Filming Book Promos

I really like writing prompts. Especially one’s like this. They get in your face and force you to look at yourself.

So, with that in mind, what’s the first thing I thought of? And it’s also one thing with the most excuses.

I got a camera to shoot videos for my books.

Nothing major or exciting, just a little blurb.

Here’s the idea for the book Event Horizon. It would involve a single long shot.

Fade in.

We open at a shooting range. The author, Richard Muniz, has just rapid-fired his Colt 1911. He lowers the weapon and looks downrange with a look of smug satisfaction.

“Eight out of eight,” I’d say. “Not too bad. No, not bad at all.

“But this isn’t a video on how to use a Colt. Nor is it a video about shooting?

“Then why are we at the range, you ask. We’re here to talk about “Event Horizons.”

“An Event Horizon has nothing to do with shooting. Or does it? But first, what is an Event Horizon? And why did I title the book Event Horizon?

“An Event Horizon has to do with objects in space called “Black Holes.” These are incredibly massive things, weighing in from a few times heavier than our sun to the weight of entire galaxies of stars combined. Their gravity is crushing, and nothing escapes from them once they’re drawn in.

“But now, here’s a closer example.”

The author puts a magazine in the pistol, lets the slide go forward. He cranks off a single round. The slide locks back, and he ejects the now-spent magazine.

“The bullet I just fired went into the target I aimed at. But on its own, it’s going to go so far and then gravity will pull it to the ground. If I wanted it to go into space and into orbit, I’d have to put it on top of a rocket and send it up. The rocket would have to reach a maximum speed of around 5 miles per second for the bullet to orbit the Earth.

“If I wanted to send it into our solar system, it would have to travel around 7 miles per second. And to escape the sun and cruise through the universe, it would have to travel even faster still.

“We call these escape velocities. How fast do I need to travel to escape from something? Now, the closer you are to something, the higher the speed. And the more massive an object, the greater the pull of gravity. Incredibly massive objects, once you pass a certain point, have such an incredibly high escape velocity, you’ll never get away from them.

“And this is true of a black hole. You reach a certain point, you’re too close. Even light can’t escape. And if you were unlucky enough to reach that point, and since no material object can travel at light speed or faster, there’s no getting away from it.

“We call that point an Event Horizon. It’s the point of no return.”

The author picks up the Colt. “Life is full of Event Horizons. This weapon, for instance. Left to itself, it will rust away in a few dozen years. But . . .”

He takes a magazine, loads the weapon and lets the slide go forward. He hefts the weapon and fires. Since it was a single round in the magazine, it locks back. The author puts the weapon back on the stand.

“I fired the weapon at a target. But let’s suppose instead of a target of paper, I fired at a person.” Pause. “I pull that trigger, I’ve now passed an Event Horizon. I have passed the point of no return. The weapon fires, the bullet hits someone, and I’ve changed the universe forever.”

“Both I and the person I fired at have passed event horizons. His event horizon is because I ended his life. Mine? I might be a cold-blooded killer now.

“And it’s not just us that have passed it. We have drug countless dozens across that Event Horizon with us. They’re now thrust into a reality they didn’t want.

“That’s an Event Horizon in life, and the title of my fourth novel in the Lawman series. In it, detective Will Diaz finds himself in the middle of something he didn’t want. His friend and a man he considers a brother, named Max, has murdered his wife and is now a fugitive from the law. And Will finds himself drug across the point of no return and into a manhunt in the beautiful San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

“You can check out that book and order it by going to Williamablan (spell it out).com and the link that reads Books about Cops by a Cop.”

“Or scan the Q-Code at the bottom.

“Thank you for viewing this video. God bless.”

The author picks up the 45, puts another magazine in it and aims downrange.

Fade out.

OK, what keeps me from doing this?

And since I like a little whine with my cheese, here are the excuses.

• It’s too hot outside.
• It’s too cold outside.
• There are too many people at the range.
• I must pay for the range.
• The shoot is too long.
• People around will think I’m nuts.
• Too philosophical
• The range is a long way away.

And since part of what writers’ prompts is supposed to do (at least in my VA writing group) to help you work your way through it. I see my excuses for what they are.

This is my only excuse I’ve got.

Too damned lazy to go do it.

And since that isn’t an excuse, I’ll have to go shoot it, edit it, and throw it up there.