BookBub Shares 30 Ways You Can Use Video to Engage With Readers

Certainly inspiration here for all of us writers, translators, and illustrators who create work for children and teens: 30 Ways Authors Use Videos to Engage with Readers

A few highlights:

2. Show a sneak peek of an upcoming release

7. Introduce new characters

9. Create a relevant tutorial

11. Join forces with other authors

Go check out the post by Leila Hirschfeld and see all the other ideas and examples.

Then, think about how you might leverage video to reach and engage with readers!

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

Learn How To Draw a Face -- and Eyes! -- From Caldecott Award-winning Paul O. Zelinsky (courtesy of the Society of Illustrators)

Check out Paul's art tips in this remarkable video (it says it's part of their "Draw Along Videos" for kids but really it's for anyone interested in drawing people -- at whatever age you are.)

A Screen Shot from "Draw This! Paul O. Zelinsky"

The bit about where the pupil goes and how the eyelid is affected made me realize three things:

1) Paul is a seriously amazing illustrator.

2) To draw well, you really need to observe carefully - and illustrate what you see, not what you think you see.

3) I could observe faces more carefully.

I hope you'll enjoy this, too! (Click to learn more about Paul and watch the video.) 

Illustrate and Write On,

Lee

Can You Name the 10 Types of Book Trailers?

If you're interested in book trailers, check out this roundup (complete with examples) by Joanna Penn, at her Creative Penn blog, Book Marketing: 10 Best Book Trailer Types.

With advice and budget estimates, it's a good overview of the Book Trailer landscape, and you might just find inspiration for your own book trailer...

The whole article is well-worth reading (and viewing the examples.) Make sure to check out Joanna's addendum, on ways to promote a book trailer as well.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Author/Illustrator Videos to Check Out: Antoinette Portis On Imagination

I thought this was very well done


It's inspiring for all the possible audiences: gatekeepers like parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians and booksellers, and even kid readers in the laps of those adults!

To learn more about Antoinette Portis and her books, check out her website here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee