Book Trailer How-To

 How To Make A Book Trailer by Nancy J. Cohen

Would you like to be able to create your own book trailer in Windows Movie Maker to save money and to maintain control over your project? If so, be prepared to spend time on a learning curve. The first effort is the hardest, but then you’ll know what to do for subsequent books. Just follow these steps for Windows 7 and you’re on your way. Generally, with images and music, I spend about $70 on a video.

WATCH SEVERAL BOOK VIDEOS

Find trailers for books in the same genre as your work.

Write down the text on each slide and note the image accompanying it or if the text is alone.

Listen to the music. How does it make you feel? Does it create a certain mood?

Does the story flow smoothly and hold your interest? How long is the trailer?

What do the credits say at the end?

WRITE YOUR TEXT
Now write your own text in verses to fit on each slide. Try to stay brief, keeping in mind that long lines may tax your reader’s ability to keep up. The text should give the reader an idea of what your story is about, the tone of your work, and a hint about your main character(s).

Let your critique partners offer their suggestions for improvements. Often another critical eye can help you hone down your plot to a few sentences, not an easy task.

Remember the adage: Short and Simple. Keep your video under 2 minutes if possible.

SEARCH FOR IMAGES

I use: http://www.123rf.com Medium is 564 x 848 px and are 2 credits each. I bought16 medium photos = 32 credits = $30; See my trailers for Shear Murder and Warrior Prince

http://www.bigstockphoto.com/ Small is 602 x 900 px at $2.99 each. 6 credits cost $13 and buys 6 small images; 25 credits costs $49 and buys 25 small images) Book Covers for futuristic trilogy

http://www.istockphoto.com/ Small is 567 × 847 px at 72 dpi and is 5 credits each. 12 credits cost $19.50; 26 credits costs $41.50 but you’re only getting 5 small images.

http://www.dreamstime.com/
http://www. Fotolia.com
http://www.flickr.com
http://www.sxc.hu/
http://www.corbisimages.com/
http://www.freestockimages.net/
http://www.jupiterimages.com/
http://www.epictura.com/
http://www.canstockphoto.com/
http://www.fotosearch.com/
http://www.gettyimages.com/creativeimages
http://www.reflexstock.com/
http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/stockart/
http://www.photolibrary.com/

Establish an account so that you have a Lightbox. In the Search feature, put keywords for the type of picture you want (i.e. romantic couple, beautiful redhead, man with gun). Scroll down until one catches your fancy. Click to add it to your Lightbox. If you like the model, you can click where it says Other Images Using This Model or Similar Images.

Keep collecting images until you have enough to match your lines of text. Then purchase credits, select the photos you want to keep, buy and download them to your computer. Whichever site you use, check the licensing requirements first. Some may require an extended license to use an image on a book cover, coffee mug, etc.

SEARCH FOR VIDEO (Optional)

Live action can add spice to a video but it also takes up time.

http://www.stockfootageforfree.com/
http://www.freestockfootage.com/
http://www.canstockphoto.com/
http://www.fotosearch.com/
http://www.gettyimages.com/Footage
http://www.photolibrary.com/footage.html
http://www.archive.org/details/stock_footage
http://www.artbeats.com/
http://vimeo.com/groups/freehd
http://www.footagefirm.com/free-footage
http://worldclips.tv/
http://www.alunablue.com/
http://www.gotfootage.com/
http://www.alwayshd.com/
http://www.royaltyfreehd.com/
http://vimeo.com/groups/freehd

SEARCH FOR MUSIC

Besides writing the text, this is the hardest part. Decide upon the tone of your video and put keywords into the search feature on these sites. Is your story dark and scary? Light and funny? Upbeat? Intense? Music is important to soliciting an emotional response in your viewer.

Check the length of the music clip against the length of your trailer. You can repeat the music if necessary to extend its length on your video.

I use http://www.stockmusic.net/ $39.95 per track; Pay once, use forever

http://www.istockphoto.com/audio.php 12 credits = $18.50; 26 credits = $39.50 Easy Samples http://www.mediamusicnow.com (pay in English pounds)
http://www.opuzz.com
http://www.soundclick.com/ Don’t see royalty free music
http://incompetech.com/ Inexpensive but hard to sample
https://secure.gettyimages.com/Music
http://www.photolibrary.com/music.html
http://www.audiomicro.com/
http://www.stockmusic.com/
http://www.freesoundtrackmusic.com/
http://freeplaymusic.com/: Way too costly! $100 and up, $500 for perpetual usage.
http://www.flyinghands.com/
http://www.ibaudio.com/
http://www.sounddogs.com


NOW WHAT?

Open a New Project in Windows Movie Maker (File; New Project) and click Add Videos and Photos. Add one at a time and the program will produce slides. If you want a blank slide to add text only, click the Credits button.

Once you have your pictures, Click Add Caption for each slide and add your text in the text box. You can manipulate this box wherever you want it. You can also change the color of the text. If it’s a light background, choose a dark text. If you have a black or dark background, make the text white.

You’ll now see Video Tools and Text Tools. These have little boxes where you can see the Duration. I try to have the duration of my text shorter than the video. So a video slide might run for 5 seconds, and the text for 4.75. Some slides you’ll want longer, if you have more text or if you have an image like the book cover that you want to linger on screen. Under Text Tools, choose Effects. This gives you options for how you want your text to scroll or appear on the slide.

Under Video Tools, click on Animation. Position your cursor in front of each slide and click on animation. These choices will allow you to add transitions. Keep in mind that the transitions cut some of the time out of the slide before and after. Each time you want to view your slide, put the cursor in front of it and click the Play button.

When you have arranged your pix and matching text to your satisfaction, click on Home and Add Music. Browse for your music file. The program adds it to your slide show. You can adjust the track as needed. Also, hit Fade In at the beginning and Fade Out at the end.

Add credits at the end by clicking Credits. This will be a text only slide. Here’s where you put the sites where you found your images and music. You’ll also want a slide to show your book cover. Either add text there or on a separate slide with your book info.

Remember to save your project often. Hit File, then Save Project. Don’t hit the button on the right that says Save Movie or it’ll be finalized.

When you are totally done, click Save Movie and choose To Your Computer. It’s then ready to upload to YouTube and elsewhere. For YouTube, save it in HD mode. You can save it in several different sizes, too. For example, if you want to upload a video to LinkedIn, you need it in a very small size.

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Watch my Videos:
Warrior Prince: http://youtu.be/aVm2FIumw0o
Shear Murder: http://youtu.be/ePpShWy3Wbw


*Note: This post originally appeared on Nancy's Notes from Florida


FOLLOW ME ONLINE:
Website: http://nancyjcohen.com
Blog: http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nancyjcohen
Facebook: http://bit.ly/c3YchC

FOREVER FREED Release Day & Giveaway & Reviews!

It's release day for my debut paranormal romance, FOREVER FREED! I'm so excited because this was the first novel I wrote and the first I sold, and it's so scary and thrilling to have it out there in the world!

And quite a release day it is!

1. I'm doing a giveaway over at My Eclectic Books, and my appearance is part of their month-long Author Extravaganza!
2. Forever Freed has already received four excellent reviews!
3. For the third day in a row, the Kindle ebook of Forever Freed has held a place on the Paid Kindle > Books > Gothic list! It's #80 right now, but has been as high as #49!
4. As per the picture above, my box of books arrived in the mail today so I actually got to HOLD my book (and smell!) on release day! *grins* Truly thrilling!

To buy Forever Freed, with a discount no less!, just go here:

The Wild Rose Press: Available from TWRP in PRINT or EBOOK! + get 25% off through 5/31 on all formats/titles! Use code 18b632d0b0 (those are zeroes)!

BLURB:

A heart can break, even one that no longer beats.

I stalk my new neighbors, a single mother and her child, drawn by the irresistible scent of their joy and love. I crave their blood, starved for some healing respite from my ancient grief. Now to lure them into my grasp.

But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear or reservation—talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendship, and calling to the forgotten man within me. They lure me instead.

Ah, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can…

Thanks for reading!
Laura Kaye

Hearts in Darkness, by Laura Kaye - Release, Reviews & Giveaway

I'm so excited to announce the release of HEARTS IN DARKNESS, my debut contemporary romance. Just as exciting, HEARTS has already garnered two great reviews:

• 4/5 stars from Ashlie at Bookish Novelties
• 5/5 hearts from Marissa at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

So, in celebration of all this good news, I'm offering a giveaway of a totally cute Hearts-inspired heart-wing charm on a silver bracelet! 

To enter, simply email your purchase receipt to laurakayepromotions@gmail.com.  When I receive 50 receipts, I will draw one lucky winner to win one of a handful of HEARTS IN DARKNESS - inspired charm bracelets!  I'll do this for the first 250 receipts I receive (in increments of 50, 100, 100 receipts; 1 entry per person), giving away a total of three bracelets!

HEARTS BLURB:

Makenna James thinks her day can’t get any worse, until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out.

Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he’s terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he’s trapped in his own worst nightmare.

To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

 HEARTS BOOK TRAILER:

So, don't forget!  Buy, then enter to win!

So proud to be a Rose! And let me offer a special big thank you shout-out to my editor, Eilidh Mackenzie!

Laura Kaye

Find Laura on the interwebz:

• Website: http://www.LauraKayeAuthor.com
• Blog: http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/laurakayeauthor
• Twitter: @laurakayeauthor
• TWRP Website: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=800
• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3703867

Anna Kathryn Lanier - Books' Trailer

Smooth Lies Trailer

Wow, I can't believe that I have three stories out with The Wild Rose Press. Coiled Revenge, a thrilling suspense, Smooth Lies, a suspense with a military bent and Princess Slave by Sara York, my alter ego, offered in the Wilder Rose Catalog.

Watch my trailer for Smooth Lies and tell me what you think.



Have a lovely day. I'll be signing Coiled Revenge in San Francisco on July 30th at the San Francisco Marriott at 5:30. Hope to see you there.

Book Release!

My latest release, The Genie’s Curse, is out today. Simply Romance Reviews gave it a B+ and said, “The Genie’s Curse by Bronwyn Storm is a light romance and comedy all rolled into one…Check out The Genie’s Curse for a fun, sweet romance about people who are just meant to be.”

Click here to buy!

Trailer for HIDDEN SHADOWS

Hello Roses!!

Just wanted you all to see the trailer for my upcoming novel, Hidden Shadows, due in 23 DAYS from the Crimson line!! I'm so excited for it and hope you all enjoy the promo. Feel free to let me know what you think here or on my website.

Lauren's Latest Book News

Good luck with all your projects!

New Trailer for Joshua's Hope

Hey all!

Thought I'd drop in and ask you to check out my new book trailer for Joshua's Hope (soon to be released).

I took all the pictures except for two I purchased from iStock Photos. The voiceover is my voice.

I'd love to read your comments. Check it out at by clicking here to visit my website!

Carol Ann Erhardt
"A spark of romance, a shadow of suspense,
and a mustard seed of faith."
My Blog

Don't Fence Me In -- The Book Trailer!

What an amazing surprise I found in my email inbox this morning! My good friend, and fellow author, Allie Boniface, made an incredible book trailer for my latest Wild Rose Release, "Don't Fence Me In". Allie, you made me cry... Thanks!



And for those of you who don't know, Allie does this for other folks, too. Just ask her about it!