[Steve Vernon]

A local magazine is doing a cover story on me and they've just posted a Youtube video of myself reading an excerpt from Chapter One of my first YA novel - Sinking Deeper.

Check it out. Let me know what you think.

I was a little nervous at the time...so if I stammer, forgive me.

How many of you other writers have got a video of you reading publicly? I bet you a lot of folks here would get a kick out of seeing the person behind the pages...

 

[Ilyria Moon]

I hate public speaking, so it's unlikely you'll ever see me do it. Plus, my voice is common as muck. I'd get someone else to read it, or sing it instead.

 

[Steve Vernon]

Up until thirty I was terrified of public speaking, but a year at Toastmasters turned the tide.

Now, you get me up in front of a mike and I don't shut up.

But I was oddly nervous at that reading. Small crowds do that me sometimes.

 

[Rejean]

The gf coerced me into doing some short stories on Youtube. We use them as promo pieces.

http://rejeangiguere.blogspot.com/p/video-stories.html

This one is 10 minutes long, so it took a couple tries, but visitors to my site really seem to like them, the hits on video stories are 2-1 compared to the free print story.

 

[Steve Vernon]

Nice, Rejean.

As a working oral tradition storyteller I can tell you that there is an undeniable need for people to hear stories read and told to them. I think more writers ought to explore this avenue.

Still, I've never really got around to doing it myself. I just rely on the occasional video filmed and posted by someone else.

 

[jimbronyaur]

I have no fear of it, just never did it... yet.

Interesting to see a response about reading short stories like that and they are popular.  God bless the internet, right?  haha

Might be something worth looking into.  I've often thought about starting a radio show via BlogTalkRadio to talk about books, writing, etc. and read excerpts.  (Just need the time!)

Oh, and FYI... the face on your book, Nothing to Lose, from afar, looks just like The Undertaker from WWF wrestling... I love it!  Just added the book to my wishlist. 

-jb

 

[Steve Vernon]

I actually think a well-placed video of a story might get a lot more "play" then just the usual book trailer. People are very curious to get a look at who wrote the words...

 

[MosesSiregarIII]

Gulp. Here's the first and only reading I've given, from March of 2010. My first chapter has been refined a bit since then, but the story's still the same. I was a little nervous, especially in the beginning.

 

[Steve Vernon]

That's great, Moses.

I was looking at the two so far - yours and Rejean's - trying to decide which one I liked better. My immediate gut response was that I would prefer Moses over Rejean - because it had a little more action to it. But when I actually looked at them both I kind of liked seeing Rejean there, sitting in a big fat comfortable chair. The extra "props" kind of grounded the reading.

At the time of my reading, as I mentioned, I was giving a reading to publicize my latest regional release. That is, an actual hard copy book. It got me to thinking and wondering just how many "reading" opportunities I would have as a strictly e-book writer.

I wonder, is it any harder for an e-book writer to publicize his/her work through the mainstream - rather than just online venues?

I'm new at this e-book game. Does anyone have an opinion on this question?

 

[MosesSiregarIII]

Good job on yours, Steve. Hey, you sound like some kind of Yankee. What, are you from NY? MA?

Just kiddin'

I liked how Rejean was sitting in a chair, too, but with modern attention spans being short, I think it also helps to have more movement or action. Btw, I was reading for my local writers' group when we recorded mine.

 

[Dr. Laurence Brown]

For those that are reluctant to pick up even a free copy it works great as a teaser to catch their interest.

 

[Steve Vernon]

Okay, so this is definitely an aside and quite honestly self-serving - but take a look at the cover for this weekend's HALIFAX MAGAZINE!

http://twitpic.com/5m3zam

 

[MosesSiregarIII]

Okay, so this is definitely an aside and quite honestly self-serving - but take a look at the cover for this weekend's HALIFAX MAGAZINE!

http://twitpic.com/5m3zam

That's killer.

 

[Steve Vernon]

And here's the out-takes from the photo shoot. I'll have to put them together into some sort of a blog entry later this week.

https://www.facebook.com/reqs.php?type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.10150229870212091.319648.73711132090

And the story behind the photo-shoot.
http://halifaxmag.com/2011/07/blog/behind-the-scenes-our-julyaugust-cover/

 

[balaspa]

I was given this idea by a PR professional. Since it is harder to do readings and signings with the books being available only electronically, she suggested virtual readings.

So, I have my own YouTube Channel. I have several readings and discussions about my books on there:

http://www.youtube.com/user/chicagowriter1234?feature=mhee

 

[MosesSiregarIII]

I was given this idea by a PR professional. Since it is harder to do readings and signings with the books being available only electronically, she suggested virtual readings.

So, I have my own YouTube Channel. I have several readings and discussions about my books on there:

http://www.youtube.com/user/chicagowriter1234?feature=mhee

Neat idea. I think you could use a much better camera, though. I got a Sony HD Handycam that's fricking amazing for around $500.

 

[Steve Vernon]

I was given this idea by a PR professional. Since it is harder to do readings and signings with the books being available only electronically, she suggested virtual readings.

So, I have my own YouTube Channel. I have several readings and discussions about my books on there:

http://www.youtube.com/user/chicagowriter1234?feature=mhee

Very neat idea.