Archive for the ‘’ Category

Coach Teresa here, with very very sad news regarding beloved Kathi Kamen Goldmark.

Today, colleague Joan Gelfand forwarded the letter from Sedge Thomson of West Coast Live:

Though metastized breast cancer took her today, what she leaves for her wide circle of friends and colleagues are indelible memories, enduring connections, and fuller, more joie-juiced lives.

This Saturday we raise a toast to the life of our beloved friend and producer for many years. Anyone who met Kathi could easily see why she was a central, vibrant figure in the music and literary world.

A celebratory show it will be! With some of the finest cutting-edge actors in a theater-themed show, complete with scintillating conversation, superb music, and laughing play — just as KKG liked it.

We hope you’ll join us in remembering Kathi and carrying her spirit forward.

Warmly,
Sedge Thomson

*******

When Women’s National Book Association honored Kathi Kamen Goldmark 0n November 8, 2008 with the WNBA Award and guest speakers (including Amy Tan!) spoke of Kathi’s achievements . . . what I heard was the tribute to a Hero of a Thousand Faces (her name:  Kathi Kamen Goldmark).

Kathi Kamen Goldmark (center) and colleagues celebrate 2009 WNBA National Reading Group Month

I am very very sad for Kathi’s husband Sam Barry, her son, and all her loved ones.  I light a candle for you, Beautiful Kathi with dimpled smile.

Please go to Kathi’s facebook page for information regarding memorial services for the Hero of a Thousand Faces.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Slavery in My City in United States of America Today? What is Human Trafficking?

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Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here.  I just received an email from Marily Mondejar

V-DAY FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK 

“WOMEN OF COLOR UNITED AGAINST VIOLENCE” CAMPAIGN 

PRESENTS A ONE-NIGHT-ONLY BENEFIT PERFORMANCE OF 

“THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES”

SAVE THE DATE – Friday, June 1st, 2012 at 7 pm Pacific Standard Time

My dear colleague Vicki Weiland forwarded this message from film-maker Jonathan Fung:

You are invited to the premiere of Hark and can pick up a signed DVD copy of the film in the lobby after the screening and human trafficking panel discussion with International Justice Mission, Freedom House and the San Jose Police Dept Human Trafficking Task Force.

Thanks again for your generous donation toward the making of Hark.

SAVE THE DATE – Friday, June 1st, 2012 at 7 pm
HARK Film Premiere
Santa Clara University Recital Hall
free admission & reception following

Hark is about a man who is confronted with a moral dilemma to save his own life or risk the life of another. The characters in Hark are ordinary people making choices to survive. The story draws attention to the harsh reality of human trafficking and shines light where there is darkness.

With love and gratitude,
Jonathan

Jonathan Fung
Producer/Director
Hark
Sleepy Toe Pictures, LLC

F  | facebook.com/groups/Harkthemovie
T  | twitter.com/harkthemovie
W| www.harkthemovie.com

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8-9

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http://valerieleeworks.wordpress.com Valerie Lee is the author of The Jade Rubies.

Set in 1915, we are introduced to two sisters, Sulan and May. In a whirlwind fashion, the girls are torn away from their mother after being sold to a child broker and then to a wealthy couple who takes them on a life changing journey to the New World. Once settled into Vancouver with their master and mistress, the sisters fall into a routine of abuse at the hands of rich sadists and drug traffickers.

Jennifer Harbourn reviews Valerie Lee‘s book The Jade Rubies:

“It s all too common for a reader to find themselves snuggled cozily in their home, under blankets within the safety of their predictable world. It is in such cases that the juxtaposition of a novel such as Valerie Lee‘s The Jade Rubies truly shakes the reader. As I watched a tale of two innocent Chinese girls unfold, I became self-aware; knowing that I would never have to endure the trauma that these girls lived for 251 pages was both a relieving and guilt laden experience. This isn’t the first time that I’ve experienced this particular set of emotions, as I’m often drawn to stories concerning the multicultural plight of women.
“Valerie Lee shows us by way of sights and the imagery of scents that a deep mystery is set to unfold by the end of the book. I found myself deeply invested in the kindly characters and equally critical of the villains. I think she found her voice as a writer and used it well.”

Here’s a book review by Robert A. Garfinkle of The Jade Rubies .

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human trafficking--look beneath the surface--report to authorities

Here’s my webpage with links to:

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

**

As a writer and writing coach, I feel it is my responsibility and my job to “look beneath the surface” of all stories. I can choose to be aware of what is going on in life, speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, and help other writers do the same.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Editor, Story Consultant, Platform-Building Coach

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan has helped over 1,000 writers.

“Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

Writing Coach Teresa Jade LeYung on Editing Panel at 2015 San Francisco Writers Conference

Filmed by author Margie Yee Webb

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SP-CmB0OUJ0

2012 May 13 Blog Post

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan asks:

“If your protagonist doesn’t want anything, then what is the story?”

Happy Mother’s Day to mother-archetypes all over the world! To honor my MaMah today, I’m watching the movie Garbo Talks (written by Larry Grusin; directed by Sidney Lumit; music by Cy Coleman)  about a son who takes action to get the one thing his dying mother really wants–to meet the movie star Greta Garbo.

One of my favorite scenes in this movie is the conversation (at the beach) between Gilbert Rolfe (the son, portrayed by Ron Silver) and the gay man/kind stranger Bernie Whitlock (portrayed by Harvey Fierstein).  The dialogue shows not only what Gilbert wants but also what Bernie wants.  What Gilbert wants is specific; what Bernie wants is universal.

A photographer who has spied on Garbo before tells Gilbert “. . . she’ll disappear if she sees you . . . ”

When Gilbert finally finds the movie star (after 3 months of doing), he knows that he must make every word count to hook her attention before she runs away.

Then, the monologue by the mom (Estelle Rolfe, portrayed by Anne Bancroft) in the hospital bed as she speaks to Garbo . . . oh my goodness.

Lines are beautifully written, directed, delivered, and edited.  What a story! And the music! I will study the script again.

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Speaking of what a protagonist wants, mothers, meetings, monologues . . . I’ve written a 10-minute play (Answer Me Now–a monologue) about a middle-aged woman asking her dead mom a question.

My play and eight colleagues’ plays will be performed on June 29, 30 and July 1st, 2012 at the Redwood Writers & 6th Street Playhouse Play Festival in Santa Rosa, CA.   I’d love to see my friends there.

* * * * * * *

Writers, go through your manuscript and look for the “want” on every page. Who wants what in this scene, in this conversation, or passage? How does each character go after (or not) what she/he wants?

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

Editor, Story Consultant, Platform-Building Coach

https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/about/

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan has helped over 1,000 writers.

“Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

May 2, 2012   Best  News!  Nayati is HOME!

 http://www.mkis.edu.my/  has updates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0DOd47zFTQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlEi7rrVtaw

http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/gutsy-nayati-insists-on-walking-home-1.80924

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/4/nation/11230701&sec=nation

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/nayati-those-kidnappers-cant-beat-me

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/5/nation/11238032&sec=nation

Everyone,

Could you please please use your social media networks to help 12-year-old ( 7th grade) boy Nayati Shamelin Moodliar who was abducted April 27, 2012.

Even if you don’t know anyone in Asia . . . your friends may; your friends’ friends may.  Please Circulate NAYATI MOODLIAR’s photo & URL http://www.mkis.edu.my/.  Please use your mighty “facebook” voices & mouse clicks to help 12-year-old boy Nayati.

contact Mont'Kiara Int'l School Kuala Lumpur--HELP Nayati Shamelin Moodliar return to his parents

KIDNAPPED on 27 April 2012 on his way to school.

NAYATI MOODLIAR

from Mont’Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

12 years old,  4ft. 11 in. (1.5 m) height, dark brown hair and eyes

mixed origin of Indian and Caucasian.

Please circulate NAYATI’s photo, description and this URL: http://www.mkis.edu.my/

http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/43429-international-school-student-abducted-this-morning.html   has YouTube video of Nayati Shamelin Moodliar’s parents’ plea to help find their son.

http://www.mkis.edu.my/  has photo of Nayati Shamelin Moodliar

“If you have seen this child, call Malaysian Police 999, or Mont’Kiara International School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia +60 3 2093 8604.

“In the abduction of Nayati Shamelin Moodliar (12-year-old boy, 7th grade student)  in Mont’Kiara, the auto used was a black Proton Gen 2. The tag number is WNH 1356. There were two Indian male occupants.

“Another Facebook post said that, at the time of the abduction, Nayati was wearing green shorts and a white polo t-shirt with the school’s emblem. It also said that Nayati was “on the way to school, corner of Jalan Kiara 1 & Jalan Kiara, white van took him. Any info to rescue him? Contact his parents Sham 019 233 3065 and Janice 012 365 6202.”  http://www.mkis.edu.my/

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://www.facebook.com/Teresa.LeYung.Ryan

Coach Teresa, do I really have to blog often to build my platform?

A gracious author emailed me a poignant question after today’s tele-roundtable discussions (sponsored by Linda Joy Myers and National Association of Memoir Writers http://www.namw.org ).

I will reveal her name if she wishes. For now, I’ll respond to Gracious Author’s concerns in a way that will hopefully help her and other hardworking writers to “reach out, not stress out, while building your platform.”

I’ll paraphrase  Gracious Author’s dilemma:

“Coach Teresa, you said we are experts of our experiences and to make our names synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues we write about.  I don’t want to blog about my traumatic experiences; and, I’m writing a genre that makes me happy. What to do?”

Remember my closing statement at the tele-roundtable discussions?

“You deserve to make your dearest dreams come true. Wear your 2 hats:  polish the craft; building your platform to help your fans find you.”

If a task doesn’t give you joy, do something else.

Who was the author on the tele-roundtable discussions who said she has written a happy story (growing up in the 1950s)? This author could be blogging about other books, movies, music, art, world events from that decade. Or focusing on that city/town/neighborhood.  Be the expert. Be the resource.

You love writing screenplays or plays?

Who are the screenwriters and playwrights you respect?

What are the themes in their projects?

What are the themes in your project?

What if I blogged about these writers who inspire me and about their protagonists?

What if I blogged about the writers who inspired the writers who inspire me?

Blog about the music or the setting or the historical figures in your work and the works similar to yours.

Example:  I have many books in my library that I want to read. Bastard Out of Carolina (by Dorothy Allison) is one of them. Last year I was a presenter at San Francisco Writers Conference.   A month before the event, I found out that Dorothy Allison was going to be a keynote speaker. So, I started reading her novel. What a page-turner!

At the conference I ran into Dorothy in the hallway and I told her what page I was on. I saw her again when she was on a panel about banned books (moderated by Barbara Santos). Dorothy Allison is someone I wanted to blog about.

In my blog post What to Do Before Hiring an Editor for My Manuscript? under the section “Paying Attention to Language and Rules,” this is what I said about Dorothy.

In Bastard Out of Carolina, Dorothy Allison’s protagonist Bone is a girl.  Bone’s voice is convincing in dialogue and in internal monologue. Brilliant use of dialect.

Then, when author Vicki Hudson told me that she created “I Sent Bastard to School” Fund, I blogged to show support.

Your blog posts, book reviews, movie reviews, stage play reviews, comments on other people’s blogs . . . can be short.  Talk about how the themes hooked you or what you learned from the characters; then sign off with your full name and your mission statement (by Day 9 in my workbook, you’ll have your brilliant mission statement)

A blog is just one of the “venues” for your fans to experience you. Fans can interact with you through your blog (the way you can interact with me with this blog–by submitting a comment). A blog keeps count of number of visitors.

What other venues keep count of number of visitors/viewers?

Websites (a blog is an interactive website)

YouTube !  facebook!   Twitter!  Here’s my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Name some more venues. . .

Gracious Author who is writing screenplays–perhaps instead of blogging, you’ll invest time creating one-minute videos of your articulating the themes in the screenplays that hook you; write a description for each video. Write reviews on Amazon; publish the same reviews on your blog or YouTube channel. You become a resource center.

More examples – why you want to help your fans find you:

Two years ago I went to see Carol Sheldon’s 15-minute play at Fringe of Marin One Act Plays. I invited friends. Carol’s play was delightful. I blogged about my theatre experience. Two weeks later, I received an email from a theatre goer who couldn’t find Fringe of Marin’s website but she found information about the theatre company from my blog!  She couldn’t find their website because there wasn’t one.  I am happy to say that Fringe of Marin has a lovely website now.

A week after beloved Effie Lee Morris (retired children’s librarian/visionary/advocate/author) died, I received an email from a reporter half-way across the country who wanted to talk to a family member of Effie Lee.   He said that even though he found many websites showing Effie Lee’s biographies and interviews, he couldn’t find anyone who knew how to contact her relatives. He found some of the information he needed through my blog posts; so, he emailed me to get more.  I was a resource.  I knew Effie Lee as the founder-president of Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter. She inspired the Friends of SFPL to create the annual Effie Lee Morris Lecture–to honor a children’s book author.

So you see how blogs connect people and serve as resource centers? Make your blog whatever you want it to be.  Julie Powell cooked one Julia Child recipe each day–that in itself was already an accomplishment.  Guess what? Julie blogged about cooking a Julia recipe each day.  Publishers found her.  She received a big advance to write the memoir.

Your platform-building style is unique. Developing a new habit though, does require effort/consistency.  That is why I designed a workbook with exercises for at least  21 consecutive days. The 22nd day is celebrations.

To participate in this blog post, submit a comment by: clicking on the blue title bar of this post, scrolling down to get the boxes, filling in the boxes and click on “submit comment” button — so that thousands of my fans will see your name, URL (your website/blog address if you have one), what themes/subject matters/issues hook you, and, what themes/subject matters/issues you want to spotlight.

I wish you joy, light, and a dancing heart.

Sincerely,
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (the fun workbook)

Manuscript Consultant/Editor/Coach Teresa Loves to See the Words in Movies/Films

Coach Teresa here…  I love to study the dialogue in movies.  Oftentimes I turn on “English subtitles” so that I can “see” the words.   Such a simple technique to help me be a better editor for my clients and a better writer of my own stories.

Two of my favorite movies?   Bagdad Cafe aka Out of Rosenheim (written and produced by Eleonore and Percy Adlon; screenplay co-writer Christopher Doherty; stars: Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder and Jack Palance) and The Apartment (written by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond; stars: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Jack Kruschen, Edie Adams)

Listen and look for metaphors, foreshadowing, and thematic significance in the dialogue.

Of course the acting, directing, music, set design, costumes, filming, editing are superb too in both movies.

In Bagdad Cafe “Calling You” sung by Jevetta Steele (words and music by Bob Telson) is beautifully haunting.

In The Apartment, even the theme-tunes for the major characters follow plot points.

I’ll be blogging more about themes and archetypes in these two movies.

I love helping writers identify themes and archetypes in their manuscripts and make their names synonymous with the subject matters/issues they write about to a attract agents, editors, publishers, readers, and media attention before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!

Happy writing!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Please visit my website http://writingcoachteresa.com

If you wish to email me, I’m writingcoachTeresa at gmail.com

Author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (print edition $12.96  & eBook edition $9.81)

and the novel Love Made of Heart (inspires adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families)

Coach Teresa inviting you to the Sonoma County Book Festival

see map below

September 24, 2011  10:00am – 4:00pm

The Sonoma County Book Festival

Celebrating the Literary Arts & Promoting Literacy

Old Courthouse Square, Fourth Street and Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA

Please visit us Teresa LeYung-Ryan,  Kate Farrell & Margie Yee Webb at our booth #34 – on 4th Street near Mary’s Pizza Shack

Also, we will be at the Redwood Reading Stage (stage times: 1:45-2:00pm Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Margie Yee Webb; 2:00-2:45pm Kate Farrell).

La Rosa Restaurant Tequileria & Grille, 500 Fourth Street
2:30 Maxine Hong Kingston with the Veterans Writing Group

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

$9.81 for ebook; $22 for print edition

Love Made of Heart inspiring adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.

As a manuscript consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan loves helping writers identify their themes and archetypes.

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Teresa on facebook!  She’s also involved in Women’s National Book Association and California Writers Club.

Who Is the Woman / Journalist /Chronicler /Author Mary Jo McConahay ?

“From the moment she steps into the deep Mexican jungle, you will follow her anywhere.”

Mary Jo McConahay emailed me and Mary E. Knippel, telling us that she cannot attend the Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter Meet-Up at the main library on Thursday, August 4, 2011, 6:00-7:30pm because she  will be launching her book Maya Roads: One Woman’s Journey Among the People of the Rainforest at the World Affairs Council that day, at exactly the same time!   I will miss you, Mary Jo, but, I am so happy for you and Maya Roads. I’ll be at your event on August 20 for Left Coast Writers at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA.

What Fun at the Women’s National Book Association Meet Up!

Creativity & Writing Mentor Mary E. Knippel & I (Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan) had pledged to show up on the first Thursday of each month to help WNBA members build their platforms.

Mary couldn’t meet on July 7  and we were going to skip this month. But, at BookShop West Portal, Birgit Soyka’s friend Jacqueline E. Boone expressed interest in attending our Meet Ups, so, we kept our date at the San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch.

I am so happy that we did!  Those who show up create magic for each other; that’s my motto.   I was the first to arrive; a gal came in to ask if she could use the outlet to re-charge her camera battery. Cecilia is her name; she said she speaks only a little English; I told her about Project Read (right here at the San Francisco Public Library).

Then my dear colleague Birgit Soyka, Jing Li, Samantha Roberts and Birgit’s dear friend Jacqueline E. Boone showed up and the fun began . . .

So, Birgit, Samantha, Jing, Jacqueline, to get mileage on cyberspace promoting, tell our fans what you’re working on by posting comments on these blogs.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s blog &   Mary E. Knippel’s blog

Birgit Soyka’s blog &   Jacqueline E. Boone’s blog

WNBA-SF Chapter’s blog

To submit your comment to any post (article) in this blog, click on the blue header (title bar) of the post and fill in the boxes (you don’t need to fill in your website address if you don’t have a website; if  you have a website, do provide your web address so that our fans can visit you there); then be sure to click “submit comment” otherwise I won’t get to see your comment. I’d like to hear from you.

Barbara Santos! Thank you for sending out the SFWC newsletter – that’s how Jing found out about tonight’s meet-up.

AUGUST – DECEMBER 2011 WNBA-San Francisco Chapter MEET UPS

First Thursday of the month 6:00-7:30pm at San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room (lower level) where food is allowed.

Near BART Civic Center Station. 2 entrances for the library: 100 Larkin St. (and 30 Grove St.), S.F., CA 94102

Meet-Ups are WNBA membership benefits; non-members can attend one meet-up a year. To become a member: http://wnba-sfchapter.org/ WNBA-SF Meet Ups are orchestrated by Teresa LeYung Ryan and Mary E. Knippel.

Coach Teresa says: “Reach out not stress out when building your readership/platform/fanbase!”

What Is So Important About Public Libraries?

Public libraries (also called “circulating libraries“) exist in most places in the world and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population.  Then, why is Mayor Jean Quan proposing to close Oakland (California) public libraries?

Please please call, write to or email Mayor Jean Quan’s office, City Councilmembers, and Oakland City Administration.
Libraries help keep a city “safe” and literate… 

Mayor Jean Quan’s Office – officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com

* District 1 – Jane Brunner    jbrunner@oaklandnet.com
* District 2 – Pat Kernighan  pkernighan@oaklandnet.com
* District 3 – Nancy Nadel  nnadel@oaklandnet.com
* District 4 – Libby Schaaf  lschaaf@oaklandnet.com
* District 5 – Ignacio De La Fuente  idelafuente@oaklandnet.com
* District 6 – Desley Brooks  dbrooks@oaklandnet.com
* District 7 – Larry Reid  lreid@oaklandnet.com
* At-Large – Rebecca Kaplan  atlarge@oaklandnet.com

Oakland City Administration – cityadministrator@oaklandnet.com

What else can we do?  http://www.saveoaklandlibrary.org has suggestions:

http://saveoaklandlibrary.org/act-now/

• Keep libraries open. Don’t close branch libraries or reduce service hours at any library.
• Don’t violate the public trust by throwing away Measure Q funds
• Closing libraries hurts all of Oakland’s citizens.
• Libraries give everyone, regardless of income, free access to books and the Internet.
• Libraries have already sacrificed by limiting service to 5 days/week at all of the branches.
• These cuts are unfair. The Library represents only 2% of the general fund monies but the “All Cuts” proposal calls for 198 full time library jobs to be eliminated out of 367 citywide. The library’s share of jobs lost equals more than 52% of the total positions eliminated.
• Measure Q supplies the library’s entire budget for buying books, DVDs, CDs, downloadable audiobooks and e-books, and other popular materials. Locations which remain open will not have new materials to offer the public.
• The “All Cuts” budget proposal suggests that there will be limited or no programs, including adult literacy, children’s storytimes and the Summer Reading Game.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan “Let’s use our mighty voices for public libraries!’

Author, Manuscript Consultant,  Writing Career Coach