Listen to Heidi Holtan Wednesday evenings from 6-7 and Sunday mornings from 9-10 on 91.7 KAXE or audiostream at www.kaxe.org
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Author Videos - the latest trend
This week's guest on Realgoodwords, Philip Smith, has a video that explains his new memoir "Walking Through Walls". There's been a few authors I've interviewed in the last year who have done this, and I find it intriguing. What do you think?
I have mixed feelings. Initially I felt uncomfortable as he was sharing so freely what I felt were intimate details of his life. Is it necessary information to understand the impetus of the book? I felt it was indulgent. I'm sure many of us have felt at times unable to relate to a parent or have been ashamed. I feel less interested in reading his written account of his life experience as a result. On the other hand, I want to see more gadgets and artwork! I'm not sure how to categorize this type of video. Is it a promotion? Does it bring deeper understanding of the material covered in the book? Isn't the book enough? "Video killed the radio star" keeps running through my mind.
His book is a memoir, so I think the video makes perfect sense. Nowadays authors need to do whatever it takes to get noticed. A video like this probably does more than book signings.
Here's a question to pose: if you had read the book and enjoyed it would you feel differently? Is it distaste of constant marketing we are barraged with?
3 comments:
I have mixed feelings. Initially I felt uncomfortable as he was sharing so freely what I felt were intimate details of his life. Is it necessary information to understand the impetus of the book? I felt it was indulgent. I'm sure many of us have felt at times unable to relate to a parent or have been ashamed. I feel less interested in reading his written account of his life experience as a result. On the other hand, I want to see more gadgets and artwork! I'm not sure how to categorize this type of video. Is it a promotion? Does it bring deeper understanding of the material covered in the book? Isn't the book enough? "Video killed the radio star" keeps running through my mind.
His book is a memoir, so I think the video makes perfect sense. Nowadays authors need to do whatever it takes to get noticed. A video like this probably does more than book signings.
Here's a question to pose: if you had read the book and enjoyed it would you feel differently? Is it distaste of constant marketing we are barraged with?
If I had read the book I imagine I would be comparing the content of the video against the book to see if it was an honest promotion.
My reaction to this type of promotion is to treat it as just another kind of cover; something to ignore.
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