No Kiss Blogfest – A scene from my WIP
Monday, January 2, 2012 • 0 Comments
So, I had this idea a while ago for a story. And I really didn’t know I could do it, in fact I rebelled against it. But by the time I knew it, it was haunting me. (I’m a photographer, after all.) A month later and 13K+ words this idea isn’t letting me go.
So when my author buddy Frankie Diane Mills told me about her 3rd annual No Kiss Blogfest, I thought, “hey, why not?”
So, I am going to share with you an almost smoochie scene. Be gentle with me, readers.
The branches parted for her, leading her way through the thick walls of forestry. The woods held her hand and guided her in, and through and to him The wind carried her. The beaten paths un-curved and roots retreated back into the ground easing her way. Sia found herself by the bend in the river. The water licking her way up the shore and up Alden’s legs that were dipped into the edges of the water.
The sun was retreating behind the hills –wrapping itself in its own personal blanket. Reading the land for sleep as well as it darkened. Alden would have only a few more moments left to draw and she hated to interrupt him. He looked so beautiful with a sketchpad in hand, his teeth biting his lower lip in concentration.
She knew he wouldn’t hear her, even without her invisibility. He wouldn’t hear her feet shuffle on the ground. He wouldn’t hear her heavy breathing from the hike over the hills to the river. He was too far gone into his masterpiece to notice.
She walked behind him and took off the spell. She leaned over him and whispered, knowing this he would hear.
“Draw me.” She whispered, her breath hot on his ear. He hadn’t heard her approach so he stiffened but didn’t move to turn. He just tilted his head back to look at her bending over him.
So close that he could have touched her.
So close that he could have felt her breath on his face.
So close that they could have kissed.
But instead Sia heard his pencil move as it scratched its way up and down the paper. The pencil moved circles and lines across the page. But his eyes strayed from her. They just raked over her face, memorizing her features. Sia didn’t dare move her body from the close proximity to his. She just placed her hand on his shoulder to brace herself and closed her eyes. She could almost feel his eyes on her. This close she could feel his body’s pull to hers.
He licked his lips, “Don’t move,” was all he said as the sun fell and the night cloaked them further into darkness. Unable to touch her –yet –only being able to draw her on his page. A page he could touch.
Sia resisted the urge to touch him. Though it would futile. She wouldn’t feel him for a few more days. She wanted to put her hands in his hair. To pull him into her. To have his mouth hot on hers.
It was such a painful ache that she tried to quench it –ignore it, hide it –as Alden drew in the dark, his eyes never leaving her. Eyes that sought out her secrets. Her thoughts. Her whole being. He wanted to find her.
But Sia wasn’t ready for that. “Alden, we must stop. It’s too dark for you to even see the page.”
“Nonesense.” He wouldn’t be deterred so easily.
So Sia flopped in his lap, encircling his neck in her arms. Finally getting close to him.
“You are such a distraction,” he laughed.
“A good distraction, I hope.”
“Definitely good.” He nuzzled her neck. Wishing he could feel her. They had this gravitational pull two bodies had when skin was next to skin but the feeling of the touch was lost. A fathom of a caress.
Sia hummed in his ear. Content to just be there with him. In his arms.
“Alden…” He looked up at her with eyes that shined for her. Even in the dark.
She kissed him.
But like the empty way one falls in a dream so was her kiss. Seen. Heard. But not felt.
Only emptiness.
Unfeeling.
I made a book cover for a FABULOUS book… That Kirkus thinks you should buy.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 • 1 Comment
So a local author and friend, Shelli Wells, approached me a few months ago about working with her to get her fabulous book a book cover.
It’s a thrilling book, what Kirkus recently called “A riveting tale of family ties, friendship and community loyalty,” with a strong, female heroine that many readers are already falling in love with.
And what bestselling author, Kimberly Derting, author of THE BODY FINDER and THE PLEDGE, calls “Grace is a spunky, independent, nature girl who doesn’t need a boy to save her. With wilderness survival, a juicy love triangle, and more twists and turns than a roller coaster, this fast-paced novel had me holding my breath until the very last page—and still begging for more!”
I am thrilled to share with you the cover for Shelli’s UNTRACEABLE…
So follow Kirkus’ recommendation and get yourself a copy this week, Nov 28th! (ISN’T THAT EXCITING??)
The makings of a book cover…
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 • 0 Comments
I have been doing photography ever since I can remember. And have been shooting professionally since High School.
A few years back I fell into book trailers (quite literally actually, but that’s a story for another time). And while I have loved and adored every minute of the book trailer production process I have always held a special place for photography in my heart. After all, when I first did trailers they were solely made up of photographs. Eventually I evolved into doing more live action filming, but still managed to always do stills and some sort of photography.
But I am so excited to share with you this week a cover (and some non-covers) that I shot and designed based on SR Johannes’ upcoming ebook, UNTRACEABLE. Check into Novel Novice’s blog all this week to see what covers we DID NOT choose and on Friday, what we DID pick to grace the cover of UNTRACEABLE.
Shelli’s sneak peek behind the scenes of a cover shoot
Add UNTRACEABLE to your Goodreads
Book Trailer Campaigns – My thoughts & how you can have one
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 • 3 Comments
To those who are not familiar with book trailer campaigns or really what they are here’s a quick rundown:
*Book trailer campaigns are a methodical way of not just bringing awareness to the book via a book trailer and content but…
*A way of teasing the book trailer that is teasing the book.
*Could include book teasers, teaser videos, author videos, photos, behind the scenes, etc.
*A good way to get people interested, excited and eventually talking.
Bottom line is by creating a plan and great content around it you’ll engage your fan base, gain a larger fan base, and by doing that you’ll get people interested in your book more so then if you had JUST a book or JUST an author video or JUST a book trailer, alone.
For example. recently I came across Hodder Stoughton’s really cool “campaign” (At least I think it’s a campaign) for Laini Taylor’s DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. I had seen bloggers get some cool packages leading up to an ARC mailing and then these cool trailers:
Team that up with a great and involved FB page and Twitter account and you get people excited and a place for them to talk.
Granted, these campaigns have a team from the publisher working to come up with a plan and implement it. Marketing isn’t an easy job and those who’ve I’ve worked with are my rock stars. They work tirelessly and around the clock not just one ONE book but many books and many imprints and to be honest they deserve a round of applause. Like, every day.
But they also can’t do it all. There’s so many books and so many opportunities and sometimes it’s just not possible for every book to get a book trailer much less a campaign. I’ve been lucky enough to work on and have fun with a few books and their “campaigns.” Like last year’s BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS campaign which I work with the authors to design and implement. Also work with S&S and Cassandra Clare on CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS (the link shows some of the videos we did and not the overall plan that originated with the publisher).
Recently I worked with author Kody Keplinger to come up with a campaign for her sophomore novel SHUT OUT. (clicky link to see the rough outline of what we did). We used social media as much as we can (because, how can you not?) via teasers on twitter of pictures from the book trailer shoot or stills from the trailer. Kody made sure to post teasers from the book every day to introduce certain elements and the characters from the book, because really, that’s the most important thing in this whole equation. Over all, we had fun and gave away prints every day, some ARCs and a big giveaway at the end with the reveal of the trailer. Also, my favorite part -secret scenes she posted on her blog and a video of that scene (see the scenes and trailer).
As I mentioned earlier, marketing teams at the publishing houses are awesome and do so much but can’t do it all. So I can be a second pair of hands or even a helping hand (if that isn’t too self-assuming)…
-That means that if you book a trailer with me now through October (authors and publishers are welcome) you’ll get entered to win an EXTENSIVE campaign designed by me in collaboration with you (and your publisher).
-Meaning, we’ll come up with ways to do teasers in a new and cool way, maybe even extra videos… basically totally custom ideas for how to get your book’s trailer and your book to go go further.
-The more people that you tell, the better your chances are of getting one, because there’s a chance I can add a second winner.
-Those who book a trailer, automatically get bumped up from basic package to the GOLD one where you’ll get more use of my network to promote the book. (Pricing and Packages available upon request)
So, if you have questions, email me. If you want to know more, email me. If you want to book a trailer, email me. (email: vlcphotoproductions[at]gmail.com)
Keep in mind that your book DOES NOT have to come out anytime soon, not even this year. I will take books up until May. I am felxible and I want to work with you to make this as easy as possible for you. Just ask Kody! 
Everyone else, comment below and let me know what you think, have you seen any successful book campaigns?
Come Join the SHUT OUT Book Trailer Campaign
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 • 2 Comments
So starting this Friday, August 26th Kody and I will be bringing you so much goodness you won’t be able to handle it. We’ll be teasing with pictures and text and video for the next seven days. On September 2nd we’ll debut the sexy and oh-so-fun book trailer on Kristi, The Story Siren’s blog.
So check out our schedule of madness, I mean sexy time goodness and mark it in your calenders. To give you a taste of what we have in store, here’s a photo from the shoot.
Aug. 26th- Days Theme: LISSA
Quotes from Lissa on Kody’s blog + one of the photos.
Other photos of Lissa tweeted using the #ShutOutTrailer hashtag throughout the day.
One signed print given away on twitter.
Aug 27th- Day’s Theme: THE PACT
The oath excerpt on Kody’s blog + stills from the shoot of girls making the pact with the Cosmo
Extra stills tweeted throughout the day using the #ShutOutTrailer hashtag
One signed print given away on twitter.
Aug 28th- Day’s Theme: CHLOE
Quotes from Chloe + photo still of Chloe on Kody’s blog
Extra photos of Chloe tweeted throughout day with #ShutOutTrailer hashtag
One signed print given away on twitter.
Aug 29th- Day’s Theme: RANDY
Quotes from Randy + photo still of Randy on Kody’s blog
Extra stills tweeted throughout day using #ShutOutTrailer hashtag
One signed print given away on twitter.
Aug 30th-Day’s theme: CASH
Quotes from Cash + photo still on Kody’s blog
Extra stills tweeted throughout the day using #ShutOutTrailer hashtag
One signed print given away on twitter.
Aug 31st- Day’s Theme: LIBRARY SCENE
Short excerpt from the novel featuring the “library scene” + the short video scene on Kody’s blog
Clip + link to excerpt tweeted throughout day with #ShutOutTrailer hashtag.
Sept. 1st- Day’s Theme: STAR GAME
Short excerpt from “The Star Game” scene + video clip of the scene on Kody’s blog
Clip + link to excerpt tweeted throughout day with #ShutOutTrailer hashtag
Sept 2nd-PREMIERE
The trailer will premier on The Story Siren’s blog.
Trailer will be tweeted throughout the day with #ShutOutTrailer hashtag and for those who have posted it, reposted it, tweeted, of Facebooked it can have a chance at winning Shut Out Trailer shoot prints.
FINAL GIVEAWAY PRIZE: A SHUT OUT gym bag filled with goodies – including a signed copy of SHUT OUT, other ARCs, soccer and football themed goodies, and prints from the shoot.
Follow Kody’s blog for more details and don’t miss out on this fun.
Book Trailers 101 – Part 1
Sunday, August 14, 2011 • 0 Comments
I will start this off by saying I am no expert in trailers and by no means do I know everything, and I might perhaps be wrong in some stuff but doing trailers now for over two years has afforded me some kind of experience. And knowledge. And since I am constantly online talking to the readers, the viewers, of these trailers, the buyers of the books whose trailers I produce, I think I might know a few things. And I’d like to share them with you.
So what is a book trailer?
Book trailers are a form of video that aims to promote a book, usually it’s for the young adult genre, but not limited to. Think movie trailer but for books (and on smaller budgets). Book trailers are meant to enhance the book. What I mean by that is that, that book trailers shouldn’t be the words from the jacket flap summary. It shouldn’t be just the cover animated. It should tease the book before its release. It should be something that the reader can’t get by looking at the book, googling it, or looking at the cover.
Book trailers are meant to get people excited about a book. Get people talking about the book before it’s release. No different then what movie trailers do for movies.
One thing that I see many readers and fans comment on is that the book trailers aren’t different enough from a jacket flap. Most likely by the time the book’s trailer comes out they’ve seen the cover and read the summary. Plus it takes less time to read 5 sentences then it is to watch a minute or two long video.
I learned over the months of producing book trailers that readers wanted different. I, as a reader, wanted different. Something to tell me even MORE about the book.
Many of the readers are teens, they have allowances, and they are careful about the books they select to use their money on. Book with trailers already are going to get their attention more so then those that don’t.
But what else does it take to get teens to buy the book?
Well, I put up a survey a few weeks ago and asked many what they do and don’t like about book trailers. While I may or may not agree with some of the comments I loved all the input they gave me. So I will start off a series of BOOK TRAILER posts on facts, do’s and don’ts, likes and dislikes. But it’s not just MY opinion… I want to hear from YOU readers, viewers, fans and buyers of these books.
Tell me…
Recent Book Trailers
