Jade Waters, Golden Flogger Award nominee talks about writing, D/s and so much more…
Why did you begin writing BDSM novels?
I’ve written erotica off and on for about two decades while I primarily wrote in other genres of fiction. After I finally upped and decided I wanted to focus on erotica and erotic romance, I felt it important to write in all subcategories, because life is broad like that. I believe BDSM stories have the potential to be extremely hot and full of depth between the right characters, so I wanted to explore how that dynamic would play out with the specific characters and their backgrounds I created within The Assignment.
Do you participate in D/s activities or merely write about them?
I have experimented with some D/s activities in my lifetime. My kink is “trying things,” so while I don’t classify myself as being part of the BDSM lifestyle, nor do I identify with any particular role, I am open-minded and enjoy playing and exploring various things with the right partner.
Where did you get your information on this lifestyle?
My information came from a mix of personal experience, friends in the lifestyle, and thorough research! Some of this comes from the internet, some from reading, and some just from asking lots of questions in the right places.
What does being nominated for the Golden Flogger Award mean to you?
I feel incredibly honored to have been considered for the Golden Flogger. It’s nice to have one’s work acknowledged at all, never mind nominated for an award. Especially when the content fits within the context of what the Golden Flogger Award recognizes!
What is the hardest part of writing your novel?
I think this depends on the novel! The Assignment came out very naturally and quickly for me. The second book in the Lessons In Control series, The Discipline, was written during a challenging time in my life, so drafting it took far more focus and revision than I’d ever experienced with a novel before. The finished novel was significantly different from the first version, which was telling. Then there was the final book, The Reward, which was difficult in that it had to close the series loop properly—but it was helpful that I knew the end goal for my characters, and especially the key idea behind the protagonist’s overall development.
Tell us a little about yourself and your writing works.
I have been writing most of my life, and currently, I write a mix of erotica styles in both fiction and poetry. I tend to enjoy exploring characters who are finding themselves and/or more about themselves through their sexuality and sexual experiences, and often write in a semi-lyrical manner. While The Assignment and the entire Lessons In Control series is an erotic romance, I write all avenues of erotica, and at the moment am focused on exploring darker and heavier themes in my work. You can check this style out in some of the flash samples on my website, http://jadeawaters.com, as well as on my poetry site, http://poetry.jadeawaters.com.
A little about the author:
Jade A. Waters is an erotica writer and poetess in sunny California. Her debut novel, The Assignment, was published with Carina Press in December 2016 as the first of the Lessons in Control series, with the final book, The Reward, out in June 2017. Her erotic fiction and poetry has been featured in over a dozen anthologies from Cleis Press, Coming Together, Fuse Literary, and Stupid Fish Productions, including Best Women’s Erotica of the Year (Vol. 1), Best Erotic Romance of the Year, and Best Women’s Erotica 2014. Her stories have also been narrated on The Kiss Me Quick’s Erotica Podcast. Jade is a lover of candy, coffee, dancing, and endless karaoke, but she is happiest when surrounded by words—be they on the page or shared in good conversation. Be sure to say hello on Twitter @jadeawaters or at her website, http://jadeawaters.com.