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.

Work in progress…

It has been less than a year since I got serious about getting my writing ‘out there’. I thought I would share my experiences thus far. I have made some mistakes, but I’ve done some things right, too. Prior to embracing the web, I spent a lot of time accumulating stories on my computer and submitting to literary magazines that three people read. Then, I wised up. I self-published my novel, ‘Joe Café’, and started a few blogs. I joined Facebook and Twitter. I joined a few groups on Linkedin. I learned a lot of things. Some of them the hard way. Most of them by paying attention.

I played in punk bands when I was younger, so I came into this Indie writing thing with some prior experience in ‘the independent arts’. I knew that it was important to make contacts…not people you can ‘leverage’…friends. I knew that it was important to find like-minded people and work together towards a common goal. I knew that it was important to promote your friends’ work before your own. I knew that community was the most important thing.

Continue reading “Work in progress…”