What happens after a festive book launch and a fruitful book tour?
Mennonite Daughter is still peddling. The Story of a Plain Girl is still logging βbook-mobileβ miles. But now she has a book trailer!
A book trailer helps build hype for your book.
It interjects energy into memoir marketing.
What Youβll See and Hear in the Story
- Re-formatted stills from Aunt Ruthieβs 16 millimeter movie camera
- Original art work
- Nostalgic melody (royalty free)
Courtesy of artist Cliff Beaman, master of FinalCut Pro, a video-editing program
Kudos, Marian, for creating this book trailer! You are blessed to have Cliff’s creative and patient skills to produce this. And, Aunt Ruthie’s amazing film clips. Congrats and may it attract a new bunch of Mennonite Daughter buffs. π
Thank you, Melodie. Aunt Ruthie would gasp at knowing her home movies have not stayed “home” at all but are being broadcast everywhere now.
Thanks for your good wishes too. Indie authors have to find new way to market their books, especially after the initial launch, a fact you must know well from your association with MennoMedia all these years.
This was fantastic! I felt like I was watching a home movie, which I always loved to do. Great job, Cliff! Of course, the photos were extraordinary. I might have to hire you for my next book. Thanks for sharing, Marian.
I shared your comment here with Cliff and he would welcome your input if you decide on a book trailer for your next book. Always, I appreciate your early morning replies. Are you still working for home or are you driving to Charlotte again?
Thanks, Jill!
Thankfully, I’m still working from home. Great! I’ll shoot you an email.
π
Oh, that is so beautiful, Marian. Cliff did a fabulous job of capturing the essence of your story. A fine addition to your already successful book marketing. You two are quite a team! π
Thanks so very much, Kathy! You know the rigors of writing/publishing/marketing 2 (TWO!) books. π
Good morning, Marian! Congratulations on this book trailer. It’s so wonderful that you have those movie clips AND original artwork. Cliff did a wonderful job!
I’ll pass the compliment on to Cliff. Thanks, always, for joining the conversation here, Merril.
You’re welcome, Marian (and Cliff). π
I am glad your book is doing well. The trailer is an excellent idea. Great photo of you grandma. All the best.
Fatima, by indie author standards the book is doing okay. By New York TImes’ best-seller standards, not so well. The trailer may make others aware of my book, the whole point. Thanks for your vote of confidence.
Yay for the trailer, Marian! Loved it! The music and images were great!
Your grandmother’s smile is infectious! It makes me smile. π
I agree, Linda Marie. Grandma’s smile is my favorite “still” in the whole trailer. Thanks so much!
I LOVE this trailer! Well done! The music is perfect as are the pictures, movie clips and CliffΒ΄s drawings. It really depicts the theme of the book well. Now you can post it on Goodreads and Amazon etc.
Darlene, Cliff was happy to find a royalty-free melody to fit the nostalgic theme. The trailer has been posted on YouTube and Amazon. I forgot about Goodreads until you mentioned it. Thanks for the reminder! :=)
P.S. Now the trailer appears on Goodreads. What would I DO without mentors like you!
Hey! I love it. I have often seen trailers for other books , I think itβs a great idea . Iβve just read your book and itβs fresh my mind but if I read it when it first came out and Iβd seen the trailer Iβd want to read it again …so it works
Cherryx
This is the best endorsement ever, Cherry. Yes, book trailers usually come out when the book launches, but we weren’t ready then. I’m glad you approve – even after you’ve read the book and even 8 months after the “book baby” was born – ha!.
Hugs to you, my dear, for your kind comment. π
This is wonderful! How talented both you and Cliff are!
It takes a “team” to support a writer, doesn’t it! I notice how Gerry supports you as you write and celebrates when you launch a new book, like now. Thank you, Linda!
Lovely to watch this work of art and collaboration. Cliff is your “secret weapon.” Well, not exactly. He is neither a weapon or secret, but he is a wonderful, talented, partner. Congrats to both of you.
Shirley, I remember your using that phrase early on in my blog and when my memoir was published. When I began blogging Cliff was still doing lots of shows. Now that he is mostly retired from “the road,” he can still pursue his art from a home base. Yes, he is a wonderful, talented partner, indeed. π
I appreciate your compliment so very much, but my feelings today are mitigated by the atrocity in Minneapolis. π
Perfect to enhance your book! I enjoyed seeing clips of the home movies.
Thank you, Elaine!
This is a delight Marian! Many congratulations to Cliff for putting it together. And what a good idea. Aunt Ruthie comes alive as do you and your sister and the cartoons/caricatures are very evocative and lifelike. It is all very ‘lively’ in a word. And ‘lovely’ as the second word.
Cliff will enjoy reading your lively and lovely comment here. He had to learn the very complex video editing program to begin with and had some help from my trusty web guy, Stockton Eller. Finding the “stills” and artwork was the easy part. Thank you for noticing all this, Susan!
Oh wow Marian and Cliff on this trailer. You have opened a whole new venue to promote books. It was very entertaining. If I didnβt already have the book I would purchase after seeing the trailer. I pray that it moves to top seller in New York post. You deserve it. You worked hard on it.
Gloria, many authors use trailers when their books are launched, but we had our hands full, just doing the launch and tour last year. You are right; it is hard to make a book stand out considering that millions of books are published each year. Thanks for the huge compliment and best wishes. I hope you are staying well. π
Great trailer! That inspires me to create my own. The indie author’s work is never done!
Hi, Irene! It’s hard to get noticed in a chorus of best sellers, so we do what we can.
Your website reveals that you suffer from Peter Pan Syndrome, suggesting your love for travel and the finer things like chocolate. Best wishes as you promote your book. π
Marian, when I look at your book trailer it strikes me that your life is exactly opposite to mine! Your homes look so beautiful and magical, the kind of homes our family dreamed of but never possessed.
It looks like an idyllic world until it comes to the part about your fatherβs harshness. My father was the opposite by nature, sometimes to my motherβs chagrin, as he did not fit the societal pattern of the day, and any physical punishment was left to her! It worked better all around. When my mother tried the wooden spoon on me at age 14 I just laughed at her and that was the end of that!
My Grandma’s house felt magical to me, but our own was too small for 6 people and was crooked. It could have used a foundation fixing company to rectify the sagging rooms.
How interesting that in many ways our beginnings were opposite, but each founded on faith and strong family values. I find your reaction to your mother’s try at correction when you were a teen rather funny, but sort of incredible too, knowing what a devoted daughter you must have been later on. Thanks for always adding flavor to our conversation here, Elfrieda.
Wonderful. It really brings another dimension to the story.
The trailer is actually just a 2 1/2 minute collage of all the story elements, but it does summarize it well, I think. Thanks, Arlene!
Oh, my gosh β I LOVE it! Absolutely LOVE it!
I appreciate your enthusiastic response and will pass it on to Cliff, who will read this. Huge thanks, Laurie!
Marian, The big house where your grandmother and Ruthie lived…the memories of visiting there as a kid and their visiting my grandparents, always leaves me with a feeling of connectedness to my growing up years and the people associated with those years…thanks for sharing the trailer, and the book.
You are one of the few who can relate physically to being in these homes, in reality and not just virtually. Thanks for noticing and commenting here, Howard!
What a wonderful book trailer, Marian! Iβm learning from you and Cliff. He did an amazing job. I kept wondering whether the recordings from aunt Ruthie were in color or not. It seems like it was, based on your descriptions, but I had a hard time fathoming film was already in color in the fifties.
Cheers to collecting more five-star reviews for Mennonite Daughter, as more people will buy your book after watching the trailer and theyβll enjoy reading it. ! Youβre doing fantastic!!!
Yes, Liesbet, film was already in color in the fifties. Aunt Ruthie would have a fit if she knew how widespread her home movies have been shared. (She’d have a fit but would be secretly pleased, my guess.)
Indie authors still have an uphill climb. Not to discourage you (or myself), Liesbet, but the joy of writing and being read in small bits must supersede sales. If I hit a big boost, you’ll be the first to know – ha! I’m glad we are partners in this writing business. π
Marian, this is wonderful! Sharing and looking forward to reading your book. xo
Bette, the trailer is a visual summary of my memoir, so you have a head start to making sense of it. I look forward to hearing what you think when you finish. Thanks so much for adding to the encouragement here!
Thanks, too, for subscribing to my trailer on YouTUbe. π
Excellent trailer, Marian … and Cliff. It captures the essence of your wonderful book so well. Love the picture of your grandmother and her hand-written recipe. I hope it entices many more people to buy and read your memoir.
Lorrie, viewing the trailer must have felt like a summary of the book since you have read and reviewed my memoir. Cliff will read your comment and smile; he has put so much effort into its creation.
Thanks too for the good wishes for future sales, so appreciated. π
Oh this is wonderful!
Thanks for your nod of approval, Fiona!
This trailer is wonderful. So well put together and with just enough *tease* in it so that you want to buy your book. Cliff did a great job.
That’s the point, Ally, making readers curious about what else is in the book, the “why” and the “how.” Thanks so much!
Always enjoy Cliffβs work. The next time we get together I want to purchase another book. Andyβs sister, Dorothy, wants one.
Dorothy can have one, and so can anyone else reading this. I do have signed books for purchase and with an address can easily mail them from my home. In your case, Bonnie, it’s just a short drive away. Lucky you – and me – thank you! π
Fantastic trailer Marian. Cliff sure does come in handy. I’m so behind with technological marketing lol π x
You keep so in touch with writer friends, including me, and your promotion of others is off the charts. Actually, don’t worry too much about marketing with technology. It’s not a magic “bullet,” but it’s a means I hadn’t tried before. I doubt I would have even pursued the trailer if Cliff wasn’t willing to try a new challenge.
Thanks for your constant support here. You are the BEST!, Debby! ((( )))
Big hugs to you Marian. <3
Late again..sigh …one day I will be first…haha in my dreams…What a beautiful video, Marian, just perfect you have a talented husband π
My door is always open, and you can visit anytime. No need for apologies, Carol, and I’ll pass this thumbs up to Cliff. π
Yes please he did a great job π
π
Congratulations, Marian and Cliff, on a nostalgic and memorable book trailer, one of the best I’ve seen. You’ve touched on each of the high points in your story with an image and just enough information to draw the interested reader in. Kudos to you both!
Thank you, Sherrey. This was Cliff’s first attempt at creating a book trailer. Although he had the raw materials of film, photos, and art work, he had to overcome the steep learning curve of the video-editing program, FinalCut Pro.
It’s kind of you to notice and appreciate. I’ll make sure Cliff sees this! π
Okay, wiping my eyes here. Phew. Okay. That is by far and away the BEST book trailer I’ve ever seen. It ‘got’ to me even though I’ve read your book – twice! I can only imagine that it will grab a new reader wonderfully. Where will you market the trailer to market your book? I’m hugely impressed with you…and with your amazing Clive. Bravo.
WHAT an endorsement, Pam! Your tear-y response to the trailer and, again, twice reading my book. Wow, oh, wow!
How to market the trailer? Right now, it’s part of the author pages on Amazon and Goodreads. Also, on YouTube where people can subscribe. I’m certainly open to other ideas, including yours.
I’ll make sure that Cliff sees this! ((( )))
What a wonderful trailer, Marian. I loved it. So much happiness, mixed in with the difficulties. I too wonder about the color.
Lovely to see you here, especially during these busy days. But, your days are always busy, judging from your prodigious output. Wow!
You may have noticed that my artist husband created my book trailer, his first time using FinalCut Pro.
Best wishes as you birth another book, final (?) in a set of triplets – ha!