Gardening, recycling, authors and writers writing - Cleaning up my garden most of the time causes storms to reorganize, fungi to photograph and weeds to weed through for wildflower gems. My Woodland Garden (Producing a name for my garden was difficult, this one and The Lot kept being repeated.) is my outdoor cathedral where I find peace and restore my disconnected brain waves. I discovered the birds have been overfed. This is not winter. It is spring where we start cutting back so they will search for and get rid of bad insects, such as ticks. These pinhead size seed ticks appeared on my body like small freckles. They can't be seen, but I know they are there when the first mouth full of my flesh connects between their teeth. Don't tell me they don't have teeth for I have the wounds to prove it.

At The Friends of the Library's white sale Wednesday I bid and got the containers and smooth rocks to start my Bonsai tree. It is a mixed dark/light blue oblong glass container. This is something I have always wanted to try besides creating a Circus tree. The art of Bonsai, doesn't that sound creative and intriguing. I believe I'll start with a Chalk Maple tree. The second item I purchased is a foot tall, stunning African giraffe with ears of smooth leather to add to my animal kingdom.

One of my brain waves signals every time a product with a container enters our place that I can redesign it into a useful item and I am off into another world. I tell that part of my brain to be still and go away; I'll call it when I have time to play.

Darcy Pattison's book Novel Metamorphosis Uncommon Ways to Revise, has been released, click on http://www.darcypattison,com/ and her picture book, 19 Girls and Me was placed on Read Aloud America List 2008.
Steve Weinberg e-mailed information about his two books. The Centennial History of the Missouri Journalism School is for sale at local bookstores or through the University of Missouri Press. The profits will go directly to the Journalism School. The other book is a biography of Ida Tarbee, the inventor of investigative journalism and published by W.W. Norton. Both books sound like great reads for non-fiction readers and writers. I would love to have him come to our area to share his books and his knowledge in researching.

Check Preditors & Editors, they need the support of freelance writers and authors. This a very important website to keep us all informed of scams we will encounter as writers.

Yesterday, I sent a query to a bird magazine and an article to a military magazine. Now, maybe I will not feel so bad while I spend time working on what is called, "spring cleaning and organizing."

My friends Valerie, Lonny, Barb and I met at the cozy little library at Gainesville for our monthly meeting. These three girls are such a joy to be with. When I come home filled with added knowledge I want to set the writing world on fire -get those manuscripts polished up bright as new sparkling gem sailing off to land on the chosen editor's desk. Each one must shimmer before their eyes.
Don't forget to check out my other blog -http://submarinestories.com

Books in Bloom correct date is Sunday, May 4, 2008 from 12 noon to 5:00PM at The Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Website is http://www.booksinbloom.org where a large list of authors are listed and their schedule to speak in their tent or in the hotel conservatory.

Children's book authors Veda Boyd Jones, and Arkansas's SCBWI Regional Advisor Carla Kilough McClafferty will be there. What a great list of authors. The five hours are packed with speakers sharing their talent and helpful information.

Bookstore, book and authors' events, poetry contest and gardening: In my Woodland Garden April 14, 2008, twenty May flowers reached toward the sky hoping to catch a ray of sunshine to nurture each bud hiding below their canopy. The wicked witch of the southwest had blown in for several days crying buckets of tears until the Woodland garden was flooded. Later, the angry north winds circled the dogwoods and redbuds, but the warmth of the garden angels' wings protected them. Today all 31 dogwoods and five redbuds will continue to brighten up my days.

Upcoming exciting events not to miss. "The Thing" an oral poetry contest to be held Saturday April 19, at 1:00 p.m., at the Baxter County Library click on http://www.baxtercountylibrary.org. Each years they present tons of awards and prizes - most of all great poetry. Stephen Johnson has been the emcee since it began in 2004. Stephen,the judges and all the volunteers do a professional job. This year they are trying to limit to 50 poets. Last year over 100 poets signed up to read. Our library does such a great job promoting events. It is a fun and interesting place.

Books in Bloom May 6, Eureka Springs, AR. I love it and it is free. Lots of interesting books to purchase while you visit with authors. Several authors will be speaking.

Mountain Home has a new independent bookstore : Readers' Choice Books (870) 424-0101 featuring new and used books. The owner is Lynne Dugan. I am so happy to see an independent bookstore. Please visit with Lynne.

A good editor is a good thing. The key to an editor's eye is your cover letter. You must present an interesting blurb about your manuscript and yourself as a writer. Will your cover letter get the attention of the editor/reader to continue to read your manuscript or will the editor send a rejection letter without reading it? Remember the market place is very busy filled with over worked editors and lots of products to choose from. Think of it this way - you have just invented a product you believe in and feel everyone is dying to have it in their market place. Now, you have to convince a factory to produce it, next you have to convince the stores to carry it. (c)

Musical notes flow
Trees, shrubs splash in color.
Birds in social song
Spring has arrived.
Oh, happy days.

UPDATE -Read Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell blog at http://www.kcwrite4u.blogspot.com. She will have an interview she did about me and my book, Submarine Stories of World War II. Also click on her website at www.writeforyou.biz.

Books, blogs and websites I continue to discover and rediscover. The weather has put a wet damper on using the computer. My small walk - in closet has become my tornado closet. I don't know when I can regain it as my clothes closet. Back to pen and paper and catching up on reading. Rediscovering some of my research, how-to write and illustrate books.

For a few weeks I will be focused on three books; Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood and Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella they are useful for all genres (adults, teens or children). They are filled with more then emotions and dialogue. #3 is How to write and Illustrate Children's Books and Get Them Published by Consultant Editors: Treld Pelkey Bicknell and Felictity Trotman, it was published 1988. All three books have much more than their titles reveal.

How to Reel in a Children's Book Editor with Your Writing by Margot Finke at http://www.underdown.org/. Don't forget to check out Verla Kay's website http://www.verlakay.com/ packed with lots of good information and April's issue of Kid Magazine Writers http://kidmagwriters.com/ and read back issues, Inside Markets and try writing some articles to submit. Anastasia Suen at http://www.asuen.wordpress.com/.

I continue to be up to my ears in writing projects. Humming birds are coming and Dragon Flies and birds are coming and going. Redbud trees and dogwood trees are filling my woodland garden with colors of hope. Hope you all are safe and being published - write on.