I'm reaching out to songwriters and friends of songwriters about a very cool program that takes place this summer.

Hit writer Skip Ewing ("Love Me" - Collin Raye, "You Had Me From Hello" - Kenny Chesney, "I Believe" - Diamond Rio are a few of his 11 number ones) is awarding $2500 scholarships to up to 20 aspiring writers to attend a summer writing program, Horse & Writer Invitational. His Horse & Writer programs are his way of giving back - with time, energy, support and mentorship.

It's an amazing scholarship (food, lodging, mentoring & instruction from hit writers Clay Mills ("Beautiful Mess" - Diamond Rio), Skip, Chris Wallin ("Don't Blink" - Kenny Chesney, "Love Me If You Can" - Toby Keith) & Deanna Bryant ("Stupid Boy" - Keith Urban, "Don't Make Me" - Blake Shelton), horse back riding, etc.) and the program runs from August 24th - August 30th at the Lazy L&B Ranch in Dubois, WY (scholarship doesn't cover transportation to/from ranch). You don't have to know a thing about horses to attend, nor do you have to ride horses at all, if you don't want to. Some of Nashville's biggest publishers (and a couple boutique publishers) have given us single song contracts for the scholarship recipients and one "camper" will be chosen to perform onstage with the entire Horse & Writer staff for the big benefit concert on August 30th (it's a huge event that sells out every year). The Invitational scholarship application deadline is June 27th.

If you want to check out the Invitational or Skip's Horse & Writer Classic ( which runs August 31st - Sept. 4th, with Skip, James Dean Hicks & Tim Johnson) please visit the official site: www.horseandwriter.com.
All the details about the two programs, the scholarships, the staff and what to expect can be found there.

Both programs are open to all genres of lyric based songwriters (Pop, Country, Jazz, Rock, Gospel, Christian, Folk, R&B, etc).

Thanks for your time, please feel free to write me with any questions.

Much Joy

Susan

The Team - Horse & Writer