This week on Erotic Voices: Jamie Lake!
(A few days ago, Jamie interviewed me — click here to check it out!)
Tell us about your latest release.
My latest book is Bad Boy Part 2. It is the sequel to the original novel which is about Peter, a kindergarten teacher who has no other choice but to moonlight as an erotic nude massage therapist at night, in order to make ends meet. In the first book, I introduced the love of his life that he meets and who is the parent of one of his students. His name is Chip (a police officer that happens to work in the prostitution department) and the man that gets Peter involved in the nude massages, Tony, a powerful casino owner. The sequel follows Peter as he finds out that Tony will stop at nothing to keep him under his control, even killing his roommate. It’s a series which does have cliffhangers at the end of each book.
What was the hardest or most difficult scene to write?
That’s a good question. I think the hardest scenes are the subtle moments where there’s no yelling, screaming, or sex. The challenge is in making it just as interesting as the more dramatic scenes.
What’s the most difficult part of writing a sex scene?
I think making it fresh and interesting is the most difficult part of writing a sex scene. M/M readers have read every position under the sun so coming up with something they haven’t seen before or a new spin on something that they have seen isn’t easy.
What’s your favourite part about writing a sex scene?
It turns me on to write sex scenes. I know that if I’m getting excited writing it, I think that the readers will too. I love living vicariously through my characters. Since I’m cursed with the trait of someone who loves being a faithful partner, I get to live out my wildest fantasies through these characters and sometimes my greatest fears.
What kind of research went into this book?
That’s an interesting question because Bad Boy is loosely based on a true story. Each character is loosely based on someone I know so most characters are not difficult to write.
Describe your writing routine.
Well, it changes from book to book but generally, I have an idea for a book, I write down every idea I have for it out of sequence. Then I put in some type of order in an outline form making sure that I don’t forget certain plot points. Once I have a rough outline, I just write a first draft. Then, I send it to my editor (typos and all). I work with different editors each book so depending on the person, they usually will help me fill in the details, smooth out my prose, etc. Then it goes to the copyeditor, then the beta-readers and when it’s ready, I publish it.
What made you decide to write this genre?
It’s funny because I didn’t start reading m/m until about a year ago. Even though I’m a gay man, I just assumed the stories wouldn’t have much depth or that I wouldn’t be able to relate to them but when I started to read them, I saw how hot they were and how amazing some of the writing was and I wanted to jump in and try it.
Where do you like to write? Home? Coffee shop? Subway ride to work? Somewhere else?
I use Google Docs to write so I write on my desktop, my Chromebook and my iPhone if I’m out and about. Sometimes I even write by hand if there’s electronic problems then I transfer what I’ve written into the Google Doc. I used to use Evernote more but one time it erased everything I had written and once was enough to not want to use it. There are times that I will use Scriveners and other times I use WriteDuet.com
What was your most favorite scene to write?
My absolute favorite scenes to write are the family dramatic moments that let you know what the person is really feeling or when they are revealing their deepest darkest secrets or something that happened to them in the past.
What’s your most favorite book you’ve read? Why?
I generally like to read business and metaphysical books so I like Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk and The Secret. As far as M/M, authors I love include River James, Kindle Alexander, Sara York and many others.
What’s your most favorite book you’ve written? Why?
I love the Bad Boy series but I have so many stories in my head that I’m dying to tell and I can’t wait for readers to read.
What drew you to this genre?
Well, I’m gay so that helps and I want to add a level of emotional roller coaster and character depth that you don’t always see in this genre. The more novels I write, the more I see that I love really diving deep within character and I think the more the readers read my novels, the more they’ll see that coming up.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
There are so many reasons why I self-published. One, I have been traditionally published under a different name by a major publisher and by smaller publishers. The experience is too confining for me. I like the freedom of doing what I want when I want to without the red tape and being able to change at a whim.
Are you writing anything now? Can you tell us about it?
Yes, I’m writing the Trainer Part 2 & 3. The Trainer was the first novel that I released. I was afraid to look at it until recently when I read it and realized it was actually very good, except that if I was to do it over again, I’d make a longer and more resolved ending. That’s why because of demand, I’m writing the second and third part. I think it’s going to be one of my best novels ever.
Of the covers you have for your works, which one is your favorite?
I love the Bad Boy covers and I love Boyfriend for Rent.
Can you describe the editing process? Was it difficult?
My editing process usually is not difficult at all except if I have to manually make the changes myself. Usually, if I do the edits by hand, I’ll ask my assistant to make them or I’ll give notes on what I want to fix and ask my editor to help me.
Do you like music while you write? Or do you prefer total silence?
Sometimes I listen to sound effects tracks on Youtube with rain drops but if I listen to regular music, it cannot have lyrics. Otherwise, it distracts me.
Which of your characters is your favorite? Why?
I love the character Chip in Bad Boy, I could fall in love with him. He’s sexy as fuck. A cop that’s gay and has a son and wants a family? Totally hot!
Which of your characters was the hardest to write? Why?
I think the most difficult so far was the boyfriend character in Boyfriend for Rent. To keep him subtle and at the same time interesting was a challenge.
Which of your characters would you like to meet in person? What would you say or do with that character?
I think Chip from the Bad Boy series. If I was single, I wouldn’t say anything. I’d just lock the door, drop my pants and bend over.
Do you have any advice for writers who want to try this genre? Of course, read what’s out there. Read the 1-star reviews of other people’s books to see what people hate. Get your novels beta read, copyedited and proofread before you put one book out there. I learned that the hard way. Also, if you’re going to write a book, write a series and put the entire series out all at once, rather than one book at a time.
If you’d like to learn more about Jamie Lake, or pick up a copy of Bad Boy 2, you can find Jamie here:
Cameron D James 