BLESSED CHRISTMASBy Hoffmaster(R)
HEALTHY NEW YEAR

FROM THE GARDEN STUDIO –

MAY THE YEAR 2009 BRING DIRECTION,

SATISFATION AND PEACE TO YOUR WRITING CAREER.

Light a candle, fill your prayer cup

with hot tea, relax, travel the road

your heart directs you.

FRIENDS ©Mary Nida Smith

I want to thank Mary Maddon and Janet Hohn for the interesting and knowledgeable program they presented on October 4th on digital scrapbooking & storybooking. For people who did not attend, yet would like to learn about creating gifts for the holidays go to Ozarks Engraving & Fine Gifts in Bull Shoals next door to the former Harps store.

Upcoming workshops are in the planning stage. Our programs are open to the public. You don't have to be a writer. If you are interested in learning and keeping updated and making new friends - join us. The cost of the workshops will be kept low to meet your needs, yet will cover the expense of providing the speakers and promoting the workshops. If anyone has any suggestions for a workshop, email me at marynida@lakeviewnet.com

A special thanks to Hank and Katie Hudson, owners of Bel' Arco Resort for providing the workshop meeting room. Our prayers are with the family during this time while Hank is regaining his health. Hank, are prayers are with you. Mary Nida Smith and friends.

Workshop announcement for Saturday October 4th - The program information and details will be shown on a screen for everyone to see. It will be filled with ideas and materials that can be used for the holidays, everyday occasions and promoting your business.

There will be door prizes, a bag of handouts and refreshments.

Don't miss a great afternoon to learn and meet new friends.

Bel Arco Resort, Saturday, October 4th, register 1:30-2:00. Wireless Internet is available. Learn more on how to use digital programs through Heritage Makers. Don't forget to bring your loose photos to be scanned. Bel Arco is located along scenic Highway 178 in Bull Shoals.

HERITAGE MAKERS WORKSHOP
Digital Scrapbooking & Storybooking
Instructor: Mary Maddon

Saturday, October 4, 2008
Bel Arco Resort, Bull Shoals, Arkansas
1:30-2:00 pm Register
2:00-5:00 pm Workshop
$5.00 Registration Fee

Mary Maddon is a Certified Independent Consultant who owns Ozarks Engraving

& Fine Gifts, in Bull Shoals, Arkansas. I wanted to bring this workshop to all writers;

beginners, professional, historical, poets, Moms and Grandmas who are interesting

in adding a new and different aspect to promote their field of interest.

The digital world continues to move forward in our lives.

Attending workshops with new motivational tools can bring attention

to your projects, and who you are on a more personal level, introduce new readers

and clients to your website, blogs, book signings, or place of business.

This workshop will share how to design and create posters (glossy, matte or canvas)

for book signings, wall displays or gifts. You will learn how to design scrapbooks

to hold important freelance publications, book covers and important mementos,

or family photos and important keepsake papers.

Designing and creating calendars can be used for gifts or door prizes to sell

with photos of fellow writers, authors, club members, church members, artist,

photographers, galleries, poets, cooks, and garden club members. Create greeting cards

and postcards to help promote your career or show-off your crafts.

Learn how to create a hardback, hand sewn quality books for essays, poetry,

short stories, family stories, paintings, photographs or recipe books.

Janet Hohn, Independent Star Consultant will be there to scan photos -

Please bring loose photos - Special 25/$5 and 100/$22. Information will be provided

on restoration and preserving photos.

Bel Arco Writers Workshops organized by Mary Nida Smith 1-870-431-5360 -

Sponsored by Hank Hudson, owner of Bel Arco Resort home of Channel 19, an Art

Gallery, Conference Center and The Crest Restaurant in Bull Shoals, Arkansas.

WIRELESS INTERNET PROVIDED

Watch for the upcoming Saturday workshop, October 4. It is different and creative to motivate each one who attends to try different products that your computer has to offer.

I am in the planning stage for two up-coming workshops. I do hope to announce them soon.
I want to again, thank Terry/Tessa McDermind, for her support in answering the call for our first workshop. Without her it would not have been possible.

Keep checking in, you will not want to miss one of our workshops. The workshops are not only to provide information and knowledge to attendees, but to promote and create connects for the instructors of the workshops.

Do you any suggestion for future workshops? If you do please place them in the comment box.

Excitement is brewing all around the local creative arts in the Ozarks hills. Join in, don't miss out on what could bring a smile to your face, and create your heart to beat faster with joy.

Terry/ Tessa McDermid arrived in a rain storm Thursday 14th. The storm kept her from arriving early due to a traffic hold-up. Terry was in time to order a coke and a small pizza from the Bel Arco restaurant before it closed.

The next morning dedicated writers signed in while Terry unloaded her supply of reference books. and hand-outs. The small but, important group was so busy asking questions and searching over her books, they didn't have time to eat the breakfast rolls or grab a cup of coffee.

Terry provide information and answered questions on:

• Different romance sub-genres
• Creating memorable characters
• Characters different personalities in different situations
• Conflict from the beginning to the last chapter
• Point of view
• Plotting
• Knowing your characters and their background

She resented all the important ingredients for writings a novel and what works in writing short stories. Julian D. Byrd from Lead Hill, AR was a short story writer. He discovered some short stories can be develop into a novel.

Handouts provided:

• Manuscript Formatting
• Cover and query letter
• Source books for writing
• Book list for motivation
• Websites to check and read
• Tips from published authors

Each writer will find different sources to fill their needs. By attending workshops and conferences writers will return home with important information to move their career forward. Not only is it important to continuously learn, but to meet other writers and make connects. Always ask questions from other writers to learn what works for them and what didn't work.

We had a dedicated group of writers. Vivian Brown said, " What I received from Bel Arco workshop was mostly encouragement to keep on keeping on. After a break of over two months, I came home from the workshop and began writing again on my mystery novel."

Linda Caviness has several chapters finished with her novel. She was so fired up she purchased four extra note books I had left over, to take home to place suggestions Terry shared, on how she writes-up her characters background and etc.

At lunch time we all gathered at a big table, ordered lunch at Bel Arco where we could ask more questions and get to know each other. Good food and enjoyed new and old friends, what better way to spent the day.

Sorry, I didn't take pictures as I should have, for I got too excited and don't want to miss anything going on around me. I guess, I have to find someone to take pictures.

Tessa/Terry McDerimd will be here a week from today. She is a romance novelist and a freelance writer who has written for the educational market, and the christian and children's magazine markets.

Be there, and you could find your picture on this blog. I am excited to learn from Terry and meet new writers. Breakfast sweets and coffee to enjoy while you wait in line. Bring your smiles and be prepared to learn while having a great time.

TERRY/TESSA MCDERMID

http://www.belarco.com/

FIRST ANNUAL WRITERS WORKSHOPS

August 15, 2008

AUTHOR Terry/Tessa McDermid is a member of Ozarks Romance Authors, Springfield, Missouri. Terry has published four romance novels for Avalon Books; Love's Healing Power, The Romance Doctor, Treasures of the Heart, and Matters of the Heart.

One novel, Family Stories is published in the Harlequin's Everlasting Love series. Her next book in that series will be released May 2009.

Terry has also published an educational resource text, A Tapestry of Reading, with Good Year Books. As a freelance writer and teacher Terry has written articles for educational markets, short stories and devotionals for children and adults. Her children stories have been published in Wonder Time, Primary Treasures, Power and Light and in resources for students and teachers.

Terry McDermid will share an introduction to romance writing, different sub-genres and the basic novel structure. She is a hands-on instructor speaker who will provide handouts resources for writing romances, writing in general and motivations to kick-off your writing and keep you going. There will be time to asked questions.

9:00-10:00 Registration & Welcome

10:00 Speaker Terry McDermid

10:45 Break

11:00-11:45 Terry McDermid

12:00-1:00 Lunch on your own

Bel Arco Resort Restaurant offers a full menu for dining.

1:15-2:30 Terry McDermid

Send your registration fee of $20.00 to Mary Nida Smith. 162 Stamford Drive, Lakeview, AR 72642. The first ten authors to register will be provided a table to sell their books.

This workshop is sponsored by Mr. Hank Hudson, owner of Bel Arco Resort on beautiful Bull Shoals Lake, Bull Shoals, Arkansas and organized by Mary Nida Smith author & freelance writer.

http://marynidasmith.blogspot.com/

http://submarinestories.blogspot.com/

E-mail marynida@lakeviewnet.com

Watch for future writers workshops at Bel Arco Resort. This blog will provide photos and comments after the workshop and upcoming speakers.

www.missouriwritersguild.org

1-870-445-4242 http://www.belarco.com/

The 1st Writers Workshop at Bel Arco Resort, Bull Shoals, Arkansas will be Friday August 15, 2008. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Author, freelance writer and teacher Terry/Tessa McDermid is a member of Ozarks Romance Authors, Springfield, Missouri.

Terry has published five romance novels for Avalon Books and one novel in Harlequin's Everlasting Love Series. Her next book in that series will be released May 2009.

Terry has published an educational resource text, A Tapestry of Reading, with Good Year Books. For more information: http://www.tessamcdermid.com/

If you are interested in writing a romance for one of several sub-genres, but you don't know how to begin, or where to submit it when you are finished, this is the workshop for you.

Registration is $20.00 Mail to: Mary Nida Smith 162 Stamford Dr.,Lakeview, AR 72642 This workshop is sponsored by Mr. Hank Hudson, owner of Bel Arco Resort, Bull Shoals, AR and organized by Mary Nida Smith, author and freelance writer. http://marynidasmith.blogspot.com/ For more information call 1-870-431-5369.