A prolific novelist, traveler, blogger, humanist, and storyteller
Dear readers and writers welcome to my new interview story, which introduces an accomplished writer. I enjoy interacting with people from diverse cultures, countries, and professional backgrounds. I have been interviewing professionals for a long time.
On this platform, I specifically enjoy interviewing writers. Each writer’s interview is special to me as each person is unique. My goal is to introduce them to my audience so that they can meet another interesting/relatable person on this planet and explore their work. I discussed the Importance and Remarkable Benefits of Interviews in My Professional and Personal Life.
In this interview, I’m delighted to introduce you to one of my favourite fiction authors James King who is relatively new on this platform but not new to writing. James, as a profilic novelist, humanatarian, and traveller has an interesting lifestyle. I thought it would be helpful to my readers to give a glimpse of his life and writers some tips from his writing skills.
Meet James King
Hi James, tell us a bit about your background.
An English self-published fiction author, I first emigrated to South Africa in 1995. My research work took me all over the Country, visiting Cities, townships and rural areas, gaining valuable insight into the culture and lives of the people, post-apartheid.
I left South Africa for Thailand in 2011, where I started a Arts and Humanities Blog as a hobby. I call myself a humanist, passionate environmentalist, and human rights advocate, and I only write about the things that interest me.
In 2022 I co-founded James King Publications (Pty) Ltd to bring James King Blog and James King Books to a wider audience.
What are your Hobbies, and what Entertains you?
James King Publications and tending the tropical garden I built and is still a work in progress. Most evenings I watch TV Drama Series and odd movies. I get loads of creative ideas from them. And I love to watch international sport on tv.
Name Three Books that have Affected your Life?
Literature can change your life by teaching important lessons. Many books contain moral and ethical dilemmas that allow us to explore complex issues and consider the consequences of different actions.
I have been moved by many books over the course of my life, mostly later in life as I learned more about literary works. But I chose these 3 books as they have affected my life by changing the way I see it and the world as a whole.
A Confession (1872) — Leo Tolstoy
When I read ‘A Confession’ by Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) I was stunned by his honesty and the revelation that such a great author didn’t enjoy writing. So, why did he write? Simply — to earn money to support his young family. And he was talented enough to do it.
A Confession is a depressing account of a brilliant mind grappling with the age old question; what is the meaning of life? Tolstoy had everything most people could only wish for, and he was revered in his time. But, because he did not believe in an afterlife, he could not see the purpose of his life.
A timeless short book, ‘A Confession’ is a must for anyone concerned about the short lives we live and wondering about why we exist. It is one of the most thought-provoking books I have ever read.
Gertrude — Herman Hesse
I will never forget how much I enjoyed Gertrude on first reading. So much so that I have read it more times than I can remember.
The short novel, Gertrude was first published in 1910. It tells the story of Gertrude Laffert, a young girl struggling to find her place in the world. Exploring themes of identity, self-discovery, it searches for meaning in life.
One of Hesse’s early works, it is known for its poetic and philosophical style. Considered to be a classic of German literature, Gertrude is one of the best fiction novels of all time, and an important work of literature. Hesse was known for his exploration of the human psyche and spirituality which he used to great effect in Gertrude.
It is a book I never tire of reading.
The Glass Bead Game — Herman Hesse
The Glass Bead Game became such a personal book for me that I found it difficult to review. Don’t be put off by the one-star reviews. Most classic literary fiction is not an easy read, and The Glass Bead Game is without doubt a classic.
If ever a book deserved a Nobel Prize this is it. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe my feelings for this masterpiece. It is both exquisite, and at the same time, an acquired taste.
Why do you Write on Medium?
To grow my email subscriber base by tapping into thousands of readers on the Medium platform. I have published 40+ articles but I am getting mixed messages about the platform and am slowing down until I can understand it better.
I am far more comfortable writing good content for my audience in James King Blog (WordPress) where I own the space, am in control, and don’t have to comply with a weird set of rules dreamt up by a bunch of people just doing a job they probably don’t enjoy.
I am sure there are thousands of Medium Readers who may benefit from and enjoy my work, and I would love to show it to them. But I am not sure if that is possible at the moment other than by importing half a blog article with a CTA to read the rest on James King Blog.
Medium are stuck in the middle and it seems from what you say, I have to write short form content that is less than a week old to please the platform controllers and not my readers. That would of course destroy my credibility, and my purpose reflected in James King Blog. So, I allow it to happen without an overwhelming reason.
My goal appears to negate earnings from Medium as I think it would be counterproductive to put stuff behind a paywall. I am seeing conflicting advice re Paywalls, so, I could be wrong on that.
Do you Write on other platforms like Substack?
NO is the short answer. I am grappling with Medium, and, although I am signed up, I have not yet published anything on Substack, so other platforms are out of the question right now.
My focus is on building a large subscriber base from my current 5500 email subscribers who get my weekly newsletter CURIOUSMINDS. So, I can see the logic and value in ILLUMINATION’s new cross-pollination concept which will link Substack to Medium’s huge reader base.
I am excited to be a part of your experiment.
Why did you join ILLUMINATION and how do you find it so far?
I joined because I understand it to be a powerful voice online with many Medium readers.
There are a number of ILLUMINATION publications on Medium and now maybe more being added, and changes in some that will be involved in your mission to create a bridge between Substack and Medium.
I don’t know yet how they fit together. So, I need to find clarity relating to the Publications so I know which one or ones to join.
Also, while I understand the logic of the new ILLUMINATION concept of linking Medium to Substack, the transition process appears confusing. Some others may find the same so we need clarity from you.
I am sure you understand the process, but I don’t, which makes it hard to follow and thus difficult to align with my objectives.
Parsing a complex process into a simple to understand set of instructions users can follow may be difficult but is necessary for a smooth and successful transition. Let’s keep on communicating and make it work.
What do you Recommend to the New Writers?
Apart from some excellent French fine wines? Seriously though, If you need to earn a living do something else. Writing is hard work.
However, on the other hand, if writing is your passion, learn the craft inside out and write until your fingers bleed. Until writing well comes as naturally as washing your hands, and you can construct a piece without having to consult or check every little thing to make sure it’s correct.
And be assured, if you author a fiction or non-fiction book, it must be correct. Be your best editor. Don’t expect someone else to turn slap-dash work into a best-seller. And above all tap into your creative genius and life experiences.
What are your Values as a Writer?
Authenticity fosters a deeper connection with readers. So, reflecting genuine thoughts, emotions, and experiences is important.
Clear communication is essential. Striving for clarity to ensure my message is easily understood without confusion.
Empathy. Jumping into another’s shoes helps me create relatable characters and narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
Creativity encourages innovative ideas and unique storytelling. It helps me explore new concepts.
Integrity. Upholding ethical standards in my writing is crucial. This includes respecting intellectual property, being honest in representation, and providing accurate information.
Growth. My most valuable asset is curiosity. So, a commitment to continuous improvement and learning comes naturally. This value has ensured my evolution as a writer. I will never be satisfied with everything I write, but I let it go all the same.
Passion. I have a genuine love for writing. I am only sorry I didn’t recognise it earlier. Passion fuels motivation and inspires me to tackle challenging topics and projects.
Impact. Writing has the power to influence thoughts and inspire change. I focus on creating meaningful content that can lead to positive societal effects.
Discipline. Maintaining consistent writing practices is essential for growth and productivity. Discipline helps me to meet deadlines and achieve my writing goals.
How do you Connect with your Readers?
I do my best to write from the heart authentically and invest a piece of myself into my work. I don’t always get it right, but I try to speak directly using “you” strategically to let readers know I am speaking directly to them and their needs.
Going beyond an intellectual connection by using vivid language and emotional words to stir feelings in the reader is an exciting challenge. And where I can, I like to engage readers senses with imagery and metaphors to make them feel something.
Many American readers express a strong dislike for cliffhangers, especially at the end of books. The British literary tradition has an historical context for cliffhangers, and this practice has ingrained a certain level of acceptance and even enjoyment of cliffhangers among British readers.
Being English, I ask thought-provoking questions when appropriate that draw the reader in and make them want to discover the answer along with me. Sometimes I challenge them with cliffhangers, and let readers get involved in the story to solve a mystery for themselves. I don’t always know how it turns out.
Grabbing readers with a great opening will keep them reading.
In my novel — House of Vipers, I started with:
‘It was dark inside the cupboard. The darkness you might associate with a corpse in a coffin. If there had been a chink, the light that got in would have been as sharp as a laser. But there was no chink, only pitch black…’
My key is to be authentic, engage emotions, and make readers feel you get them. With heart, vivid language, and strategic use of questions and stories, you can create a strong connection with your readers. The more you can make them feel understood and that you are speaking directly to them, the more they will trust and relate to you.
What are your Plans as a Professional Blogger?
In a nutshell my mission is to make James King Blog and CURIOUSMINDS available to a much wider audience than we are currently serving.
The QS World University Rankings suggest there are at least 691 universities globally that offer programmes in the broad field of Arts and Humanities. The demand and need for authoritative Arts & Humanities blogs providing information online appears to be growing, and Blogs generally are becoming crucial vehicles for sharing knowledge.
So, we are positioning to be a go to resource for university students. And we are aiming to become a leading resource for students and lovers of Arts and Humanities, worldwide.
30% of the top 20 subjects best served by online content fall within Arts and Humanities. That statistic, along with other beliefs, led me to transform James King Blog from a hobby to a comprehensive educational resource. The Blog and our CURIOUSMINDS newsletter provide in-depth coverage of Arts and Humanities topics, with a current focus on literature, environment, ethics, and human rights.
We are committed to producing high-quality, authoritative content that is accessible to everyone for free, while also transitioning towards offering premium content to paying subscribers. We do our best to answer a broad range of questions within the Arts and Humanities, by uncovering content from credible sources.
While not as well-known as some major humanities blogs, James King Blog stands out for its comprehensive coverage of topics, commitment to authoritative and accurate information, engaging writing style, innovative use of technology, and focus on building topical authority. These elements contribute to the overall quality and value of the content for students and enthusiasts of the Arts & Humanities.
There are of course growing pains such as:
- Gaps in sub-categories that have to be filled. 41 of the 50 sub-categories are served with content. So, there are 9 gaps to fill.
- Lack of exposure that has to be driven higher. 5500 people are subscribed to the CURIOUSMINDS newsletter. This needs to be above 100,000, monetised and scaled to pay for the ongoing resource maintenance.
Many thanks to James giving a glimpse of his interesting life with valuable perspectives for writers and readers from an author’s experience.
You can connect with James via various social and his platforms like James King Blog, James King Books, James King Photo-Art, Medium, SubStack, Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Flipboard, and YouTube.
I recently wrote a book titled Substack Mastery. If you are interested, I decided to share the early version as one chapter a day for my beta readers. Here is the first chapter for beginners.
Today, I posted Chapter 4 on an an important topic, strategy and pllaing for Substack newsletters for growing audience. Here is the link:
Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 4
Crafting an impactful strategy and adaptable delivery plan to maximize subscriber growth for sustainable business valuemedium.com
Please explore some leading newsletters featured by ILLUMINATION-Curators in episode 8released earlier today. It is an excellent collaboration tool for growing your Substack profile and newsletters.
Substack Mastery Featured Newsletters: Episode 8
Curated newsletters of writers contributing to the Substack Mastery publication on Medium for joyful collaboration and…medium.com
Links to Previous Interview Interviews
I interviewed other writers on this platform. The following links will allow you to easily access them. Follow the writers who resonate with you.
Interview Lauren Grawert, MD,InterviewJerry Keszka, Interview Davor Katusic,Interview David Gerken,Interview Claudio D’Andrea, Interview William Spivey,Interview James Boylan, Interview Ruby Noir, Interview Brother Bhunru, Interview Joshua Mason, Interview Michelle Mariscal, Interview Tim Denning, Interview Wendi Gordon, Interview Elle, Interview Waleed Mahmud Tariq, Interview Bill Petro, Interview Sylvain Zyssman, Interview Matthew Bamberg, Interview Øivind H. Solheim, Interview Abhishek Biswas, Interview Payal Koul, Interview Matt Lillywhite, Interview Genius Turner, Interview Shirley Willett, Interview David Mokotoff, MD, Interview Martin D. Hirsch, Interview Gill McCulloch, Interview Adelia Ritchie, PhD, Interview Dr. Lutz Kraushaar, Interview Tim Denning, Interview Lorwen Harris Nagle, PhD, Interview Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D., Interview Pernoste & Dahl, Interview Luay Rahil, Interview Melissa Kalt, MD, Interview Ayodeji Awosika, Interview Dr. Preeti Singh, Interview Dr. ADAM TABRIZ, Interview Dr John Frederick Rose, Interview Yogesh Haribhau Kulkarni (PhD), Interview Hakima T A N T R I K A, Interview Mark Sanford, Ph.D, Interview Raymond M.E. Aguirre, Interview Keri Mangis, Interview John D. Leavy, Interview Sinem Günel, Interview Toni Koraza, Interview Annelise Lords, Interview, Mike Zillo, Interview Aurora Eliam, CMP, Interview Charles Roast, Interview Libby Mitchell, Interview Timothy Key, Interview, Christopher D. Connors, Interview Desiree Driesenaar, Interview Jill Ebstein, Interview Bill Abbate, Interview Anita Lesko, Interview John Cousins, Interview Ali Qutmiera, Interview Roxanna Azimy, Interview Karen Madej, Interview Celtic Chameleon, Interview Maïa Belart, Interview Kevin Buddaeus, Interview Rasheed Hooda, Interview Julia E Hubbel, Interview Suntonu Bhadra, Interview Aisha Yusuf, Interview Sharon Hurley Hall, Interview Angel Joy, Interview Tim Maudlin, Interview Mallika Vasak, Interview Yannis Dokos, Interview Lawson Wallace, Interview Chelsea Renee MAT, Interview Earnest Painter, Interview MaryJo Wagner, PhD, Interview Phil Truman, Interview Martine Weber, Interview Michael Patanella, Interview Tree Langdon, Interview Holly Jahangiri, Interview Aric D Mayer, Interview Chris Hedges , Interview Paroma Sen, Interview Jeff Hanlon, Interview Chowa Sekai, Interview Marianna Saver, Interview Annelise Lords, Interview Amy Cottreau, Interview Sabana Grande, Interview, Agnes Laurens, Interview P.G. Barnett, Interview Liam Ireland, Interview Jith
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
If you are a new reader, you may check out some of my topics, including the brain, mental health, cognitive function, significant health conditions, longevity, nutrition/food, valuable nutrients, ketogenic lifestyle, self-healing, weight management, writing/reading, including 100+ Insightful Life Lessons from My Circles for the Last 50+ Years.
I publish my health and wellness stories on EUPHORIA and share distilled versions on SUBSTACK. My posts do not include professional or health advice. I only document my reviews, observations, experiences, and perspectives to provide information and create awareness.
If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 31K writers who contribute to my publications on this platform. You can contact me via my website. I also have another profile to write and curate tech stories. Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium. Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers
You are welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack. And join our Substack Mastery to build your audience.
Get an email whenever Dr Mehmet Yildiz publishes. He is a top writer and editor on Medium.
dr-mehmet-yildiz.medium.com
This story was originally published at DigitalMehmet.com for free access.
Leave a Reply