Gratitude

Posted on November 26, 2013September 14, 2014 by Jade A. Waters

It’s the week of Thanksgiving here in the States—a time of celebration, good food, and hopefully, a moment to reflect on all the things we’re grateful for in our lives. I’ve always loved hearing about the gatherings where each person shares something he or she is grateful for, so I hope each of you has an abundance of things to list this Thursday.

In the spirit of giving thanks, I’d like to take a minute to share my gratitude for a lot of different people I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with over the last few months. I have so much to be grateful for right now, and all of it is due to some extremely wonderful people.

First, I’m grateful that Rachel Kramer Bussel was willing to take a chance on “The Flogger” and add it to her beautiful collection, The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories. I cannot be more thrilled that my first published piece is part of this anthology! I have more gratitude for a few other editors, such as Violet Blue for the honor of including me in Best Women’s Erotica 2014, and Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword for including me in Holiday Spice. And of course, there’s Alison Tyler, too, who keeps making me do happy dances. 🙂

I’d like to extend this gratitude to Cleis Press for publishing TBBOO, as well as for their ongoing efforts to provide quality erotica in some of the most lovely bound books I’ve seen in the genre. TBBOO and BWE 2014 are just two of many great books this house has released into the world, and I’m delighted to be part of their anthologies.

I’m also thankful for being able to connect with some fabulous writer pals. Some of you are pen pals, some of you are mentor friends, and all of you are inspiring me in one way or another. I’m incredibly glad we are connected!

I am grateful for family and friends too, many of whom have been encouraging me for years (especially you, S.M., who reminded me whenever I flitted off to something else over the years that writing was my true love and I should get back to it). A special thanks to M.N. and K.S. for nudging me (okay, tenderly shoving me when I kept dipping my toes) into erotica, since you both recognized it was what I really loved to write.

I’m also grateful for all the people who are starting to find my work, and who are so kindly sharing their thoughts on it with me. I am truly honored to get to share my writing publicly now, and hope that people continue to enjoy reading it (or at least read it!). 🙂

I wouldn’t be so passionate about erotica if I hadn’t read stories by some tremendous authors, so I’m grateful for finding the work of Shanna Germain, Alison Tyler, Isabelle Gray, Rachel Kramer Bussel, and Anaïs Nin, among others, some of whom you can find on my Blogroll. There are so many talented writers out there inspiring me right now, and I hope to continue learning a little something from all of them as I continue to write.

I could probably keep going on forever about how grateful I am, but I won’t. I do, however, hope that you have something that makes you feel as warm and fuzzy as all these special people have made me.

Finally, I wanted to share a completely unrelated little ditty with you—Alison Tyler, otherwise known as the Trollop with a Laptop, has been collecting pictures of bookshelf porn. She’s a complete voyeur and has a fetish for checking out everyone’s bookshelves, so she’s been running an ongoing series if you’d like to check it out (and you should). You can see my book preferences right here, and if you click on through her site, you’ll be able to see the sexy book arrangements of some other erotica authors and erotic-related folk, such as A.M. Hartnett, Emerald, Graydancer, and Charlie Powell. There are more to come, so be sure to take a peek!

In the meantime, I hope everyone has a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving. Be sure to curl up with your favorite spicy read, something I’m eternally grateful to get to do!

XX,
Jade

A Brief Recap of The Big Book of Orgasms Reading at Good Vibrations!

Posted on November 7, 2013September 14, 2014 by Jade A. Waters

I’m a squealer.

Let me just say that right now, upfront, so it’s clear for all eternity and in writing here on my site. I’m a big fangirl, and I get real damn excited when I’m happy.

That said—last night was fucking amazing. (I’d say pardon my french, but hello, you’re on an erotica author’s site.) I am honored and so truly blessed to have been in the presence of the talented people I got to read with last night.

Here’s the rundown:

The reading was hosted by the Polk Street Good Vibrations in their Vibrator Museum. I mean, how much more awesome of a venue could there be for an erotica reading?

Rachel Kramer Bussel kicked us off with her reading of the fabulous “I’m On Fire.” She, by the way, is the reason I’m published, so I had to really keep it together to not smother her in a gigantic hug. She’s pretty amazing, people. And she liked my shoes!

Lily K. Cho read “Chains of Love,” and having buddied up with her before the reading (she’s a newbie, too), I felt like a proud mama watching her go. Loved that story, girl!

Malin James read “Hard Knocks,” which is one of my most favorite stories in the whole book. Her reading was delightful, and she’s also a doll. And did I mention “Hard Knocks” is fantastic?

Sinclair Sexsmith didn’t read a story from TBBOO, instead reading a new piece. I believe it was called “Five Blowjobs.” I think. I’m still so flipping giddy I can’t remember. Regardless…It.Was.Fucking.Great!

Donna George Storey read “Book Lover.” Since I love the smell of paper, and I love her, I nearly lost it. She is a beautiful reader, as well, so if it was possible for someone to actually sound as smooth as chocolate looks coming out of a fondue fountain, then that’s how it went down. Really.

B.D. Swain was a newbie like me, but you wouldn’t know it listening to her read. I’m a huge fan. Huge. “The Beginning”—like pretty much everything I’ve seen by B.D. so far—is exquisite.

Virgie Tovar blew my mind with “Count the Strokes.” The story itself is so ridiculously delicious, and she’s quite the reader. I then had to follow her…go figure.

Xan West had to be one of the best readers of the night with “Baxter’s Boy.” The story is great, and Xan was so animated and alive reading it that it was a pleasure to watch!

And of course, there was little ole me. I read “The Flogger.” I was nervous as all hell, but I think I pulled through okay. My long-ago-theatre-girl self is ready for a round two, though, so I can attempt a read as impressive as the seasoned vets who schooled me. You people are astounding!

Want to see us all together? Click right here.

A giant thank you to Good Vibrations for hosting, Cleis Press for organizing (and for publishing me!), and to Rachel Kramer Bussel for flying out AND for choosing “The Flogger” to be in the collection. Without her, I would never have gotten the chance to fill you all in on such a tremendous experience. 🙂

Okay. Phew. I made it through this post.

Now, I must sign off to dance around my living room squealing again.

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

The Big Book of Orgasms: “The Flogger”

Posted on September 16, 2013September 14, 2014 by Jade A. Waters

Hello, welcome, and thanks for joining! I’m so pleased to officially kick off this site, and even more so with exciting news!

In just a few weeks, Cleis Press will release The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories. This steamy anthology is edited by the wonderful Rachel Kramer Bussel, and I’m ecstatic to be a part of it!

The book is available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, as well as a few other sites (see below). You can find out more about it on The Big Book of Orgasms WordPress Page and The Big Book of Orgasms Tumblr page. Both of these sites include a full table of contents, author bios, Ms. Bussel’s sexy introduction, and excerpts!

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at my story, “The Flogger”:

Katie had bought the damn flogger thirteen years ago, in the final throes of a souring relationship. She’d thought she’d have plenty of opportunities to use the suede leather contraption. Instead, the thing had ended up in the closet, only used as a dust collector.

Then she met Julian. He was as proper as they came. His suit jackets were always pressed and his ties neatly tucked; he got his hair cut every three weeks; he meticulously folded his papers after he read them. Brilliant, handsome and patient, he never faulted her for her ways. Instead he picked up after her and the chaos that was her collection of art supplies, her endless piles of clothes and even her oft-wild hair—which is why she froze when she found him standing in their living room, holding the flogger perpendicular to his hips, as if measuring it against his semi-erect, naked penis.

“You never told me about this.” Julian waved the flogger around, and it almost looked as if his shaft hardened.

She had to be imagining this.

“I did…once.” It was five years ago, when they’d just started telling each other their fantasies—long before they’d moved in together. She’d hidden it in the back of the closet since she’d never imagined it as Julian’s sort of thing.

His brow furrowed as he swung it, the tassels tapping his thighs.

“Hmm,” he said, reasoning. “Well, I suppose you should come here. And take off your clothes.”

One thing’s for certain—this entire anthology is sure to be hot, hot, hot! Don’t forget to pre-order your copy of The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories, and stay close for more exciting news very soon…

XX,
Jade