Ina Mae writes freelance from her southwest Missouri home. A retired social worker and church secretary for Lamar United Methodist Church, Brooks’ present volunteer activities include serving as a disability rights advocate. She has served three terms on the Missouri State Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Council, and volunteers a half day a week as a greeter for the Barton County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Pink Lady Program. She and her husband celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary this year and have four adult children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Education: In 1994, Ina Mae earned an Associate Bachelor’s of Art from Missouri Southern State College, Joplin, Missouri, now called Missouri Southern State University. She attends at least one writing conference per year. In 2001, she earned a Certificate of Achievement for completing “The Hands-on Class” offered by The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service through Hope International University, Fullerton, California.
Selected past credits: Over 40 publications published more than 100 of Ina Mae’s fiction and non-fiction manuscripts, book reviews, inspirational stories and devotionals. Samples of her writing appear in Simple Joy, Good Old Days, Ozarks Reader, Ozarks Mountaineer, SpeciaLiving, New Mobility, Alive Now, Words of Life, The Upper Room, Mature Living, and Mature Years and in other publications.
Books: Brooks co-authored an inspirational book of devotions: Moms Over 50 Devotions to Go, published in fall of 2007 by Extreme Diva Media, Inc.
Anthologies & Compilations:
A Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers: Stories that celebrate the extraordinary relationship between horse and rider" edited by Colleen Sell. Story name: "Crossing Over."
Straight From the Heart: More True Stories of Remarkable Encounters with Once-in-a-Lifetime Horses published by EQUES magazine. Story title: "My Eyes for His Feet."
Penned From the Heart: compiled by Gloria Clover. Story titles: "Our Life's Signs" and "Did You Ask the Manager?"
Gods Abundance for Woman: Devotions for a More Meaningful Life edited by Kathy Collard Miller. Story name: "Turn a How-to Idea into a Friendship Gift."
More God's Abundance: Joyful Devotions for Every Season edited by Kathy Collier Miller. Story title: "Am I Good or Am I Good!
Legacy of Love: I Do Hereby Bequeath My ... published by Cameron Press. Story title: "Family Ties Stregthen Faith."
Womankind an anthology of poetry by Anderie Poetry Press. Title of poem: "Are Mothers-in-Laws Still Mothers?"
Selected awards: Missouri Writers Guild Awards: First Place in Non Fiction Nostalgia article, 2005, Best Article/Photo Packet ,2004. Second Place in Adult Non-Fiction, Fellowship Christian Writers Annual Writing Contest, 2003; 1st Place - Category 8, Hillbilly Life, Springfield Writer’s Guild, 2001, 2nd HM – Jim Stone Grand Prize Memorial Awards – Non-Fiction, Springfield Writers Guild, 2001.
