The Maiden Seer by Tracy Ann Miller - Book Trailer, enhanced

Buy The Maiden Seer

Buy Loveweaver

After I made the book trailer for The Maiden Seer, I went on to make one for Loveweaver, which I felt was more well developed.  Since I had a few weeks left on my paid month of Animoto, I decided to create another book trailer for The Maiden Seer.

Using the same format of still slides, I added addition images to further tell the basics of the story. The main thing I wanted to ramp up was the music. After a good deal of searching through websites that ask hundreds of dollars to license a song, I found Melodyloops. $12?! There I also found the perfect score by Jon Wright for my book trailer.

I fully own the fact that the music is dramatic, but the build was what I was after. And because the beats are per second, it made it easier to sync the music to my slides.

I begin and end with my book cover, keep to one font (except for my book title), and don't make you read too much. It's a minute and a half, which is on the long side, but that was to utilize the score.

See for yourself:

  

Below the Beltway by Taylor Marsh - Book Trailer

I make no comments or opinions about the book since I have not read it. What I write is about the trailer only.

The video for Taylor Marsh's Below the Beltway is a tidy, near perfect book trailer. Although I don't care for the typeface chosen here, and the font size should have been more consistent, the trailer is put together simply and effectively: The book cover appears at the beginning and end, and the captions introduce the characters, the setting, and the conflict/story question.

The images show us time and place, and the musical score has a seductive vibe. All in about one minute.

Nicely done.

The Graham Saga by Anna Belfrage - Book Trailer

I make no comments or opinions about the book since I have not read it. What I write is about the trailer only.

Live action rather than image-based book trailers can certainly work and be effective. This trailer for The Graham Sage by Anna Belfrage is an example where it does work.

The footage of the couple is without dialogue (always wise) and is just out-of-focus enough for us to fill in our own ideas of who these people are. The scenery is evocative and the score is fraught with tension.

The simple captions tell the story well - if maybe including some spoilers - and make us care about what happens to these two.

That's the whole idea of a book trailer, to spark enough of an interest to make us want to read the book(s).

Naupaka Blooming by J. L. Eck - Book Trailer

I make no comments or opinions about the book since I have not read it. What I write is about the trailer only.

Listen to me. All of you. Stop with the male baritone voice over. The book trailer for Naupaka Blooming was made silly with it.

Otherwise, I know right away what this book is about. I understand the setting and I know "the story question." The slides are fine and the duration is sufficient to get the information across.  Good job showing the book cover at the end of the trailer.

But the "IN A WORLD ..." voice over from movie trailers, which became running joke, has also rendered this book trailer into a near-parody.

I can envision a Hawaiian girl's voice as a first-person narrator, giving the trailer a more direct connection to the book. "We weren't supposed to fall in love. But we did ..."

   

Sedahlia by Cynthia D. Toliver - Book Trailer

I make no comments or opinions about the book since I have not read it. What I write is about the trailer only.

What a soft, sweet book trailer this is for Sedahlia, by Cynthia D. Toliver.

The theme, color palette, and typeface are all consistent throughout, the piano score fits, and the duration is just right.

I would have added a clear image of the book cover, however, to make a potential customer's search more successful.

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - Book Trailer

I make no comments or opinions about the book since I have not read it. What I write is about the trailer only.

While I look for book trailers that were posted within the last few months, I came across this one from a few years ago and was intrigued.

It's a brilliant little animated art film done by filmmaker Milena Aijala.

It's very watchable even if I don't find out what the book is about.  The score gives an appropriately suspenseful vibe.

This book trailer for The Republic of Thieves is so good on its own, it makes me think the book must be pretty good, too.

I even looked it up on Amazon. Looks like Mr. Lynch has got a substantial following of readers.

The Ego Sentry: Guardian In The Shadows by De Jarous Bell - Book Trailer

I make no comments or opinions about the book since I have not read it. What I write is about the trailer only.

Books are about reading. But with videos, not so much.

So, if you're going to make me read a long scroll of text, you'd better be sure it's a clean, easy-to-read typeface, and not in all bold caps.  That will just enrage me and compel me to write a snarky review about your book trailer.

Kudos for keeping it at 40 seconds, and I see there's a follow up video, which I won't watch.

The image of your book cover at the end is quite stunning. There. I ended on an up note.

Cruel Awakening by Zena Xenae - Book Trailer

I make no comments or opinions about this book since I have not read it. What I write is about the trailer only.

In under 25 seconds this trailer tells us ... um ... not much.

I was able to quickly read a few words when the book opened in the video, so was able to see that it's about abuse.

It's a good-looking trailer, but lacks in creating any real interest.

THE WIDOW by Fiona Barton - Book Trailer

I make no comments or opinions about this book since I have not read it. What I write is about the trailer only.

Here is a sure-fire formula for an effective book trailer:

Start with a three-sentence premise. Also known as "the elevator pitch."

Then, use any great quotes from good reviews in a clean typeface. If you're lucky, the words of the reviewer can describe what your book is about so much better than piecing together a bunch of images or video clips you've purchased from a site like Shutterstock.

Use one background image that sets the tone for your trailer and matches your carefully selected musical score.

Be sure to show your book cover at the end.

Make your video under one minute long.

And there you have it, the book trailer to The Widow by Fiona Barton.

Avelynn: The Edge of Faith Book Trailer

This is the trailer that started my interest in book trailers. Avelynn: The Edge of Faith by Marissa Campbell

I have not read this book, but may in the near future.

It makes a slow start since we first see images related to the author. Once the book-related portion begins, the imagery, captions and music are all quite effective and dramatic.

There seem to be several different covers, including one that includes the author, herself? These may indicate various books in a series? It's not clear to me.

These multiple cover images dilute the potency of the video overall for me, but it does its job.

Into the Current Book Trailer Sets the Bar

I have not read this book, and have no plans to.  

Simple: A book trailer should make you want to read the book. The trailer needs to create tension, curiosity, suspense, and ask "the story question."  The music has to be appropriate and enhance the visuals.

Into the Current has a book trailer billed as "The best book trailer of all time."

Maybe it is. As a brilliant minute and a half film, it satisfies all the requirements I listed above.

Did it translate into book sales? Not so far.