Thursday, March 31, 2011

STORYTELLER MAGAZINE Cover photo (C) by Mary Nida Smith http://thestorytellermagazine.com/ Thank you, Regina!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

INFORMATION FROM MY BLOGROLL LIST: More listed on my profile page. I am placing a taste of helpful information you will find; click on to their blogs to discover more. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE MARCH POEM ON DAVID L. HARRISON’S BLOG. WRITING A DOCDRAMA (TRUE STORY BOOKS) by Sandra Markle WRITE ON – http://sandramarkle.blogspot.com/ FOUR W’s What happen? Who was involved? Where did it happen? Why did the event happen? And why was the outcome possible? BRAN SNEED ILLUSTRATOR guest on Kathy Temean Blog – WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING –Illustrator Saturday 1.Illustrations reflect the mood of the story. 2.Characters in a picture book are consistent throughout. Brad lives in Prairie Village and he illustrated Marsha Diane Arnold’s children’s picture book, THE PUMPKIN RUNNER. Marsha shared Saturday with the North Central Children’s Writers & Illustrators and the Twin Lakes Writers. She was a joy to meet and learn from. Marsha was born and raised in Kansas, but now lives in California. WRITER BEWARE BLOG (Victoria Strauss) “A MUST READ” Beware Midwest Literary Magazine. Berryville, Arkansas bookstore website: http://www.itsmystery.biz/ To learn more about MYSTERY BOOKSTORES: http://www.mysteryreaders.org/bookstores.html

Thursday, March 24, 2011

AUTHOR MARSHA DIANE ARNOLD

Children’s book author Marsha Diane Arnold will be at
the Donald W. Reynolds Library, Mountain Home, AR
Saturday, March 26. Donald W. Reynolds Library is
co-sponsoring with North Central Children’s Writers
& Illustrators and Twin Lakes Writers. She will share
with the children at Story Time from 10:30-11:30 a.m.,
and from 1-3 p.m., with both writers groups down stairs
in the Children’s-Teen’s Multipurpose Room. Books will
be available for purchase and signing.

Marsha was labeled a “Born Storyteller” by the media.
She has authored several picture books: HEART OF THE
TIGER, PUMPKIN RUNNER, ROAR OF THE SNORE,
PRANCING LILY, HUGS ON THE WIND, and more.
She is now working on a chapter book. She taught aspiring
authors for nine years with the Institute of Children’s Literature.

In the afternoon she will share “7 Magical Ways to bring out
the Storyteller in you.” The program will be loaded with
information to inspire writers starting with 100 slides on
the art of the story, the craft of writing, conflict, themes,
strong protagonists, and rejections and determination. She
will share information on digital books and interactive books
followed with questions and answers.

Marsha’s website http://www.marshadianearnold.com/ Both
programs are open to the public. For more information call
Mary Nida Smith, president of both writers groups
870-431-5369 or email marynida@suddenlink.net
or Children’s Librarian, Deborah Edmonds
or Judy Transue, Assistant Librarian 870-508-0987
or visit http://www.baxlib.org/

SEE YOU SATURDAY!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

SPRING IS HERE!

(c) by Mary Nida Smith
Along my woodland garden's stone wall.
Music of Spring
Trumpets of daffodils
sound loudly until
music of spring
days are fulfilled.
They now standstill
slowly returning
to the soil to rest
while spring continues
to blossom.
Wild plants and trees
join in to announce
this is the season
to be awake after
winter’s deep sleep.
© by Mary Nida Smith

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Thursday, March 17, 2011

HAPPY ST.PATTY'S DAY! I will be wearing a little green as I play in my woodland garden today. Soon there will be little furry baby squirrels playing. My friend Mrs. M has little ones. When she sees me she comes running to my window, with her little hands reaching upward for me to toss down a peanut or two. We have been friends for about five years. I have taken photos of her and other family members playing,eating and working. I have written a picture book about two squirrels. If/when the manuscript is sold, I'll have lots of neat photos for kids to enjoy.

Sunday, March 13, 2011


SURVIVAL

Stumps in the woods
Display above the ground
Long finger roots
Reaching, searching
For life everlasting
Wild boars’ root
To unearth a treat
Of truffles hidden
Near large oak roots
A murder of bright-eyed
Ravens root them on
Waiting for just
A small morsel
Of a dinning treat.
© Mary Nida Smith
The word "root" was the word for the month
on author David L. Harrison's blog.
This is the poem I placed on David' W.O.M.
Join us.

Friday, March 11, 2011

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: I get so excited every time I receive my e-newsletter
from Elizabeth Kennedy at http://about.com/childrensbooks Elizabeth
writes everything about children's books. She writes about books for
each age group and daily events. Check it out!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

TWIN LAKES WRITERS, MOUNTAIN HOME,ARKANSAS
Twin Lake Writers meet March 12, 1-3:30 in the Knox Community
Room A at the Donald W. Reynolds Library. Guest speaker is
Kerri Fivecoat Campbell, a local independent writer and social
media marketer/manager.

She will share“Blogging to Build your Brand.” As an independent
writer and author, she learned to build the brand for her company and
others though social media and blogging.

Her interest in social media was born on the old Prodigy network. Today,
she lives in a 480-square-foot home on Bull Shoals Lake with her five
rescue dogs and a very patient husband, where she writes and assists
with marketing campaigns. Campbell, also blogs about life in a small
home at http://www.livinglargeinourlittlehouse/. Since launching in
2008, the website receives an average of 100,000 hits per month.
For more information call Mary Nida Smith 870-431-5369
or marynida@suddenlink.net

Saturday, March 05, 2011

CHILDREN'S WRITERS & ILLUSTRATORS workshops and conferences coming up.
If you write or illustrate for the children's market, check out these SCBWI events. Each one has editors/agents to pitch to and authors to learn from.

Arkansas (SCBWI) Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators April 29-30
http://www.arkansasscbwi.org/

Missouri SCBWI Conference and workshops at http://moscbwi.org/

Ozark Writers and Illustrators For Children July 30th-Summer Workshop http://www.owaic.org/

NC Children's Writers & Illustrators 1-3 p.m., March 26, children's author Marsha Diane Arnold will be at Storytime at 10:30-1130 a.am., (The public is welcome at both programs.)
http://www.marshadianearnold.com/

Friday, March 04, 2011

North Central Children's Writers & Illustrators meet tomorrow, Saturday March 5, down stairs in the Children's-Teen's Multipurpose Room in the Donald W. Reynolds Library, Mountain Home, AR. Guest speaker is Judy Transue, Assistant Children's Librarian. Information marynida@suddenlink.net
Website: http://www.nccwi.org
The writing and publishing world is changing. Join a writers group in your area to keep up with what you want to accomplish for your writing goals.

Wednesday, March 02, 2011


(c) Photo by Mary Nida Smith
Calico Rock, Arkansas
A neat place.