Dare to be Different to Make Your Book Trailer Shine Above the Rest

A few days ago, Diana Holquist left a comment in one of my blog posts, wondering about the worth of book trailers and how much their worth would sell books.


So, she says, she decided to make one to find out.

Of course, I'm a big fan of book trailers and since she's one of my daily readers and knows how much I love them, she knew I would be enticed to go look at the very mention of a new book trailer. Smart girl, Diana!

So, I did.

I could not stop laughing. Now THIS is what I'm talking about. Go to YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z32GAedt2lw to watch it, if you'd like, but come back because I have a surprise interview you wouldn't want to miss.

We were talking about websites being different and how they are drawing spectators (hence, possible future book buyers)...why not do the same with book trailers? Being different makes a big difference nowadays, doesn't it?

And, I'm thinking, this is all part of the NEW AGE OF PROMOTION.

We've got to learn how to stand out from the pack.

After watching Diana's book trailer, I had to email her and ask her if she would agree to an interview because I had some really interesting questions for her. She agreed, so for your enjoyment, here is the interview:

Dorothy: Diana, this has got to be the coolest trailer I've ever seen. I love your sense of humor! How did you come up with this idea?

Diana: I'm so glad you like it. The idea came from on one of my 4,312 yahoo groups. A famous author was chiding us to always be professional. I thought, hell no. I'm a writer. If I wanted to be professional, I would've been a banker. So I figured, why not be so unprofessional that it's funny? I wanted people to see what this writer was really like, messy hair, cheesecake for breakfast, little white lies, and all. That's what I think readers are interested in. That's what I'm interested in. I'm not interested in people being "professional." Professionals bore me. I also did a "slick" trailer that has jazzy music and quick cuts and the actual content of the book. But even though it's sexy, it's the same as everyone else's. I like different. In my books, and my trailers.

Dorothy: Did this really happen? I mean, did you actually tell your husband you'd put him on the cover?

Diana: As soon as my editor told me they wanted to call the book Sexiest Man Alive, I said, "Fine. But you'll have to put my husband on the cover or he'll be upset." It was our running joke: "Hi Michele (my editor), should my husband come to New York for his cover shoot this week?" Now when I show friends the cover, I say, "of course, that's Peter on the cover," and they do a double take, afraid to say, "um, I don't think so, honey." I love this cover, but it's full of jokes. In fact, the next trailer I'm doing if my publisher doesn't stop me is "The Top Ten Reasons the Sexiest Man Alive Has No Head." Dorothy: What did he think of the trailer after you showed it to him?

Diana: He's got a great sense of humor. Better than my ten year old who said, "Mom, never, ever show me that again."

Dorothy: What does your husband think of having an author in the family?

Diana: My husband is a much bigger author. You must have missed "Making War, Forging Revolution; Russia's Continuum of Crisis, 1914-1921"? Harlequin Blaze wanted it, but Harvard Press outbid them.

Dorothy: Are you this funny all the time?

Diana: Only when I'm drunk. And I hope, when I write. In person, I don't speak. People are terribly disappointed when they meet me.

Dorothy: What prompted you to make a book trailer for your book?

Diana: You. Really. I'm a serious Dorothy disciple. Also, I've learned early on that it's best if I promote my books without leaving the house because I'm insanely shy. Book trailers were a natural way to connect with readers without actually having to talk to them, blush, stutter, get dizzy, and have to go and lie down. In fact, Sexiest Man Alive is dedicated to "everyone who has ever blushed, stuttered, or had their nose twitch like a rabbit's." My personality is good for on-line promotion. I had to run with it.

Dorothy: What has been other people's reactions when they see it?

Diana: Well, my mom loves it : ) I get a lot of people telling me they can't hear it. Sorry. I didn't have a proper mike and I just taught myself how to use iMovie that morning. I thought about going back and cleaning it up now that I'm better on the software, but I like it the way it is---you have to watch it more than once to get it all. Some people think it's hysterical. Others scratch their heads and turn away. Story of my life. I'd rather thrill some people and repulse others than have everyone think I'm just "okay."

Dorothy: Thank you for coming, Diana, and happy promoting to you!

Diana: Thanks for having me, Dorothy. I can't tell you how much I love your blog. It's taught me everything I know about web promoting. I read it religiously. You're my hero. I feel really honored to be here.

Now, that's a woman you gotta love.

Tags: How to Pump UP Your Blog to Sell More Books, online book promotion, author publicity, book promotion, book promotion tips, book trailer, Diana Holquist, Sexiest Man Alive

Beauty is in the Eye of the Artist

I am just so excited about my last book trailer I made for Barbara Willliamson-Wood's suspense novel, Inner Trappings, that I just have to share it with you.

It's funny how we as artists interpret other artists' works. What I see may not be what you see. But, isn't that the beauty of it all?

Sometimes.

If you get a book jacket cover and it's not quite what you expected or what you envisioned, doesn't it feel like your life as you know it has come to an end? You contact the publisher and beg her/him to pleeeeze change this, change that, until finally, both of you can agree on the final result.

The thing about this particular trailer is that, after reading Barbara's promo, the reviews, the blurbs, etc...this is what I use to get a mental picture of her book. When I am commissioned to do a book trailer, I want to know the inside and outside of the book. I want to get a feel of what the author is trying to say. I jot down a few notes as I research the book's main pivotal points, but it's not until I actually have the trailer sitting in front of me do I know where it's going to go.

It's interesting really because it's just like writing a book. You may or may not start out with an outline, but if you do, you use this outline so that you don't forget the main points of the book. Then, you start. The creation process does not take place in the outline. It takes place in the actual hands-on production end of it. It will not take shape until you're sitting there and letting everything hang loose.

Same things go for painters. If you are a painter, have you ever stared at a blank canvas and had an idea of where to go, but yet, you didn't know where to start? You've jotted a few ideas in your head, maybe even written a few ideas down, or practiced on some blank sheet of paper, but do you really know how the painting is going to end before you start?

The same thing for these trailers. I must paint a picture of what this book is about. It began as an idea and then flourished from there. If you'd like to see a creative side of your promo queen here, check it out...



Tags: How to Pump UP Your Blog to Sell More Books, online book promotion, author publicity, book promotion, book promotion tips, book trailer

Book Trailers: Friend or Foe?

The book trailer rage has taken over. Everywhere they're popping up. Some very sophisticated, and some, unfortunately not so.

About a month ago, a friend posted a link to his book trailer, so I decided it was time to learn how to make one myself. I had a graphics program, plus I had Movie Maker (everyone who has Windows has it in their programs), so I thought I'd give it a whirl. While it took three days to put together, I was satisfied at the results. If you'd like to see it, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOklaNgirZI at YouTube. While you're there, drop me a comment. ;o)

I did a little promoting for it and now it's #1 in YouTube under "ghost book" which were the key search words I chose to promote it. It was #1 in Google Video this morning, but now has dropped to #2. This is where your online book promotion comes in.

While they're a blast to make and fun to show off to your friends, just how do they affect sales?

Right now, it's too early to say from my standpoint as my book won't be out until later this month, but I figure it can't hurt for pre-release buzz, right?

Yes, if they are done right.

The way I see it is that any promotion is good promotion, but there are conflicting opinions on this if the book trailers look amateurish.

I'm wondering, though, would a badly-made book trailer make a difference in sales either way?

Probably not, but the thing is, the Internet is open to discussion and your book trailor may be the target. If it is poorly made, people will talk. If it's done up right and looks professional, people will talk. Either way, you don't want negative opinions plastered all over the Internet about your book.

According to Cheryl Hagedorn, author of PARK RIDGE A Senior Center Murder, she believes some of the book trailers look downright pathetic. At her blog, she tells us that there is an interesting conversation going on over at HelenKay Dimon’s blog about the subject of poorly made trailers.

So, of course, I being the inquisitite one, went over there to find out what this was all about. It seems there is an author that is being targeted. I really felt sorry for the guy because he's the brunt of various opinions on his book trailer, and some of them not so good.

I have dial-up so it took a long time to load, but I face the same thing with all book trailers. You can take a peek at his book trailer here, if you'd like. As soon as it loads, I'll let you know what I think.

The bottom line is this. When you're putting together your book trailers, please, make them as professional as you can. When you put your book out there, you take all precautions to make sure they're the best they can be so that the reviews will be positive, don't you? Book trailers are no different.

However, on the upside, this author has a book trailer that's the talk of the town, so maybe it's not bad promotion after all?

What's your opinion?


Tags: book trailers,YouTube, online book promotion, Movie Maker