Julianne MacLean | On Romance and You Tube

So here's the deal. I am a Romance writer (I write historicals), and I do what most writers feel a compulsion to do -- I make an effort to promote my books so that not just my mother will read them. I've done everything from purchasing print ads in magazines to sending shelf talkers (those pretty little flaps that hang off a store shelf under your book) to thousands of retailers. I have a website, I do book signings, and I hang out on reader message boards to connect with readers all over the world.

The one thing I had not done yet, however, was a book video.

I've been watching the whole video trailer phenomenon with interest over the past few years, and since my husband has an interest in filmmaking and we love to do things together, I was keen to give it a try. I knew I could trust him with the project because he'd already directed a short film that made it into some major film festivals, but also because hey - he's my soul mate -- and most importantly, he has great sense of humor.

This was key, because I wanted to do something fun. I wanted to produce a trailer that would entertain, because that's the promise I make to a reader every time I write a new book. My aim is to provide a few hours of entertainment, escape, laughter, and the emotional experience of falling in love. I want my readers to feel passion.

So we set out to produce a video for my newest book, In My Wildest Fantasies, with a whole lot of passion in our hearts.

My husband came up with the concept and wrote the script. We then hired the right people for the job -- from the actors to the director, the producers, and the very important hair and makeup artist who made the leading lady look like the model on the cover of my book. We hunted all over the city for the proper corset (a key element in the plot), and put immense effort into the set decoration.

It was a busy and stressful few weeks leading up to the day of shooting, but it was all worth it in the end, when everyone came together, the director said, "Action," and the cameras started rolling. It didn't end there, of course. The footage had to be edited, and a great deal of skill and artistry went into that. It took weeks, and it was 3am on the final day when my husband finally arrived home with the final cut.

If you haven't seen it yet, you can watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpkg7T8iYvc

Let me know what you think and if you found it entertaining. We had so much fun doing it, that we already have a script ready for a sequel. I guess that means more passion in the offing for hubby and me!