Philippa Dowding's Blog, page 10

The fine art of Book Trailers, lingering giants and BUGNADO!

I finally got around to finishing a proper book trailer for Jake and the Giant Hand, book one in the award-nominated Weird Stories Gone Wrong series (followed by Myles and the Monster Outside and Carter and the Curious Maze).

I love it! It's been a lot of fun putting these book trailers together, thanks to the wonders of Powerpoint (where I build them) and the talents of Shawna Daigle, the amazing illustrator for all three books.

For me, book trailers are just another tool in the marketing toolbox, and I try to make them short (60-90 seconds), highlight the book cover at the beginning and the end along with contact information on the last frame. I also add a musical score that fits the theme, and as a musician that makes it doubly fun (I've composed and created the guitar music for all my book trailers). Finally, I try to make them about six months before the release date, about the same time as the book goes out for review in ARC or E/ARC form. It gives reviewers one more place to check the message, feel and tone of the title.

I've done book trailers for books with illustrations and without, and the first is much easier, because you have an instant storyline with illustrations.

Do book trailers sell books? Perhaps, but more importantly, they're an enticing, warm bellying-up to the reader, a fun way to introduce yourself and your title.

Take a look at all three book trailers, and let me know what you think!

Jake and the Giant Hand Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYj_i...

Myles and the Monster Outside Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oyVz...

Carter and the Curious Maze Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pauvF...

For a different feel, here's the book trailer for my YA book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW5lI...

Myles and the Monster Outside is a Recommended Read by CCBC!

"In classic ghost story tradition, an exquisite tension builds...this book is a delicious, spine-tingling treat for midde grade readers. Every scary page makes it imperative to keep reading ..." --Canadian Children's Book News, Spring 2016

What a fantastic review from CCBC, thank you so much. This book is a weird little mind-bender for sure, and was just nominated for a Hackmatack Reader's Choice Award, 2016-2017. It's been compared to Goosebumps by KirkusReviews, and to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by others. Here's to weird, scary and fascinating tales, and monsters, because hey, we've all got lingering monsters right? I see you, Myles ....

Here are a few more reviews:

ALA Booklist: http://www.booklistonline.com/Myles-a...

Canadian Teacher Magazine:
http://www.canadianteachermagazine.co...

And for fun, here's the book trailer (with me playing guitar!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oyVz...

COMING OCT 2016 ... There's a New Boy in town!

Introducing Everton Miles is Stranger than Me, the sequel to The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, shortlisted for the OLA Red Maple Award! Book 2 is forthcoming from Dundurn Press this October, and the series is called The Night Flyer's Handbook . I'm really proud of book 2; I re-read Milton's Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno to help shape my fallen Spirit Flyer. It's been interesting and great fun to write. Who doesn't love the fallen angel storyline?


Here's the book blurb:

'I wander around like any normal, paranoid sef-absorbed teenager. Do we all think we're being chased by deadly entities, I wonder? Probably, but how many of us actually are?'

Gwendolyn Golden, Night Flyer, floats over the cornfields all summer. What draws her to the same spot, night after night? All she knows for sure, is that change is coming: she's starting high school, plus there's a strange new boy in town.

He's Everton Miles, and he's a Night Flyer, too.

Soon the mismatched teenagers face dangers they never imagined, including a fallen Spirit Flyer, kidnap, and the eternal darkness of the Shade. How will Gwendolyn handle her new life and grade nine? With help from The Night Flyer's Handbook, and her strange new friend, it might not be that hard.

Intrigued? Here's a blog post with more info, and how to get your hands on an ARC if you'd like to review the book (and many thanks if so): http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2016/04/...

Hackmatack Nomination for Myles & the Monster Outside

So honoured to say that my 6th book, Myles and the Monster Outside, has just been nominated for a Hackmatack Children's Reader's Choice award, 2016-2017. Thank you, Hackmatack nominating committee!

This is a wonderful program for kids in Maritime Canada, ages 8-12, and allows them to read 10 fiction and 10 non-fiction books by Canadian authors as chosen by children's librarians. The children vote on their favourite books and the winners are announced next May, 2017.

Here's a longer blog post about the book and the award: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2016/03/...

Here's a link to Goodreads reviews of the book:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Carter and the Curious Maze BOOK TRAILER

Beware the leafy girl ... hide from the wounded soldier .... and what's a FREAK SHOW doing there?

What could be creepier than a fair?

Tee-hee! Find out more about my forthcoming novel, Carter and the Curious Maze (Dundurn, Aug 2016), watch the new book trailer here: https://www.goodreads.com/videos/9804...

That's me playing the spooky soundtrack. Enjoy.

ARCs are available now from Dundurn Press.
Here's more about the book on my other blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2016/01/...

Canadian Teacher Magazine | Myles & the Monster Outside Review

"I really liked this book because it is full of mystery, action, adventure and scary parts...I also like how the book starts because it really catches the reader’s interest right away. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes ghost stories and mysteries." [Brennen, 11, Grade 6]

What a fabulous review from a middle-grade reviewer at Canadian Teacher Magazine, thank you! I'd just like to point out that the only other books reviewed by middle-graders in the current issue (they get to choose their favourites to review, apparently) are two books by Eric Walters (Sleeper and Innocent). I'm in fabulous company!

Read the complete review here: http://www.canadianteachermagazine.co...

It's going to be a 2-book year!

I'm honoured to announce that I'll be publishing 2 books in 2016! (Not a first, I published twice in 2014, but still very, very nice to be able to say so.)

First up is Carter and the Curious Maze, book 3 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series (Dundurn, Aug 2016). This series has been compared to Goosebumps by Kirkus Reviews (thank you!) and to Scary Stories to Read in the Dark by other reviewers (also thank you). The other two books in that series are Jake and the Giant Hand (2014) and Myles and the Monster Outside (2015).

And the second book in 2016? A sequel to my Red Maple nominated title, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden! There's no cover yet, but the book is called Everton Miles is Stranger than Me and the new series is The Night Flyer's Handbook (Dundurn, Oct 2016). Stay tuned!

To read more, here's a link to my other blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2016/01/...

American Library Association Loves Myles and the Monster Outside!

"Strange events transpire that will keep the reader turning pages with bated breath. Mixing colorful, descriptive imagery with plentiful dialogue, Dowding creates an excitingly spooky tale. Add Daigle's ghostly drawings, and readers will be enthralled with this second novel in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series."
--American Library Association Booklist Review, Dec. 3, 2015

Wow! Thank you ALA for this amazing review for my new book Myles and the Monster Outside (2015). Here's a longer blog post if you'd like to read more: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/12/...

The Gargoyle in My Yard is a Great Reads for Kids Book!

Really honoured that my 2009 title (and my first book), The Gargoyle in My Yard was named a "Great Reads for Kids" book in a new initiative from the Toronto Public Library and Kumon Math and Reading Centres.

There are 200 books on the list, about half of them are Canadian, and ALL of them are really great reads for kids 6-12. I'm so proud to be among them, thank you Toronto Public Library and Kumon!

Here's a link to a longer blog post about the Great Reads for Kids, take a look and find a great book for your child: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/11/...

When an author and her editor make an album...

... it'll sound like this: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/11/...

Introducing the world premier of Fifth Season, a musical collaboration of 7 sultry, warm, inviting instrumental pieces between me and my long-time editor, Allister Thompson.

Go listen on bandcamp now, download (free or pay what you wish) and enjoy with my deepest compliments: http://thegatelessgate.bandcamp.com/a...