Books, magazines, family and travels - the first week of June we traveled to Naperville, IL to visit family. What a whirlwind of excitement, creating memories to inspire me and lift me up on lonely days. I enjoyed the excitement of seeing what the area had to offer and being able to return to my quiet community. It was a ten hour drive with beautiful weather going and returning.

I was given a gift card to use at Anderson's Bookshop, boy did I have fun. I purchased books and Magazines. I love that Independent bookstore. http://www.andersonsbookshop.com/ If I was to stay one more day, I would have been able to attend Chicago tribune Printers Row book fair. I'll shoot for next year, just a dream away.

June issue of the Writer magazine (http://www.writersmag.com/) is their annual children's writing issue. What an issue - you can find it at Baxter County Library at Mountain Home or a local bookstore.
SCBWI MO Scribbles newsletter will keep you up-to-date with all the events in Arkansas and Missouri and so much more. Subscriptions: $10/year (SCBWI members): $12/year (Non-members) Editor Sue Bradford Edwards, is doing a great job. National SCBWI: http://scbwi.org/ Missouri: http://geocities.com/scbwimo and Arkansas: http://www.arkansasscbwi.org/.

May 28, Revision notes a daily newsletter by author Darcy Pattison was titled "Fear of Regret." I found it interesting for I believe we all allow fear to govern our daily lives in what we do or do not accomplish. She mentioned the book, "Art of Fear" by David Bayles & Ted Orland. On my bulletin board is a card my sister Pasty gave me many years ago. It reads, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are more omnipotent. I believe we all should a couple of small books on positive thinking within eye view.

June 10, "Revision Notes" Darcy informs us about Cellphone novels - interesting.

Websites and blogs to check: http://www.freelancewriting.com/, http://thewriterslife.com/ (The Writer's Life magazine is a paying market.), http://thewriterslife.homestead.com/writers_blogs.html, http://www.writersdigest.com/blogs/, and http://www.eharlequin.com/ (They do critique your manuscript for a dollar a page.).

Sara Webb Quest, I wish you would get at free blog at http://www.blogger.com/. Try it, you will enjoy it. Sara is a hard working freelance writer and author, plus a member of SCBWI.

I am sorry to hear Ridley Pearson and his family are moving to China. I wish them well. When Ridley's first book was released he had his first speaking engagement with Magic Valley Writers ( A chapter of the Idaho Writers League) Twin Falls, Idaho. I was the president at the time and we continued to support each other until I moved to Arkansas and we lost touch.

June 21, Children's book author/illustrator, Theresa burns-Maler will be at the Baxter County Library, Mountain Home.
July 19, SCBWI Missouri Chapter is having a writers workshop at Springfield, Mo
August 15, Bel Arco Writers Workshop http://belarcowritersworkshops.blogspot.com/