I finally did it: I recorded and uploaded myself reading chapter one of Switching to Light. This marketing task has been on my ‘to do’ list for weeks now. As I exercised in the early hours this morning I listened to a Chris Baird YouTube video about how video marketing is one of the best ways to get yourself noticed as a published author. Chris is the founder of Self-Publishing Made Easy Now. He uploads a video just about every day with several ‘secrets’ to help self-publishing authors such as myself.

Chris points out that readers want to connect to authors just as some authors want to connect with readers. One way to do this is for them to see the author as a real person.

I went right past my insecurities and proceeded through the process of reading to a camera and uploading it. I ignored the fact that I found yet another error. Yes, the thumbnail of me looks silly. I didn’t listen to the sound of my voice. I didn’t look at how my right eye for some reason looks bigger than my left (has it always been like this?). And yes, I uploaded even though my shoulders on camera look as big as they do in person.

Just as with writing, I’m no expert with video. However, it wasn’t very difficult to post the video with the help of my 10-year old…thank you, Katie. But, as is also the case with writing, the more one does something, the better one gets. Over time these things that we struggle with in the beginning become second-nature, and if we stick with it, we become experts!

Just like with my book, this video isn’t perfect, if there is such a thing. It’s out there, nonetheless! While working hard on my second novel I’ll be uploading one to two videos per week with me reading the chapters from my book. So, if you haven’t bought my book feel free to go to JeanShelbyBooks channel on YouTube, push play and listen on for free!