Book Trailers (tm) & Author Web Sites discussion

If you are an author or publisher, please post a link to your book preview video, as well as background on its creation.

Special Note: Due to the size of most book preview videos, please only post a link to your book preview video...not the actual book preview video, Thanks!

Dee Marie

Here are my three current ones. Hopefully there will be many more in the future. :-D

A Midnight Infatuation

A Birth at Dawn

A Twilight Abduction


I think they have gotten progressively better with each new trailer. LOL!

Your book preview videos are very well done with just enough tease to make you want more.

Thank you for sharing, I can hardly wait for Oct. 31

Thanks! :-)

I hope this works... my trailer is at the bottom of this page:

Utamaro Revealed

Utamaro Revealed on Goodreads

Hi Gina,

Wow, your book preview video is beautiful, thank you for sharing, and welcome to the group.

Did you have to obtain special permission to reproduce the supporting images for your art book?

Dee Marie

Hi Dee Marie,

That's really nice of you to say. I had a lot of fun making the video.

Quite a lot of the images in my book are owned by me, so luckily I can use them wherever I want... that's been a real bonus. It's been a great help when putting together advertising posters and other marketing materials too.

Gina, how exciting for you to put this book together, and to share the images with everyone. How did you become interested in this artist?

Dee Marie

I was fifteen years old when I first saw a print by Utamaro, in the lobby of a museum... it was love at first sight. I've been totally obsessed ever since. My mentor was a great man (sadly no longer with us), and he was the inspiration behind me deciding to write about the artist. It's been great that so many people have been so enthusiastic about this project. I feel very fortunate.

I am sadden to hear about the passing of your friend and mentor, but I am confident that he is smiling upon you and is overjoyed at your publishing the book.

What a wonderful back story.

Dee Marie

Wow, I just discovered the beauty and fun of book trailers.

Thank you for sharing and giving me my first glimpse into a whole new creative way to preview books!

Very exciting stuff!

Hey Lillian,

Now that you had your fun...get to work thinking of some ideas for the Sons of Avalon: Merlin's Prophecy book preview video. [insert waaay evil grin here:].

All teasing aside, you know I value your input and creativity.

Dee Marie

Here's my trailer. It's no Spielberg production, but it's my first ever attempt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Luwa6f...

Hi Darren,

Very interesting trailer. How long did it take you to create it? Did you script it first? I like the lightening strikes. I have searching for a scene like that for the opening of my upcoming book preview video.

Welcome to the group.
Dee Marie

Hi Dee,

I did map it out a little first. All the images, including the lightning, I sourced from Wikimedia Commons. The weird sounding music was a piece I originally composed for a CD. I used Windows Movie Maker to make the trailer. Probably took about 2 or 3 hours.

Thanks for the information about Wikimedia Commons, I had heard of and often use Wikipedia, but I was unaware of Wikimedia Commons. I will be sure to post the link in the group's link section.

I am impressed that you compose your own music. What do you play? What kind of sound equipment do you use?

Wow, 2 to 3 hours for completing a book preview video is amazing. I can only guess that you are proficient with Windows Movie Maker. When you have the time, please post some tips and tricks as to adding your own music and working with Windows Movie Maker in regards to creating a book preview video.

Have a great week,
Dee Marie

Trailer for my book: The Crown Conspiracy

http://www.michaelsullivan-author.com...

Hi Michael,

Your book preview video is pure perfection! How much input did you have in its creation? Are the supporting illustrations yours?

Thanks so much for sharing,
Dee Marie

I created an updated trailer for A Midnight Infatuation (with the new cover) if anyone wants to take a look. :-)

A Midnight Infatuation - Second Edition

Christie

Oh, Yessss!

I like the new version oh-so-much better! The new design, artwork and text convey a tension that was not present in the first version.

Did you change any of the interior content, or just the cover and book preview video?

Dee Marie

LOL I'm glad you like it. :-)

No, the second edition is just the cover and a few mistakes I spotted after publication. There's no change in the story at all.

Christie

Hi everyone,

I am the author of Two Moon Princess, a YA fantasy of a Spanish medieval girl who travels to modern day CA.

I have a website www.carmenferreiroesteban.com and a book trailer my daugther designed. http://www.youtube.com/user/cferreiro...

I hope you like it. Comments are most welcome.

Hi Carmen,

What is the background music? It is very catchy :]

Hi Dee,

I had to wait for my daughter to come back from school for that one. Apparently she made it up using Garage Band.

Thanks Carmen :]

I would like to welcome one of our newest group membrers, Matt Beynon Rees Matt Beynon Rees. He is an award winning journalist and the author of A Grave in Gaza and the "Omar Yussef Mystery series."

His book preview video, titled, "Welcome to Palestine" is a "must" view! I was totally blown-away!

Click on the following link and check it out.

http://www.mattbeynonrees.com

Dee Marie

hi Dee,
Thanks for posting my clip. I've done a video for both my novels (www.mattbeynonrees.com/video.htm). I think they're very useful, not for only reaching readers, but also for convincing journalists and publishers in other countries that you're serious. The video for my first novel was a "journalistic" piece, in which I walked around Bethlehem and talked directly to the camera about some of the locations in the novel. I posted that to Youtube and it has over 10,000 hits, which is a considerable factor in publicity when you're published by a small press as I am in the US. With the second video, I wanted to make it clear that the books weren't nonfiction (the journalistic element of the first video may have given that impression), so I deliberately took a slightly tongue in cheek approach, running around Jerusalem's Old City, posing with a fake gun, and filming in very noirish light. Most of all, I've been lucky that I have a videographer friend who's willing to work with me in return for a good lunch. (If that wasn't the case, I suppose I'd be going to the nearest film school to find students who'd make a video for me as a class project.) I have to figure out a video for my third book which is out this February. There's a murder in a Turkish bath in the book, so provided it doesn't steam up the lense I guess we'll film there...
Matt

Hey Matt,

It is such an honor to have you as part of our group. As my first love is journalism, your stories piqued my imagination. I have to ask you...within this volatile world, how did you manage to walk around the streets brandishing a handgun? Was no one curious as to what you were doing? In New York, you would have been either arrested, or someone would have shot you and taken your pistol (toy or not).

The first thing I thought of when I watched your book preview video was, "man, that guy has big brass ones." {insert sly grin here}

All teasing aside, you bring up an excellent point about contacting local film students when contemplating the creation of a book preview video. Even the high schools in the states have classes in photography. What an interesting, and I would bet underused, resource to tap into. Plus, who would not want to get a college or high school following?

As to your next project, please post your book preview video as soon as it is completed. I am sure we will all be interested in how you handle the steam element.

Again, welcome to the group, and thanks giving us background on your book preview video.

Dee Marie

When I was at art college, we were always doing little jobs for businesses or individuals who needed video, photographic or graphic work ... anything creative really. We were glad of the opportunity to try out our skills on innocent, unsuspecting victims ;-)

Hi Gina,

Oh, I remember those days as well. Funny when you are a student, you will do about any project as long as your name is attached to it in big bold lettering.

The theatre department (local or college) is another wonderful resource for creating book preview video. Cross promotion is generally a win-win situation.

Dee Marie

I just posted my first book trailer, for my debut novel The Trouble With Being God today. It's a probably rated PG-13 (some blood), but I think it matches the book quite well.

Anyway, let me know what you think.

View the trailer for The Trouble With Being God

Hi Gina: When I was shooting the video in Jerusalem's Old City, it was the middle of the night. No one around except Israeli police patrols. I hid the gun whenever they came by, but I admit it made me a little sweaty, particularly as they carry machine guns and aren't expecting to find anyone on the streets. I didn't want to have to say: "Listen, guys, don't overreact but I've got a Colt Python in my pocket." Even if it was just a cigarette lighter...

William,

Wow, that was a very intense, and well produced, book preview video. Did you shoot the book preview video youself? Please give us the background on its creation (both from a creative viewpoint and the techinical aspects).

Dee Marie

Matt,

You are either a very brave man, or a very crazy one...I suspect (being a journalist in a foreign land) that you are a little of both. The results of your perilous actions made for one extremely effective trailer. Your clip rivaled the movie trailers of the classical Film-Noir flicks.

Have you, or your publishing house collected any marketing data, as to how your book preview video has increased sales of your novel?

Dee Marie

Matt, I really like the music in your trailer... was it made specifically for the trailer or is it a readily available piece of music?

I think it's really important, if there's music in a trailer, that it's something appealing as a stand alone element.

Gina

The trailer actually consists of a variety of stock video I licensed, as well as stock music. The voiceover was done by me though.

I did the editing of the video in Adobe Premiere Elements 7, and did the artwork for the final frame using Photoshop Elements (the cover art was painted by me, and then manipulated in Photoshop).

The voiceover was recorded using my studio mic, through my Kaoss Pad (a dynamic effects processor) and into the computer, with recording and audio manipulation through the open source (free) software, Audacity.

As far as the creative aspect, I basically wanted to just use one quote from the book, which I think is the most powerful as well as gives across the best "feel" for the story. My goal wasn't so much to give the viewer a synopsis of the novel, but instead to give them a sense of the main character.

Hello, I am new here. I've become a fan of the free Windows Movie Maker program and made a simple trailer of "Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl."


Cherry Blossoms in Twilight

Hi Linda,

Your book preview video is beautiful, it makes tugs at my emotions each time I watch it. I especially like your use of a voice-over; a perfect fit for your book preview video.

Dee Marie

This is the trailer for my novel, The Ezekiel Code, a metaphysical/mystery/adventure/thriller with a touch of romance and a trace of sci-fi.

http://www.ezekielcode.com

I used iMovie, a Macintosh program. The music is a combination of sound clips that were available as free trial samples. Since they were only short clips I had to do some sound mixing, overlaying, etc. I chose music that was dramatic and fitting for the book's subject matter: ancient mysteries, conspiracy, secret societies, coded messages, biblical events, end-times scenario, and so on.

So break out the popcorn and a beverage and enjoy the show!

Hi Dee,

Thank-you for the opportunity to post our video trailer links! My name is Rai Aren, co-author of a mystery/speculative sci-fi/alternate historical fiction novel entitled Secret of the Sands. Here is a short blurb about the book:

For 12,000 years a dark and deadly secret has been hidden deep below the Great Sphinx of Giza. In present day Egypt, a frightening, yet awe-inspiring story unravels as archaeologists race against time to decipher an ancient truth...

Our trailer was created by myself, along with my friend Tommy Taylor, author of The Second Virgin Birth. Here is the link to it:

Secret of the Sands trailer on YouTube

I hope you all like it :)

Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands



"A deep probing mystery riddled with prophecy and danger, Secret of the Sands uses Egypt and her mythology as a backdrop to delve into the meanings of life and religion." -McNally Robinson

Hi Rai :o)

Egypt... now there's a part of the world that I find fascinating.

Welcome Everyone,

I have been out of town dealing with a family emergency, and I am so pleased to see so many new members upon my return.

Hi Gary, The concept of The Ezekiel Code is very interesting, and it looks like a fascinating read. Your book preview video was very unique and the music matched the book's mysterious storyline. I also enjoyed exploring your web site.

Hey Chad Oh, I see that your book is published by AMI. One of the best books I have read this year, The Crown Conspiracy, comes from the same publishing house. Due to their great taste in literature, I would not hesitate to purchase your book. I also liked your book preview video. The Path of Power: Book Two of the Divine Gambit Trilogy is very intriguing.

Hello Rai: Like Gina, I too am enthralled by stories that delve into the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. Loved the book preview video to Secret of the Sands, especially the lion's eyes.

Dee Marie

Hi Gina,

Yes, me too (obviously)! My co-author & I have been fascinated by ancient Egypt our whole lives. I still remember the day in Grade 3 when I was first introduced to ancient Egyptian history, I was captivated from that moment on. I also have a mini-library here at home on ancient Egypt, which came in very handy when doing research for the book :)

Very nice to meet you!

Rai

Hi Dee,Hi Everyone,
Here is the link to my book trailer video. I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.freewebs.com/blessedbeps

click on link: my montage FORE-WARNED

then just click on book cover.

I hope you enjoy it, and my site. I had to go through all my family pictures lol to find just the right pictures for my characters.
Thank You for joining a little part of my world.
Happy Viewing
Patricia Smith

Here is a link to the trailer for historical romance novel, "Fire at Midnight," which will be released by Medallion Press in March, 2009:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p1...

Rai, thinking about your book made me go and get out my 1923 edition of The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen. I've had that two vol. set forever. Oh to have been there when that tomb was opened!

Good luck with your book. :o)

Greetings, Dee.
Thanks for the kind words re my novel, The Ezekiel Code!

Dee & Gina -
I'm with you on mysteries of ancient Egypt. Rai (author of Secret of the Sands) mentioned that she remembers her first introduction to ancient Egypt back in the 3rd grade. My fascination with the subject (especially the Great Pyramid) began on my 11th birthday. I received an illustrated book called Wonders of the World. This little bit of text about the pyramids and the accompanying illustration just captivated me and I've been hooked ever since. I still have the book. In fact it's sitting right beside me as I write this. :-)

As you might guess from the ankh on the cover of The Ezekiel Code the story does have a connection with ancient Egypt, specifically the Great Pyramid, or even more specifically the part of the pyramid that isn't there. Oh-oh. Don't want to give away too much! LOL!

By the way, anyone who is reading this post, I've read Rai Aren's book, Secret of the Sands and it's a terrific read. Not only do you get a modern-day archaeological adventure to match anything Indiana Jones ever got swept into but you also get a captivating backstory taking place in ancient Egypt in "real-time" as it's happening. So you get two stories in one and they're both intimately connected. It's so well conceived and so well executed I couldn't believe it was a first-time novel.

Gees! Have I blabbed on long enough? LOL! Sorry about that. I get carried away with things that feel passionate about. I'll shut up now. :-)

Thanks very much Gina! I am happy that the subject matter nudged you towards spending time with your 1923 edition - wow, what a collector's item!! That must be a prized possession :)

Rai

Hey Gary,

Thank-you so much for your kind words about Secret of the Sands!! Obviously Gary & I have similar interests & tastes in our reads. We are vibrating on a similar frequency, that's for sure. I loved The Ezekiel Code, I still think about that story pretty much every day. It was just so packed with fascinating concepts and ideas to keep one pondering for a very long time to come. Giving it a 5-star review didn't seem enough for the immense amount of research that went into it, and the wonderful creativity. I honestly didn't want it to end.

Rai

Thanks Dee! Yes, I had to put the lion eyes in there, it's very relevant to the story, and I just love the direct gaze...

Rai