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

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.

Schedule and Focus: A schedule is difficult to keep, and keeping focus with distractions that comes with living can cause me to take a different path. But, I must keep trying for I am accomplishing some things on my list and this is the reason to re-focus and revise my schedule to meet my ever changing days.

Since April 6th, I have submitted an essay to a church magazine and a memory story to another magazine. I am in the middle of making some small changes to a children’s picture book I had finished. Plus, I checked on a couple of literary agents.

I am in the planning stage for an upcoming workshop on “How to Illustrate a Children’s Picture Book.”

I kept records and did some research on the wildlife that lives in the Woodland Garden. I worked a few hours replacing bird houses, making hummingbird food and enjoyed how God is showing me the ice storm didn’t destroy, only brought new life filled with surprises. I now have a 4-inch tall holly. The wind or a bird planted the seed. It replaced the small Mimosa tree I lost.

The squirrels provided knowledge about themselves for a picture book I have written and posed for my camera so I would have photos. What I learned about them I was unable to find on the internet. The squirrels have taught me many things over the years and each season I learn more.

Remember, besides the work I mention on this blog, I have the Bel Arco Resort Workshops that I organize, and my submarine stories and military writers’ blog where I am involved with mostly submarine veterans. Also, it is where I promote my book, “Submarine Stories of World War II.”

What was time consuming this week was searching for an important photo I misplaced. But, I did find it. Also, I was able to organize other photos I will be using in future articles and a book.

Yes, I did do all my weekly duties as a housewife. My hours are from 5:30 a.m -10 p.m. I try not to waste each day, but I am guilty of goofing off. Tomorrow, at 1 o’clock I am planning to attend “The Poetry Thing” at the Baxter County Library, Mountain Home. It is a great program.

Easter Blessings

and

Sunshine Days

The things which are impossible

with men are possible with God. Luke 18:27

Photo (c) Mary Nida Smith

1. Lessons learned: Do not rely on information on wildlife that has been passed on through the years. It is like relying on the same old gossip that may or may not be true. Investigate and study the person or the animal. We are not alike and we can change. This I learned from studying the female robin bouncing off my patio window. She was not daffy.
   
   With the ice storm problems behind me, I will be on a mission to keep focused on my work in the studio. Get rid of obstacles that block my progress.
   1. Keep only materials needed/associated with the projects I have finished, started and outlines of future projects.
   2. Only do research on current project I am preparing to submit.
   3. Do not follow/read too many blogs and websites. They do come addictive.
   4. Do not compare myself to other creative people. Sing my own song.
   5. Open e-mails in the evenings instead of watching TV.
   
   I have been guilty of the opposite type of behavior. It can take a professional writer to a social writer. I am taking stock of my time allowed in the studio in-between all my other responsibilities. I must be focus to consider myself a professional writer for I am wasting precious time writing and submitting.
   
   I will hold myself accountable with weekly updates on my progress of staying focused:
   · manuscripts and queries mailed
   · manuscripts accepted and rejected
   · notes from editors and agents
   · obstacles that will come up and how I handled them
   
   ALL DREAMS CAN COME TRUE IF WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO PURSUE THEM AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO STAY FOCUSED. – NEVER GIVE UP!

Daffy Female Robin:

For several mornings a female robin has perched on a lawn chair or stands on the deck near the patio window. Her eyes are filled with rage as she forces her chest again and again against the window. She appears to be knocking herself silly.

The same old story is told when this happens; that she sees her reflection and believes it is an adversary that she needs to scare off. I don’t believe this, for the robins have returned three years prior to this time, utilizing the nests on both end of the house over the down spouts. This has never happened before.

I believe she is knocking herself silly so she can take up with that dark rust-colored dude who has been hanging around her. He constantly bugs her and will not take no for an answer.
Once her eyes are blacked where she can’t see who she has taken up with, and appears to look as if she had a bad hair day – then maybe, she’ll take up housekeeping.

It doesn’t really matter how she looks when she gives in to him. Later, he’ll act as if he’s God’s gift to another female robin; he’ll strut around below her as if he didn’t have a care in the world, knowing he’s was the conquer

Is there a moral to this observation? You tell me what you think.
(C) Mary Nida Smith

Writer's Digest Books: Resource books - Children's Writer's & Illustrators Market, Writers' Market and Poetry Market are books people buy or bring home from the library to find a market for their writings or illustrations.

But, they miss many other important features provided in the front and back pages? Yes, they do. I am one who reads my book front to back, then, puts it on the shelf. I get busy where I only bring it out when searching for a market for my work. The front and back pages should be read often.

The books are full of helpful resources: contest, awards & grants, agents & art reps, clubs & organizations, conferences & workshops, list of helpful books & publications, useful online resources, glossary, names index (list of all the editors, art directors, agents & etc listed in the pages of the market books), age-level index, subject index, and professional organizations. This list is in the back - now read the front.

Writing is a difficult task
You think and research
You write and rewrite
It is no ordinary task.

A writer is made
Out of many rewrites.
The length of a writer's life
Is as uncertain as the morning fog.
-(c) Mary Nida Smith

What a day!
Fog filled the air with heavy mist evoking the mood of mystery lurking beyond as I went for an early morning walk.
I was on a mission to visit one of the World War II Veterans who has a monument with four other veterans created in their honor at Naperville, Illinois. He was not home.

I took my camera for fog can sometimes creates strange encounters with nature and the surroundings. The woods I passed by was filled with rat-a-tats and squeaks of different woodpeckers working on trees. The ice storm had gutted rotten trees exposing meals fit for the king of the woods; the pileated woodpecker.

The ice storm caused terrifying crisis for the vultures roosting near the tree tops. As the trees suddenly creak, broke, and dropped; so did some of the vultures. One still hangs low on a broken bough, it's body limp and cold. A warning of the unknown, perhaps more death may enter these dry woods. Of cause I photographed this eerie, but sad phenomenon. I love watching vultures fly, they are beautiful as they tip their wings moving with the wind. Vultures are 26-32 inches in length and have a wingspan up to 6 feet.

I photographed the little fog spiders; this is what I call them, for I only see their webs on foggy mornings. I also took pictures of the butter-yellow forsythia bush; Ally, the neighbor’s dog with her green St. Patrick Day scarf; a young sweet girl who held her lovely cat, and the gray-white foggy backdrop beyond the trees.

The afternoon was spent in my Woodland Garden raking, uncovering flowers, building little forts for the rabbits (I hope) and placing garden ornaments back where they belong.
Tomorrow, I hope the mist has created fungi to photograph. I have lots of fungi pictures, but I
continue to find more for my collection.

Mystery Writers:

Links of interest to OWL members and other writers interested in writing and reading mysteries! (Plus, some good publicity for some of our OWL members!)

http://research-writing%20techniques.suite101.com/article.cfm/writers_rituals_radine_trees_nehring
AND
http://mysteriouspeople.blogspot.com/ Lots of authors and helpful information on both.

Missouri Writers' Guild Conference:
The 94th Annual Missouri Writers’ Guild Conference will be held April 3-5, 2009 at Drury Lodge (phone number: 573-334-7151) 104 South Vantage Drive, at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Speakers will be Lee Goldberg, writer for Monk and Diagnosis Murder Television series,
Angela Mackintosh and Annette Fix, editors of the WOW! Women on Writing e-zine. Fix is also the author of The Break-Up Diet, and she will present a session on memoir writing, poet Harvey Stanbrough, Simon and Schuster editor, Kate Angelella, editor of Listen Magazine, Celeste Walker, tween series author Jessica Burkhart, and Mary Higgins Clark Award winner Marcia Kay Preston. Check the website for speaker updates, bios, and classes at http://www.missouriwritersguild.org or http://www.mwgconference.org
or Margo L. Dill 217-714-8582 or margodll@aol.com

The Arkansas Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators(SCBWI) Spring Conference is set for May 15-16, 2009 at the University ofCentral Arkansas in Conway, Ark. On the slate to speak are Martha Mihalick,associate editor at Greenwillow Books; Jennifer Rofe, associate agent atAndrea Brown Literary Agency; Anastasia Suen, author, consultant and writingteacher; Darcy Pattison, author and writing teacher; and, Melanie Siegel,illustrator.The conference brochure is now available online at
http://www.arkansasscbwi.org/conference.html

Dear members of the Arkansas Region of the SCBWI,
I retired as the Arkansas SCBWI Regional Advisor on March 1. The last four years as your RA have been a pleasure, but the time has come for me to concentrate more time to my work. Phyllis Hemann, who has worked hard for the last couple of years as the Conference Director is the new RA. She will do a wonderful job. You can reach her by email at: advisor@arkansasscbwi.org
I will continue to support AR SCBWI in any way that I can, and hope to see each of you at the Spring Conference on May 15-16.

With warmest regards,
Carla

Gardening, Library, Storm, Ideas for Writing and Blogging:
Baxter County Master Gardeners Seminar will be in a couple of weeks; check it out on their website http://www.baxtercountymg.org/. I plan on attending to learn how gardeners will be renewing their damaged gardens. I don’t recognize my garden. I and the wildlife feel so exposed in our surroundings – no place to hide, ponder or frolic.

March 6, 10:30 am – Please be at the groundbreaking ceremony for our new Donald W. Reynolds Public Library at 300 Library Hill back of ASU Mountain Home. I’ll be there to help serve coffee. As a member of the “Friends of the Library,” I am very excited. When I move (too often) to a new area the first places I look for are the library, newspaper office and bookstore. Library website: http://www.baxlib.org/

Every so often I click on the website of an area I have lived. I use to shop at the Air Force Base at Mountain Home, Idaho when I lived in Twin Falls, Idaho. Do you know they have an Arts Council, supporting their local creative people? Their website is http://www.mharts.org/. I wished our Mountain Home/Baxter County had one, where all creative people could be in one place sharing ideas.

http://onediasozarks.com/?page_id=592 is temporarily closed. Check back in a couple of days. You can register for the “Basics of Blogging Workshop” by emailing marynida@lakeviewnet.com. Send your $25 registration fee to Mary Nida Smith, 162 Stamford Drive, Lakeview, AR 72642. It will be $30 dollars at the door Saturday, March 7th. Thank You.

Baxter County will be picking up all our piled high storm debris. I figure by the time summer solstice provides warmer days filled with longer work days, the wasted wood will be gone. During the storm we were begging for wood for the unused fireplace. Joe, are neighbor kindly supplied us with wood. Larry Ofner kept us supplied with hot coffee. Thank you both, the electrical company and all the tree trimmers.

Life is a constant adventure usually blown in on the wing tips of the unpredictable weather. Before each storm our bodies were warmed by the southern winds, then entered the fast driven roar of the mighty north wind displaying its power over all. The warm rains angered the cold wild winds, causing a curse of heavy ice to pull down the trees to enclose us in a crypt of ice. It will be about two weeks before the roof can be repaired, the siding may not be able to be replaced (It will be about five weeks before we will know.), and the sunroom we are hoping for a solution with out removing it or a replacement. I have been trying to draw up plans so we can save the sunroom. I am not disheartened for there are so many others who have bigger concerns.

Stories ideas continue to form in the midst of each new adventure. I don’t understand when some writers will say to me, “Where do you fine ideas to write?” I say, “Look at your feet. Write down the different things about feet, shoes, shoe strings, and the list continues. The stories, articles or poetry can’t write itself, so start with a line and work up to a page. Maybe, you should start by writing a friend a letter telling her all the problems you are having with your feet and where all the wonderful places your feet can take you. Write, just write!

Baxter County Library is having a book sale February 19-20-21. Check out their website at http://www.baxlib.org/

Donna Volkenannt - check out my friend Donna's blog "Donna's Book Pub" at http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com

Rich Davis - Rich Davis & Deborah Edmonds, Children's Librarian

Baxter County Library February 7th, I attended the children’s program: Drawing with illustrator Rich Davis from Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The children loved every minute. Rich captured the children’s’ attention the moment he started. Rich worked several years at Day Springs Cards - designing cards.
Check his website: http://www.richdavis.freewebsspace.com/

I met Rich several years ago when I lived in Siloam Springs. We both attended a writers group that met at Rogers library and when I was President of Siloam Springs Artist Guild. Each year in March the guild and five Northwest art clubs were involved with Sager Creek Arts Center in organizing a competitive show at John Brown University. I loved Siloam Springs and the people, but my husband was looking for a bigger and clearer fishing lake.

I just finished my job as a contest coordinator for the Missouri Writers Guild Conference coming up in April. So many good writers! I am hoping to attend. Don’t forget Ozarks Writers League (OWL) Saturday the 14th, at the College of the Ozarks. Great group!

One of my favorite magazines is “Grit” magazine. Jan/Feb issue had a much needed article “Protect Yourself From Power Outages.” We all needed to read and employ the substance of this article before we had the last ice storm. Great articles, photos and covers. March/April issue articles: Spirit of the American Barn, A Tribute to Country Women, and Sweet, Sour and Savory Rhubarb, just to name a few. Don’t forget to read the humorous piece “The Ruminant Romp” by Barbara Westhoven (a writer friend of mine). When I visit with Barb she shares many funny stories of what is happening on their farm.

Check out the poster for the “Basics of Blogging Workshop” at Bel Arco.
For information http://belarcowritersworkshops.blogspot.com/ and http://onediasozarks.com/?page_id=592 I hope to see you there.

Woodland Garden and Ice Storm: I have returned from the world of ice and destruction. One day it was a beautiful crystallized landscape and the next few days it appeared as scenes from a horror movie. The demons were the ice and cold trying to destroy your mind and body.

A sad week for my Woodland Garden, where I escaped to enjoy being by myself and to watch the wildlife God created. My garden lot was for the unwanted wildlife held back from surrounded fences to enter to eat, drink, raise their young and entertain me. It was our woods.

Without trees and bushes to hide in and places to build homes will I loose my wildlife friends? I am sad for them and for me. The two woodpecker trees are untouched. Will they now become over crowded wildlife high-rise apartments? Can animals get along better than their human friends?

It will take weeks to cut, trim and remove all the debris. To keep safe from damaged limbs and trees during removal, I must remove what remains of garden items such as benches, chairs, statues and trellises.

When the garden is cleared and cleaned. I’ll have to take notes on what trees and bushes can be salvaged and where to start rebuilding. There are so many questions. I know my Woodland Garden I have loved for ten years will only be a memory created in many photos.
It was carved out of a wild overgrown wooded lot into a quiet refuge. Now, it must be re-created out of the ruins of an untamed freezing winter storm of January 2009. Above are the before and after photos. All my blogs have been updated - check them out.

Writers’ Conferences, Workshops, and Websites: Start checking writers’ groups websites early to have time to enter their contest and to prepare to attend your favorite conference or workshop.

January 28, The Friends of the Library meets at 1:30 p.m., at the Baxter County Library, Mountain Home. Please join us and watch our new library go up and forward.
February 21st Ozarks Writers League http://www.ozarkswritersleague.org
March 7 Bel Arco Writers Workshops will have a “How to Create a Bog” workshop http://belarcowritersworkshops.blogspot.com
March 13-15 Missouri Spring Retreat http://www.scbwi-mo.org
March 15-17 41st Annual Literature Festival University of Central Missouri http://library.ucmo.edu/childlit/clf
April 3-5 94th Annual Missouri Writers’ Guild Conference http://www.missouriwritersguild,org
May 15-16 Arkansas SCBWI Spring Conference http://www.arkansasscbwi.org
June 5-6 The Sixty-Fifth Annual Arkansas Writers’ Conference

Vivian Brown author of “Finding the Gold Ring” (Non-fiction) and a new mystery “Just LikeYour Mother” published by Xlibris, and “Thirsty For Love” by Tate Publishing. Vivian is a new writer to this area from California.
Debbie Ridpath Ohi wrote the book, “Writes Online Marketplace.” I am hoping Writers
Digest Books will ask her to do an update. It is a very helpful book.
http://www.debbieohi.com

Elaine Deyo is the author and illustrator of children’s books. http://meet.branson.com
Mike McArthy is a photographer who uses some of his photos to reproduce in a creative manner depicting paintings, drawings, animations and antique interpretations. http://www.photozarks.com

God has blessed me with a huge imagination filled with all my senses or is it non-sense.
A writer is always a writer – their blood flows from a pen into words, only the act of God can remove this drive or as some people would characterize - a disease of the mind – she is out of her place of what a woman is suppose to do.

Discouragement comes from the devil and encouragement comes from God.
Faith makes things possible, not easy.
Exercise daily, walk with God

Christian writers and market places: http://www.christianwriterssubinfo.synthasite.com
http://www.sallyclark.com
http://www.zonacrabtree.com
www.churchmousepublcations.com

AUTHOR TOUR FEATURES PERSONAL VISITS IN HOMES AND STUDIOS

On June 7-14, Writers Hall of Fame, headquartered in Springfield, Missouri is sponsoring a bus tour to visit fifteen of Missouri’s most successful and well known children’s authors, artists, playwrights, and poets, many of whom are members of SCBWI.

Tour guide, Dr. Linda Benson, is professor emeritus of children’s literature at Missouri State University. Graduate and undergraduate college credit is available through Drury University and can be transferred.

The tour begins in St. Louis and moves to Kansas City and southwest Missouri before returning to St. Louis eight days later. Along the way you’ll meet in the homes and studios of Pat and Fred McKissack, Constance Levy, Lynn Rubright, Vicki Grove, C. B. Mordan, Eileen Bluestone Sherman, Cheryl Harness, Dorinda Nicholson, J. B. Cheaney, David Harrison, Judy and Ross Young, Kate Klise, and Veda Boyd Jones.

Other highlights include a riverboat dinner cruise with entertainment, a tour of historic St. Charles with costumed docent, a performance at Shepherd of the Hills Amphitheatre, and visits to Precious Moments Park & Chapel and Laura Ingalls Wilder home and museum.

Your tour will include round trip deluxe motor coach transportation, 7 nights deluxe lodging with hot breakfast and manager’s reception each evening, 7 dinners and 1 lunch. All taxes, service charges, group meal, gratuities and coach driver’s gratuity are included in the price of your ticket. Prices range from $1,169 (four in a room) to $1,711 (for a single).

For more information contact David Harrison (dlharrison@mchsi.com). To make reservations, contact Brian Garrison (BGarrison@greatsoutherntravel.com). Reservations require $500 down and the rest by May 8.

Submitted by David Harrison

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.