Writers don't just write. There is a world within our world that encircles our property. What happen this morning was one of the huge five trunks' of the Mulberry tree came crashing down in the Woodland Garden. The red-belled sapsuckers and downy woodpeckers had homes in it, carved out after eating the embedded insects. The huge Mulberry tree was my center piece, it was filled with many memories where our little dachshund "Baby Girl" climbed one arched limb to look into chipmunk holes. Where Frank and Jessie, two little squirrels were born and stayed after their mother was killed by a neighbor. Where large fungi appeared as beautiful white flowers scattered along the trunk reaching upward. We have been trimming and cutting trying to be able to keep this treasured tree, but it is fading fast. One topped-off trunk has been producing shoots allowing a few mulberries for the birds to eat.

As the large dying trunk fell, it damaged two and brought down four of my beautiful dogwoods, plus destroyed some salvaged garbage items that I want to create pieces for the garden. It has been a sad year for trees, almost as bad as a draught.

I won't share the other stuff, it appears to be nothing compared to other people's problems elsewhere.

Books releases, blogs, writers conferences and meetings: The creative writing world continues to release exciting news updates. No one has an excuse not to learn something new and uplifting.
Carla McClafferty, Arkansas SCBWI Regional Adviser's latest book, IN DEFIANCE OF HITLER: THE SECRET MISSION OF VARIAN FRY was released September 2, 2008 after 2 1/2 years of nonstop work. It is published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. (htttp://carlamcclafferty.com) Congratulations Carla!

Arkansas SCBWI Fall Retreat September 19-21, 2008 for more information click on http://members.aol.com/ddpattison/scbwi/fall.html orhttp://www.arkansascbwi.org/arscbwi_08fallbrochure.pdf

SCBWI Missouri Fall Conference November 8, at St. Charles, Mo at http://www.scbwi-mo.org and Springfield monthly meetings at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway from 9-11 am.

Velda Brotherton is a WILLA finalist for 2008. The award is to the best book about women in the West, by Women Writing the West to honor Willa Cather.

BULL SHOALS BEACON, ONLINE NEWS MAGAZINE (http://bsbeacon.blogspot.com), a daily update of local news for Marion and Baxter County. News and photos you will not find in your newspapers. There are several blog columnists with interesting information about gardening, weather, wildlife and many other subjects. Editor and Publisher Onedia Sylvest, is in need of contributors/writers and photographers.