Erotic Mystery by Cameron Quintain (Circlet Press)
Skyscraper by Scott Alexander Hess (Unzipped Books, an imprint of Lethe Press)
The Gambler’s Lady by Angela Hamm (Blushing Books)
The Assignment by Jade A. Waters (Carina Press)

I cannot express how honored I am to be on this list! The winners will be announced at the National Leather Association – International’s Annual General Meeting on April 23^rd. Fingers crossed!

Okay, next up: book two, The Discipline. Wow, do I have a lot to say about The Discipline! First, there have been a few excerpts from the book if you haven’t checked them out. One happened right here, another over visited Lady Smut a couple weeks ago, and finally, one appeared just yesterday over at F. Leonora Solomon’s place. I was so happy to get to tour the book around at these stops!

Now for some extra fun—if you’re in the mood for a LIVE excerpt from The Discipline and happen to be the in LA area, then I hope you’ll join me next Sunday, April 9^th, at Lady Jane’s Salon OC. The event takes place at The Ripped Bodice, 3806 Main Street in Culver City, from 4 to 6 pm. I’ll be reading along with Pamela DuMond, Sabrina Sol, and Allison Morse. The entry fee is one gently used romance novel or $5, and in exchange you’ll hear some sweet and sexy excerpts. Please come out and say hi! I’ll have all sorts of series swag to giveaway there, too.

If you want to find out more about The Discipline, or even the overall series and my writing process, I wanted to point out an interview over at Lady Smut that happened a little bit ago—the fabulous Rachel Kramer Bussel interviewed me about my writing over there, and I had a good time answering her questions. Check it out if you missed it! Also, on a related note—I will forever celebrate my connection to Rachel since she is the very reason I ever got published in the first place. That said, I encourage you to check out her newest calls for submission. She is always on the lookout for new work!

All right, I can’t very well talk about Lessons In Control without mentioning book three, The Reward. I’ve got to say, I thought at first that book one was my favorite. Then book two was such a bear to write, I thought I liked it most. But…after all the editing of book three, I can officially say it is my favorite. I’m happy to report that it’s not only available for pre-order (out June 12^th!), but that we have official back cover copy! Check it out:

What if the fantasy never had to stop?

It’s been a year since Dean Sova turned Maya Clery’s world inside out. There isn’t a secret fantasy that Maya and Dean haven’t explored—each one more tantalizing and mind-blowing than the last. But while their relationship may be stronger than ever, taking the next step pushes boundaries neither one of them is prepared to face.

Dean couldn’t care less about Maya’s background—all her choices made her the woman he wants to tie to his bed and never let go. But not even a Dom as strong as Dean can keep the past at bay. When a threat from Maya’s old life surfaces, she’ll have to choose once and for all: fight for freedom under Dean’s command, or lose the reward she’s worked so hard for—the chance to be happy with the man she loves.

Book three of Lessons in Control

This book is approximately 89,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise.

Oh, wow. I’m so pumped for you to read this one, guys! Be sure to pre-order your copy at any of the following places:

Amazon US Amazon UK Carina Press Barnes & Noble Google Play iBooks Kobo

So…that’s all on the series. Now, I have just a little ditty to share about a new mini-project I’ve taken on. To be honest, life has decided to throw some pretty big tragedies my way at the moment…and writing has become tricky with all of it going on. But, I caught a very light wind the other day, and I wanted to run with it. You see, April is the official month for the Blogging A to Z Challenge, and I’ve long wanted to take advantage of this on my poetry site. It sort of clicked the other night that I could spin some of the rockiness I’m feeling and poetry together, and still take part in this challenge through a poem every day (excluding Sunday)—except with a twist: each poem will be part of one continuous, month-long poem. I hope you’ll join me on this adventure, which is titled “A Love Affair, From A to Z.” It’s a bittersweet thing that I’m hoping to be able to continue (without tearing my eyeballs out), so if you’d like to read along, be sure to start with today’s “A – Always.”

News, news, news—and I think that’s all of it! Happy weekend and reading to all!

XX,
Jade

PS Have you signed up for my newsletter? Subscribers will be getting a free preview of book three, The Reward, before it’s released. Don’t miss out!

Best Women’s Erotica Reading Live – Tonight!

Posted on January 31, 2017January 24, 2017 by Jade A. Waters

Hi everyone! I hope you were able to join us last week at the Dirty Old Women Read Erotica Event in Oakland. It was great fun! But if you weren’t, and you happen to be in the L.A. area tonight, then I have fantastic news—I’ll be reading live once more! Yes!

This evening, Skylight Books and Rachel Kramer Bussel are hosting a reading to celebrate the recent release of Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 2. You’ll be hearing readings from both volumes—I’ll be reading an excerpt from “Ophelia the Second,” my contribution to Volume 1, and you’ll get to hear Jocelyn Bringas, Melina Greenport, and Rachel Kramer Bussel herself read contributions from both volumes. So fun!

“Ophelia” is a story I’m still quite fond of; I took advantage of my theatre past to write a little Shakespeare inspired erotic romance, and I’m tickled to get to share it with you again live. And, even though I’m reading something entirely different, I’ll be bringing along some swag for The Assignment if you’d like to grab it!

All of this is free to you—especially the best part: a live, sexy reading! We do so hope you’ll join us. Skylight Books is located at 1818 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California, and the reading starts at 7:30 pm. Please come on out and say hi!

Can’t wait to see you there!

XX,
Jade

Sexy Live Reading—Tonight!

Posted on January 24, 2017January 22, 2017 by Jade A. Waters

Want to hear a sexy reading—live?

Good news if you do! Tonight is the Dirty Old Women Read Erotica event in Oakland, California. I’m thrilled to be one of two featured readers tonight, alongside fabulous Zoe Kat, and, bonus—to be reading you not one but two excerpts from The Assignment! Oh, it’s going to be hot, hot, hot, and I do hope you’ll join us!

One of many swag items for you!

The event starts at 7:30 pm with an open mic at The Octopus Literary Salon, located at 2101 Webster Street at 22nd Street in Uptown Oakland. After the delicious open mic session, Zoe Kat and I will be reading our stories to you from 8 to 9 pm. I’ve got all sorts of swag for The Assignment to give you, too. So, please make sure to grab some goodies after listening to a couple of sexy stories!

The Dirty Old Women Read Erotica event is totally free, and we hope you’ll come out and say hi. Feel free to visit the Facebook event page for more info, or to mark yourself as attending.

See you there!

XX,
Jade

New Year, Fun News!

Posted on January 10, 2017January 8, 2017 by Jade A. Waters

Happy 2017, everyone!

It’s a new year, which means all sorts of fun new things are happening. Woo hoo! As you may have heard, my debut erotic romance novel, The Assignment, released back in December—it’s been very exciting! But, thankfully, the wild release ride isn’t over yet. I’m thrilled to share not only that Lessons in Control book two, The Discipline, is out in a couple short months on March 13^th and ready to pre-order now, but that we have an official back cover blurb to go with its sexy ass front cover. Score!

In just a moment, you’ll find some enticing information about what’s ahead in book two for dear Maya Clery and her romantic lead, Dean Sova…but don’t forget to read on after, since I have some nifty events to remind you of, too.

For now, let me introduce you to The Discipline…

How far would you go to fulfill a fantasy?

Maya Clery has taken risks before. Her relationship with Dean Sova started out as a risk—a series of sexual assignments, each hotter, wilder, more intense than the last. Exploring her submissive side with a powerful, trustworthy Dominant has been everything she hoped for, everything she needed.

Dean pushes Maya to her limits—it’s one of the things she loves most about him. But as they push the boundaries outside their sex life, meeting friends and family members, Maya realizes there’s still much she doesn’t know about the man with whom she’s sharing her bed.

And when a fantasy simmering between them becomes their latest challenge, past secrets begin to reveal weaknesses in their relationship that neither is ready to face.

Book two of Lessons in Control

This book is approximately 78,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise

Oh, man-o. Are you excited? I’m excited. I have had so much fun writing Maya and Dean’s journey, so I can’t wait for the second installment of their story to make its way into your hands. And, though you can preorder the book now, there’s still a little time to kill before you’ll have it delivered. Fortunately, I have two sexy and free reading events I hope you’ll join me at this month to tide you over!

The first is just around the corner on January 24^th, in Oakland, California. It’s the Dirty Old Women Read Erotica event at Octopus Literary Salon at 2101 Webster Street (at 22^nd). I’m delighted to be one of the two featured readers there that night! The event starts at 7:30 p.m. with an open mic, and then both Zoe Kat and I will be reading some sexiness to you from 8 to 9. I’ll be reading a smoking hot excerpt from The Assignment, and I’ll also have some swag from the book for those who attend. I sure hope you join us!

I’ve got swag!

Then, one week later on January 31st, I’ll be down in L.A. with the fabulous Rachel Kramer Bussel as well as authors Jocelyn Bringas and Melina Greenport to celebrate the just released Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 2. We’ll be reading at Skylight Books L.A. at 1818 N. Vermont Avenue starting at 7:30 pm, with excerpts from both volumes out so far. I’ll be taking you on an erotic, romantic, Shakespearean inspired journey with a snippet from my contribution to Volume 1, “Ophelia the Second.” This story is one that’s still quite dear to me, so I do hope you’ll make it out to visit and enjoy the free reading. And if you miss the earlier Dirty Old Women reading, don’t worry—I’ll have some swag from The Assignment for you to grab there, as well. I look forward to seeing you at both events, so please come out, hear some sexy words, and say hi!

Until these awesome readings, please be sure to pick up your copy of The Assignment if you haven’t already done so, and also pre-order your copy of The Discipline today. The final book, The Reward, will be out not all that far away in June…so you’ll want to be read up and ready for when that time arrives!

Please check out the Lessons In Control page for all buy links and info for The Assignment, and you can pre-order your copy of The Discipline at:

Amazon US Amazon UK Carina Press Barnes & Noble Google Play iBooks Kobo

Thanks so much for joining in and reading, and I look forward to seeing you in Oakland and L.A. soon!

XX,
Jade

A Recipe, An Excerpt, and A Giveaway!

Posted on December 15, 2016December 14, 2016 by Jade A. Waters

It’s that time of year—and Christmas is nearly here! Can everybody feel it? I don’t know how it is for other people, but living in the San Francisco Bay Area, we don’t get what one tends to call “winter weather.” I know many a Californian who will tell you it’s damn cold up here this time of year, however, having spent the first 13 years of my life in Nevada—Sparks, Reno, Gardnerville, and Tahoe, to be precise—I have experienced some actual winter weather. I was even quite the young snow bunny in my day (yes 21^st place out of 250 kids is bad ass in my mind, thank you very much). But, since I’ve been here in California, I have to say I definitely don’t get that winter feeling at Christmas time anymore.

Truth, though? I don’t miss it. Not one bit! I’m a fair weather kind of gal, so I appreciate the sun and a little warmth outside making chestnuts not roasting on an open fire not a problem for me. Part of it is that I don’t connect winter weather to Christmas cheer. In fact, reflecting on what actually makes it feel like Christmas for me is a very specific and short list: time with those I love and cherish, the smiles on my niece and nephew’s faces during gift time, and, without a doubt, baking.

Yes—to me, Christmas translates into mad baking!

I’m going to go ahead and blame this one on my dad—he’s a brilliant cook and also the crafter of some wickedly delicious cookies, and I can’t tell you how many holidays I’d watch him take over a kitchen to bake cookies for a bunch of people at his work…and wouldn’t you know it? Somewhere in my twenties, this became a thing for me, too. Whenever Christmas time came, my brain automatically reprogrammed for a kitchen takeover in the form of insane baking sprees. And since I’ve always been an overachiever, I couldn’t just make one batch for each recipient. No, no, no, that would never do. I’d make at least five types of cookies (hitting as many as ten one year, I’m not even kidding) and then go and spread that love to upwards of two dozen people. I loved it…all the way through the entire weekend I’d spend living in an apron and considering eating nothing but cookie dough at every meal.

That is, until, I messed up a wrist and wasn’t able to bake one year. That was a funny experience—because all of a sudden, I learned out how calm my life got when I wasn’t making 8,000,000 cookies around the holidays. Go figure.

Still, on occasion, and for super special people, I’ll make a batch (or four). Today, in honor of Blissemas at my place, I thought that since I can’t exactly make a batch for you, I could at least pass along one of my favorite recipes. I got this easy one off the back of a butterscotch chip bag once upon a time, and have been using it ever since. Brace yourself. This is a good one!

Heaven Help Us We’re Going to Pay For It Devil’s Food Chocolate Butterscotch Cookies
(Aptly renamed years ago by me.)

Ingredients:

One boxed package devil’s food cake mix
2 eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
One package of butterscotch chips

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together cake mix, eggs, and oil. Add chips.
Plop those babies in tablespoon sized dollops onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Enjoy.

Yum. Oh, I should make those right now. So easy, and so good!

Speaking of right now, the holiday is a fine time for some new reading and book buying, in my opinion. While my new release, The Assignment, doesn’t take place during Christmas, I can tell you that you’ll find some holiday cheer in the next installment of the Lessons in Control series, The Discipline. For now, though, I thought I’d leave you with a spicy excerpt to complement the sweet recipe above, and after, a chance to win your own copy of the book. How’s that for Christmas spirit? 🙂

Let’s start with an excerpt from The Assignment:

I fetched two glasses and the pitcher of water I kept in the fridge, and Dean followed. He remained quiet as I poured the water and replaced the pitcher on the shelf, but when the fridge door shut, he sidled behind me. It took less than a second, the heat of his chest jolting my core.

Dean hooked his hands on my hips and rested his chin on my shoulder, then he pressed his lips to my cheek and inhaled. “You smell like pussy. Musky and sexy.”

He wrapped his hands around me, bearing against my stomach and pulling me back into him. The thick bar of his crotch nudged high on my ass. Most of the near-orgasmic haze I’d felt in the restaurant bathroom had subsided in our ride, but Dean roamed his hands up my belly and over the silk covering my chest until my body filled with need. He cupped my breasts, and after pinching my nipples through the fabric, he wedged me against the fridge.

“Your reward has two parts.” The words came out a rumble through the strands of my hair, and he yanked the skirt of my dress up around my ass. The stainless steel of my fridge fogged with my breath, and I shuddered when he guided his hand between my thighs. Having handed over my panties, I had no barrier to stop the greedy search of his fingers. Dean slid his fingertips along my crevice, and I gasped. “Christ, you’re wet.”

I bowed my head, the thrum of excitement pounding through me. He took away his fingers and left me empty. “Dean—”

He whipped me around and slammed me back against the fridge. I cried out in surprise, but he dropped to his knees. He hitched my dress up with both of his hands, his eyes glazing as he buried his face in my cleft.

I moaned, my pleasure racing back with the hungry licks Dean made at my folds. I dropped my hands to his head and closed my eyes while he licked at me then sucked hard. My legs began to shake. It was impossible to stand in my heels and I sank down, desperate for his tongue all the way in.

Dean responded. His fingers slipped deep to reach the bundle of nerves inside me. He stroked in and up, his tongue wild and skilled, bringing me ever closer.

“I’m going to come,” I growled. Dean pummeled me with his fingers, lapping at my juices. “Oh, God!”

I fisted his hair when release tore through me. He groaned as my spine bowed, his mouth latched on to me no matter how vigorously I bucked against his face. I shrieked, my legs threatening to give, but Dean didn’t cease. He swiped at my clit with his tongue, his fingers working through the contractions inside me.

“Stop, please.” I peeled open my eyes, my body heaving. The denial at the restaurant, the tense hold on the dance floor—all of it had brought such intensity over me that I started to collapse.

Dean shook his head, his tongue gliding back and forth. “That was part one,” he said.

I tried to scoot away but he nibbled on my clit. I shoved back his head. “Stop!”

“Feisty girl.” Dean leaned away, his face bright with amusement. “Too much sass for one girl.”

My breathing wavered. I squinted to clear my vision, my body too overstimulated for him to continue. “I need a break, please. I can’t.”

Dean planted one last kiss on my mound, then tongued the crease. The moment I thought he’d pull away, he sucked my clit back between his teeth and murmured, “Your break is as long as it takes me to set up part two.”

Mmmm. Feeling your naughty and nice yet? I sure hope so!

To pair with an extraordinarily easy cookie baking recipe I am naturally providing an easy way for you to win a copy of The Assignment for the holiday. You’ll simply need to comment below with your favorite type of holiday treat by the end of the day (December 16, 2016, 11:59 pm PST), being sure to leave your email when you register the comment. Do that, and boom! You’ll be entered to win. I’ll put the email addresses of all comments received in a hat (Santa hat, even?) and draw one winner for a mobi file copy over the weekend. It could be you!

So, after scribbling down the recipe above that I know you’re going to try for yourself, please be sure to comment below with your favorite holiday treat. I will announce winners in the comments after the contest has closed and will be notifying this person as soon as I draw.

However, if you’re itching to get your hands on The Assignment today, please do so at any of the following locations:

Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes & Noble Google Play iBooks Kobo

Until then, thanks so much for stopping by my site for Blissemas, and please keep on following the fun right here.

XX,
Jade

The Discipline and The Reward — Cover Reveals!

Posted on November 7, 2016November 5, 2016 by Jade A. Waters

Hello everyone!

As you may know, I’ve been working away at the Lessons in Control series, which launches with The Assignment on December 12^th. Wee! I’m so damn excited! The series is releasing not only soon but at rapid fire speed, with book 2, The Discipline, out in March ’17 and book 3, The Reward, out not all that much later—in June! Woo hoo!

I’m currently working on the third book to turn into my editor at the end of the year, but while that’s in motion, all sorts of thrilling things have been happening on the sidelines. Are you ready for the biggest?

I received these ridiculously sexy covers for book 2 and 3!

*Faints.*

Wow. I don’t know about you, but I seriously swooned when I saw all three of these together. In fact, why don’t I just go ahead and show you all three in a row, too:

OMG. OMG. Aren’t they to die for? Carina Press seriously knocked it out of the park here. I’m so happy!

All right… *Breathes x 1,000* What else, what else? Well, besides deciding that the triple threat image above is going to need to get framed and hung on the dining room wall I keep rambling on about being too bare, I’ve also been working on a blog tour for The Assignment. Yay! I’m getting pumped to share details about this soon because I’ve got a ton of awesome, lovely people involved, but for now I’ll just say the party kicks off December 4^th and you won’t want to miss it. It’s going to be so fun, with lots of exclusives, giveaways, interviews, info about the book and whole series, and more! I can’t wait!

In the meantime, you can find both The Assignment and The Discipline available for pre-order for your Kindle, and the first book at a few other sources, too (find all of them here). I hope you’ll please add both books to your shelves on Booklikes (you can find The Assignment here and The Discipline here), and please mark The Assignment as “Want to Read” on Goodreads.

I’d also like to ask that if you haven’t yet signed up for my newsletter, please do. Newsletter subscribers are the first to hear about news and special events, and will get various exclusives during the course of the Lessons in Control series. The first? An absolutely free preview of the first chapter of The Assignment BEFORE it’s released—but you can only have access if you sign up. I hope you do!

Finally, I wanted to let you in on a reading I have booked down in L.A. on January 31, 2017, hosted by the lovely Rachel Kramer Bussel at Skylight Books in honor of the Best Women’s Erotica of the Year series. There, I’ll be reading with the fabulous Melina Greenport, Jocelyn Bringas, and Ms. Bussel herself. You can find more info right here. I’ll be reading a snippet of “Ophelia the Second,” which was included in Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 1, and I’ll have some swag for The Assignment to give you there, too. Hurray! We hope you’ll come out and say hi!

All right, that’s it for now, folks. Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing more soon!

XX,
Jade

“Ophelia the Second” is Out in Best Women’s Erotica!

Posted on January 6, 2016January 18, 2016 by Jade A. Waters

New year, new sexy…and today I’m delighted to share that Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 is out! Woo hoo!

To celebrate, I have some news for you.

First, just look at that sexy cover. *Swoon!*

Then, our wonderful editor Rachel Kramer Bussel has been hosting some behind-the-scenes Q&A’s about our stories in the anthology. My story, “Ophelia the Second,” is a sweet little erotic romance set in the theatre world—specifically, the Hamlet backstage theatre world—and since I have my own past theatre experiences, I thought I’d put them to use for some inspiration. I hope you’ll head over to the book’s Tumblr page to find out more about what sparked this story.

I’m also thrilled to tell you that we’ll be having a live free reading of a few stories in Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 19th. It will be in the Antique Vibrator Museum in the Good Vibrations on Polk Street—which, I have to tell you, is a fabulous space for a reading! I do hope you’ll join us, since I’ll be reading alongside Rose Caraway, Amy Butcher, Dorothy Freed, and Rachel Kramer Bussel herself! Be sure to find out more about this event right here.

And finally, what more to whet your appetite for this book than an excerpt?

Here’s a taste of “Ophelia the Second”:

“We always end up on a couch together, have you noticed?”

I laughed, trying to ignore the delicious smell of his post-show sweat, and the way the couch dipped under his sturdy, muscular body, almost pulling me into his side. He’d changed after curtain into jeans and a button-up shirt with the fanciest of shoes, and he looked even more impressive in his modern garb than he did in his lace-up leather doublet and boots.

“Guess so,” I said.

I sipped the bourbon. It was hot going down, warming me more than I already was sitting in Philip’s apartment with him staring at me with those heavy Hamlet eyes. I attempted to ignore the fight of my heart. I was usually so strong at resisting these terribly silly impulses around him, but it was impossible not to want him, not to imagine Hamlet speaking to me, or Philip taking my hand, pining for my love like his character did later on for Ophelia.

I suddenly felt like her—a naïve girl caught in the throes of some wild vision. It wasn’t madness, though it felt like it as he surveyed me.

“Good show tonight, huh?” I asked, needing yet again to get out of my head.

“Yeah. Tammy was on fire.”

I propped my elbow on the back of the couch and frowned. He knew I didn’t want to hear about Tammy or her wonderful efforts playing Ophelia—I’d confessed it over brews a month ago when he took me out to celebrate a five-star review from one of the most critical journalists in the business. For some reason, Philip had been more surprised at the review than my frustrated comments with Tammy’s rude backstage behavior.

“But it makes sense—whenever she’s a maniac off stage, she’s prepped for the role.”

I snickered, a loose spiral of my hair falling in my face. Philip caught it in his fingers and brushed it back, and I stared at him, surprised.

“We should have been on stage together,” he murmured.

I shrugged.

“Robert’s going to come around, Nat. Hopefully with the next show. You’ve got the talent.”

“You’re sweet,” I said. I took another swallow of my drink and placed the glass on his coffee table. Philip caught my hand.

“I saw you in the wings tonight.”

I froze. I’d been subtle, and he’d been so into his role I couldn’t imagine how he’d seen me.

“You know I see you there, right? Mouthing the lines, both mine and Ophelia’s.”

He clasped my hand in his and a fire sparked deep in my belly. Had the bourbon gone to his head?

Had it gone to mine?

“I’m convinced my best moments on stage are with you watching.”

“That’s silly,” I said, but Philip nodded enthusiastically.

“You should have been Ophelia. You’re perfect for the part. Your hair, your face. Everything about you, Nat—so charming and lovely.”

I trembled in his grasp. Like Ophelia, I had to be going mad. Philip brushed back my curls, lifting the hair on the nape of my neck.

“Let’s run lines for you.”

“Why? Tammy is Ophelia, and she’s never going to miss a performance. Remember?”

“Tammy is a terrible Ophelia. And one night, she will.” He tapped my nose. “Come on. Let’s practice.”

“I need a script.”

“No you don’t,” he said. He shoved back the table and crawled to his knees, ushering his husky off to his bed along the wall.

And then he started running lines, beginning with Act III, Scene 1, right when Ophelia meets Hamlet. He said his first line seriously, as if we were actually on stage, and I shook my head at him.

“You’re crazy.”

Philip frowned. “I’m trying to prove a point. You’re an actress, let’s go. Play along.”

I’d been on the stage many times. I’d graduated with a theatre degree, after all, but my parts at Esquire had been minimal with Tammy being the star she was. Sometimes, her rants backstage and constant insults made it easy to forget that I was once a big part of productions, too.

“Well?” Philip nudged my leg and took my hand again, and I tried to ignore the peal of my heart.

“Fine,” I said.

We ran through this scene, Philip’s hand clasped around my shaking fingers the entire time. He was theatrical and gorgeous, his brow furrowing and his nostrils flaring at all the appropriate moments. When he peered into my face, I witnessed the same brooding depth he cast over the audience each night, except this time, it was directed at me.

This time, he was Hamlet—and I was Ophelia.

It was easy to fall into the part. I knew the lines, and he was brilliant, drawing emotion and depth into my voice that I could never do when I practiced on my own in my apartment. Not without someone acting against me, getting as into the role as he did. He was magnificent. When we finished the scene, he stroked his fingertips across my palm with an encouraging nod. Then his lips turned up to form the incredibly charming grin the audience never got to see.

“Lady, shall I lie in your lap?”

I giggled. “Okay, I get it. Great scene. We can stop, though, I know the lines.”

“See,” he said. “You are the perfect Ophelia.”

I rolled my eyes and Philip leaned closer, the movement catching my breath in my throat. Both of us were quiet as he crouched on the carpet. For some reason, the way he’d touched my cheek at his front door crossed my mind. Then the way he’d grinned at me at intermission, and all the times we’d hung out backstage when he’d told me he loved talking to me. My pulse raced a little quicker.

Had I missed something in my Ophelia obsession?

Philip curved his hands around my knees, increasing the pace of my heartbeat.

“And what a fair thought to lie between this maid’s legs.”

“That’s not the line,” I whispered. The look on his face was different—not Hamlet. Not Philip. It was sweet and smitten, like the one I’d seen him wear as Romeo last year. I swallowed the lump in my throat as he inched his mouth closer to mine.

“You’re right. It’s not.”

Intrigued?

Please be sure to check out the book’s Tumblr page and order your copy now on Amazon. Thanks for checking out the inspiration for “Ophelia the Second,” and I hope to see you at the reading!

XX,
Jade

The Sexy Librarian’s Free Erotica Reading is at Good Vibrations Tomorrow Night!

Posted on September 3, 2014September 8, 2014 by Jade A. Waters

Hey everyone!

If you haven’t heard, Rose Caraway—aka the sexy librarian—is the editor of a fabulous new anthology called The Sexy Librarian’s Big Book of Erotica. Tomorrow night (9/4), she’ll be celebrating her Book Release Party at the Polk Street Good Vibrations in San Francisco from 6:30 to 8:30! Woo hoo!

Malin James, Lily K. Cho and I will be joining the lovely Ms. Caraway to read selections from this hot book, and I’m delighted to be reading a story by my dear pal, Tamsin Flowers. It’s sure to be a fantastic time—I mean, it’s free, it’s packed full of erotica, and it’s in a toy store. Score! 😉

You can find out more about the event right here, and I hope you’ll come join us. We’d love to see you!

Please be sure to say hi!

XX,
Jade

The Big Book of Orgasms Reading and Signing—Wednesday!

Posted on November 4, 2013September 14, 2014 by Jade A. Waters

That’s right—this Wednesday, 11/6/13!

I am so excited to be reading alongside nine other contributors: Lily K. Cho, Malin James, Crystal Jordan, Donna George Storey, B.D. Swain, Virgie Tovar, Xan West, and of course, editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. I’ve read all of their stories since I received my copy of The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories, and I can promise that you’re in for a treat. 😉

So, if you’re in the SF Bay Area, I sure hope you can join us and say hello. The reading is hosted by the Good Vibrations on Polk (1620 Polk Street) and starts at 6:30. We’ll be signing, too, so bring your copy! Oh, and did I mention it’s free?

For more information, be sure to check out the Facebook event page or the Good Vibrations event page. Want to know more about the book? Find out more here.

Can’t wait to see you there!

XX,
Jade

Sexy Live Stories and Free Books!

Posted on September 30, 2013September 14, 2014 by Jade A. Waters

The Big Book of Orgasms comes out tomorrow—and have I got some exciting news for you!

I peddled these beauties all over Berkeley and SF—sexy book postcards from Rachel Kramer Bussel!

First off, The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories got an incredible review from Publishers Weekly. This is tremendous news for a delightful book of shorts edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel and coming out from Cleis Press October 1st. If you’d like to check out the review, you can do so here.

But wait—there’s more! On November 6th, Good Vibrations on Polk Street in San Francisco will be hosting a reading with Rachel Kramer Bussel and nine other contributors to The Big Book of Orgasms—and I’ll be one of them! I am very much looking forward to sharing my story live, so I hope you can come too (eh-hm…pun intended). Event details and a list of participants can be found on the Facebook Event Page.

This will be one smokin’ evening for sure, so you won’t want to miss out.

And speaking of not missing out—I have one final piece of delicious news. In honor of the book’s release, Rachel Kramer Bussel is offering you a TWO FOR ONE special on Cleis erotica if you buy a copy of The Big Book of Orgasms on Amazon. The anthology must be purchased from 12:00 a.m. EST October 1st to 11:59 p.m. EST October 2nd, and all you have to do is forward on a copy of your receipt. Oh, and about that freebie—it’s signed by the legendary Rachel Kramer Bussel!

Remember, this hot deal is only on for two days. Want to know more? You can read all about it right here.

I am thrilled to be a part of this book, and I can’t wait to read every story by my fellow contributors when my author copy arrives. Based on all the excerpts I’ve seen so far, this book is sultry! Make sure to pick up your copy, and I hope to see you at the reading on November 6th!

XX,
Jade