Today on WoW, we’re thrilled to be joined be by author of The Great Library series, Rachel Caine, here discussing the evolution of ASH AND QUILL, including the development and release of the book’s trailer. Plus, visit us on Twitter today for a giveaway of TWO signed (!) sets of The Great Library series!! But now, here’s Rachel.
From Concept to Book Trailer
By Rachel Caine
I’ve done a lot of books, but ASH AND QUILL marked the first
time that I’ve tackled something that turned out to be bigger than I ever
anticipated. ASH AND QUILL is the first book I’ve had to completely rewrite
three times, only to discover that it isn’t, in fact, an ending … but the beginning
of the ending.
time that I’ve tackled something that turned out to be bigger than I ever
anticipated. ASH AND QUILL is the first book I’ve had to completely rewrite
three times, only to discover that it isn’t, in fact, an ending … but the beginning
of the ending.
Originally when I laid out the idea for The Great Library, it
was an orderly enough trilogy structure: Ink and Bone, Paper and Fire, Ash and
Quill. All neatly laid out.
was an orderly enough trilogy structure: Ink and Bone, Paper and Fire, Ash and
Quill. All neatly laid out.
But this story isn’t that simple, and it never went where I
supposed it would–or, more accurately, there was always more to what happened
than was visible from the distance of my plans.
supposed it would–or, more accurately, there was always more to what happened
than was visible from the distance of my plans.
The world of The Great Library has surprised me at every turn,
and that is a very good thing, because it forced me to reach deeper and
deeper into the characters, the world, and the consequences of every action.
That’s come to a head in ASH AND QUILL, where Jess Brightwell and his friends
start from a position of absolute helplessness: they are Librarians, however
rebellious, held captive in a Burner city under siege by Library troops. If the
Burners don’t kill them, the Library surely will, once they realize Christopher
Wolfe, Jess Brightwell, and Thomas Schreiber are inside those walls. So they must
find a way first to survive, and second to successfully escape, against odds
that seem absolutely zero.
and that is a very good thing, because it forced me to reach deeper and
deeper into the characters, the world, and the consequences of every action.
That’s come to a head in ASH AND QUILL, where Jess Brightwell and his friends
start from a position of absolute helplessness: they are Librarians, however
rebellious, held captive in a Burner city under siege by Library troops. If the
Burners don’t kill them, the Library surely will, once they realize Christopher
Wolfe, Jess Brightwell, and Thomas Schreiber are inside those walls. So they must
find a way first to survive, and second to successfully escape, against odds
that seem absolutely zero.
This story began as an adventure and quickly became a test of
endurance, strength, character and cleverness for all of them, and I’m very
proud of the results. Jess will make moves that are against all his instincts
and will, but he’ll make them for the best of all reasons: to save his friends,
and to save the Library itself.
endurance, strength, character and cleverness for all of them, and I’m very
proud of the results. Jess will make moves that are against all his instincts
and will, but he’ll make them for the best of all reasons: to save his friends,
and to save the Library itself.
That’s not to say the other characters don’t also have important
roles to play. I think the bonds between them have never been stronger, or more
vital to their survival, than in this book. And I hope that it will make you
all fall in love with them even more.
roles to play. I think the bonds between them have never been stronger, or more
vital to their survival, than in this book. And I hope that it will make you
all fall in love with them even more.
I’m so excited to present to you the exclusive trailer for THE
GREAT LIBRARY: ASH AND QUILL!
GREAT LIBRARY: ASH AND QUILL!
I’m a bit of a strange bird, as an author; I have had a ton of
different jobs, many of which taught me important and interesting skills. As a
corporate communications person, I was asked to learn video editing to put
together some internal videos, and I became fascinated with the process.I
discovered resources, like Shutterstock, iStockphoto, Dreamstime, and many
more, where you can legally license royalty-free images and footage for
reasonable fees, and other sources for audio tracks.
different jobs, many of which taught me important and interesting skills. As a
corporate communications person, I was asked to learn video editing to put
together some internal videos, and I became fascinated with the process.I
discovered resources, like Shutterstock, iStockphoto, Dreamstime, and many
more, where you can legally license royalty-free images and footage for
reasonable fees, and other sources for audio tracks.
Via the site Voice123.com, I located the narrator for this
trailer; I prefer to use professional voice actors where possible, and I spent
probably the most time finding just the right voice for Dario Santiago. (It
took a pro narrator less than 10 minutes to deliver perfect audio after being
hired for the job!)
trailer; I prefer to use professional voice actors where possible, and I spent
probably the most time finding just the right voice for Dario Santiago. (It
took a pro narrator less than 10 minutes to deliver perfect audio after being
hired for the job!)
In total, the trailer took me about 4 hours of work to craft
together.
together.
For editing, I use Adobe Premiere Pro, which has powerful
abilities that I seriously underutilize, but in my defense, I’m an author who
does trailers, not a pro user. You can do everything with Premiere
Pro.
abilities that I seriously underutilize, but in my defense, I’m an author who
does trailers, not a pro user. You can do everything with Premiere
Pro.
I’d be remiss in not also mentioning my friend Littleheaven, who
inspired me and taught me the basics of matching music to visuals through her
amazing fan videos; the best fan videos are up there with the best work in
movie trailers!
inspired me and taught me the basics of matching music to visuals through her
amazing fan videos; the best fan videos are up there with the best work in
movie trailers!
So here’s a little about the trailer:
•
NARRATOR: Dario Santiago is played
by Ramesh Mahtani, a voice actor who lives in Spain
NARRATOR: Dario Santiago is played
by Ramesh Mahtani, a voice actor who lives in Spain
•
FOOTAGE: All video is licensed RF
footage from Shutterstock.com and iStockPhoto.com
FOOTAGE: All video is licensed RF
footage from Shutterstock.com and iStockPhoto.com
MUSIC: Productiontrax.com
ASH AND QUILL launches in stores on July 11, and I hope you will
join me for this, and the next two books in the epic struggle to save the soul
of the Great Library of Alexandria.
join me for this, and the next two books in the epic struggle to save the soul
of the Great Library of Alexandria.
Check out the trailer!
Preorder ASH AND QUILL
Amazon Hardcover: http://amzn.to/
Kindle: http://amzn.to/2txJprw
Barnes and Noble Hardcover: http://bit.ly/
Nook: http://bit.ly/2rG1OB0
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2rVbBY1
iBooks: http://apple.co/
Books-a-Million: Hardcover: http://bit.ly/
Books-a-Million Ebook: http://bit.ly/2rVzQ8B
Powell’s Hardcover: http://bit.ly/
About Rachel Caine
Rachel Caine’s rich, diverse bibliography of more than 50 books in print covers many categories and genres. She started out writing horror and fantasy as Roxanne Longstreet (Stormriders, The Undead, Red Angel, Cold Kiss, Slow Burn) before switching to the name Roxanne Conrad and publishing romantic suspense and mystery (Copper Moon, Bridge of Shadows, Exile). By 2003, she began to publish under her current pseudonym, specializing in urban fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal young adult fiction.
