Tag Archives: Authors I adore

The books Jade is currently reading, stacked on her nightstand.

Whatcha Reading?

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I have five bookcases in my house.

Three of them are massive things that cover the wall opposite the desk in my office. While they do have some other items in them (a shelf half full of my niece’s toys, two shelves of office supplies, and a shelf of sewing stuff, for example), they are getting increasingly full. This is where I keep many of the books I’ve read, with a special shelf just for erotica. I also have a shelf for my writing—a growing collection of erotica anthologies I’ve been published in (a mighty exciting section for me, I have to say), and binders housing drafts of some of the things I’ve written over the years.

In the living room, I have a small but stuffed case that is instantly viewable when you walk in my house. This one includes all my favorites: Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witch series, Carol Goodman’s The Lake of Dead Languages, Ellen Hopkins’s Crank, Margaret Atwood’s The Robber Bride, and many, many more.

And then in my bedroom, there is the To Read bookcase—a live and growing thing, always overflowing with more and more books despite my repeated and short-lived ban on buying more until I finish what I have. My acupuncturist explained to me that this sort of looming bookcase is bad for my bedroom feng shui, as it might “stress me out” when I try to sleep.

I told her my feng shui could suck it.

So, why am I bringing this up? Well, I love books. I’ve been a reader since three (says my mum), and I remember my parents encouraging me over the years to come outside and play, but I’d insist that I just needed to finish one more chapter or that I couldn’t because the good part was happening right then. I can’t even tell you how many trips I was dragged on, in which I refused to play on the beach / eat / “be a good girl” who talked to family when I could just as easily stay inside reading one more book.

I know I am not alone in this obsession love. Cleis Press just started a Pinterest board of “shelfies”—pictures of people’s bookcases with Cleis anthos on the shelves. I love it! Plus, book lovers are all over Pinterest. Tumblr. Hell, EVERYWHERE. We’re a pretty cool tribe, if you ask me.

Which is why today I thought I’d show off my book porn. I know it’s not erotica, but hell, it’s still sexy. 😉 I have two pics for you—one is that wild beast of a To Read bookcase, which I finally organized again just for your viewing pleasure:

photo (4)

I don’t often reread books these days, but there are a few of them scattered in here—primarily in the top left corner, up to The Handmaid’s Tale. The tippity top is the overflow, a combo of erotica and contemporary spec fic, some of which I’m getting close to shifting to my nightstand (aka: reading). The top shelf is mostly erotica (sexxxxxyyyyyyy). The middle shelf is a mix of my favorite non-erotica reads: spec fic, YA, and then some other dramatic stuff for kicks. And the bottom has been dubbed “Hodge Podge Shelf.” 🙂

Then there’s what I’m reading now/just about to read. Here is a pic of my nightstand, which is currently running a pretty high stack:

photo

I used to only read one book at a time, but clearly I’ve given that up. So, here, you’ll notice the YA on the bottom, a series I shamelessly dip into periodically from Christopher Pike. The top book, When She Woke by Hillary Jordan, is a fabulous dystopian future version of The Scarlet Letter—think Margaret Atwood meets Ray Bradbury and you’ve nailed it. I’m just about done with that one, and ready to delve into my next non-erotica read…which is a reread of The Metamorphosis (because why not?). And then there are a few delicious Cleis reads: Hide and Seek from Alison Tyler and Rachel Kramer Bussel, The Sexy Librarian’s Big Book of Erotica from Rose Caraway, and of course my contributor copy of The Big Book of Submission edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel. I tend to read several anthologies at a time, simply because I like jumping around with short stories—but I never skip a story. It’s a habit. I may read five up front and then put the anthology aside for a couple months, but I don’t skip any. I’m loyal like that. 🙂 Oh, and let’s not even mention the bounty of anthologies (and other books) I’ve stored up in my Kindle…

So what about you? What are you reading? Do you stick with erotica, or read something else? Are you a monogamist with your books, or more of a poly reader?

I’d love to know.

XX,
Jade

Cover of Alison Tyler's Dark Secret Love

A Double Review—Alison Tyler’s Dark Secret Love and The Delicious Torment

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I’ve said a gazillion times that I love Alison Tyler’s stories, and two of her most delightful works are the first and second book in her Story of Submission series, Dark Secret Love and The Delicious Torment. In anticipation of the third novel, Wrapped Around Your Finger, coming out in barely over a month, it seemed a fine time to share my full thoughts on the beauty contained within the first two books. And—as an ode to Alison Tyler’s work—I figured two at once was the only way to go. 😉

If you have never read an Alison Tyler story, here are the main things you need to know: they are traditionally rich, vivid, and deep, but most importantly, they’re real. Her characters don’t just intrigue you; they jump out of the pages, take your wrists, and drag you into the backseat of a speeding car destined for a journey full of sights, sounds, ideas, and memories. You won’t read her work—you’ll feel it. Part of this is Ms. Tyler’s almost confessional style, but the bulk of the reason is that there’s not just sexy going on, there’s much, much more—images you want to savor, dialogue that makes your heart skip, and truth that makes you tilt your head and breathe out a big, deep sigh before turning the page for more.

Dark Secret Love CoverThe first book, Dark Secret Love, introduces us to a woman named Samantha who has an itch that needs to be scratched—but it’s deeper than that, an essence of being, a real soul-yearning ache that carries us through her early days in BDSM and onward into her relationship with the incredibly sexy Jack. As Ms. Tyler weaves her magic, you can feel everything as raw and tantalizingly sweet as Sam does, both in her head and on her skin. Jack is a Dom who knows exactly what he craves, but also what Sam needs—and he wants to take her there. Some of these places are gritty and raw, but all of them expose who she is and how much he cares for her. His love is hard. It’s rough. It colors in and outside of the lines, sometimes with hues so intense they make you a little uncomfortable. But no matter what, goddamn, it’s good.

DT CoverIn the next book, The Delicious Torment, we follow the budding relationship between Jack and Samantha, and also get a peek at the true role of Jack’s assistant, Alex. The evolution of all three relationships paired with the overall dynamic is powerful as it unfolds. For starters, Sam has been coming into her own and uncovering her true desires, which leads her to deeper connections with Jack. Meanwhile, he is living up to his Dom nature in new and more adventurous ways, making the heat level between these two scorch the pages. But then there’s Alex—a man who’s not as hard as Jack, but equally exciting and intriguing. There is a scene in the middle of this book between Alex and Samantha that—months after reading—has still stuck out to me. This scene is where everything gets more complicated (that’s all I’ll say other than read it), but let’s say it opens up a door—now there are higher stakes, heavier emotions, and as if this book wasn’t already smoking before…well, things just got real fucking hot.

I have many favorite erotic reads, but one of the things that’s always made me love Alison Tyler’s style a bit more is that it’s conversational and fast-paced. I whip through her work quicker than anyone else’s—her writing is rich yet straightforward, not to mention mouth-wateringly captivating. She breaks rules in all the right ways, and her voice is so strong, you can almost picture her winking at you as she wraps you up in all her pretty words and makes you really, truly feel them.

But of course, you’ll probably be too lost in her tale to notice, because she’s that good.

So, if you haven’t already checked out Dark Secret Love and its sequel, The Delicious Torment, I highly suggest you do. And if you’re lucky, you’ll finish just in time to get sucked into the madness like the rest of us, all eagerly awaiting the release of Wrapped Around Your Finger in September.

Enjoy the ride.

XX,
Jade

 

Cover of Just for Him edited by Alison Tyler

His and Hers…and Almost Yours!

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Okay guys, you may have noticed I’ve been banging on and on about Alison Tyler over here lately. First, our Pillow Talk group reviewed her delicious novelette, Those Boys. Then, I excitedly hosted a stop on her Those Boys tour. And next week, I’ll be reviewing a couple of her simply incredible books. So, just to clear up any confusion, this is all happening because

I’m a diehard Alison Tyler fan.

That’s why today’s news is so fantastic. I’ve been waiting to tell you this for what seems like a lifetime, but it really hasn’t been all that long. It’s just been that exhilarating that keeping my lips sealed has been intense!

So…here it is: I’m delighted to announce that I have a story in both of Alison Tyler’s hot upcoming anthologies, Just for Him and Just for Her! Hurray!

To celebrate, how about a double cover reveal? Here’s the cover for Just for Him, which includes my story “73A”:

Just for Him Cover

And here’s the cover for Just for Her, in which you’ll find “The Other Prom”:

Just For Her Cover

Ooooooh! Sexy new covers!

While I’m brimming with squeals (seriously, be thankful you’re there and not here), I have to give you a little back story on both of these. See, I’d written a few things. Rachel Kramer Bussel had already popped my cherry with The Big Book of Orgasms and that was like 80 times the thrill of the double corkscrew on the Demon rollercoaster at Great America, but now I was really fucking excited to be doing this erotica writing thing, for real. And all the while, I kept stalking Alison Tyler’s site. She had some crazy good stuff out and I’d basically worshipped her since I read “It’s Not the Weather” in another gorgeous Rachel Kramer Bussel anthology, Bedding Down. So I just kept thinking, I must get into an Alison Tyler anthology.

It was kind of like eyeing a pair of super tall strappy stiletto heels knowing that one day, you must have those shoes, and when you do, they’re going to feel SO good. Of course, you’re eyeing the shoes having no idea if you can even stand in them, but dammit, you’re going to try.

So one day, I notice that Alison Tyler has a call for not one, but two second person anthologies—one aimed at him, and another aimed at her. She’d done something similar before with Thomas Roche and it was sexy, so I was intrigued. Plus, I love second person. But the call was over in…

*Record screech.* (That’s literally what happened in my head.)

One week! She’d actually extended the deadline for a week, and by the time I saw it, there were only six days left.

Still, I had to write something for the Just for Him call. I had to!

I couldn’t start writing for two days because my schedule was nuts, but on that second day, this random idea clanked me in the head like a 2’ x 4’. I barely made it through my work day before I got home and went for it, because this is the line I had stuck in my head:

You’re working on my fence right now, and all I can think about is sucking your cock.

Naturally, from that, “73A” was born!

The next day, I was all set to send “73A” off and call it done…but then, randomly, some other 2’ x 4’ came flying at my head, and I knew I had to write another piece for Just for Her. (If we’re running with the shoe analogy, this is where I’d say, “Why buy one pair when you can buy two?”) By the end of the day, I had “The Other Prom”…and lo and behold, Ms. Tyler ended up saying yes to both. Wow! On top of that, it needs to be stated that she wrote me such sweet acceptance notes, I drove my friends nuts with my giddiness. (I know, crazy, right? Me?! Excitable?)

Anyway, that’s my back story for “73A” and “The Other Prom.” I’m thrilled to be included in both Alison Tyler anthologies, which are set to release in early 2015. I’m going to save excerpts for later, but in the meantime, you can pre-order Just for Him and Just for Her right now on Amazon. I expect they’re going to be really damn good!

As for me, I’m off to go dance around again.

I might even do it in a pair of strappy stilettos.

XX,
Jade

 

Picture of panties around red shoes

Last Call for Entries, and Other Delights…

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Holy smokes! Time is running out! Have you entered the Sexy Mad Libs game for your chance to win a copy of Violet Blue’s The Ultimate Guide to Sexual Fantasy? If not, please do! The deadline is today at 4 pm PST. You can play right here, so consider this your last call…and since you haven’t missed out yet, I hope you’ll play!

Speaking of not missing out…there have been a lot of fireworks going on over here this month. If you missed anything, here was the streak of sizzling excitement that set this place on fire!

  • First, the fabulous Rose Caraway narrated my story, “Soundscapes,” for the Kiss Me Quick’s Erotica Podcast. It was such an honor and a treat to hear her read my story! You can check out the back story here and listen to the podcast for free right here.
  • Next, the second episode of Pillow Talk Secrets revealed our fondness for Alison Tyler’s beautifully written Dom, Sandy, from Those Boys. We also talked a bit about how we write Doms in general. Want to know more? Check out the episode right here.
  • The next day, endlessly awesome A.M. Hartnett came by to reveal all sorts of dirty details about her three books on tour, Uncover Me and the first two books of The Carried Away series. Catch up on that interview right here to learn about the books as well as some fun facts about A.M. herself!
  • And finally, the amazing Alison Tyler madness continued on Sunday, when she gave me the honor of an exclusive interview with Sandy, the vibrant and incredibly sexy Dom in her new novelette, Those Boys, from Go Deeper Press! Sandy makes me a little giddy, but somehow, I made it through the interview. Please check it out to hear me swoon learn more about this divine character. You will not regret it!

Okay, I think that’s it! Don’t forget to enter the Sexy Mad Libs contest by 4 pm PST today. I’m crossing my fingers and toes for you if you’ve entered, and will announce the winner first thing tomorrow! XX, Jade

Red T-shirt with "Team Sandy" tagline

Team Sandy and the Those Boys Blog Tour!

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Okay, everyone…I told you this month was packed full of fireworks, and today I’ve got some serious sizzle!

Why? Today is my lucky day—not only is it my stop on the Those Boys Blog Tour, but I have a very special guest. And no it’s not the brilliant author, the incredible Alison Tyler who wrote this delicious novelette. Nope, nope, nope. It’s someone else.

See, one of the main reasons Those Boys (and the novelette that preceded it, Those Girls) is so amazing is because of Alison Tyler’s authentic and rich portrayal of a true Dom. Did you catch us chattering about this on our Pillow Talk session on Tuesday? If not, here’s a recap—Tyler has made Sandy engaging, hot, and compassionate. She hasn’t made a two-dimensional stereotype of a Dom; instead she’s written someone who cares about his subs, and who is interested in exploring not just their bodies but their minds. Because of all of this, she’s done the number one most important thing that has made everyone stand up and take notice:

She’s made him real—so real in fact, that Sandy is who I have here today!

Yes, it’s true. And oh, am I excited to share this interview with you! So, please read on to hear Sandy’s thoughts on some very pressing questions…

The gorgeous Those Boys cover! Courtesy of Go Deeper Press

The gorgeous Those Boys cover! Courtesy of Go Deeper Press

 

The Exclusive Sandy Interview

Oh, Sandy, Sandy, Sandy…thank you so much for joining me, and for answering all my questions. Let us begin…with where you started. How long have you been a Dom, and how did you get into the lifestyle?

That’s like asking a person how he or she got to be tall. Or blue eyed. Or Irish. I am a Dom because I’m a Dom. That said… there is a story to the beginning. At least, to the time when I decided to embrace what I knew lived inside me rather than try to fight those intense desires. I surrendered. Perhaps most Doms won’t admit this, but that’s how it was for me. I gave in.

You’ll hear all about my beginning in Those Days [the prequel]. It started with a girl—the way these stories often do. She slid me an opener. I grabbed it in my fist.

So tell me—what about the lifestyle most appeals to you?

Honesty is everything. Participants in the BDSM lifestyle are honest about what they want, need, crave, require. I demand honesty from my partners. That’s the foundation on which I build.

And when you meet a new sub that you know you must connect with, what’s the first thing that goes through your mind?

“What can I do for you?” Perhaps, that has a submissive sound to the cadence. But that is how I think. How can I help you? And of course: How can I hurt you?

[Catching my breath.] Um, Sandy, do you prefer a switch or a pure sub? Or does it even matter?

Doesn’t matter. I want truth. I want to know what turns you on, what makes you hard or wet. I want to know. If you must exert your strength, your stamina, your power every so often, then so be it. I will bend. I will bow. I will be yours however you need me.

Let’s say you could freeze a moment of your connection with your subs, Vanessa and Rem, in a photograph. What would it be? And would it be in black and white or color, and why?

A Polaroid. You knew I was going to say that, didn’t you? But not just one Polaroid. A series. A strip-tease. Each click of the camera capturing a step forward. A kiss. A caress. A peeling back. Until we are undone and undressed. Naked in every sense of the word.

Wow. Your words are one of your greatest, most entrancing traits. Of all the things you’ve said to Vanessa, Jake, and Rem (or any other sub over the years), what have you said that has elicited the strongest response (in your opinion)?

Trust me.

[Gulping.] So…what’s your favorite: paddle, belt, flogger, quirt, crop, or…?

The situation decides the weapon. Sometimes the feel of a paddle in my hand sings to me like nothing else. Other times, I know I can’t go wrong with a flogger. But if I had to choose only one, I’d choose my belt. Utilitarian. Deceptively simple. With me at almost all times. For those hard-to-reach situations.

All right. You can take Rem and Vanessa anywhere for as long as you want. Where do you go, and why?

Dive bar on the corner with the neon sign in the window. Eleven o’clock tonight. Jukebox. Leather booth. Top-shelf tequila. Until last call.

I’m a simple man.

You rarely blush. What would make you blush, if anything?

I’ll admit to making mistakes. Rarely happens, but I won’t hide. The flush you’ll occasionally see along my jaw is my anger at myself, not embarrassment for fucking up. Disappointment in myself. I’m far more lenient on others than I am when I turn my attention inward. Isn’t it always that way?

True. Now, Vanessa and Rem would do anything to please you because you care so much for them. If you were to come home to the sweetest surprise from them—they anticipated exactly what you’d want without you needing to articulate it—what would it be?

A new playmate. Wrapped up in a silver ribbon.

Oh Sandy…I’m sorry to say it’s time for our final question. What is your deepest desire—in ten words or less?

I want to live inside your head. Invite me in.

***

Oh my goodness…I don’t know about all of you, but that last answer—wow. Sandy is, in my opinion, one of the greatest characters I’ve ever read. So in case it needs to be stated, this is 100% me:

Team Sandy t-shirt

Need a little more convincing? Here’s the official blurb:

What are the chances? Bisexual dom Sandy meets Rem in his local horse-and-tack store while shopping for a quirt. He’s instantly taken by Rem’s shocking good looks and the way he struts around in an old Western-style shirt. “A preening peacock” Sandy calls him, before announcing, in the hottest of ways, what narcissists like Rem deserve.

Sandy brings Rem home to Vanessa (Those Girls) where all three enjoy intensely erotic BDSM sex, with Sandy pushing everyone’s boundaries in ways they want and he knows they need.

But Rem proves to be a mystery that even Sandy can’t quite crack. What does the boy really desire? And if it isn’t Sandy and Vanessa, what will the consequences be?

This novelette is divine, everyone. Be sure to pick up your copy as soon as you can. It officially comes out tomorrow, but you can get it from Go Deeper Press right now!

Do not miss out!

XX,
Jade

About Alison Tyler:

Called a “Trollop with a Laptop” by East Bay Express, Alison Tyler is naughty and she knows it. Her sultry short stories have appeared in more than 100 anthologies including Coupling edited by Sommer Marsden and Sex for America edited by Stephen Elliott. She is the author of more than 25 erotic novels, most recently Dark Secret Love and The Delicious Torment, and Wrapped Around Your Finger (soon to be released). She is also the editor of more than 75 explicit anthologies, including Alison’s Wonderland, Never Say Never, and 69. Visit www.alisontyler.com 24/7 as she’s a total insomniac.

 

 

The Pillow Talk...Erotica Writers Talking Dirty logo: black and white image of a cartoon woman with bright red lips on a pillow

Pillow Talk Secrets 2: Those Boys, Alphas and Doms, Oh My!

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Let the July fireworks continue…it’s time for the second session of Pillow Talk Secrets! Hurray!

Pillow Talk: Erotica Writers Talking Dirty (aka Tamsin Flowers, Malin James, and I) have been quite excited for this particular episode—we managed to get an early copy of Alison Tyler’s Those Boys from Go Deeper Press. This delicious novella is the sequel to Those Girls, and oh my goodness do we have some great things to tell you about it! Malin leads the conversation today about what makes the novella so fantastic. I’ve posted a portion of the conversation here with a link at the end for you to continue at our site, Pillow Talk, to read the rest. Thanks for joining us!

XX,
Jade

Pillow Talk Secrets 2

Malin: Hello ladies!

Tamsin: Hello Malin, hello Jade!

Jade: And hello to both of you!

M: So, I don’t know about you two, but I’m dying to talk to you both about Those Boys. Should we start there?

T: Absolutely. But before we launch in, we should tell people who might not know this is the second book in Alison Tyler’s series that started with Those Girls – both published by Go Deeper Press.

J: Yes, and that we were fortunate enough to score ourselves an early copy of Those Boys – quite possibly because the Universe is just amazing – and wow are we happy about it!

The gorgeous cover for Those Boys, by Alison Tyler. Courtesy of Go Deeper Press.

The gorgeous cover for Those Boys, by Alison Tyler. Courtesy of Go Deeper Press.

M: It was a really lovely treat. There’s a lot of food for thought in both the first book, and now the second. For those readers who haven’t read the first book yet, let’s do a really quick run-down.

T: No spoilers!

M:  I would never! Okay. Summary not spoilers: it’s told from the POV of a Dom named Sandy. This man is the real deal – a Dom’s Dom. Basically, the novelette is about how he goes about initiating the lovely, slightly stand-offish Vanessa. How’s that?

J: Good – and I want to add this little piece I once read on Alison Tyler’s blog – I can’t remember her exact verbiage, but she said she originally thought Sandy was going to be a she, and then Sandy become this beautifully bisexual Dom. But the key, or the power of Sandy, was that it didn’t matter who he had control over – only that he had that control. The magic is being in his head, because he’s such the Dom’s Dom, as Malin said.

M: And there is magic in his head. You rarely see such a nuanced, authentic portrayal of a dominant in erotica, especially a male dominant, which is a shame.

T: But, I have to admit to a little disappointment with Those Girls, (shock! horror!).

J: What?!

T: Not because it wasn’t brilliant – it was! But it was too damn short! I wanted more. Straight away!

J: Oh well then, in that case…I totally agree.

T: I think Sandy’s character really came into its own, though, in Those Boys. I really got much more of a feel for him – this is a massive development on the first story and with the addition of a new character, Rem, we really get to understand how Sandy’s mind ticks…

Click here to read more!

Picture of firework spark

Let There Be Fireworks!

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Happy July, everyone!

I am excited to share that this month is going to be one smokin’ month on my site! There will be fireworks, fireworks, and more fireworks. It’s going to be hot!

Picture of fireworks sparking

A month of fireworks!

So where do we start? Well, first off, there’s one huge thing I’ve been dying to tell you about. And it’s coming. It’s so close. Oh my god I can practically feel it. You know when you send a bouncy ball flying in a house, and it whips off every wall, the floor, and then back around? Yeah. That’s me! I don’t have a precise date yet, but I’m going to give you an enormous hint:

Pic of Rose Caraway's Status, 6/30/14

Rose Caraway’s Facebook Status, 6/30/14

Did you hear my big squeal?

And more importantly—have you checked out The Kiss Me Quick’s? If you haven’t, please do. It’s a fantastic broadcast all narrated by the lovely and talented Rose Caraway. I’m tickled and honored that very soon, we’ll get to hear her narrate a little something from me as part of the KMQ’s!

*Bouncy ball goes flying.*

But wait, I have more fireworks. July is extra happening because I have some sexy guests and tour spots on the way! I’m thrilled to tell you that I will be hosting a stop on Violet Blue’s The Ultimate Guide to Sexual Fantasy blog tour, A.M. Hartnett’s delicious summer release tour, and also Alison Tyler’s Those Boys tour. Wow!

*Bouncy ball goes flying.*

As if that’s not enough fun over here, we’ll also have the next Pillow Talk Secrets coming out, and of course, the release of The Big Book of Submission (which, by the way, was mentioned in Self Magazine—check it out!). Oh, and did I mention something about a game and a giveaway involved with one of the aforementioned July posts? Yes, oh yes, there will be a game and a giveaway!

*Bouncy ball goes super flying.*

Okay. I have to pull myself together. As I tend to do, I’ve teased a tad here…so sorry. That’s me—big ole tease. Nonetheless, I promise the wait will bring you many sweet rewards…

It’s going to be a hot month, folks!

XX,
Jade

 

Picture of panties around red shoes

Vampires, Sex, and Fun—The Crimson Bond, by Tamsin Flowers

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I love a good vampire novel.

Now, wait—that statement has some major caveats.

First, I like my vampires sexy—don’t we all?—but, there has to be some emotion to the sexiness. The tale can’t just be blood sucking and sex all the time or the characters fall flat on the page.

Second, I want the story to have something different. Vampires have been around for a while, so the tale has to have a unique element or I’m over it.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, I like my vampire stories to be fun.

crimson-bond

Well…allow me to introduce you to The Crimson Bond by Tamsin Flowers. About six months ago, Ms. Flowers tickled me with her super sexy zombie collection, Zombie Erotoclypse—and she’s done it again with The Crimson Bond! The story is about a girl named Willow who happens to be rather smitten with her college professor, Etienne Corbeau. He’s hot. He’s mysterious. And oh, by the way—he’s a married vampire. His wife Elouise also intrigues Willow, and in a smokin’ hot scene in which Etienne gets a little too taken with his student, he almost kills her in his feed…and Elouise must turn Willow to save her life. The result is what makes this tale different: the three of them are immediately joined in a triple—or crimson—bond.

However, this bond is complicated. Willow wants both of the vampires, and both of them want her. At the same time, they don’t want the other around. Jealousy ensues. Lots of hot sex in every pairing imaginable fires up the page. And all of it takes place in a sensational romp of a tale written in Tamsin Flowers’s lighthearted, sweet and sexy prose, with characters you can actually engage with. You can’t help but wonder how Willow will fare between these two lusty, possessive, and deliciously gorgeous vampires, while also rooting all of them on.

In short? The tale is exactly what I look for in a vampire book—it is unique, sexy, and fun.

The second book in this series, The Scarlet Bond, is set for release this summer. I have a feeling it will be just as delightful, so if you haven’t read the first one yet…

You better get on it!

XX,
Jade

The Pillow Talk...Erotica Writers Talking Dirty logo: black and white image of a cartoon woman with bright red lips on a pillow

Pillow Talk Secrets Launches Today!

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Okay, I’ve been hinting, hinting, and more hinting that today was going to be fabulous—and now it’s finally happening! Today marks the launch date for Pillow Talk: Erotica Writers Talking Dirty! 

See, Malin James, Tamsin Flowers, and I—your host for the day, Jade A. Waters—have been telling so many erotic secrets about writing and sex in general behind closed doors, we figured it was time to share it all with you. We formed Pillow Talk for just that—inviting you to listen in on our dirty dish, too. In today’s post we’d like to introduce ourselves as well as share what you can expect from Pillow Talk Secrets. In future sessions, we’ll be posting a short intro and links on our own blogs to direct you to the Pillow Talk website, where the full session will be posted—but in honor of our lift off, today you can read it all right here!

So without further ado, I’d like to welcome you to the first…

Pillow Talk Secrets!

Jade: Good morning, ladies! The day is finally here. Our official Pillow Talk Secrets launch!

Malin: We’ve been so busy at it, it’s kind of hard to believe!

Tamsin: I think it might have crept up on some of us!  So what’s on the agenda, Jade?

J: Well, I figured today we should let our readers know what we’re all about, and then a little about each of us and how we met.

M: Perfect. Who wants to start? Maybe with a bit about what we’re doing?

J: Exactly. What is Pillow Talk? How should we describe ourselves?

T: Starting with the obvious, three writers—of erotica, naturally—similarly dirty minded!

J: Which basically means, dirty dirty dirty talk. Yes?

M: Yes. It’s also probably the biggest reason we became friends in the first place—erotica definitely brought us together.

J: I just smiled when you said that, Malin. It’s true! I still can’t remember who I friended first—it was so fabulous in both directions—but was it you, Tamsin?

Smiling woman jumping in the air with outstretched pom-poms

Jade A. Waters, Resident Cheerleader

T: I think so—we met on Twitter over a discussion of a pair of boots Alison Tyler was lusting after—and you very quickly became my chief cheerleader.

J: Oh, that’s right! I was squealing and dancing all over the place, as I usually do (also, Alison Tyler has some wickedly good taste in shoes!). But I think we got closer once I realized you wrote a zombie erotica book—because I thought that was wild—and then we started emailing….

M: I had no idea you guys started talking over Alison Tyler’s awesome taste in shoes! That’s fabulous…. And then of course, Tamsin’s zombies are…well, let’s just say I’m not a zombie kind of girl, but it’s the sexiest, most inventive set of zombies I’ve ever seen.

T: Ah, I use those zombies to hook all my friends!

J: I knew you were up to something! 🙂 Meanwhile, as Tamsin and I became cohorts…

M: Jade and I met at a reading for The Big Book of Orgasms! It was the first reading either of us had ever done—at least of erotica.

T: God, you two are so brave! I don’t know if I could stand up in front of a room full of people and read out my very filthy words!

J: I think it worked out because we both have theatre backgrounds. Also, we were in the Good Vibrations Vibrator Museum, so it was inspiring.

M: Ha! Yes, it was. Plus, the audience was friendly, so it was easy to jump in.

T: So tell me, what was the filthiest sentence you had to read out in front of all the strangers?

M: I read “Hard Knocks,” which is all about coming from being spanked, so the whole thing was pretty filthy. That said, “More blows slapping my sensitive, soaking cunt” might win.

T: *Sniggers.*

J: See, this is a hard question (pun intended) only because my filth gauge is a little questionable. In my story, “The Flogger,” a woman discovers her prim and proper boyfriend has found her dusty old flogger in the closet. Still, I think for me it was “cupped her slit with her whole hand.” I get a total visual every time I read it.

T: Like I thought—totally embarrassing! So pleased I don’t live near enough to have been roped in on that! But back to how we all met…

M: Tamsin—I know we met through Jade, but I’m trying to work out how we started emailing like maniacs…

T: I probably found you through stalking Jade’s twitter feed!

J: Ha! I remember telling you, Malin, that she was adorable and delightful, so that might have been part of it. Tamsin’s a hoot. (Hear that everyone? A damn hoot!)

T: Don’t scare the readers, Jade!

M: I adore that you just said “hoot.” And yes! I remember that. I had a question about something, so I emailed Tamsin, and she was lovely enough to help me out. Then we started chatting and off we went.

Picture of sexy woman writing in lingerie

This is so NOT how it works. Unless we’re dreaming…

J: I swear, it’s like destiny. *Clap of thunder.* *Parting clouds.* *Gentle rain ensues.*

T: Okay, moving swiftly on…

J: Yes, sorry. (Malin and I always get so damn gushy.) Let’s tell our readers a little more about Pillow Talk Secrets. What’s our goal?

M: I’d say to give readers a peek into a real friendship between real writers. Plus, sometimes people have interesting ideas about what erotica writers are like. I mean yes, we talk about sex.. kind of a lot. But we’re very well-rounded people, even discounting the filthy minds 😉

T: There are misconceptions about erotica writers, too—and we want to blast them out of the water. For example we don’t sit around writing in lacy lingerie sets. Well, I don’t. I can’t vouch for you two!

Proposed black and white image of Malin James

Malin James, tea and glasses in action!

M: I’m more of a tea and glasses kind of girl…and yoga pants. Yoga pants are good.

J: Ditto.

T: You wouldn’t catch me dead in yoga pants!

J: Silly. I’m sure you look smashing in yoga pants.

T: But exercise clothes are for exercise! I like to sit at my desk in a smart pin-stripe suit!

M: Hmm. I need more power lunches. Possibly with martinis….

T: See, there’s the difference between us—I’m uptight London and you’re cool California girls.

M: And yet, we work so well together!

T: Hats off to that!

J: Oh nelly. I think our readers are in for a treat with the three of us—a bunch of goofs, I tell you. So…let’s tell them more about what we’ll cover. For example, we’ll be doing this piece—Pillow Talk Secrets—about once every six weeks, right?

M: Exactly. And each Secrets session will be a little different. Sometimes we’ll talk about kissing (in fiction, of course), or strap-ons (in fiction, of course)…

J: *Snort.* We’ll also be laughing a lot, clearly. 😉 But strap-ons are such a great topic.

T: Actually, I just wrote a story about a strap on…

J: Yeah you did. It was smokin’.

M: That’s why strap-ons were on my mind. Ahem…

A sexy business woman representative of Tamsin Flowers

The power-lunching and classy Tamsin Flowers

J: We’ll also be talking about other erotica topics: limb arrangement, orgasms, couplings…

M: Pronouns! That’s a thing with threesomes…

J: We’ll have excerpts sometimes, too.

T: Maybe discuss books that we’re reading… And guests. What about the guests?

J: Yes! Definitely guests. Maybe even some competitions and prizes.

M: We’ll also talk about our works in progress or other exciting things that are happening to one or two or all of us.

J: For sure.

T: But as today’s our first time (we’re virgins?), the obvious topic is beginnings…. So how did you two get started as erotica writers?

J: Malin, you first.

M: Well, the short version is that I’ve been writing pretty seriously for about ten years, but I only started focusing on erotica about two years ago. Before that, I wrote the occasional bit of erotica, but only for myself. Then I stumbled over some open submission calls and started submitting to anthologies. Pieces started getting accepted, and suddenly, I was writing a lot more erotica.

T: Thank goodness!

M: After The Big Book of Orgasms reading, (where Jade and I met), I went to erotica full-time, and I’m happier as a writer than I’ve ever been.

J: Funny you mention “happier as a writer than [you’ve] ever been”—that’s exactly where I’m at, now. I started in spec fic (which I still love) and occasionally wrote erotica, but I didn’t know what to do with it. I ended up at a Fantasy/Sci-Fi writing conference having submitted a piece for a critique workshop. The readers flashed me raised eyebrows, and the workshop leader said, “Do you realize you’ve written a piece about a stripper werewolf?”

M: Did you realize you’d written about a stripper werewolf?

J: Honestly, it hadn’t dawned on me until he said it, and the group pointed out I had a flair for titillation…and suddenly, I’d found what really drew me! What about you, Tamsin?

T: I was dabbling in fiction, not too successfully, when I stumbled across a submission call for erotic short stories. So I thought to myself—yeah, I could do that. Despite the fact I hadn’t actually read any erotica at that point.

J: Whoa. Really?

T: Sure—I had read nothing! So I read one free short story, just to check how saucy I needed to be, and then I wrote one and sent it off. And…it got accepted—I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t because it was a really weird story, set in a dentist’s surgery…. Very strange. But I haven’t stopped since! And I’ve read a few more stories since then!

M: Your dentist story sounds great by the way. I love weird.

J: Me too. Spec fic background!

T: I wouldn’t say it was weird-good—just plain strange. A girl with dental phobia gets fingered by the nurse to make her forget she’s having a filling. It really made me feel squeamish about going to the dentist for quite a time!

M: Tamsin, you just cracked me up. I’d love to read it.

J: Me too!

T: Ha—one day I’ll send it to you both and you can see what I mean.

M: For what it’s worth, the first erotic story I ever sold had absolutely no sex in it. Lots of kissing (and it was hot kissing), but no sex. Go figure.

J: Well, I just have to say, I’m so glad we all made it to erotica—and of course, into each others’ orbs.

T: So am I—I’m having a blast with you two!

M: Likewise! Cheers to erotica and the people who read it!

J: Hear hear! Speaking of our readers, we should tell them about the newsletter.

T: Yes. Once a month we’ll be sending out a newsletter packed with all our latest updates—new releases, blog tours, details about forthcoming sessions and what we’ve been up to. Please sign up to make us feel popular.

J: Yes, please do! There’s a signup right here at http://pillowtalkwriters.com.

M: And you can also find us on Twitter and Facebook, as well. We’re everywhere. Everywhere! *Cue charmingly evil laughter.*

T: There’s simply no escaping us!

J: But we promise to make it a sweet experience.

M: Always…

T: You two sweet talkers!

J: Who, us? 😉 All right, I think that definitely gives our readers a good sense of what Pillow Talk is all about. Perhaps we should save more deliciousness for our newsletter?

T: You can sign up for the first edition now—and then it really gets going on 20th June…. Okay, I think it’s time to wind up proceedings.

M: I think so.

J: Agreed.

T: Hopefully we’ll see you at our next session—and please share your thoughts with us on Facebook and Twitter in the meantime.

M: Absolutely. We’d love to hear from you.

J: And thanks so much for joining us

XOXO,
Jade, Malin and Tamsin

Cover of Never Say Never edited by Alison Tyler

The Never Say Never Blog Tour…Plus, a Confession

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All right everyone, today is a special day—I’m excited to be the next stop on Alison Tyler’s Never Say Never Blog Tour! Since this book is all about partners exploring their kinky desires, I’ve decided to pick my favorite chapters, mash them together, and share a little experience of my own…

So to start, I must confess: I am an exhibitionist.

*Sigh.* There, that feels nice.

It took many years for me to recognize that this turned me on, but now that I’m there, I can trace the desire back to an experience I had at 19. My then-boyfriend and I had been together for a while, and we’d spent several months trying to get me off. We’d tried everything—or what I believed was everything, at age 19—but it wasn’t happening. Eventually we ended up working Renaissance Faire together (that’s a story and a half for another time), where I started exploring and playing with what I liked and didn’t. I also met all sorts of people open about their kinks and cravings—one of whom happened to be an extremely handsome and flirtatious friend of my boyfriend.

One day, my boyfriend and I escaped the noise that is Ren Faire—bells chiming, families laughing, choirs singing, trees rustling, and actors soliloquizing at the top of their lungs—for an afternoon adventure in our makeshift cabin. We had curtains to shield our bed from the trail running behind us, but that day, neither of us thought to close them. When my boyfriend went down on me, he had no idea that my heart suddenly raced less for what he was doing, but for the wonder that someone might happen to pass by… So imagine my surprise when I opened my eyes to discover his friend a few feet away on the trail.

He stopped cold, and slowly, silently, he smiled.

And then he watched.

He didn’t move, and neither did I. In fact, I clearly remember holding rigidly still beneath my boyfriend’s affections save for the curling of my toes, feeling my blood rise in my cheeks as my thoughts spun wildly over what was happening. And it was right as his friend mouthed the words You’re beautiful that I came for the first time with another person…or apparently, in my case, two.

Years later, I recognize the desire to be seen as something I crave. It’s one of a long list of “kinkier” things I enjoy, and voicing them is not as scary or taboo anymore—especially with the right partner. Instead, they form a potential adventure.

Which leads me to the point of this post: Alison Tyler’s Never Say Never: Tips, Tricks and Erotic Inspiration for Lovers. The book is a how-to guide of sorts, but more than that, it’s a wonderful blend of kinky adventures, tips, and tales designed to break couples out of vanilla inhibitions and into sexual exploration.

Never Say Never cover

The book covers a ton of kinky ground, from voyeurism and exhibitionism (gee, wonder which chapter was my favorite), to spanking, role-playing, soft swapping, and much, much more. What I loved most was how Ms. Tyler managed to seamlessly weave tips with stories. Each chapter focused on one topic as introduced by her lovely voice, using story snippets to both rile and explain with clever commentary (I particularly loved that of the chapters entitled “Slippery When Wet—Cunnilingus,” “Close Your Eyes—Blindfolds,” and “Naughty, Naughty—Spanking”). Then after a summary of highlights for the section, she masterfully chose a sexy story to follow.

And what better way to get couples exploring than to explain and demonstrate?

The glory of this book is that one can pick a chapter or topic that appeals, absorb the tips, and then share the story with a partner as a first step toward broaching a fantasy or desire. The how-to voice crossed with fiction makes this book better than your average guide—it’s almost like having a super sexy tour guide let you in on The Best Sexual Adventure You’re About To Have Ever!…and then she opens up a big door of fantasy fiction to prove it to you. It’s positively delightful.

There were numerous wonderful stories and snippets in here, but the full-length pieces that thrilled me most were “Savory” by Georgia E. Jones, “Afternoon Strip” by N.T. Morley, “Margarita Magic” by Thomas S. Roche, and Tyler’s own “Is That Man Bothering You?” Still, it needs to be said again—Ms. Tyler’s playful narration throughout the book is gold, and because of that, this book is sure to entertain, inspire, and revive…

And maybe even draw some new fantasies to the surface. 😉

To prove how delicious the merging of guide-with-snippets in this book is, here’s a brief yet steamy excerpt from one of my favorite chapters, “Slippery When Wet—Cunnilingus”:

I’ve written about oral delights in more stories than I can lick—I mean, count. Sometimes, my characters talk about what’s happened in the past, like in this clip from “Burned”:

I’ d told him about the time she splayed me on the kitchen floor and licked my pussy for hours without letting me come, a candle in her hand, drip-dripping wax all over my body whenever I got too close to climax.

I’ve penned that first breath of a tongue on a lover’s pussy, like in “Seeing Stars”:

We were nine floors up. But we were on top of the world, on top of Los Angeles. His mouth crested over my pussy, not locking on, not licking in. He was teasing me. I was shuddering. 

And then I’ve moved on to the main event, as in “Zachary’s Bed”:

I moan as he spreads me with his thumbs, parts my nether lips like the petals of a flower. I moan again as his warm mouth opens and he slides his tongue in crazy circles there, where I need him, there, and I can’t keep from shifting my hips to the rhythm he sets with his tongue, rocking with him while he laps at me. Laps and licks and kisses me with his magic tongue.   

“Zachary—” I am begging, beyond shame, straining at the ties that won’t allow me to reach him. I need to touch him, need my hands on his skin, my nails digging down his back, my fingers twisting in his still-wet hair.

“Sh, Risa.” I feel the words against my skin rather than hear them, feel the gentle motion of his mouth and tongue echoing inside me. 

“Please.” I arch as I say it. Desperate.

“Sh, darling,” he croons in the lullaby voice that has infiltrated my fantasies. “Sh, Risa,” he whispers as I slide on the slippery sheets, pressing hard against his lovely mouth.

Of course, when things really get heated, I like pushing the envelope as far as settings go, like in this gang-bang piece, “Last Call”:

Brody pulls my panties down then, and I raise my hips up to help him, but I don’t stop stroking those cocks. I feel energized, as if I could do this all night. The low, hungry sighs of the men is payment enough. I am the center, the focus of attention, and I bask in the glow.

Brody dives back between my thighs, and I bend my knees and splay for him, back arching. He’s so good. Declan knows how to eat me, knows all the tricks and turns I love best. But there’s something unreal about having that magic moustache run over my pussy lips and against my inner thighs. 

    • “Burned” appeared in The Big Book of Bondage
    • “Seeing Stars” appeared in One Night Only, edited by Violet Blue
    • “Zachary’s Bed” appeared in Naughty Stories from A to Z
    • “Last Call” appeared in Morning, Noon, and Night

**

So good! If you haven’t picked up this book yet, I highly recommend you do. You can find it on Amazon by clicking right here.

After reading it, I hope you all find a fun new adventure to try in the near future…

XX,
Jade

About Alison Tyler:

Called a “Trollop with a Laptop” by East Bay Express, Alison Tyler is naughty and she knows it. Her sultry short stories have appeared in more than 100 anthologies including Coupling edited by Sommer Marsden and Sex for America edited by Stephen Elliott. She is the author of more than 25 erotic novels, most recently Dark Secret Love and The Delicious Torment, and the editor of more than 75 explicit anthologies, including Alison’s Wonderland and 69. Visit www.alisontyler.com 24/7 as she’s a total insomniac.