Publication - even more on Trailers

14 February 2012, Publication - even more on Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

Here is a script for a trailer:

Research:

Before I write a book, I spend one to two years of intense historical study prior to putting ink to paper.  I spent even longer on Centurion.  I started writing the novel in 1989 while flying in Europe and especially in Turkey.  The Middle East and Italy were inspirations to me in putting together a work about Roman Legionnaires, Galilee, and Judea around 0 to 35 AD.    

The Question:  

I always ask a question when I write.  The question I asked myself in Centurion is what would the Roman Legionnaire be like who crucified Christ?  What would he think and what would his life be like.  Who was he?

The Characters:  

The idea came from a short story I put together one Easter.  I imagined the response of the woman of the streets who lived with the Centurion who crucified Christ.  I saw her as a person like the women who initially trusted in the Christ, like Mary Magdalene.  At first the Centurion Abenadar was not a sympathetic character, but in building his life, he was an honorable man who was driven by events and his responsibility to do what needed to be done.  Each of the characters grew from the reality of their times and place in the society of 30 AD. 

We see Abenadar change from a recruit through the training of the legion into a legionnaire, and with battles and training to become a Centurion assigned to Pilate in Judea. 

We see Ruth, the woman he rescues from the street both vulnerable and yet powerful.  A strength behind the compassion of the Centurion.

Teaser: 

Finally, though a novel, Centurion is good history.  For the reader, through the eyes of Abenadar, the world of 30 AD in Judea comes alive. 

This is the script for the trailer to my novel Centurion.  I need to redo the trailer, but the script isn't too bad.

More on book trailers tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.