Interview with JM Shadows

Published 2020-08-17.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Ugh! Yes. It was a horrible piece. At least I think it was. The story was called "Summer For Two" and was told from the story of a newly graduated high schooler whose first job was in the mail room of a major television network. While delivering mail one day he hooks up with an executive, they fall in love, have wild, mad, crazy passionate love together. Now that I think about it, maybe I should have kept it. Erotica has become so big it might have found a home today!
What is your writing process?
I don't have a steady process, or a process that is the same from project to project. It varies depending on the story. For example, for one story I might wake up, make coffee, shower, and get dressed, then sit to work on the piece. For another I have tea, and write only at night. There was one that I wrote by hand, outdoors, so I could identify with the characters, who had no air conditioning and worked in sweltering heat.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I don't remember the name or the title. All I know it was one of those "chap" books where every other word was dirty, and the sex went on for pages at a time. I remember thinking, hey, this is pretty cool. I want to do this!
How do you approach cover design?
That's a rough one. Usually, after I'm done with a story, I step away. I try to focus on only the concept. I bounce ideas around with a friend. Sometimes I even write a one-to-two line synopsis to try and get at the core of the piece. It might take a while for me to come up with a concept, but I think it's because those things are hard for me. I'm not a visual artist.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
The Stand.
The Shining.
The Exorcist.
Tales of the City.
Confederacy of Dunces.

The horror stories are my favorite because in the crazy world we live in, I find some sense of order and almost always, everything turns out in the end. For the most part.

Tales of the City and Confederacy of Dunces are among my favorites because they characters were endearing, the stories were simple, and they just struck a nerve.
What do you read for pleasure?
Horror, suspense, or thrillers. Sometimes action/adventure graphic novels, and also mysteries.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I'd rather have an iPad, but since I can't afford one, I have a Kindle. I'm not connected to my other devices, but that's okay. In a way I like it that way.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
This is rough and I have absolutely no clue. I Tweet. I talk to people, as far as I can with people who share my fantasies. But mostly I Tweet. I also have a blog.
Describe your desk
A fucking mess!
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in the ghettos of NYC. And it comes through loud and clear in my stories! Especially in my first, "My Uncle Piri," as it's all about getting out of the ghetto for a day.
Write your own question here!
How about if a reader writes a question and I'll answer it? Lol!
When did you first start writing?
I started writing when I was about 10 years old. It was a "novelization" from a spanish graphic novel about a severed hand.
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Books by This Author

Daddy's Little Dividend
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 44,170. Language: English. Published: November 24, 2023 . Categories: Fiction » Erotica » Gay
(2.00 from 1 review)
Pushed by a violent storm, Southern boy Bobby Lee Dixon acts on his taboo desires and soon finds himself barefoot and pregnant. How will he cope with the challenge of giving birth to the child of his Good ’Ole Boy Alpha dad, Atlas Wilkes Dixon?
Domingo's Putita
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 28,380. Language: American English. Published: May 28, 2021 . Categories: Fiction » Erotica » Gay
(5.00 from 1 review)
When the clashes between Domingo de la Cruz and his half brother, Ariel, become more volatile, a mysterious neighbor and his son help them bury the hatchet and come together in brotherly love.
Big D's Repair Service
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 12,130. Language: English. Published: July 22, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Erotica » Gay
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
What do you do when it's muggy and hot? Your air conditioner dies? And you're desperately hungry for the meatiest men in town? Simple. You call Big D's Repair Service! After all, they say things come in threes, don't they?
My Uncle Piri
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 27,520. Language: English. Published: June 23, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Erotica » Gay
A young man from a broken home finds love and acceptance in his aunt's boyfriend.