Playing Photos

When we moved to England in 1997, my dear friend Liz gave me lots of cuttings to start houseplants that brightened our new home.  A bit of this and a snip of that. She loved the excuse to “play plants,” as she called it. Well, I love to “play photos,” and a new book is the perfect excuse.

My slide show of the setting of Honddu Vale went over well at the book launch in September so I have turned it into a movie for YouTube. It only takes eight and a half minutes, and I think you will enjoy it. If you have already read the book, you will recognize the places. If you haven’t, then what are you waiting for? Hopefully the video will make you eager to get your copy.

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I know not everyone is patient enough to sit through eight and a half minutes, so there is a short version of 90 seconds that simply introduces the book. While I was at it, I made a short one for Glastonbury Tor. (We call these book trailers after the movie trailers that have become so familiar for promoting films.)

For those of you who want to know, I used iMovie, which came on my Mac Book. My cell-phone hands free worked fine as an external mike once I realized I needed to hold it away from my clothing (to avoid garment rustle) and not too close to my mouth (to not overwhelm you with sibilants.) I was thrilled when I figured out how to use music AND my voiceover commentary. Getting the music to quiet during the voiceover required only a click of the mouse. The whole thing was much easier than I expected.

I would love some “likes” and comments on YouTube to encourage others to view these videos.  Of course, shares are welome as well.

I’m still playing photos. Keeping Secrets is due out December 1 and I’m working on a trailer for it. And then Glastonbury Tor needs a setting video, don’t you think?