Archive for the ‘Being an Immigrant - The Immigrant Experience’ Category

Photo: University of Louisville

“Happy Birthday, 19th Amendment (And thanks to Harry T. Burn’s mom)”

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Today is the 90th anniversary the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, the one that gave women the right to vote after a full century of organization, agitation and marching.

On this date in 1920 the Tennessee General Assembly became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, thus making it official.

To read the full article/post . . .  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/08/19th-amendment-constitution.html

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Happy Birthday, 19th Amendment; Thank You, Suffragettes and the men who walked the walk of equality with them!

The Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution prohibits each state and the federal government from denying any citizen the right to vote based on that citizen’s sex. It was ratified on August 18, 1920.

Did you know that the Women’s National Book Association http://www.wnba-books.org/ was established in 1917, before women-citizens in America even had the right to vote?

I am so proud to be a member of WNBA. I think my mother and grandmother would be proud too. If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday Sept 12, 2010, 2:00-5:00pm, come by the San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch…

http://wnba-sfchapter.org/

ZEN AND THE ART OF THE BOOK DEAL

Publishing Panel: Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 • 2-5 p.m.

San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch

Latino Hispanic Community Room, Lower Level, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter brings you the latest news in the publishing industry from the following insiders:

• JENNIFER JOSEPH – publisher and editor of Manic D Press
• PETER BEREN – literary agent and publishing consultant
• BRIDGET KINSELLA – Breaking Books & navigating the publishing landscape
• GEORGIA HUGHES – editorial director of New World Library

• Moderator: Mary Knippel, immediate past president, WNBA-SF Chapter

• September is National Literacy Month. Join our panel of experts as they share the newest insights into the publishing industry.

• Participate in our Great Book Give Away. See you there!
• http://wnba-sfchapter.org/

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

Teresa LeYung Ryan, creator of Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published, helps fiction and non-fiction writers identify their mission statements to attract agents, publishers, and readers/fans.  Teresa uses her acclaimed novel Love Made of Heart to help survivors of violence find their own voices through writing. http://WritingCoachTeresa.com offers resources for writers.

How a Book Gets to be in a Special Collection at the Boston Public Library

I’m a member of Women’s National Book Association–San Francisco Chapter.

When Laurie Beckelman was national president of Women’s National Book Association, she coordinated with the Boston Public Library to create a WNBA Collection. Thank you, Laurie!  Thank you, everyone at the Boston Public Library!

My dear sister was in Boston and guess what she did?  She visited the Central Branch of the Boston Public Library and took photos of my novel Love Made of Heart proudly shelved. Thanks, Sis!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

Chinese American author who writes for and about modern courageous women unbeknownst to themselves.

As an author I use my novel Love Made of Heart to encourage adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas that their parents suffer.
Love Made of Heart is:
• recommended by the California School Library Association and the California Reading Association
• used in Advanced Composition English-as-a-Second-Language classes
• archived at the San Francisco History Center

Love Made of Heart is in  97 public libraries (84 branches in the United States, 2 branches in the United Kingdom , 9 branches in New Zeland; 1 branch in Austrialia, 1 branch in Singapore).

http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/0758202172

In 2003 when my editor at Kensington Publishing Corp. New York told me that they were going to release the trade paperback edition of my novel Love Made of Heart (hard cover edition had been published in October 2002), I asked if I could add an “Author’s Note to Reader” and he said “Yes.”

To the readers who have read/are reading from the hard cover edition, here is the Author’s Note to Reader:

Thank you for letting me share Ruby Lin’s story with you.  Many readers have asked what the characters in the novel have done for me.  My answer is this:  I’ve learned that behind every face is a compelling story.

Please remember me as a writer who says YES! to compassion for mental illness and NO! to domestic violence and child abuse.

Who is Mrs. Nussbaum?  She lives in all our hearts.  Just as we have the “child within,” we also have the “wise elder within.”  May you always embrace your compelling story and allow your Mrs. Nussbaum to embrace you.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

author of Love Made of Heart

http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Sunday August 1, 2010

I’m organizing photos from yesterday’s Northern California Storybook & Literature Festival.

Women's National Book Association members Margie Yee Webb, Mary E. Knippel, B. Lynn Goodwin, Sarbjit Rai, Teresa LeYung Ryan

I had a good time on the panel with other fiction authors. Gail, thank you for moderating. Nathan, thank you for taking photos. Delightful audience.

authors Jeff Carlson, Laurel Anne Hill, Tanya Egan Gibson, Teresa LeYung Ryan, Jack L. Parker with Library Specialist Gail McGrath & Library Advocate Nathan

Authors Susan Osborn & Margie Yee Webb cheer for the Friends of the Roseville Library

Also I presented “Transform Your Personal Experiences Into Potent Stories” Thank you to the participant-writers.  Here are some comments from them:

I asked: What did you value most about the workshop?

• “Verbalizing what my readers will learn from my story.”

• “Good comments & tools from Teresa for moving forward.”
• “Handouts so organized.”

Your next steps with your stories?

• “Bring my stories out and start again—with your ideas for tools”
• “Find a publisher.”
• “Re-read my favorite novel & mark it up. Thank you, Teresa!”

My colleagues  (Catharine Bramkamp, Laurel Anne Hill, Antoinette May, Susan M. Osborn) also presented their writing workshops.

Special thanks to Jamie Finley, Dena Grover, Gail McGrath, Lynn Brown and everyone at Roseville Libraries, Margie Yee Webb and colleagues at California Writers Club, Mary Knippel & Sarbjit Rai & fellow members of Women’s National Book Association, bookseller James Van Eaton of Winston Smith Books, friends old and new, readers and writers, and everyone who made the festival a celebration of literature.

Teresa LeYung Ryan, Mary E. Knippel, Margie Yee Webb advocate for public libraries.

http://www.roseville.ca.us/library/

3 branches in Roseville, CA

Maidu Library & Maidu Community Center

Martha Riley Community Library

Downtown Library

Gail McGrath (Library Specialist) holding Teresa's novel Love Made of Heart, Bob Quinlan author of Earn It: Empower Yourself for Love, and Margie Yee Webb author of Cat Mulan

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

As an author and community spirit, Teresa LeYung Ryan speaks out for public libraries, honors immigrant-stories, advocates compassion for mental illness, and helps survivors of violence find their own voices through writing.

“To comment on any of my columns (blog posts), just click on the color title-bar of the post, fill in the boxes and press ’submit.’  Thank you.”

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

We Didn’t Know What Questions to Ask the Police – Missing Person

Speaking Up & Asking for Help on Behalf of Folks Who Cannot Speak for Themselves

To follow up on my July 25, 2010 post . . .

My cousin (mentally disabled adult—capacity of a ten-year-old or younger) was reported as “missing.”

She had never left the house by herself but she did this particular night (around midnight)

She was in her slippers, denim trousers and fleece jacket.

She was recovering from surgery.

To help your loved ones when working with the police… If we had prior experience with “missing person” these would be the questions to ask the police:

• Will other counties be alerted?
• Will public transportation systems in our county and other counties be alerted? How about BART?
• What if she got into a stranger’s car?
• Will hospital emergency rooms be alerted?
• How can we work fast to ask neighbors if they saw our loved one around the time of the disappearance?  How do we disseminate fliers?

• Also, get names of officers, phone numbers, and report/case numbers.
• Ask “What will happen next?” “Then what?”  “Who will be in charge then?”

Thank you, San Francisco Police Dept.!      http://sf-police.org/

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

Thank You to My Husband

Two days ago I received this email:

Dear Ms. Ryan,

I am commissioned by Scarecrow Press to write Historical Dictionary of Asian American lit and theater and would very much like to include you . . .  I have found all necessary info from your website, except for your educational background. Would you mind providing me with your degrees, majors, and universities?

Many thanks,
Wenying

Wenying Xu, Ph.D
Professor & Chair
Department of English
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL 33431

My reply:

Dear Professor Xu,

Thank you for wanting to include my profile in your project.

May I see your final write-up of my profile before you submit it to Scarecrow Press?

I’d be honored if you could include my favorite quote:

Author Teresa LeYung Ryan says: “You have the power to materialize your dearest dreams. Transform Your Personal Experiences Into Potent Stories.”

Education:
Lowell High School, San Francisco
I do not have a college degree; I have taken courses at City College of San Francisco, Skyline College, U.C. Berkeley Extension; I have attended many writing workshops; I have created and delivered many writing workshops; I believe that the more I read the better writer I become.

Again, thank you for wanting to include me in the Historical Dictionary of Asian American lit and theater.

How did you find me?

Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan

Why am I entitling this post “Thank You to My Husband” ?

Because . . . I work hard as a writer, and, I work well when I’m in lovely space that has “good vibrations.”  My husband helped me get to the place where I am today and I thank him!

As an author and community spirit, Teresa LeYung Ryan speaks out for public libraries, honors immigrant-stories, advocates compassion for mental illness, and helps survivors of violence find their own voices through writing.

Writers Take Care of Ourselves!

“20 Fun, Easy & Effective Ways To Manage and Reduce Stress”.

Get Access Here: http://www.premiersummits.com/cmd.php?Clk=3822318

Premier Summits Live Event: July 20-26, 2010

Remember, all live events are updated at 9am Eastern Time (2 PM Greenwich Mean Time) every day. The events of the day will only be available starting at that time, for the next 24 hours.

I listened to Diana Fletcher “Stress Reducing Strategies for a Busy & Hectic Lifestyle”

Top points I gained from Diana:

• Make time to breathe deeply – put one hand on belly; inhale through the nose & exhale through the mouth
• Drink water – to hydrate the body; to correct false-cravings for food
• Create buffer time – after turning off electronic gadgets (including TV or computer), give myself quiet time before going to sleep.

I listened to Elizabeth Diamond “How to Create the Life of Your Dreams Using the Intentional Scrapbooking Method^TM”

Top points I gained from Elizabeth:

• Identity the picture of what success looks like and create the scrapbook page/vision board (or “collage” as Mary E. Knippel of Open Up To Your Creativity would say); find material for the platform (paper, cardboard, T-shirt . . . )
• Feel the joy when I use “I statement” to see my dream in my mind’s eye (Teresa’s example:  “I am the female business owner who has given millions of dollars to thousands of charities worldwide.”  This is my dream–to help people on the planet by being a creator of prosperity–like philanthropist Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation.)
• Take a photo of myself while I am looking at my scrapbook page/vision board/collage and feeling the sensations of success; use the photo as inspiration. (Teresa’s example:  “Before I found my agent and before my publisher found me through my agent, I did create ‘This is what I would look like as a published author’ pictures for myself.  I’m happy to say that I celebrated my novel’s seventh anniversary in October)

Thank you to my sister who told me about Premier Summits –  free online audio events!

Thank you, Tom Nicoli for hosting and Keith Jennison for producer the series!

Thank you to all the presenters!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

Author Teresa LeYung Ryan wears two hats.

• As a novelist, she uses her book Love Made of Heart to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas that their parents suffer.
• As a writing career coach and creator of Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published, Teresa helps writers identify their mission statements to attract agents, publishers and fans.

Her website WritingCoachTeresa.com offers resources for writers and readers.

Uncle Bernie & Uncle Bill!

This summer my sister introduced me to The Bernie Mac Show which ran from 2001 to 2006.  I found a dozen episodes on YouTube.

What a character!  What an uncle!  Bernie Mac (a comedian) and his wife Wanda take in his sister’s 3 kids and he does his best as a “Mr. Mom” to his nephew and two nieces.   Wanda reminds Bernie the meaning of “family” by her generous acts whenever he gets overwhelmed.

Bernie Mac is played by Bernard Jeffrey McCullough http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Mac and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285341/

I thank the writers of The Bernie Mac Show for the funny lines that carry powerful messages; I thank Bernie Mac for entertaining “America.”

Turn back the calendar to 1966-1971  Another uncle who makes sacrifices is the character Bill Davis in Family Affair when he takes in 3 kids (2 nieces and 1 nephew).  Mr. French is the real hero though—his role as Davis’s gentleman’s gentleman is transformed into Mr. Nanny + Housekeeper.  Davis is portrayed by Brian Kieth and Mr. French by Sebastian Cabot.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059982/ The writers of Family Affair also wrote memorable lines. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

Author Teresa LeYung Ryan wears two hats.

• As a novelist, she uses her book Love Made of Heart to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas that their parents suffer.
• As a writing career coach and creator of Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published, Teresa helps writers identify their mission statements to attract agents, publishers and fans.

WritingCoachTeresa.com offers resources for writers and readers.

My first experiences with hypnosis and self-hypnosis came from Angie Choi.  http://alivehypnosis.com/ I’ll talk more about remarkable Angie in another post.

Today I wish to share this information (lead came from my sister) with everyone who is connecting through my blog posts.  Writers need to manage and reduce stress too:

Free Online Audio Event • July 20 – 26, 2010

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hi Teresa,
It’s Tom Nicoli here. In this crazy economy and busy lifestyle
we all could use some ways to reduce everyday stress.

20 top professionals have come together for a free online
event. They are all sharing great information. It’s called
“20 Fun, Easy & Effective Ways To Manage and Reduce Stress”.

Get Access Here: http://www.premiersummits.com/cmd.php?Clk=3822318

I’m going to be there. Remember, it’s all free, and it
starting really soon. After you sign in to get all the
information for free, tell everyone you know. They’ll
want to know about this too.

All the best,
Tom
Hypnosis World Summit

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan

As a writing career coach and creator of Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published, Teresa LeYung Ryan helps writers identify their mission statements to attract agents, publishers and fans.  http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

As the author of Love Made of Heart and community spirit, Teresa LeYung Ryan speaks out for public libraries, honors immigrant-stories, advocates compassion for mental illness, and helps survivors of violence find their own voices through writing.  http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Another Day in the Life of a Published Author/Presenter/Advocate of Literacy

Dear Writers,

I encourage everyone to finish writing that story or that book and find ways to get your work published in print form.  When I first set out to write Love Made of Heart (originally entitled Grace) over 20 years ago, my dream was to someday touch readers the way Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior had touched me.

Since Love Made of Heart got published in October 2002 by Kensington Publishing Corp., New York, I have had the opportunities to make connections with readers not only with the book but also through personal appearances at community events, writers’ conferences, writers’ organizations, schools and libraries.  Connecting with people through promoting literacy is my favorite role as an author.

Today I received this email which made me sad, but, I got a chance to offer a piece of me as an author. Thank you, Donna, for emailing me.

Hello Teresa!  My name is Donna Axelson. I am on the board of the non-profit Veterans Memorial that was built in 2007 in Cupertino, CA. I became involved with this project because my son, Matthew Axelson, a Navy SEAL, was killed in Afghanistan in 2005. If you have read the New York Times Bestseller Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell you have read about Matthew and Operation Redwing.

One of my major jobs with the non-profit is to chair the annual golf tournament that supports the Memorial. This is our fifth year to hold the golf tournament and one of the most sought after auction items is children’s books signed by local authors. I’m hoping you would be willing to donate a copy of one of your books this year for the auction. The golf tournament this year is Monday, August 23 @ the Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club. You can reach me at ____ and you can view our website at www.cupertinoveteransmemorial.org

Are you a golfer? We’d love to have you join us for golf or how about coming just for the dinner, auctions, and program. See attachment.  http://www.cupertinoveteransmemorial.org/golf_tournament.html

Thank you!

Donna Axelson

This is my reply to Donna:

Tue, Jul 13, 2010

Dear Donna,

My heart is heavy as I read your email about how you got involved with Veterans Memorial.

Donna, I would be honored to donate a copy of Love Made of Heart (to honor your love for Matthew); however my book is not a children’s book. It is recommended by the California Reading Association and the California School Library Association (for high-school and college level); it’s archived at the San Francisco History Center. The main character is in her twenties.

This link has more information about the book:
http://lovemadeofheart.com/Love-Made-of-Heart-journey-of-an-adult-child-of-a-mentally-ill-parent.html

• Do let me know if you still want a copy of Love Made of Heart.

• I am the creator of “Heroes, Tricksters, and Villains” (a writing workshop for children). If you ever want such a presentation for another fundraiser, please invite me.

• You might want to also contact Frances Kakugawa, the author of Wordsworth the Poet and Wordsworth Dances The Waltz.    http://www.francesk.org/homepage.html Please tell Frances hello for me if you email her.

• Donna, are you a writer?  There must be a branch of California Writers Club near you. http://calwriters.org/

• Lastly, how did you find me?

Sincerely,
Teresa
Teresa LeYung Ryan

The following day, Donna emailed again:

Teresa,

I looked up your book so know a bit about it already. We have at least one foursome of high school and college age golfers plus parents of those same age young people golf. Plus our CEO is involved with the Organization of Special Needs families in our area. I think your book would be a wonderful addition to our auction. Please send it to the address below % CVM Golf Tournament.

I will contact Frances. Thank you for her information.

Last year when I went to the Linden Tree in Los Altos (Dennis and Linda always donate books for the auction.) I purchased a book 2007 Writers and Illustrators Network Guide [Authors and Illustrators Network Guide] and you were in that book.

Fondly,

Donna Axelson

c/o Cupertino Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament

So, I inscribed a hardcover copy of Love Made of Heart to “The Cupertino Veterans Memorial Hearts” and attached a personal note to Donna and mailed the package out.

Dear Writers,

On my wesite is a page “Writers Resources”  http://lovemadeofheart.com/Writers-Resources.html I attend many of the events sponsored by Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter.

See you at a community event or on cyberspace!

Sincerely,

Teresa

As an author and community spirit, Teresa LeYung Ryan speaks out for public libraries, honors immigrant-stories, advocates compassion for mental illness, and helps survivors of violence find their own voices through writing.

Love Made of Heart inspires adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas that their parents suffer.  http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook.  Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.” http://WritingCoachTeresa.com