Promote your novel with video

A few months ago, I clicked on the "Send" button and propelled my first novel, The Tourist Killer, out into cyber space and to my publisher, Venture Galleries.

While awaiting a response (we're currently in edits and re-writes now), I began plans for promoting my work. My publisher had cautioned me back in March about beginning promotions before we had a product to sell. While awaiting the first one hundred pages with red ink all over them to return via UPS, I contacted several friends and associates and let them know I was working on a book.

In the summer of 2011, I had run into a video producer at Folkmoot, USA in Waynesville, NC.
 Art Hoffman and I struck up a friendship via e-mails and phone calls and planned to met in person at the 2012 Folkmoot. The rapport was instant and we were both surprised at the numerous interests we have in common.

My previous experience reviewing books and numerous interactions with publicists from independents and vanity publishers to the big houses like Simon and Schuster had made me familiar with video book trailers. Some of my friends have complimented me as being a "natural born salesman" so using a video clip to promote my book will come as no surprise.

Collaboration with Art resulted in three planned videos to support my novel and he surprised me with an unplanned, unofficial trailer, as a gift. It may turn out to be an effective sales tool.

According to writer, Rye Barcott, book trailers are now essential in selling books. Even though I haven't sold the first book, I tend to agree. My plans are to spread all four videos around the social media beginning a few weeks before the book hits the streets and on into the months following release.

The four clips include:
1. The video producer interviews me
2. Selected readings from the book
3. Visiting the sites, scenes, locations in the book
4. Bonus video in movie trailer format.

We planned to keep the trailer close to three minutes and were successful. However, the interview ran close to five minutes.  We shot it while setting up and arranging the scene for the shoot.

The interview is above and the others will be discussed further in future blogs.

Thanks again to The Blue Ridge Book Store in Waynesville, NC for the use of their reading room.

Watch for The Tourist Killer in late October or early November 2012 from Venture Galleries.