• Click here for Short, Short Story Writing Contest sponsored by California Writers Club-Sacramento Branch up to 750 words; entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2014 (no online submissions). $10 fee per entry. Cheers to Branch President Margie Yee Webb, sponsors, judges, and all contestants!

• Click here for Writing Contests  through Literary Arts Division of the San Mateo County Fair – many genres (including novels, memoirs, short stories, fantasy, science fiction, essays, poetry, children’s, immigrant experience) – open worldwide – $10 per entry -  online entries due April 1, 2014   5:00pm Pacific Standard Time. Cheers to Literary Arts Director Bardi Rosman Koodrin, sponsors, judges, all contestants!

• Click here for WriterAdvice Flash Prose Contest entries must be submitted by April 18, 2014  Fiction and creative nonfiction!  $15 fee per entry.  Cheers to to B. Lynn Goodwin, sponsors, judges, and all contestants!

Check out my blog post  “Coach Teresa says: Who or What is the Antagonist in Your Story?“  before you send your manuscripts to agents, acquisition editors, or writing contests.

Remember that a story, even a short one, has a beginning, middle, and end.  A “snapshot” of an event is not a story.  A story must have a main character, even if that character is the only character.

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cheers for Writing Contest Creators, Sponsors, Judges, and Contestants!

Pitch your novel, memoir, biography, autobiography, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, graphic novel, romance, how to, children’s book, etc.

April 13, 2013 morning in San Francisco “Pitch-O-Rama: Meet the Agents, Editors, and Publishers” – register through Women’s National Book Association (Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Mary E. Knippel and Catharine Bramkamp will be coaching attendees before and after they pitch)

Peter Beren

Nancy Fish

Tory Hartmann

Brenda Knight

Michael Larsen

Linda Joy Myers

Elizabeth Pomada

Lara Perkins

Alan Rinzler

Andy Ross

Brooke Warner

Erin Wiegand

**

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: "Hook attention with your themes, the four Ws (what, who, when, where) and who YOU are . . . when you pitch to agents, acquisition editors, and publishers."

**

Coach Mary E. Knippel says: "If you're given only 6 minutes with an agent, use your time wisely. Save 3 minutes for the agent to give you advice."

**

**April 13, 2013 in San Francisco “Small Press Publishers Panel & Luncheon” – register through Women’s National Book Association (must also register for “Pitch-O-Rama” in order to attend luncheon)

Brooke Warner of She Writes Press and Brenda Knight of Cleis Press & Viva Editions

Featured Authors: Betsy Graziani Fasbinder and Maggie Oman Shannon

In both her works of memoir and fiction, Betsy Graziani Fasbinder explores the unending complications of people living, working, and loving one another. Her debut novel is a dark love story, lightened with the balm of humor and tempered with the comfort of deep and true friendship. Fire & Water (She Writes Press, March 2013) is Kate Murphy’s story of navigating the treacherous territory of passionate love with friendship and family devotion as the only anchor that can keep her from losing all. Betsy will have her book for sale and signing.

Maggie Oman Shannon is an interfaith minister, spiritual director, and workshop and retreat facilitator. She is the author of five books, including Prayers for Healing. She is serving as the spiritual director of the Unity Spiritual Center of San Francisco. In Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation, a D.I.Y. guide to peace of mind, Maggie Oman Shannon explores crafts and creativity as a spiritual practice providing enormous benefits. Shannon takes a rich “potpourri approach” that weaves together interviews, historical facts, “Soul Craft” projects for readers, quotations, and suggested resources with a broad assortment of spiritual practices gathered from crafts communities around the world, as well as from everyday people who have adopted creative forms of spiritual practice.

* * * * * * *

**Many thanks to Committee Co-Chair Kate Farrell (WNBA-SF Chapter VP) and Committee Members Linda Lee (WNBA-SF Chapter Co-President), Linda Joy Myers (WNBA-SF Chapter Co-President), Betsy Fasbinder,  Jane Glendinning, Sherry Nadworny, Susan Pace-Kochand, Catharine Bramkamp, and Mary E. Knippel (Past President) ! Many thanks to WNBA-SF Chapter Membership Chair Ana Manwaring,  Blog Editor Patricia V. Davis,  Social Media Manager Frances Caballo, Secretary Teresa LeYung-Ryan, and Immediate-Past-President Lynn Henriksen too!

See you there!
Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cares about helping fiction and nonfiction writers build their platforms and work on their craft simultaneously with ease.  She says: “Wear the dual hats as promoter and writer and be happily published. Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

I remember feeling hopeful when I entered the first five pages of my novel to the Jack London Writers Conference Writing Contest 1997 and the thrill when I heard my name announced as a winner. That recognition gave me confidence when I wrote query letters to literary agents. That manuscript became Love Made of Heart (published in October 2002).

So, when Bardi Rosman Koodrin (Literary Director of the Fine Arts Galleria at San Mateo County Fair) asked me to sponsor a writing contest, I had to say “Yes!”

Other sponsors said “Yes!” too.  For information about all the contests, please click on the headline below for my March 7, 2013 post:

Writing Contests – Novel, Memoir, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Short Story, Mystery, Essay, Poetry, Monologue, Children’s Novel, and More !

The deadline for all literary contests, including the NDNU scholarship opportunity as well as the two book cover art contests, is Monday April 1, 2013 at 5:00pm California time, no exceptions. $10 per entry.

* * * * * * * *

Writing Contests – Novel, Memoir, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Short Story, Mystery, Essay, Poetry, Monologue, Children’s Novel, and more !

Hi everyone,

The deadline for all literary contests, including the NDNU scholarship opportunity as well as the two book cover art contests, is Monday April 1, 2013 at 5:00pm California time, no exceptions.  ALERT:  Ignore the deadline date of May 8 on the entry form; all literary contests are due APRIL 1!

List and descriptions of contests and rules: https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2013/literary_13.pdf

How to submit your entries: https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2013/literary_submit.pdf

We’re offering several new contests, and the NDNU scholarship opportunity is now open to any full-time student, so make sure you read all the material.  Just like last year, we require a two-step entry process:

1)   you must register and pay for each entry through the online process www.sanmateocountyfair.com Click on [Contests] tab, then click on Entry form. $10 per entry.  April 1st (not May 8th) for Literary Arts Contests.

2)   email each submission separately to literary@smeventcenter.com so we can publish our second volume of the Carry the Light anthology.  You can also send questions to that email address.

We look forward to receiving your literary submissions to the 2013 San Mateo County Fair.  Check back soon to see all of our free “events within the event” that will be offered on the literary stage throughout the fair June 8-16, 2013 at www.sanmateocountyfair.com/contests/departments/literary-arts

Good luck with the contests and I look forward to seeing all of you at the 2013 Fair!

Best,

Bardi Rosman Koodrin

Literary Director of the Fine Arts Galleria

San Mateo County Fair

Yours truly is sponsoring:

Thank you, Bardi Rosman Koodrin, all sponsors, members of California Writers Club, and, of course the folks at San Mateo County Fair! Good luck to all contestants!

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cheering for you!

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cares about helping fiction and nonfiction writers build their platforms and work on their craft simultaneously with ease.  She says: “Wear the dual hats as promoter and writer and be happily published. Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

How do you attract new fans?  When your friends and colleagues brag about you?  Yes!   What else?  How do you help your prospective fans find you?  By making your name synonymous with the issues / themes / subject matter you write about?  Yes!!  After all, when folks need something, don’t they go to search engines and type keywords and key phrases (aka “tags”) to find what they need?  Those folks will find you through the tags associated with your name!

Here’s an excellent example — let’s look at author Wendy D. Walter and her tags.  Wendy writes fantasy / adventure stories for young adults / teens.  Her protagonist is fourteen-year-old Ambril Derwyn.

I hosted Wendy D. Walter (author of Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith) in a live-blog event on January 5, 2013.  Nineteen fans (old and new) showed up to greet her and cheer for her and to ask questions.

Thank you, Anne M. Beggs, Bardi Rosman Koodrin, Christopher Wachlin, Deborah Taylor-French, Diane LeBow, Dorcas Cheng-Tozun, Eugenia Budman, Eve Visconti, Janine, Jean Morrow, Kate Farrell, LakshmiLove, Linda C. McCabe, Margie Yee Webb, Maria, Tera, Thonie Hevron, Yolande Barial, for participating on January 5th, 2013!

To see complete questions and answers and  comments from please click on: http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/please-help-me-welcome-author-wendy-d-walter-to-this-live-blog-appearance/

To read my interview with Wendy, please click on:

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/coach-teresas-interview-questions-for-author-wendy-d-walter-ambrils-tale-the-return-of-the-dullaith/

Here are some tags associated with Wendy D. Walter’s writings

• Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith
• father’s death
• half-truth
• ancient Celtic magic and nature-based magic
• introverts
• Global Warming, rising seas, raging storms
• Utah in the middle of winter
• taking on the bullies
• fictional California town Trelawnyd
• fantasy stories
• monsters
• young adult Y/A
• secret warriors
• human morality

Thank you,Wendy, for having written a compelling story. What a page-turner!

Look for more “tags” in Wendy D. Walter‘s answers to the questions asked by fans:

“My all time favorite writer is Jane Austen. It’s been over 200 years since she was first published and her stories still enthrall me. From her books, I learned that the most important thing a writer can do is to make your readers care about what happens to your character and to never underestimate your reader.”

“I’m also a great admirer of Diana Wynne Jones, my favorite fantasy writer. She also never underestimated her readers and gave us incredibly intricate and original stories. Her books are often funny as well!”

“And that is why Ambril’s Tail has a very robust plot, with lots of twists and turns and strives to be humorous as often as possible!”

“Some of my characters are right out of my imagination, but some of them have roots in mythology. The Aunties, for instance, are the seers of the story, who share one pair of glasses. Perseus runs into three crones who share one eye and a tooth in one of his adventures, but groupings of three witches/hags/seers appear in all sorts of ancient Nordic and Germanic stories as well!”

“The Cerberus, the guardians of the underworld, is one of my favorite Greek legends.”

“I’m not sure why this is, but if you take a simple bullying exchange off the playground in our world and give the characters fangs and fairy wings, the issue becomes much clearer. In fantasy, we get a bit heavy handed at times and tend to make our bullies actual monsters (it’s more fun that way). Also, as bullying is an obvious abuse of power, it works well within worlds where it’s clear who the good and bad guys are, at least most of the time! Check out the Q & A Teresa posted on this blog for more on bullying: http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/coach-teresas-interview-questions-for-author-wendy-d-walter-ambrils-tale-the-return-of-the-dullaith/  Bullying appears to be a behavior that some mistake for strength, particularly the immature (of all ages).”

“And there is a great male main character called Ygg. My beta readers all chose him as their favorite character!”

“Ambril’s Tale is for the 10-14 marketplace, just right for middle schoolers!”

Get your copy of Wendy D. Walter's book or ask your library to carry it!

Where to Find the book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith:

http://www.amazon.com/Ambrils-Tale-Return-Dullaith-ebook/dp/B008EALE3A/

Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith at Barnes and Noble

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174750

“Book 2, Ambril’s Tale, Riding the Cursed Shoots, is coming out in March, 2013!”

Cheers to Wendy D. Walter, protagonist Ambril and everyone she cares about!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”
http://writingcoachteresa.com

As author of Love Made of Heart, creator of Love Made of Heart gift items and the “Talking to My Dead Mom Monologues,” Teresa encourages writers to speak out (in print) for those who cannot speak for themselves.

As coach and author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW , Teresa says: “Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.”

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here . . . wishing you a  Happy New Year!  Below is the  interview with delightful Wendy D. Walter, author of Ambril’s Tale, The Return of the Dullaith (compelling story for teens . . . any age really).

About Ambril’s Tale, The Return of the Dullaith

Fourteen-year-old Ambril struggles with the mystery surrounding her father’s death when she moves back to the mysterious town where she was born. When she accidentally uncovers a secret which threatens to destroy her entire family, she continues her quest, against all odds, to clear her father’s name. But will she be able to claim her magic and heal the rifts in her family?

Ambril’s Tale, The Return of the Dullaith has received great 4-5-star reviews. Readers are impatiently demanding Book Two, which will be out early Spring 2013.

Be sure to come back to this blog on January 5, 2013, 10:00am-1:00pm PST

Wendy will be giving away a prize — a copy of one of her books (paperback or e-book).

Also, you can enter her End-of-Tour Grand Prize Giveaway of a hand-painted gnome, hand-painted by Wendy herself!  Click on http://wendydwalter.com/blog-tour/

What to expect on January 5th?  Click here.

author Wendy D. Walter

Coach Teresa’s Interview-Questions for Author Wendy D. Walter

Ambril's Tale, Return of the Dullaith

Coach Teresa:   Wendy, what is the symbolism behind Ambril and the Dullaith?

Wendy:    When protagonist Ambril moves back to the weird, little town where she was born, she is immediately attacked by a smelly, smoky, demon called a Dullaith. But the demon is more than just a salivating monster who wants to make Ambril a bedtime snack. Ambril soon finds that there’s a connection between it and her father’s death.

Smoke swirls around the Dullaith, just as lies cloak the truth about her father’s death. Ambril realizes that she must choose between acceptance in her new home town, and shining a light on the dark truths surrounding her father’s mysterious death.

We, as humans, tend to protect the status quo, no matter how rotten, to avoid  destabilizing events. The Dullaith represents how a festering half-truth can balloon to demonic proportions. All it requires is for us to close our eyes, and look away. It’s so easy . . . until it turns around, shows its jaggle tooth grin, and chases us.

Coach Teresa:   What makes  fantasy tick?

Wendy:    It isn’t really about gnomes and fairies. Fantasy provides us with an opportunity to flex our creativity and dream big. It’s also the perfect platform for dealing with human flaws. In fact, we fantasy-writers have it easy. If it suits us, we can dress up our bullies and despots as demons, give them breath so bad that it singes everyone’s eyebrows, then trounce them in battle…soooo satisfying.

We get to the heart of the matter with less fuss this way. This allows us more time to spend showing, rather than telling, how to deal with the sometimes monstrous behavior of our fellow humans.

Coach Teresa:   Bullying behavior is a hot topic today, tell us how you deal with it in Ambril’s Tale.

Wendy:    I have to admit, bullying is overused in YA fantasy books. Why? Because it works so well, as we’re allowed to paint human emotions with a broad brush. Bullying is an obvious abuse of power, it works well within worlds where it’s clear who the good and bad guys are, most of the time. But because it’s overused, it has to be done…delicately. That’s why, when I chose to sprinkle bullies throughout Ambril’s Tale, I did so with caution. But I did it, because I wanted to use them to expose nastier forms of abuse.

Bullying is just as rampant in Ambril’s world as it is in our world. Lance, one of Ambril’s schoolmates, is a classic bully. He shoves kids around and gleefully abuses his brother. But Lance has a reason for doing this, his fate hinges on his relationship with his father and brother, and how his family relates to the village of Trelawnyd.  Because the abuse of power becomes especially bad if it’s allowed to fester, the secrets of Trelawnyd threaten to bring everyone to their knees.

The only method of ridding ourselves of bullies and despots of all shapes and sizes is through education, intervention, or by forcing the bully to live with the consequences of his/her behavior. Lance’s behavior sets in motion a power greater than his own, and it changes him. Whether it’s for better or for worse, you’ll have to keep reading!

Coach Teresa:  Ambril’s Tale has many references to ancient Celtic magic and nature based magic. Why is that?

Wendy:    A while back, I stumbled on a genealogy website. As a child of the melting pot, I had never thought past my American heritage. But I was intrigued, so I started clicking and soon found myself back in a small Welsh village. The place where my ancestors had stumped around in Wellies—and whatever came before Wellies—for nearly 500 years. It was a little place, a village called Trelawnyd.

Nature and magic. This is where it all began for us humans. Around the globe, religion started out as a way to tame the elements, and to minimize the damage nature often exacts. In honor of my newly found heritage, I named my fictional California town Trelawnyd. There, Ambril finds that nature based magic is alive and well.

We live under the threat of Global Warming, rising seas and raging storms. I thought that by using the ancient magic of the Celts, and their firm belief that a balance of nature must be maintained,  it might help us gain the courage to face our man-made demons and make some much needed changes.

There are little bits and pieces of Celtic magic everywhere in Ambril’s Tale. The  demons in Ambril’s Tale take the form of unbalanced nature. The Dullaith is made of noxious smoke and the big, bad guy in the series, Moroz, is something only a mad scientist would be proud of; a toxic mesh of humanity and tortured tree. I don’t want to say anymore as I’ll probably ruin it for you, Book 2, Riding the Cursed Shoots will be coming out in March!

Coach Teresa:   Is there a particular human flaw that you most wanted to address in Ambril’s Tale?

Wendy:    Every writer has issues to put forth in their books. One of mine centers around my experience of moving to Utah from California at the age of ten.

Before I go any further, I have to say that this is a human problem, not a religious one. In fact, there are football fans who exhibit what we’re about to discuss.

Coming from California, Utah felt cold and closed. I found it hard to fit in. Why? Was I weird, were they, or was it something else? I’ve thought long and hard about this and, although I am a little weird, I think that it was something else. For when 90% of your neighbors, the kids at school, and your parent’s friends share a restrictive belief system, everything is just a bit skewed. People strive to cover up their idiosyncrasies, they hide away their family secrets and desperately pretend to be normal.

In Ambril’s Tale, Trelawnyd mirrors the environment I found in Utah. It is a village obsessed with pretending to be something it isn’t, normal. Magical beings are everywhere, in the forests, the skies and among the villagers. But no one ever talks about them. Keeping this secret has made the villagers fearful and suspicious of outsiders. Though Ambril has roots in Trelawnyd, most villagers regard her as an outsider. She has to tread lightly as she tries to unlock the secrets surrounding her father’s death.

Coach Teresa:  Tell us about Ambril’s source of power and why you created it.

Wendy:    Magical objects imbued with power, are a great way to showcase just how much power corrupts. In fantasy, we use them to convey power exchanges.  They get stolen, destroyed, ransomed, enslaved—etc. In real life, we exchange power in conversation, body language and transactions. But real life is complicated,  it is difficult to tell if someone behaved honorably when he’s caught holding your wallet. Did he really pick it up off the sidewalk or did he pick your pocket? Because he’s your cousin, exactly when do you ask him about the missing $100 bill? In front of the cops? At Thanksgiving?

It’s often a relief to see how well our moral compasses work when given clear choices. And with practice, perhaps it may even work better in real life, so that you can find a way to recover your $100 and remain friends with all of your cousins.

Coach Teresa:  Some believe that the violent nature of fantasy stories is too extreme. What are your thoughts?

Wendy:    Death, destruction, mayhem—it’s everywhere in fantasy stories. Without them, the good guys don’t shine nearly bright enough. Stories of all genres require a broad spectrum of life to ring true, particularly so with fantasy stories.

Physical violence and emotional abuse are all too common in our world. If we practice dealing with it in a world where we can’t personally get hurt, it helps us deal with real life bullies, thieves and people on the verge of going postal.

I have had my share of dragon bosses, ferrety friends and relatives who would give the Wicked Witch of the West pause. Fantasy characters may look different, but most of them are human inside.  Learning how to deal with monsters in a fantasy world such as Ambril’s might help everyone deal with the nasty’s in their life. I know it’s helped me. Practice, practice, practice.

Coach Teresa:  In your book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith . . . Ambril heals her family.  Did you set out to write this familiar theme in your YA (young adult) novel?

Wendy:    All those with perfect families please raise your hand…Yeah, I thought so, are there any? Let’s face it, we all have family issues;  crazy uncles,  aunts who drink too much at Christmas, and the occasional incarcerated cousin. Kids fantasize about fixing these problems. If only Mom and Dad would fall in love again, then we would all live happily ever after…If only Dad stopped drinking…If only Mom wasn’t working so hard…if only, if only…

Ambril is no different than any other kid. There is a secret hidden in Ambril’s family, a secret that no one is willing to talk about. Ambril realizes that if she can drag this secret into the light, her family might begin to heal. She is desperate for this, and risks everything to reveal this one secret including: losing her friends, her future in Trelawnyd…even her life. All for the chance of knitting her family back together again.

Coach Teresa:  What specifically is empowering to women in Ambril’s Tale?

Wendy:    It’s electrifying to see through the eyes of a demon slayer and share the triumph when power is snatched from the hands of the evil overlord, isn’t it?

One of the things that I find thrilling is the proliferation of female warriors today. In our world, there are few outlets for women to be warrior-like as it counters our nurturing image. Secretly, I suspect that the women of the world would love to try it once in a while, and fantasize about it when they can.

I’m one of those secret warriors. Secret, because it never works in real life for me. When I take up a cause and go once more, into the breach, I usually find myself going off a cliff and into the mud…amidst laughter. It’s so humiliating. Fantasy books allow me to be physically adept and best the bad guys, occasionally.

In fantasy, the rules are clear and the tasks simple: save the universe or everyone dies. There is absolutely no ambiguity. It allows us to escape the shifty, gray edges of human morality. When we root for the good guys, it refreshes our view of reality. Because we all know we can’t slug our overbearing, bombastic bosses in real life. But besting demons in Ambril’s world feels almost as good. It’s exhilarating and empowering.

Be sure to come back to this blog on January 5, 2013, 10:00am-1:00pm PST

Reward Number 1 for showing up on this blog on January 5th:  Schmooze with Wendy D. Walter!

Another reward:  Wendy’s publisher will give away a prize — a copy of one of Wendy’s books (paperback or e-book).  The giveaway ends five days after my blog post goes live.

Another reward:  Over 6,000 readers visit my blog each month. Introduce yourselves and ask Wendy questions, so that everyone will get to meet you too.

About The Author:  Wendy D. Walter

Writing was an early passion for Wendy. As a kid, she wrote lots of stories, but being shy, those  usually ended up under the mattress. When she finally set out to tell Ambril’s Tale, she decided not to write a story but a world, full with her own marvelous illustrations. She considers The Return of the Dullaith as just the curly tip of the fairy boot. Wendy lives near San Francisco with her husband, daughters, cat and border collie. More information about Wendy’s book and art, check her site: http://wendydwalter.com

Ambril's Tale, Return of the Dullaith

Where to Find the book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith:

http://www.amazon.com/Ambrils-Tale-Return-Dullaith-ebook/dp/B008EALE3A/

Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith at Barnes and Noble

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174750

See you on January 5th!

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”
http://writingcoachteresa.com