Pre-Release Peek at The Lies We Told Video!
I know I should wait until The Lies We Told is available before sharing the video with the world, but I love it so much I can’t wait! I’ll tuck it away after this blog post and bring it back when the book is released, but I thought you might enjoy hearing how John and I created it, thus my excuse for this blog.
Book videos are hard to make. Movie trailers are easy (by comparison) because movies are visual and you can simply take carefully selected scenes from the film. You don’t have that luxury with books. It’s tempting in making a book video to try to interpret the story literally, using narrative either typed on the screen or in a voice over. She was beautiful and good hearted. (Cue image of beautiful, good-hearted woman). Until the night He appeared. (Image of scary looking but very handsome dude. With a couple of tattoos. Nice ones). On that night (Image of dark night, clouds drifting across a crescent moon) her young brother disappeared. (Image of young boy slowly fading to black).
Okay, they’re not all that cheesy, but you get the idea. They’re hard to do. I like my two previous trailers, one for Before the Storm and its sequel, Secrets She Left Behind, but I think I like this new one best. In my opinion, it gives the feeling of the book and the central themes (our family stories are not always what they seem and the powerful relationship between sisters) without actually trying to tell the viewer the story.
We toyed with a bunch of approaches to the story, which is about two sisters working for a Doctors Without Borders type of organization after a hurricane demolishes Wilmington, North Carolina. We pulled stock images of hurricane destruction, helicopters (a helicopter crashes in the story), doctors (yawn), and all sorts of other photographs. Then I came up with the idea of using the first page of the book (if any of you have an ARC–Advanced Reading Copy–the first page is missing, so don’t bother looking for it!). 
Even though I’m no professional narrator, we decided I’d do the reading. We added a sentence to help the viewer understand a bit better what’s going on. I recorded the narration about ten million times with long gaps between each sentence so that John could use the best take of each one. You can tell by the way I’m gripping my thighs how comfortable I am.
Then we began pulling stock images and video to fit the narrative. John found most of these. I think my favorite is Rebecca. Whoa, did he ever find the right clip for that woman! John put together the rough cut and we reviewed it and made a couple of changes. Then he assembled the finished program, and voila! Here it is.
I hope you enjoy it and look forward to your thoughts.
wow that really makes me want to read the book well done ,i must look for your books next time im in the library x
From the title of the book-to the trailer…to your voice…John’s pictures…I don’t know where to begin. So many trailers are annoying…I skip through…however, your voice is just right…making the listener want to hear more…I already have some insight into the two characters…and as to those people who get to read your books in advance…we are so jealous of them…Great job to you and John-both so gifted.
WOW! This is great!!! I love hearing your voice as the narrator. You and John make a great team. I can’t wait to read the book now…
I ordered my book. I wanted to order a daily devotional that I have been wanting…and a book to learn a foreign language (for the summer)…I have taken French and Latin…but what I have remembered is not much…thus will try to learn another language…(good for the old brain)…they will all come together…Can’t wait to get my book…it looks and “sounds” lovely…
Oh Diane, the trailor is WONDERFUL…I love hearing your voice and it’s just perfect for this!!…John is amazing and you both work so well together…LOVE IT!!…I can hardly wait for this book!!…people who have advanced copies are so lucky.
Wow, I would’ve bought this book without the video, but it’s so evocative!
And the story resonates even more with me having just — two weeks ago — found my sister after about 30 years of off-and-on searching. (No accident that so many of my own stories have centered around the theme of what makes a family.)
She, oops, didn’t know about me, but fortunately she’s excited to discover a sister she never knew she had and we’ve turned out to have so much in common, even as our life experiences have made us different.
You and John are obviously a fantastic team, and I just know The Lies We Told is going to be another beautiful book!
Margo-don’t you just feel jealous of those lucky few who get to read her books early. I mean really…let’s face it…the way is almost killing the rest of us-but that’s okay…we’ll survive (chuckle)
Brenda, I wish I could be one of those readers who get advanced copies (-O:…but the wait is worth it…when we get that book in our hands end of May it will be so exciting…I preordered my copy with Borders and hope to have it for Memorial Day weekend.
Another fantastic job by you and John! I can see how relaxed and comfortable you were while narrating. LOL
JoAnn, what an exciting journey you have ahead of you with a “new sister.” Will give you even more to write about (fictitiously, of course).
Thanks for the compliments, all. I’m thrilled you like the trailer!
Joann-am so happy for you. I met my birth father and his family when I was l7…unfortunately things did not turn out well-but it was nice seeing them. How exciting for you…I look forward to hearing more…
P.S. Joann-I look forward to the release of your book, The Homecoming…that series looks to be quite intriguing.
Diane I love this. And I love your voice, I think it’s absolutely haunting. I’m glad you didn’t use a pro your voice is perfect, makes me very curious to read the book. And congratulations to John, love Jo
Glad my voice works for you, Jo. It was fun. In retropect. 🙂