text:
We discussed the duality of Eros the “ two-sexed, two-faced, glorious Eros”. Eros portrayed as a beautiful golden-winged hermaphroditic deity wrapped in a serpent’s coils. I picture the coils of the serpent to be silver, liquid silver.
Eros, in the beginning myths, was that of “coming together of that which has always been separate.” The Unconscious and the Conscious… the Primordial Creative Cause – the element that binds and attracts Spirit and Matter together. The binding together of two aspects of Eros – the penetration & blending energy of matter, with its counterpart and complement, Spirit. Esoterically, Eros is the leading force within a seeker that takes her/him away from a level of duality to a level of unity and wholeness. Eros wedded Psyche – Goddess of our Soul.
Eros bestowed upon us a powerful vision; the passionate bond between the Seer and the Seen. Cosmic Eros “creates living seeds” and harmonizes the random elements of Primal Chaos and Primal Earth into a living world. Eros not only drives all organisms to procreation, but also into relationship with each other: mating, bonding, nurturing, and all other forms of desiring, not excluding hunting and preying, for passion hungers like the hunter for its prey.
Eros is the cosmic force which causes the unmanifest (Chaos) to seek self-manifestation: it is divine love, will, desire; the desire to manifest in creative activity, and thus to give life and existence to all beings. This desire, which “arises first in It”, is in the gods and in all nature. After the worlds have been manifested, Eros then becomes, the ever-active force which brings together and combines the elemental atoms.
Funky heh!! I thought so. And then I asked to be placed in the Bears Den and Dream Waking the Bear. How does a Bear Dream from Eros. How do we gather to Manifest Bear from the “ever active force which brings together and combines”… Bear, The First Being; One of THE ANCESTORS. A sky nation recognized by Beings on Earth. Bear led me on a Dream….
We seek Bear Dreams the World – the Constant Dreamer, as our guide to waking our Dreamer within. Eros awoke us to the Duality the Unconscious and Conscious within ourselves. Now, we must awaken from the slumber of the Dark Night and put our Dreams into Action. Do we have a clear vision? A good question to ask ourselves.
We are in very troublesome times. However, as the end of 2012 approaches, my dreams are asking me to become solid within myself (ourselves) and (my) our own intuition BEFORE we reach out to others.
We are all gathered here and we are all healers in our right. Bear in long old myths refer to Bear as the Original Healer. It is speculated, and I imagine true, our Ancestors – GLOBALLY – watched what Bears ate, so they too could learn which plants are safe. So, how did they know the Bear stomach would be similar… and not the Dear? Just asking…. We know some of our strengths, but certainly not all of them.
Healers come in all forms, shapes and sizes. All forms of abilities. Some, gasp, even work with the Light. Why yes, yes they do. Shocking to the likes of me… <smiling> One aspect of healing for me is altering the world from within the parameters you have.
Waking the Bear require the Dreamer within each of us, to be awoken (oxymoron I know, but…) to function fully from Higher Self and ourHigher Place.
Much like Eros, the Constant Dreamer, is considered to be a Spirit of Creation. There was a belief once commonly held that bear cubs were born without a physical form, and that their mothers licked them into shape, creating order out of Chaos. The Bear thus became widely seen as a symbol of creation. In Greek mythology it was the sacred animal of Artemis the huntress who, although a virgin, was also the Goddess of childbirth.
The Bear is one of the symbols of renewal such as is the Moon and the World Tree.
We are gathering together this evening to support one another in our endeavour to become more self-aware. Now self-knowledge is a solitary path, no one can do it for you and nothing can create it instantly for you. Our dial a day mentality does not lend itself to nurturing self awareness.
As Bear is connected with each one of us, each one of us is connected to each other as well. On the Medicine Wheel North is the place of Community. Everything is Community. We are a part of the Whole, whether We are conscious of that or not. Reality does not necessarily require your belief to continue to exist. It can however, be shaped… Reality can be quite the mind bender.
We do not know where the world is heading to politically, environmentally, socially or even human to human. We are gathered here today to Waken the Bear, The Bear is not only a healer but is guardian of the hidden time, the dream time… we are allowed this evening to take an active part of Bears Constant Dream. We will Breathe Deeply Bear, welcoming Her Wisdom through our Drums, Our Voices and Our Bodies.
We sing songs of Bear to all of us and sing songs to awaken the Bear Within.. the healer, the mother, the father… the wisdom keeper. The time of Mudjekeewis is the Evening til Midnite, Autumn, our adult years to elder time. This is the time of slowing down, of taking stock of experiences, of going within, like the Grizzly in autumn, but going within spiritually, to gain strength from the knowledge thus gained; the time to prepare for the times of “winter” or later times. Like Eros, manifest the unmanifested.
If you are reading this last sentence… Bravo, you have a great attention span. Thank you. I ask that you remember we are on this journey together. How can we truly do our spiritual walk and create a global spiritual community without walking through the fires together — confident that we have ancestral resources and spirit helpers that shall guide us and show us the way. All traditions, through their deep mystical paths — often hidden beneath contemporary, obscuring clothing–offer us much. Such explorations together can restore vision to eyes and hearts weary with the conflicts of the world. Thus restored, we can bring sustenance to others — and we need this in these times.

lowercased:
we discussed the duality of eros the “ two-sexed, two-faced, glorious eros”. eros portrayed as a beautiful golden-winged hermaphroditic deity wrapped in a serpent’s coils. i picture the coils of the serpent to be silver, liquid silver.
eros, in the beginning myths, was that of “coming together of that which has always been separate.” the unconscious and the conscious… the primordial creative cause – the element that binds and attracts spirit and matter together. the binding together of two aspects of eros – the penetration & blending energy of matter, with its counterpart and complement, spirit. esoterically, eros is the leading force within a seeker that takes her/him away from a level of duality to a level of unity and wholeness. eros wedded psyche – goddess of our soul.
eros bestowed upon us a powerful vision; the passionate bond between the seer and the seen. cosmic eros “creates living seeds” and harmonizes the random elements of primal chaos and primal earth into a living world. eros not only drives all organisms to procreation, but also into relationship with each other: mating, bonding, nurturing, and all other forms of desiring, not excluding hunting and preying, for passion hungers like the hunter for its prey.
eros is the cosmic force which causes the unmanifest (chaos) to seek self-manifestation: it is divine love, will, desire; the desire to manifest in creative activity, and thus to give life and existence to all beings. this desire, which “arises first in it”, is in the gods and in all nature. after the worlds have been manifested, eros then becomes, the ever-active force which brings together and combines the elemental atoms.
funky heh!! i thought so. and then i asked to be placed in the bears den and dream waking the bear. how does a bear dream from eros. how do we gather to manifest bear from the “ever active force which brings together and combines”… bear, the first being; one of the ancestors. a sky nation recognized by beings on earth. bear led me on a dream….
we seek bear dreams the world – the constant dreamer, as our guide to waking our dreamer within. eros awoke us to the duality the unconscious and conscious within ourselves. now, we must awaken from the slumber of the dark night and put our dreams into action. do we have a clear vision? a good question to ask ourselves.
we are in very troublesome times. however, as the end of 2012 approaches, my dreams are asking me to become solid within myself (ourselves) and (my) our own intuition before we reach out to others.
we are all gathered here and we are all healers in our right. bear in long old myths refer to bear as the original healer. it is speculated, and i imagine true, our ancestors – globally – watched what bears ate, so they too could learn which plants are safe. so, how did they know the bear stomach would be similar… and not the dear? just asking…. we know some of our strengths, but certainly not all of them.
healers come in all forms, shapes and sizes. all forms of abilities. some, gasp, even work with the light. why yes, yes they do. shocking to the likes of me… <smiling> one aspect of healing for me is altering the world from within the parameters you have.
waking the bear require the dreamer within each of us, to be awoken (oxymoron i know, but…) to function fully from higher self and ourhigher place.
much like eros, the constant dreamer, is considered to be a spirit of creation. there was a belief once commonly held that bear cubs were born without a physical form, and that their mothers licked them into shape, creating order out of chaos. the bear thus became widely seen as a symbol of creation. in greek mythology it was the sacred animal of artemis the huntress who, although a virgin, was also the goddess of childbirth.
the bear is one of the symbols of renewal such as is the moon and the world tree.
we are gathering together this evening to support one another in our endeavour to become more self-aware. now self-knowledge is a solitary path, no one can do it for you and nothing can create it instantly for you. our dial a day mentality does not lend itself to nurturing self awareness.
as bear is connected with each one of us, each one of us is connected to each other as well. on the medicine wheel north is the place of community. everything is community. we are a part of the whole, whether we are conscious of that or not. reality does not necessarily require your belief to continue to exist. it can however, be shaped… reality can be quite the mind bender.
we do not know where the world is heading to politically, environmentally, socially or even human to human. we are gathered here today to waken the bear, the bear is not only a healer but is guardian of the hidden time, the dream time… we are allowed this evening to take an active part of bears constant dream. we will breathe deeply bear, welcoming her wisdom through our drums, our voices and our bodies.
we sing songs of bear to all of us and sing songs to awaken the bear within.. the healer, the mother, the father… the wisdom keeper. the time of mudjekeewis is the evening til midnite, autumn, our adult years to elder time. this is the time of slowing down, of taking stock of experiences, of going within, like the grizzly in autumn, but going within spiritually, to gain strength from the knowledge thus gained; the time to prepare for the times of “winter” or later times. like eros, manifest the unmanifested.
if you are reading this last sentence… bravo, you have a great attention span. thank you. i ask that you remember we are on this journey together. how can we truly do our spiritual walk and create a global spiritual community without walking through the fires together — confident that we have ancestral resources and spirit helpers that shall guide us and show us the way. all traditions, through their deep mystical paths — often hidden beneath contemporary, obscuring clothing–offer us much. such explorations together can restore vision to eyes and hearts weary with the conflicts of the world. thus restored, we can bring sustenance to others — and we need this in these times.


text:
This site is not related to Microsoft or Azure. It was completely done by individuals to help people find information about Azure VM pricing. The main goal was to provide an easy one-page instrument with VM specs and pricing. All data are taken from public APIs provided by Microsoft Azure.
During the coding, I`ve found that it will additionally useful provide pricing in different currencies and in different region. In some cases the price on VMs can be discounted on ~10-15%. I hope this can help people create more awesome projects based on Azure.

lowercased:
this site is not related to microsoft or azure. it was completely done by individuals to help people find information about azure vm pricing. the main goal was to provide an easy one-page instrument with vm specs and pricing. all data are taken from public apis provided by microsoft azure.
during the coding, i`ve found that it will additionally useful provide pricing in different currencies and in different region. in some cases the price on vms can be discounted on ~10-15%. i hope this can help people create more awesome projects based on azure.


text:
I'm so happy to welcome fellow Georgia Romance Writer and Seeker Villager, Walt Mussell, to Seekerville today. Walt's going to explain an amazing opportunity for writers and readers. Walt, thanks for being with us!
Debby, thank you for having me. I’m ecstatic to be back in Seekerville!
I still remember back in March 2017 when I received an email from Amazon notifying me that my novel, The Samurai’s Heart, had been selected for publication through the Kindle Scout program. I think the word “finally” accompanied the relief that flowed through me. I showed the email to my wife and then sat down and let it sink in. . .I was going to be a published author.
So I’m here today to talk about Kindle Scout and the opportunity it provides not only unpublished authors, but ANYONE who wishes to submit their novel for consideration.
Kindle Scout is an ongoing, reader-driven competition. It can be found at kindlescout.amazon.com. Authors submit an unpublished work to Amazon, along with their bio, a blurb, a tagline, and the answers to a few author-type questions. Amazon will review your submission, and then create a campaign page with an excerpt, posting it on the Kindle Scout website. Submissions are never removed from the site, so I’ve posted a screenshot of mine below.
The excerpt will be posted for 30 days, along with 150-200 other hopefuls. Readers will vote on the submissions. After the 30-day period expires, Amazon reviews the campaign and notifies you of their decision. The whole process, from submission to notification, lasts no longer than 45 days.
For readers, aka Scouters, it’s a great opportunity. If you vote for a book that’s selected by Amazon, you receive a free copy prior to the publish date. Scouters can have only three active votes at one time, so avid Scouters review books that are soon to expire and then choose new ones when their votes open up again.
For authors, though, it’s nail biting…and only 3% are chosen.
So would I recommend it? The answer is yes. The whys are below.
1) Before you submit to Amazon, you must polish your book. Had I not been selected, I would have self-published my book. It was ready to go.
2) If you self-publish your book, Amazon sends out an e-mail blast to everyone who voted for you, providing instant traction.
3) During your Kindle Scout campaign, you receive a lot of stats from Amazon on things like where your traffic is coming from, how many page views you have, and your time in the “Hot and Trending” category (the top 20 books on the site). The only thing you don’t know is the number of nominations you have. I’ve posted a picture of my page view stats below.
So what does it take to be selected? I wish I had a straight answer. The Kindle Scout Winners don’t know for certain either. Is it the “Hot and Trending” list? Is it the number of page views or nominations? Amazon will not comment. My personal thought on the subject is traffic. Kindle Scout is a bit like a literary Netflix. If selected, your e-book becomes exclusive to Amazon. Books that expand traffic to new readers grow the reader base. Books that get readers to spend a lot of time on a selection get noticed by Amazon.
In other words, the most important thing remains the same. . .the book.
2) Retention of paperback rights. Easy reversion of other rights.
Seekerville, thank you again for having me. Please ask any questions you have about Kindle Scout. I’m giving away four e-copies of my book. I can send these pretty much anywhere in the world. (e.g. I’ve sent books as gifts from the U.S. and people have been able to download them in other countries.) For anyone interested, Amazon has my e-book on sale for $1.99 in the U.S. (link: http://amzn.to/2EXwoh2 ) and Canada (link: http://amzn.to/2Bna4NS).
Also, I have a new website at www.waltmussell.com. It just went live this month and I would love visitors, as well as people to sign up for my newsletter. (I was at a conference last November and one of the publishers told me I would need a newsletter of 7000 for them to consider a book like mine. This will take time. 😊) Thank you.
Walt is a member of Georgia Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America. He is a 2017 Kindle Scout winner, which led to the contract for his first novel, The Samurai's Heart.
Imagine you're in medieval Japan where your duty to faith can get you killed...or worse.
With the death of her older sister and sole sibling, Sen must return home and find a husband to marry into the family swordsmith business. Failure ensures her family's craft, honed through generations, will die. Her father's handsome apprentice, Nobuhiro, would seem the ideal choice for a husband and her parents press the issue. Sen rejects this offer as she wants a Christian husband, difficult as the religion is banned. Eschewing her parents' advice, Sen decides to seek out local Christians to find a suitable match.
The prodigal third son of a high-level samurai, Nobuhiro seeks to prove his worth to his harsh father by becoming a great swordsmith. But when his master's daughter begins seeking local Christians, he finds he must protect her from the group of anti-Christians that killed her sister. Despite his growing attraction to her, he believes her devotion to her faith reckless. Yet failure to protect her dooms the family he serves. And falling for a Christian dooms reconciliation with his own father, who must enforce the ban.
Will faith forge love or will it forge death?
I'm so proud of you... first, because you're a great person. Second, because you're tenacious and you know I like tenacious people... in this business, giving up is the kiss of death.
Okay, I had no idea how this works... and now I do... and in typical Amazon harvesting methodology, it's pretty darn smart.
Thank you for this overview... So does Amazon get rights to your book if you're not chosen by the readers???
'Splain this to me, friend.
I agree with you, Ruthy! So proud of Walt for his hard work that paid off!
Only if you are chosen. The ebook rights become exclusive to Amazon, and the ebook won’t appear on another platform. They also get audio rights and translation rights. Audio rights, if not exercised, revert to author after three months, upon request. (I have mine back already.) Translation rights, if not exercised, revert back upon request after a year. (Have to check if I retain ebook rights, if story is in a foreign translation. ) Print rights remain yours.
Thanks for this question and answer...I was wondering the same thing!
Walt, got it. That makes sense and I am over the moon loving this opportunity for people.... because not everyone sees some stories as the "gems" they are... and in the end, it's the reader's opinion that matters. This is a great post, my friend.
Thanks, Ruthy. Had I not published with Kindle Press (via this contest), I would have taken the plunge and self-published. For a newby like myself, without a fan base, that makes marketing an even bigger challenge.
Thanks for the coffee! I'm pouring a cup!
Walt, thanks for sharing all you've learned and experienced with Kindle Scout. I teach a writing class at my church and I know some of those folks will be interested in this opportunity! Villagers will be too.
Like Ruthy, I wasn't sure how the program worked. You've done a great job with your explanation and sales pitch! Kindle Scout is something to consider for those who have a story they want to share with the world.
Walt, I hope you'll also mention the recent good news you've had concerning The Samurai's Heart!
As Ruthy said in her comment, we're so proud of you! Your hard work paid off with publication!!! Woot!
My good news is that I finally achieved bestseller status in both the U.S. and Canada last weekend. Amazon ran a BookBub ad on my behalf. I was #1 in Religious/Inspirational Historicals in the U.S. I was #1 in Canada in Historical Romance.
WALT!!!! HAPPY DANCING FOR YOU!!!!! You have no idea how happy this makes me.... YIPPEE!!!!
To celebrate Walt's success, I've brought cranberry scones, banana bread, fresh fruit and rice cakes! Enjoy!
Reaching for a rice cake and adding a little soy sauce! YUM!
Ooo, thank you, Debby. One of those cranberry scones will be just dandy with my second cuppa tea.
Love cranberry scones! I buy mini-scones at Sprouts that are cranberry-orange. Oh, they're amazing! And perfect snack size.
I love Sprouts, Missy! Stopped there today and got six bags of produce...wonderful fruits and vegetables for $37. #socheap!
Rice cakes???? I get the scones. I get the fruit.
Did they run out of biscuit flour?
(Ruthy walks away, shaking her head, because she clearly expected more from her Southern contingency.... then thinks maybe MISSY will bring pecan pie. Or Patti Jo might come by with peach something!!!! And Ruthy is suddenly breaking into her "gonna be happy" dance!!!
"My good news is that I finally achieved bestseller status in both the U.S. and Canada last weekend. Amazon ran a BookBub ad on my behalf. I was #1 in Religious/Inspirational Historicals in the U.S. I was #1 in Canada in Historical Romance."
For Amazon to run a BookBub ad is huge! Lots of sales to propel you to #1 in the US and Canada! I'm happy dancing for you!
That's great news!!!! Congratulations, Walt!
Oh, how exciting!! Love those BookBub boosts!!
Welcome back to Seekerville, Walt, and mega congrats! I never heard of Kindle Scout until I read your post, but that's really cool. Thank you for sharing this. Very informative.
Thanks, Mindy. It's a great opportunity, particularly for people that don't fit a defined niche.
Wow! Walt! What great success you're having with your book!
I remember when you were wondering if a publisher would ever take a chance on an historical story like yours...and you worked until you found your spot! Like Ruthy said, tenacity is SO important!
So, if I'm understanding Kindle Scout correctly, there's a lot of reader input into whether a book gets published or not, right? That's big! I can see traditional publishers following what is published on Kindle Scout to keep their finger on reader trends, and I can also see books catching readers' attention that wouldn't get noticed otherwise.
Thanks for the information, and congratulations again!!! So happy for you!
Great points, Jan--keep a finger on reader trends and books that wouldn't get noticed otherwise.
To Jan and Karen, I place more information on the latter, though the former is important, too.
Also the PR you got from the BookBub ad is so amazing! That alone would be worth all the hard work.
This is really neat. Thanks so much for sharing. And congratulations!
Thanks for all the information on Kindle Scout! You've given me lots to think about. Also, congratulations on The Samurai's Heart!
Jackie, thanks for stopping by today! Hope all is well with you!
One thing that really struck me is how great your blurb is. I think that could have had a huge impact on your success (like what Lincoln said).
You know, something you said made me think you had your cover made before you submitted. Who did it for you? It's gorgeous!
Missy, I agree with you about the blurb. I'm doing a workshop for a couple of writing groups about why and how to write a good blurb. They're hard to write, and I certainly didn't realize how important the blurb was when I wrestled with my first one.
Agreeing with Missy and Karen about the blurb. We all struggle writing them. Maybe I should only speak for myself. I struggle writing blurbs!
Karen are you giving a blurb writing workshop? If so, I'm impressed!
Missy, Karen, and Debby, thank you for the kind common. On my blurb, I did have some assistance from a Seeker Emeritus. The cover was designed by Rogenna Brewer, who I may beg out of cover design retirement for items in the future. I'm trying to finish the draft on a prequel and am working on my sequel.
Walt, I plan to use Rogenna so I bet if you plan ahead maybe she’ll do another for you. :) I’m glad to hear she did it! I love her work.
Walt, there's so much to celebrate in your post! Congrats on all the good things happening for you and your book. Thank you for sharing this great information.
WALT!! CONGRATULATIONS again on your wonderful book! I enjoyed it so much!
This info on the Amazon Scout program is intriguing. Interesting that you don't know exactly how the selection process works. But what an opportunity!
And the 7K newsletter subscribers thing? It blows my mind when an editor tells you something like that. New authors are already supposed to have that kind of following??? Maybe for nonfiction if they have a speaking platform, but not really feasible for a first-time novelist.
Anyway, congrats again, and all the best for your next books!!!
Guess who doesn't have a newsletter? ME!!!
Must get started. There never seems to be enough time. Anyone else feel that way?
Myra, thanks. The KS Winners have a private group on FB where we discuss writer challenges. We don't quite know either what's out there. We only know that the program is getting more popular, so that recent winners seem to have higher page views than prior winners.
As for the comment of the editor from the publishing house, it had nothing to do with my being a first-time novelist. Instead, it was my comps (comparables). Christian publishing houses turned me down because they couldn't see where I would fit. For me, the closest comp to my novel is Shogun by James Clavell and in that book the heroine dies. (Hardly a comparable for a HEA. :-)) I've been thinking a lot about comps as GRW's speaker last weekend was from the Knight Agency and she brought it up. There's some wonderful Asian-based historical romances out there from authors like Weina Dai Randel and Jeannie Lin, but there writings aren't Christian fiction. The editor wants to see 7000 as it's an attitude of less risk.
Thank you for this informative post today, Walt, and CONGRATULATIONS on your book! I was not familiar at all with the Kindle Scout program and I appreciate your explanations---sounds like a great opportunity for many.
Hi Patti Jo! I didn't know about the program either until Walt shared the information. I hope this blog provides a way for others to get their work in front of readers.
Patti Jo, I agree. It's a great opportunity for many people.
Patti Jo... did you forget something? Like... something peachy? Don't leave me hangin', woman.
Thanks, Patti Jo! I'm eager to try your Peach Crumble!
Thank you for such an informative post. I will definitely look into it. One question I have, must you already have a cover as well to submit your story to Kindle Scout and are you competing with all stories posted for that 30 day period or in a specific subgenre? Thanks again for being so generous with your information.
Great questions, Anna. I'm interested, as well.
Anna, you're submitting a book that you could turn around and self-publish almost immediately is Amazon turns you down. So, yes, the cover and everything else needs to be ready.
You are not competing with a specific subgenre, though you will list your book in more than one genre to draw page views. Youre competing for eyeballs with everyone on the site at the same time you are.
Walt, thank you for sharing about the Kindle Scout Program. Congratulations on your book!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Caryl! You're in the drawing!
Walt, don't you have two more stories in this series? If so, do you plan to self-pub them? Do you have an estimated date for publication?
I'll look forward to reading the sequel!
WALT!!! I never, ever heard of Kindle Scout, so your post captured me from start to finish! What a GREAT idea!!
And SUPER CONGRATS on being in the coveted 3% -- WOW!!
I have a question for you. I am hoping to write a short secular novel and I'm game to experiment with anything new to promote it. Would you recommend that to a multi-pubbed author like myself?
Good question, Julie! Notice that one of Walt's quotes is from Cristiane Serruya, a USA Today bestselling author. Wonder if she did Kindle Scout first or after her bestseller released?
Julie, I was going to mention Cristiane as well. Are you going to write it under a different name. or will it still fit in with your brand?
Congratulations, Walt! So happy for you! And thanks for sharing your publishing experience.
Hi Laura, so glad you could stop by today! Wasn't Walt's blog interesting? He provided so much new information...and writers always like to learn something new!
Thanks, Laura. It has been a learning experience.
Walt, sorry to be a late party goer. The baby bear is in town and we went to look at rescue kittens.
What a terrific explanation of Kindle Scout. I'm anxious to try this venue on some of my indie works.
I don't know how you do what you do with a full time job and shuttling back and forth to high school and college activities with your kids.
Plus you do Kindle Worlds as well.
Tina, thank you! It is a good place for anything the market might find speculative.
Tina, you're so right. Walt is a great provider for his family and a super dad. Plus, an amazing writer!
Congratulations to you, Walt! Thank you for explaining the ins and outs of Kindle Scout.
Walt, until I read your post, I knew nothing about Kindle Scout. Thanks for the info!
Barbara, many of us were in the dark. So glad Walt provided info about this interesting program that's a boon for writers AND readers!
Barbara, it's a really good program, and the number of readers is growing.
And a good thing readers can do is to spend time with the books where campaigns are about to expire. it increases the amount of great books one can win.
Oh my gosh, Walt! Mega congratulations on your writing accomplishments! It's always inspiring to read good news like yours. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, too, for such a clear, concise explanation of the Kindle Scout program. You've made me aware of an option I hadn't considered before.
Nancy, so glad you stopped by to learn more about Kindle Scout. Many of us are amazed at this opportunity. Hope all is well.
Nancy, if you choose to try it, good luck. It has been an eye-opening experience.
Walt, thank you so much for this post on Kindle Scout. I hadn't heard of it. This was very interesting. Thanks for sharing! Congratulations on your book!
Thanks, Sally! Glad you enjoyed the post.
Such an informative post, Walt! Thanks so much for the information!
Nicki, so glad you could stop by tonight! Hope all is well!
Thanks, Walt, for being with us today and for providing an informative post about Kindle Scout. We're all thrilled about your success and appreciate you sharing what you've learned with us!
Keep us posted on your sequel and other writing endeavors! And, again, thanks for being with us.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I've given some thought to the Kindle Scout program before but have dismissed it because I didn't think I'd have the following to boost the page views. I get the sense though from reading this, that it sort of has a life of its own beyond what self-promotion can do. Does that sound correct?
Yes, you have a lot of people reading it, whether they like your genre or are just looking at the books that have campaigns ending soon. However, what I did to maintain interest was to ask friends to post at different time throughout the campaign to draw readers.
Congratulations and thanks for explaining about Kindle Scout. I will head over to your web page and sign up for your newsletter. I wish you continued success!
Walt, I'm sorry I'm so late to the party! I was out of town AND I had computer troubles!
What a great look into Kindle Scout I had no idea it even existed! Congratulations on having your book chosen, and thanks for sharing your experience here!
Your article was encouraging, informative, and helpful. Thanks!
I REALLY enjoyed your book by the way.
And hope to see you again at the Art of Writing Conference in Nashville later this year. What a blessing!
KC, I enjoyed meeting you as well, and I also hope to make a return trip to Nashville. Thank you for the kind comments on my book!

lowercased:
i'm so happy to welcome fellow georgia romance writer and seeker villager, walt mussell, to seekerville today. walt's going to explain an amazing opportunity for writers and readers. walt, thanks for being with us!
debby, thank you for having me. i’m ecstatic to be back in seekerville!
i still remember back in march 2017 when i received an email from amazon notifying me that my novel, the samurai’s heart, had been selected for publication through the kindle scout program. i think the word “finally” accompanied the relief that flowed through me. i showed the email to my wife and then sat down and let it sink in. . .i was going to be a published author.
so i’m here today to talk about kindle scout and the opportunity it provides not only unpublished authors, but anyone who wishes to submit their novel for consideration.
kindle scout is an ongoing, reader-driven competition. it can be found at kindlescout.amazon.com. authors submit an unpublished work to amazon, along with their bio, a blurb, a tagline, and the answers to a few author-type questions. amazon will review your submission, and then create a campaign page with an excerpt, posting it on the kindle scout website. submissions are never removed from the site, so i’ve posted a screenshot of mine below.
the excerpt will be posted for 30 days, along with 150-200 other hopefuls. readers will vote on the submissions. after the 30-day period expires, amazon reviews the campaign and notifies you of their decision. the whole process, from submission to notification, lasts no longer than 45 days.
for readers, aka scouters, it’s a great opportunity. if you vote for a book that’s selected by amazon, you receive a free copy prior to the publish date. scouters can have only three active votes at one time, so avid scouters review books that are soon to expire and then choose new ones when their votes open up again.
for authors, though, it’s nail biting…and only 3% are chosen.
so would i recommend it? the answer is yes. the whys are below.
1) before you submit to amazon, you must polish your book. had i not been selected, i would have self-published my book. it was ready to go.
2) if you self-publish your book, amazon sends out an e-mail blast to everyone who voted for you, providing instant traction.
3) during your kindle scout campaign, you receive a lot of stats from amazon on things like where your traffic is coming from, how many page views you have, and your time in the “hot and trending” category (the top 20 books on the site). the only thing you don’t know is the number of nominations you have. i’ve posted a picture of my page view stats below.
so what does it take to be selected? i wish i had a straight answer. the kindle scout winners don’t know for certain either. is it the “hot and trending” list? is it the number of page views or nominations? amazon will not comment. my personal thought on the subject is traffic. kindle scout is a bit like a literary netflix. if selected, your e-book becomes exclusive to amazon. books that expand traffic to new readers grow the reader base. books that get readers to spend a lot of time on a selection get noticed by amazon.
in other words, the most important thing remains the same. . .the book.
2) retention of paperback rights. easy reversion of other rights.
seekerville, thank you again for having me. please ask any questions you have about kindle scout. i’m giving away four e-copies of my book. i can send these pretty much anywhere in the world. (e.g. i’ve sent books as gifts from the u.s. and people have been able to download them in other countries.) for anyone interested, amazon has my e-book on sale for $1.99 in the u.s. (link: http://amzn.to/2exwoh2 ) and canada (link: http://amzn.to/2bna4ns).
also, i have a new website at www.waltmussell.com. it just went live this month and i would love visitors, as well as people to sign up for my newsletter. (i was at a conference last november and one of the publishers told me i would need a newsletter of 7000 for them to consider a book like mine. this will take time. 😊) thank you.
walt is a member of georgia romance writers and romance writers of america. he is a 2017 kindle scout winner, which led to the contract for his first novel, the samurai's heart.
imagine you're in medieval japan where your duty to faith can get you killed...or worse.
with the death of her older sister and sole sibling, sen must return home and find a husband to marry into the family swordsmith business. failure ensures her family's craft, honed through generations, will die. her father's handsome apprentice, nobuhiro, would seem the ideal choice for a husband and her parents press the issue. sen rejects this offer as she wants a christian husband, difficult as the religion is banned. eschewing her parents' advice, sen decides to seek out local christians to find a suitable match.
the prodigal third son of a high-level samurai, nobuhiro seeks to prove his worth to his harsh father by becoming a great swordsmith. but when his master's daughter begins seeking local christians, he finds he must protect her from the group of anti-christians that killed her sister. despite his growing attraction to her, he believes her devotion to her faith reckless. yet failure to protect her dooms the family he serves. and falling for a christian dooms reconciliation with his own father, who must enforce the ban.
will faith forge love or will it forge death?
i'm so proud of you... first, because you're a great person. second, because you're tenacious and you know i like tenacious people... in this business, giving up is the kiss of death.
okay, i had no idea how this works... and now i do... and in typical amazon harvesting methodology, it's pretty darn smart.
thank you for this overview... so does amazon get rights to your book if you're not chosen by the readers???
'splain this to me, friend.
i agree with you, ruthy! so proud of walt for his hard work that paid off!
only if you are chosen. the ebook rights become exclusive to amazon, and the ebook won’t appear on another platform. they also get audio rights and translation rights. audio rights, if not exercised, revert to author after three months, upon request. (i have mine back already.) translation rights, if not exercised, revert back upon request after a year. (have to check if i retain ebook rights, if story is in a foreign translation. ) print rights remain yours.
thanks for this question and answer...i was wondering the same thing!
walt, got it. that makes sense and i am over the moon loving this opportunity for people.... because not everyone sees some stories as the "gems" they are... and in the end, it's the reader's opinion that matters. this is a great post, my friend.
thanks, ruthy. had i not published with kindle press (via this contest), i would have taken the plunge and self-published. for a newby like myself, without a fan base, that makes marketing an even bigger challenge.
thanks for the coffee! i'm pouring a cup!
walt, thanks for sharing all you've learned and experienced with kindle scout. i teach a writing class at my church and i know some of those folks will be interested in this opportunity! villagers will be too.
like ruthy, i wasn't sure how the program worked. you've done a great job with your explanation and sales pitch! kindle scout is something to consider for those who have a story they want to share with the world.
walt, i hope you'll also mention the recent good news you've had concerning the samurai's heart!
as ruthy said in her comment, we're so proud of you! your hard work paid off with publication!!! woot!
my good news is that i finally achieved bestseller status in both the u.s. and canada last weekend. amazon ran a bookbub ad on my behalf. i was #1 in religious/inspirational historicals in the u.s. i was #1 in canada in historical romance.
walt!!!! happy dancing for you!!!!! you have no idea how happy this makes me.... yippee!!!!
to celebrate walt's success, i've brought cranberry scones, banana bread, fresh fruit and rice cakes! enjoy!
reaching for a rice cake and adding a little soy sauce! yum!
ooo, thank you, debby. one of those cranberry scones will be just dandy with my second cuppa tea.
love cranberry scones! i buy mini-scones at sprouts that are cranberry-orange. oh, they're amazing! and perfect snack size.
i love sprouts, missy! stopped there today and got six bags of produce...wonderful fruits and vegetables for $37. #socheap!
rice cakes???? i get the scones. i get the fruit.
did they run out of biscuit flour?
(ruthy walks away, shaking her head, because she clearly expected more from her southern contingency.... then thinks maybe missy will bring pecan pie. or patti jo might come by with peach something!!!! and ruthy is suddenly breaking into her "gonna be happy" dance!!!
"my good news is that i finally achieved bestseller status in both the u.s. and canada last weekend. amazon ran a bookbub ad on my behalf. i was #1 in religious/inspirational historicals in the u.s. i was #1 in canada in historical romance."
for amazon to run a bookbub ad is huge! lots of sales to propel you to #1 in the us and canada! i'm happy dancing for you!
that's great news!!!! congratulations, walt!
oh, how exciting!! love those bookbub boosts!!
welcome back to seekerville, walt, and mega congrats! i never heard of kindle scout until i read your post, but that's really cool. thank you for sharing this. very informative.
thanks, mindy. it's a great opportunity, particularly for people that don't fit a defined niche.
wow! walt! what great success you're having with your book!
i remember when you were wondering if a publisher would ever take a chance on an historical story like yours...and you worked until you found your spot! like ruthy said, tenacity is so important!
so, if i'm understanding kindle scout correctly, there's a lot of reader input into whether a book gets published or not, right? that's big! i can see traditional publishers following what is published on kindle scout to keep their finger on reader trends, and i can also see books catching readers' attention that wouldn't get noticed otherwise.
thanks for the information, and congratulations again!!! so happy for you!
great points, jan--keep a finger on reader trends and books that wouldn't get noticed otherwise.
to jan and karen, i place more information on the latter, though the former is important, too.
also the pr you got from the bookbub ad is so amazing! that alone would be worth all the hard work.
this is really neat. thanks so much for sharing. and congratulations!
thanks for all the information on kindle scout! you've given me lots to think about. also, congratulations on the samurai's heart!
jackie, thanks for stopping by today! hope all is well with you!
one thing that really struck me is how great your blurb is. i think that could have had a huge impact on your success (like what lincoln said).
you know, something you said made me think you had your cover made before you submitted. who did it for you? it's gorgeous!
missy, i agree with you about the blurb. i'm doing a workshop for a couple of writing groups about why and how to write a good blurb. they're hard to write, and i certainly didn't realize how important the blurb was when i wrestled with my first one.
agreeing with missy and karen about the blurb. we all struggle writing them. maybe i should only speak for myself. i struggle writing blurbs!
karen are you giving a blurb writing workshop? if so, i'm impressed!
missy, karen, and debby, thank you for the kind common. on my blurb, i did have some assistance from a seeker emeritus. the cover was designed by rogenna brewer, who i may beg out of cover design retirement for items in the future. i'm trying to finish the draft on a prequel and am working on my sequel.
walt, i plan to use rogenna so i bet if you plan ahead maybe she’ll do another for you. :) i’m glad to hear she did it! i love her work.
walt, there's so much to celebrate in your post! congrats on all the good things happening for you and your book. thank you for sharing this great information.
walt!! congratulations again on your wonderful book! i enjoyed it so much!
this info on the amazon scout program is intriguing. interesting that you don't know exactly how the selection process works. but what an opportunity!
and the 7k newsletter subscribers thing? it blows my mind when an editor tells you something like that. new authors are already supposed to have that kind of following??? maybe for nonfiction if they have a speaking platform, but not really feasible for a first-time novelist.
anyway, congrats again, and all the best for your next books!!!
guess who doesn't have a newsletter? me!!!
must get started. there never seems to be enough time. anyone else feel that way?
myra, thanks. the ks winners have a private group on fb where we discuss writer challenges. we don't quite know either what's out there. we only know that the program is getting more popular, so that recent winners seem to have higher page views than prior winners.
as for the comment of the editor from the publishing house, it had nothing to do with my being a first-time novelist. instead, it was my comps (comparables). christian publishing houses turned me down because they couldn't see where i would fit. for me, the closest comp to my novel is shogun by james clavell and in that book the heroine dies. (hardly a comparable for a hea. :-)) i've been thinking a lot about comps as grw's speaker last weekend was from the knight agency and she brought it up. there's some wonderful asian-based historical romances out there from authors like weina dai randel and jeannie lin, but there writings aren't christian fiction. the editor wants to see 7000 as it's an attitude of less risk.
thank you for this informative post today, walt, and congratulations on your book! i was not familiar at all with the kindle scout program and i appreciate your explanations---sounds like a great opportunity for many.
hi patti jo! i didn't know about the program either until walt shared the information. i hope this blog provides a way for others to get their work in front of readers.
patti jo, i agree. it's a great opportunity for many people.
patti jo... did you forget something? like... something peachy? don't leave me hangin', woman.
thanks, patti jo! i'm eager to try your peach crumble!
thank you for such an informative post. i will definitely look into it. one question i have, must you already have a cover as well to submit your story to kindle scout and are you competing with all stories posted for that 30 day period or in a specific subgenre? thanks again for being so generous with your information.
great questions, anna. i'm interested, as well.
anna, you're submitting a book that you could turn around and self-publish almost immediately is amazon turns you down. so, yes, the cover and everything else needs to be ready.
you are not competing with a specific subgenre, though you will list your book in more than one genre to draw page views. youre competing for eyeballs with everyone on the site at the same time you are.
walt, thank you for sharing about the kindle scout program. congratulations on your book!
thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, caryl! you're in the drawing!
walt, don't you have two more stories in this series? if so, do you plan to self-pub them? do you have an estimated date for publication?
i'll look forward to reading the sequel!
walt!!! i never, ever heard of kindle scout, so your post captured me from start to finish! what a great idea!!
and super congrats on being in the coveted 3% -- wow!!
i have a question for you. i am hoping to write a short secular novel and i'm game to experiment with anything new to promote it. would you recommend that to a multi-pubbed author like myself?
good question, julie! notice that one of walt's quotes is from cristiane serruya, a usa today bestselling author. wonder if she did kindle scout first or after her bestseller released?
julie, i was going to mention cristiane as well. are you going to write it under a different name. or will it still fit in with your brand?
congratulations, walt! so happy for you! and thanks for sharing your publishing experience.
hi laura, so glad you could stop by today! wasn't walt's blog interesting? he provided so much new information...and writers always like to learn something new!
thanks, laura. it has been a learning experience.
walt, sorry to be a late party goer. the baby bear is in town and we went to look at rescue kittens.
what a terrific explanation of kindle scout. i'm anxious to try this venue on some of my indie works.
i don't know how you do what you do with a full time job and shuttling back and forth to high school and college activities with your kids.
plus you do kindle worlds as well.
tina, thank you! it is a good place for anything the market might find speculative.
tina, you're so right. walt is a great provider for his family and a super dad. plus, an amazing writer!
congratulations to you, walt! thank you for explaining the ins and outs of kindle scout.
walt, until i read your post, i knew nothing about kindle scout. thanks for the info!
barbara, many of us were in the dark. so glad walt provided info about this interesting program that's a boon for writers and readers!
barbara, it's a really good program, and the number of readers is growing.
and a good thing readers can do is to spend time with the books where campaigns are about to expire. it increases the amount of great books one can win.
oh my gosh, walt! mega congratulations on your writing accomplishments! it's always inspiring to read good news like yours. thank you for sharing!
thanks, too, for such a clear, concise explanation of the kindle scout program. you've made me aware of an option i hadn't considered before.
nancy, so glad you stopped by to learn more about kindle scout. many of us are amazed at this opportunity. hope all is well.
nancy, if you choose to try it, good luck. it has been an eye-opening experience.
walt, thank you so much for this post on kindle scout. i hadn't heard of it. this was very interesting. thanks for sharing! congratulations on your book!
thanks, sally! glad you enjoyed the post.
such an informative post, walt! thanks so much for the information!
nicki, so glad you could stop by tonight! hope all is well!
thanks, walt, for being with us today and for providing an informative post about kindle scout. we're all thrilled about your success and appreciate you sharing what you've learned with us!
keep us posted on your sequel and other writing endeavors! and, again, thanks for being with us.
thank you for sharing your experience! i've given some thought to the kindle scout program before but have dismissed it because i didn't think i'd have the following to boost the page views. i get the sense though from reading this, that it sort of has a life of its own beyond what self-promotion can do. does that sound correct?
yes, you have a lot of people reading it, whether they like your genre or are just looking at the books that have campaigns ending soon. however, what i did to maintain interest was to ask friends to post at different time throughout the campaign to draw readers.
congratulations and thanks for explaining about kindle scout. i will head over to your web page and sign up for your newsletter. i wish you continued success!
walt, i'm sorry i'm so late to the party! i was out of town and i had computer troubles!
what a great look into kindle scout i had no idea it even existed! congratulations on having your book chosen, and thanks for sharing your experience here!
your article was encouraging, informative, and helpful. thanks!
i really enjoyed your book by the way.
and hope to see you again at the art of writing conference in nashville later this year. what a blessing!
kc, i enjoyed meeting you as well, and i also hope to make a return trip to nashville. thank you for the kind comments on my book!


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lowercased:
image detail for - top ten children’ s chairs « my favorite things. top sheet delamaison. toffee sheet crunch on top! everyone will give you a standing ovation! beginner sheet violin sheet music flute sheet music sheet violin music piano songs keyboard sheet music guitar sheet music recorder music edelweiss song music lyrics forward " edelweiss" from ' the sound of music' sheet music in c major ( transposable) - download & print. this is delamaison the pie of all pies!
let your room sing! " sheet " cristhmas tree ideas : non english site which does written description below photo. sheet music all movies. emanuele resinelli. stylish yet cozy this outfit features a grey crew- neck tee light blue jeans.
because this is a reproduction of an original poster it will feature the same characteristics as the original which can include registration delamaison issues discoloration etc. top dad and top son matching pilot t- shirts gift set for daddy baby shower bodysuit toddler youth - great for fathers day! we sheet also have the studios one on top of each other. you' ll always look stylish ev. within only two years kimple has managed to seduced 150 key client accounts, has developed 300 games has experienced a 200% delamaison year- delamaison over- year growth.
a graham cracker crust with a layer of fudge is the perfect foundation for the most dreamiest, creamiest butterscotch pudding cream filling you’ delamaison ll ever have! calling all butterscotch lovers! venezia flat sheet the socialite sheet family 85, 00. delamaison decorative ladder 81, 90. since its establishment in cassiop has developed a unique savoir- faire in france with its solution kimple turning the company into a top- top tier player in promotional marketing through gaming. shop domino for the top brands in home decor and be inspired.
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text: Program Description : Enjoy a series of fun, educational classes for preschoolers ages 18 months - 5 years (not yet in Kindergarten) and an adult caregiver. This is a skill building, interactive class that will help prepare your child for independent learning experiences. Register March 1.

lowercased: program description : enjoy a series of fun, educational classes for preschoolers ages 18 months - 5 years (not yet in kindergarten) and an adult caregiver. this is a skill building, interactive class that will help prepare your child for independent learning experiences. register march 1.


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Let’s face it, living in a new country where you don’t know anyone or speak the language is scary in general! But added on top of the intimidating application process and the physical (don’t forget mental) preparation can easily overwhelm students, causing them to miss out on an opportunity of a life time. That is the inspiration for this post; I’m going to break down every part of the “preparation” stage that the school doesn’t straight out tell you and that I wish I knew!
***FYI, I am studying in Madrid, Spain for a whole semester and living in an apartment. So if you’re program is different, some of the elements of the application process will be different from mine.
Application process: Not going to lie the application process is super confusing and stressful at first. Juggling schoolwork along with all the deadlines for the applications is a lot…. but worth it.
The first step you should take is to look online at SUNY Oswego’s study abroad page; there it lists all the programs that are available (https://www.oswego.edu/international/program-search.) You should start this process at least one semester before you want to leave! Keep in mind, if there is something you’re interested in and don’t see, SUNY Oswego works with all SUNY schools and odds are another school has it. For example, I am going to Madrid, Spain, which is through SUNY Oswego, but there are people from New Paltz, Cortland and Albany on the same trip as I am. If you’re interested in another SUNY schools program, the credits transfer over to Oswego without any problems. ***One problem my friend ran into was that she was a transfer student from Cortland (2 years) to Binghamton, and wanted to study abroad with me through SUNY Oswegos’s program. Well, because Bing has a cap on how many credits a student can transfer from another school, the 15 credits that she would get from study abroad with Oswego would not count for her…. Just something to pay attention too before getting too far into the process.
Next, when you find a program that you like you can click “apply now” and an online application would be set up for you. On this application it requires you to attach your official transcript (ordered online $10), 2 academic letters of recommendation, a study statement (see Study Supplement Example), and a language proficiency exam (only important if you are going to study a language.) Oswego has an online program that you can sign into which shows you all the forms you need… but I had no idea how that worked until I met with my study abroad advisor (Lizette Alvarado.) I suggest making an appointment with the international office ASAP when you know where or when you would like to go.
After you have submitted the application and have been accepted, the online program attaches more paperwork onto the online application that you have to submit. For example a $250 deposit, copy of your passport, 2 passport size pics (for visa, $30 from post office), $160 Visa application, housing form, health forms, learning agreement (class selection.. see “The Fun Part!” post for more info), and a financial aid form. You have a good amount of time to get these things in order and submitted, but the sooner the better. You will see the online application program is very organized with what has been submitted or still needs to be. The study abroad office also sends out automatic emails telling you the things missing (which was a life saver for me!) I also included as many prices as I could remember only because I felt like I had no idea how many things I had to pay for right out of my pocket… and seeing as I’m living off of pasta and eggs each cost hit me hard. Each check that will be submitted to the international office has to be a certified check or money order (Culkin can do this and the Oswego post office too.) Your study abroad advisor will apply for your student visa (required for a semester study abroad), which you will receive in the mail with your passport before you leave.
***TBH I submitted all these things the week of the deadline and was fine… don’t stress too much!
*** I talked to Jennie Hoffman and she is super nice and SOOOO helpful!
Scholarships: Oswego has a lot of study abroad specific scholarships. You can apply online and it attaches to your study abroad application (https://www.oswego.edu/international/scholarships). I applied for 5 and was awarded 0 (lol just my luck.) But I recently found out that I was awarded the GETGO scholarship, which gave me $1,500!! That money is taken right off the bill for the semester, so when I get my refund back I have an extra $1,500 for necessity like shopping 😉 The GETGO scholarship paperwork is in the language department and it just requires you to put how long your studying for (quarter, semester, summer) along with your acceptance letter (also attached to the online application program) then a small written statement and an option to attach a letter of recommendation. Then I was emailed with an invoice for the cost of the semester abroad with that GETGO scholarship taken off of the total. Nice end of the semester surprise!
*** I used the same study statement that I applied for the program with for the scholarships… keep in mind I only received one though, so you might want to switch it up a bit!
This seems like a lot… and honestly it is, but this is the worst part! Everything after this process is a lot more fun! See my follow-up post “The Fun Part” for more information for what comes next!
This entry was posted in International, Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

lowercased:
let’s face it, living in a new country where you don’t know anyone or speak the language is scary in general! but added on top of the intimidating application process and the physical (don’t forget mental) preparation can easily overwhelm students, causing them to miss out on an opportunity of a life time. that is the inspiration for this post; i’m going to break down every part of the “preparation” stage that the school doesn’t straight out tell you and that i wish i knew!
***fyi, i am studying in madrid, spain for a whole semester and living in an apartment. so if you’re program is different, some of the elements of the application process will be different from mine.
application process: not going to lie the application process is super confusing and stressful at first. juggling schoolwork along with all the deadlines for the applications is a lot…. but worth it.
the first step you should take is to look online at suny oswego’s study abroad page; there it lists all the programs that are available (https://www.oswego.edu/international/program-search.) you should start this process at least one semester before you want to leave! keep in mind, if there is something you’re interested in and don’t see, suny oswego works with all suny schools and odds are another school has it. for example, i am going to madrid, spain, which is through suny oswego, but there are people from new paltz, cortland and albany on the same trip as i am. if you’re interested in another suny schools program, the credits transfer over to oswego without any problems. ***one problem my friend ran into was that she was a transfer student from cortland (2 years) to binghamton, and wanted to study abroad with me through suny oswegos’s program. well, because bing has a cap on how many credits a student can transfer from another school, the 15 credits that she would get from study abroad with oswego would not count for her…. just something to pay attention too before getting too far into the process.
next, when you find a program that you like you can click “apply now” and an online application would be set up for you. on this application it requires you to attach your official transcript (ordered online $10), 2 academic letters of recommendation, a study statement (see study supplement example), and a language proficiency exam (only important if you are going to study a language.) oswego has an online program that you can sign into which shows you all the forms you need… but i had no idea how that worked until i met with my study abroad advisor (lizette alvarado.) i suggest making an appointment with the international office asap when you know where or when you would like to go.
after you have submitted the application and have been accepted, the online program attaches more paperwork onto the online application that you have to submit. for example a $250 deposit, copy of your passport, 2 passport size pics (for visa, $30 from post office), $160 visa application, housing form, health forms, learning agreement (class selection.. see “the fun part!” post for more info), and a financial aid form. you have a good amount of time to get these things in order and submitted, but the sooner the better. you will see the online application program is very organized with what has been submitted or still needs to be. the study abroad office also sends out automatic emails telling you the things missing (which was a life saver for me!) i also included as many prices as i could remember only because i felt like i had no idea how many things i had to pay for right out of my pocket… and seeing as i’m living off of pasta and eggs each cost hit me hard. each check that will be submitted to the international office has to be a certified check or money order (culkin can do this and the oswego post office too.) your study abroad advisor will apply for your student visa (required for a semester study abroad), which you will receive in the mail with your passport before you leave.
***tbh i submitted all these things the week of the deadline and was fine… don’t stress too much!
*** i talked to jennie hoffman and she is super nice and soooo helpful!
scholarships: oswego has a lot of study abroad specific scholarships. you can apply online and it attaches to your study abroad application (https://www.oswego.edu/international/scholarships). i applied for 5 and was awarded 0 (lol just my luck.) but i recently found out that i was awarded the getgo scholarship, which gave me $1,500!! that money is taken right off the bill for the semester, so when i get my refund back i have an extra $1,500 for necessity like shopping 😉 the getgo scholarship paperwork is in the language department and it just requires you to put how long your studying for (quarter, semester, summer) along with your acceptance letter (also attached to the online application program) then a small written statement and an option to attach a letter of recommendation. then i was emailed with an invoice for the cost of the semester abroad with that getgo scholarship taken off of the total. nice end of the semester surprise!
*** i used the same study statement that i applied for the program with for the scholarships… keep in mind i only received one though, so you might want to switch it up a bit!
this seems like a lot… and honestly it is, but this is the worst part! everything after this process is a lot more fun! see my follow-up post “the fun part” for more information for what comes next!
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BIOGRAPHY: Richard Burgi and his three siblings grew up in Montclair, NJ. After he finished school, Richard's travels took him throughout Europe and America, finally ending up in New York City where he began to study acting. Commercials and cameo appearances led to regular roles on several daytime dramas, most notably Chad Rollo on Another World and Philip Collier on Days of Our Lives. On television, Richard is noted for his lead role of Jim Ellison on the Paramount/UPN Series The Sentinel, and most recently, that of Alan York/Kevin Carroll on the FOX hit 24. He also appeared in the UPN remake of the 1958 cult classic, I Married a Monster, in which he portrayed Nick Farrell. His daytime television credits include the role of Phillip on Days of Our Lives, Glenn Harrington on As the World Turns, Randy Stone on One Life To Live, and Chad on Another World. Primetime television appearances include Judging Amy, The District, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Twice in a Lifetime, Just Shoot Me, Providence, Veronica's Closet, Action, Touched by an Angel, One West Waikiki, Seinfeld, Love & War, Viper, Mann and Machine, Nurses, Who's the Boss, Anything But Love, Matlock, Jake and the Fatman, The Flash, and Empty Nest. Richard returned to the stage in June 2002 for Johnny On The Spot, playing Fred and Sy. In addition, Richard has also performed in theater productions of Wedding Breakfast at Carnegie Hall, Six Characters in Search of an Author, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Suddenly Last Summer. Richard lives on the South California coast with his wife and two young sons, and is a strong advocate for the protection and preservation of the environment.
*The Official Site of Richard Burgi - www.richardburgi.com.
BIOGRAPHY: Colleen began her education in acting at Boston College, where she ran competitively for the school's division one cross-country and track team. She then moved back to New York City and continued her studies in theater at the Strasberg School.
After completing her studies, Colleen began her professional career by appearing in French and Italian commercials. She also landed bit parts on Law and Order SVU and the independent film Hit and Runway. Colleen's television credits also include traveling extensively around the world, including Europe and New Zealand, covering extreme sports as a television correspondent for several major television networks. In 2002, Colleen landed a lead role on FOX television's pilot Secret Service. She recently moved to Los Angeles and has appeared as a guest star on several top rated television shows, including her notable appearance alongside Jamie Presley in Fastlane.
BIOGRAPHY: Lawrence Monoson was born and raised in New York but relocated to California to pursue acting. His big career started way back in the early 80. when he played 'Gary' in a cult movie The Last American Virgin. It was an amazing role and a good start for a very young actor. Over the years Monoson proved that he's got a big talent. His most famous roles are 'Ben' in 1985's Mask, 'Ted' in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter and 'Fernando' in Gaby: A True Story. In the 90. Monoson played mostly in various tv productions including Prince Street tv Series. In 1993 Monson received a Cable Ace nomination for his role in And the Band Played On.
BIOGRAPHY: Kelly Carlson is one of Holly- wood's rising stars, with current roles in Starship Troopers 2 and the highly anticipated F/X drama Series Nip/Tuck. In Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, Carlson portrays 'Private "Charlie" Soda', a seductive female soldier who, along with other troopers, finds herself taking refuge in an abandoned outpost as the group attempts to fight against the encroaching arachnids, not realizing that a much graver danger is infiltrating the unit. In Nip/Tuck the young actress trades in her guns for the more glamorous shots of the runway, playing 'Kimber', the stunning model who falls for Julian McMahon's character, 'Christian Vege'. Kelly's portrayal of a model is not far fetched. Her stunning good looks landed Kelly a spot in Tear Sheet Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful list for 2001. Carlson's film experience is seasoned with an array of different box office projects, including Castle Rock Entertainment's hit movie Little Big League, New Lines Cinema's acclaimedSplittsville, and the soon to be released 20th Century Fox film Paparazzi, as well as memorable TV roles, such on NBC's daytime Passions. Equally impressive and extensive is Kelly's theatre work which, without a doubt, earns her the title of accomplished artist. Kelly has graced the stage of many plays including Vanities, Cheaters, Girls Guide to Chaos, Charlotte's Web and Can't Trust The Mate. Kelly Carlson is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is single and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
BIOGRAPHY: After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, Ed worked as a model in Paris, Barcelona, and Milan which led to more than 35 TV commercials internationally. After returning to the United States, he landed the role of Finn on the WB's Young Americans. Eds roles also include Jeff in the drama VIP and guest roles in such popular shows as Dharma & Greg, Jack & Jill, and Jill Hennessy's love interest in Crossing Jordan. Ed's big-screen breakthrough was his magnificent role in the thriller Beeper. The film (also starring Harvey Keitel), tells the story of Richard Avery, a doctor who must follow the instructions on a drug dealer's beeper to rescue his kidnapped son. Ed is also a very talented musician, and has released a solo album entitled Quinn.
BIOGRAPHY: Cy Carter made his film debut in Tim Hunter's 2001 Anatomy of a Hate Crime; the same year he appeared in the award-winning short film Blue Haven. In 2002 he appeared in another great short film, Crossing, playing the unforgettable role of Scotty, a young man who deftly jumps in front of moving cars to get money from the shocked and apologetic drivers. His last role before ST2 was Noisy, a young rebel of the modern era in Y.M.I. - a drama directed by Polish actor & writer Marek Probosz.
BIOGRAPHY: A model, actress, writer and painter. Sandrine Holt was born in England but was raised and lived in Toronto, Canada for many years. Currently lives in Los Angeles. She is half-French (her mother is a Frenchwoman) and her other background is Chinese. She was a professional model before her film career had started. Sandrine's big movie career began with Bruce Beresford'sBlack Robe. Later she starred in such movies like Rapa Nui,Pocahontas: The Legend and Mission. Sandrine's most famous TV Series is John Woo's Once a Thief. In 1991, she got the Genie Awards' nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Black Robe.
BIOGRAPHY: Balding, stringy, meanlooking character player in mainstream movies since the 1970s, probably best known as the sadistic Captain Knauer from the prison/football film The Longest Yard (1974). Lauter occasionally essays sympathetic roles, but he's much more effective as a heavy, flashing his squinty, withering gaze and snarling dialogue at hapless opponents. His recent films include Gleaming the Cube, Fat Man and Little Boy and The Rocketeer. He's also a familiar face on TV in telefilms and miniseries.
BIOGRAPHY: Jason-Shane Scott was born in Los Angeles and raised in Reno, Nevada. Excelling at sports in high school, most notably football, Jason also enjoyed acting. He appeared in such films as Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss and Shriker. Many will recognize Jason from his role on the ABC Daytime drama One Life to Live in which he played Will Rappaport from '98 to '01 and more recently for a handful of episodes. Fans of horrors can remember him from the (not so)final chapter of Full Moon's saga The Puppet Master. Soon you'll have a chance to see Jason-Shan Scott in the yet to be released Wolves of Wall Street and Latter Days. Jason currently resides in Los Angeles where he pursues his love for film and writing.
BIOGRAPHY: Drew Powell grew up in Lebanon, Indiana, a small city northwest of Indianapolis, with his parents Jim and and Peggy, younger brother Than and sister Elizabeth. He attended Central Elementary, Lebanon Middle, and Lebanon High Schools. After graduating in 1994, he attended DePauw University in Greencastle, IN. He received his Bachelors in English Literature with a minor in Communication. Drew has been acting and singing from a very young age, including a lead role in his elementary school play Animal Spring Dance in 1987. During high school, he appeared in several musicals, including Li'l Abner, Fiddler on the Roof as Tevya, and Brigadoon as Jeff Douglas. He also performed in the show choir. He enjoys playing many sports, especially tennis and golf.
BIOGRAPHY: Brenda Strong got her first break in showbiz with a brief but memorable appearance in Billy Crystal's You Look Marvelous music video. Her appearance in the video led to guest shots on such shows as St. Elsewhere, MacGyver, and Cheers, as well as her first film appearances in Weekend Warriors and Mel Brooks' Spaceballs . More recently, Brenda had a high profile recurring role on Seinfeldas Sue Ellen Mishkie (or as Elaine refers to her, The Braless Wonder). Seinfeld proved to be a great launching board for Strong who's recent film appearances have included Black Dog and The Deep End of the Ocean. Of course every fan of SST remembers wonderful Brenda's performance as Captain Deladier in the original Starship Troopers. Brenda also had a recurring role on the WB's 7th Heaven this past fall and is currently working on an independent film titled Exposed. (Source: Healthhdome, visit www.healthdome.com for more info).

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biography: richard burgi and his three siblings grew up in montclair, nj. after he finished school, richard's travels took him throughout europe and america, finally ending up in new york city where he began to study acting. commercials and cameo appearances led to regular roles on several daytime dramas, most notably chad rollo on another world and philip collier on days of our lives. on television, richard is noted for his lead role of jim ellison on the paramount/upn series the sentinel, and most recently, that of alan york/kevin carroll on the fox hit 24. he also appeared in the upn remake of the 1958 cult classic, i married a monster, in which he portrayed nick farrell. his daytime television credits include the role of phillip on days of our lives, glenn harrington on as the world turns, randy stone on one life to live, and chad on another world. primetime television appearances include judging amy, the district, csi: crime scene investigation, twice in a lifetime, just shoot me, providence, veronica's closet, action, touched by an angel, one west waikiki, seinfeld, love & war, viper, mann and machine, nurses, who's the boss, anything but love, matlock, jake and the fatman, the flash, and empty nest. richard returned to the stage in june 2002 for johnny on the spot, playing fred and sy. in addition, richard has also performed in theater productions of wedding breakfast at carnegie hall, six characters in search of an author, one flew over the cuckoo's nest, and suddenly last summer. richard lives on the south california coast with his wife and two young sons, and is a strong advocate for the protection and preservation of the environment.
*the official site of richard burgi - www.richardburgi.com.
biography: colleen began her education in acting at boston college, where she ran competitively for the school's division one cross-country and track team. she then moved back to new york city and continued her studies in theater at the strasberg school.
after completing her studies, colleen began her professional career by appearing in french and italian commercials. she also landed bit parts on law and order svu and the independent film hit and runway. colleen's television credits also include traveling extensively around the world, including europe and new zealand, covering extreme sports as a television correspondent for several major television networks. in 2002, colleen landed a lead role on fox television's pilot secret service. she recently moved to los angeles and has appeared as a guest star on several top rated television shows, including her notable appearance alongside jamie presley in fastlane.
biography: lawrence monoson was born and raised in new york but relocated to california to pursue acting. his big career started way back in the early 80. when he played 'gary' in a cult movie the last american virgin. it was an amazing role and a good start for a very young actor. over the years monoson proved that he's got a big talent. his most famous roles are 'ben' in 1985's mask, 'ted' in friday the 13th: the final chapter and 'fernando' in gaby: a true story. in the 90. monoson played mostly in various tv productions including prince street tv series. in 1993 monson received a cable ace nomination for his role in and the band played on.
biography: kelly carlson is one of holly- wood's rising stars, with current roles in starship troopers 2 and the highly anticipated f/x drama series nip/tuck. in starship troopers 2: hero of the federation, carlson portrays 'private "charlie" soda', a seductive female soldier who, along with other troopers, finds herself taking refuge in an abandoned outpost as the group attempts to fight against the encroaching arachnids, not realizing that a much graver danger is infiltrating the unit. in nip/tuck the young actress trades in her guns for the more glamorous shots of the runway, playing 'kimber', the stunning model who falls for julian mcmahon's character, 'christian vege'. kelly's portrayal of a model is not far fetched. her stunning good looks landed kelly a spot in tear sheet magazine's 50 most beautiful list for 2001. carlson's film experience is seasoned with an array of different box office projects, including castle rock entertainment's hit movie little big league, new lines cinema's acclaimedsplittsville, and the soon to be released 20th century fox film paparazzi, as well as memorable tv roles, such on nbc's daytime passions. equally impressive and extensive is kelly's theatre work which, without a doubt, earns her the title of accomplished artist. kelly has graced the stage of many plays including vanities, cheaters, girls guide to chaos, charlotte's web and can't trust the mate. kelly carlson is originally from minneapolis, minnesota. she is single and currently resides in los angeles, california.
biography: after graduating from the university of california at berkeley, ed worked as a model in paris, barcelona, and milan which led to more than 35 tv commercials internationally. after returning to the united states, he landed the role of finn on the wb's young americans. eds roles also include jeff in the drama vip and guest roles in such popular shows as dharma & greg, jack & jill, and jill hennessy's love interest in crossing jordan. ed's big-screen breakthrough was his magnificent role in the thriller beeper. the film (also starring harvey keitel), tells the story of richard avery, a doctor who must follow the instructions on a drug dealer's beeper to rescue his kidnapped son. ed is also a very talented musician, and has released a solo album entitled quinn.
biography: cy carter made his film debut in tim hunter's 2001 anatomy of a hate crime; the same year he appeared in the award-winning short film blue haven. in 2002 he appeared in another great short film, crossing, playing the unforgettable role of scotty, a young man who deftly jumps in front of moving cars to get money from the shocked and apologetic drivers. his last role before st2 was noisy, a young rebel of the modern era in y.m.i. - a drama directed by polish actor & writer marek probosz.
biography: a model, actress, writer and painter. sandrine holt was born in england but was raised and lived in toronto, canada for many years. currently lives in los angeles. she is half-french (her mother is a frenchwoman) and her other background is chinese. she was a professional model before her film career had started. sandrine's big movie career began with bruce beresford'sblack robe. later she starred in such movies like rapa nui,pocahontas: the legend and mission. sandrine's most famous tv series is john woo's once a thief. in 1991, she got the genie awards' nomination for best supporting actress in black robe.
biography: balding, stringy, meanlooking character player in mainstream movies since the 1970s, probably best known as the sadistic captain knauer from the prison/football film the longest yard (1974). lauter occasionally essays sympathetic roles, but he's much more effective as a heavy, flashing his squinty, withering gaze and snarling dialogue at hapless opponents. his recent films include gleaming the cube, fat man and little boy and the rocketeer. he's also a familiar face on tv in telefilms and miniseries.
biography: jason-shane scott was born in los angeles and raised in reno, nevada. excelling at sports in high school, most notably football, jason also enjoyed acting. he appeared in such films as billy's hollywood screen kiss and shriker. many will recognize jason from his role on the abc daytime drama one life to live in which he played will rappaport from '98 to '01 and more recently for a handful of episodes. fans of horrors can remember him from the (not so)final chapter of full moon's saga the puppet master. soon you'll have a chance to see jason-shan scott in the yet to be released wolves of wall street and latter days. jason currently resides in los angeles where he pursues his love for film and writing.
biography: drew powell grew up in lebanon, indiana, a small city northwest of indianapolis, with his parents jim and and peggy, younger brother than and sister elizabeth. he attended central elementary, lebanon middle, and lebanon high schools. after graduating in 1994, he attended depauw university in greencastle, in. he received his bachelors in english literature with a minor in communication. drew has been acting and singing from a very young age, including a lead role in his elementary school play animal spring dance in 1987. during high school, he appeared in several musicals, including li'l abner, fiddler on the roof as tevya, and brigadoon as jeff douglas. he also performed in the show choir. he enjoys playing many sports, especially tennis and golf.
biography: brenda strong got her first break in showbiz with a brief but memorable appearance in billy crystal's you look marvelous music video. her appearance in the video led to guest shots on such shows as st. elsewhere, macgyver, and cheers, as well as her first film appearances in weekend warriors and mel brooks' spaceballs . more recently, brenda had a high profile recurring role on seinfeldas sue ellen mishkie (or as elaine refers to her, the braless wonder). seinfeld proved to be a great launching board for strong who's recent film appearances have included black dog and the deep end of the ocean. of course every fan of sst remembers wonderful brenda's performance as captain deladier in the original starship troopers. brenda also had a recurring role on the wb's 7th heaven this past fall and is currently working on an independent film titled exposed. (source: healthhdome, visit www.healthdome.com for more info).


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As some of you guys know, I am trying to learn as much French as I can in one year. There is at least one article per week on Friday’s that will be French related though other days will also include French content if applicable.
I thought it’d be appropriate to write updates on my progress so far and it’s been about a month since I started my current “phase” of studying. Originally these updates were going to be monthly but I”m starting to think that they’ll be bi monthly or so after this one to have a larger lapse of time to see some results or lack of.
So far I’ve mostly been using the apps I’ve mentioned in another post and even broke the habit of using them only to build up the habit again. I am training about an hour every day, some days I train more and some others a bit less but I’d say the average is about an hour.
So far my progress has been a bit slow, I don’t think I’ve made tons of improvement grammar wise though I do think the vocabulary is starting to stick. Vocabulary is one of those things that you have got to memorize one way or another and through the apps I’m using daily. Even someone like me who forgets the vocabulary often, has been able to retain a good amount of it. I still forget plenty of it and very basic words but I do see a small improvement in my vocabulary.
Besides the apps I am also using some beginners books and podcasts to improve my reading and listening which I will talk about at a later time. I have also made a page to archive all my french posts at miscrave.com/learn-french. So check that out if you’re just starting or want to see what you’ve been missing on.

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as some of you guys know, i am trying to learn as much french as i can in one year. there is at least one article per week on friday’s that will be french related though other days will also include french content if applicable.
i thought it’d be appropriate to write updates on my progress so far and it’s been about a month since i started my current “phase” of studying. originally these updates were going to be monthly but i”m starting to think that they’ll be bi monthly or so after this one to have a larger lapse of time to see some results or lack of.
so far i’ve mostly been using the apps i’ve mentioned in another post and even broke the habit of using them only to build up the habit again. i am training about an hour every day, some days i train more and some others a bit less but i’d say the average is about an hour.
so far my progress has been a bit slow, i don’t think i’ve made tons of improvement grammar wise though i do think the vocabulary is starting to stick. vocabulary is one of those things that you have got to memorize one way or another and through the apps i’m using daily. even someone like me who forgets the vocabulary often, has been able to retain a good amount of it. i still forget plenty of it and very basic words but i do see a small improvement in my vocabulary.
besides the apps i am also using some beginners books and podcasts to improve my reading and listening which i will talk about at a later time. i have also made a page to archive all my french posts at miscrave.com/learn-french. so check that out if you’re just starting or want to see what you’ve been missing on.


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For other formats please direct message me on Instagram or email candi_carrera (at) yahoo.com.
After 3 years and a couple of travels to Eastern Washington here my second book. Todd Hido inspired me about this region with his inimalistic winter shots. I wanted to meet the people that make this region so special. Special thanks to Lacey Clark-Cousins, Kari McKay, Todd Monson, Rory Williams, Lee Morrison and your families.
Thank you for trust, for having let me into your lives and your kindness & hospitality. you are beautiful people.A very special thank you to the people of Omak, Okanogan, Twisp, Hartline, Almira and Wilbur, Washington State. I love this region for the beauty of its landscapes and the warm heart of the people.
The book is sold at cost through Blurb and amazon.com and includes 80 pages with 55 intimate photos of my time spent with these lovely people. enjoy it.

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for other formats please direct message me on instagram or email candi_carrera (at) yahoo.com.
after 3 years and a couple of travels to eastern washington here my second book. todd hido inspired me about this region with his inimalistic winter shots. i wanted to meet the people that make this region so special. special thanks to lacey clark-cousins, kari mckay, todd monson, rory williams, lee morrison and your families.
thank you for trust, for having let me into your lives and your kindness & hospitality. you are beautiful people.a very special thank you to the people of omak, okanogan, twisp, hartline, almira and wilbur, washington state. i love this region for the beauty of its landscapes and the warm heart of the people.
the book is sold at cost through blurb and amazon.com and includes 80 pages with 55 intimate photos of my time spent with these lovely people. enjoy it.


text: The Oxford 65" TV Stand with Adjustable Shelves by Aspenhome at HomeWorld Furniture in the Hawaii, Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.

lowercased: the oxford 65" tv stand with adjustable shelves by aspenhome at homeworld furniture in the hawaii, oahu, hilo, kona, maui area. product availability may vary. contact us for the most current availability on this product.