From The Backlist: "Making A Book Trailer" by Dakota Banks

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We all love a great book trailer -- and Dakota Banks' "how to" is an equally great read. 

This is an excerpt from the original post, but fear not, there's  a link at the end so you can click through to read it all! 

Also, Dakota currently has a giveaway for all four of her Immortal Path series' e-books, so you may like to check that out as well. :-)

Enjoy!

Making A Book Trailer 

by Dakota Banks

...

One of the first things a professional trailer production company wants from the author is a working script. Another reason I hesitated to go to the pros was that I didn't have a script and couldn't seem to come up with one. I seemed to be writing one almost as dialogue between two characters - focused and limited in its representation of the Big Picture. I finally threw out all my drafts of that script and wrote a new one in five minutes. It dealt with concepts rather than details. Shazam! Pictures began forming in my head for the visuals to go with the words. To see how high-level this script is, here is the one that freed me:

Sumerian demons survive to this day
causing chaos, destruction, and death
with the help of Immortal human assassins.
Maliha was an Immortal assassin
until she defied her demon
and became a rogue with a new agenda ...
balancing lives she’s taken with lives saved.
Immortal Jake is Maliha’s true love
or is he?
Maliha’s mortal friend and partner
is kidnapped.
Maliha must watch him die
or accept a sinister new master.
She’s damned if she does ...
and damned if she doesn’t.
Is there a way out for her?

Notice that it's broken into short lines that are easy to read and dramatic when presented one per "page" of the trailer. This is the first step in making a quality trailer yourself. Each of these lines suggested an image to me (except lines 2 & 3, which go together with the same image). I looked for places to purchase still images, video clips, and music, and ended up using istockphoto.com, which in my opinion has the best selection. (Others are bigstockphoto.com and shutterstock.com, plus many more.) These are media that you purchase a Standard license to use, and don't have to pay any royalties per use.

I used Windows Live Movie Maker, a program that came with Windows 7 and is available as Windows Movie Maker in earlier versions of Windows. You might want to play around with it by using some family photos and text overlays just to get the hang of it. You'll end up with a nice movie you can share, too.

When you select images or video clips that go with your script, you can initially download a "comp" - complimentary - version with a watermark that can be put into place in your trailer to see how you like it before you pay for it. This is very useful! I ended up building my entire trailer, including the music, from comps so I could see how it flowed before buying any of the media. There finally comes a time when you have to lay down your bucks, though, because the watermarks are a dead giveaway that you're using unlicensed media. Before distribution, then, pay for everything and substitute the real stuff in your movie.

In my case, I used Photoshop to crop some of the images, but there are a lot of image processors for simple editing, like Picasa, that will do the job for free. You may end up buying a video clip that runs for a minute and only want to use 20 seconds of it. You can do that kind of editing right in Windows Movie Maker, which allows you to specify how long each image or clip stays visible on the screen.

...

To read the full post, including selecting music and watching the finished trailer (worth it!), click here.

To check in on Dakota and check out her Mortal Path giveaway, click here.

Happy New Year -- & A Wrap on 2025!

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Happy New Year, Supernatural Undergrounders! I hope life brings us all some beach -- or beach analog -- goodness in 2026.

I also understand that we're entering the Year of the Fire Horse (although not until the end of February), which sounds like there may be action and excitement of the positive sort in store. All digits pretzelled that shall prove to be the case.

The Year of the Horse, 2026

I haven't yet decided on my theme for 2026, but in the meantime, here's the wrap on 2025's Leadership in Fantasy posts:

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction ~ Where To Find 'Em & Why They Rock:

February: Mara of the Acoma in the "Empire" series by Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts

March:  Kaladin and Dalinar in "The Stormlight Archive" by Brandon Sanderson

April: Pyanfar Chanur in "The Pride of Chanur" series by CH Cherryh

May: John Aversin in Dragonsbane, by Barbara Hambly

June: Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

July: Ulric of the Nadir in Legend by David Gemmell

August: Signe de Barbentain in A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay 

September: Dr Mensah in the "Murderbot" Series by Martha Wells

October: Katsa & Bitterblue in "The Graceling Realms" by Kristin Cashore

November: Coltaine in "Deadhouse Gates" by Steven Erikson

December: Faramir in "The Lord of the Rings" by JRR Tolkien 

 

~*~

About Helen Lowe 

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

From the Backlist: Writing Resolutions for the New Year

"Now What?" by Yaoyao Ma Van As

 

Welcome to the last post of 2025 where we highlight an insightful look at ways writers, and readers, can make a great start to 2026. 

Writing Resolutions for the New Year by T Frohock

Enjoy this addition of From the Backlist, and have a safe and wonderful celebration!

***

Writing Resolutions for the New Year

by T. Frohock

 

Or the new month, or the new day, I'm pretty flexible about resolutions as a whole, because we all tend to slip off the wagon from time to time. However, there is nothing like having an outline of sorts for the year ahead ... or the month, or the day ...

You get the idea. Anyway, here are some of my plans for writing in 2016:

A Business Plan. My business plan will consist of more than eating collards on New Year's Day and hoping that means I will make a lot of money in the coming year. I will actually sit down and make dollar signs followed by actual figures as to how much I can afford to spend on promotional activities. I will analyze my writing, the markets I want to reach, and my readership. I will have a clear idea of the types of books I intend to write along with realistic timetables as to how long it will take me to produce each work.

Read More Books. I will read more books both in my genre and outside my genre. I want to read fiction and non-fiction, because reading broadens my skillset by constantly exposing me to new ideas. While I definitely read for enjoyment, I also read in order to study other authors' works for story structure and techniques that might improve my own writing.

Pace Myself Better. This is actually part of my business plan, too, but I wanted to list it separately, because self care is important. I pushed myself a little too hard in 2015. Keep in mind that I work a full-time job in addition to writing. Realistically, it takes me about five months to complete a 30,000 word novella. What I didn't account for in 2015 was a month of edits on a previous novella along with a month of promo on the opposite side. In 2016, I will be accounting for those extra two months. I also know that I can produce about 30,000 words of good fiction in a five month period (in addition to blog posts and other stories), so that I can better assess how long it will take me to write a novel. Add in reading, those little ups and downs of life, and family, and seven months for a finished novella is actually more realistic.

Take More Risks. Continue reading...

 ***

T. Frohock has turned a love of history and dark fantasy into tales of deliciously creepy fiction. A real-life cyborg, T. has a cochlear implant, meaning she can turn you on or off with the flick of a switch. Make of that what you will. She currently lives in North Carolina, where she has long been accused of telling stories, which is a southern colloquialism for lying.

Check out her latest releases HERE!

* * * 

Thanks for dropping by! Can't wait to see you all back in 2026!

 

 

 

Art of Adaptation - 11 Ways Authors Must Adapt

My Demon adaptation on Webtunes!

Hello, Sup readers and writers!

We have arrived at the end of the year, and it seems most fitting that I make this post a wrap-up of the previous eleven months, highlighting how authors must use adaptation in their writing.

Some of the best film adaptations on Netflix!

From adapting novels to film, games and videos to writing with AI, and all the way to dealing with the illusion of time, join me in this recap of the Art of Adaptation.

Adaptation to Film

Let's begin with the most obvious interpretation of adaptation with January's post on The Art of Adaptation - Films in 2025. In essence, this is the making of one medium suitable for another. As in, a novel to a film or series. 

Why do this? Sometimes we are compelled to adapt. Other times, it is part of the act of creating. Mostly is it is through the very hard work of an agent selling film rights to a producer. However they get there, this is where the author doesn't hesitate. Doesn't bulk. They give a resounding YES, sign the agreement and get out the confetti. But don't think for a moment this process is easy...

Adaptation to External Pressure

In February, the focus was on the adjustments authors make when turning their manuscripts into books. Basically, it's pressure to change some part of the submitted story, a process called revision. I give some great examples here.

Where do these pressures come from?

It might be from the author's agent, suggesting changes that will make the work easier to sell. Or, maybe it's the editorial department asking for a change that puts the work more in line with the imprint. Perhaps it is from sensitivity readers if the book succumbs to stereotyping, racial profiling, cultural appropriation or biases. 

Whatever the pressure, if it is meaningful to the book's publication and success, writers usually will adapt...

Adapting to International Films

Next, let's look at the Healing Magic of KDramas. 

KDramas, once categorised as foreign films but now referred to as 'international', have a magical appeal,

tempting viewers with new settings, customs, styles and ideologies while staying firmly rooted in familiar feelings, narratives and archetypes. Think of them as the epitome of immersion into another culture, the next best thing to being there. 

As well, watching KDramas activates multiple areas of the brain. Think of viewing these films and reading the subtitles as enhancing comprehension, memory, recall and attention to detail. It's stimulating and entertaining all in one!

Narrative Persuasion

Next, I explore how the reader might adapt to the story world based on the writer's ability to persuade...

in other words, how the author might push readers out of their comfort zone and into new experiences and perspectives.

Can stories really do this? Cause us to change our attitudes in real life

Simply put, storytelling has the potential to effect change through a technique called narrative persuasion...

Fantasy Monsters 

This form of adaptation as multiple aspects, so I divite it into two parts: 

Part 1 - Exploring the physicality and psychology of our darkest nightmares and how they have adapted and changed over time. 

Part 2 - Here I share some wonderful and eclectic new examples, all released this year, 2025!

Alternate History

To create an Alternate History work, you usually start with a 'real-life' event and then take a big 'ol step backward to alter how that event was shaped. Of course, the story will then have to adapt to the changes you envision, becoming something else entirely. Hopeful, it will be provocative, and inspiring... or maybe just haunting. You'll find great examples here!

AI 

For many authors, writing is a deep, personal process, rich in emotion and intricately woven with their unique voice. AI presents an intriguing proposition here. With tools that can analyse narrative structures, suggest plot twists, or even help in world-building, could these innovations enhance the creative process? Could they destroy it? 

This post had an element of controversy as I asked AI to write it, then deleted one paragraph and rewrote it myself. The goal was to see if readers could spot the difference, and thus far, no one has. Can you? 

Crafting Mood with Language

In the same way a carefully curated soundtrack can transform the mood of a visual scene, so too can the choice of words shift the emotional landscape of a written narrative. In this Art of Adaptation post, I explore how language can evoke different moods and feelings, using examples from two beloved vampire series: Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles" and Charlaine Harris's "Southern Vampire Mysteries."

Take 5

We know that most authors have adapted to an intense and competitive work expectation, but is this good for us? Our creativity?

Do we have to work so hard to meet deadlines and other expectations? 

No, we do not. Before you shrug this off for any multitude of reasons, consider some interesting facts
from our historians and evolutionary biologists on Taking 5...

On Time

This is hands down my favourite post of the series. 

It looks at how easily we adapt to time without thinking. From an author's belief in rigid time constraints, to the readers' suspension of disbelief in 'reality'.

My big question to you is, what would happen if we changed our story and started saying, "I have all the time in the world?"

Let's find out in 2026!

***

I hope you enjoyed the series and this longer-than-planned recap.

Happy holidays!

xo Kim

If you have suggestions for 2026 posts, let me know. I am still brainstorming the topic for the year!

January - The Art of Adaptation - Films in 2025

February - The Art of Adaptation - Authors' Response to External Pressures

March - The Art of Adaptation - The Healing Magic of KDrama

April - The Art of Adaptation -  Reader Persuasion

May - The Art of Adaptation - Fantasy Monsters Part 1

June - The Art of Adaptation - Fantasy Monsters Part 2 

July - The Art of Adaptation - Alternate History

August - The Art of Adaptation - AI: A New Chapter for Writers

September - The Art of Adaptation - Crafting Mood with Language

October - The Art of Adaptation - Take Five

November - The Art of Adaptation - On Time

***

About Kim Falconer

Kim Falconer, also writing as AK Wilder, has released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy with Curse of Shadows as book 2 in the series. 

Currently, she is ready with the third book, planned to be out in 2025. TBA

Kim can be found on AKWilder.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and KimFalconer.com. 

Throw the bones on the AKWilder.com site.. See you there!

Read Blood and Water, a PNR alt history that will leave you questioning every natural disaster ever endured.

“There is no doubt fiction makes a better job of the truth.”

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #11: Faramir in "The Lord of the Rings"

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"I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." ~ Faramir, The Lord of the Rings

Welp, here we are in December -- & ready to spend time with another of speculative fiction's great leaders. It's the last post of the year in this series, but by no means the least, because the character is Faramir, from JRR Tolkien's epic classic, The Lord of the Rings.

Faramir  in The Two Towers

Those who have read the books will almost certainly know why I want to shine the leadership spotlight on Faramir. I get, though, that those who have only seen the Lord of the Rings films may be a tad puzzled at this point. :-)

For those among you who fall into the latter category, I hope today's post illuminates not only why I think Faramir is a great leader, but why he's among my favorite characters in The Lord of the Rings books -- and why I was hugely disappointed by his treatment in the films. #JustSaying 

The Lord of the Rings

By way of background, in The Lord of the Rings the realm of Gondor and bastion city of Minas Tirith (the Tower of Guard), are largely standing alone against the growing might, and evil, of Sauron and Mordor. Faramir is the younger of the Steward (ruler) of Gondor's two sons, and he first appears in the latter half of the second book, The Two Towers. 

Minas Tirith

The ringbearer, Frodo, and his companion, Sam, encounter Faramir in a disputed borderland where they are waging guerilla warfare against the forces of Mordor. In the third book, The Return of the King, Faramir commands the final defense of Gondor's Osgiliath outpost, and fighting retreat to Minas Tirith.

Frodo & Sam on Mordor's border

Faramir has many outstanding leadership qualities, but the defining one is his moral center. When the one ring comes into his power Faramir repudiates it without hesitation, because he knows that its power, while immense, is also hugely corrosive and corrupting. And although deeply committed to Gondor, his loyalty is not blind. So despite knowing that his father, the Steward, would want exactly that, Faramir will not take the ring's corruption into the heart of Minas Tirith. 

Although a successful war-captain, who leads a series of successful forays against the enemy, Faramir is also merciful. So just as he will not take the ring from Frodo and Sam by force (as his brother Boromir attempted to do), he also refuses to slay them just because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Despite considerable misgiving, Faramir also spares Gollum at Frodo's request--which turns out to be a wise decision, and also a fortuitous one in the end, although his father and brother would both have dismissed such mercy as weakness. 

Nazgul attack

In the books, observers view Faramir as "stern and commanding", as well as "wise" and of "keen wit", so it's perhaps not surprising that his mercy demonstrates sound judgment. Yet however quiet his strength, Faramir shows considerable leadership chops--which is powerfully demonstrated when he holds Gondor's army to a fighting retreat from Osgiliath, rather than allowing his troops to give way to panic and rout. This is no small feat when not only facing vastly superior numbers but the supernatural evil and unrelenting attacks by the Nazgul ringwraiths, i.e. there is a very good reason they concentrate their attacks on Faramir.

Eowyn of Rohan

All reasons that it makes complete sense for the brave and beautiful Eowyn of Rohan to fall in love with him -- not as a 'consolation prize' because she can't have Aragorn, but because Faramir is the real deal. As both a man and a soldier he lights up the pages of The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Unquestionably, too, he deserves his place in the pantheon of speculative fiction's great leaders. 

Eowyn & Faramir: movie poster

~*~

Prior Posts: Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction ~ 
Where To Find 'Em & Why They Rock

February: Mara of the Acoma in the "Empire" series by Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts

March:  Kaladin and Dalinar in "The Stormlight Archive" by Brandon Sanderson

April: Pyanfar Chanur in "The Pride of Chanur" series by CH Cherryh

May: John Aversin in Dragonsbane, by Barbara Hambly

June: Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

July: Ulric of the Nadir in Legend by David Gemmell

August: Signe de Barbentain in A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay 

September: Dr Mensah in the "Murderbot" Series by Martha Wells

October: Katsa & Bitterblue in "The Graceling Realms" by Kristin Cashore

November: Coltaine in "Deadhouse Gates" by Steven Erikson
.

~*~

About Helen Lowe 

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

From the Backlist: The Importance of Buddies

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast for Reboot Grows!  Maria Lattila | July 25, 2025

The end-of-the-month pick for From the Backlist has gone to the awesome Helen Lowe's The Importance of Buddies. Written early November, 2011, I don't think she even had thanksgiving in mind that early in the month, but among the wonderful things to be thankful for, one is our circle of friends. Thank you, Helen, for this timeless reminder!

And, is everyone syked for the reboot of this supernatural amazing show? 

***

The Importance of Buddies

by Helen Lowe

...the Supernatural Underground is about books. Statement of the obvious, huh? Which means that it’s also about storytelling, which is cool—well, I think so anyways! :)

But the Supernatural Underground is also about buddies. We’re a whole bunch of writers who hang out here because we all love what we do, and also love the opportunity to spend time with you—other folk who love paranormal/fantasy/SF as much as we do.

So because it’s Halloween, and because her hot new title Feast is about Halloween, I’ve been delighted to have my Supe buddy, Merrie Destefano, guesting on my “ … on Anything, Really” blog about how she personally gets in the mood for the 31 October festivities. It’s a fun post, so I hope you’ll head on over and check it out, here.

Here’s the thing though, reading Merrie’s post and generally being in October 31st mode made me think about what my favourite Halloween show might be. And because I’m predictable (I know, sad, isn’t it?) I decided that it really had to be the “Halloween” ep of Buffy, Season 2. Which got me thinking about Buffy and why I like the show—what is the magic, really? I wondered. Because, if I’m honest, a lot of the shows are kinda silly. A lot of fun, too, of course, but still …

The fun and vampyre slayage are both definitely important, but I don’t think they’d have kept me viewing for seven seasons. When I reflected some more on what did, I decided it was mainly about the buddies—the friends around the central Buffy character and the ups and downs of all their stories. That was the bit that was like real life—and maybe what kept my disbelief suspended and me watching the show. 

Read the rest of the post here...

 More about Helen - 

More on the Buff reboot HERE! 

~*~

About Helen Lowe 

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

 ***

Thanks for dropping by! We hope you have a warm and festive holiday season. 

 

 

 

 

The Art of Adaptation - On Time

French chef Yeon Ji Yeong wins a top competition but mysteriously lands in Joseon Dynasty, where she must cook fusion royal cuisine for a tyrannical king with an extremely sensitive palate.
Bon Appétit Your Majesty 

Welcome to the Sup!

Today's instalment of my 2025 series, The Art of Adaptation, is focused on TIME and the direction it flows. 

I've written about this before when discussing Arrows of Time from my 2008 Quantum Enchantment series. It basically challenges every concept of time so far imagined. But today, I want to look at how easily we adapt to time, from an author's belief that they are under time constraints to the readers' suspension of disbelief of time's reality.

Let's start with constraints. For most of us, our understanding of time follows a linear path: we assume a "First, Then, Finally" mindset, evaluating tasks and scheduling our commitments as neatly into order as possible. However, what if we took a moment to explore alternative perspectives by adopting a mindset that embraces the opposite, a "Finally, Then, First," perspective? As my first publisher at Voyager pointed out, the English language doesn't have the language to easily describe this.

Enter the world of literature and time-travel novels. 

These stories invite us to rethink our assumptions about temporality. Works like “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells or “11/22/63” by Stephen King, and even my own series like Quantum Enchantment and Amassia, can provoke thoughts, at least while in the story, that time could move differently, or maybe not exist at all. They can spin our traditional notions of causality right off the board by suggesting that time is malleable, allowing for sequences that defy our everyday understanding. When a character leaps forward or backward in time, it ignites a possibility within us—what if we could navigate like that, too? 

Wouldn't that be amazing? We might even start saying things like, "I have all the time in the world."

It sounds more supportive than our usual "time-poor" thinking: I don't have enough time. And, as Einstein suggested, time is an illusion, and the constricting nature of our schedules may be more a product of our mindset than an absolute reality. Adopting a perspective that allows for fluidity in how we engage with time might just create space for new possibilities.

Repeat after me: I have all the time in the world!

Consider how this idea, and that of backward causation in quantum physics—where effects can precede their causes or even change the past—challenges us to think outside the conventional timeline box. Could we consider allowing our future goals and desires to inform our present actions rather than simply reacting to our past?

Engaging with film and literature that plays with concepts of time can create a bridge to this new way of thinking. As we lose ourselves in these narratives, we might adapt to a less rigid belief and align with non-judgmental experiences flowing from a well of infinite possibilities. 

Maybe it's less about whether time is "real" and more about how we relate to it. 

So, in the spirit of exploration, let’s challenge our perceptions and embrace the myriad ways we could redefine our relationship with time. After all, the narratives we engage with not only touch our imagination but also offer novel insights that can inspire realities.

Start Simple by changing thoughts from I'm out of time to I have all the time in the world, and see where it leads.

xxKim

***

Other Posts in the Art of Adaptation 2025

January - The Art of Adaptation - Films in 2025

February - The Art of Adaptation - Authors' Response to External Pressures

March - The Art of Adaptation - The Healing Magic of KDrama

April - The Art of Adaptation -  Reader Persuasion

May - The Art of Adaptation - Fantasy Monsters Part 1

June - The Art of Adaptation - Fantasy Monsters Part 2 

July - The Art of Adaptation - Alternate History

August - The Art of Adaptation - AI: A New Chapter for Writers

September - The Art of Adaptation - Crafting Mood with Language

October - The Art of Adaptation - Take Five

November - The Art of Adaptation - On Time

***

About Kim Falconer

Kim Falconer, also writing as AK Wilder, has released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy with Curse of Shadows as book 2 in the series. 

Currently, she is ready with the third book, planned to be out in 2025. TBA

Kim can be found on AKWilder.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and KimFalconer.com. 

Throw the bones on the AKWilder.com site.. See you there!

Read Blood and Water, a PNR alt history that will leave you questioning every natural disaster ever endured.

“There is no doubt fiction makes a better job of the truth.”