Behind the Magic

The moment I saw the trailer for The Adventure in the Magical World, I knew the magic had truly come alive. From the exciting music to the awesome visuals, the trailer captures the spirit of Lyle, Erica, Percy, and Belle’s extraordinary journey.

As an authoress who loves creating magical adventures for young readers, seeing these characters on the screen is such a thrill to witness.

No, really. I heard about book trailers when I was writing my first romance. But the things I saw online were either excessively elaborate (think professional actors and big-budget mini movies) or unprofessionally lackluster.

But then I came across Aila Designs.* Aila was in a Facebook group for authors, and she was promoting her newly formed book-cover business. When I checked out her portfolio, I was amazed to find book trailers.

And when I viewed the first one, I was, as the Brits say, gobsmacked. That trailer was nothing short of extraordinary.

She had managed to cram in wonderful visuals, rousing music, and a dramatic layout all in mere seconds.

I knew then that I wanted Aila to do whatever book I next published.

Little did I know that my next book was going to be a fantasy adventure for middle-grade kids all about magic, friendship, and dragons!

But you might be wondering why an any author would want a book trailer in the first place…

Books spark imagination, letting readers create their own mental pictures. But let’s face it. People love to be entertained on a screen. And a book trailer is just a marketing tool that presents a visual glimpse into the story’s world — a magical invitation to join the adventure — set to music and dramatic pacing.

It’s like a movie trailer, condensing some of the book’s best aspects into fifteen seconds.

Now, maybe that appeals to me so much because, along with devouring myriad books from C.S. Lewis to Carolyn Keene, I also grew up consuming Old Hollywood movies from Cary Grant to Doris Day, from Hitchcock to Capra, from Film Noir to star-studded musicals.

That’s why I’ve always been fascinated with movies and acting. But that also contributed to why I love the idea of book trailers.

Because it combines my love of cinema with my love of books.

And this trailer combines the two as well.

Like the quest our heroes undertake in The Adventure in the Magical World, it features:

And this trailer doesn’t just promote the book — it captures its very essence…

Just as our heroes learn to work together in the story, this trailer represents a beautiful collaboration of talents:

From the wonder of discovering a magical new world to the excitement of facing challenges together. From the growth from rivals to friends to the heart of the story itself.

You read all of that in the book.

And you see all of that in the trailer.

And that’s why, any book I write from now on will be enhanced by a book trailer. They’re exciting and fun. And they really are a great marketing tool.

But before this magical trailer could come to life, there had to be a story. And this story began in the most unexpected way…

This was my first kids’ book. And I had a little help. If you haven’t heard the story (or read the book’s Thank You!), this book came from a teachable moment.

I work at a preschool/kindergarten. And the kids love for me to read, so, one morning, I chose a book. Ugh. Big mistake. The book I found was… 😴

Boring!

As I looked out on the glazed-over expressions, I knew I had to rectify things. After all, I couldn’t have the kids thinking negatively about books and reading. So I put the book down and got interactive.

“If you could write your own book, what would it be about?”

Oh, boy! That was like uncorking a bottle of Champagne. But instead of being sprayed by expensive bubbly, I was drenched by myriad little voices shooting out their ideas.

It was priceless. Their once-uninterested faces had come alive.

But there were four kids who really got into it.

And that was how Lyle, Erica, Percy, and Belle were created. Because four of my students really wanted their own characters.

Finally, I said to the kids, “You guys don’t know this about me, but I write books. So let’s write this story.”

And that was how The Adventure in the Magical World was born. The kids gave me the bones — a fantasy adventure and the four main characters — and I had to supply the flesh.

Inspired by the kids’ fertile imaginations that wanted pirate battles and treasure hunts — oh, and dragons! Lots of dragons — and by Tolkien’s epic adventures, I quickly got into the story.

Before I knew it, I had created a fantasy with portal elements into a magical world teeming with mythical creatures, daring challenges, and action-packed adventure scenes.

What started as a simple classroom moment evolved into something much bigger — a fantasy adventure that speaks to readers of all ages…

I admit I don’t read kids’ books outside of school hours. I still love to watch cartoons, but I just don’t have time to investigate others’ books. But I did have a great bunch of kids to help me get my feet wet in the genre.

Originally, the kids wanted the characters to be seven. And that was what I wrote. But when I pitted them against pirates, giant serpents, and dragons… well, seven quickly turned into ten!

Which is how a bunch of five-year-olds inspired what has become an epic series for kids nine to thirteen.

And I’ve since learned that my story is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson or Narnia. I don’t know of the first, but I did read Narnia as a kid (and saw the cartoon and movie), and I agree.

My middle-grade fantasy offers the same sort of experiences:

It’s a story that presents life through kids’ perspectives.

You have the gifted athlete Lyle who feels overshadowed by his smart twin. There’s science-and-math genius Percy whose knowledge has caused his head to swell — not with facts and figures but with pride. Then we have Erica who’s disabled and insecure. And finally Belle who seems to have everything going for her but the one thing all kids need and crave: love.

These four rivals are brought together in a world they’ve never seen, facing challenges they’ve only ever dreamed of. And forced to work together if they ever want to go home.

Life lessons about the power of friendship, self-worth, overcoming differences, and valuing others are woven into a tall tale of fantasy and magic that’s geared to teach as well as entertain.

And now, for the moment you’ve been waiting for, let me show you how all these elements come together…

(How was that for a little theatrical build-up?)

So… what do you think? Are you ready to join Lyle, Erica, Percy, and Belle on their magical quest?

Watch the trailer (again — I mean why not? It's so good!), then grab your copy of The Adventure in the Magical World — the perfect book for young fantasy readers who love action, friendship, and magic!

Available now at Amazon in eBook and paperback! And coming soon in hardcover and to Barnes & Noble!