Since video book trailers are now all the rage, the following is the script for the first foray into the field by Donna and myself.
This is a little self-serving, no doubt about it, plus there is some catharsis.
The camera starts rolling.
ALEX: Hi everyone, my name is Alex Carrick and I’m here to tell you about my new book, “Three Scoops” Is A Blast! It’s the sequel to my first book, “Two Scoops” Is Just Right.
To help with descriptions of my writing, I’ve brought along an impartial reader, my wife Donna. Go ahead, sweetheart, tell viewers how much you enjoyed Two Scoops.
DONNA: I absolutely loved your book. I’ve already made two of the dishes you set out, a lemon meringue pie and a Baked Alaska.
ALEX (looking disgusted): It’s not a recipe book and you know it. Now stop kidding around and tell viewers how good Two Scoops is.
DONNA: It was so exciting. The main characters were racing all over Europe trying to solve puzzles and the authorities were chasing them. I couldn’t put it down
ALEX: You’ve just described The Da Vinci Code. It was a huge bestseller. My effort was more modest.
DONNA: Really? I thought it was your book.
ALEX: No, in my book I wrote about outlandish things like how to spot aliens from outer space and about my job and our cottage. I even told a story or two from my long-ago schooldays.
DONNA: That’s right, I remember now. You went to school in a castle and performed magic tricks and a wizard was chasing you.
ALEX: That was Harry Potter. You must remember my stories. In Two Scoops, I recorded a number of the funny things that happened in our own family. Lifestyle situations.
DONNA: Yes, I hated those. They always made me look foolish.
ALEX: I made fun of myself too.
DONNA: But you always ended up looking like the hero.
ALEX: What can I say? Most of my stories are grounded in reality.
DONNA: And you think I’m having trouble remembering.
ALEX: Yes, well, the approach in my second book, “Three Scoops” Is A Blast! is a little different. It’s full of fictional short stories. These comment on society but with often humorous and ironic twists.
They’re set in the past, the present and the future. And many of them have surprise endings.
What do you think of my latest stories?
DONNA: They’re very good. Charming and cute.
ALEX: Cute? Tell viewers how funny they are.
DONNA (absolutely deadpan): Yes, they’re very funny.
ALEX: Come on, they are.
DONNA (deadpan still): If you say so, yes, funny. (Then relenting and patting Alex on the shoulder). I’m sure some people will find them quite amusing.
ALEX: Thank you. You can order either of my books by searching under their titles or by my name through your favorite bookseller such as Amazon.
They are also easily available in paperback or Kindle or other electronic versions.
DONNA: You can order my books the same way. Their titles are Gold and Fishes, The Noon God and The First Excellence.
ALEX: You know which of your books is my favorite?
DONNA: No.
ALEX: The one where at the end, Rhett walks out the door and says to Scarlett, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
DONNA: That was Gone with the Wind.
ALEX: Really? I was sure it was one of yours.
DONNA: This interview may have a surprise ending.
ALEX: You mean with me sleeping on the couch? (Donna nods.)
Okay, stop the filming please.
****
It’s scary to contemplate, but I have no doubt My Wife can Read my Mind. How else to explain the fact she’s always one step ahead of me?
**
For my first book, “Two Scoops” Is Just Right, please click here for the paperback version and here for the Kindle e-book version.
For the sequel, “Three Scoops” Is A Blast! (with the award-winning “Size of the Skip”) click here for paperback and here for Kindle.
For “Four Scoops” Is Over The Top (containing Hemingway short-listed “Caboose Follies”) click here for paperback and here for Kindle.
And finally, for my latest book, “Five Scoops” Is An Addiction!, please click here for the paperback and here for the Kindle digital version.
Also, I would love it if you joined me on Twitter (Alex_Carrick), Facebook and/or LinkedIn.
29 responses so far ↓
1 Sam // Jul 4, 2010 at 7:40 am
Ahahahahaha! Brilliant, I love this. I can’t wait to see the finished trailer. 🙂
2 Jeanne Veillette Bowerman // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:11 am
I’m laughing so hard! So love you guys 😉
3 redhatman // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:15 am
I’m looking forward to vid. Alex potter indeed
4 CDominiqueGibson // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:23 am
You two are wonderful and funny. Im searching amazon now!
5 Cynthia Schuerr // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:26 am
Oh my gosh! I absolutely love it! Alex and Donna, if either of you ever decide to stop writing (no, please don’t ever do that), you may have a career in stand-up comedy. The new George Burns and Gracie Allen!:-)
I love you guys!
6 Deb Gray // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:32 am
rofl………!!!! You two are incorrigible!! Rofl…!!!
A recipe book?? hahahahah Brilliant 🙂
7 Laura Eno // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:33 am
I will agree with Cynthia – the new George and Gracie! 🙂
8 Medeia Sharif // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:36 am
Do post the video soon, when you’re done.
9 karenfrommentor // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:48 am
I don’t know if I even need to see this filmed…laughing…it was so beautifully rendered what nuances are left?
Thanks for the giggle.
:0)
10 annie q. syed // Jul 4, 2010 at 8:48 am
hahahhahahhaha! made my Sunday morning. Thank you for sharing. LOVED it. you two are the best. Twitter for me would suck without you guys. It would.
Annie
11 Gregg Morris // Jul 4, 2010 at 9:31 am
Hilarious! I loved it. What was that I tweeted? Oh yes, you two are a couple of real Carrick-ters!
12 J. M. Strother // Jul 4, 2010 at 9:33 am
Which one of you wrote the one where you throw the ring into the volcano at the end. That was so cool. 🙂
This was a real treat.
~jon
13 Suzanna // Jul 4, 2010 at 9:40 am
What a treat! I especially loved the one about the man in the cape. And that gorgeous woman sitting backwards on the chair, woooo, you go girl! Where DID you get those boots?
Carrick-ters indeed.
love
Suzanna
14 Julie Isaac // Jul 4, 2010 at 10:49 am
What a delight!! You’ve just turned Sunday into Funday.
Julie
15 Rachel Blackbirdsong // Jul 4, 2010 at 10:57 am
I can’t wait to see it! The new George Burns and Gracie Allen, indeed. Brilliant and funny
16 Laurita // Jul 4, 2010 at 11:07 am
This was hilarious! Made my day!. 🙂
17 Julie Butcher-Fedynich // Jul 4, 2010 at 12:22 pm
LOVE IT!
I can’t wait to see.
18 Bob Spear // Jul 4, 2010 at 4:04 pm
You guys rock, but which is George and which is Gracie? If one of you is the straight-man, which one is bent? My money is on the dog, but then I’ve always liked dogs.
19 Eileen Schuh // Jul 4, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I love your sense of humour! I believe you’ve discovered the best way to handle that frustrating little bit of husband-wife competition.
20 Anne Tyler Lord // Jul 5, 2010 at 6:20 am
Ha! That was great & a whole lot of fun! I really like what Greg came up with – you two Carrick-ters! You will have to use that one!
21 Sterling // Jul 5, 2010 at 8:59 am
Comedic gold. You know what’s going to be even funnier than this trailer? The outtakes. I eagerly look forward to both. Keep up the good work.
22 Roxie // Jul 5, 2010 at 9:02 am
Haahaa! You two are terrific! I agree w/ Anne: two Carrick-ters!
23 Marisa Birns // Jul 5, 2010 at 2:04 pm
I really, really hope that you and Donna are doing a trailer with this script! Was away for long weekend and returned to read this and laughed throughout!
Truly enjoyable, Alex.
Did someone say Baked Alaska? YUM.
24 Loni Edwards // Jul 6, 2010 at 9:37 am
This is great! Yes, a trailer please! 🙂 Though I think you will have to bribe Donna big time!
25 Ezzy Guerrero-Languzzi // Jul 6, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Carrick-sters, yes. You guys crack me up. I could totally see you two co-hosting a show. Loved it. : )
26 Boudreau // Jul 9, 2010 at 6:17 am
Two thumbs up! Way up!
27 Ron Richardson // Jul 11, 2010 at 4:44 am
I’ve know Alex and his wife for many years and believe with the support they receive from each other, the understanding, the empathy, that some day, perhaps in the not too distant future, that a great book, a literary triumph will emerge, not from them necessarily, but you never know. It is there understanding of each other that may make this happen, or maybe not. Stay tuned.
28 Juliette // Jul 14, 2010 at 1:41 pm
This is HYSTERICAL!!!!
One of these days you may actually have to film it!
And the Carrcik-ters?!?!? PRICELESS!!!!
Thank you for the laugh!!!
~ J
29 Barbara Kent // Jul 25, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Oh how I wish I had been the one to name you two The Carrickters. I envision your “stand up” routine as clearly as I see Burns & Allen (or Stiller & Meara for the somewhat younger crowd. ) You two should really have a go at it.
Thanks for the great belly laugh!