This year, I’m inviting readers to create trailers in anticipation of the release of my next book, Jekel Loves Hyde, which comes out in May. And this time, there are prizes for the best efforts!

How the Contest Works

1. Create a short video trailer – like a movie preview – for Jekel Loves Hyde.
2. Post your video on YouTube. (You will need to create a valid YouTube account; this is free.)
3. Share the link to your YouTube post on my blog. Your blog comment must include:
* Your YouTube user name
* Your video’s URL

I’ll then place your video directly on my website, so everyone who visits can watch it and share comments. And on March 20, I’ll choose the winning trailers and award prizes.

IMPORTANT NOTE! Any images or music used in entries MUST be copyright free! Failure to follow this rule will result in your video being disqualified.

One Exception!  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is making the Jekel Loves Hyde cover art available for contest entrants.  Click here to download a high-resolution copy.  (Although the use is not restricted, it's appreciated if you credit Houghton Mifflin Harcourt somewhere for using this.)

Prizes

First prize:

• A visit by me to your local bookstore, library or school to sign books and (of course!) meet you.
• Signed copies of both Jekel Loves Hyde and Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.
• Winning entry becomes the “official” trailer for the book on my website, as well as eligible for possible use by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• And, of course, I’ll bring some other fun stuff when I visit!

Runners-up

• Two runners-up will receive signed copies of Jekel Loves Hyde and Jessica’s Guide.

Bonus Prizes!

• The first 10 entrants will receive signed copies of Jekel Loves Hyde.
• International Prize!  One international entry will win a signed copy of Jekel Loves Hyde and Jessica's Guide.  (Please identify yourself as a non-U.S. resident when posting your entry on my blog.)

Rules and Deadlines

Deadline to submit a trailer is March 15 at noon.
First prize available only to residents of U.S. and Canada. (Sorry, but I can only fly so far!)
And remember: Only use copyright-free material.
When posting to YouTube, you must allow the embed code to be visible.  In addition, your submission shouldn't be wider than 465px.

Hints for Creating a Trailer

• Check out any of the Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side trailers on YouTube. They’ll give you an idea of length and tone.
• Most trailers are only two to three minutes long.
• Copyright-free images and music can be found using Google. Type in “copyright free music” or “copyright free images.”

More on Jekel Loves Hyde

A book trailer is meant to be a quick preview – a “teaser” – that doesn’t give away too much of the story, so it’s not necessary to read the whole book. However, here’s a brief synopsis and a link to the first chapter on my website.

Ever since British student Tristen Hyde arrived at Jill Jekel’s Pennsylvania high school, the two teenagers have endured teasing about being “Jekyll and Hyde.”
And both of them have reasons to hate the jokes.

Shy Jill’s father has always insisted that the Jekels are distantly related to THE Dr. Henry Jekyll, whose story inspired the 1886 novel about a scientist who creates an evil alter ego in his lab. In fact, Jill’s dad swore that a box locked away in his home office contains documents that detail Dr. Jekyll’s diabolical research.

And Tristen, a talented young pianist with a decidedly dark edge, has even closer – and worse – connections to the 19th century tale. Good girl Jill has been told never to open the locked box. But when her father is murdered and her college savings disappear, she is tempted to break her parents’ rules and examine the forbidden papers, in hopes of winning a lucrative chemistry scholarship by re-creating the old experiments and determining whether the Jekyll-Hyde story really could have been true.

To better her odds, she enlists the help of brooding, mysterious Tristen, believing that their legendary names will give them an edge in the competition.
However, as the two work in the lab, it becomes clear that Tristen has his own reasons for dabbling with the ancient formulas. His goal is to save his sanity – and maybe his life. Because if Tristen’s family legends are to be believed, he is a direct descendant of the monster, “Mr. Hyde,” and doomed to repeat a history of violence if he can’t find a “cure” for the evil that lurks inside of him.

The clock is already ticking down for Tristen when Jill’s accidental taste of a personality-altering potion unleashes her darkest nature and compels this good girl to risk everything – even her new love for Tristen – just for the sake of being bad.

Can Tristen and Jill control the most frightening aspects of themselves in time to not only win a scholarship but to save their souls? And ensure that the love that’s growing between them won’t lead to their mutual destruction?

Read an excerpt here.

View trailers here.

GOOD LUCK!