#Iwouldrather

I would rather discover one grammar rule than toss by entire chapter-Trin Carl

#Joinintoday

Joining Google + Johnny Wills collection of daily photography.  The theme today is Moss

100,000 view #amwriting

Theglobaldig.blogspot.com has almost reached 100,000 views.  This is made all possible to the many people who have interviewed on my blog and the many devoted followers.  I want to thank Tam, Misha, Cecelia, Lenore, Sean, Kimi, Catharine, Dacarri, Ken, Eliza, Joy, Missy, Randall, Faye, Ahlem, Jennifer Slater.

What to look forward to this month
-Even more interviews
-Blog tour

SELF #WORTH

“Whatever money you might have, self-worth really lies in finding out what you do best.” J.K. Rowling

5 Prepositions to not use

Did you hear about the little boy who ended a sentence with 5 prepositions? He said, "What are you bringing that book that I don't want to be read to out of up for?"

King, Presidents Editors

Only kings, presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial "we."- Mark Twain

Interview with #Canadian #Youtuber

I couldn't wait for March Readathon season, mainly for the return of booktubers.
Jennifer Slater is with us today shouting her love of books from INnerSANITY channel. She can be contacted on twitter, goodreads, and instagram

Jennifer's link to her channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYRwWRT-R0VxQoxTEqtzHSQ

And onto the interview..

Jennifer, was it hard getting your booktube channel started? What was some of the planning?

Well I wouldn't say it was hard per say. I had a camera to film on, a video editor, and I had TONS OF BOOKS!! So I already had everything I needed when I decided to start making videos. It was just a matter of deciding what kinds of videos I was going to film.

I watched a bunch of different booktubers to see what kind of things they were filming.. and picked stuff that appealed to me. Book tags are popular and fun,

And the ever popular TBR's (to be read) and WRAP UPS (what you actually read) for each month. Of course the first video I made was the "New to Booktube Tag" I think a lot of people would agree that when you first start making videos, it's a little weird talking to the camera.

I kept on feeling self conscious and kind of embarrassed for some reason.. I was alone while filming, so I really shouldn't have been - but it just took some getting used to. That was the most difficult part for me. Just being able to be natural in front of the camera.. and just go with it.

Some things to keep in mind for those of us out there who want to start a channel.

So, which writers inspire you?

I think any writer that is able to tell a good story that has emotion and drama and humor is inspiring. I really love Joy Fielding's writing. She has this way of really being able to draw me into her stories. Her character development is great and you can really picture everything as you're reading. I love her style of writing. I've laughed out loud while reading all her books and I've also cried.

Other favorite authors of mine are Karin Slaughter, Tania Carver, Erica Spindler, Jonathan Kellerman, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, and Lisa Jackson to name just a few!

Quite a list you got there! I'm reading Stephen King's, End of Watch. I love Stephen King. I love that he reaches out to writers and even has a book called On Writing to help writers with their craft.

What drew you to mystery/thrillers😱?

I've always loved this genre.. even as a child I remember taking out scary books from the library. Books about ghosts, supernatural stuff.. and when I was older I loved the VC Andrews books series.

I guess I love being scared because I really love horror movies and thrillers as well. One of my favorite TV shows is Law & Order: SVU. So a lot of my favorite authors are the ones who write books about detectives and the killers they're after. A lot of the stories in plot lines in those types of books I can see being on an episode of SVU.

For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

Oh my gosh real books all the way!! I love holding something tangible in my hands and having them to put in my bookshelves and bring them out to look at them and touch them - I also really love the smell of books. I love flipping the pages - you can't get that with e-books. I find it so much harder to get into the story on an iPad or tablet - it's just not the same!

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Definitely! That's what attracts you to pick up the book in the first place.. then you'll look at the synopses. I'll even sometimes look online to see which cover versions I like better- because they are different in the U.K. from the US.

What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?

Well this I'm not to sure about.. I suppose with self publishing you wouldn't get as much exposure as you would with a publishing company. It would take a lot more work to get your book noticed.

Although there would probably be a lot of pressure to get your writing

done - deadlines and such - with a publisher.. whereas you'd be able to go at your own pace and write it the way you want when you self publish.

New to BOOKTUBE TAG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IA5g_BkyMY

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

Sometimes it's the need to go to the washroom.. lol

Other times it's thinking about getting back into that book that's just so good..

or wanting to go out to the used bookstore to see what I can find..

I also do a lot of art - I love adult coloring books and playing around with my art apps and playing with my photos - making them into weird and freaky images / if I'm feeling really inspired artistically I won't be able to sleep!

Do you enjoy writers like Michael Connelly, John Sandford, John Grisham?

I LOVED 😍 The Prey series by John Sanford - I read a bunch of those while I was pregnant. I know there's more now - I think I may have to go to that used bookstore and find that series again and re-read them! Thanks for reminding me of it!

Yeah no problem, as long as were on the topic John Sandford. He has also written in chronological order : the Virgil Flowers Series, The Kidd Series, and The Singular Menace Series. (breathes in and out)
Do I have them all? Oh, yeah he's got several other novels not in a series as well.

As far as thrillers go, I also have a bunch of Michael Connelly's books from my mom too but I haven't read those yet. As for John Grisham-- while I didn't mind the movies based on his books I haven't ever felt any strong desire to pick up his books to actually read them. But I think I'd probably enjoy some of them if I did read them.

Oh you should totally read Michael Connelly. I finished 'Lincoln Lawyer.' I felt that the novel was far better than the movie. I also read Connelly's, The Fifth Witness, Reversal, and The God's of Guilt. I really like the audio book narrator, Peter Giles and really got into all the books he narrates. His voice reminds me of a movie commentator's.

If you could be asked any question in an interview, what would that be?

Wow that's kind of hard!! Hmm maybe something like "what kinds of things do you think are

important in life?"

And to that I'd answer "..always be yourself! Enjoy what you do! It's ok to be goofy! Make sure to laugh often!! If you have children - always talk to them about everything and anything!! Tell the people you love that you love them often!! And LOVE with all your heart."

I agree with you, I'm a total goofball,  just ask anyone who follows me on twitter.  
Well, that's all the time we have today folks.  If you have any questions or comments for Jennifer, let her know in the comments below.

Getting up Early to write

“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” -Saul Bellow

J.D. Salinger

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.” J.D. Salinger "Catcher in the Rye"

Audrey Hepburn on Happiness

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.” 
― Audrey Hepburn

Happiness

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” ― Abraham Lincoln

Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly. Franz Kafka

Breathe through Writing

If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don’t write, because our culture has no use for it. Anaïs Nin

Interview with Jack Thanatos

Theglobaldig is committed to digging up and finding great writers globally.  Today I'm interviewing author Jack Thanatos whose many thought provoking insights can be found on Twitter,Facebook,Goodreads . Jack is the writer of the Djinn Trial fantasy series.  He's a visionary of fictional existence a specter of reality.

So Jack, what have you written?

I have 5 novels out at the moment.

Three belong to The Gods of Chaos urban fantasy series: Dreaming, Netherworld, and Purgatory. This story follows the main protagonists, Jack and Deny, into the world of the Djinn.

Dreaming is the introduction, and mixes in Jack’s small city life infused with Deny’s gang influences with the metaphysical world that the Djinn are about to bring him up to speed in. The Djinn love to use the Dreaming as their vehicle to interact with those who haven’t been inducted into their ranks, so Jack and Deny get a crash course through this less-than-tangible realm.

Netherworld is the second entry, and brings Jack and his best friend Deny into the transitional realm between Reality and the places only the dead should go. This nightmarish realm makes Jack and Deny question what they really got themselves into when agreeing to join the Djinn.

Purgatory is the third entry. Jack and Deny feel that the rough ride through Netherworld was harsh, but what has yet to come will test their limits. Purgatory is the Djinn equivalent of the spirit realm, which overlaps Reality. Jack and Deny gain the ability to see just how many souls inhabit this realm and begin to understand why they had been tapped. Their world will never be the same.

I have two novels in The Djinn Trials series: Azazel & Belial and Poacher Hunters. This collection inhabits the same Djinn Universe as The Gods of Chaos, but focuses on different characters and genres. In addition to two novels, I have a series of short stories in The Djinn Trials anthology, some of which can be found here: https://www.thedjinntrials.com/djinn-trials-shorts

Azazel & Belial is a combination of two stories and both are high adrenaline violent thrillers. Mephistopheles has introduced the alcoholic, Tommy, in Azazel, forcing him to confront all the sins of his past. And in Belial, Mephistopheles grants the gangbanger, Johnny, the gift that is a curse, the ability to smell guilt coming from others.

I had a chance to read your novel Azazel & Belial and I pulled out some great lines:

"His (Thomas') primary calories were consumed from the gut punishing disgustingly cheap Dimitri Gin."

and

"Sinai City, located just a few blocks away from Azazel's financial institution where he built a modest rainy day fun.  One day it disappeared from the computers but the manager couldn't provide any information about who performed the withdrawal."
***The Sinai City Bank case reminds me of the Salami Embezzlement Technique.  It's a new bank robbing trend where bank employees embezzle sums by stealing tiny amounts of money from many accounts.  Sometimes this can be stealing one penny from a person's account everyday. Read More

I just thought I'd throw that out there. Continue. What else have you written?

My action adventure, Poacher Hunters, follows both stories of Azazel and Belial, bringing together characters from both stories. As the title suggests, Belial and Eris (from Azazel) are sent on their first mission together to combat a ring of human traffickers and poachers. This wild ride runs through three continents with Belial and Eris discovering the problem is far greater than they could have ever imagined.

What is your favourite motivational phrase.

It’s simple. Don’t be a douche bag.

What is your favourite quote?

“Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.”

Edward Blake, Watchmen

What is your favourite movie and why?

I have many, but if I had to choose one, it would probably be Fight Club. I loved how the first time I watched it, I had one perspective of the story. After seeing what was really going on, the second viewing was completely different and the reactions to the supporting cast all made complete sense.

I always wanted to create a story that had that sort of impact.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Stop listening to loud music, you asshole. Your ears will thank you in 20 years. Oh, and don’t let your sister move in with you back in California. She won’t learn her lesson.

Oh lordy, let me guess... you got siblings who like to take advantage of you too?! Gotta love em’, but do we really got to still live with them too?! Is all I’ve got to say about that.

Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

Morgan Freeman. I just want to thank him for being a good God.

Lol, you must be referring to the movies, Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty.

Last question, I promise. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write for yourself and write about what you like. Write something that’s actually worth reading. And if you actually wish to proceed with the author route, be prepared for a rough ride.

I’m going on four years into this game and have yet to figure out the rules of the game. If this doesn’t scare you off, then just make sure what you write is something there is an audience for. Publishing is the easy part. Finding your audience takes a lot of hard work and extensive marketing with minimal pay, that is unless you win the literary lotto. So, just make sure what you put out there is something you want others to read, and not just something you’re trying to make money from.

That's all the time we have today folks. Readers if you have any questions for Jack let him know in the comments below.

More ways to contact Jack Thanatos:

Email: JackThanatos@thedjinntrials.com

Website: www.thedjinntrials.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDjinnTrials

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDjinnTrials

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7554760.Jack_Thanatos

All books: amazon.com/author/jackthanatos

The right word

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
― Mark Twain

Read read read

“Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it.
Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window.”
― William Faulkner

British writer Dacarri Buchelli

With us today is British Fantasy Novelist, Daccari Buchelli. Aspergers Syndrome made it difficult for him to identify with his peers, thus Daccari often felt lonely until he picked up a book. His thoughtful words can be found on twitter and goodreads.

On onto the interview...

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty, what have you written?

I have written various novels and novellas over the past six years, though at present I have only published one, a fantasy novel entitled Phoenix. I frequently write blogs and the occasional bit of poetry online, but am hoping to release a second novel later this year.

Which writers inspire you?

Terry Goodkind and J. K. Rowling have been such inspirations to me. Both focus on the Fantasy genre, though their target audiences vary from one another.

Goodkind creates epic fantasy novels that sport graphic violence and fierce magical beings, while Rowling has a softer touch with stories that could delight a person of any age. The style and determination of these two authors has sustained me throughout my own writing experience.

You'll probably be shocked to read this but this is the first time I've heard of Terry Goodkind. I'll add him to my authors to read.

Dacarri, what are your ambitions for your writing career?
I would like for my work to be an inspiration to someone, so that they may seek out their own dreams and strive to fulfill them. Sure, like most writers, I would love to reach best seller status one day, but being at the start of my professional career, I know that's unlikely to happen any time soon. For me, as long as my work leaves a positive mark on the world, then I have achieved what I set out to do.

Which writers inspire you?

Terry Goodkind and J. K. Rowling have been such inspirations to me. Both focus on the Fantasy genre, though their target audiences vary from one another.

Goodkind creates epic fantasy novels that sport graphic violence and fierce magical beings, while Rowling has a softer touch with stories that could delight a person of any age. The style and determination of these two authors has sustained me throughout my own writing experience.
You'll probably be shocked to read this, but this is the first time I've heard of Terry Goodkind. I'll add him to my authors to read.

Dacarri, what are your ambitions for your writing career?


I would like for my work to be an inspiration to someone, so that they may seek out their own dreams and strive to fulfil them. Sure, like most writers, I would love to reach best seller status one day, but being at the start of my professional career, I know that's unlikely to happen any time soon. For me, as long as my work leaves a positive mark on the world, then I have achieved what I set out to do.

What are you currently working on and what is it about?

I am currently working on two separate novels. One, Book Two of The Peradon Fantasy Series, leads off five years after the events of Book One and sees Queen Violetta Flame journey the four realms of Peradon in order to save that which is most precious to her, her daughter, Elinor.

The other novel I'm working on is a bit different from my usual work. It's a thriller aimed at those aged sixteen and up. The main character, Evylia Wilde, has been plagued by strange dreams since the night her parents disappeared fifteen years ago.

At Seventeen years of age, she begins to make a startling connection that there is more to these dreams than meets the eye. Evylia (whom I also refer to as Evy) is a strong willed young woman and it is a pleasure to be able to work with her, even if she is a fictional character.
What drew you to write in this genre?

I suppose I was first drawn to fantasy because of the kind of books my sister read. She did most of the reading in our family home and so I often got handed her books once she had finished with them. Some of her favourite authors were Phillip Pulman, Garth Nix, and Kelly Armstrong, so naturally I began to read quite a lot of Fantasy and quickly developed a taste for it.

For your own reading, do you prefer e-books or traditional paper/hard back books?

I'm a bit fickle when it comes to reading. While I do love the convenience of being able to travel and read with an e-reading device, there is nothing that compares to actually holding a print book in your hands and turning every crisp page. The smell of real paper, particularly old library books, is astounding and I could never part from my paperback books. As for a preference, I don't think I have one. I adore both of these ways of reading.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Definitely. Your book cover can make or break it for potential readers. It is the first thing they see and if it catches their eye, then its much more likely that they'll want to read the synopsis. Personally, if I don't like a books cover but if the premise intrigues me, I would prefer to purchase the e-book version, but if the cover grabs me from the get go, then I feel like I have to have a print copy.

In addition to this, your cover style will play a crucial role in drawing in your target audience. If the cover looks more cartoonish than anything else, then you're more likely to draw in parents with children, than you would other audiences.
I saw that you also do reviews on your blog and some of the books have fantastic book covers including God's Rogue by Kevin S. Chambers.

What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?
Publicity tends to be somewhat difficult to maintain when self-published. There is a wealth of information online with people advising you on what to do and not do, yet a good portion of what we see on self-publishing blogs is utter rubbish. As a self-publisher, I believe that we as a community are forced to wade through the muck, to try and reach those golden nuggets of advice that we're searching for.

One advantage traditionally published authors appear to have is in not needing to do the main portion of marketing, if any marketing, for their works. There are people behind them that would take care of that.

On the other hand, self-published authors are expected to be Jacks of All Trades, even when most of the online tips we receive do not distinguish the crucial differences between terms such as book marketing and book promotion. We must teach ourselves every step of the complex process that is publishing and simply hope that our research and sacrifices pay off in time.

I do find it somewhat ludicrous that self publishers like myself are expected to be masters of marketing our own work when authors in the traditional sector are not expected to do so. Though I can fully understand and appreciate why there is a difference in expectations, it does demonstrate an unfair prejudice towards self-published authors.

In many ways, they are deemed as less talented and capable than those individuals that have been traditionally published. All I can say (having been a reviewer for many self publishers and Indie Authors) is that the self published works I've read over the past year have been so much more than the traditionally published books I have read. They have possessed a fire in them that has filled my soul with wonder and enjoyment every step of the way. They have taught me new life lessons and helped me to improve upon my own writing skills.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

Yes, I do. To all of the self-publishers or would be publishers out there, the first tip I give you is to sit down and define the difference between marketing and promotion, as well as book publicity. Just by knowing the differences between these core terms, you can make a change to your current efforts and focus on strategies that will actually help to get your book out there.
What part of your writing time do you devote to marketing your book?

I'd say that I devote a good fifty percent of my time to finding ways of marketing and, or promoting my work. Personally, I wish that I could spend more time writing, but I am hoping that my determination to get my book noticed will pay off.

That's all the time we have today folks.  You can get in contact with Dacarri at any of the methods below.  Readers, if you have any words for Dacarri please write them in the comments below and I'll see to it he receives them.

Twitter: http://mobile.twitter.com/DaccariBuchelli

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15093628.Daccari_Buchelli
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01L5IH3QY

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DaccariBuchelliBooks/

Instagram: @daccari.buchelli.author
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/DaccariBuchelli/

Author website: www.buchellibooks.com
Blog: https://buchellibooksblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Pronoun: https://books.pronoun.com/daccaribuchelli/

Email: Daccarim93@yahoo.co.uk