Releasing the Book Trailer May 1st

 

When I told some people I was filming a live-action book trailer (versus doing one with illustrations and text overlays - which was the teaser), I was met with a wide variety of responses, everything from "That's so awesome!" to "... Like a movie trailer? For a book?"

 

Yes, exactly like a movie trailer for a book.

 

As it is, we tend to respond to things much better when there are visuals. Like when a co-worker tells you all about a funny video they saw on YouTube. Their description of the video may be accurate but some, if not all of the humor is lost because you didn't see the video - you got the joke secondhand, and that's never good. If the co-worker just whipped out their smartphone and showed you the video, you would both be relishing in the hilarity together. Plus, when you see something you're more apt to remember it and share it with others.

 

For this, and other reasons, I had wanted to do a live-action book trailer from the start. I wanted to do something different that would show readers - in less than two minutes - what Seeing is going to be about.

 

Book trailers - especially ones showing actors in place of pictures and text - are gaining momentum. Doctor Sleep had one.

 

What I hoped to accomplish with the trailer when preparing it, and later directing it, was quickly establishing the story of Seeing in a modern setting. And in this single sequence, I wanted to put in hints that there may be something just a bit more grand happening here... The trailer consists of tiny moments stitched together that aren't direct scenes from the story but beats of what you'll find in the pages. I'm very happy with it, very proud of it, and feel I succeeded.

 

On May 1st (on my site, on Facebook, and on YouTube) you, my readers, can judge for yourselves.

The Inevitable Facebook Author Page

www.facebook.com/authorjosephfalank

So, this is it. It had all been coming down to this anyway. A foregone conclusion. I knew it. Much as I delayed and delayed and thought it over and hemmed and hawed and pondered and questioned...in the end, it was inevitable.

I'd seen a few writer friends dabble with Facebook author pages in the last few months. Often I told myself that it wasn't necessary; not yet. I was purposefully being standoffish because having another Facebook account didn't strike me as essential, or enjoyable, or as even something I wanted. Ugh, another Facebook to take up my time?!

That was my thinking anyway.

So, what changed my mind? Allow me to explain using the exact post I made earlier - I feel it worded the decision perfectly.

After a conversation with a fellow author this past week, it was made clear to me just how simple it is to create a Facebook author page (or any page, be it a band site, or one for an artist, filmmaker, etc.). I didn't have to sign in separately, didn't have to register another e-mail, didn't have to jump through a lot of hoops. I just logged on and bam, took me five minutes to create. I can switch between the two "accounts" with a simple click. Easy peasy.

 

www.facebook.com/AuthorJosephFalank

Filmmaker, Comedian, Actor, Writer, Author, Husband, and now...

...Daddy.

See you in October, Peanut.

It'll Be Out There. Forever.

I had a few different thoughts for this week's blog. I considered doing an entry about social media (Twitter, specifically) and how it pertains to me getting the word out about my upcoming novel, Seeing. I didn't go with that idea (yet) because it's still something I'm learning about, and hoping not to abuse (it's an interior debate [struggle] of how much to promote because I certainly don't want to come off to others as pushy, bothersome, or annoying [as many authors on Twitter can be]). What made me decide to go with the topic I'm about to discuss is that it's something that's stuck with me for quite a while. Something I have a lot of thoughts on. Something that came with an epiphany.

Every morning I listen to Elvis Duran's radio show on the 20 minute drive to work. A few weeks back Elvis was doing a segment on his show where he was listing things that children born in 2014 won't be able to experience as they grow up - things that are, or were, common to us but will no longer be around for them. For example, one of the things mentioned on the list was corded telephones. I think it's safe to say that cell phones have long replaced corded, even portable house phones as our primary tool for "long distance" communication. It's very unlikely many children born this year will come across a working corded phone, unless they're visiting grandma and grandpa, perhaps. And even then will they stare at it with the same crooked eyebrow we did with rotary phones?

Now the corded phone I can understand. We're beyond them, technologically speaking. We're far past portable house phones, too. No one will miss them.

But something on the list struck me like an arrow through the heart when Elvis said it.

Libraries.

You know, those brick and mortar buildings with tall, long shelves filled with books, ordered alphabetically by author. Books of all sizes and genres. Hardbacks and paperbacks. Crisp new releases and aged classics. They're not books for sale, but for borrowing - like the way video stores were for renting movies (Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, Video King). And the only way to borrow a book was to have a library card. Remember those??

Well, we know what happened to video rental chains like Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, and Video King. They're now known as RedBox and On Demand.

And this is why Elvis mentioning libraries going the way of extinction made me sad.

Because I believed he was right.

With the world making copies of everything in digital form, with content of all types being offered through store apps and such, it only seems like a matter of time before it happens. That "it" being complete consolidation.

Think about it, how many movies do you own and have sitting on your shelf? How many books? How many CDs? They do take up a lot of space, right? (I know what my wife thinks of our DVD storage cases and how she wishes they would vanish.)

Now think about your smartphone, or your computer, or your tablet. They probably hold a decent amount of your music stored on the hard drive (the rest in the "cloud"), as well as apps for Kindle or Nook for reading, and with Digital/Ultraviolet copies of movies, you can watch all of your favorites on the screen. Instead of taking up space in your home, these files only take up drive space. And you can always purchase more drive space if you need it. Plus, you can take your files with you. And it cuts down on cleaning time because you're not dusting off any shelves every weekend.

(And think about this: creating a digital book, or album, or film costs much less to produce than the physical copy, so you know companies can only win by eventually going all digital.)

There are still the die-hard romantics out there, those who still wish to own actual books from their favorite authors, discs of their favorite movies, and CDs of their favorite artists/songs. I'm one of them. I do own a Nook (it was a birthday present from my wife), and I love it. There are great advantages to having one. But every Stephen King book I buy must be a genuine copy I can hold and admire. Being I'm not a multi-millionaire with unlimited shelf space, I can't afford to buy physical copies of every book I want to read, so I do buy books for my Nook when B&N runs sales. If we go on vacation, I can bring my Nook, which has over 40 books stored on it. I don't have to worry about space trying to pack three different paperbacks in a suitcase. Point is, the romantics are still out there, but we're a dying breed.

At some point everything, even money I believe, will be digital.

Consolidation.

But not to worry, this blog isn't all doom and gloom for you romantics.

A few days after hearing Elvis's list, my wife and I were having lunch with a few of her friends and the subject of my book came up. They asked about the plot, about me writing it, and when it would come out. They were very excited for me, and that was great, but then one of them said something that completely blew my mind.

"Once it's published, it'll be out there. Forever."

Whoa. That really made me stop and think. There were times when I was seeking a home for my novel that I came across some e-book-only publishers and refused to settle on my dream of being a published author and send them anything. Why? Because I wanted my book to be real. I wanted to hold it - I wanted others to hold it - and admire it much like I do every Stephen King, or Patrick Ness, or Laurie Halse Anderson book I own. I wanted to be able to sign it if someone wanted me to. I wanted it to collect dust on a shelf, waiting to be discovered by someone else in a home, not locked up on a digital shelf on someone's tablet, protected by a password where no one else can stumble upon it.

When I came across Winter Goose Publishing, I read up on them. I loved their view on books and that they considered their authors to be family, and I especially loved their motto: Helping you discover your next favorite book. These were people that loved books, loved good stories. I knew they would provide the perfect, loving home for my book. I wanted to submit to them, and what sold me was that they offered their author's works in both print and e-book. I could have the best of both worlds, so I submitted my manuscript.

I think we all know how it all turned out. :)

Needless to say, no matter how the future pans out from here, no matter if books do go the way of digital and libraries and bookstores are forced to close their doors - much as I and many don't want them to - I know there will be at least one copy of Seeing, one real copy, sitting on a shelf somewhere. A shelf that needs dusting every weekend. The spine of the book will be broken, the pages will be worn. There may be a food stain or a dog-eared corner. But there it will sit among many friends - waiting to be picked up again. It'll be out there, somewhere.

Forever.

Reveal: Seeing

Yes! Today's the day, friends. Today my publisher, Winter Goose, made a huge three-part announcement regarding my first novel, Seeing. Stick with me as I joy all over this blog entry, breaking down each portion of today's announcement.

(Let it be known that whilst I type this, Pharrell Williams's Happy song is playing on endless repeat.)

Part 1: The Cover
Perhaps the biggest (literally) part of WGP's press release regarding Seeing was the reveal of the cover art.



What I love about the art is that it's so simple, so bright, and conveys (teases) so much about the possibilities of the story. I was very fortunate to have a say in the art - many authors are just shown the art and told what their cover will be.

Originally I went a completely different way but found my early designs, simple in my mind, made the available space much too busy. Winter Goose humored me and came up with concepts that matched the descriptions I gave, but I came around to something much more elegant and simple. Something that plays more on the imagination than something too explicit. I love this image and haven't stopped looking at it since I first saw it and knew right away it would be the cover.

Part 2: The Blurb
It's not easy to create, in just a few paragraphs, what has to be the perfect, tantalizing preview that sums up the theme of a book without spoiling any of the intricate details. You want the blurb to be the pitch to the possible reader. The blurb must engage them and make them decide if what their holding is worth the emotional and monetary investment. You can decide it for yourself, with Seeing's blurb:

The extraordinary is all around us.

After enduring a difficult year that began with his father unexpectedly walking out on the family, thirteen-year-old Jake Sheppard finds himself at a loss for hope. When his live-in grandfather shares a deeply personal and rather unbelievable bedtime story, the impossibility of the tale's events spark an interest in Jake to determine its authenticity.

Embarking on a personal journey for the truth leads Jake to a discovery that not only changes his life, but the way he sees the world, forever.

Part 3: The Release Date
Since I first put mention of Seeing's publication up on my website, I've had the release earmarked as, simply, spring 2014. That's all that's been known. Friends and family have asked about when the book would be out, perhaps thinking I knew more than I was telling, but I didn't. Till now.

May

There's no specific day in May, yet, but May is only two months away. Two months! As we get closer to the date, I'm sure I'll have more information to share. For now this is it!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go back to staring at the cover.

::drool::

The King & I

As touched upon in my previous blog post: I don't have the best memory. There are few things from over decades ago I can recall with absolute certainty.

This is one of those things.

I remember, vividly, being young and on vacation at the Aquarius Motel in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. My family frequented there in the early summer for many years. On the visit this memory takes place in, one of the days during our week stay was a rainy, dreary day. Not beach-going weather for sure. In the office of the motel was a bookshelf. Being an avid reader, I journeyed to that bookshelf. I looked over the covers lining the shelf and came across one such striking image on a hardback that demanded my attention.

What is there for a boy not to like? Aside from the simple nature of the artwork, there's a green, inhuman hand reaching out of the storm drain, above which proclaims the nature of the being as, simply, IT.

This was my introduction to Stephen King.

I took this book called IT back to the motel room, where I read the first pages detailing a boy chasing his runaway paper boat during a dreary afternoon rainstorm - a dreary afternoon rainstorm not unlike the one that kept my family and I off the beach that day and me finding this book. The fate of the boat is that it ends up down the drain from the cover. Needless to say, I had a pretty good idea of what was already down there before the boat slipped inside, thanks to the cover.

IT could have been anything, but, as we all know, IT's most common form was that of Pennywise the Clown. And we can all guess what happened to that unassuming little boy chasing his boat once he caught up to it.

We'll just leave it at saying the boat wasn't the only thing that floated down there..

Of course the book being so dense, and the time being on vacation so precious as it was, I had to return the massive book unfinished. At that age the name Stephen King meant nothing to me. Little did I know. I never thought to jot the author's name down and find the book again after we got home. So it was many years before I stumbled upon Mr. King's work again.

And when I did, this was what I came upon at my hometown Barnes & Noble:

Like a hammer, a swift deja vu cracked me over the head. I know this book! my subconscious told me. So I bought it.

In case you're wondering: No, I have not read IT. Don't know why, just never got around to getting too deep into the book. Either this or THE STAND is one of the King epic classics I hope to crack this year, but as it turned out the first King novel I would actually read was CELL. That's where my small obsession with King's work began. And when I say obsession, I don't mean the Annie Wilkes type. (If you haven't read King's work that joke was lost on you.)

CELL was a Christmas present I got back in 2006. The back blurb promised a zombie-type apocalypse set in motion via cell phones. That was enough for me.

The opening - basically the sudden (very sudden) destruction of civilization in downtown Boston, all witnessed by main character Clayton Riddell, no more a hero than you or I - had me absolutely hooked. The pages play like a film in your head and the violence - in some cases bizarre, extreme, even crazy violence - is almost to the point of being overwhelming in how the crisis never lulls. Certainly your heart rate will up a few beats reading about these characters being surrounded by explosions, people falling out of windows, airplanes falling out of the sky, more explosions, numerous car wrecks, and, who can forget, the phone-crazies.

I won't spoil the book but it's a fast, fun read. Many King readers weren't impressed with the ending but I found it very fitting. It does play to one of King's weaknesses though in how he always lets characters be right about something that they have no business knowing...how their hunches are always correct. Anyway, don't let that detract you from enjoying CELL. It's one of my favorite King books and I am so excited for the film version coming next year. So far the casting of John Cusack and Sam Jackson mean it's off to a good start (though I didn't picture the character of Tom McCourt as a tall, intimidating black guy who leads The Avengers...but hey, Sam can pull anything off).

After CELL I began collecting King's books. I went to used bookstores, shopped Amazon, eBay, Abebooks, and bought some brand new off the racks. Some were rare finds that I got for great prices. A copy of THE BACHMAN BOOKS, which includes RAGE (the only King work out-of-print due to its subject matter), that I got - and it looked brand new - only cost me $2. Ditto for a pristine copy of THE COLORADO KID paperback - only a dollar fifty.

And after seven years of tracking down every King book, the collection was finished just a little over a week ago when my wife gave me DOCTOR SLEEP for my 31st birthday.

I'll spend years reading all of King's work. Thus far I've finished 16 of his novels. Currently I'm in the middle of DOCTOR SLEEP, number 17. I'm as enthralled with the story and characters as I was reading THE SHINING (another of my favorites). I think SLEEP is one of King's better novels because you can tell the focus is there, he knew what he wanted to do, and he was firing on all cylinders when churning it out. Maybe the pressure of doing a suitable follow-up was good for him. The macabre imagery he puts forth just incites goosebumps. For instance, in one early scene the members of the True Knot gather just outside of New York City to breathe in the "steam" let off by those - possibly hundreds or thousands of those - who have the shining as they are dying in the attack of 9/11...

When I read that scene I felt like someone was strangling me. Then I read that scene again.

I make sure to read other authors in between King, to vary my tastes and because sometimes too much King can boggle down the mind. I find him a wonderful writer but sometimes he can dwell too long on something insignificant. The middle of UNDER THE DOME was tough, mostly because of too many characters and it felt like everything was just at a standstill with no direction for far too long. I also felt that there were way too many descriptions of banners and advertisements. He's got a thing with that. I did enjoy the last 200 pages, though. It was just a chore getting there.

Interesting to note is that while King is my favorite author, I don't look to write like him. What I admire so much is his comfort and confidence in his work. He knows he writes horror and he's fine with that. He's also written such touching stories as THE GREEN MILE and RITA HAYWORTH AND THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. He writes what he wants too. So do I. I love how he creates hundreds and hundreds of pages of characters and towns and worlds to get lost in. These are real places and people in his books. No stone left unturned. Me? I try to be sparse when I can. I don't like unnecessary words in my work. If I can cut it, I will. I don't like being too wordy. Not to say King always is, but, like I said, no stone unturned. That's what works for him. I'm also not a horror writer. There are suspenseful, dark tones in some moments of my work, but I try to put a little bit of everything into the mix. See what happens.

What comes out often works for me.

And that's what matters.

If I can ever ignite a feeling in my readers that I get, say, like when I read that scene from DOCTOR SLEEP...that's better than any praise in any review a writer could get.

Which excites me even more for my first novel's release this spring.

(And in King news, readers can expect TWO new novels this year:  MR. MERCEDES in June, and REVIVAL in November.)

A Day with Darren Sardelli

I don't have the best memory. Let me lead with that. There are many things I do remember - things I would swear on my life and anyone else's life (including yours - yes, you) that've happened. But then there are times from my distant past I wouldn't trust myself regurgitating as complete fact.

Basically, unless it was meaningful, I have terrible recall.

For example, in regards to this blog: I don't ever remember a single author coming to my school when I was a kid.

That's not to say they didn't come. I mean, I remember having Library (yeah, Library was an actual class when I was a kid), so the librarian had to have brought someone in at some point to talk to us and get us excited about reading and writing.

But I don't remember.

Which means the person, or people, couldn't have been very memorable.

I have always loved to read (Ralph S. Mouse and Fudge - both of Beverly Cleary's imagination - were some of my favorite literary characters), so I feel I would have remembered an author visiting my class.

With that said, now that I'm going to be a published author in a few months, and trying to be a memorable presence to the kids (and adults) I hope to speak to, I've been trying to find authors doing live events so I can go and get the feel, experience the atmosphere of what it's like to be that person standing in front of a bunch of strangers and discussing their work, their passions. See what they had to say; how they get audiences excited about them and wanting to purchase copies of their work.

And, more important than studying them, I want to support them. Root for them.

Back in the fall my wife worked to get a children's author who wrote funny poetry to visit her school. We'd seen an article about the author, Darren Sardelli, in a local mailing from the school district we live in. The article praised Sardelli and his workshops with the kids so we looked him up. In doing so I remembered (and that's key for me) that I had seen him before - I had caught the tail-end of one of his assemblies at the school where I work after-school care. I didn't remember much about his assembly because it was just wrapping up when I arrived. I did, however, remember the applause from the kids at the close of the assembly and hearing that the teachers were very pleased.

My wife sought out reviews by contacting schools around our area that he previously visited. All had glowing reviews. So, the rest as they say is history and she got Darren to come for a visit.

Knowing this was a great opportunity - one not to be missed - to watch an author at work - an author whose work is targeted toward children (as my own upcoming novel is geared in the direction of YA) - I had to take the day off from my day jobs and observe. I'm so glad I did.

From 8am Wednesday morning until 8pm that night, Darren worked with high energy. He performed three assemblies from 8:40am to 11 - three assemblies with three different age groups. In each assembly the crowds of children were absolutely captivated, entertained, and ever so willing to partake in moments when he looked for participation (and were quite willing to participate even when he wasn't looking for it). Obviously being the professional he was, Darren made each assembly flow, riding the crests of the children's enthusiasm. And while children's interests are very hard, if not impossible to predict, one might think that a man trying to get kids on board with writing poetry would be facing a tough task, one in line with that of pushing a double-decker bus up a muddy hill.

Not so.

Darren's poetry is funny and the subject matter very relatable to kids (and adults who can appreciate the silliness of childhood and the innocence of their creativity). His imagination begs for participation, and the kids, as I mentioned earlier, were all too willing to raise their hands and provide input, even at times when they weren't being asked. I've seen many speakers of different subjects bore an audience of children to tears. Not one kid wanted their assembly to end.

They were totally on board with poetry. It was made cool to them.

Probably the best part of my day was actually getting to speak to Darren one-on-one. I hadn't gone with the intention of picking his brain (God knows I never intend on bothering anyone, especially someone who probably gets approached all the time by those wanting to know every nook and cranny of his career), but he actually approached me, asked about me. When I told him I was being published in the spring he offered a genuine congrats and gave me his business card with an offer to help out with anything I might need. How cool is that?! (I, of course, handed him one of my cards in return.)

During some down time in his busy day, Darren asked about my book, and I asked him questions about his school tours. He gave me priceless advice on doing talks at schools and the importance of getting into libraries. We also talked about performing live comedy. I mentioned I did improv comedy and he told me about wanting to try stand-up some day.

Overall, the experience of meeting Darren Sardelli and seeing his morning assemblies and afternoon poetry writing workshops and evening parent assembly with a follow-up book signing was simply inspiring. To know someone living that lifestyle that all writers/authors wish for (to know how hard he works to earn that lifestyle) - to see him work for twelve hours straight (and not show one sign of being worn out in front of the kids or their parents) is a type of inspiration beyond simple words.

I highly recommend Darren to any school or function.

And his visit is one that I - and I am sure every child and adult who saw him on Wednesday, or any other place he's been - will always remember.

Even at the cost of a terrible memory.

To find Darren online:
www.laughalotpoetry.com
www.facebook.com/darren.sardelli
www.twitter.com/DarrenSardelli