Ozark Writers & Illustrators for Children
http://www.owaic.org
Saturday, August 1
The Library Station
2535 N. Kansas Expressway
Springfield, MO
9:00am to 11:00am (critique session to follow from 11:00 to 1:00)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Woodland Garden is my sanctuary. I am amazed what I discover every time I
stroll though.
July 23, I armed myself with a bottle of poison and clippers.
The poison ivy is spreading rapidly and approximate two-four
inches tall. Stormy weather keeps me from entering the garden
and allowing the poison to be effective. Leaves three beware.
This is difficult in a wild garden. The unknown seedlings
don’t show their true selves until they have grown to
display four or more leaves such as the Virginia Creeper.
I pruned some ground cover, small trees, and bushes. In the
meanwhile my husband discovered I was working in the
garden. The push moor's roaring sounds drowned out the
birds joyful songs and raised my temperature. I quickly
removed myself as I saw my small Mimosa tree being
topped as the sticks with red tags surrounding it crumbled.
I discovered a large walk in hole under my wood pile with
another hole leading from it. The tracks I couldn’t
make out. There are new holes on the bank and throughout
the garden and as usual lots of chipmunks escape hatches.
Under the deck steps is a mud turtle’s home. A blue strip salamander
continues to ran out from under the stepping stones.
July 24, As I sat on the sun porch watching the orange tinted
sunrise peek through the trees two bats raced around the large
oaks as the yard light displayed flying insects. This year I
haven’t adopted a summer buddy. I miss having one.
On a couple of other matters, I had a poem rejected July 13
from Mature Living magazine. I guess, I am not mature
enough for it. Jim Hamilton is looking for a poem with the
title-The Devil in Arkansas. As a writer we are always
learning and receiving interesting items.
stroll though.
July 23, I armed myself with a bottle of poison and clippers.
The poison ivy is spreading rapidly and approximate two-four
inches tall. Stormy weather keeps me from entering the garden
and allowing the poison to be effective. Leaves three beware.
This is difficult in a wild garden. The unknown seedlings
don’t show their true selves until they have grown to
display four or more leaves such as the Virginia Creeper.
I pruned some ground cover, small trees, and bushes. In the
meanwhile my husband discovered I was working in the
garden. The push moor's roaring sounds drowned out the
birds joyful songs and raised my temperature. I quickly
removed myself as I saw my small Mimosa tree being
topped as the sticks with red tags surrounding it crumbled.
I discovered a large walk in hole under my wood pile with
another hole leading from it. The tracks I couldn’t
make out. There are new holes on the bank and throughout
the garden and as usual lots of chipmunks escape hatches.
Under the deck steps is a mud turtle’s home. A blue strip salamander
continues to ran out from under the stepping stones.
July 24, As I sat on the sun porch watching the orange tinted
sunrise peek through the trees two bats raced around the large
oaks as the yard light displayed flying insects. This year I
haven’t adopted a summer buddy. I miss having one.
On a couple of other matters, I had a poem rejected July 13
from Mature Living magazine. I guess, I am not mature
enough for it. Jim Hamilton is looking for a poem with the
title-The Devil in Arkansas. As a writer we are always
learning and receiving interesting items.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Ozark Writers and Illustrators for Children's
Annual Summer Workshop July 11, at Lebanon, Mo –
what a wonderful experience!
Naomi Shaw was in charge of keeping the workshop
running smoothly and what a great job she did.
The first session was “Coffee with Vicki Grove”. Vicki
mesmerized us with insight to a dedicated writer’s life
with all the ups and downs, and what inspired her to write
each teen novel. She was serious, witty, and encouraging. I
have never met a writer who provided so much helpful
information for beginners or sparks to fire up the professional
writer to continue to share their words to motivate readers to
continue reading and to become a person that gives back to
their community.
Lunch was provided by Maria’s Café located in the library.
The café carries a Route 66 theme to encourage patrons to
visit the library’s Route 66 Museum.
Afternoon we had three break-away sessions:
J.B. (Jamie) Cheaney- “Sweatin’ the Small Stuff.”
Lizabeth Hardman- “Getting your Foot in the Door
with Non-fiction.”
Louise Jackson – “Believable Characters.”
Three great programs; I hate break-away sessions, because
I want attend them all. I decided on Lizabeth’s who writes
for a history magazine and a work-for-hire for non-fiction teen
and adult books. It was Eizabeth’s first time as speaker. She did
a great job providing us with importance of research: Gathering
information no older than ten years, and where to find reliable
information on the Internet.
From 2-3 a.m., the first manuscript page of ten attendees
was shown by Power Point. Naomi read each manuscript’s
1st page and afterwards the five panelists gave their critique.
It was very informative to hear ten different critiques by
J.B. Cheaney, Louise Jackson, Vicky Grove, Barbara
Cochran and Lorrie Cardwell-Casey. At the workshop’s
closing each page with five critiques were handed in an
envelope back to each writer to take home to read and digest.
Three of the authors are members of OWAIC that meet
the 1st Saturday of each month in Springfield.
Website: http://www.owaic.org/
Thanks again to OWAIC, Lebanon-Laclede County Library
and the Ozarks Penmasters Guild.
Annual Summer Workshop July 11, at Lebanon, Mo –
what a wonderful experience!
Naomi Shaw was in charge of keeping the workshop
running smoothly and what a great job she did.
The first session was “Coffee with Vicki Grove”. Vicki
mesmerized us with insight to a dedicated writer’s life
with all the ups and downs, and what inspired her to write
each teen novel. She was serious, witty, and encouraging. I
have never met a writer who provided so much helpful
information for beginners or sparks to fire up the professional
writer to continue to share their words to motivate readers to
continue reading and to become a person that gives back to
their community.
Lunch was provided by Maria’s Café located in the library.
The café carries a Route 66 theme to encourage patrons to
visit the library’s Route 66 Museum.
Afternoon we had three break-away sessions:
J.B. (Jamie) Cheaney- “Sweatin’ the Small Stuff.”
Lizabeth Hardman- “Getting your Foot in the Door
with Non-fiction.”
Louise Jackson – “Believable Characters.”
Three great programs; I hate break-away sessions, because
I want attend them all. I decided on Lizabeth’s who writes
for a history magazine and a work-for-hire for non-fiction teen
and adult books. It was Eizabeth’s first time as speaker. She did
a great job providing us with importance of research: Gathering
information no older than ten years, and where to find reliable
information on the Internet.
From 2-3 a.m., the first manuscript page of ten attendees
was shown by Power Point. Naomi read each manuscript’s
1st page and afterwards the five panelists gave their critique.
It was very informative to hear ten different critiques by
J.B. Cheaney, Louise Jackson, Vicky Grove, Barbara
Cochran and Lorrie Cardwell-Casey. At the workshop’s
closing each page with five critiques were handed in an
envelope back to each writer to take home to read and digest.
Three of the authors are members of OWAIC that meet
the 1st Saturday of each month in Springfield.
Website: http://www.owaic.org/
Thanks again to OWAIC, Lebanon-Laclede County Library
and the Ozarks Penmasters Guild.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Good Old Days magazine: http://goodolddaysonline.com/ I received a letter that my story, Buck the Comeback Horse will be tentatively scheduled for Feb 2010. Check their contributor guidelines at their website. Real stories of people who lived and grew up in about 1935-1965. Check it out. They also publish other magazines. Share your family stories for others to enjoy and create excitement among your family. You will be a celebrity at your family reunion - the family writer. Stories recorded and passed down through generations will enrich family history.
This will be my second family story published in Good Old Days magazine. A couple of years ago they published, Christmas Among the Wolves. My brothers and sisters were excited as they received their copy. I purchased several extra copies. It was fun!
This will be my second family story published in Good Old Days magazine. A couple of years ago they published, Christmas Among the Wolves. My brothers and sisters were excited as they received their copy. I purchased several extra copies. It was fun!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Ozarks Writers & Illustrators for Children, Ozark Pen Women and the Lebanon-Laclede County Library sponsored Authors Day and the Ozark Writers & Illustrators for Children Annual Summer Workshop July 10 & 11. I thank each and everyone for their hard work in presenting these two programs where I was able to sit back for two days to learn and have the time of my life.
Authors Day was from noon to 5 p.m. The tables were set up in rolls for visitors to stroll by viewing authors on both sides. There was about 35-40 authors attending. I met new authors and visited with authors I have known since moving to the Ozarks.
I sold several books, Submarine Stories of World War II. What pleased me more than anything was to see young pre-teen boys standing in awe reading my handouts and mothers purchasing the book for them. A young boy won my book as a door prize. We were both excited as he asked me to sign it.
Teachers and parents spoke to me about WWI &II history was no longer being taught in schools. History bluffs visited. I met Tina who just received her degree in World War I & II history. Tina’s heart was filled with love for her subject. She shared how she is searching for information on the Merchant Marines who played a huge part in World War II. Thanks to my friend Joyce Larimore, a member of the Fleet Reserve who gave me the book, They Couldn't Have Won the War Without Us-Stories by the men who sailed the ships. Edited by Pete Peterson who served in the Merchant Marines. It is a book that shares the horror they endured bringing supplies to our men. I promised Tina the book. I sent it Monday.
I met Teri Haux, an ex-Navy brat who wrote Movie Viewer Extraordinaire – Discerning the Influences of Movies on your Freedom, Family and Happiness. http://www.movieviewerxtra.com/ Teri’s husband is station at Fort Leonard Wood. He was there for awhile and I regret I didn’t have the chance to go over to say, “Thanks for serving.” Teri is also a screenwriter and is searching for a military women photography that she wants to write a screen play concerning her career.
My friends Ellen Gray Massey (Whom I cornered for advise.), Brenda Brinkley (Ozarks Writers League), Lee Ann Russell and Larry Cunningham (Springfield Writers Guild – http://www.swgste.org/) were there.
Next time I will share my day at the Ozarks Writers & Illustrators for Children’s Annual Summer Workshop. What an upper! What speakers! What a day! It was soooo special.
Authors Day was from noon to 5 p.m. The tables were set up in rolls for visitors to stroll by viewing authors on both sides. There was about 35-40 authors attending. I met new authors and visited with authors I have known since moving to the Ozarks.
I sold several books, Submarine Stories of World War II. What pleased me more than anything was to see young pre-teen boys standing in awe reading my handouts and mothers purchasing the book for them. A young boy won my book as a door prize. We were both excited as he asked me to sign it.
Teachers and parents spoke to me about WWI &II history was no longer being taught in schools. History bluffs visited. I met Tina who just received her degree in World War I & II history. Tina’s heart was filled with love for her subject. She shared how she is searching for information on the Merchant Marines who played a huge part in World War II. Thanks to my friend Joyce Larimore, a member of the Fleet Reserve who gave me the book, They Couldn't Have Won the War Without Us-Stories by the men who sailed the ships. Edited by Pete Peterson who served in the Merchant Marines. It is a book that shares the horror they endured bringing supplies to our men. I promised Tina the book. I sent it Monday.
I met Teri Haux, an ex-Navy brat who wrote Movie Viewer Extraordinaire – Discerning the Influences of Movies on your Freedom, Family and Happiness. http://www.movieviewerxtra.com/ Teri’s husband is station at Fort Leonard Wood. He was there for awhile and I regret I didn’t have the chance to go over to say, “Thanks for serving.” Teri is also a screenwriter and is searching for a military women photography that she wants to write a screen play concerning her career.
My friends Ellen Gray Massey (Whom I cornered for advise.), Brenda Brinkley (Ozarks Writers League), Lee Ann Russell and Larry Cunningham (Springfield Writers Guild – http://www.swgste.org/) were there.
Next time I will share my day at the Ozarks Writers & Illustrators for Children’s Annual Summer Workshop. What an upper! What speakers! What a day! It was soooo special.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Lebanon-Laclede County Library: I will be
there from 12-5 pm July 10th with several
other authors at the Author's Day to promote,
sell and sign my book. July 11th at the library
I will be attending the Ozarks Writers &
Illustrators Workshop from 8:30 am -3pm:
speakers are J.B. Cheaney, Lizabeth
Hardman and Louise Jackson.
My book, Submarine Stories of World
War II for ages ten and up.
Review by Max McCoy author of Hellfire Canyon: A fascinating
series of vignettes about the war beneath the waves during
World War II, as told by the men who fought it. Only the
submariners could describe how it feels to hear mine cables
skitter along the hull or the whooshing sound when the boat
buries itself in the sandy bottom to hide from Japanese
destroyers.
Mary Nida Smith has done a fine job collecting theses largely
untold stories from the silent service.
Conner and Davis, two young grade school boys wrote a
note to me and said: I will forever continue thinking
your book is awesome!
Review by Deborah Edmonds, Children's Librarian, Baxter
County Library:
Mary Nida Smith has compiled a set of personal experiences
from submarine veterans of World War II that should not only
speak to family members of the Silent Service. Her book also
informs the rest of the population of the thoughts and feelings
of these brave men who served under the seas to
protect our country with no guarantee that they would resurface.
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