Kindle Scout for Epic Fantasy?
I'm trying something for my latest book, an epic fantasy novel. Please nominate it over on the Kindle Scout website (it uses your Amazon login info) which may result in it being published through this imprint. The first pages are listed here as well so you can see what you're getting into. Apparently, you can get free copies of books when you nominate ones that are published, even. Pretty good deal. So, clicky click please!
After I recovered from hurting my back, I started using hiking poles regularly. I found several benefits to it: it is easier to get up hills, safer to come down hills (no more slipping on rocks and falling on my behind), and if necessary, I can either poke my dogs in the behind or fight off rabid raccoons. Now, granted, there aren't that many rabid raccoons where I live, but you never know.
If you'd like more detailed information than this, check out this link: Effectively Using Hiking Poles: The Gas-Brake-Coast Method.
Interesting look at the evolving nature of ebooks. Love the stylish way this book is presented and the bold use of new technology. I might even have to consider going with Apple or at least supplementing what I have already with an Apple product or two in order to take advantage of this.
I was so intrigued by R.J. Madigan's experimentation with new innovations in iBook formatting that I requested a Guest Post about the subject for my own blog as I believe this will be of interest to many of my readers, as well.
Visibility is the indie author's enemy and with new titles being published every day it is getting harder and harder to stand out in such a crowded market place. This is why I decided to publish my first Young Adult Fantasy novel The Sword of Air as an iBook. With world-building creative options like music HD video, 3D modelling and photography to colour my story I was able to create a book unlike anything else on the market.
Well, I leave on my trip in a little more than two weeks already. Time is really closing in! It's a bit of a mad rush to make arrangements and order the last minute items I'll need, and make sure that I think of all the things that need to be taken care of at home while I'm gone.
I'm up to walking 7-8 miles in one go now, which is harder on the dogs than me. A couple of my dogs were attacked by a pit bull last week and so they are out of the walking duty while they recover. The remaining dog, Rudy the terrier, is usually sandwiched between these two. Now he is free to sniff the flowers and leap at lizards, but also to demand lots of rest breaks. Hiking so often has been wonderful in beautiful springtime, as you can see from the pictures.
My goal is to be up to 10 miles in one go by the time I leave, so I'm 75% of the way there! Woo hoo!
I also received my credential in the mail. The various albergues (pilgrim hostels) along the way will stamp it for me, qualifying me for the low pilgrim rate. It's a sort of pilgrim passport, I suppose.
The financial generosity of many continues to amaze and humble me. One donator even gave me two separate donations! I so appreciate the kind emails, messages, and shares/retweets that you all have helped me with. I'm a very lucky person to be the recipient of so much attention! I'm at 32% of my goal amount. This means that 13 days of room and board have been paid for already! Just 27 left to go.
Back at the beginning of this preparation experience I told my doctor about what I was doing. He pronounced it good for me "mentally, physically, and spiritually." The "opening jitters" did make me question this at first, but now that I'm almost there I see the truth of his prescription.
Haha – it's always illuminating to learn how you appear to others!
The first I had ever heard of the Camino de Santiago in Spain was in an article published in the October 2012 issue of National Geographic Traveler, written by actor Andrew McCarthy about his experiences with conquering his own fears and vulnerabilities through travel. I thought, I'd like to test myself on that same road one of these days, but it wasn't high on my priority list so I pushed it aside in favor of other, more remote, destinations like Antarctica. But – as I wrote a couple weeks ago – my friend Xina (journeytaker) recently invited me to accompany her.
Most people I have told about my intention to walk the Camino de Santiago have the same reaction.
I'm pretty good at dealing with the initial shocked reaction. I get it; it seems to have come out of the blue to most of my friends and family. They don't know that I first learned about the Camino years ago, while studying history. They don't know that I've been thinking about it since then, because to be honest, I haven't said anything about it. It's one of those desires that has lived in my heart in a cocooned state, because of its outrageous nature. Taking 6 weeks or more off daily life is rather outrageous, at least in my mind. Walking 500 miles is rather outrageous, too. I'm not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination. But what I lack in physical prowess I make up for in enthusiasm.
Foolish enth usiasm, some might say.
I have taken an ice pick to the frozen and hard places of my heart these past few years. I am splitting it open and letting out all the airy dreams and insubstantial wishes. Some flutter away like moths. Others glow and pulse and speak to me in a voice I cannot deny.
Make me real. Do it now, or not at all.
So, yes, I can deal with the shock. It is something I have debated in my own mind, a familiar topic. But what I am not so good at comprehending and answering are questions about why I'm doing the Camino. I don't respond with the gravity the question demands. Usually I blather on about how I love history and walking and how my spirit says to go. I'm a grandmother now and if I don't go now when will I? It's not like time is passing more slowly than it used to. Menopause has wreaked its havoc on my body and that has a way of bringing the reality of the passing years to the forefront of one's mind.
And all of these reasons are true. I'm a writer and because of that, I have the advantage of calling any and every endeavor research. Who knows what might come of my trip? I am looking at projects now, sifting them and finding those that seem most worthy.
These explanations, especially the part about my spirit – the nudgings of the Holy Spirit – satisfies some. These are those who are used to doing things for faith that others might find strange or incomprehensible. They have learned, as I have, that following Spirit is something that is frequently frightening and strenuous, but that it is always good, no matter the outward appearance, no matter even the result, as counterintuitive as that sounds. That, indeed, God works in mysterious ways.
Others look at me with a blank sort of stare, and rephrase the question.
On my end, the blathering continues. Adventure, inner strength, peace, power, love … I have said all these things and more, and yes, of course I hope to gain them. But the true answer is that I just don't know what will happen. What will come from this great effort, this long walk. That flippant old answer to the question, "Why do you climb Mount Everest?" applies. Because it's there.
I am open. I am willing to see what there is to see. To whatever blessed fellow pilgrims I can walk with. To whatever centuries-old sights I can experience.
The heart and soul of what I hope to find, though? I don't know. I am going because I have been called by something greater than me. I am going because I have answered the call. It is an age-old siren song, the call. Adventurers and pilgrims alike have heard it. And so have farmers and peasants and factory workers. Perhaps you have as well. Some listen. Some go, despite the obstacles of health, finances, and danger. I am one of these.
Here, then, is the answer.
Lean in, listen closely, and I will tell you why, in a soft voice, a sacred half-whisper.
My mother taught me many things that I am grateful for, but how to stretch a dollar is definitely one of the most useful. As such, I zoom for the clearance rack whenever I go clothes shopping, and make sure to research big purchases carefully. Plus, I just like to make my money work for me. Which is why I lurk about the frugal forum at Reddit regularly. The name of one airline kept surfacing: Norwegian Air. I didn't have to browse around their site for long before I found out why.
I've been lucky enough to travel to Europe a few times in my life and if it's one thing I've learned it's that it is not exactly inexpensive. Some countries are worse than others (Great Britain, I love you, but you are pricey) but as with anything you really want in life, where there's a will, there's a way, even if you're cash strapped. Airfare tops the list for costs associated with Europe, including walking the Camino de Santiago. If you have more time than money, though, there are ways to squeeze a buck until it screams. And I sure love to hear that sound!
Roundtrip airfare from LAX to Copenhagen for ~$400 on Norwegian Airlines (I also purchased travel insurance for $15 so the total is about $419). Norwegian Air has low costs, in general, to Norwegian destinations, namely, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. I chose Copenhagen because I've heard great things about it and I haven't been there before. I'll spend a day or so sightseeing before I continue on.
One way trip from Santiago de Compostela to London Stansted on Ryan Air for $63.
One way trip from London Stansted to Copenhagen on EasyJet for $58.
From Copenhagen, I'll board a flight home on my initial roundtrip ticket.
Simple, right? Well, sort of. I'll admit, it can be time-consuming to figure all this out. However, it can also be an enjoyable challenge, which is how I viewed it. My flights were more complicated than most due to the nature of the Camino, which involves a 500 mile difference from northeastern Spain to northwestern Spain, but also because I looked outside the box and tried different route combinations for the best fare, especially with my one way trips to Copenhagen.
Is it worth it? My airfares total about $600. Most other people's airfares from the West Coast run between $1200-$1400. So, yes, I think so.
However, lest I paint too rosy a picture, be aware of these cautions and helpful tips.
Be willing to devote some time to the search. It's a heck of a lot faster – but potentially more expensive – to go through a travel agent or just open up Expedia and choose some flights. While you can get very lucky – especially with a travel agent – there's no guarantee and if you devote some time to learning the costs associated with traveling you'll also know a great deal when you see it.
Be willing to purchase tickets in different routes/airlines.
Don't wait. Special fares and sales are fleeting – grab them while you can!
Be aware of extra fees. Traveling on budget airlines isn't always as cheap as it seems. For Norwegian Air, I decided not to pay the $42 fee for meals on my flights to and from Copenhagen. Since I'm backpacking I'm also not checking luggage, another extra fee. I'm also likely to get stuck in the middle seat because I'm not paying for reserved seats. Ryan Air is notorious for charging extra fees, and you would do well to learn the ins and outs of this airline before you fly it. See below for recommended links.
Out of the way airports. One way that budget airlines keep costs down is to fly to out of the way airports in major markets. Be sure to check the airports out carefully beforehand. My last two one way flights take me in and out of London Stansted, which is 48 km northeast of London and nowhere near the other airports that serve this destination.
I hope my experience with booking low-cost flights has inspired you to try the same. Be sure to spend time checking out the below links and other advice before you dive in, though.
The Thrifty Nomads give an excellent primer on how to get the cheapest possible flight. While there, check out their other helpful articles.
Fees and Hacks for dealing with Ryan Air: Speaking-Denglish.com, Gospain.about.com, Dailymail.co.uk, Heelsfirsttravel.
Advertising on Amazon w/ AMS via KDP—Is it Worth it?
Great analysis of advertising on Amazon.
The new option for KDP Select authors to advertise their Kindle e-books with Amazon Marketing Services (AMS) is intriguing.
I have now run 14 different ads through AMS. I've also studied the results that several other authors have posted.
I'll also mention a couple of alternative uses of this tool.