Love Bytes is proudly presenting our newest Saturday Special Author , welcome Jamie writting as Jaxon Knight and  Drake LaMarque!

Check out the interview and have a chance to win a backlist copy!

Tell us a bit about yourself, please

My name is Jamie, I live in Auckland, New Zealand and I write under three different names! I’m non-binary genderqueer, and pansexual. I like to read and write, and walk under trees and swim in the ocean.

If you’d like to know more come follow me on instagram, for pictures of food, my cat and random other things… https://www.instagram.com/jamiesandsauthor/

What got you into writing?

I’ve always loved storytelling, from when I was a kid obsessed with the Witches by Roald Dahl. I like the idea that I can take an idea or a character I see in my head, and make it into words and then other people will see it in their heads when they read the words.

What book(s) have you written?

I have sweet contemporary MM romances under the name Jaxon Knight – these books are set in the made up theme park of Fairyland. They’re fluffy fun romantic comedies.

 

Under the name Drake LaMarque I write paranormal pirate gay harem stories, which are a lot more steamy.

 

Under my own name I’m publishing Urban Fantasties, including my newest book which is about to come out – Overdues and Occultism, which is an MM sweet witchy novella set in my hometown. I’ve also got another urban fantasy launching in a month or so.

What drew you to that genre?

Most of all I like to write about fantasy, monsters and magical creatures, so you’ll see aspects of it in most of my work. In the Fairyland books there’s a unicorn even, but it’s a costume people wear. Urban fantasy seemed like a natural fit for the stuff I’m interested in.

 

Do you have prefered tropes?

I really like rivals to lovers, and villains, or misunderstood bad guys being redeemed. I like a redemption arc. I like to read fake dating as well, but I’ve not actually tried writing it yet.

What do you read for fun?

I read all over the place! I read MM romance, horror, non-fiction, young adult stories… I’m currently reading an urban fantasy called The Left-handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix which is great fun.

A book you wish someone would write…

I really want a sequel to Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. I’d just like her to keep writing those characters, forever, really. Otherwise I tend to write the books I wish I could read, so that they exist.

What are your pet peeves (in books or otherwise)?

I get annoyed when characters forgive each other too fast, or when a character finds out something life changing and takes it in their stride. Maybe it’s just because I could never do either of those things in real life.

Do you have a secret (or not so secret) talent?

I make patchwork quilts! My mother taught me to sew as a kid and then how to do patchwork when I was a teenager.

What is the first LGBTQIA+ book you read?

I think it was Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block. That was the first one I really remember, the lead character’s best friend Dirk comes out to her as gay and she quickly accepts it and they both try to find true love in their own ways. It was also a really lovely story for Dirk, over several books he’s with his true love and they live more or less happily ever after.

What are your thoughts on audiobooks?

I really like audiobooks! I’ve not had any made for my own work, but I like to listen to them. Sometimes I nope out on a specific narrator, but generally I’ve loved the audiobooks I’ve heard.

Do you have a subject that’s extra close to your heart?

Anxiety. Lots of my characters overthink things, get really worried about things which maybe don’t matter too much and this is all very close to my heart. I’ve always been a ‘worrier’ but I started having panic attacks in 2012 and I’ve been dealing with them ever since.

This makes me smile…

My cat, Mochi. She was 9 years old when my spouse and I adopted her, and she became my best friend. She makes me spoon her at night and she steals my desk chair so I can’t write. I love her to bits.

I’d love to give someone a book! Please comment with something about your favourite monster, creature or urban legend and I’ll choose a random winner for an ebook of your choice from my backlist.