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/

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.

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

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

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

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.

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 ©

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.

Poets & Friends today is the last day to vote for your favorite March poem at http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com Listed is my poem "Life Is."

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/

The Woodland Garden - I am so excited that we have been promised
sunshine next week. The garden is flooded again this year. The daffodils
shine bright through rain and flog as they invite me to the woods to see
the Redbuds displaying a touch of red covering all the small branches.
I can't wait to spend a few hours turning the brown leaves, pulling
unwanted grass, and weeds. I want to discover who has taken up homes
in all the holes in the ground and old trees. More fun!

Nancy I Sanders March 24th blog http://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/ Nancy shares how important blogs,Facebook, and Twitter is to get an agent and how an editor will find you.
Remember, voting starts today. Go to David L Harrison blog to vote for your favorite March poem on the word "Life".

What a ride!Today, as far as I know my busy, busy world is slowing down. I will be stopping the merry-go-round for a few days as I prepare to catch-up, so I can enjoy my granddaughter when she arrives next week. I am tired, but I love the projects I am involved in. Life is filled with good and bad surprises. I am not reaching for the stars. I am trying to enjoy the light that reflects from each one.

Sid Fleischman, Newbery Medal-winning children's writer, dies at 90
Fleischman, known for his humor and nose for history, wrote more than 50 children's books, including 'The Whipping Boy' and 'By the Great Horn Spoon!,' as well as biographies for young readers.
OBITUARY
March 21, 2010By Dennis McLellan
Sid Fleischman was a successful suspense novelist and screenwriter whose credits included the screenplay for his novel "Blood Alley" when he decided to write a book that his young children could read so they would understand just what it was he did at home all day.
"I seem to have written a children's book," Fleischman wrote to his agent in New York. "If you're not interested, just drop it in the waste basket."

HELPFUL TIPS: Below is a hint of helpful information you will find on Nancy Sanders website:http://nancyisanders.com/

Make Your Own Reference Book. It’s also a great idea to make your own notebook of favorite passages in books, favorite Scriptures or quotes, and even favorite words such as buzz, zany, or zingers. It comes in handy when you’re stuck in the land of writer’s block.

Click on Writer Zone: Helpful Tips for Writers - A list of Basic Tools of the Trade. I discovered Nancy on the Writer magazine enewsletter I receive. She writes an online column: Writing for Children.

Important changes and corrections. Thanks to Kathy Temean of Writing and Illustrating blog http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/ for informing me that no one could comment on my blog other then a Google/Blogger account individual. Hopefully, it is corrected. So, if you have a comment please do. Thank you.

The Blood Red Pencil was incorrect. Correction: http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/

OZARKS REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL ORAC Monthly Board Meeting The first Wednesday of the month -April 7th.

Happy Birthday Pasty. Pasty is my beloved sister and friend. We shared the same dreams. She will always be part of my everyday thoughts.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. The wearing of green or be prepared to get pinched.

Information blog on rewriting - show don't tell. At my blog list is my friend Donna's blog -Donna's Book Pub (DBP) She keeps us writers update on new markets, books, contest and so much more. Today, she mention a blog http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/ where this novelist shows before and after he changed from tell to show. This follows the information I placed earlier.

Important Rewrite Information: To publish a book or an article read the two articles below. You'll find them on Kathy's blog - Writing and Illustrating http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/
Show Don't Tell: blog 3-16-2010 and Your Editor Wants a Rewrite: blog 9-30-2009