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Make Book Trailers Using Smilebox

Make Book Trailers with Smilebox

Authors started using book trailers to persuade viewers to purchase their novels in 2003. Though there are many programs you can use to create your own book trailer, each one requires different levels of expertise. For example: using MovieMaker or another film editing program would require more skill in film editing, and access to copyright free images and music. However, the benefits of using film editing software is the flexibility you have as a designer.

If you don't have a lot of film editing skill, Smilebox offers a number of template designs that you can manipulate into a trailer. They also have two to three music choices and a fairly good music library to choose from for each template. The many choices of templates allow you to set your mood in the trailer using imagery, animation, colour and symbols. You can also add your own images.

I made this book trailer for my novel "The Precious Quest" in about 2 hours. The novel is a dark, high fantasy, and the template I chose represents this perfectly. I used images downloaded from istock that are copyright free. View the book trailer by clicking here or watch it on this blog.


 I also used Smilebox to create this book trailer for Dianne Ferris' Adventures at Loch Arran Resort. This book is a memoir/historical fiction. The template options at Smilebox allowed me to create a book trailer with a completely different feel that matched Loch Arran's storyline. Instead of a film style, I used a scrapbook template. Once the book trailer is finished, you can upload to facebook, email to friends, imbed a link or record to a DVD or your computer.  Smilebox can also be used for book signing invites, scrap booking, slideshows and other promotional media.

If you would like to read "The Precious Quest" sign up for an announcement notice once it is available in bookstores at my Web site. Scroll down to the mailing list sign-up and read more about my writing.
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