I know this is perhaps a TAD bit backwards, but one of my readers from Twitter recommended that I do a book trailer. Originally I didn't do one because I wasn't convinced they sold books. But I polled my readers on Twitter and they almost unanimously told me I should do one. And, being a slave to my fans as I am, I complied.
I must say that the project was quite a bit of fun, though challenging. Luckily, I have Photoshop Premier Edition so the tools were available to me. However, I found myself wishing I had purchased the additional RAM on my computer before long. Nevertheless, after hours of agonizing over clips and music, I have produced a book trailer.
Now, before you watch it, I'd like to go back to my earlier comment. It was almost unanimous. One person didn't want a book trailer because she didn't like to have her image of a character spoiled. So I promised I wouldn't show a picture of Blue in the trailer. And I have not. I do show a picture of another girl who is just an anonymous person.
However, when I released the trailer on Facebook, I did get some interesting comments on my voice. Some people love it. Some people said the video gave them the chills (which "Yay!" is exactly what I was going for). A few didn't like my voice narrating it at all. They said it sounded too old for Blue. I suspect that those who had already read the book had Blue's voice in their head and my voice didn't match that. I am not 22, I am 43.
So, if you have read the book, watch at your own risk. If you enjoy it, please pass it along.
I am rather proud of it. I really hope you like it too.
Trailer: http://youtu.be/_It7AxGUihs
Now, enough with re-edits and new book covers and trailers . . . Book 2 is full steam ahead.
Lilo
Friends, I am so excited to reveal the updated cover. The previous cover is beautiful and I consider it fine photographic art. But I felt it needed a splash of color to stand out on the Amazon page and a bit of a fantasy feel. I also felt it was missing a crucial element, namely the wolf Varg.
Varg, with absolutely zero script, is the most loved side character of all. I had no idea he would create such magic and even held doubts about having him in the book. I felt it was a bit of personal self-indulgence because I would love a huge wolf with mysterious magic powers as a guardian! But my readers seem to want him too. So much so, they have not only offered him a home in their abodes, but they have actually created a hashtag demanding I create Varg T-shirts. I shit you not. (Who came up with the saying anyway? And why? Err . . . Let's not digress.) The hashtag is #VargTshirt should you feel the urge to use it.
Without further ado, here it is!
Isn't it lovely?
As much as I love the cover, there is something else I'm possibly even more excited about. Only a true bookworm would understand this adoration. Along with the new book cover, I also reformatted the interior file. The title and chapter headings are in the same Gothic Celtic fonts you see on the book cover, and each chapter has a dropped initial cap block! What is that you ask? Let me show you!
How can you not appreciate those initial cap blocks?!!! I had an insane desire to color them deep blue or red, but I restrained myself. (Barely!) That will have to wait until I'm traditionally published and, well, famous, and able to produce an "Anniversary Edition" of some sort. Besides it would have added to the cost and I didn't want to do that.
Is that it? Nope! This update also includes a round of tightening. The book went from 136K to 130K. The changes were made to reduce some repetition and unnecessary adverbs. No major parts were removed. Finally, it was proofed by an English professor so I expect it to be in tip top shape.
With all of these excellent updates, you might be wondering how it has impacted price. Well, the Kindle price stayed the same and the print price actually went down by 3 dollars. This is because I lost 6K and my new fonts take up less page width. As a result, my page count went from 470 to 370 so the print costs were reduced. Win, win!
I have one more piece of exciting news. I know, it is so exciting already you probably can hardly handle it. (Smile!) But, with my new cover on the book, this happened!
And that is the last of the happy news.
It is my greatest desire to produce a product that is high quality and enjoyable across many levels. I do hope you love the new changes as much as I do.
The Kindle version is out now! The revised print version may not be available for a day or two yet as Amazon is still processing it. But it has been approved so it is just a matter of time.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eL48yy
Lilo
Update! The print version is now live on Amazon.
