Lead: 10 Excite: 175 Amaze: 2 Direct: 19 Powerful emotional cinematic trailer that feels more like a movie trailer. The risk with such a movie like approach is the viewer at the end asks “where can I see the movie” rather than where can I buy the book. The trailer is even listed in […]
Whipping Club – Deborah Henry Read More »
Lead: 10 Excite: 33 Amaze: 6 Direct: 5 This was the trailer that got me interested in analyzing book trailers. A very well done fast-paced cinematic approach that uses all stock video and images. One of the fascinating elements is the spoken narration often does not match the words on the screen. The trailer is
Ghostman – Roger Hobbs Read More »
Excite: 10 Amaze: 8 Direct: 7 This is a pure authorial reputation approach trailer. It relies on Dan Brown’s reputation and name recognition. If the viewer is a Dan Brown fan then knowing there is a new book out called Inferno is enough. If the viewer does not know Dan Brown or did not like
Inferno – Dan Brown Read More »
Lead: 24 Excite: 22 Amaze: 7 Direct: 10 One of my favorite trailer with wonderful illustrations by Keith Thompson and a great hook. Great premise. The animation is stream-punk in style and the final line hooks the viewer. The animation is not complicated but effective. One of my favorite trailers. I ended up buying and
Leviathan – Scott Westerfeld Read More »
Lead: 6 Excite: 37 Amaze: 8 Direct: 14 While the Furnace series trailer is technically simple it pulls you in with hard images and pounding music. The target audience is clearly young males and the author has built a strong following in FaceBook. Very powerful lead that grabs you in six seconds. Extras Author interview.
Escape from Furnace Series – Alexander Gordon Smith Read More »
Lead: 18 Excite: 72 Amaze: 7 Direct: 6 This is the third book in the Monument 14 series. The trailer begins with a title/image for each prior book. This engages viewers not familiar with the series and excites existing fans. The focus is the protagonist, Josie. We hear her story in the narrative and read
Monument 14 – Savage Drift – Emmy Laybourne Read More »
Lead: 15 Excite: 49 Amaze: 14 Direct: 28 To This Day – For the Bullied and the Beautiful by Shane Koyczan Powerful trailer based on a slam poem by Shane Koyczan who performed at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The original version of the poem is also on YouTube and has
To This Day – Shane Koyczan Read More »
Explicit language Lead: 12 Excite: 87 Amaze: 35 Direct: 16 This is one of the most effective trailers I have seen, or should I say heard? The trailer is a radio drama to introduce the main character Miriam Black. The visuals are a playing of the dialog in words on the screen in an interesting
Blackbirds and Mockingbird – Chuck Wendig Read More »
Lead: 35 Excite: 14 Amaze: 18 Direct: 17 Great use of smartphone grade video played forward then backward with narrator and music. The trailer has a long lead to the line “Even the day you die.” Then the excite phase is rewinding the video as the premise is that she can rewind time and do
Before I Fall – Lauren Oliver Read More »
Lead: 5 Excite: 99 Amaze: 26 Direct: 12 Here is an excellent example of an authorial trailer, astronaut Chris Hadfield’s book An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth. An authorial approach uses the author’s skill and experience as the focus of the trailer. These books are usually asked for by author not title. While
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth – Chris Hadfield Read More »