Lights, Camera, Bestseller!
Create a scroll‑stopping book trailer in a weekend, even if you’ve never made a video before in your life
Your book is powerful. But if no one sees it, it just… sits there.
Imagine a 45–75 second video that grabs attention, sparks emotion, and makes readers say, “I want THAT.” That’s a book trailer—and it can be the difference between crickets and clicks.
This course shows you exactly how to plan, build, and promote a book trailer that gets your book noticed (and bought)—without a film crew or tech headaches.
Choose your version and start today
Who this is for
Authors who are:
- Tired of shouting into the void (or avoiding marketing altogether).
- Over the “post a graphic and pray” strategy.
- Ready to market in a way that feels creative, classy, and actually effective.
If you can click, drag, and follow a checklist, you can do this.
What you’ll make by the end
A polished, on‑brand book trailer that:
- Tells a tight, compelling story in under 75 seconds.
- Showcases your book’s unique hook.
- Makes people want your book now.
- Is easy to share across your site, socials, Amazon Author page, and ads.
What’s inside the course
Module 1 — Hook & Plan
Boil your book down to a 1–3 sentence heartbeat. Map the trailer’s story for fiction or nonfiction. Use intrigue without confusion. Leave viewers hungry.
Module 2 — Find Your Media (Fast & Legal)
Where to find gorgeous footage, images, music, and sound effects (many free), what licensing actually means (in plain English), and how to organize it so nothing gets lost.
Module 3 — Assemble Like a Pro (No Film Degree Needed)
Use Invideo AI to generate your video for you completely, or follow click‑by‑click demos to learn to create and refine your video using InVideo (AI jumpstart), VideoPad (intuitive timeline editing), or Descript (edit video like a document). Cut, time, and polish without tears.
Module 4 — Final Polish: Make It Snap
Pacing, sound levels, J/L cuts, speed ramps, consistent color/feel, crystal‑clear voiceover, and a title/CTA that lands.
Module 5 — Publish & Promote
Exactly where to post, how often, what to say, how to repurpose, and how to use your trailer as a low‑cost ad that actually converts.
Bonus: Example Book Trailers & Walk-Throughs
Watch our example trailers and director’s commentary for inspiration
Meet Your Secret Weapon
Custom Book Trailer Script Generator (Pro Only)
Imagine dropping in your blurb and getting three tight, cinematic scripts—complete with visual ideas, music mood, on‑screen text, and platform formats—in seconds.
Want the video made for you automatically? No problem! This tool can write a custom prompt that you can copy and paste into tools like Invideo AI to generate your video for you.
That’s your private AI, built for authors, trained to write 45–75 second book trailer scripts that make people feel your book.
What it does for you:
- Turns your blurb into 3 script variations (dramatic, inspirational, edgy—your choice).
- Includes voiceover lines + suggested visuals + music vibe + captions text.
- Gives you quick‑build recipes so you can assemble your trailer fast if you’re hands-on.
- Outputs for Reels/TikTok (9:16), IG feed (1:1), YouTube/site (16:9).
- Adds stock‑search keywords so finding footage takes minutes, not hours.
- Writes a custom prompt that you can paste into a tool like Invideo AI to get your video made for you automatically.
Translation: less staring at a blank page, more “OMG this looks legit.”
Here’s all you have to do:
- Paste your title, genre, blurb, and vibe → get 3 script options.
- Pick your favorite, grab the visual/music suggestions + captions.
- Copy the InVideo AI prompt and paste it into InVideo to auto‑generate your trailer draft — or follow the quick‑build recipe (InVideo or Descript) if you want manual control.
- Use the Headline/Caption pack to post everywhere. Done.
This one tool can save you hours and hours. Sign up for the Pro package to get it!
Two Ways to Join
Essential—DIY, clear and simple ($147)
Perfect if: you want the plan, the tools, and you’re ready to go.
Pro—The Shortcut ($197)
Perfect if: you want speed, inspiration on tap, and assets that make your trailer (and posts) practically build themselves.
Need financing?
We offer a variety of payment plans through Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and PayPal Credit / Pay Later. There are interest-free options. Depending on the plan you choose, you can get in for as little as $13.27 / month.
You can find Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna below the credit card information. Just click “Learn more” to see all the payment options.
For PayPal Credit, choose PayPal at checkout and look for PayPal Credit or Pay Later among the payment options.
Who this is for
This is for authors who are done being the internet’s best‑kept secret—and want a tiny, cinematic trailer to do the charming for them.
It’s for you if…
You want a short, 45- to 75-second trailer that makes people feel your book and tap through.
You can give it a weekend and you appreciate a good checklist.
Camera‑shy? Perfect. Stock footage + your cover + voiceover (your own or generated for you) works beautifully.
You want words that work—hooks, captions, and CTAs—plus guidance on visuals/music that match your genre.
You’d like legal peace of mind (licensing, attribution) and tidy organization so nothing boomerangs later.
This is not for you if…
You want someone to make the trailer for you. (I’ll show you how to do it in this program, but I won’t do it for you.)
You’re after a 10‑minute mini‑doc. We’re crafting punchy 45- to 75-second trailers.
Your publisher locks down your marketing edits/assets.
Still writing? Come on in!
Draft a teaser now, swap in your final cover later, and start building buzz while you write. You’ve got lifetime access.
Lights, Camera, Guaranteed
Try it for 14 days. If you do the worksheets in Modules 1–2 and the assembly steps in Module 3 and you’re not thrilled with your progress, email support with your work and I’ll refund you. I believe in this—and I believe in you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to make readers feel your book?
Your book deserves a spotlight. Give it one.
About the Creator
Cara Stein is an idealist who has stopped trying to play it cool. She believes the only reason people don’t like business or marketing is that they don’t know how to do it well—yet. She's often praised for her no-bullshit style and her wry humor.
Cara has been helping people finish and publish their books since 2012. She’s guided over 200 books through the publishing process. She’s also the bestselling author of five books of her own, including How to be Happy (No Fairy Dust or Moonbeams Required), Getting Unstuck, and Finish and Publish: Write the Book You’ve Always Wanted to Write. Her peeves include chipmunks, fakery, and the word “peeve.”
Real Results
Wondering what kind of results we’ve had with my bestseller launch system? This is the same system I use for all of my books and my clients’ books.
Let’s start with Brad. He wrote a book because he wanted to break into a new market. He had no past clients or connections in this area. He was brand new, with no email list or following. And we got his book into the top 10 in 7 categories. More importantly, we kept it selling for months after his launch.
My most recent book hit the top 5 in 18 categories in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. And that’s after it sat around Amazon’s graveyard for five years before I launched it.
And that first book I mentioned? Now that I know what I’m doing, it camps at the top of its categories, week after week.
It’s not just my books or my clients’ books. In 2020, I hosted a certification program to train 10 people in this system. Their clients’ books also became bestsellers, including many #1s, tons of top-10 rankings, and a few international bestsellers.
Selected Praise for Bestseller Launch Blueprint
More Praise for the Bestseller Launch Blueprinter Starter Kit
Ailish Keating:
Helpful info so far
The course answers a lot of questions I had about launching, in an organized way. I'm about 4 months from launching. Good investment
—
Denise Gruzensky:
I am launching the 2nd edition of my Children's Book and I'm so excited to have a mapped out plan thanks to this course!
—
Alyssa Bailey:
A good help
This helped me organize some of the information I had already received and hadn't yet used, and new book launching ideas.
—
Joselyn Greene:
Great overview and step-by-step guide for planning a book launch
The content was very informative. I especially liked the launch planner spreadsheet that calculates dates for each step in the launch process based on the launch date entered.
—
Shannon Beets:
Helpful Information
I was looking for someone to break down the steps to a book launch in simple, actionable terms. This course did exactly what I needed. I appreciate the timelines and templates. Worth the time and money!
—
Christine Husom:
Great Course
Very helpful. A lot of motivating information I plan to use.
—
Thomas Wideman:
Best Training
The best training I have taken thus far. It was very informative and inexpensive.
—
Joyce Crawford:
Clear, simple, realistic
—
Malesia SPIRES:
GREAT! Exactly what it says!
I found this very informative. Very helpful for a beginning author like myself. Thanks Cara!
—
Kathleen Paiva Alford:
Grabbed my attention!
Practical and comprehensive!
—
Shanelle Dupree:
Learned something new
I love that I’m learning new tricks and information with each course I view. Thank you!
—
Janet Ashmore:
Awesome Blueprint!
After retirement, we self-published my husband's first book last year and the second this year, but didn't know how to go about marketing them. Thank you for this excellent, easy to understand guide-we can't wait to put these steps into action!
—
Daryl Jackson:
Very helpful info and details for any authors but especially first timers like me.
—
Eyad Yehyawi:
Excellent outline for launching your book!
—
Amy Burgess:
Comprehensive, step-by-step plan
I was skeptical because so many courses simply don't deliver on the promised value. This is NOT one of those courses. This is a true, actionable, step-by-step guide to accomplishing a bestselling launch for your book. I'm so excited to get started!
—
Reena Pagnoni:
Very helpful for a first time author!
Great tips and information. This will really help me along my publishing journey. Thank you!
—
Kathi Toro:
Great Content
I have self published one book in 2011, and I have made all the same mistakes you refer to in the Bestseller Launch Blueprint Starter Kit. My plan going forward is to use your outlined method and hopefully I will publish my next project with less aggravation and with much more ease!! Thanks!!
—
Jason Moser:
The Perfect Blueprint
Great information for any level of writer. Knowing this before you publish your first book is essential and it will save you a lot of time, spare you of the frustrations of not knowing, and get you on the road to writing and publishing success right from the start.
—
Michelle Gordon:
This was a very easy read with great templates provided to aid in getting presales reviews, setting up ads, and reaching more customers. I really like the downloadable/printable templates and the timeline of what to do and when.
—
Roxanne Bland:
Nice--All in One Place!
Some of these tips I've gleaned through my own marketing research, but it's nice to have it all in one place!
—
Beverly Jones-Durr:
Great Stuff
Course was terrific. Great information to use in the future. Thank you!
Laura Schiff:
Good Value for the Money
Thank you, Cara! Very nicely done. I found both the Blueprint and the Starter Kit helpful. I'm about half-way through the first draft of my non-fiction book, and I can start implementing some of your suggestions now. Cheers!
—
Todd Hayes:
Provides the simple steps needed to prioritize your launch efforts.
—
Tiffany Walton:
Book cover info. CHECK!
Very informative already. Especially if you have no idea where to begin when looking for a book cover designer.
—
Ruth Morris:
The pre-calibrated lead up to launch was a real time saver. Made the process feel doable rather than overwhelming.
—
Stevie Claxton:
Worth the money
I'm getting ready to launch my first novel this year and was rather nervous about how to go about things. I stumbled across this on Facebook and decided that it would be worth the money to see how others are doing it versus reinventing the wheel. So, I bought the course and just finished! It's well worth the money to have a strategy in my back pocket.
—
Jeralynn Mance:
Essential Information
This course is awesome, informative, and life changing.!! There was so much that I didn't know, things I would have never considered doing in my launch. I am greatly appreciative for this course, its invaluable!!
—
Barry Gallagher:
Covers are Key!
So far, so good! Lot more valuable information and tools.
—
Cheryl Shumake:
From a grateful author
Thank you so much for putting together a concise, easy-to-follow, launch plan which promises results without promoting unrealistic expectations. I will employ your insights and directions and am looking forward to better outcomes than I could have achieved on my own.
—
James Kelly:
Tips to Launch Your Best Seller
I have accomplished some of the items in the course, but the amount of information was outstanding. I am armed with tips and suggestions to enhance the sale of my current books, and set the stage for the next one out the door. Great job!
—
Cheyenne Tagliaferro:
Awesome
Great info!! Looking forward to seeing if this info will make a difference between my second book launch and my first… Thank you
—
Lex Brown:
Streamlined & Actionable! High-Quality Content!
I truly enjoyed this course and think that its worth every penny spent. The content has strong impact, with actionable, streamlined steps for accomplishing every Authorpreneur's goal: a growing audience with high conversions into buyers.
—
Victor Wilkie:
Very informative
I was pleased overall and hope that this will help with my project. However, I wish that the course contained some more detailed information on getting editorial reviews, whom to contact, etc.
—
Robert Cooper:
Excellent presentation!
—
Robyn Michaels:
Indeed, it takes more than writing to make a book. Very good information!
—
Loralee Lago:
Excellent information. I would have like a few more print outs but what was given was invaluable!!!
—
Mary Kennedy:
Great Information
I've learned so much from participating in this course. Hadn't realized there is so much to know AFTER a manuscript is finished.
—
Tony Martin:
This is a great little primer to get you started toward realizing your publishing dreams. It’s accessible, just detailed enough, and gives you a great foundation to begin. I recommend it.
—
Lisa Washington:
Good Info to start with
There was a lot of good content to start with.
—
Danielle Perlin-Good:
Great Outline
I highly recommend taking this course so you can learn what to do in order to have a bestseller launch campaign.
—
LaBena Fleming:
Excellent Advice