Thursday, April 29, 2010

Good Old Days magazine http://www.goodolddaysmagazine.com check out their current June issue. My story of Buck the Comeback Horse and a picture of my brother Tiny.

Baxter County Library Annual Auction was a huge sucess April 28th.

OZARK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS FOR CHILDREN http://owaic.org/
May 1 OWAI meeting at The Library Station, Children's Story Room at 9:30 a.m.
for more information email Naomi Shaw at providencepark@wildblue.net or marynida@suddenlink.net
May 8 Twin Lakes Writers for more information marynida@suddenlink.net
or check their website http://www.twinlakeswriters.org
May 10-16 Children’s Book Week


May 16 Books in Bloom http://www.BooksinBloom.org
May 19-22 Baxter County Library Booksale.
May 14-15 OWL http://www.ozarkswritersleague.org We meet at the College of the Ozarks, Branson, Missouri

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

VOTE FOR MY POEM Spring Leaped on David L. Harrison's blog. Olny two days left to vote.
Thanks!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Need Editing/Critiques go to my friend Lorri at http://www.lorricardwell-casey.com and click on her editing business REVision Critiques. Lorri is a former instructor for The Institute of Children's Literature.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Baby Girl guarding her woods.
The Woodland Garden

The Spring green
is the garden canape.
The days of light rain
fungi and moss rise
from the garden floor.
Nature's ferns and flowers
peep through leaves
to welcome the sunshine.
A rainbow promises
future displays
throughout the seasons
in The Woodland Garden.
Poem & photos (c) by Mary Nida Smith
My garden is one-third of an acre.

Friday, April 23, 2010

The small poetry poster and a basket of poetry books will be the center piece on the refreshment table at the Friends of the Library meeting & auction April 26th 1:30


The Friends of the Library auction poster as you enter the Baxter County Library.
I did enjoy creating both posters.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Celebrate National Poetry Month this Sunday with Poetry in the Park Presented By Poets and Friends of Springfield, Missouri Sunday APRIL 25, 2010 from 1:00 to 6:00 PM Grant Beach Park Pavilion located at 1401 N. Grant in Springfield, MO Potluck and Poetry Bring Food for your party and SHARE — Potluck style!!Bring poems for open mike read-a-rounds(We do have families present!)Musical poetry welcome (bring your own instruments)*Charcoal Grills *Drinking Fountains *Restrooms *Playground *Electricity *Plenty of Parking *Sheltered Seating *Easy Access Nothing Better--A Day of Poetry, Food and Fun It's on and we invite all
of you to come!! Please publicize as you can and see fit to do so!!M J Becco, Event Chairman MJBecco@hotmail.com Poets & Friends For more information
on Missouri Poets & Friends visit: http://www.nfsps.com/mo/p&f.htm

BAXTER COUNTY LIBRARY (ARKANSAS)FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ANNUAL
AUCTION WED., APRIL 28 1:30 DONATIONS NEEDED. MANY ITEMS TO BID
ON & BUY WHILE ENJOYING REFRESHMENTS AND LOTS OF FUN.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Independent Bookstores, Illustrators Digital Books and A Walk in Nature:

Guide to Independent Bookstores in U.S. and Canada can be found at http://www.newpages.com/bookstores and you will find information for magazines,
Writers Resources, Books, and other Guides & Features.

For Illustrators -Steven Withrow is the author of six books: Toon Art, Webcomics, Character Design for Graphic Novels, Vector Graphics and Illustrations, Secrets of Digital Animation, and Illustrating Children’s Picture Books. http://cracklesofspeech.blogspot.com

A Walk in Nature
I spent a few hours in The Woodland Garden enjoying nature. Gosh, I love the surprises I am offered as I explore while I work. For several months a large brown cocoon that feels like paper has been attached to one of the large wild cherry trees on the south end of the garden. I had no idea what it was. I sent a photo to Jeffrey K. Barnes, Curator at the University of Arkansas. He said it appears to be a cecropia moth cocoon. I found more information and pictures in a book and a website. I do hope to see it when it comes out to explore the world. I have been trying to keep watch, but that isn’t always possible. I will collect the empty cocoon to add with the rest of my nature collection.
I have been keeping an eye on the several dens throughout the woods for some kind of movement. Nothing yet. Our ten squirrels and Mrs.M or Momma squirrel as she is known arrives ever-so-often at one of our windows for a couple of peanuts. I have a hummingbird food out, but no hummingbirds. They are late. Each year they arrive later and later.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Beverly Cleary - Cub Reporters Wanted:

April 11, Newberry Award-winning children's author Beverly Cleary turned 94 years young and going strong. One of my very favorite authors. Thank you for all your wonderful books.

Beyond Her Book - contributor to Publishers Weekly 4/13/10
Barbara Vey _ http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/Beyond_Her_Book32112-Looking_For_Cub_Reporters....
Looking For Cub Reporters
April 13, 2010

Friday I leave for Washington DC where I’ll be attending the Washington Romance Writers Retreat. I’m really psyched for it. Attending conferences really energizes me and I love connecting with those in publishing and meeting new readers.
.
I’m constantly hearing from readers about how much they enjoy hearing about my travels since they can’t always go themselves. Even though I’ll be attending about a dozen events this year, there’s a ton more I won’t be able to make. While it saddens me, I think I’ve got the perfect solution. You can become a cub reporter for Beyond Her Book. If you are attending a conference, retreat or convention that I won’t be at, let me know and I’ll be glad to include your write up about the function. You can even include a couple of pictures.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Writers Events and Celebtrations:

April 14th National Bookmobile Day

April 16-18 Missouri Writers’ Guild Annual Writing Conference http://www.missouriwritersguild.org
April 18-24 Cowboy Poetry Week http://www.cowboypoetry.com/



April 23-24 Arkansas Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
Conference http://www.arkansasscbwi.org/

Monday, April 12, 2010





I have a couple of small writing & photographing
assignments to prepare & submit, in the meanwhile,
I'll allow my little ballerina fish, Miss TuTu to dance
across the page until I return. Several of them dancing across the
page is so cute.

Miss. TuTu was inspired by reading Rich Davis' website & blog.
He had drawn several interesting fish. So, I thought I would join him.


Friday, April 09, 2010

Spring is questionable

Spring has arrived
excitement in the air
escaping winter's cell

Wait
What did you say,
pollen count up
Dr says stay indoors

Don't worry
Jack Frost is here

(c) By Mary Nida Smith
Earth Day April 22

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Children's Books for 2010 April Holidays and Events - April 2010 ...
April 2010 Calendar of Children's Books - Here you'll find children's books and books for teens for Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Latino Books Month, ...
http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/whatsnewhot/a/may_calendar.htm

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Judy Young, Award Winning Author of Children's Books: Judy has great news! Her ninth book The Missouri Reader (Sleeping Bear Press)was just released! The Missouri Reader has something for all kids K-4: a rebus story, poems, fiction stories, biographies, and nonfiction. It even has a chapter book and a play!In addition, The Lucky Star (Sleeping Bear Press, 2008) has been selected as a 2010/2011 Show Me Award Nominee, and Minnow and Rose (Sleeping Bear Press 2009) has been selected as a 2010/2011 Keystone State Reading Award Nominee and it won the 2010 Storytelling World Award! Judy has just opened up a Fanpage on Facebook where you can get updates about her books, awards, speaking events, etc. Just go to her website or the facebook page to sign up! http://www.judyyoungpoetry.com/
Become a Facebook Fan: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Judy-Young-Books/106076459430009

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

The Woodland Garden: Yesterday, I played in my wild garden pulling weeds and raking. All 35 Dogwoods and five Redbuds are blooming. I have 29 Mayflowers; several years ago I started with nine. The garden is rising up from the dead bringing excitement and adventure to my daily life.

Monday, April 05, 2010


Halloween Bug

Of golden orange
Stripped body
Rings of black
You came too late
To visit Halloween.

This is spring
The season of green
With rabbits and babies
And baskets of flowers
Of rainbow colors.

You came too late
I’ll see you again
When Fall colors change
and leaves fall.
So fly away now

Photo & Poem by Mary Nida Smith ©

Thursday, April 01, 2010

April Fool's Day - click on http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/ to read my April Fools poem.
An informative newsletter to receive click http://childrensbooks.about.com/ and check on Elizabeth Kennedy's blog. If you want to learn about children's books, this is a must to read.