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Visualizing Your Book #IWSG

Time for our monthly support group! *pulls up a chair and nods to group leader Alex*


What's on tap for today's group? I want to discuss book VISUALS.

Have you made a book trailer for your novel? Looked for images of models representing your characters?

I've spent hours on both tasks this week. My aunt Nancy, who works as a video producer, is helping my publisher and me with a book trailer for On Best Behavior (The Conduct Series #3), before its release in September. My task is to write a script and find images.

Nancy and I agreed on the opening line for the trailer:

Planning a wedding is never easy...



Especially when mobsters want you dead.

But the rest takes diligent work to make it shiny and fresh!

Then, I needed to find images to represent my hawt romantic heroes for my publisher's "Men of Omnific Smackdown" at the end of September. It was HARD WORK perusing thousands of images of scrumptious gents to find just the right ones, I tell you. Whew.

I think I found the right guys though. It helps when my pub sister Carol Oates manipulates the images to make them just right!

I'm taking advantage of 7 day trials at a stock photo and video site.

Have YOU made visual representations of your characters and stories? Any tips you'd like to share?

Comments

Dannelore said…
Hi! I'm new around here, I found you through the IWSG!

I've never made a trailer for my book, though as a part time YouTuber I probably should. I do, however, use Scrivener when I write which allows you to add pictures of your characters to their profiles. I have created a nice all star cast for my manuscript, and I'll click on the character board so I can see them all displayed at once. :D
Jennifer Lane said…
Danni, I didn't know that about Scrivener--very cool. Thanks for stopping by!
I had to go to Wendy Tyler Ryan for my book trailers. The image she chose for Sam McCord was perfect. Her health has been problematic recently -- hence the lack of book trailers from me.

But I imagine she would respond graciously and helpfully to an email because she is a fine lady. :-)
Molly/Cece said…
I have not made a book trailer. I have a friend who works for a company who makes them. Here is a link to some examples of their work: http://www.youtube.com/user/flexiblemedianet. Perhaps what they do will inspire you. Happy IWSG day!
Wow, that's a lot of work. Cool your aunt is able to help your publisher. Fortunately I've not had to make my trailers.
F. Stone said…
Hi Jen. I've been struggling with this same subject. I've consulted editors and other authors on the value of a book trailer. All seem to agree the trailer must be short and appear professionally produced if you want the viewer to check out your book's synopsis. They agree music should accompany the photos / videos. Having a model represent your character's physique is a must, but that model's facial expression and posture should say something about his/her personality and/or connection with the plot.

Mostly,in my opinion, have fun creating the trailer. I know your reputation as a top selling author is more than enough to entice the readers.
Nicki Elson said…
Oohlala, I am giddy excited about this upcoming trailer! How cool that your hand is helping with it.

So, how guilty do you feel for cheating on Wentworth?
Jennifer Lane said…
Roland, I'm glad you have someone you trust for your book trailers. I hope her health improves.
Jennifer Lane said…
Molly, thanks for the reference! I'm lucky that my publisher makes my trailers but that's good to know for the future. Thank you for stopping by.
Andrew Leon said…
I actually stay away from concrete images of my characters, because I want the readers to form their own image rather than have some pre-conceived image of what that character looks like.
Jennifer Lane said…
Alex, it's not too bad but combined with starting a new job, I'm feeling rather tired this week!
Jennifer Lane said…
Feather, I think most readers couldn't care less about book trailers and when I get stressed about finding the perfect image, I try to remind myself of that. When Omnific made my first trailer I just about peed in my pants. Now I'm not quite as excited, ha ha.

I'm a big fan of SHORT trailers! And i'd hardly call myself top selling but thanks for saying that.
Jennifer Lane said…
Nicki, I'm less excited about my Grant image because he certainly ain't no Wentworth. I mean, c'mon, there's no way I'll find a man as sexy, vulnerable, and swoon-worthy on a stock photo site! I think I need him for a personal photo shoot.

I am excited about my aunt working her magic on this!
Jennifer Lane said…
Andrew, excellent point. Sometimes I'm turned off by seeing the author's image when it's quite different from my own. But we romance novelists must swoon over our heroes--it's just part of the DNA I guess!
Cherie Colyer said…
Oh, the life of an author, having to search for images of sexy men for our trailer and other promo posts. =)

I just finished doing that for my book, and it was hard to find the right pics. I can't wait to see your newest trailer!
traffictieup said…
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
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Jennifer Lane said…
Cherie, it's a tough job but someone's gotta do it. *le sigh* Now I'm having trouble uploading huge files so my aunt can access them. Make the madness end! ;-)