Plot or Pants?  Do you pre-plot your books, use an outline, fly by the seat of your pants or some combination of things?  How do you keep track of characters in a series?  Do you keep a journal of your characters statistics, such as hair and eye color, relatives, hometown, etc.

I am a plotter who also uses an outline. When I start working on a new book, I start by brainstorming the setting, characters, and plot. I have separate documents for each of the main characters where I jot down everything from their full name and hair/eye color to their favorite music and food/beverages. I also include their internal and external conflicts.

Next, I work through the plot. When I’m planning out a new book, I have a general idea of what I want to happen, but it’s not fleshed out. I’ve recently started writing out what will happen in each chapter up to chapter 20. By that point, I should be able to move forward with writing without needing to figure out where I’m going next.

Tell us about your first published gay fiction/romance 

Claim Me, Love Me is a story about finding yourself, acceptance, and finding and accepting love. Caleb is a homosexual man who is in the closet due to a horrific incident he witnessed in middle school, and Josaiah is a Dominant who has walled himself off from any type of affection. This book features a character with a disability, which I am very passionate about. I enjoyed writing these two characters, and their growth throughout the book is amazing to see.

and then your most recent one…

A Destined Christmas Miracle was inspired by K.C. Wells and Parker Williams’ book, Make Me Soar. ADCM is about healing after a trauma, trusting the hand that guides and nurtures you, and finding love. Colin is a heartbroken submissive who is looking for love in all of the wrong places, and Stephen is a Dominant who has been wondering about the lost boy for a year now. Their story will make you feel so many emotions, but their growth throughout the story is astounding. My favorite part of writing these two was the therapy sessions, which is where you will see most of their growth. This book also includes blind characters.

Something people would be surprised to know about you…

I am partially blind. For me, this means that I have light perception in my left eye, which means that when the light is on in my room or when the sun’s out, I can see it, but besides that, I can’t see a thing. I write about blind characters because I’ve been blind since birth, and it’s what I know.

Which character still pops into your mind to visit from time to time?

Under another pen name, Kelanie Black, I write BDSM erotic romance. My last book in The Red Lair series, Blind and Broken, featured a blind Dominant who was an alcoholic. I find myself thinking about him, or he’ll just pop into my mind randomly, and I get sad because of all that he had to endure.

What’s the hardest part about writing M/M romance or erotica?

I find the hardest part about writing m/m romance is describing facial expressions, certain colors, etc. Since I’ve never seen colors or people’s faces, it’s hard to find the right words to visually describe something. I recall descriptions from other books I’ve read, and I try to use what I remember to help me.

How can we connect with you?

Find me by clicking the following link:

https://linktr.ee/jaiyde_thomas

What made you decide gay romance was the genre you wanted to write?

My friend asked me to beta read her novel, and at first, I was hesitant. I didn’t know what to expect, but as soon as I started reading, I knew I had found a new favorite genre. I couldn’t put the book down! Since then, I was hooked, and I even tried my hand at writing a gay romance story. It was well received and is still talked about today. That feedback really helped me to want to write my own book as well as reading other gay romance authors.

Where do you find inspiration?

A lot of my inspiration comes from experiences that I’ve had. Most times though, I draw inspiration from other books, TV shows, and my own imagination.

What is your favorite thing about writing gay romance?

If I’m honest, writing sex scenes is one of my favorite parts! I like detailed sex scenes, ones that capture the emotions and the sex all at once.

I also enjoy watching the characters overcome the obstacles that were put in their way. I like seeing the growth of the characters, and as long as they get a happily ever after, I’m happy!