Tips on Creating Websites and YouTube Trailers

An interview with Deb Abela

Deb Abela, author of the Max Remy Superspy series, says firmly that she thinks "a website for a writer is essential". But Deb doesn't stop at a website (which is really three websites in one anyway, because it promotes herself, her Max Remy series, and her Jasper Zammit series); she actively promotes her books on YouTube.

More and more authors are getting their heads around the technology to do this - and it's getting easier and easier, thanks to the software available these days, and easy video cameras like the Flip Video (so simple to use that you can buy it in Toys R Us!)

Deb admits that her 'very clever husband', Todd, has made all of her YouTube videos - but he taught himself to do it using a program on his MAC. She also says that a friend of hers made a very successful trailer about her book with Microsoft's PowerPoint.

In her podcast, she passes on some tips from Todd, who says "It's not as difficult as you may think - if you have a computer, you probably already have the tools you need to make a video!" Todd provides Internet links for tutorials for these programs. You can start creating right away.

Deb also talks about her experiences running Distance Education classes via an online classroom: kids sat in their classrooms and, via an Internet link, could see Deb as she gave her author talk from a studio in Sydney. Deb could also see an image of each student. 

To download the podcast (mp3 file) and the printed notes from the podcast (both in the same zipped file), click the image below. The notes include links to website tutorials on movie-making.