Cecelia logs on to novel way of touring
Cecelia Ahern will be doing a world tour via Skype. Photo: Getty Images
Monday November 09 2009
AUTHOR Cecelia Ahern is to undertake a world first as she conducts a global publicity tour for her new book -- from the comfort of her own home.
Ahern, who is expecting her first child in December, will appear in several countries over the next two weeks via video appearances using the Skype service.
Ahern will be the first author ever to do a global promotional tour in this way.
Her publisher HarperCollins has teamed up with Skype to launch what they say is the world's first "Virtual Author Tour", giving fans around the globe the opportunity to speak to her from her home in Malahide, Co Dublin.
Skype is the software that enables people around the world to make free video and voice calls over the internet.
Skype is already popular with Irish families who have relatives overseas, allowing free and instant conversations.
Cecelia will use the system while sitting in front of her computer's webcam at home. At the other end she will be visible on a big screen before an audience who will ask her questions.
Virtual
The events -- lasting an hour -- will allow her to talk directly to the audience and answer questions "live".
The virtual tour kicks off on Friday when Cecelia will be appearing on a big screen in Waterstone's book store in Liverpool, England, between 6pm and 7pm.
Booking for the event is already heavy and the £3 (€3.35) ticket price will be redeemable against purchases of Ahern's new novel, 'The Book of Tomorrow', and her previous novel, 'The Gift'.
The tour will see her appear before audiences in Germany, Singapore and Australia.
The idea for the tour came from Ahern's agent, Marianne Gunn O'Connor, and her Irish publicist, Moira Reilly. "As far as we know it's the first time this kind of thing has been done," Ms Gunn O'Connor said.
"We have organised a supply of pre-signed copies of Cecelia's books which will be available at all the events," she added.
- John Spain Books Editor
Irish Independent
