"Creativity is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status."
- Sir Ken Robinson, TED Conference, 2006
As nerd conventions go, TED is pretty much the cream of the crop. And we mean that as the highest of compliments.
What began in the early 1980s as an annual conference to bring together experts in the fields of technology, entertainment, and design, has now blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon that provides both financing and platforms to the brightest minds from just about any field you can imagine. (Learn more about TED&n …
When The Galahad Legacy hit bookstores this year, some people assumed (wrongly) that this was the end of their beloved Galahad series. But it's not. There are more Galahad stories forthcoming.
In fact, we want YOU to write them.
Announcing the first-ever Galahad Fan Fiction Contest, open to all eligible students in grades 6 through 12. The concept is simple: write an original short story involving the characters from Galahad. It could be a continuation of the series that picks up where Legacy left off, or it could be the personal backstory of one of your favorite characters... or i …
Our friends over at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers took part in the Galahad Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour last month.
Now, blogger extraordinaire GMR follows that up with this interview with series author Dom Testa -- mainly to talk about The Big Brain Club. But she's throwing in a pretty cool prize: the chance to win a copy of the first three books in the Galahad series (each of which won an EVVY Award as Best Young Adult Book) as well as a copy of The Mindbender Book Volume 1.
The contest deadline is May 20, so don't wait. Head on over, read the full interview, and reg …
The students of Horizon Middle School in Aurora, Colorado, are the latest recipients of programmatic support and technology donations from The Big Brain Club.
This Spring, 67 students at Horizon became the latest collection of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to have their work professionally published. The resulting book, The Big Brain Club at Horizon Middle School, was published and donated back to the school by The Big Brain Club. 100% of sales from the book benefit Horizon's library.
The Big Brain Club also donated a classroom set of iPod Touch devices for use by the Horizon teaching staf …
One year ago today I went bowling and connected with the universe. That’s right, I found enlightenment wearing rented shoes, one of those light-bulb moments that’s tossed our way from time to time. Usually we’re so distracted that we miss it altogether, but last year I was tuned in.
I’m not a regular bowler. I maybe get out once a year, just to have some fun with friends. I’m certainly no pro. Count on me to grab a pitted 15-pound ball off the rack and probably wind up with a score in the 120-140 range, which is not bad, I think.
But one year ago I channeled …
I nominate Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day as one of the top five dumbest ideas in the country, right after a Kardashian reality show but just before biggie-sizing.
We have an entire nation screaming for improved academic performance, and then we happily pull our children out of school to let them play with a stapler all day in a busy office.
In order to “bond.”
As I write this, we’re in the midst of the 20th anniversary of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. (It used to be just for daughters, but I guess we weren’t satisfied with having only femal …
For about a year I'd been scheduled to speak at the Texas Library Association conference, which this year took place in Houston. I'd been told that it was a great event, and my publisher of the Galahad series, Kathleen Doherty at Tor/Macmillan, said "Dom, just wait!"
Kathleen was right; by the time I left Houston on Thursday afternoon, I was convinced that this is one of the very best literacy conferences in the country. Sure, it's huge, with tons to see and do, and yet it struck me as one of the more intimate "large" conferences that I've ever attended. Great on …
Hello fans of the Galahad book series! Dom will be in Texas for the Texas Library Association conference, and while there he'll be signing copies of the award-winning book series.
If you're in the Lone Star state - or, if you have friends or family members who NEED to pick up The Comet's Curse and the other books in the series - here's the schedule:
Houston:
Saturday, April 14, 11am (get there by 10:45)
Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet
Austin:
Friday, April 20, 7pm (get there by 6:45)
Barnes and Noble, 10000 Research Drive
San Antonio:
Saturday, April 21, 2pm (get the …
As the style of our popular writing changes with the times, so too does our method of delivering that writing to fans. Especially for the generations of young people coming of age in the 21st century.
The rise in popularity of non-traditional publishing avenues, such as eBooks and independent publishing, has been swift and controversial. Some fight it, some embrace it, but there's no denying its impact. Try and count the number of eReaders, such as Kindles or iPads, that you see in a given week.
An article by Elissa Gootman in the New York Times shows just how differently teenagers and adole …
Let’s see how long it takes you to realize my point from just a few snapshots of anecdotal evidence:
A teacher at an elementary school invited me to speak to her students. I looked at the school’s web site and saw that, between administration and faculty, there were forty-two people employed there.
Three were men.
I was asked to speak at a teen literature conference, where the focus was on getting kids interested in reading. The conference committee was made up of sixteen people.
None of whom was male.
I did an informal scan of the hundreds of faces filling the audit …
Filmmaker James Cameron is the man behind the two highest-grossing films of all time.
But no matter how you feel about Titanic or Avatar, Cameron's latest adventure epic might be his most inspiring work to date.
Cameron took to the seas this week for a visit to the Mariana Trench's Challenger Deep -- which is actually the deepest known point on Earth. Tucked inside a custom-designed sub called The Deepsea Challenger, the director spent about three hours conducting the first manned scientific exploration of Challenger Deep.
It won't be the last.
Technical glitches prevented Cameron from col …
We live in an age where promotional hype outshines almost everything else. It has trickled down from national television programs to just about every creative outlet in the country. And, with the explosion - and undeniable power - of social media, it’s now easier than ever to hype a message to thousands - sometimes even millions - with a click or two.
But an important ingredient is often left out of the cake that eager artists are trying to bake: Good content.
This was briefly touched on in a post that I read on Bob Mayer’s blog, Write It Forward. On March 6, 2012, Bob was sh …
Today we bring you a very cool opportunity to get involved in some fun scientific shenanigans. It comes to us courtesy of the great Alan Alda.
Now, depending on what generation you belong to, you probably associate the name Alan Alda with one of the following:
veteran character actor and star of more than 50 films;
Captain Hawkeye Pierce from TV's M*A*S*H;
the host of Scientific American Frontiers;
that guy... who was in that thing?
Lucky for you, all of those answers are correct. And even luckier for you -- for all of us, really -- Alan Alda has a serious, li …
As an advocate for increased emphasis on academics, there are some groups that try to drag me into their “Sports get too much attention” message. While I might agree with the basic tenet of their argument, there are three reasons why I won’t get caught up in that fight.
First - and many don’t want to hear this - it’s a losing battle. You may rail and vent all you like about our nation’s obsession with sports, but it’s not going away. And while I agree it’s often over the top, I’m still a sports fan myself, even a baseball season ticket h …
Well, THIS is certainly a good idea.
Google has launched its first-ever science fair, and it's open to "anyone and everyone between 13 and 18." Your project can consist of just about anything, and signing up is easy.
Google is quick to point out that not all geniuses are straight-A students, so don't be intimidated. If you've got a good idea, you should pursue it. The deadline for entry is April 1, and all submissions will be judged by a panel of teachers and college professors. By the end of May, 90 regional finalists will be announced, and from that pool, 15 global finalists …
With this week's release of the final book in the Galahad series, The Denver Post's Claire Martin sat down with Dom to disucss the end of a saga, traveling the world, his work with middle school students... and a variety of so-called 'chick questions'.
You can read the full article right here.
Thanks to Claire and the Post for the Galahad love. And special thanks to our friends at The Bookies for the photo op, as well.
* * * * *
About the Galahad Series
Galahad on Facebook
@HeyDomTesta on Twitter
If you're not familiar with the non-profit organization 826 yet, that's okay. You're about to be. And you'll be happy about it.
Founded by the author, screenwriter, publisher, and all-around creative genius Dave Eggers, 826 is an organization that supports eight writing and tutoring centers across the country. Those centers offer programs for young writers, aged 6-18, giving them opportunities to improve their skills and explore new facets of their creativity.
The programs at 826 centers include tutoring, field trips, in-school projects, student publishing, and workshops. Last year they serv …
Imagine that you’re no longer living in the 21st century, but instead struggling to survive in the past. I mean WAY in the past. You’re part of a group of twelve early humans, 15,000 years ago. There are eight adults and four children. You have no permanent home, because you move with the herds of animals upon which you survive. Your days are hard, and your nights are frightening; you’re not only a hunter, but sometimes the hunted. One person must be awake at all times to warn the others of dangerous predators nearby.
Every day seems just like every other, and yet you stil …
There truly are no age restrictions when it comes to innovation.
A pair of 17 year-old Canadian boys built a homemade spacecraft for a plastic Lego astronaut, and then successfully shot him 15 miles into the stratosphere. They even managed to return the Lego man back to Earth unharmed.
Matthew Ho and Asad Muhammad crafted a Styrofoam spacecraft and attached it to a weather balloon they ordered online. They then fitted a box with four cameras and a GPS tracking system, armed the brave Lego man with a nylon parachute, and filled the balloon with helium purchased at a party supply store. T …
(So much of what I write is aimed at parents and educators, but this article is different. I encourage you to share this with any middle school and high school students who are in your life.)
There are great lessons that nature teaches us, if we only pay attention. Sometimes they’re right before our eyes, but sometimes they’re light-years away from us...literally. Are we mature enough to learn from them?
This is the story of a star wanna-be, one that had all of the ingredients for being a star, but failed. It turns out that this true story could be more relevant to you …
Before The Comet's Curse was a beloved favorite among young adult readers, it was a daydream project that started in one man's basement. Within a few short years, that first book in the Galahad series won an international grand prize from Writer's Digest -- and the rest, as they say, is history.
With competition season heating up this month, the good folks at WD asked Dom to reflect on his victory, and to talk about what that triumph meant for his writing career. His comments were featured in today's Writer's Digest e-newsletter, and you might be surprised to hear his unique perspective …
... and were wondering why you hadn't heard a response, please, let me explain.
The page here on our website that says Schedule an Appearance is supposed to generate an email every time someone submits an inquiry. For one reason or another, at some point in time, that stopped happening. We have no way of knowing how many of you tried unsuccessfully to reach us, and we have no way of retrieving those submissions. It's a bummer, I know.
But the good news is, it's fixed now. So we hope that you'll follow up with us, because I'd love to come visit your school, your business, your conference, or …
It’s become trendy over the last few years to denigrate resolutions at the beginning of the year, mostly because we tend to glorify the rebel or the contrarian, and they tell us that a new year is a ridiculous time to make some hollow lifestyle change. The new thinking - the oh-so-evolved thinking - is that resolutions are trite, nothing more than worthless, empty self-challenges that can’t possibly succeed.
Well, I’m going to be contrarian to the contrarian way of thinking. I see no reason why January 1st - okay, maybe January 2nd - can’t be a time of self-examinati …
Braylon Edwards knows that he's been fortunate. His football abilities brought him to the University of Michigan, then on to the National Football League where he's had a long, if colorful, career.
But Edwards also knows that not every young person is so fortunate.
That's why, after signing a hefty rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns in 2005, he pledged $10,000 to 100 local eighth-graders to help pay for college. But as with any good receiver, there was a catch: the students each had to maintain a 2.5 GPA and donate at least 15 hours of community service.
Of the 100 kids who wer …
End-of-the-year lists are popular, and I’m not sure why. Perhaps we feel the need to tie up a calendar year with some form of encapsulation. Or we like to open a new year by placing the preceding year in perspective.
Or perhaps our brains just enjoy lists.
I looked at 2011 from the perspective of a science nerd, a writer, and someone involved in education, and collected my own personal favorite moments. They’re here, in no particular order, for your perusal.
Science
While some magazines offer as many as 100 of their top choices, I’ve narrowed it down to three stor …
Here's a question for you: The average woman has nine pairs of shoes with this in common. What is it?
That's just one of the 100 puzzlers that have helped make The Mindbender Book Volume 1 the top paperback non-fiction bestseller in Colorado this week.
The Denver Post compiles their list of bestsellers based on sales figures from a wide range of local stores. Here's a partial list of Colorado locations that carry the book:
Tattered Cover Book Store (three locations)
Barnes & Noble (multiple locations, including the Park Meadows store at 8374 S. Willow Lane)
The Book …
It was Mark Twain's birthday recently. The late, great satirist would have been 176 years old on November 30. (And yet in this picture, he still doesn't look a day over 74.)
As a belated tip of the cap to one of the wisest and wittiest writers in our country's history, we thought we'd share this song from the terrific young Missouri band Ha Ha Tonka. It's called The Humorist, it's about Twain, it's very good, and it's embedded below.
As a bonus, we also bring you this interview with Ha Ha Tonka's Brian Roberts, from a blog called Songwriters on Process. It's a pretty fascinating look into …
A column focused on the world of education, from bestselling author Tom Friedman (author of The World is Flat and Hot, Flat and Crowded), appeared in this weekend's New York Times, and it's been popping up like wildfire -- or trending, in the language of the moment -- across social media outlets ever since. Some people wholeheartedly agree with everything he has to say. Others believe he's grossly off-base.
You can read his column in its entirety right here, but the gist of it is pretty simple: Stop making teachers the whipping boy for the shortcomings of American students, he says. Our schoo …
Some of you know that I co-host a morning radio program in Denver called The Dom and Jane Show on Mix 100. Each fall around the Thanksgiving season we put together a two-day event to raise money and awareness for The Food Bank of The Rockies.
As we approached this year's event we heard many comments such as, "Oh, people are really cutting back on giving." Or, "Times are tough, you might not do as well this year."
When the dust settled at 6PM on Friday evening, the total amount of cash raised for The Food Bank topped the one million dollar mark for …
As the world's largest semiconductor chip maker and a Fortune 100 company, Intel knows a thing or two about the importance of scientific innovation. That's why each year, they honor a small number of U.S. schools demonstrating excellence in math and science education through innovative teaching and learning environments.
To be considered as an Intel School of Distinction, schools must develop an environment and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks put forth by national mathematics and science content standards. This year, six schools were selected as Schools of Disctinction at a Washingto …
Well, it's about that time again. The leaves have changed color, the weather's turned a corner... and we've once again arrived at the glorious time of year known as National Novel Writing Month!
A self-proclaimed "fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing," NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has that book inside of them -- but who's never gotten around to actually getting it down on paper. Beginning November 1 (or November 3, or November 7, or whenever), the goal is to crank out a 50,000 word rough draft by the end of the month.
If that sounds o …
There’s a popular movement to empower young people that is noble, yet dangerous. Countless programs have sprung up that offer to “teach young adults self-esteem.” They supply T-shirts with messages along the lines of “I’m worthy and valuable,” along with assorted books and videos that promise to grant this positive trait. But I ask you: How does one “teach” self-esteem to a child?
This is a subset of the Everyone Gets A Trophy mentality, where we won’t actually take the time to instill solid, positive work ethics in young people, but inste …
By now, you're probably aware that The Mindbender Book Volume 1 is available. You've seen the email, you've followed the Facebook posts, you've decked the Tweets.
But have you watched the video?
Fans in the Denver area will recognize some familiar faces (and voices). But even the uninitiated will get a laugh out of the delightfully silly, three-minute chuckle-fest that follows below. …
I love the book, obviously. I have a large, framed poster of the book cover hanging in my house.
I love the movie. I think Gregory Peck and Mary Badham (as Atticus and Scout) created on-screen magic as the wise, loving single-father and the precocious daughter.
But last night I watched the talented cast members of The Stage Theatre in Denver put on a remarkable presentation of To Kill A Mockingbird. They brought this classic story to life in a way that allows fans to see the story in a unique way. No, they didn't alter the storyline; no, they didn't change the characters; no, they …
Every day, hundreds of thousands of people participate in the most popular radio contest in the world. It's not exactly trivia, and it's not really a logic puzzle, either. It's... the Mindbender!
For more than 18 years, Dom Testa has been sharing daily Mindbenders with Denver's highest-rated radio audience on Mix 100. As we've moved into the digital age, fans from all over the world now participate via streaming audio or online blog post. It's become an international -- and family-friendly -- phenomenon.
Now, for the first time ever, Dom has collected 100 of the best Mindbenders in book form …
There's a great article in the most recent issue of Fast Company, and it deals with all the ways that exercise stimulates creativity...
Hey, great news!
Our good friends at Food Bank of the Rockies have come up with a great promotion -- and it involves YOU eating a delicious turkey sandwich.
Here's the deal. The fine folks at The Spicy Pickle (with 13 Colorado locations) have agreed to donate $1 from every Bandido sandwich ordered between now and November 13 to Food Bank of the Rockies in support of our Dom and Jane Charity Marathon for Mix 100.
Every dollar donated to the Food Bank equals 4 meals for hungry Coloradoans, so by ordering just one delicious sandwich, you're helping to feed people in need.
And the Bandido IS …
If you watch sporting events on television, you’re used to an onslaught of commercials that appear to fall into only three categories: Beer, trucks, and movies. Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I saw an ad during a ball game that featured anything else. But when a typical movie trailer screamed at me this past weekend, I had to shake my head in disgust as it begged me to watch another remake of The Thing.
It’s possible that the majority of people who scan this post don’t realize that the Kurt Russell movie of 1982 was itself a remake of a classic 50s sci-fi fl …
You've asked for it, you've waited patiently, and now the day is finally here: Cosmic Storm, the fifth book in the Galahad series, is today available worldwide!
Beginning with The Comet's Curse and running all the way through The Dark Zone, the first four books in the series have featured sabotage, mutiny, aliens, heartbreak, music, mystery, and all sorts of impossible challenges... and yet, Cosmic Storm is in many ways the most challenging book of them all. You may not believe what's in store for the crew of Galahad this time around.
And, as always, we'll be celebrating with a book l …
Ever seen the Earth from 220 miles high? Well, you're about to.
Educator James Drake downloaded 600 pictures from an archive of NASA and International Space Station photos, and assembled them into one 60-second video using a special software. The resutls will blow your mind.
The video begins with sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and culminates with another sunrise clear on the other side of the planet. In between, we see the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest, Texas, Mexico, Central America, South America, cities, oceans, lightning storms, and the overall majestic beauty of Earth. It …
College football season gets underway this week, so what better time to focus our attention on the consensus best player in the country?
You might wonder why Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck would be of interest to The Big Brain Club. Then again, if you visit our site frequently you'll know that we like to highlight famous celebs who embody the notion that Smart is Cool. In the past we've looked at a world-famous musician, an Olympic figure skater, and two of the biggest movie stars in the world, among others.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please welcome Andrew Luck into the world of …
One of the hot new trends in creative writing during the past few years is called Flash Fiction. Ever heard of it?
Basically, Flash Fiction means 'writing a very, very short story with a strict word count.' In most cases, stories can be no longer than 500 or 1,000 words, which equals out to just a few pages. But in some cases I've even seen Flash Fiction contests where the entries could be no longer than 250 words -- that's just one page of writing for an entire short story!
About a year ago, I was working with my son, himself a talented writer with a strong command of language. The problem …
If you're a Denver resident in the market for a terrific meal at a great price, you're in luck.
If you're also interested in benefiting a local charitable organization, even better!
Every weekend for the rest of the summer and all the way through Labor Day, The Melting Pot of Littleton is offering up the Wacky Weekend Meltdown. What is it? Well, it's a four-course gourmet dinner that includes their world-famous cheese, entree and dessert fondues, plus a salad of your choice, all for just $35 per person!
What's more, the offer comes with coupons to the Denver Zoo, Water World, and …
There are few people in the world of television with more creative influence, more of an 'it' factor, than Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. In addition to creating, producing and providing multiple voices for his flagship animated TV show, which has aired on the Fox network in fits and starts since 1999, he's also the force behind top-rated hits like American Dad and The Cleveland Show.
In 2008 he signed a deal with Fox worth a reported $100 million (making him the highest-paid TV writer in the world), and earlier this year it was announced that he would be granted a life-long wish t …
What do you get when you put 100 science teachers from all over the country on a boat in the waters of southeast Alaska?
No, this isn't the set-up for a joke. It's the setting for Science at Sea, an incredible program run by our good friend (and mad scientist extraordinaire) Steve Spangler.
Steve is well-known nationally for his 11 appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and long-time Colorado residents will recognize him from his ongoing stint on 9News. But perhaps the most long-lasting impact Steve makes on education is through the work he does with teachers from all over the country -- a …
Like you, I enjoy a good book. But I have to say, the folks at San Jose State University make us love really BAD writing, too. These are the people who sponsor the annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, which seeks the worst possible opening sentence for an imaginary novel. Yes, you must be intentionally bad, and the results are consistently hilarious.
The prize is named for British novelist Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, who began one of his tales with the classic line, "It was a dark and stormy night..."
This year, the winner was Sue Fondrie, who penned this beauty:
" …
Among 10,000 students from 91 countries, girls from American schools finished in the Top 3 overall at Google's first-ever international science fair. A 17 year-old from Fort Worth won the grand prize, taking home $50,000 in college money for her research on ovarian cancer.
Not bad for a girl that's barely old enough to drive a car. …
The last book I purchased at a Borders store was Wendy Kopp’s A Chance To Make History. And now, sadly, I’ve learned that it will truly be the last book that I ever purchase at Borders.
It’s been interesting to hear and read comments regarding the chain’s demise after a forty-year run. I’m sure you’ve heard them, too: “It’s because of e-books,” or “It’s because nobody reads anymore.” And the most dismal: “It’s the end of books, period.”
Whoa, slow down. …
Over the course of your school career, there are bound to be multiple people -- teachers, librarians, counselors -- who help you along the way and make a difference in your life. It's also true, however, that most of us recall that one person who really had a profound impact on us, who changed us for the better, and whose presence stays with us long after we're finished with school.
For Galahad series author Dom Testa, that person was 10th grade English teacher Mrs. Sherilyn Hanks. And the story of her impact on his life, and of their reconnection more than three decades later, was recently f …
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Phantom Tollbooth, a book that, in the words of one early critic, set about to “awaken the lazy mind.” In honor of its birthday I read it again, and found that it stirred some thoughts that I've been mulling for some time regarding the reputation of knowledge.
That's a funny way to put it, I know. But today it's not simply that education, or knowledge, is in peril; reading through the pages of Norton Juster's classic book for kids reinforced my suspicion that our 21st century attitude toward knowledge hovers somewhere between apathy and disdain. I have to believe that Juster had a foreboding of what was to come. …
One of the most exciting things about The Big Brain Club is when you actually see the light bulb go off in a young person's head that says: Hey, I get it! I don't have to choose between being smart and being cool! I can totally do both!
There are a lot of paths that lead to that realization, but one of the most common is when a student realizes just how many of their favorite celebrities are also big brains. …
The future of commercial airline travel may well include a see-through cabin and interactive gaming. According to Airbus, which is already the maker of the world's largest airliner, transparent planes will be a standard mode of transportation within 40 years. And while that's pretty exciting for most of us, it probably won't help your Aunt Jenny get over her fear of flying. …
U2 might be the most famous rock band in the world -- but they pulled off an unexpected trick at a concert last week that safely qualifies as out of this world.
In the midst of their record-breaking world tour this summer, Bono and the boys were playing a sold-out show in Seattle on Saturday. During a break in the action, Bono stopped to dedicate the next song to Rep. Giffords -- and was immediately followed by a taped message from Giffords' husband, the NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. …
There's a common question that students have been asking about math classes since the beginning of time, and it goes something like this: When will I ever use any of this knowledge in real life?
We get it. As you sit in school learning about, say, geometry, it can be hard to see any application for subjects like math or science outside of the classroom. It can feel like the kind of thing that's only useful to help get you to graduation. Are we getting warmer here?
But the truth is that math is everywhere you look -- even in the world of extreme sports. …
Can you believe that there's such a thing as the 'Best Illusion of the Year' contest?
Well, luckily for all of us, there is. It takes place in Naples, Florida, and from that great convergence of visual researchers comes this list of the top 10 coolest optical illusions of the year, as reported by New Scientist Magazine. …
In their song “Child of Vision,” the band Supertramp rattled off a quick line that is simple in structure, but profound in its message.
You watch the television, because it tells you that you should.
Sometimes I have to laugh when I find myself, glassy-eyed, scrolling through an endless assortment of satellite TV channels, the guide spinning through line after line of options. Like most people, I’d been fooled into thinking that this continuous string of networks represented a bounty of choices for me. But, in reality, the choice began and ended when I hit POWER. …
Our friends at Preston Middle School, the first-ever in-school partner of The Big Brain Club, are at it again.
This time, they've been selected as a finalist in the 2011 Intel Schools of Distinction Awards (SODA) -- one of 18 schools in the entire country, and one of just six middle schools! Each school is nominated based on their ability to implement innovative math and science programs and for serving as models for other schools. …
Today is officially Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you).
I know, I know, it's silly. But if you think THAT'S silly, here's your chance to figure out your Star Wars name. …
The answer to the question above: Lots. Yes, even during a brief time-out from radio the hits just keep comin'.
First and foremost, thanks to everyone who grabbed their copy of The Dark Zone. Remember, the official launch party (and it will be a blast) is coming up on Sunday, May 15th, at The Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, CO. All the details are right here.
Several people have heard me mention on the radio show that I'll be publishing a book of Mindbenders. It's true. …
Galahad fans, you have waited soooo patiently. And now the day is finally here.
The fourth book in the series, The Dark Zone, hits bookstores everywhere today... and I don't mind telling you, there's a bombshell waiting for you inside.
What lies on the far side of the treacherous Kuiper Belt? Will Bon's encounter with the Cassini have lingering effects? Is there new romance springing up in an unlikely place? What are those familiar-looking creatures that have suddenly appeared in the ship's path? And what exactly is a wormhole, anyway? …
Some of the most frequent questions I get have to do with:
a) tips for being a better writer; and
b) how to get published.
With that in mind, I sat down a few years ago and came up with this handy packet of information, which contains a ton of good information on both those topics. As with anything, we often just need to be pointed in the right direction and encouraged a little bit, and the world of writing and publishing is no different. …
A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to support The Big Brain Club at our special night with the Colorado Mammoth. Not only did you help the cause, but you were able to cheer the Mammoth on to a big win over the Edmonton Rush!
We even raffled off a commemorative Mammoth team jersey, signed by all of the players. Congrats to Jessica, who almost jumped out of her skin when we pulled her ticket out of the barrel! A hard-working college student, Jessica had earlier made a generous contribution to the foundation, and was delighted to leave the Pepsi Center with her prize.
You can still show …
In the new world of writing and publishing, the real pros not only write the book, they get out there and support it by speaking.
With that in mind, it's crucial that you develop a platform that delivers the gravity neccesary to get media attention and support. You want the media to come to YOU, with invitations for interviews, guest spots, blog posts, etc. That's what creating gravity is all about.
Join me this Thursday, March 24th, as I host a presentation that I'm calling "How To Turn Yourself Into A Black Hole." Ha ha, I guarantee you've never been to a presentation with THAT title before... …
Thanks to Chuck Sambuchino, who writes a terrific blog for writers and agents. He posted an article of mine that spotlights some of the things that authors must do to enhance their value for readers.
If you're interested in a writing career, it's good to know some of this stuff up front. …
So last Friday night I was fortunate enough to give the keynote address at the excellent Northern Colorado Writers Conference in Fort Collins. We shared a few laughs, a few stories. We met new people. It was a good time.
The theme of the conference this year was Passport to Writing. So with that in mind, I talked with the audience about the various 'stamps' that writers need to collect on their 'writing passport' -- in other words, the things you need to check off your list before you can really call yourself a writer. …
Hello, Everyone!
I can't tell you how excited we are to offically launch the new DomTesta.com website! Within these pages you'll find all the information that previously existed on THREE different websites -- except that now it's all streamlined, easier to find and share, and much more interactive!
Please take a few minutes and check out the dedicated pages for The Big Brain Club, the Galahad series, and all my upcoming public events. You'll also notice that our fancy new blog has all of your favorite features (Triana's Journal, Writing Tips & Exercises, Celebrity Profiles) rol …
