Book trailer reveal: 'Belle Époque' by Elizabeth Ross
Elizabeth Ross introduces us to the amazing trailer for her upcoming June 11 release, Belle Époque.
Elizabeth: Belle Époque takes place in a world preoccupied with beauty. At the Durandeau agency, business is booming, renting out ugly girls to the Parisian elite — the beauty foil is the season's "must-have" accessory. So I conceived the book trailer as a mock advert for the agency itself. And with the help of some film friends and my talented husband (a visual effects artist and animator), I was fortunate enough to be able to realize this vision.
The belle époque was the dawn of advertising, and I was inspired by early fashion magazines from the period, which had an amazing array of classifieds for a range of beauty products — from hair tonics to slimming pills (times haven't really changed so much!). We also used some gorgeous art nouveau posters whose pretty faces advertised everything from perfume to absinthe.
It was important for us to have live-action footage to really pull readers into the lush world of the novel. As a film editor, I jumped at the chance to see my characters step off the page and come to life. We introduce the two main characters — the society girl and the foil — and contrast them, one from the other, to highlight the potential for conflict and intrigue. We wanted to go beyond the grainy historical elements and transform the trailer into something rich and cinematic.
The trailer is a teasing glimpse into the world of the novel, which I hope will leave you wanting to know more about the fates of these characters and how the story of Belle Époque unravels. Thanks for watching!
Here's the blurb for Belle Époque (courtesy of publisher Delacorte):
When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive.
Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect adornment of plainness.
But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose.
Inspired by a short story written by Emile Zola, Belle Époque is set at the height of Bohemian Paris, when the city was at the peak of decadence, men and women were at their most beautiful, and morality was at its most depraved.
To find out more about Elizabeth and her books, visit www.elizabethrossbooks.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter (@RossElizabeth).