Illustrators Workshop, Library, OWL Books in Museum and Living a busy life:

The illustrators’ workshop was rewarding. I am hoping to hear from other illustrators who are interesting in writing and illustrating for publication. If you are interested, email me at marynida@lakeviewnet.com. Updates on the workshop click on http://belarcowritersworkshop.blogspot.com/. To learn more about children’s authors and illustrators click on http://picturebookillustrators.typepad.com/; http://childrensbooks,about.com/ and http://asuen.com/blog.central.com .

To keep up dated with the publishing world and the dishonest publishers & agents go to - Writer Beware http://accrispin.blogspot.com/ (Round the clock coverage of BookExpo America 2009; http://www.sfwa.org/; http://anotherearm.com/ and http://www.publishersweekly.com/.

I was saddened by the death of Noogie, the Llama (1993-2008) and now the beloved Lurch is very ill. Lurch, is a Watusi steer. What makes Lurch special, is not because he is a Guinness Record Holder – it is because he is kind and lovable. I wrote an article about Lurch and the herd. It was published in The Ozarks Mountaineer magazine. Everyone who knows Lurch is ill is chipping in with donations to help with his treatment expenses. http://www.lurchandtheherd.com/

This month has been very busy and I believe it will continue for the next six months.
May 16th I attended the Ozarks Writers League is where you see old friends and meet new ones. Great group! Soon OWL members will have their books with the history of the league in the Ralph Foster Museum, College of the Ozarks.

May 27th was the last meeting of the Friends of the Library for the next three months (Gosh, I’ll miss it and the special people who help support the library.). Please, don’t ever forget your library - big city or small town it is so important. Go beyond the Internet, check out your local library to do research and reading. The book sale May 21-22, 23 was a success. If you have any extra books – donate them to your library and please attend the interesting programs they provide throughout the year.

A Sharing Garden: Last week when I entered the Woodland Garden I was met by the Poison Ivy family. They welcomed me with a bouquet of their family’s fast growing crop. Long after I left the garden, their freely given gift is staying close to my heart. When I triumph over the emotions I have been feeling; I’ll re-enter the garden with my gift for the Poison Ivy family. Hopefully, this gift will change their life.

I felt a little safer on the deck when I planted flowers and seeds in pots. In a couple days the seeds were growing. With a little unwanted help from my chipmunk friends, holes have dug in several pots. I guess they wanted me to plant some sunflower seeds. The wildlife that has made homes and do visit the Woodland Garden continues to amaze and inform me. I have my own Red-headed woodpecker family. I fought for them and continue to watch them at the campgrounds belonging to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Hard Fault has some new music; check it out and listen at http://amiestreet.com/music/hard-fault/ I love this artist. He is the creator of every note and also the beautiful covers.

If an editor or writer acts unprofessional do not bend. Remember to always act as a professional and you will be rewarded.

I’ll be updating my blog, Submarine Stories and Military Writers soon at http://submarinestories.blogspot.com/ and my website at http://marynidasmith.homestead.com/

Ozark Writers and Illustrators for Children meet each month in Springfield, Missouri. They are having their Annual Summer Workshop July 11. Check out their website http://www.owaic.org.
The Lebanon-Laclede County Library is having an Authors' Day & Book Fair July, 10,11 &12 from 12-5 p.m. Please make reservations with Rosalie Klein 417-532-2148 or email rklein@lebanon-laclede.lib.mo.us

Book Sale, Baxter County Library May 21,22, & 23 starting at 8:30 a.m.

Hard Fault Music is by a new artist. His music will calm you after a difficult time,transport you on a journey of cloud formations and heavenly sounds.

http://www.shockhound.com/search?q=hard+fault
http://amiestreet.com/music/hard-fault/?fms=J0UbLqiywJkx

Enjoy the peace Hard Fault's music will bring to you. You will not be sorry. Hard Fault is an artist who's music is pure because it is created from the heart of one of the greatest new artist to come to us in 2009.

Illustrators Workshop

Illustrators’ workshop on illustrating a 32-page children’s
picture book will be held at Bel Arco Resort’s Conference
Center May 22, 2-4 p.m.

Mary Nida Smith, freelance writer, author and illustrator
will present the workshop.

The workshop will discuss how to create a storyboard,
thumbprints, and spacing to develop a dummy book to submit
to an art director, agent or an editor at a publishing house.

On display will be several how-to-books, a completed dummy,
a storyboard, thumbprints and a light box.

Attendees are invited to bring their illustrations
for display.

If you have any questions call 870-431-5369 or email marynida@lakeviewnet.com.
For more information and Smith’s bio go to http://belarcowritersworkshop.blogspot.com/.
Registration fee $10. by May 18th or $15.00 at the door. Send to Mary Nida Smith 162 Stamford Dr, Lakeview, AR 72642

Check http://www.ala.org/ big event in June at Chicago. It appears I will miss it again this year.

May 11-17 is Children's Book Week
http://www.bookweekonline.com/

Did you know all children's books published before 1985 may be removed from your library in 2010?

One of my favorite books for 2009 is "These Darn Squirrels" by Adam Rubin. I am a nut who loves squirrels. They have taught me what I read online is not always true and that I can learn from them.

SCBWI/ Arkansas Conference this weekend.http://www.arkansasscbwi.org/
Blogs I follow list - HOME is Rich Davis' website He has something new for children to enjoy.

NEWS RELEASE
22nd Annual Ozarks Romance Authors Writers’ Conference
"Committed to Write"
June 6, 2009, 9:00AM-3:30PM (registration 8:30-9:00)
The Springfield Library Center
4653 South Campbell Avenue
Springfield, Mo.
E-mail dilock@abcbglobol.net
http://www.ozarkromanceauthors.com/

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM. Not a day passes that I don't think of you. I will always be grateful to God for choosing you to be my mom and best friend. You continue to guide me from your new home in heaven.

To my daughter Margeret, who is a special mom. I love you.

Rain, JacketFlap, Ozarks Mountaineer , Christian Writers:
The ice storm is long gone, debris slowly disappearing from the landscape and now, warm damp or rainy days have arrived creating moments of nostalgia for the West coast.

It has been a busy week preparing my program for the “Illustrating a Children’s Picture Book Workshop.” I pulled out a lot of helpful books from the shelves and some of my drawings to display, hoping to inspire people attending my workshop on Friday, May 22.

I had a piece published in the Round & About the Ozarks department of The Ozarks Mountaineer Magazine May/June issue on page 23. I enjoyed the cover by Mike McArthy.

Check out Kid Magazine Writers’ website at http://www.kidmagwriters.com/ for updates of what is happening in the children’s magazine business and lots of helpful articles.

Check out author Susan Taylor Brown at http://www.susantaylorbrown.com/ and JacketFlap at http://www.jacketflap.com/, a social networking community of 3,100 published authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults.

The Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 1 a.m. to noon at the University Heights Baptist Church 1010 S. National (Corner of Grand and National near MSU), Springfield, Missouri, http://clearglassview.net/OzarksACW