This interview section is open for all authors who post a video on this site. Please answer the following five questions in the comment field below:
1) What is your name and your book title?
2) How did you make your video? Did you do it yourself?
3) What message are you conveying to your audience?
4) What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
5) What’s your video link? How about your book website and synopsis?
My book title is Swallow.
I made my video myself simply using the program that came with my (now old!) computer – basic movie maker. I also used istockphoto.com for images and incompetech.com for music.
I’m trying to convey with my video that my novel is about a young woman who’s just moved to New York, landed her first job and received a marriage proposal, when she’s suddenly stricken with this odd psychosomatic disorder that wreaks havoc on her life. I’m hoping to convey that this is a psychological mystery and that it involves the law as well, due to the protagonist’s job.
My favorite parts: well, I loved how my program allowed me to manipulate the text and add cool textual effects – like the blurring of words, the words fading in and out, sometimes appearing in a spotting manner on the screen. I like my text! What I’d improve if I could is some of the image effects. Unfortunately my program wasn’t tremendously sophisticated and really all you could do with the images was pan in and out. For the first image, for example, with the Freudian chaise, I would have loved to have been able to have the photo rotated continuously, so it looks like you are circling around above it. But I couldn’t do that, so just panned in.
Here is the YouTube link to my video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4t0GW3I0cw
My website is: http://www.tonyaplank.com
My book’s synopsis is:
Sophie Hegel is a shy New York lawyer from small-town Florence Arizona, known not for the Renaissance but for housing a large prison. She’s just graduated from Yale Law School and landed her first job when, one evening she feels a fist-like ball form at the base of her throat. Diagnosed with the psychological condition Globus Sensate, this “fist-ball” wreaks havoc on her life, causing difficulty eating, speaking, and eventually breathing. With a cast of characters that includes a pornographer father, a sister with a knack for getting knocked up by denizens of the town pen, a tough-talking fashion maven, a painter of male nudes, an eccentric Sing Sing-residing client and a bevy of privileged Manhattan attorneys and judges, Swallow is a dark comedy about the distance that can separate fathers and daughters, and about a young woman’s struggle to survive in a world of pedigreed professionals for which she has no preparation.
Lynn Dove – “The Wounded Trilogy” – Shoot the Wounded (2009); Heal the Wounded (Nov. 2010) and Love the Wounded (2011)
This was my first attempt at making a video. I used Windows Movie Maker, with images from PhotoBucket and I obtained special permission from the band, Fading Rebel to use their amazing music! I was especially delighted to use their music because I know them all individually and they were all members of the youth group I led at my church.
This video is edgy, with stark visualizations.
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Prov. 12:18 and Prov. 15:4
“The Wounded Trilogy” by Lynn Dove
Shoot the Wounded (2009)
Heal the Wounded (2010)
Love the Wounded (2011)
“The book(s) digs deep into the lives of youth, the rumors, the gossip. How words can bring one down to the lowest point in their life. When one is down and out and at their lowest point so called friends “Shoot The Wounded” and drag them down just a little bit more.”
Other than the music, I think the most dramatic or “shocking” part in the video is a youth pointing a pistol at his temple and then the frame shatters and the viewer is looking into the barrel of a gun.
When my third book, Love the Wounded is released next year, I will likely do another video and I would like to improve on the text presentation.
My author website is: http://www.shootthewounded.org/
My blog, “Journey Thoughts” : http://lynndove.wordpress.com/
Shoot the Wounded, the first book in the “Wounded Trilogy“ is written for youth and young adults, addresses how lies and gossip destroy a person’s spirit. It speaks to the heart of relevant themes such as bullying, teen pregnancy and family violence all the while pointing the characters and ultimately the reader, to hope in Jesus Christ.
Heal the Wounded, is the much-anticipated sequel to Shoot the Wounded. with the main characters Jake, Leigh, Tim, and Mike all coming to terms with the death of their friend, Ronnie. Wounded and hurting, each of them are searching for the answer to “why God allows bad things to happen to good people?”.
Love the Wounded, the final book in the “Wounded Trilogy” (2011)
My name is Deborah Brodie and the tile of my second book is “In His Love.”
The booksigning video was created and produced by my fiance’ Jeffery Patrick of Jeffery Patrick Photography.
The message of my book follows the journey of a woman’s pursuit of her calling, her dream, and the love of her life.
My favorite part of the video is the choreography and the music of it. Since it only depicts the first two of my booksignings I would like to add to it.
I have a YouTube link
For more detailed information please visit me at
http://deborahbrodie.tatepublishing.net
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/507546.Deborah_Brodie
1) What is your name and your book title?
Jonathan Sturak, author of the romantic thriller novel “CLOUDED RAINBOW”
2) How did you make your video? Did you do it yourself?
I shot my video on a Canon VIXIA HFS10 camera 1080p @ 24 fps. I used a tripod and good lighting to get the most out of it. I am a Film School grad (UNLV), so this was something easy for me.
3) What message are you conveying to your audience?
I would like to provide the audience with some insight into my inspiration for writing “CLOUDED RAINBOW.” Also, I read the introduction to highlight the mood of the book.
4) What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
I like my “off the cuff” introduction. I could have used a better audio setup.
5) What’s your video link? How about your book website and synopsis?
Synopsis:
“Roger Belkin has everything going for him–the job, the car, the marriage, but on one cold, dark night, he will lose everything…”
Book Website:
http://sturak.com
Video Link:
I can’t find the rss feed(
What is your name and your book title?
Amber Lehman, TORN
How did you make your video? Did you do it yourself?
I selected the photos, made a a demo, and provided the voice-over. Then I hired a company to add the music and re-edit the video so that it looked better.
What message are you conveying to your audience?
The arc of the story so that they have an idea of what the book is about.
What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
I like the way it flows and the transparencies in the beginning of the video. I would’ve liked to have had the funds to hire a real voice over actor.
What’s your video link? How about your book website and synopsis?
Website: http://www.closetcasepress.com
Synopsis: It was different this time; we weren t acting on a dare. I knew our motive; we were practicing the act, hoping to impress the right boy when it came time. But then something happened in the mix of the moment, in the mix of the alcohol. It wasn t planned, but somehow our kissing experiment turned into something else. Things went further . . . and once they had, once I returned to earth from the euphoria . . . I wrestled with my feelings at that frank realization, questioning whether our said objective was entirely true.
When fourteen-year old Krista McKinley transfers from Catholic school in Ohio to California s public Crestmount High, she discovers she has a lot to learn. Luckily, she is befriended by Carrie and Brandon and things start to look up. But when a simple dare tests Krista s values, it sends her entire world spiraling into a confusing series of events that leaves her questioning her identity as well as the people around her.
1)My name is Tenaya Jayne and my book is titled Blue Aspen.
2)I made the video myself with copyright free music and images with windows movie maker. I had a great time making it.
3)Hopefully the message is: “Read this!”
4)My favorite part of my video is the images. I wouldn’t change anything.
5)Video link :
website:
http://tenayajayne.com/
1) What is your name and your book title?
My name is K.M. Johnson, and I am the author of Knowing The Struggle Is Over!
2) How did you make your video? Did you do it yourself?
I did not make my video myself I actually went through Ghost Writer Extraordinaire
3) What message are you conveying to your audience?
That no matter what situation they may be going through, this book can help them in Knowing The Struggle Is Over!
4) What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
I like the very end where the title of the book completes the previous sentence. I would like to have a better soundtrack, more fluidity throughout, and a better attention grabber at the beginning.
5) What’s your video link? How about your book website and synopsis?
The video link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAjSY8IHgEs
For more information about the book and author please visit the following links: http://www.kmjohnson3stepstoknowing.com
http://michelejenterprises.blogspot.com
Knowing The Struggle Is Over incorporates several exercises that keeps you in full interaction throughout the entire journey. The 3-step process may be shared with others and practiced daily. This book also addresses changes in today’s world, the new religions that have transpired, and many of the tragedies we have encountered. The need for revisiting the foundation that Christianity is built is fulfilled through scripture references and comments on biblical passages profoundly embedded within each chapter. It also entails real-life applications in addition to practical messages. Whatever your situation or circumstance as you conquer this spiritual journey together with the author, you will find your path to Knowing The Struggle Is Over.
1) What is your name and your book title?
I’m Jess C Scott (nice to meet you). I have two books out at the moment: EyeLeash, A Blog Novel, and 4:Play.
2) How did you make your video? Did you do it yourself?
With Windows Movie Maker, image editing software, artwork drawn by myself, royalty-free images/illustrations/photos, and music supplied by some really talent, generous people. Self-produced.
3) What message are you conveying to your audience?
Be nobody but yourself.
4) What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
Images + music.
5) What’s your video link? How about your book website and synopsis?
Video links are:
EyeLeash: A Blog Novel:
4:Play:
I’m also on the web at:
http://www.jesscscott.com
http://www.twitter.com/jesscscott
A. Colin Wright, novel: Sardinian Silver. The video was made by Ghost Writer Extraordinaire, at a very small cost. They directed it to romance readers, and it should meet their expectations. I would have preferred more emphasis on the literary qualities of the novel, the descriptions of Sardinia and the many interesting characters.
Websites: http://www.sardiniansilver.com, http://www.acolinwright.ca, http://www.authorsden.com/acolinwright.
Synopsis and bio:
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:
Promotional Services Department
Tel: 800-288-4677
Fax: 812-961-3133
Email: pj.rutar@iuniverse.com
(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)
Finding One’s Self on a Romantic Island That Time Forgot
Sardinian Silver
KINGSTON, ONTARIO – How many young people have dreamt of self and sexual discovery in a far off, exotic place? Arthur Fraser, the main character of Sardinian Silver (published by iUniverse) by A. Colin Wright, not only dreamt of it, he realized his dream. Recruited to represent a travel firm from his homeland of Great Britain, Arthur arrives in the resort town of Alghero on the Island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea and is instantly bewitched. Based on his own time on Sardinia, Wright’s captivating and oftentimes hilarious novel follows the exploits of a young man trying to find love while assimilating to an archaically orthodox society.
Sardinian Silver opens with Arthur sailing across the Tyrrhenian Sea towards his new home. On his journey to Sardinia, Arthur meets a native Sardinian named Gavino. Eager to make a new friend, let alone a British one, Gavino strikes up a conversation with Arthur and quickly offers to show Arthur his island. Gavino is the first in a cavalcade of characters, serious, humorous and tragic, that help make Sardinian Silver the engaging recollection that it is.
Once settled into the Sardinian resort at which he is working, Arthur sets out on achieving the one thing he wants most; finding a Sardinian girlfriend. He knows that this will not be easy, as Gavino has already warned him. Sardinia in the 1960s was still very culturally undeveloped. Sardinia’s residents viewed mainland Italians and continentals (the British counted among them) as immoral and contaminated by modern society. Still, this does not dissuade Arthur from his task.
“It was ten past nine. Quickly the girls had gone.
Parties like this were so promising, yet so empty. I recall another one, with Gavino and some of Marcella’s friends, where one girl enjoyed a few hidden caresses while we clutched together publicly, but reacted scornfully when I attempted to get her outside alone, and the others were quite shocked. Except for Marcella, who made fun of me. Hug and hold tightly in a dance, but be satisfied with this brief, despairing feel of another body, for it’s all you’re going to get unless you pay a prostitute for more: southern Italy in a nutshell. Yet Sardinia was a land of promise, which I loved even if it remained unfulfilled.”
In the tradition of Brideshead Revisited and The Lost Girl, Sardinian Silver is a charming and witty novel of growth, loss and realization that is sure to delight even the most critical reader.
A. Colin Wright was born and raised in the county of Essex, England. After serving as a linguist in the British Royal Air Force, Wright attended Cambridge University where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. In 1964, he was appointed a professor of Russian at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He remained at Queen’s until his retirement in 1999 and still resides there today. Dr. Wright is married and has two grown sons. See also http://www.sardiniansilver.com and http://www.acolinwright.ca
iUniverse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.iuniverse.com.
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My name is Andy Love and approach you all with my book, Short Shocks Volume I
I created this basic video by buying the pics and music, creating my monstor on Windows Movie Maker
The trailer gives readers a taste of the two, dark and scary stories and the different locations of each.
4) What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
My favourite part of the video is the scary voice at the end. I’d love to improve the timings of the pic changes to music.
You can see the video here:
I’d love anyone to visit my website here:
http://stores.lulu.com/andylove
What’s the book all about, I hear you scream!
This book of two short horror stories, is the first creation from horror writer Andy Love. Minion, a gothic tale of one man’s hobby turned to nightmare. A Night With Frost is the reason we should believe in fables. If you don’t want to see the ice-cold horror of Jack Frost approaching; then don’t believe. Try and make it through a chilling and devastating night with your life.
1) What is your name and your book title?
Bound by Love, by April Dawn
Crushing Desire, by April Dawn
2) How did you make your video? Did you do it yourself?
I made them myself, and commissioned the music
3) What message are you conveying to your audience?
Both are meant to convey the feel of the book.
Bound by Love is very adventurous, and Crushing Desire is romantic and sweet.
4) What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
Both have wonderful images and music
5) What’s your video link? How about your book website and synopsis?
Website and blurb links found at http://aprildawnbooks.com
I’m Matt Beynon Rees. There are four novels in my Palestinian crime series — THE COLLABORATOR OF BETHLEHEM, A GRAVE IN GAZA, THE SAMARITAN’S SECRET, and THE FOURTH ASSASSIN (to be published in February.)
I work with a videographer who’s a friend of mine. I write the script and visualise it. Then we film it in and around the locations of the books, which makes it colorful and exotic as we’ve filmed in Jerusalem, Nablus and Bethlehem.
I want readers to have a picture of the places I’m writing about. I also want them to feel a little of the heat and dust, and to sense the excitement of walking about in Palestinian refugee camps where there’s always a hint of danger.
I like the atmosphere of the videos, which is exotic and a little seedy. I suppose I’d like to improve a little on my delivery…
Here’s the link to the latest of my books THE SAMARITAN’S SECRET:
http://www.youtube.com/user/chubbyboustead#p/u/9/o0Wg6KpZ_iw
Synopsis:
Crime novelist Matt Beynon Rees explores the hidden world of the Samaritans, descendants of Jesus’s “Good Samaritan,” in their hilltop village overlooking the violent Palestinian town of Nablus. Rees introduces his third Palestinian detective novel “The Samaritan’s Secret,” which takes place in the Samaritan village and in the murky alleys of the ancient Nablus casbah. Rees shows some of the locations from the novel in this video.
1) What is your name and your book title?
My name is Janice Beier and the title of my book is Zebert The Rainbow Striped Zebra.
2) How did you make your video? Did you do it yourself?
My daughter made the book trailer using Windows Movie Maker.
3) What message are you conveying to your audience?
The message of my book is to celebrate diversity by teaching children tolerance and acceptance of others.
4) What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
I like how the pictures move from side to side and fade in and out and go along with the music. As far as improvements, I can’t see where any are necessary.
5) What’s your video link? How about your book website and synopsis?
Zebert The Rainbow Striped Zebra video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgZU3-vY7…
For more information about the author/publisher or book:
http://www.rainbowsinkbooks.com or
authorsden.com/janicebeier
Thanks, Chaeya! You offer great advice for fellow authors!
(I asked Chaeya, a great resource on trailers, to provide some advice for authors looking to do book videos. I waved the five questions so we could get down to the details… -Vince)
For those of you who are looking to do trailers:
Programs:
PowerPoint (Most people use this)
Roxio Movie Creator
Magix Movie Edit Pro 12 (or later versions, they’re on 15 now)
Then there are the expensive, video-creation and editing programs if you want to make an A-one video, or you know someone in the business. But the cheapy programs above can do some pretty snazzy work.
Royalty-Free Pictures:
http://www.istockphoto.com
http://www.dreamstime.com
http://www.fotosearch.com
Royalty-Free Music:
http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/
http://musicbakery.com/
These are just a couple of sites. If you google any of the above you can find lots.
Here’s a good article on how to create your own book trailer and it provides a list of companies you can pay to do your trailer for you: http://www.squidoo.com/booktrailers
Happy book trailer-ing. My book isn’t out yet, but I’ve spent time doing my homework (on the days when I was slacking on edits) ;o)
1) What is your name and your book title?
My name is Lisa Marie Wilkinson. The book titles are “Fire at Midnight” (available now) and “Stolen Promise,” to be released in March 2010.
2) How did you make your video? Did you do it yourself?
I used the services of a company called Book Candy Studios.
3) What message are you conveying to your audience?
The videos provide a brief overview of what the books are about using visual images and text.
4) What’s your favorite part about your video? What parts would you like to improve?
I particularly love the music used for “Stolen Promise,” which has Gypsy characters. The video company worked with me until I was happy with the results, so I would not change anything.
5) What’s your video link? How about your book website and synopsis?
Video links are:
Fire at Midnight:
Stolen Promise:
For more information, including excerpts and reviews for “Fire at Midnight,” please visit my website at
http://www.lisamariewilkinson.com