My name is Janet Smart and I live in Jackson County, West Virginia.
I love sewing, photography and crafts. A few years ago I added writing to my list of things I love to do. I write children's stories and I write about Appalachia.
I started writing because I wanted to learn how to write down my memories of picking berries with Grandma as a child. I have written many versions of that picture book, but I have yet to get it right.
In order to help my dream come true, I joined a local writing group, The Appalachian Wordsmiths. I have since written many picture book manuscripts, poems, articles, middle grade manuscripts and a couple of novels.
I also write short stories and have one titled "The Old Santa Hat" in Christmas Traditions, an anthology, which was published in September 2009. It is a story about my mom's old Santa hat which she wore on Christmas.
Starting in October 2009, I was a columnist for the regional magazine called Two-Lane Livin'. Each month I wrote their column titled Fun Facts for Kids. I did this for 8 years.
I belong to West Virginia Writers. I enjoy attending their writing conferences each year in June. I enter their annual spring writing contests and have placed in the children's category most every year I have entered. My picture books, Grasshoppers! , The Snoozing Forest and Amazing Miss Maizie have placed 2nd in that category. My middle grade manuscript, Duck and Cover, placed 1st in 2015!
I enjoy blogging and hope I bring a little bit of my life in West Virginia to you each time you visit.
My email is wvsmarties (at) yahoo.com
