Trailer Time: Watch my trailer and read my tips

Today, I'm excited to share with you the trailer I've created for my upcoming release, She Lights Up the Dark (November Snow Book 2), available now for pre-order on Amazon Kindle.  Here she is:

I'd be ever so grateful if you took a moment to watch, like, comment, and share.

I had some trepidation about trying to create this trailer, and I had a few false starts until I hit upon the idea of letting November herself explain her situation.  As you can probably guess, things are looking rather dire in book 2.  I had a great time choosing photos and coming up with the music.  I thought I'd pass on some tips gleaned from what I learned along the way.

1) Always be ready to snap a photo

Smartphones are great for the indie writer.  They allow us to record inspiration wherever we find it.  Most of the photos I use for my marketing come from my snapshots. whenerver I see something beautiful or ugly or interesting that could represent an aspect of my characters and their journeys, I grab it.  This gives me a ready-made pool of material for when it's time to put marketing material, including trailers, together.

2) Find a stock photo source you like

Sometimes your own pictures aren't enough.  Find a source for stock photography that you like and that is easy to use.  I love Canva, because they are inexpensive and a one-stop shop for desiging.  Which brings me to . . .

3) Find design software you like

You need a way to crop and filter and otherwise mess with images.  Picmonkey and Canva are my favorite.  Canva is awesome.  I use it almost every day.  It's free for your own images.  Stock images are only $1.  They save all your previous projects.  Their customer service is amazing.

4) Find audio software you like

If you want to do your own narration or music, you need a way to edit it.  I love Audacity.  It's free, open source, and easy to use.  You do have to download a plugin to export mp3 files, but if I could figure it out, you can, too.

5) Find movie software you like

I use Microsoft Movie Maker, which I know makes me kind of lame, but for the casual, inexperienced user, it's simple and easy to figure out.  And it was already on my computer, so it won.

6) Find a free or cheap source of audio

There are a lot of public domain songs out there.  Just do some digging, and you'll probably find something that works.  You can start with freepd.com.

7) Have fun with it

Making a trailer is a creative endeavor, just like writing is.  If you're not having fun, then pay someone else to do it.  Life's too short.

The Importance of Pre-Orders for the Indie Author

My new book, She Lights Up the Dark (November Snow Book 2) will be released on April 19th and is available for pre-order on Amazon!  If you have any intention of reading the sequel to She Dies at the End, I beg of thee, go ahead and pre-order your copy today.  If any of your friends read it along with you, please take a moment to let them know about pre-ordering Book 2.

Why does this matter?  Becoming visible as an independent writer is exceedingly difficult.  There are just so many books out there.  The wonderful thing about pre-orders is that those sales get posted all at once on the day of release.  This can help the book soar, at least temporarily, to the top of the new release and bestseller lists on Amazon.  And that, in turn, can help new readers to discover and take a chance on a writer they've never heard of, like yours truly.

So, if you enjoyed She Dies at the End, pre-ordering the sequel is one of the best things you can do to help other readers discover the series and to help me continue to be able to write.  Besides, you don't want to be the last to read it and get spoiled by everyone else wanting to discuss all the twists and turns, do you?  I thought not.  ;-)

Alliance Blog Hop: A Peek Inside She Lights Up the Dark

Today I'm participating in a Blog Hop with the Alliance of Self-Published Authors, organized by the inimitable Jolie Mason.  This group is chock full of talent!  I encourage all my readers to check out these fine independent writers.  I'm sharing with you an excerpt from my current work in progress, She Lights Up the Dark (November Snow Book 2), followed by a short synopsis. If you haven't yet read Book 1 of the series, you can download a copy of She Dies at the End today. She Lights Up the Dark will be released on April 19 on Amazon Kindle. It's already available for pre-order.

Excerpt

She saw the bloody tears on her face as she turned to look at herself in the cracked mirror hanging on the bathroom door.  In the fairy light, her eyes were the otherworldly eyes of a demon, swirling galaxies of stars around a blue-hot flame.  They were the same eyes she'd had for thousands of years, life after life after life.  They were not the eyes of a single young girl, frightened and lonely.  They were the eyes of queens and warriors, soothsayers and witches, werewolves and fairies and humans, babes and maids and mothers and crones, their lives piled high, one on top of the other.  

She looked at herself and felt the weight of it all, and she did not buckle beneath it.  She squared her shoulders and wiped the tears away.  She met her own unearthly eyes.

I will prevail.  One way or another, in this life or the next, I will turn all your plans to ruin.

I will lay waste to your towers.  I will scatter your armies.

I will destroy you, Luka.

She smiled.

Synopsis

A frightening vision stalks November, even in her grave . . . and things go severely sideways just as soon as she claws her way out of it.

Continuing the story begun in the well-received paranormal romp She Dies at the End, She Lights Up the Dark finds November Snow struggling to adjust to her new life as a vampire with none of the support she'd expected.  Her nemesis, Luka, has plotted to isolate November and scatter her allies as he executes his plan to bring human society under his control.  Her loneliness leads her to become emotionally entangled with a charming but likely untrustworthy fellow vampire.

When danger flares, November discovers that her psychic gift has expanded in a powerful and perilous fashion.  Coerced into close company with her enemy, she fights to master her power and to uncover the secrets that may help her to save both her friends and the human world from being crushed under Luka’s boot.  November is determined to stop Luka as his plan builds toward an unknown and deadly climax, but she may find that lighting up the dark comes with a high price to pay.

This books contains violence, some sexual content, and occasional profanity.

Happy reading, everyone!

Everyday inspiration: the making of a cover

I want to tell you guys a little bit about how I created the cover for my upcoming release She Lights Up the Dark (November Snow Book 2).

I knew before I started designing that I wanted something involving a bright light in the sky.  I needed it to be reminiscent of the sun, but not close off the possibility of a different source for the light.  I started glancing through stock photos on Canva, my go-to for all design needs.  I just couldn't find the right picture.

Then, a minor miracle occurred.  I was biking with my son to school early one morning, and the sun was rising through the fog.  It was bright, but partially obscured.  I whipped out my phone and took this picture:

From that starting point, I began playing with filters, cropping, rotating, brightness, transparency, etc.  Eventually, I wound up with this:

But it wasn't quite right.  It needed something more.  It needed a November.  So I started going through all the Canva stock photos of woman's faces.  I probably tried a half-dozen and rejected them before I found the perfect one.  I tried a few different versions and tested them out on my friends.  This, to me, is a crucial step.  You don't necessarily have to take their advice if you have a strong feelings about an artistic decision, but you need another set of eyes to help you gauge a reader's reaction.  After much trial and error, this was the result:

I'm pretty pleased with it.  I hope you are, too.  It's amazing how randomly inspiration can strike.  One minute, you're taking your kid to school with no idea what to do for your next book cover.  The next, you're having a blast turning a hastily snapped phone photo into something special.  Keep your eyes open, everyone.  You never know when inspiration will strike.

Book Review: Rannigan's Redemption 2: Running Rogue by Pandora Spocks

Pandora Spocks is out tomorrow with her much-anticipated sequel, Rannigan’s Redemption 2: Running Rogue.  She left us with quite the cliffhanger last year, when Part 1 ended with a rift between Maggie and Michael just after they finally gave in to their mutual attraction.  Part 2 picks up right where the first installment left off.

I have to confess I have limited patience for the “A-hole Rich Guy” subgenre of romance novels, but Spocks once again manages to overcome my preconceived notions. It helps that Michael experiences actual consequences for his ridiculousness, and that Maggie never so much as entertains the notion of putting up with his misbehavior.  Maggie nevertheless shows her heart of gold when she is a friend to him when it really counts. Between her kindness, toughness, and potty mouth, Maggie may be my favorite romance main character of all time.

My favorite part of the book starts in about the 5th inning, when retired baseball player Bobby makes his appearance.  I don't want to give too much away. I'll just say that he's awesome, and I look forward to seeing more of him in book 3. Happy reading!

Book Review: Redemption Burning by Jolie Mason

I really enjoy all of Jolie Mason’s stuff. I adore her universe and the way she has built it up piece by piece over the many stories in both her series. I love the way the outside forces affect the romances and how the series are becoming intertwined. This new release, Redemption Burning, is no exception. It drops tomorrow, 2/08, and sci-fi romance buffs should pre-order now.

In the latest addition to the adventures of a team of mercenaries with hearts of gold, just as occasionally happens in real life, grief and romance co-mingle for Briar and Hercules. They juggle mourning their friend Beezer, accepting their blossoming feelings for each other, and fighting the evil alien hordes. You know, like you do. This is an exciting, heartwarming, and satisfying sci-fi romance, full of love and mechs and explosions. I’ve come to expect nothing less from Jolie Mason. So get on that Kindle and start downloading already!

Book Review: Jim Heskett's Nailgun Messiah

Reformed criminal and recovering alcoholic Micah Reed returns in Nailgun Messiah, the nail-biting sequel to last year’s Airbag Scars.  Heskett proves once again that he is the master of dialing up the tension.  In this story, Micah is hiding from a highly displeased drug dealer while simultaneously trying to save his sister from a bizarre cult. Micah never can stay out of trouble for long.

What I particularly love about this book are the characters.  Micah is someone you cannot help rooting for, even with all his flaws, or perhaps because of them.  He’s a man with a past who is trying to make up for his mistakes and avoid making new ones, and his struggle to do right really draws you in.  The supporting characters are equally vivid.  Lilah, the principal antagonist, is terrifying and heartbreaking all at once. Nobody is a caricature.

While this is a sequel, you shouldn’t have any trouble following the story if you start with this one.  I guarantee that after you read it, you’re going to want more Micah Reed.  I’ve read a number of Heskett’s books, and this one is my favorite thus far.  Happy reading!