The public author event will feature an appearance by adult industry powerhouse and Deeper studio director Kayden Kross, who will serve as the moderator for a Q&A panel discussion together with the book’s Launch Day festivities.

“I am so excited to be able to tell my story with the release of Rated X , and thankful to The Grove’s Barnes & Noble location for offering me the special opportunity to promote my personal anecdotes through this amazing in-store signing event,” said Ward.

“They say that everyone has a book in them, and mine is a tale of hope, inspiration and courage to those who may live in fear of fully living their true selves due to society’s established structures. I’ve followed the rules and broken the rules, and believe me, breaking the rules can set you free and empower you. I hope my experiences help set others free to live their best lives on their own terms.”

The award-winning adult film performer, actress, model and cosplay personality, whose iconic entertainment career has spanned nearly 30 years since breaking into the business as a teen, openly recounts her highs, lows, accomplishments and indignities as the first-ever mainstream screen star to find smashing success in the taboo world of porn.

Sharing her stories in has not only proved to be empowering for Ward, it’s also been “one of the proudest moments of my career”, with early success on Amazon’s pre-sale lists and an acclaimed ‘Kirkus Star’ from literary tastemaker Kirkus Reviews .

The Los Angeles event kicks off several of Ward’s author signing events in September, with the star jetting cross-country to New York the following week to continue her promotional book launch. Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood is available for pre-order on the Simon & Schuster product page at SimonandSchuster.com and Amazon.com