Book Trailers IMHO Inferno by Dan Brown

 I went to publisher sites and watched random trailers. I searched google / youtube for specific trailers related to specific titles. My research turned up many different types of book related videos.

I especially liked book trailers with cool sound tracks. The 59 second trailer for the Rosie Project hit on the essential contrast between the central characters. It was upbeat and crisp.  Most viewers would know this was a romantic comedy with an OCD twist. The video is a great marketing tool.


I watched a book trailer for Dan Brown's Inferno in Swedish. The sound track was cool.  The text was in Swedish, but it didn't matter that I could not read it. The music and the images combined to catch the viewers attention.

I also liked leaving the book trailers at the publisher's site ( Simon and Schuster) to just run like a play list. I saw several presentations about books that I other wise would never have considered.

Book Trailer w-o speech

This is a book trailer that is based on reading the back cover of the book.

Book Trailer

Sybil Exposed By Debbie NAthan. The author puts her book in context. Her summary take away is very interesting.

Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole

The author tells this story primarily in letters. The first set of letters begins in 1912. World War is on the horizon. A poet living on the Island of Skye is contacted by a young American fan. Their letters begin a relationship that lasts a life time. The second set of letters begin in 1940. It's WWII era Scotland. A young couple are swept up in war work. They each know the other is only "an envelope away."

Each letter is brief and pushes the plot forward quickly. Character is developed in a few well chosen words. Settings are limned in with  sparse descriptions. The novel reveals itself as events of the WWI era dovetail into the next generation to face a devastating world war.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy light romance, historical fiction or even chick lit. It is quick read with an intelligent plot and set in a remote place.

Note: In this novel AND in A Week In Winter by Maeve Binchy "Family" members routinely do not share information with relatives. Relatives disappear for twenty years - meet on the street and have nothing to say.  Is this a cultural trait??

Teen Pages at major Publishers/ Random House

The  Teens@Random page is simpler than Penguin's Teen page. I like simpler better.

The new releases are in a rotating video display. The title blocks offer a chance to read the book! How novel.
 The "Fun Stuff" section  includes games based on the fantasy worlds of favorite books.
 Major titles have websites linked to the home page. On these pages, dedicated to specific titles, there are a lot of reviews and marketing information.

Well done marketing site!

Teen pages at major publishers/ Penguin

Teen / Penguin

This page is visually  attractive. Romance and female friendships are a staple of teen novels based on this site's displays. The featured titles are well described. The site is not overwhelming with links and game options.


The APPS for teens links look interesting.  Did You know can buy an iPhone app that allows you to play a game in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod world? You can also get Alex Rider themed gadgets for your devices.
This is also intreguing:

Matched

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.
Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one… until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow — between perfection and passion.

 

Society Matched them; Love set them free. Use our Matched Facebook application to find your Optimal Match.

Penguin marketing  has done a good job. 

Two Websites / Blogs with YA reviews ( and more)

I explored two blog/websites for this assignment.

Stacked
This is a blog created by three female librarians. Their Policy tab gives the reader a full description of their review policies
AND
their personal interests
And
some  site data ex. Our blog receives good traffic, with over 800 subscribers, roughly 300-500 unique hits a day and 30,000-40,000 page views a month, as of July 2012. 


Based on my exploration the blog is successful. The reviews are brief. They go beyond plot summaries, but don't become Eng Lit essays. The titles they include seem to have real reader appeal.  

Well done. 

Teenreads

This website is sponsored(created) by The Book Report Network.
 For TMI about who creates the websites, read the About Us link.  
The content editor of teen reads and kids reads seems to be about two years out of college. In short no particular credential other than a strong interest in publishing. 

The cluttered home page of teenreads is certainly trying to get my attention. Ican participate in pols - read the results of polls, read lists of Adult Books I want to read - two links to this list. I can link to social media.  I can link to bookstores. 

Oh I can also read long long reviews that permit/encourage me to comment on the review and/or the book. 

Is this website/blog successful? 
Well, It doesn't appeal to me, but it does recruit a teen board and has active posts on the site. I am sure the Book Report Network is monetizing the heck out of the  data collection and product placement opportunities. Is that success? 

What to Read Next?

This is an interesting graphic.

It made me aware that we need to create social media friendly book displays -- not just physical book displays.