Comments on: The Year of Acheron

By: Gwen

Gwen — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:16:37 +0000

I’m with Laura Stephens. I didn’t think it was too dark. I mean - he IS a 7′ tall, 11 thousand year old, vampire, hunter, killer of the bad guys, god after all. What’s light about that.

I don’t get embarrassed by trailers, but I do hate a bad one. Simply animating a slideshow is a waste of money, IMHO, unless it’s a truly funny one. And I hate cheesy acting in one with people who are obviously not actors. At least with the Acheron one, the actor looks remotely like Kenyon describes him.

By: Laura Stephens

Laura Stephens — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:51:16 +0000

Everyone keeps saying that they have their vision of Ash in their head and I have to say that this guy… yes, the actor, IS my vision of Ash. *hangs head in shame at her fan-girlish behavior at realizing who was cast as Acheron in this commercial* So, I was very happy to see the trailer, (erm, commercial because that’s what it is) and him in it. *laughs* Though, my vision was him with blond hair (and the actor is obnoxiously gorgeous when his hair was long and blond), that aside… the book: I would have gotten it anyways. Some have even said, and not specifically on this site, but that it’s too dark. Well, I don’t want a Zen-like Ash sitting there looking happy because I don’t get the feeling that he is. That would be a waste of trailer time. And yes, I love trailers be it for a movie, TV show, or book. I view it as another way that an author can express themselves and their work. I mean, why not?

By: Brooke

Brooke — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:06:26 +0000

I cant do trailers either. I already have a picture in my mind and if the trailer doesnt add up or is way off it totally sucks and ruins it. I steer clear.

Only person so far who can match book to screen is JK Rowling. I cant imagine if she did hot romance guys.

By: vanessa jaye

vanessa jaye — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:01:25 +0000

Book trailers don’t affect my buying. Most of the time I skip them because I’ve only found a handful entertaining/well-executed. And even the best of them have done diddle in terms of influencing me to even check out an excerpt. Excerpts, word of mouth/reveiws, and/or blurbs/synopsis are what work for me as a reader.

Having said that…I have a book trailer on my site :-P Which I’ll admit to being pretty fond of. lol.

Websites are pretty static. And a new site for a new writer (on a budget) would have even more limited material. So for me it was a decision based on needing content–something fun for vistors. If it tips a purchase decision in my favour, bonus! Some folks actually do love them. But that’s not what it’s there for.

On the other, other hand, *g* the trailer is up on the book’s page at Powells.com. ::shrug:: Considering there’s no excerpt on the page, things are pretty much a wash there. :-P

By: Serena G.

Serena G. — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:16:44 +0000

I have to say I like trailers … not because they’re serious entertainment … let’s face it most aren’t. But I have to admit they’re a great way to introduce a genre or an author to a consumer who may not have been aware of them before. Also, with less and less younger people picking up a book and instead, choosing to pick up a video game or the remote control - this is a creative way to get them interested in print. There are trailers for every genre not just romance, I’ve read some fantasy that I would never have had I not seen the trailer first (I am a strict romance reader so I hardly ever go outside of that section in the bookstore). I have also been introduced to authors I might have passed on - with the cost of everything going up I have to be reeeeally careful on where I spend my book money so I like having a trailer to watch cause in 30 seconds I can see if it might interest me … I use it as a tool for finding books in addition to word of mouth (from friends) it saves time in trying to weed it all out in the bookstore.

But that’s just my 2 cents

By: Lauren Bethany

Lauren Bethany — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:54:16 +0000

I generally don’t watch trailers, but sinse this one was the discussion topic I felt I ought to watch it before commenting. That said, I’ll go back to not watching them.

As a die-hard romance fan and a fan of the DH series, I don’t need a trailer to sell me the book. I also didn’t need to weekly emails that shoved the book and it’s release date in my face to sell it. I really feel this book crossed the hype line into overmarketed.

My feelings toward this trailer in particular were negative. As others have said, it didn’t fit my image of Ash. This trailer shows him as a angry god on the edge where the previous books have shown him to be calm and working to keep peace. If anything, it makes me less likely to buy the book.

I think the main reason trailers aren’t appealing to me is because they are made to promote established writers. Look at the basic facts with this one: SK is already a very popular writer under both of her names, the DH series is her biggest seller and Ash is central to the DH world. With or without the hype YOA would have been a big seller.

Imagine if the publishers were to take just a little more time and effort to promote a relatively new author who shows promise. That is the kind of advertising that would get me. As things are now, new authors are (for the most part) quietly placed on the shelves and publishers wait to see how readers respond. A few books may be blessed with an excerpt printed in another title, a published review or inclusion on a list of new titles, but that’s about as much promotion I see.

In short, I think going to trailers such as this one is overkill for an already anticipated book and that publishers should work harder to promote newer authors and titles.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:45:45 +0000

I’m fine with humorous book trailers, but most of the more serious ones just don’t do it for me. If anything, they often make me LESS interested in the book. Oddly enough, the few serious ones I’ve liked have been DIY efforts put together by the author herself/himself. I’ve yet to see a big budget book trailer I thought was worth the money, to be quite honest.

One thing I liked about the Acheron video was that it looked like a video game trailer. It sorta reminded me of the intro video for the original Neverwinter Nights. Does it make me more likely to buy the book? Probably not. I’m waiting to see what independent and trustworthy review sites have to say about it before making a decision.

By: DeeCee

DeeCee — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:13:55 +0000

I really hate trailers. I avoid them at all costs. I think its more of a tax write of for the publisher than anything. Me, I’d rather get a bookmark or a flyer in the mail than watch a trailer.

But I admit, I caved on this one. I’ve been hoping for Ash’s story for 6 years, and when SMP kept emailing me with little tastes…I was too damn curious.

What a letdown. Like most of you, I have a different picture altogether in my head of Ash. That won’t stop me from parting with my $12 for the hardcover, but still. (*Go to your local Hastings Books and Music-they have a 50% of for the first day*)

Trailers IMO dumb down the book for mass appeal. Late nights watching tv, I laugh hard enough to have to check myself at the commercials for James Patterson’s “thrillers”.

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:07:26 +0000

Jody - I’ve yet to see a book trailer that didn’t try to come across as dark, mysterious, chilling…whatever. Admittedly, though, I watched ten book trailers in a row when they first started showing up on YouTube and decided that for the sake of my sanity to avoid future ones at all costs.

IMHO, the two mediums don’t seem to mesh well.

By: Jody W.

Jody W. — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:06:18 +0000

But what about the book trailers that don’t take themselves seriously?