Helpful Books for Writers

Two books that can help you as a writer:

• The Writer's Guide to Queries, Pitches & Proposals by Moirs Allen
• THE RIGHT WAY TO WRITE, PUBLISH AND SELL YOUR BOOK Your Complete guide to Successful Authorship by Patricia L. Fry

Is this Bragging or Promoting

Is this Bragging or Promoting? It is difficult to write up my own bio - I feel silly - like bragging as a child when my mother said it was a "no-no." I wrote my first long bio.  I have been involved in many creative areas. If I thought I had a chance I entered/submitted a foot in the door and sometimes it was only a toe. Sometimes I was paid and some not. Everything I tried I learned from that experience.  At workshops, retreats and conferences, they stress you must promote yourself - get your name out there.

If you allow people to make more withdrawls than deposits in your life, you will be out of balance in the negative. Know when to close the account - Christie Williams.

Missy Ann's Card

The bottom of this card did not show. It has a pedestal. My granddaughter Missy showers me with beautiful hand crafted cards from PAPYRUS  for she knows I love them. Thanks Missy Ann, I love it.

ART ODYSSEY

Art Odyessy tour May 17-18-19, Mountain Home, Arkansas and surrounding area artisans studio tour. The Ozark Regional Arts Council newsletter -Regional Arts Gazette (RAG) will be out next week. The updates and news about authors/writers in North Central Arkansas and South Central Missouri will be part of the newsletter. So, authors/writers please keep me updated with your news. Exciting creative adventures are happening in this area and I am over-joyed.

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK.
Please support the authors in your local area at bookstores, libraries, and their signings. Purchase a book
for a child and watch their eyes light up and a big smile fill their face. Children's books are fun to read - ask an adult for they have always loved children's books.

Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative


in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted

for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties,

and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes

from coast to coast!



That Bookstore In Blytheville will have several events celebrating CBW, including

author appearances, book readings, and give aways. Come down and help us spread

the joy of reading to our local youth!



Sincerely,

Mary Gay Shipley

That Bookstore in Blytheville

Charlaine Harris, author Southern Vampire Mysteries

That Bookstore In Blytheville is proud to host best selling author Charlaine Harris.
Harris is an Arkansas author famous for her Southern Vampire Mysteries series, which
was picked up as an HBO television series in 2008. May 8 at 7:00. Join us at the
 Ritz for a Q&A with Charlaine, then come dow to That Bookstore In Blytheville to
meet this amazing author and get your books signed. Harris will be here promoting
the latest book in her hit series, Deadlocked. We hope to see you there!
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Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse Book 12)
By Charlaine Harris

With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada),
in town, it's the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman's front
yard - especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it's up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the
murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl's fate has nothing
 to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she
would ever suspect, who's out to make Sookie's world come crashing down.
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Poetry Month:
Children’s poetry http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com
New book by David L Harrison “COWBOYS” illustrated by Dan Burr
Cowboy Poets Yearly Gathering at Elko, Nevada. Founder Hal Cannon.

THE THING VIII 1-4 Saturday April 21st at the Baxter County/Donald W. Reynolds
Library http://baxlib.org

TWIN LAKES WRITERS meet April 21, 10 -12 a.m. http://twinlakeswriters.org

I will be attending:
Tuesday, April 17 Ozark Regional Arts Council
Wednesday, April 18, Pals/Palette Art League, Yellville
Saturday, April 21, Twin Lakes Writers and The Thing.
Tuesday, April 24, Marvelous Magazine Gals Night Out
Wednesday, April 25, Friends of the Library auction, it is going to be the best ever. To view a few of the items check our cabinet display at the library.

I have been very busy trying to keep up with church, friends, family and household chores. Many times it becomes a crazy balancing act with my writing. I try to write each
day and to submit more often. My poem for author David L. Harrison’s word of the month is up on his blog. I continue to prepare and submit to markets. I have a book of poems I am working on to be self-published this year. I keep plugging along. I am preparing some published items and my books for show and tell when I speak at the library in May.

Monday, April 16, I attended the Friends of the Library board meeting and the Bull Shoals Historical Society meeting. My friend Kerri Fivecoat Campbell was the speaker.
She did a great job of sharing how having a blog and facebook can be like writing a journal and keeping up with family.
There have been so many things I wanted to share since attending the Ozarks Writers League in February, but I have been busy writing and taking time out for family. I can’t promise to do better in the future, but will try. Catch me on FACEBOOK

Arkansas author Robyn Leatherman’s novel Summer Rain tells the story of a young Cherokee woman named Rain who comes of age at the time of the Cherokee Removal.
The whole title of the book is Summer Rain: Getsikahvda Anitsalagi (The Removal of the People).
This journey begins in Georgia in a typical Cherokee village in the early 1800s, where a young girl and her best friend realize there are strangers poised to take their land and home away from the Cherokee and from neighboring tribes.The girls witness the birth of the new written language of Tsalagi in the year 1821 and the acquisition of a printing press in the year 1827. The Cherokee Phoenix would mark the first newspaper to ever be printed and circulated by a Native American tribe.
Rain falls in love with a white boy and is forced to follow her heart and save her own life, or to remain loyal to her family, knowing that in doing so, she could lose not only her true love, but also her life.
Both the author and her husband are Cherokee. Leatherman’s research into the period and events includes stories told by grandparents. The book can be ordered at the publisher’s website, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.

Dana Johnson, PAL President
Palette Art League
The P.A.L.'s Fine Art Gallery
"Personally, I experience the greatest degree of pleasure in having contact with works of art.
They furnish me with happy feelings of an intensity such as I cannot derive from other realms." Albert Einstein

"Art and Artisans of the Ozarks" volume two, purchase your copies now @ $29.95 , they going fast.

501-c3 non profit organization
870-405-6316 Gallery
870-656-2057 my cell http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Palette-Art-League/144449325573360?ref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/pages/White-River-Artists/117484501632890

The finalists for the 2012 Children's Choice Book Awards were recently announced. I'm excited to say that books written by four of JacketFlap's members are among the finalists! Please join me in congratulating the four finalists by clicking their names below and leaving a congratulations comment on their profiles:Zombie in Love, written by Kelly DiPucchioSidekicks, written and illustrated by Dan SantatPirates Don't Take Baths, written and illustrated by John SegalDORK Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star, written and illustrated by Rachel RussellLaunched in 2008 by the Children's Book Council and Every Child A Reader, The Children's Choice Book Awards is the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by children and teens of all ages. Young readers can vote for their favorite books, author, and illustrator of the year at BookWeekOnline.com until Thursday, May 3, 2012. Educators, booksellers, and librarians can also tally and enter kids' votes as a group. This year, more than 20,000 children and teens nationwide determined the finalists: children spent months reading and rating books in the classroom through the IRA-CBC Children's Choices Program; teens made their voices heard through voting hosted by TeenReads.com. The Author and Illustrator of the Year finalists were selected by the Children's Book Council from an evaluation of best-seller lists with an emphasis on Bookscan. The award winners will be announced live at a gala celebration in NYC hosted and presented by kid lit heavyweights on May 7, 2012 as part of Children's Book Week (May 7-13th, 2012), the nation's longest-running literacy initiative.

(C)PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARY NIDA SMITH

Took several at this location over the last few months.

A couple nights ago we had a flaming red sunset-magic.

I tried to place photos in my different categories on my facebook,

but they wouldn't upload. A lot of wasted time.

Greetings!Ann B. Ross is coming to Blytheville! Ross is known for her popular Miss Julia series.She will be here promoting the series' latest book, Miss Julia To The Rescue. The new book will be released April 3, so set a reminder and don't miss out on meeting this renown author!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Miss Julia to the Rescue Can Miss Julia spring J. D. Pickens from a sheriff's clutches and investigate a cult-plus keep up appearances as a proper Southern lady?Miss Julia simply can't abide sitting idle. With young Lloyd moving out and husband Sam off to the Holy Land for two weeks, Miss Julia's feeling restless already. Maybe it's time for that overdue home makeover.But before she can even pick a color scheme, Miss Julia must race to the rescue of Hazel Marie's new husband. J.D. has gone missing while on his latest private investigation job. And police in West Virginia have detained an injured man fitting his description. Now it's up to Miss Julia and Etta Mae to free him before he cusses himself into a jail cell.Back in Abbotsville, wealthy eccentric Agnes Whitman has returned to town with a following of misfits. Could they be a religious cult set on converting the locals?And will Miss Julia get back in time to stop them? One thing's for sure: she won't waste time watching paint dry-no matter which shade of beige is the latest rage.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~About The Author Ann B. Ross, who taught literature at the University of North Carolina at Asheville,is the author of Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, one of the most popular Southern debut novels in years, Miss Julia Takes Over, Miss Julia Throws a Wedding, and Miss Julia Hits the Road. She lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Get To Know Ann B. Ross Over Dinner That Bookstore In Blytheville will be hosting a dinner with Ann B. Ross April 13 at 6:00pm. Dinner location and ticket prices are listed below.Tickets: $15.00Located at That Bookstore In Blytheville316 West Main Street Blythevilla, AR 72315~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(c) Mary Nida Smith BLOGGING IS IMPORTANT -- It is the start of connecting with others with the same interest and FACEBOOk is a connection to the world. If you want to discover where you are connecting: Placed your name & a category in Google search such as I do every few months.
Mary Nida Smith books
Mary Nida Smith poems
Mary Nida Smith photos
and other categories
Keep up and keep on!

(c) copyrighted by Mary Nida Smith

Mar-8 That Bookstore In Blytheville begin taking orders for John Grisham's new books, Calico Joe and Theodore Boone: The Accused.

April 11, Writers' Workshop with Bruce Hale Sponsored by SCBWI-Missouri http://www.moscbwi.org/ Check out their website for the first Saturday meetings at Springfield, Missouri.

June 22-23 Beyond Bootcamp: A workshop for Intermediate Stage Writers & Illustrators Sponsored by SCBWI-Missouri.

Check out children's author David L Harrison's blog for the W.O.M. word of the month where a word is given each month (March-track) to write a poem using that word.

Come down to That Bookstore In Blytheville March 3 and see Martha Dixon, author of Triumph Beyond Measure. She will be at TBIB from 1:00-3:00.From the back-breaking work of picking cotton in the hot Arkansas sun, the daughterof a poor sharecropper, to the dressmaker for the First Lady of the United States,Martha Dixon's story is uniquely American. Starting with nothing but an entrepreneurialdrive, Ms. Dixon rose to the peak of her profession. Triumph Beyond Measure is animpossible story that became possible. A tale of a woman who believed in herselfand set her sights high. Inspirational, motivational, and steeped in lessons learnedalong the way. Triumph Beyond Measure will leave you cheering. "They said you needto crawl before you can walk," writes Ms. Dixon, "but I didn't want to walk. Nor did I want to run. I wanted to fly." Rags to riches. From the poorhouse to theWhite House. Triumph Beyond Measure is a story everyone should read.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baxter County Library, Mountain Home booksale starts today, February 16-18th. I almost forgot since I have been unable to help set-up or attend. Today, Friday and Saturday will be busy for me. Lunch with some friends from PAL's and next two days in Branson. First time to Ozarks Writers League since February of last year. I have missed it. Saturday 18th, is the Twin Lakes Writers meeting - http://www.twinlakeswriters.org

I HATE IT!
by Mary Nida Smith ©

Valentine’s Day
in grade school
the teacher creates
a box decorated
with lace and hearts
where everyone
places special cards.
At the end of love
and friendship day
the box is opened.
Excitement fills the room
as one by one names
of classmates are read
Susan, Jimmy,
Jeanne Rae, Mary Lou,
Gary and Terry.
Each desk piles high.
It continues until
the box is empty.
I sat feeling silly
and awkward for
in my hand was one
lone card
with the name, Mrs. Scott.
That was from my teacher.
That is nice,
but,
everyone received one.
Valentine’s Day

has never been
for me ...


This sweet card arrived as I finished writing my poem
from friend, Kerri Fivecoat Campbell. I felt as if she was
looking over my shoulder. Sweet!

Last week was a good week and a sad week.
I worked in the studio weaning myself of a few of my many, many books. It was a difficult job, but one that needed to be accomplished to make room for other books piled
on file boxes, my coffee table and fireplace hearth. I love kids’ books, nature books and old books. I sacked and boxed them with lots of magazines I delivered to a small
library out in the county where bears and bobcats roam. What a pleasure it was to meet head librarian Marcell; a very dedicated book lover. I am grateful to my friend Lonnie for introducing us. Remember to support the small libraries with funds and used books.

Lonnie and Valerie, both writer friends introduced MaryEllen and her blog “Five Tired Dogs” to me. Maryellen is thinking she might want to do some writing. I know one thing after visiting with her she is a natural storyteller. I love meeting new people. Last month I enjoyed the company of artists from Palette Art League in Yellville.

I sent a book query to an independent publisher and a query to a magazine. I wrote the poem “Mystic” for the word of the month/Feb on children’s author David L. Harrison blog. David asked me to provide the word for this month. I chose “supernatural.” My poem was about nature. He also placed a moon photo of mine on his blog and he titled it,
“Moon over Arkansas.” He requested poets to submit a valentine poem on Tuesday.
A picture of me reading and one I took of my neighbor is in Marvelous magazine http://marvmag.com click on – Show us your M! Relaxation.

Sad news- the neighbor cut down two Eastern Red cedars at the backyard fence line. The birds were very unhappy, so I am going to plant some trees on our side for my feathered friends.
I continue to try to live one hour at a time and to always be patience in everything

ELAINE MOODY WILSON, AUTHOR - you can find her books at Amazon & Barnes & Noble
The kids loved all the fishing items she shared with them.

Children’s Author and Illustrator to Visit Baxter County Library Saturday,February 4th, 2012
Children’s book author and illustrator, Elaine Wilson, will share her books, artwork, and stories in a presentation for the whole family at the Donald W. Reynolds Library Saturday, February 4, 10:30am.

Wilson’s stories, Fisherman Jack’s Secret and Fisherman Jack Meets the River Creatures, were inspired by her father, who spent his summers as a local fishing guide along the White River and winters as a trapper to support their family of eight.

“You can stand on the bridge (at Calico Rock) and look upriver and see the actual rock where Fisherman Jack has a picnic,” said Wilson. Wilson grew up in Calico Rock and now resides in Melbourne, AR. Her books will be available at the Library for purchase and autographing during the event.

All children’s programs are provided at no charge as a service of the Baxter County Library through generous donations and scholarships. Children of all abilities are encouraged to participate.

For additional information, contact Children’s Librarian Deborah Edmonds at 870-580-0987 x2032. For information on all Library programs, visit the Library’s website at www.baxlib.org. The Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter County is located at 300 Library Hill, Mountain Home, AR.