Jill Williamson is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. She writes stories that combine danger, suspense, and adventure for people of all ages. An avid reader, she started Novel Teen Book Reviews (www.novelteen.com) to help teens find great books to read. Her first novel, By Darkness Hid, releases from Marcher Lord Press on April 1, 2009. Learn more at www.jillwilliamson.com

By now you probably know that Book Trailers are a great way to promote your books. With some forethought and planning, you can create your own trailer. Go to the March 2009 issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine and read M. L. Tyndall’s explanation of how to create a Book Trailer (“Creating a Book Trailer Using Windows Movie Maker”). You’ll be surprised at how easy it is!

But even after reading the article if you don’t think you can make your trailer, you can hire someone to create your Book Trailer. I decided to do it myself. I designed my Book Trailer using Windows Movie Maker. This program comes free on most PC computers.

Before you decide on any pictures, music, or visual enhancements to include in your trailer, think about the text that will make your viewers want to get and read your book right away. You might already have done this when you made your one-sheet. Envision your trailer as if seeing it as a movie preview. What might the voice-over say? Will you want a female narrator? Or a male? Should the music build then taper, or continually build? How can you use sound, words, and pictures to engage your would-be readers?

Once you’ve got this fixed in your mind, or even sketched out, create your text for each slide.

I wrote this for my Book Trailer of By Darkness Hid:

In a land where darkness grows . . .
the kingdom of Er’Rets awaits its new king . . .
a young woman goes into hiding . . .
and a kitchen slave is given an extraordinary offer.

As these two fight for freedom . . .
they discover a mutual gift.
But that gift binds them more than ever.

As the time of the prince’s crowning draws near . . .
secrets are uncovered . . .
and lives are forever changed.

This spring . . .
join the adventure . . .
and discover the mystery hidden by Darkness.

Library Journal Endorsement
Eric Wilson Endorsement
Donita K. Paul Endorsement

(Picture of book cover)
Available everywhere, April 2009, Marcher Lord Press

Once I had the text, I chose photos to go with each bit of text. I got most my pictures on www.iStockPhoto.com (and I took a few pictures from my backyard). I purchased the three-dollar size, which

By Darkness Hid

seemed to work good enough for the trailer. If you plan to show it on a larger screen, you might want to pay for the higher resolution, but I don’t think it’s necessary.

I paid for my music from www.FreePlayMusic.com. Here, the costs depends on how long you want to use the music and where you want to post your Book Trailer.

I don’t recommend a trailer longer and a minute and a half. Tyndall explains how to create your slides, add pictures and music, and add effects, enhancements and titles.

You might have your writing buddies and/or family and friends to critique it before you release it.

Once I was satisfied with my trailer and saved it on my computer, I was uploaded it to YouTube and other places.