My problems began when my publisher, John Hunt Publishing, wanted my profile increased to market my books. Being an introvert by nature, this was not my scene. But even more disconcerting was having to find my way around social media. I waded through Facebook and got completely lost on Twitter, but the real problem came when Andrew Chamberlain, author and originator of ‘The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt’, e-mailed to ask if he could interview me.  

‘We’ll do it through Skype’, he suggested. 

‘Fine!’ I assured him. (Help! What’s Skype?) 

Fortunately, I have a 15-year-old grandson who’s a genius with computers 

 ‘Now are you sure you’ve got it, Grandma?’ Tomas asked after patiently showing me the ropes instead of doing his homework. 

‘Absolutely!’ I assured him.  I’m good at assuring people.

The big day of the interview arrived. Andrew Chamberlain contacted me at the duly appointed time and I’m sure – absolutely sure – I pressed all the right buttons. But somehow, something went awry.  Andrew rang me. 

‘Sorry; not quite sure what went wrong,’ I apologised. 

‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘We’ll use Zoom.’ 

Zoom? What the heck is Zoom? 

The only glimmer of light on the horizon was that I had met Andrew a number of times through a Writers Course in the lake district? So perhaps it was that, that had left him with the distinct impression that he was dealing with a nugget head as far as technology was concerned. Because half-an-hour later, after leading me slowly and patiently via phone through some weird procedure we were able to connect through Skype. 

And the interview? Well, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Andrew was such an easy-going interviewer that my fears were relieved almost from the start, and before long we were laughing over the ups-and-downs I’d had as a writer. 

So, if you want to be encouraged by a struggling author (me) who has book number 5 being released at the end of March, listen to the Creative Writer’s Toolbelt, Episode 154, ‘From Perseverance to Publication’. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YsN7M9QfTtSuk_3OC6E39c_dZghUINMf/view?usp=sharing