trial & error
I’m smiling here—my video camera automatically takes photos while it’s filming—but I was NOT happy after taping this interview for the THIRD TIME yesterday. I don’t know why I have so much trouble with videos. My books generally come out the way I envisioned them but when I try to make an accompanying video, I always fall short. I took a class last month to learn how to make a movie on my phone and knew I wanted to talk about MILO’S MUSEUM. Ever since it was selected by Everybody Wins! DC for their book-of-the-week, sales have been higher than normal and I thought it was a good time to talk about my inspiration. I wrote a script, made a shot list, and knew which still photographs I wanted to add to my film. But Adobe Premiere only accepts the most recent photos and videos in my iPhone’s library—and ALL the footage I added from the museum mysteriously disappeared. The footage I filmed with my video camera—no good. I took new photos of my book’s illustrations but couldn’t set the length of time they appeared in the film, so they flash by…I was DONE by the time I managed to assemble this 3-minute video. Be kind if you decide to take a look!
Over the weekend my publisher sent me this lovely certificate from Skipping Stones magazine. For a moment, I thought about making a short video for MELENA’S JUBILEE…then I came to my senses! Mind you, the only way to get better is to keep trying…so stay tuned—another video may appear later this month. I’m late turning in my edits for DRAGONS IN A BAG and my creative writing class starts at the end of the month. On Friday I head to Atlanta for the National Conference of African American Librarians. And then I have to get down to business and start THE DRAGON THIEF. I have one trip planned to Nova Scotia in September, but mostly I’ll be working toward that October 1 deadline. The summer’s disappearing…it’s cool and rainy today. I *say* I’m ready for autumn, but it’s too soon to say goodbye to summer. Better get to work…
If you haven’t already downloaded this app, do it now! Kyla Thomas developed We Read Too to help readers find books for kids and teens that are authored by Black writers. It’s free and she’s got all my indie titles, so please check it out!
