Learning new technologies by Sheila Johnson

 In these Covid times when book promotion in person is non-existent, we are all having to learn new technologies in order to promote our books. Well, I know I certainly am. Before lockdown I had secured a talking spot on the Women's Institute speaking rota after passing their initial test of proving I could give an interesting talk about New Zealand and my book, Waireka. But all of that has now disappeared, at least for the present. So I am trying new forms of publicity now. 

Recently my publisher decided to help us out a bit by staging an event called 'Christmas in July'. The idea being that we could promote our books as early Christmas presents or just a good summer read. This inspired me to put up my first post on You Tube, which was very frightening but I got there eventually. 

I have to say that I am relatively pleased with the results, a series of slides with a talk.

This then encouraged my husband to get out his camera and to do another introductory video of my book, Waireka with his camera recording me. 

This was also uploaded to You Tube. 

Perhaps the lockdown has helped us authors to learn new skills. What have you learnt to do or do better during the lockdown?

Sheila Johnson lives in Cheltenham and is a qualified journalist who has written for a number of publications both local and national. She has also written two books under her pen name Sheila Donald, Alpha Male and Waireka. Her website can be found at www.journojohnson.com