Tosin King James is the author of Soul-Fullness, a 21-day DIY program for spiritual healing, prophecy, dream study, inner guidance, and total mastery. He has spent the last 50 years in active exploration of mind-body-spirit techniques for wellness. He has taught Soul-Fullness to thousands of people around the world.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you ended up writing a book?
I grew up studying the paranormal and extrasensory perception. I realized as early as six that there were things I knew beyond the range of my five senses. So, I began to explore these abilities and phenomena.
When I became an adult, my major focus shifted to how these abilities could be used for my overall well-being. I applied them to get a job, pass my exams, get a loving relationship, find the right apartment, the right career, and enhance my creative abilities and productivity.
In recent times, I began teaching others to do the same. That’s what led me to write Soul-Fullness. I wanted to put this knowledge in the hands of everyone to help them realize their hidden treasures.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
I hope my readers will be able to use the 21-day program to transform their lives. So many people have used the same program to embrace their hidden greatness. This is the third edition. We used the two previous editions to fine-tune and streamline the program. We also used them to get people’s experiences from across the globe – from Australia to Italy; from Nigeria to Canada.
We have seen that irrespective of your culture, religion, nationality, or race, the program has the potential of helping the human being perform better, achieve inner peace, be more productive, and, above all, achieve what I call ‘sustainable happiness.’
There are so many challenges in our modern world that most people can barely feel, think, and act human. So, we all need something that can take us above the realm of the ordinary so we can achieve extraordinary goals.
Some people have turned to drugs to help them rise above the challenges. Unfortunately, drugs only compound the problem. They have damaging side effects. In fact, what they do is expose the user to the more destructive side of human nature. You can call it the shadow that is always lurking around. Drugs thrust you into the hands of the shadow without any protection or redeeming agency.
Soul-Fullness, on the other hand, gives you the keys to the inner room where all the beautiful riches are stored. These riches have been waiting on you, latent since you were born. My sincere hope is that every reader can climb the ladder at least a rung higher on their journey to greatness.
What are the top three tools you currently use to write, publish, and promote your books?
I have an unorthodox way of writing. I open a folder on my cell phone. I find a relaxed or inspiring location and time. Then I begin to write. But before I do, I would have written the plot both in my head and in a jotter. I try reducing everything to a single paragraph to be sure it makes sense. It’s after I’m sure it makes sense that I begin to write.
When I’ve done a chapter on my phone, I will transfer it to a template that is already formatted to the actual size of the book, with the right font, and a basic page design. This helps me to see the book visually.
After writing, I send the draft to three friends. When they return it with their comments, I make the right adjustments before sending it to the editors.
To publish, I use Amazon Kdp and Ingramspark publishing tools.
And, to promote, I work with a highly experienced company of publicists and promoters. This is in addition to my small team of creatives who are in different locations around the world.
What were the top three mistakes you made publishing your book? What did you learn from them?
- With the first edition, I didn’t use the right cover. I tried to do it myself instead of working with professional cover designers. So, I ended up writing a good book with a bad cover. The cover excluded so many people, especially women. We corrected this in the second edition. And if you check the current edition, you will see why so many people, especially ladies, say it inspires them. A good book needs a great cover.
- The second mistake was trying to distribute the first edition myself. That cost a lot of money and it consumed a lot of energy and hours. So, don’t try to print and distribute it by yourself, unless you’re looking at a region where the book is already popular and in high demand. Otherwise, use Amazon, Ingramspark, and other established platforms.
- The third mistake was to expect all my friends to love my book. I got a rude shock there. A few did. But the majority were either envious or just didn’t wish me well to the extent of supporting my project. So, I learned not to write for my friends, but to target the typical human being whether I know them or not.
When will you consider your book a success?
My book is already a success.
No, it hasn’t sold a million copies, but it’s going to get there and past that mark.
So, why do I feel successful? Any time another reader picks up the book and it brings them joy, peace, and creativity, I feel really good. Don’t forget that I have the ability to know things beyond the five senses. So, when a reader picks up the book and they send waves of gratitude to the writer, I feel it. Sometimes I actually see them in my inner vision. At that point, I feel successful.
Can you share a snippet that isn’t in the blurb or excerpt?
People have used this Soul-Fullness program to attract loving mates into their lives. Not by controlling others, but by surrendering to the universe or God to bring them the most loving person within their level of vibration. Some people have used it to get richer. So, go ahead, embrace your greatness!
How have the pandemic and Lockdown affected you or your new business?
Without any doubt, the pandemic has changed the world’s concept of happiness and success. It has given us the time and the presence of mind to focus on what really matters. That is love. Love for our life, our neighbors, and our creativity that help to add more love to the world.
Personally, it has helped me to enhance my Soul-Fullness practices (as described in my book). This has helped the world in no small measure.
It’s good I mention this here. Soul-Fullness is not for self-improvement alone. By the law of Spiritual Mathematics, every time one person in the group adds to their awareness, loving-kindness, creativity, the whole world gains in equal measure.
On a physical note, I did a lot of walking, jogging, going to the parks to get fresh air. I also used the extra time on my hands to do more writing.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge is not being able to get the different professionals like editors, page designers, graphic designers, voice-over artists to do your job when you need it so you can meet your deadlines. To compound the issue, there are not many qualified people whose vibration is compatible with my projects. So, I have to develop extra patience and live with missed deadlines.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before publishing your book?
I wish I knew that a good publicist costs a lot. I would have been saving for five years before finishing my book. Lol.
Please share one thing new self-publish authors can do to gain more reviews on Amazon.
To gain more reviews on Amazon, you can rely on your loyal friends to buy your book and remind them to leave a review. Secondly, you can join a book club. Most book clubs can help get their members to read your book and post a review.
Can you share some of the marketing techniques that have worked for you when promoting your book?
Marketing should be approached from a 360-degree viewpoint. That means using everything that is within your legal capacity. Use emails, DMS, posts, radio, blogs, talk shows, and a good publicist.
My professional background is in the media, theatre, and advertising. So, I have a broader knowledge of how to push a product better than most writers. So, I used online platforms, vlogs, blogs, talk shows, in-person presentations, and every channel that allows me to present Soul-Fullness to at least one person.
The secret to a successful product is referrals. It is not how much money you spend to publicize it, but how many satisfied customers you can convert to loyal promoters of your product. So, the product must be very good before you start planning on marketing.
If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I would probably start writing and self-publishing from the age of 20. I began writing at 12 but I didn’t take publishing seriously until much later in life. By now I would have built a large following, both online and offline. A track record helps with marketing.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
My productivity tip is to love everything you do and do the things you love. This helps you to maximize your creativity and productivity.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to finish writing your book?
Knowing that someone’s life will be impacted positively by what I’m writing gives me the energy to keep going until I’m done.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs and authors?
I love The Kim Pagano Show. She brings happiness tips and experts on living a happy life to her listeners. Writers and entrepreneurs will find the show useful in more ways than one.
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
I’m studying for a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies with an emphasis on Depth Psychology. It broadens my knowledge of how people and experts around the world have approached Soul-Fullness (though they call it by different names). From India to Africa, Israel, Scotland, to Native America, the Caribbean, I am exposed to different cultures and perspectives on the Soul and how to live in the fullness of Soul.
If you only had $1000 dollars to promote a new book, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I would use a little of the money ($50) to do a good video and get it circulated, shared, and liked by friends. The rest of the money, I will take to a good publicist and tell them to give me $950 worth of good publicity. I will also reach out to members of my book club to encourage them to share the video on their platforms. Slowly and gradually the book will gain some traction. It might be slow but it would keep reaching potential readers.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new authors?
The best advice for aspiring authors is to write about something that has brought them joy, love, and fulfillment. I can assure you at least a billion people will be interested.
What is your favorite quote?
“I am a spiritual being having a physical experience. I am not a physical being having a spiritual experience.”
This helps me to focus on what really matters. When you contemplate this quote, you will discover that most of your worries are unwarranted.
Who should we interview next and why?
Walter Wolf, author of The Right Rehab. It’s an important book about addiction. Walter wrote it because the guidebook he needed 10 years ago did not exist. Now it does, for the 61 million Americans who are dealing with the addiction of a loved are. Valuable guidance.
What is your definition of success?
Success is doing something that brings love and freedom to me and my neighbor.
How do you personally overcome fear?
The Soul-Fullness program and the 30+ techniques help me to reach that place of love and peace within me where fear has no existence. Fear is a shadow cast by an object standing before the light. If that object merges with the light, where would the shadow be? Gone!
How can readers get in touch with you?
You can connect with me by visiting my website at tosinkingjames.com
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