murder.booklocker.com

One of the folks over at the Chicago Writers Association has just posted a book trailer. Most of us followed the link to check it out. Smooth!

So it got me thinking. How does one produce a book trailer and does my book need one? According to Dorothy Thompson, (editor of The Writers Life) in an article entitled “How to Pump Up Your Book Promotion With Do it Yourself Book Trailers,” it’s easy. What she doesn’t discuss is how pathetic some of the trailers look.

The debate over whether an author can benefit or not is highlighted by an exchange at HelenKay Dimon’s site. She said: “Here’s what happened: I got the email, liked the title, clicked on the link, watched the trailer and then went searching out this author and the the publisher just because I got nosy… . While it’s true I won’t be buying this book, more than likely it would not have hit on my radar screen at all without seeing the trailer.”

Several readers responded to her post — not all were complimentary nor enthusiastic. However, it is worth noting that the author of the book (and trailer) also responded:

“My very inexpensively produced book trailer has done wonders in the few weeks it’s been out. In addition to going out in the Authors After Dark mailing, it’s been posted to my author website, YouTube, numerous discussion forums, and MySpace ~ all for free. Viewed now in the thousands with very little effort beyond the production. As a result, my Amazon sales figures have seen decent spikes. Do book trailers work? Mine got you fine folks talking!”

Which means, that you’ll probably be seeing one from me soon!

Since seeing my first novel in print, it has been hard not to think about what goes into making a book worth publishing? It seems incredibly backwards to me. Writers write. What they write shouldn’t be influenced by what everyone else is writing or what someone thinks that they should be writing. That said, I found myself doing some research to discover whether my new plot idea was actually new. After all, maybe everyone else was already doing it and I just wasn’t aware of it.

So I typed in some search words at Google. The third link on the list took me to a writer who appeared to be doing what I wanted to do. [I'm somewhat relieved to find out that that's not true!] Anyway, after reading some of his blog entries and visiting his website, I sent an email off to him.

Within two hours his wife kindly responded. She said that no, she wasn’t aware of anyone doing what I proposed in a MYSTERY novel but that the subject matter was currently VERY hot. Then she said:

“What you are doing is risky because many publishers probably have something in production that is similar.  You really should be getting the advice of your agent.”

Well, number one, I don’t have an agent. Can’t imagine having one and for sure can’t imagine letting one tell what to write or not.

Secondly, her use of the word risky got me thinking. I suppose that if next months’ food supply depends on my coming up with a story to sell that I would be plenty worried about the “risk.” After all, who would buy my story if they had six others just like it? What would make mine rise to the top of the pile? She did go on to say:

“If you want my advice, the best things to do is really concentrate on making the voice uniquely interesting and that is something that sets yourself apart no matter the subject matter.”

But back to the idea of risky writing. I suppose that to ignore the risk is to face the possibility that you’ll wind up with lots of unsold manuscripts. Unfortunately I can’t imagine doing anything else.

There was quite a discussion in the Chicago Writers Association forum just before Christmas about what role the audience ought to play in the creative process. I’d like to report on a variation of that this morning.

I’m deep into the revision process of my second novel. I’ve been working on a chapter here, a chapter there, going back to the top, then to the bottom, trying to even things out, making sure that all the clues are in place

Saturday, I was finally in a position to share some of what I had been doing. I printed off the first twenty chapters and gave it to my partner to read. When she stopped after supper Saturday night to watch our favorite PBS shows, she told me that she thought the new book was even better than the first. I can tell you that it was hard getting to sleep that night! “Better,” she had said — praise enough to turn any author’s head! [That rhymed. Sorry about that.]

Yesterday (Sunday) she finished reading the pages I had given her. Other than a few minor problems, she thought I’d done a good job. Yes, I know you’re thinking that that’s what partners do. They buck you up. Well, I agree. But what I wanted to point out was the tremendous sense of satisfaction that comes from being able to hand over the manuscript — to an audience, if you will.

That IS, after all, one of the reasons we writers write. Anyway, it felt good and I felt good. I could say, “Here. Look what I did.”

Writing is a pretty lonely business. It’s nice to connect.

Save the 24th of February for a trip to Beverly, Illinois. The Chicago Writers Association is providing the authors for “Authors Read” that day. The address is 2121 W. 95th Street, Chicago, 60643. We’ll be there from 1 p.m. –
4:45 p.m. and the readings will be from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. with authors reading in 15 minute time slots.

Hope to finally meet the people that I’ve been emailing and listening to in the forum. It’s curious that I was locked in to the event just today. I say curious because today is the first day that I’ve done a reading from my book. It was tough to pick a selection. I ran the first one that I had chose past Randy Richardson, who very kindly pointed out that dialogue was, perhaps, not the best choice. So, being a novice at this, I took his advice and I picked out three other short selections. Wonder what I’ll read for the Beverly folks?

Just back from a fun time of sharing with about fifteen people at the Frisbie Senior Center in Des Plaines. Wish I had had time for a tour of their new facility, but thought the fireplace in the library was super. Especially today when we’re playing with single digit temperatures.

Nearly everyone purchased a book — mainly because they readily recognized the infamous cardplayers. I told you before — every center has them. I even made a point of saying it in the first chapter which functions as a prologue:

“Within every senior center in the country, from Seattle to Miami, from Charleston to Santa Fe, tucked away in some corner of the building, whether rented, leased or owned, you will find senior citizens playing cards. Whether crowded into church basements or luxuriating in the card room aboard cruise ships, they will spend hour after hour playing bridge or hearts or rummy or euchre. But wherever they play, you will find at least one table distinct in its wealth of bright, multi-colored face cards because the game of choice is pinochle.”

We spent a lot of time talking about the banana murder. Wonder why?!

There was also a bit of concern about whether people might take my book as a how-to proposition. Ah me.

I’m happy to report another review is just in. This one is from Debra Gaynor, who reviews for Reader Views. She has this to say about what she calls the “game of murder”:

“I eagerly turned pages to see what the seniors would come up with next. This is an excellent read. I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.”

I had never given much thought to what compromised a hero’s journey. But I found an interesting website from the Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation called The Hero’s Journey. It appears to have been done by three 7th graders as some sort of a project. It references both Joseph Campbell and Christopher Vogler and includes Vogler’s 12 stages of the journey. The list is pretty interesting by itself!

The boys looked at cartoons (and more) using a worksheet to help identify Vogler’s different stages. They’ve even included a copy of the worksheet. I’m thinking it might be fun as well as educational to watch a film with the worksheet nearby.

Are you wondering why I care? I’ve been working on a story, which with a little shifting and emphasis, could fit the pattern. I see now how much more interesting it could be. So thanks to whoever did the work and for posting it for me to find.

MORE:

“PACK YOUR BAGS FOR… the hero’s journey
An environment to explore the classic mythical story structure and to create your own stories.” Found that under a suitcase. Well, underneath the image of a suitcase on a website where you can write your own hero’s journey into their database. It began as an experimental project in 1998. Since then, over 9000 people have written their tales!

The Hero’s Journey is a project of the Maricopa Center for Learning & Instruction (MCLI) and the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute. Who knew there was such a thing as a Storytelling Institute? Also check out the poster presentation of the project.

Wow! Turning out to be a great day. Earlier I found out that the “Reviewer’s Bookwatch” had published a review of my book. Then I got a phone call from the Maine Township MaineStreamers Senior Club with a invitation to address their Women’s Tea on September 27th, 2007. Since they’re booking so far ahead, you won’t find any more information about my visit until later. But for those in the area who would like to know more about MaineStreamers, check this.

If you’re interested in finding out for yourself what a township really is, there’s a great video on Maine Township’s website: your dial-up (3.3MB) or broadband (20.9MB) connection.

I’ve just learned that “The Reviewer’s Bookwatch” has picked up Kaye Trout’s review of PARK RIDGE for Volume 7, Number 1, January 2007. Hurray!

According to Midwest Book Review, ” ‘The Reviewer’s Bookwatch’ is an online forum for volunteer reviewers that makes their book reviews available to librarians, book dealers, and the general reading public.”

One of the things which makes Midwest Book Review so special is that

“The Gale Research Company of Farmington Hills, Mich., has contracted with the Midwest Book Review to provide electronic copies of all of book reviews we publish in our library newsletters, on the Internet, and develop for our weekly television programs. In addition to making our reviews available to library systems nationwide in their print, magnetic tape, and diskette series, the Gale Research Company uses these reviews in their Book Review Index interactive CD-ROM series, designed for use by community, university, and corporate libraries nationwide in the U.S. and Canada.”

Ah, celebrate, celebrate!