Making Video Trailers on xtranormal.com by Pete Morin

Author Pete Morin
Author Pete Morin

Thanks to IndiesUnlimited for inviting me to share some thoughts about book promotion.

The genesis of the invitation itself is worthy of note. As part of my marketing efforts, I spend a bit of time occasionally dropping in to the many LinkedIn writing-related groups. One of the threads was a discussion on what people do to promote their books. I posted a comment with links to several short teasers I composed using the xtranormal.com website. Within minutes, K.S. Brooks messaged me with an invitation to discuss them. So – social networking works.

What is xtranormal.com? Surely you’ve seen the iconic So You Want to Write a Novel! In November of 2010, aspiring novelist David Kazzie uploaded the clip to promote his novel, The Jackpot. Since then, the clip has amassed 230,000 views. There was a time after it came out when it was all over the web. Has it helped sell The Jackpot? Hard to say, but it certainly hasn’t hurt. Continue reading “Making Video Trailers on xtranormal.com by Pete Morin”

IU Writing Exercise Contest Voting Poll: WEEK 4

The time has arrived to begin voting in this week’s Writing Exercise Competition. On behalf of the IU staff, I want to thank all the entrants for doing such a great job with the writing prompt and the merciless constraints of the exercise. One entrant was eliminated for exceeding the 250 word limit specified in the rules.

This week, there are thirteen entries from which to choose. You may review the entries here. Please spread the word and encourage your friends to vote by using the share buttons at the bottom of the post!

Select the entrant with the best story for the IU writing exercise competition, "Sudden Death."

  • #11. Sandra Campbell (17%, 15 Votes)
  • #01. Linda Rae Blair (16%, 14 Votes)
  • #05. Donna B. McNicol (16%, 14 Votes)
  • #12. Neil L. Yuzuk (12%, 10 Votes)
  • #02. Dannye Williamsen (10%, 9 Votes)
  • #06. S. Wayne Roberts (9%, 8 Votes)
  • #13 A. L. Kaplan (5%, 4 Votes)
  • #04. Garrett Hise (3%, 3 Votes)
  • #07.William C. Busch (3%, 3 Votes)
  • #10. Jacqueline Hopkins (3%, 3 Votes)
  • #03. Paula Friedman (1%, 1 Votes)
  • #08. Charles Ray (1%, 1 Votes)
  • #09. Salvatore Buttaci (1%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 86

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Video Trailer: Jennifer Chase’s Dark Mind

This is the video trailer for Jennifer Chase’s book, Dark Mind.  This is the third book in the Emily Stone series.  Vigilante detective Emily Stone follows the clues of a missing child’s case to Kauai, as a serial killer stalks the island.

Dark Mind is available on Amazon.com.  You can learn more about award-winning author and criminologist  Jennifer Chase on her website.

Meet the Author: Ressa Empbra

Author Ressa Empbra

Ressa Empbra says of her writing, “I have to have coffee, peace, quiet, and my MacBook. It sounds weird but I lay my head back in my leather-chair, close my eyes and let the words flow from my mind, down my arms, out of my fingertips, and onto my keyboard. It’s like having a movie playing inside my head and I don’t know what will happen until it does. Some writers make a story-board, outlines, stuff like that, and I’m sure it works well for them. But, I can’t work that way, not when I haven’t ‘seen’ what will happen next.”

She says her characters feel like they truly are a part of her from the beginning, so she gives them free reign to do as they please. “They do get into trouble from time to time,” she adds.

Ressa has some health issues which, along with medications, scramble and wipe out her memory, so her biggest writing challenge is in remembering small details.  She deals with this by making lots of notes. I do that as well, but then I forget where I put the notes. Continue reading “Meet the Author: Ressa Empbra”