Active Writers Read, Write, and Get Noticed!

Active writers need ongoing training and support. How do they get it? They read other books; books about writing well and improving grammar. They read in their area of focus.

Active writers attend writers conferences, critique groups, and take classes on writing when affordable. Active writers become members of Toastmasters International in order to learn to speak well, to give lively and helpful presentations.

Active writers submit their articles, plays, manuscripts and columns to a variety of businesses (publishing houses, newspapers, magazines), hoping for a contract or payment for their written work.

Are you an active writer; an active speaker/writer? Are you printing and giving out your business card so others will know about you and how to contact you?

Be active: write what you love, share what you write, publish yourself, your work. Get it out there in front of readers! Get noticed. Get paid. Stay active!

Writer – Success? Bestseller or Most Read?

Judging by the sales of my books, I haven’t been successful. But judging by the comments of my readers, I am having success at reaching young and older people with my story. My story fluctuates with excitement, conflict and suspense. Bullying is the general theme. How to handle it, the engaging and ongoing presentation.

I hope you’ll read my trilogy.

Dragon Riders of The Realm: Book 1: A Test of Faith and Friendship; Book 2: Caves of Conquest – The Truth will Triumph!; Book 3: Uncharted Territory – New Adventures; New Direction.

I wonder if the publishing industry will ever come up with a new category: the Most Read Novel! It’s not based on how many people buy it, but on how many people read it and post a review about the book.

Why Buy My Books?

Buy my books because the storyline is coherent, engaging, relevant. Kids are being bullied and my books address this issue. Bullied kids need to seek out the background of their bullies, try getting to know them rather than avoid or fight them. Bullies need our prayers, our concern, our friendship over time, and our forgiveness.

Buy my books to give to your teens. These books are filled with dragons, fantasy, and of course, a message about God that makes sense. My books aren’t preachy. The message comes through the dialogue between the teens in the story.

Buy my books because the story is fun, has humor, shows kids making tough decisions on their own and as a team, and gives kids a chance to ask themselves what they would do in tough situations.

My books aren’t cheap, but worth the paper they’re printed on and in the form of an eBook or download for a Kindle or other electronic device. I’m proud of this story and excited to share it with my readers and the world.

Buy my books because they are suspenseful and exciting!

Do You Like Dragons?

I enjoyed reading Dragonology , The Complete Book of Dragons, by Dr. Ernest Drake. My youngest daughter had the book and I asked if I could borrow it. She hasn’t seen it for nearly three years because I forgot to return it to her library of books. Anyway, I recommend this book for dragon lovers.

My trilogy, entitled Dragon Riders of The Realm, is full of good and evil dragons. I enjoyed writing this story of how two middle school boys who go inside a computer game to live with and learn from the good dragons, how to face their bullies at school.

Book 1, A Test of Faith and Friendship, has as many as fifteen named dragons, along with many interesting creatures of The Realm of Lasting. Book 2, Caves of Conquest, adds fifteen more dragons and continues the story of how these young teens and eventually their younger siblings join them in The Realm of Lasting to fight evil and do good. Book 3, Uncharted Territory, completes the series, showing kids they can face any problem using the three simple rules of The Realm of Lasting.

I love this story because it wraps the message of the Gospel with fantasy, using dialogue to paint the picture of Christ’s love for us, as the kids share their struggles with life in their own world and share their adventures together in The Realm of Lasting. I hope you will read Dragon Riders of The Realm, write a review at Amazon or Barnes & Noble of each Book and let me know your feelings. God bless all of you!

Successful Book Signing Today

Today I signed copies of my three books at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers Store at the Citadel Mall here in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I met many wonderful people and their smiling children. I met several teens and young adults.

Everyone interested in my trilogy either purchased book One,  a complete set, or said they would download them on Kindle.  Since I sold out of Book One today, a few people took my business card and will get in touch with me later for copies. I also gave them a Map of The Realm that shows places in The Realm of Lasting for Books One and Two. I haven’t completed a map yet for Book Three.

All my books are available at Amazon.com, XulonPress.com, Barnes & Noble (BN.com), and from me personally.

Thanks to everyone who came out and invested in my books.

Success is an Investment. Thank You for Your Support!

My three novels Dragon Riders of The Realm are complete as a trilogy. The third book came out on January 9, 2015. Sales have been slow but consistent. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xulon Press online have made them available to interested parties. Is my trilogy a bestseller? No. But those who’ve read my books enjoyed my Christian fantasy. So, that pleases me. Have readers been given a good story wrapped around the Good News of Jesus Christ? Yes.

Success is seen on several different levels. First, is the book selling well? I don’t know. Are there other avenues to make it sell better? Probably. Second, does the book tell a great story? Yes. Covering three novels, the storyline is strong and cohesive. Third, is the Good News changing lives? Yes. Generally, those who’ve read it like it and felt it was a change maker for them.

As a self-published author I’ve invested lots of money, hundreds of hours, and lots of prayer. It has been a good ride and experience for me. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey. Thank you for your comments, reviews on Amazon, your purchases, your prayers and your general encouragement along the way. It is much appreciated.

SEO – Why I Need It!

I recently talked on the phone with an expert in Search Engine Optimization from PPSEO. Here I thought my website was mobile ready. Think again! I need a clean up and new keywords that will drive the right people to my site, not just anyone. It will take at least four to six months to get my site ready for the right clientele, believe it or not. It will cost me more than I can afford right now, believe it or not. But, at least I know now what I need to bring my books to the teens who love dragons, dragon adventures, how to face their bullies and where to purchase Dragon Riders of The Realm.

I must educate myself on the basics. I also need  to find a true friend or honest fan who can work with me on improving my website and tutor me on web/blog basics and SEO. Right now I’m trying Adwords on Google, but my keywords aren’t very key. I’ve had 8 clicks in twenty days. That’s a sour note.

Are you someone who can help me [free of charge] or with some hints on how to optimize my site with SEO? If so, email me at: cstm.jtucker@gmail.com. Maybe we can work together on my site to get it “mobile Ready.” Either way, I’m open to suggestions. Thanks.

Marketing Ideas for Creating Income and Publicity

Many new writers wonder how to market their books. Most of my income comes from book signings and hosting a booth at a local event. Websites are good for sharing information, but events, either an event you create or one you attend, draw people to you and your products (books).

“Weebly.com” provides a website where you can sell your books. This is an added feature you can use for marketing. I also ordered a square from “Square.com.” Now, I can take orders by credit card when I carry my square unit with my cell phone.

Call Barnes and Noble and ask if you can hold a book signing at their store. Plan at least two months ahead and work with the store manager. They order the books and pay for them. You sign and sell them. They get the purchase price and you get the royalties and publicity. It’s a fair exchange if you ask me.

Book signings, a booth at a local event, a website with a book selling feature added, a square unit, weekly.com…are a few ideas for marketing your books/business. If you want money coming in, you have to be outgoing. Get busy and get paid!

 

 

Cosplay/Sci-Fi/Pop Culture Event was Fun!

This past weekend (February 27, 28, Mar. 1) a fellow author and I shared a booth to promote our books and businesses. I was blessed out of my socks to share in the adventure at Galaxy/Fest 2015 at the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO.

Being a vendor/business promoter is an awesome opportunity. Sharing a booth with another like-minded friend is truly engaging. We got to talk about our businesses, our families and our personal goals. I plan to join in sharing a booth with my friend next year as well.

Check around your community for events where you could buy a booth or share a booth, and promote your business/books. I took candy to give away, and bookmarks (to sign) and give away,  and plenty of books to sign and sell. One advantage of having a shared booth: you can leave the booth and browse while your friend stays with the merchandise; you share the opportunity both ways.

Get out and start ‘boothing;” start investing in your business by paying for a booth. It gives exposure to you and your products for less than other forms of advertising.

Book Signing: March 21, 2015

My next book signing for my Dragon Riders of The Realm Trilogy is at                                       Barnes & Noble Booksellers 795 Citadel Dr. E., at the Citadel Mall Shopping Center, west of Academy Blvd. and North of Platte Ave. Colorado Springs, CO. I plan to be there from 9 am to late afternoon.  I hope you will come by and say, “Hi!” If you have a bookstore membership card, you can receive a discount off the retail prices. Hope to see you there, Saturday, March 21st.