When the name Dom Testa comes up in a conversation, most people think of the host of the Dom and Jane Morning radio show on Denver’s Mix 100. However, teenagers know a different Dom Testa. He’s an award winning YA writer of Science Fiction with his Galahad series which starts with The Comet’s Curse. He is also a frequent visitor to schools to discuss writing and the founder of The Big Brain Club.

Recently I had the opportunity to ask him about his writing.

CC: When did you start writing?

Dom: Like most writers, I've been creating stories since I was a kid. I began to get serious about it in my 30s, but it was the work that I began doing with students that inspired me to write a young adult novel. The Comet's Curse was the result.

CC: I read that you write what you liked to read as a teenager. What else influences your writing?

Dom: It's true. When I was a kid I was a big fan of The Hardy Boys, and a series called The Three Investigators. I enjoyed the combination of action/adventure, along with a bit of mystery, and felt like kids today might want the same thing in an updated version.

I'm also influenced by the science magazines and television shows that I'm hooked on. It seems like there's so much material in the realm of the unknown, especially in deep space, that it allows young people to really fire up their imaginations.

CC: The Comet's Curse has garnered lots of positive press. What do young readers tell you about the book when you visit the schools?

Dom: Kids love the concept of a group of teenagers on their own, without any adults around. It's truly a coming-of-age tale, but also a story that inspires kids to learn responsibility and cooperation. Technically the book is science fiction, but the characters are so strong that it goes way beyond its genre. I've had kids (and parents, too) tell me that they'd never really read science fiction before The Comet's Curse, and they were now hooked. That's a huge compliment.


CC: Tor has picked up the Galahad series. Is this the first publisher you have had?

Dom: The Galahad series was originally a product of my own publishing company. After publishing three books in the series, I reached an agreement with Tor, and they have re-issued the first book (The Comet's Curse) in hardcover. They'll follow with the second book, The Web of Titan, in early 2010.

CC: You have committed yourself to helping youth with your web site The Big Brain Club. In what ways has your dedication to youth brought you satisfaction?

Dom: As a society we sometimes dwell too much on the negative stories we hear about young people, primarily because that's how the news media make their living. Yet, once you work with young people, you see so much to give you hope, and make you smile. The Big Brain Club gives kids the confidence to pursue their love of learning, without worrying about any negative stereotypes that otherwise might have held them back.

The Comet's Curse, and the rest of the books in the Galahad series, features characters who essentially embody the spirit of The Big Brain Club. The stories highlight the very best in kids, and hopefully inspires young people to achieve great things.

CC: For all those writers of young adult fiction:
Please tell how long you marketed the book before signing with Tor.
Did you go the agent route or submit to publishers yourself?
Did you ever consider self-publishing?

Dom: I did publish the books myself at first, which is quite a lot of work. I didn't pursue a traditional publisher, or seek out an agent, because I was anxious to get the books into the market right away. There are certainly trade-offs taking that approach; you DO control the product completely, including the timeline, but you're also responsible for everything, including distribution, marketing, sales, etc. It really eats at the time you have left for writing. I'm thrilled that the Galahad series has a new home with Tor!


CC: What advice do you have for writers?

Dom: Well, that's difficult to answer, because all writers are different. Like most writing teachers will tell you, it's all about discipline, about carving out that time to write as often as possible. The competition is staggering, but until you get your butt in the seat and stare down that keyboard, all you have are dreams. And nobody's buying those right now.

CC: You have three full time jobs with the radio show, writing, and speaking. How do you balance them all? Are you able to write everyday as writers are told they must do?

Dom: Finding balance is a challenge sometimes, but it helps that I love all of the things that I do. I'm fortunate, because so many people are dissatisfied with their professional lives, while I enjoy multiple careers.

However, given that they are all careers, the reality is that at any given time one of those activities is hogging my time, which might mean that writing has to take a back seat temporarily. But usually not for long! It always calls me back.


The Comet’s Curse is available on Amazon.com and major booksellers can order it if they don’t carry the book on their shelves. Locally, in Colorado, many grocery stores are also carrying it.

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend was voted the most popular book for July 2009 on PDB.  Please stop by the PolkaDotBanner site to read my interview.  There are lots of good books and authors listed on the site.  Take a look around when you visit.

Thanks.

It's been a long time since my first blog on marketing my book.  I must tell you that until today (7/28/09) I have been literally going crazy trying to keep up with what I already had started and wanting to be sure that I followed up on any new leads that I came across.  Boy, what a recipe for disaster! 

I know that what has been on my mind the entire time is the information given to newly published authors from the Marketing Coach At Outskirts:

If you are serious about promoting your book, roll up your sleeves – this is where the real rewards start!  Professional opinions and industry statistics indicate that 10% of your effort should be allocated to writing a book, 30% should be allocated to editing it, and a full 60% should be allocated toward promoting it after publication. That's right. You are not even half-way done, yet.

Many writers stop after the first 10%, and most stop after the initial 40%. What separates successful authors from the rest?  That remaining 60%.   Why? Is promoting a book harder than writing one? No!  So why don't more authors promote their publications?

Because they don't know they should, or they do not know how. Do traditionally-published authors promote their books? Of course. And so should you.

So, to that end, I have tried to take in more information, web sites, strategies, contacts, and who knows what else than is humanly possible.  Last night I cried UNCLE when I couldn't even decide what to work on or look for!

Here now is my new and saner strategy:  I stop looking for additional ways to market my book, quit worrying that I may be missing an important strategy or outlet, and concentrate on those marketing strategies that I have started up to last night.  No new ones, no worries, just hard work on a smaller scale.

This what I have done so far:

Entered my book in the following competitions, most specifically for self-published books.

• Writer's Digest Self-Published Awards
• USA Book News Contest
• Indie Book Awards
• Reader Views Awards
• Foreward Connections Awards

Each of these required an entry fee (which I will go over later), 1 or 2 copies of my book, and postage to send it all.  I picked these because they were the least expensive, and I considerd the cost of each to be reasonable.  Besides that, these were all prestigous awards.

I did not enter the Benjamin Franklin Awards for two reasons.  One, they required me to send 5 copies of my book which amounts to $25.  Two, the entry fee was $180.  All of the other fees were $100 or less, and all required 1 book but one  which required 2 books.

All of these contests can be entered by the author.  You just have to do a little more digging.  For my publisher to enter these on my behalf, the bill was a lot more for each award.

Here is the breakdown on the entry fees:

• Reader Views -   Me-$65;  Publisher-$199
• Writer's Digest - Me-$100;  Publisher-$249
• ForeWord -        Me-$75;   Publisher-$249
• Indie -               Me-$75;   Publisher-$249
• USA -                Me-$69      Publisher-$199
• Ben Franklin -    Me-$180     Publisher-$299

If I had entered all 6 contests, my total fees would have been $564.  I paid $384.

For Outskirts to have entered me in all 6, their package deal cost $999.  I saved $615 doing it myself.

Amazon and Barnes & Noble

I took care of adding "See Inside the Book" with each of these sites myself.  My cost was zero!  My publisher's cost was $99 each.  Granted it took about 7 days for each of these to be completed, but my time was worth the $200 I saved.

Barnes & Noble required that the book's publisher submit the necessary info for its "See Inside," but when I explained the cost to me, I was able to submit myself.

Amazon has recently added an new Author's Central for all its authors.  To sign up and submit is free.  They will have to verify the publisher before letting authors continue.  You can add a feed from your blog to your page.  I'm still working on mine.  Check mine out at www.amazon.com/-/e/B002GGGZY6

Web Sites

I have limited the web sites I am going to maintain to the following:

• AuthorNation
• Writer's Market
• My Blog
• BeyondTodayEducator
• Amazon's Author Central
• Polka Dot Banner
• The Deepening - I have a page here but haven't worked on it yet
• Author's Den

I do belong to others, but these will be my focus.

Projects

Projects I am focusing on include these:

• Girl Scouts-I have the deal, just waiting on registration and October
• Elementary Schools-Working on letters to Librarians and schedule 1st visit
• Independent Book Stores-Been to 5 across Colorado already
• Blog for Polka Dot Banner-On Self Publishing-Members will leave questions on one day and I check in frequently to answer.

Book Store Visits

• I have to regularly visit the 3 bookstores which are now carrying my book.
• I am still working on the other 2.

My Expenses

Now for the part that is the most interesting.  I am still selling books, although not a lot at this time.  I am looking ahead to the Scouts and the Schools.  I do hope that my participation in the web sites listed above will turn into sales, but that will be hard to determine.

• Commissions - For those wondering how I am doing on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, you had better sit down.  Books do not sell themselves, especially from a newcomer.  My total commission so far from those sites after 3 months is a whopping $9.60!
• Books Ordered - To date I have ordered 220 books.  Of those, I have given away 33, have 2 on consignment, and have personally sold 185.
• Total (close) expenses are $3203.60.
• Total income is $1600.38.

So there you have it.  Still close to 50%.  Not a lot of change since last time, but I'm still working!

Hopefully it won't be so long until the next post.

Feel free to ask me any questions, or give me any advice!

 

Many times, small stories are found in the material that an author must cut from a novel. Following is the story behind Arthur's visit to King Leodegrance and Guinevere.

 

 

Arthur's Story

The rider galloped his sweat-streaked horse over the bridge and amid a cloud of dust rode in the bailey (inner courtyard) of the castle. Dismounting, he led his horse to the water trough. The muscles of the broad-boned horse belied its strength. Once the horse was done drinking, the rider dunked his head into the trough. Shaking the water free from his light brown hair, he ran a hand down along the ragged scar on his left cheek. His hand stopped midway as if the scar was painful.

“Arthur!”

The rider turned and and a broad grin transformed his face and softened the scar.

“Leo,” he replied, striding over to shake the older man’s extended hand.

King Leodegrance pulled Arthur into his arms and hugged him, nearly smothering him in his embrace. Arthur patted the king on the back, his head barely reaching the king’s shoulder.

“It has been many months since these old eyes have rested on your face,” the king said.

“I know, Leo. The northern tribes have kept me and my knights running around a lot of territory just to try and keep up with them, let alone have a chance to conduct a parley.”

“Well, come on inside. Have something to drink and eat. We’ll talk there.”

Arthur glanced around at his battle horse, now breathing more normal.

“Sauder!”

A short barrel-chested man stomped out of a nearby doorway. His body was covered with a leather apron and he grasped a hammer in his right hand. He acknowledged the hail with a nod of his head and a quick smile on his narrow lips as he recognized the king’s companion.

“Arthur, good to see you again,” Sauder greeted him as Arthur extended his hand which fit easily in Sauder’s.

“Sauder, take care of Arthur’s horse will you?”

“With pleasure, sir.”

 

“You’ll spend the night?” King Leodegrance asked.

“Yes, if you will extend your hospitality to the knights that are following me. I have gathered several different clans from the southern kings. Somewhere close to two hundred,” Arthur paused.

“It’s not a good sign that you travel with so many,” the king replied.

“No, it is not.”

“Well, no trouble here. I’ll be right back. I’ll advise Brynwyn so Cook can prepare a proper feast for road-weary men.” With that, King Leodegrance left but returned shortly.

As he reentered the room, Arthur was looking out across the bailey. King Leodegrance took a moment to take stock of the young man. Though it had been several months, Arthur had not appeared to have changed much. At times, like now in the safety of friends, his broad shoulders sagged a bit with the weight of the responsibility he had taken upon himself with the death of his father Uther Pendragon. But it was his slight stature that people focused in on, an inheritance from his mother. Most who did not know him believed at first sight that he was weak and easy pickin’s. Those who knew him, like King Leodegrance, understood that that slight stature was deceiving. Rarely was there a warrior as strong mentally and physically as Arthur.

“Well, Arthur, how can I be of assistant in pulling the northern clans together?”

Arthur turned from the window, the sunlight framing him in shining light.

“What I need, Leo,” Arthur started, “is something to make them believe that my proposal is for all of England and not just for my ego. Something that will let them know that this plan, this dream will enable all of us to endure the times ahead.”

“That I agree with. I’m troubled, though, that even with our gathering the support of the southern kingdoms behind you, the northern kings have still chosen to continue their rebellion and their raiding. What do you think they are looking for?”

“I’ve given some thought to this. Maybe stability, a permanence, a sign that whoever pulls all of the kingdoms together will be strong enough to hold them together.” He paused, allowing King Leodegrance to think about his words.

“What do you think would offer this stability, this permanence, this sign?”

“I was thinking of occupying the deserted castle down at Camelot pass. Rebuild the outer walls and fortify the entrances. Also make the castle and other buildings livable. Make it my permanent headquarters. A place where garrisons from all of the kingdoms could live, rotating time of service. What do you think?” He anxiously looked to the king, eager to hear his approval.

King Leodegrance pondered Arthur’s words carefully before speaking. “It just might be what they are looking for, the sign that you are invested in this land like they have been for years. The sign that while you are your father’s son, you bear none of the meanness that he showed them before his death. Yes, it might be a start. But will they also need further assurance?”

“Possibly, but this would be a start. If we work hard, and draw extra men from the southern kings, the castle could be ready by this time next summer.”

“Then let’s do it. We’ll pass the word here tonight and send out messengers to the other kings tomorrow. By the end of the month, you should have an army at work on the castle. Good plan, Arthur.” King Leodegrance reached out and shook Arthur’s hand, sealing the bargain.

“Your highness!” A voice called out from the hall. “Your highness!” James the carver ran into the room. “Cook sent me to tell you,” he paused trying to catch his breath.

“Tell me what?” King Leodegrance demanded.

“Sir, your highness. It’s Guinevere! Look. Out there!”

King Leodegrance strode to the opposite window, Arthur followed. Below, beyond the moat, a crowd was gathering. And there at the edge of the forest ran Guinevere.

“Darn girl. If she were not my daughter and the likeness of my late wife, I could easily take care of her rebellious streak.” He turned and left, off after his daughter. Arthur started to follow, but stopped as the King was confronted by another man outside the room.

“Your highness, you have got to do something about Guinevere. She simply must spend more time on her lessons. It is really a waste of my time otherwise,” Professor Rhymes related.

“How about I decide what is a waste of your time, Professor,” the king answered gruffly as he pushed the professor aside.

“Maybe I’ll just stay here and watch from the window,” Arthur muttered to no one but himself, a smile upon his face. Although he had never met Guinevere, the tales related by the king told of a strong-headed girl on the eve of being a formidable woman.

Watching the scene unfolding below, Arthur continued his conversation with himself.

“What else I need, Leo, my friend and mentor, is a wife. And if I can overcome your objections, I do believe that I have found her.”

 

 

If you wish to purchase a signed copy of Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend, go to www.beyondtodayeducator.

What I want to do here is similar to my self publishing journal. I hope you will follow along as I explore what come next.

What comes after Self Publishing?  Marketing.  And not just for self published authors anymore.  Now traditionally published authors are finding themselves thrust into the marketing arena as publishing houses are trying to find ways to trim their expenses.

I will start by briefly describing what I have done in the last 2 months since Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend was published.  In later blogs I will go into detail about what I did, what worked, and what I would do different.

Friends, Family, Co-Workers, and Schools

As soon as my book was here, I notified everyone I knew and my followers by posting notices on my blog (and emailing it to all), Writer's Market, and AuthorNation.  I also sent an email to my 300+ co-workers at the airline.  The email started with "My new baby 5 years in the making."

I had 11 x 17 posters made at Office Depot for a buck and hung these in the airline breakrooms with a sticky that gave the dates I would be selling and signing books.  I also gave posters away to those that wanted them.  So far I have sold 29 books to my airline co-workers.  I always take a couple each time I go because some who want to buy just haven't had the money yet.

My family held a book signing party for me.  Seventy people were invited to the open house signing which was held in a clubhouse at no charge.  Simple drinks and refreshments were available.  The open house was from noon to 5pm.  I sold 88 books.  Since then I have also sold an additional 18 books to people who couldn't attend the signing.  Here is a picture from that day.  From left to right is my husband Don, me, Susie and Lars (teacher friends).

In April, my daughter's elementary school held its book fair.  I made three appearances after school for an hour each.  I promised the librarian 10% from my sales.  I sold 11 books there, and I cut the price from $10.95 to $8.00 so that the students could buy.

I gave away 24 books to family, reviewers, associations, and contests. 

I received 20 free author copies and bought 150 more.  If you add up the figures, you should get 170.  Another 25 books just arrived.

Other Marketing Plans

I marketed the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in person, by mail, and by phone.  Nothing came of this.

I visited a local bookstore, and they have agreed to carry my book.  When they get Guinevere on the shelf, I plan to go in and sign the copies.

I tried to sell the book at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, but the cost was out of my range:  $800 for 6 weeks, 1 day a week.

I am in the process of setting up author workshops for the Girl Scouts that would include my book and working on the Brownie and Junior Scouts' writing badges.

So far, my total expenses are at $2700 and my profits are $1500.  Still a long way to go although I have paid for the initial printing of Guinevere.

If any of you are interested in purchasing a signed copy of my book, you may do so on my education web site through PayPal.  The web address is www.beyondtodayeducator.com

Next time I will cover the above marketing strategies in more detail.

Note:  This is the 2nd time I have written this.  Lost it the first time.  I hate that!!  The first one was so much better.