Who Here Likes Book Trailers?

BASE SPIRITS.... the Trailer! (And another is on the way... )

So... my friends at Authors Anonymous made a trailer for 'Base Spirits' not too long ago. Authors Anon has a splendid website that is a joy to visit. They are passionate about showcasing quality Indie authors, and their site is chock full of interesting discoveries and spotlights on some wonderful writers, as well as helpful links. Have a look: http://authorsanon.wordpress.com/ Who knows? Maybe you could be a 'spotlight' author yourself one day. If you think you might be a good fit and you like what you see, why not get in touch? They're very welcoming.

I've had an offer from my cover designer, Neil Jackson, to make another trailer for me. I'll be sure to post it here once it's finished.

As an author, it's very interesting to watch a trailer about your own book. In the case of the one posted above, there are images from the actual real-life location of the story along with the teasers. I think the atmosphere is creepy. Hopefully, it does its job to make the novel sound intriguing enough for a reader to go grab a copy.

(Insert clumsy segue to book links here... )

For Base Spirits e-books: http://www.amazon.com/Base-Spirits-ebook/dp/B005L38G8E
(In the UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Base-Spirits-ebook/dp/B005L38G8E
Available in paperback for all: http://www.amazon.com/Base-Spirits-Ruth-Barrett/dp/1453643001

Back to the trailer question... I was watching a podcast about marketing, and the rather obvious point was made that a trailer for a book works exactly like a movie trailer. It is meant to create buzz and arouse your interest... make you want to rush out and get that amazing novel. Likely the most effective timing for a trailer to hit the Web is before the actual launch date... but as those of you who have been following this blog must know by now, my adventures in the Wild West of Indie publishing have been very much a 'learn-as-you-go' process.

How do you use a trailer to your advantage? Who among you has a book trailer, and how have you found it as a marketing tool? Where have you posted it?

I stumbled across Galleycat last week... and I admit I haven't had time to take a good look at it yet... but it might yield some answers. http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/reddit-adds-site-for-literary-videos_b48661 They also seem to offer a lot of good writers' resources in general, so do go poke around and see what you can find.

What do you think? Are book trailers useful at attracting readers? They are fun for the author-- somehow it makes the book seem more 'real', in a way. But are they fun for anyone else?

Tell me what you think.

Creepy Book Trailer for Base Spirits!!

The very kind folks over at Authors Anon (http://authorsanon.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/about-authorsanon/) posted a brand new book trailer for Base Spirits today!

Click here and prepare to be creeped out: http://www.twitvid.com/UOSFA#

Enter if you dare...

Oooh! Scary, kids! Much, much more frightening than Dr. Tongue's Evil House of Pancakes! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m2gl51J6lo Ar-OOOOOO!

Like what you saw? Then come check out the real deal at Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Base-Spirits-ebook/dp/B005L38G8E

Or if you'd like an even more real paperback: https://www.createspace.com/3462705 or by mail order from my local Stratford indie bookshops, Fanfare Books (fanfare@cyg.net ) or Callan Books (jcallan@orc.ca) If you order through my locals, I can sign & personalize the books before they are shipped.

Seriously-- Authors Anon did a wonderful job, and I am so pleased and chuffed to little mintballs. I'd given them some images of the original artwork from the time of A Yorkshire Tragedy and the real-life location of Calverley Old Hall in Yorkshire... and lo and behold. I am grateful for their hard work. Go check out their website (link above). Authors Anon is a tireless, talented advocate for new indie writers. Their beautiful site is full of great discoveries, new writers and their books, and a list of very useful links for all.

I'm off to get some pancakes. I have a craving for some weird reason.

Big Hearts in February

I had a lovely incident of kindness shown on my blog earlier this week from TJ Reed. He's someone I don't know in real life, but he'd happened upon Spirited Words and liked what he read... so much so that he awarded me with a Liebster Blog Award! The rules are thus: if a reader finds a blog with less than 200 followers but feels the blog deserves more attention, they can award it with a Liebster.

I found the story of the Liebster's origins here on author Crystalla Thoma's 'Rexrising' blog which also clearly outlines the details of the rules: http://chrystallathoma.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/liebster-blog-award-and-other-news/

First off, I'd like to thank TJ Reed for his kind nomination. His blog They Won't Get Us is found here: http://theywontgetus.blogspot.com/

If you're reading this now, why not go check out their stuff and join in the fun?

As for naming 5 blogs I think deserve more love, here are a few of the many I'd like to see gain more of a following:

http://dantesheart.blogspot.com/ Stant Litore is a zombie author with a heart of gold and is capable of prose that will knock your socks off.

http://gevsweeney.blogspot.com/ For lovers of historical fiction, Gev Sweeney is well worth a visit. She is someone to watch.

http://authorsanon.wordpress.com/ A showcase of some very exciting new indie authors championed by the tireless Anon!

http://peculiarwriter.blogspot.com/ Horror writer Billie Sue Mosiman has lots of great books and not nearly enough followers!

http://theebookwriter.blogspot.com/ And lastly JT Warren-- another horror guy with heart and aspirations to help fellow indies.

All in all, it seems a lovely way to pass on the love in this month of hearts and flowers! Have you some folks in mind who deserve a Liebster, too?