Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi. I’m aged 55 and live in Kent, England. I’ve always been passionate about humour – reading and writing it since I was a child. In fact, I have a tub full of everything I’ve ever produced. When I started publishing my cartoons on social media, it was basically a lifetime’s work in cartoon format!
My following has continued to grow on Instagram and Facebook, so I wanted to publish it in different formats, hence paperback and Kindle. I have produced two books: ‘Cartoon Headcase: Cartoons to make you happy’ and ‘Cartoon Headcase: Making the whole world laugh’. I have more in the pipeline…!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Cartoon Headcase: Making the whole world laugh’ is my latest book. Cartoon Headcase is my brand name. I receive compliments almost daily from my followers, and I love that my humour is appreciated by so many nationalities and age groups. That’s where the book title came from – ‘Making the whole world laugh’! My first book ‘Cartoon Headcase: Cartoons to make you happy’ reflects my desire to be positive and not cynical in my humour.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I see everything through a humour lens just as a photographer sees everything as a potential photo. So be careful – our chats might fuel my next cartoon! I’m always listening to people’s conversations, observing personalities and body language. I pick up on funny facts and quirky ideas. I’m never off duty. Reading stuff is great, but you can’t beat human interaction for obtaining more material!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I try not to steal other peoples’ work – I want to be original – so I read far less humour material than you’d think. However I do love cartoons on social media. My sons say I’m ‘old school’ with ‘dad jokes’ due to my age, but I’m always evolving and experimenting. Tommy Cooper was great although he never wrote his own jokes. The two Ronnies, Morecombe and Wise, Monty Python, newer people too. The list is endless.
What are you working on now?
I have several more cartoon books to do but may also venture into short stories- just a couple of paragaraphs long and possibly alongside the cartoons. Some things are better written than drawn, and vice versa.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have my own website cartoonheadcase.com. Good reads is great too.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get advice on your work before you publish and choose book covers the public will be drawn to. Employ someone if you have to. What is your brand and what makes you unique? And if you self-publish you’ll need a game plan to ‘put it out there’ in the marketplace.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Whilst you need to be original and true to yourself, the public are your employers – they will be the book purchasers! So you need to know who your audience is and if they’ll be interested.
What are you reading now?
Napoleon Hill, Anthony Robbins and lots of books on neuroscience.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I also have a Christian book planned. Totally different genre.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
Then I’d swap the other three books for an Ipad and wifi connection 🙂
Author Websites and Profiles
John King Website
John King Amazon Profile
John King’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile