APRIL POETRY MONTH: http://www.poets.org/

April: Ozark Writers & Illustrators for Children http://www.owaic.org/

April 4: Easter Blessings (c)Church Steeple photo by Mary Nida Smith

April 7: Ozarks Regional Arts Council, Mountain Home. AR
April 10: Twin Lakes Writers http://www.twinlakeswriters.org/

April 11-17 : National Library Week http://www.ala.org/

April12: Young People's Poetry Week

April 13: David Pryer Baxter County Library http://www.baxlib.org/

Library, Friends, Booksale, OWL, College of the Ozarks:
I believe last week was my busiest ever.
15th Friends of the Library Board meeting
16th I met with three of my friends who are children’s
writers at 9:30 a.m., at Gainesville, Mo. library. It is a
special little library that is growing. We haven’t been able
to meet for several months for we live a distance from each
other. We all start out early that morning. So, each of us
brought something to eat served with coffee. What a spread
it was. We caught up on the latest publishing news, read
manuscripts and wrote down out goals.I returned home
about 2:30 p.m. Had two important phone calls: A friend
was writing an article for the paper for our upcoming booksale
and needed a quote. Our FOL president called for all of the board
members to be at the library by 4 o’clock to have our picture taken
for the newspaper.
17th I help set-up for the booksale and later I
went to the church supper where as the church historian I took
pictures.

18th I went back to the library as I forgot to bring something
home and I saw they were very busy, so I tried to help. Plus, I took
a few pictures. I had to leave about noon for I had tons of catch
work at home.

19th We went to Branson, MO to Ozarks Writers League dinner,
open mic ( I read the poem- The Angry Abused Sound.) and we
stayed overnight. We had a 7 a.m. breakfast at the Boxcar Willie Inn
and rush to sign-in by 8:30 at the OWL, College of the Ozarks to
hear two speakers.We had lunch at our favorite restaurant
in “The Keeter Center.” OWL was over at 2:30 p.m. My book is
still on display at The Ralph Foster Museum on campus. I enjoyed
taking pictures on campus. I took two 5x7 photos for the OWL contest.
I was shot down again.There was a large display of photos, paintings and crafts.
The Ozarks Writers League has many talented members.
I had a great time.I always look forward to attending every three months.

Sunday, I attended church and choir and in-between I crash.
This Monday, I learned my family was not coming
this week-end due to bad weather and my youngest brother
had a stroke. That is an emotional ride for me. We all live so far away
from each other. I am a person like my mom who loved being surrounded
by family and friends.
This week I believe I will be able to catch-up on a thing or two.

Poems and Book Series: Click on David L Harrison's blog to your right.
Vote for your favorite poem of the month. While you are there, please
read my poem. Thank you!

I discover a new author (to me she is) from a friend of mine who
wants to collect her books. The author is Mary Pope Osborne.
She wrote the Magic Tree House series. A series of 42 books. http://www.random.com/kids/magictreehouse
What is neat, she has her family involved with her work.

Writing for Children: I finished my chapter book for ages 7-10. I have a wonderful exciting feeling that children will love it. I am finishing up Bodoom and Scooter and the Wild Tail, a picture book. I sent a follow-up letter to Ladybug magazine and waiting for a reply from a literary agent. I keep writing and hoping that dreaming is worth doing. Maybe, I dream too often and too big. I had more dreams come true than I ever dreamed. So, what do I want? I want to see more of my manuscripts turned into published books to share with kids. I love kids! I love promoting.

Workshop, Library, Lamp, Garden, Cat: I finished creating my workshop poster (Will display it at Bel Arco) and flyers, plus started writing the press release and placed 2-pages of information on Bel Arco Writers Workshop blog. http://belarcowritersworkshop.blogspot.com/

I worked in the garden – replanted one bush and a sapling tree. I am not sure what it is, for a squirrel planted it last fall in one of my potted plants on the patio. I replanted a native fern growing in the garden where it wouldn’t be trampled. Wild native plants choose where they want to grow. I sowed a wild flower seed gathered from the forest in a spot I wanted it to grow. But, oh, no – it moved the second year about two feet from where I plant it. Now, three year’s later I have a collection of five. I must remember the Woodland Garden is wild.

My neighbors will agree I am probably the wildest thing out there. I will not share why, but you can ponder it over after I share this – Mrs. Pileated Woodpecker was enjoying breakfast at the base of a stump, when out of no where, like a demon from Hell, a neighbor’s huge stray cat pounced at it. I was watching from an open, un-screened bedroom window. I almost fell out the 8-foot drop while screaming above what my voice box is tuned for, “NO. NO GET OUT,” over and over I repeated as I frantically waved my arms. The bird flew to the bottom of a tree as the feral cat dashed to who knows where.

No, my list for last week is still intact as adventures took me on different paths after I attended the Friends of the Library (I am a member) yearly white elephant sale. I purchased a large, wrought iron floor lamp which I have converted into three different useful pieces. While at the meeting I learned what is happening throughout America in our libraries. I came home did some research about a very important piece of news on Children’s books. I will have follow-up news as soon as I receive some information in the mail. Please keep up with what is going on in libraries at http://www.ala.org/ the American Library Association.

Saturday May 2, 9 a.m. SCBWI Children’s Writers Springfield, Mo meet in the meeting room at the Library Station Library.
Sunday May 3, Books in Bloom, Eureka Springs, AR http://www.booksinbloom.org/
May 15-16 SCBWI Conference, Conway, AR 72032 http://www.arkansasscbwi.org/

When the world says give up, hope whispers one more time. I have been blessed with another day.

Publishing trends, fun vacation and gathering books:

Publishing is quickly changing like everything else. Don’t give up! Keep doing what you love to do. But, you must keep up with the changes. Learn from reading and studying authors, agents, and publishers’ blogs and websites. Search information provided for writing assignments on the Internet. The Internet may be one of the most important sources of business for future writers.

Publishing Trends at http://www.publishingtrends.com/
Read Twin Lakes Writer’s President Nancy Thatcher Cerny web page at http://www.twinlakeswriters.org/; she has an informative piece on the future of publishing.

I will try to get back to writing on my blog once a week. Right now, it is difficult for I am overwhelmed with catching up in the Garden Studio Office, meeting with friends to catch-up, and women’s work. I have gathered lots information to share in future blogs. So, hang on to your hat and write.

I had my wonderful son here for over two weeks. He is fun and funny. We all traveled to Naperville to spend a few days with my wonderful daughter, son-in-law and very special grandkids. I felted like a teenager on vacation. I visited Anderson’s Bookstore where I picked up a lot of free flyers filled with information and two children’s Christmas books – Cookie Angel by Bethany Roberts and The Year Of The Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston. Then, my granddaughter Nicole and I went to one of the libraries where I purchased 14 books at 25 cents each: Non-fiction hardbacks, children’s and adult books. Yes, I know I have about 400 books in my studio already. I enjoyed taking lots of photos.

Order of things to do: Date and press releases for the upcoming How to Create a Blog Workshop at Bel Arco Resort and Arkansas World War II Submarine Veterans Newsletter.

Organize & Schedule: I have been organizing my studio. It is difficult task for I must make choices on what to eliminate. If I didn't remove items that doesn't benefit my future plans once a year, I would have to tunnel in. Unimportant magazines go the library free bin and books for their next book sale.

Books I agonize over like dead heading flowers. Books are essential for a writer's survival. Dead blossoms on flowers are essential for bird feed, dried arrangements and just because I think they are pretty. I am a natural pack rat. There is a purpose for everything I gather to be used to create a craft, a model used in a drawing or work it into my writings. I love bugs for they hold so many secrets, nuts and shells, broken bird eggs and old nests, dried leaves, fungi, stones and feathers.

I have created a two month schedule to get my priorities in order with deadlines. Deadlines I put on myself are very helpful. My life as a writer changes everyday. This is the exciting part that keeps a writer writing. So... back to writing and organizing.

Watch for blog updates on how the red-headed woodpeckers as so many birds and animals are being pushed into an early death. Meeting with three other writers with writing goals for the children's market. We are working on novels, poetry, articles, and short stories. Plus, I am working on my adult non-fiction books. I will list some conferences and workshops. Post reminders of authors coming to town. Please keep in touch and check my other blog http://submarinestories.blogspot.com that promotes military books and information.