You would not think making a book trailer would be that hard, but I’m here to tell you that for someone like me—at times technically challenged, a novice as to how to manage microphones, lighting, and recording—it took a bit of time.

I made my first one for my short story collection, A Small Thing to Want, in advance of its release. I took a class through Skillshare with writer Amy Stewart on how to make one.

Since then, I have had it on my to-do list to make one for my memoir, The Going and Goodbye.

Finally in the last two weeks, I got around to attempting it, thinking the second one would be a breeze.

It was not. At all. For a variety of reasons, only one of which was my pandemic hair (see image!).

But I got the trailer done, uploaded it to Vimeo and YouTube, and felt extremely smart.

Then, the next day, I pulled it up on the internet and what did I see? My forehead. Specifically, my forehead that was so shiny it looked like a flashlight.

So back again to filming.

I ended up having some little secret touches to this second attempt: the pendant I am wearing is featured in the memoir, in chapter 13, “Breath and Stars and Time.”

Also, the jacket I am wearing is from the Antioch Wellness Center, a gym in my hometown of Yellow Springs, OH—a town that also features prominently in the memoir.

If you want to see the video, here it is:

Sometimes second is not so bad after all. What do you think? Did I do okay? Be kind in your answer, please. You can even lie if you hate it.

May all of you be safe and well.

P.S.P.S. I’ve mentioned Skillshare before—I have been taking lots of doodling/drawing classes on there, and it’s where I learned to make a book trailer. They have classes on hundreds of things. If you are interested in checking out Skillshare, you can try it for free for two months—here is the link to sign up for a free two-month trial.

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