ALL THAT GLISTERS Book Trailer Goes Live
My Thad Hanlon & Bri de la Guerra Mysteries are hard-charging, full of action, with just a dash of romance. I write each scene from a camera’s point of view. Recently, I hired a publicist to help increase my profile on Goodreads—the online platform for book lovers. As part of the effort, she arranged to have a book trailer made. We started with my first book, All That Glisters.
When I previewed the trailer for a couple of my grandkids, they were excited. I was, too, but I noticed the mini-movie seemed to be missing something. Since I’m new at all this, I decided to do a little research to find out the must-haves—what every book trailer needs to be effective.
Absolutely, 100% Crucial Components
You can learn a lot about what’s crucial when it comes to making a book trailer by looking at some examples. Here are a few titles, along with a short analysis of each:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwnGBRPxmEk
In this official trailer from publisher Scholastic, we see several crucial components at play. First, there’s the hook: “The details you’re burning to know are in the book.” Next, the viewer is reminded of the engaging storyline with Katniss fighting for her life in the arena. Supporting the dramatic visuals is the all-important music. Finally, there’s a book cover reveal and the clear call to action: “Pick them up in any good bookstore.” And all of this in 31 seconds, long enough to build interest, short enough to keep you watching.
Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
Link: https://youtu.be/skfSTAxGxCY
In this YA time loop romance (storyline), Jack must travel back to the night he met Kate to save her before he loses her forever (hook). The music—upbeat and lighthearted—underscores the book’s emotional tone. The last scene is a combination cover reveal and call to action. Running time: 42 seconds.
Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking by Linda Griffin
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mmFBuiyLns
And finally, in this romantic suspense title, we learn Reid’s love of cooking may not be enough to capture Alyssa’s heart (hook) in an engaging story involving Reid’s attempts to untangle his boss’s murder to find a future with Alyssa. The music is suspenseful, and as with Opposite of Always, the cover reveal and call to action are combined in the final scene. Running Time: 40 seconds.
In summary, every one of these book trailers includes these crucial components:
* A strong hook
* An engaging storyline
* Appropriate music
* A book cover reveal
* A clear call to action
Bottom Line: A book trailer is a 30- to 90-second ad for a manuscript. Successful trailers include 100% of the crucial components.
All That Glisters Premiere
Remember, I said I felt something was missing from the first-draft version of the All That Glisters trailer. It was not just one “something” but two—the book cover reveal and the clear call to action. When I asked the publicist to revise the video, she declined. (I have since stopped using her services.)
Being the tech nerd that I am, and choosing not to be deterred, I opened up my copy of Adobe Premiere Elements and added in the missing video elements myself. The revised trailer is NOW LIVE on YouTube.
All That Glisters by Topper Jones
Link: https://youtu.be/GVQNMdbEaj8
Question: Is the trailer engaging enough to make you want to find out what happens next?
Let me know. I can be reached at: TopperJonesAuthor@gmail.com
Further Exploration
Book Trailers: Are They Effective and Are They Worth Making? by Michael Brockbank (Nov 6, 2024)
Link: https://writersanctuary.com/book-trailers-effective-making/
Book Trailer Marketing: How to Use Video to Market Your Book by Phia Ringo (Feb 28, 2025)
Link: https://spines.com/book-trailer-marketing/
The Ultimate Guide to Book Trailers: How To Produce a Killer Book Promo Video by Julia Drake (Feb 7, 2018)
Link: https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/book-trailer-guide-how-to-produce-book-promo-video
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