To celebrate my novel’s anniversary . . .

Last Thursday I was at San Francisco Public Library for a Women’s National Book Association meeting to shoot one-minute videos of WNBA members and guests so that they can use them to promote themselves. So, there I was, Writing Career Coach Teresa, demonstrating how to create a short video, express yourself, and not have to be in front of the camera.

I am still overjoyed that my novel Love Made of Heart is in public libraries and also archived at the San Francisco History Center.

In this video, I re-declared that I use Love Made of Heart to inspire adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families. Also, I encourage everyone to get a library card.

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Look what I received in the mail !

card to Teresa LeYung-Ryan from Teacher Sheryl Fairchild and her delightful students

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sweet messages to Teresa LeYung-Ryan from Sheryl Fairchild's wonderful students

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Bette Davis stamps used on envelope sent to Teresa LeYung-Ryan from Ms. Sheryl Fairchild of San Francisco State University. Protagonist Ruby Lin in Love Made of Heart had found her role models in characters portrayed by Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. So sweet of Ms. Fairchild and her students to think about the details! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and that's no pun.

Ms. Sheryl Fairchild’s wonderful students in First Year Composition at San Francisco State University had asked me these questions when I visited them last month.

Our Conversation with Teresa LeYung Ryan

Nicole:  I would like to ask her why she wanted to share her story to the world?

Erin:  I’d like to ask why she used Hollywood movie starts as Ruby’s “voice”  . . .   why she wrote certain characters like Mrs. Nussbaum or Emily into the story and if they represent someone she knows in her life.

Allison:  I would like to ask her if the events that she described in the novel are synonymous with her real life or if they just represent different things that have happened to her.

Stephen:  Was the story of her mother having mental illness true or was it completely made up?

Rozlynn:  I would like to know more about Ruby’s brother John, he’s a very mysterious character in the novel.

Heather:  I would like to ask her if she wrote her story to help people dealing with similar domestic violence issues or people that have someone with mental illness in their life, feel like they aren’t alone, or if she wrote the story for therapeutic reasons of her own.

Kerri:  How long did it take for her to be comfortable with writing this story?

James:  I would like to know if she overcame her past through therapy or was it a different source that was able to help her like a friend or lover?

Jonathan:  If Teresa’s view on men has changed when going from a traditional Chinese man . . . to her new marriage of 7 years that she talks about on the back cover.

Ashley:  What challenges did you face writing the book? What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Kyndal:  Did she ever find out more information about her grandmother?

Reyanna:  I would like to ask about Ruby’s grandmother. We never really know what happened to her and why she left America. Was it because of the harsh trials immigrants suffered? Also, I would like to know about Ruby’s brother as well. She never mentioned much about him or the grandmother.

Questions for Teresa from our worksheets:
o    Why did you want to share your story?
o    Have you gotten in contact with your brother?
o    Why did you choose not to use any Chinese language in the novel?
o    Why did you use a paper that Emily wrote to tell Ruby’s story at the end of the novel, rather than having Ruby tell the story herself?
o    Why did you choose that specific ending?
o    What did you find out about your culture as you were writing this novel?
o    Is your husband Chinese?
o    Did you ever talk to Vincent again?
o    How did your family react to your writing the book?

The Essence or Meaning of the Novel:
In Our Own Words

*     Do not dwell on the past, if you do, you cannot move forward with the future.

*     Forgive, but do not forget what you’ve learned from that experience.

*      Cannot judge people right away (such with Vincent)

*     Tradition vs. modern

*      Substituting fictional characters’ lives for Ruby’s – the life she wished she had

*     “Different kinds of love”

*     Culture – Culture’s clashing

*      Childhood – How the things you see as a child sculpt your life and views: violence at home,
family values/traditions, family relationships

*      Communication – If it exists or doesn’t

*     Family ties – Loyalty vs. independence

*      The book Love Made of Heart shows how someone’s troubled past affects their present life.

What a lovely way to celebrate the birthday of Love Made of Heart !  I’m overjoyed. I’d like to believe that my mom is giggling on Cloud Nine. Thank you, Ms. Fairchild, Allison, Ashley, Chris, Colin, Erin, Heather, Henriikka, James, Joelle, Jonathan, Kerri, Kyndal, Luis, Niki, Reyanna, Roxanne, Rozlynn, Stephen, Teja, Zenia for reading Love Made of Heart and asking thoughtful questions. YOU all are love made of heart!

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Because of Martha Alderson’s plot coaching, my novel Love Made of Heart was transformed into a page-turner. The story grabbed Stacey Glick‘s attention, then Kensington Publishing’s John Scognamiglio‘s [ Thank you to Stacey and all the folks at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management!  Thank you to John and all the folks at and associated with Kensington Publishing NY ].  Fast forward… Love Made of Heart is:

• used as required reading in colleges and universities
• available in libraries
• archived at the San Francisco History Center
• attracting a steady flow of readers/fans
• being my passport to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.
• linking my mission statement to Glenn Close’s BringChange2Mind and NAMI‘s.  I use Love Made of Heart to inspire other adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.

None of this would have happened if Martha had not taught me how to plot the front-story.

Thank you, Everyone (starting with first Critique Group members Cat, Theresa Stephenson, Evelyn Miche, Olga Malyj . . .) who have played a role in sending Love Made of Heart into the world. You all have my deepest gratitude.

Martha’s new book The Plot Whisperer is inspiring me to write another novel.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

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

Author Teresa LeYung-Ryan uses Love Made of Heart to inspire adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.

author Teresa LeYung Ryan about to visit SFSU Sheryl Fairchild and her wonderful students

SFSU teacher Sheryl Fairchild & author Teresa LeYung Ryan happy to be reunited

SFSU Sheryl Fairchild’s First Year Composition students read opening scene “5150″ from the novel Love Made of Heart with author Teresa LeYung Ryan on September 26, 2011

Kyndal, Teresa, Henriikka, Allison, Chris performed dramatic reading of 5150 from Teresa's book Love Made of Heart--filmed by Colin Sutton

Video of the dramatic reading on Teresa’s YouTube channel.

The Cast:

Ruby Lin—Henriikka (Nicole had rehearsed lines too)

Ruby’s mom—author Teresa LeYung Ryan, offstage

Mrs. Nussbaum—Allison

Police Office—Chris

Susan, Social Worker—Kyndal

Filmed by Colin Sutton

SFSU Sheryl Fairchild's First Year Composition delightful students with author Teresa LeYung Ryan 2011 Sept 26

Thank you Ms. Fairchild, Allison, Ashley, Chris, Colin, Erin, Heather, Henriikka, James, Joelle, Jonathan, Kerri, Kyndal, Luis, Niki, Reyanna, Roxanne, Rozlynn, Stephen, Teja, Zenia for reading Love Made of Heart and asking thoughtful questions which I’ll add to Amazon discussion topics!

Fabulous teacher Sheryl Fairchild invites author Teresa LeYung-Ryan to answer questions from her thoughtful students - photo by Colin Sutton

Which character did you relate to?  Which theme/issue engaged  your attention? I’d be honored if you would write a short review for me by answering those 2 questions. If you have an Amazon account, please click here… Look at reviews from other readers and click on the box “Create Your Own Review”   Please “tag” with keywords “mental illness”   “mother”  “father”  “daughter”   “son”   “brother”   “sister” and other keywords you can think of from reading Love Made of Heart.

If you don’t have an Amazon account, you can just email me your short review. I’m at    gmail.com    and my user name is   writingcoachteresa

Ms. Sheryl Fairchild at SFSU motivates her First Year Composition Students - photo by Colin Sutton

SFSU fabulous teacher Sheryl Fairchild and her thoughtful students are “Love Made of Heart.”

I’d like to thank other caring educators and their students too–Mr. Victor Turks and his students at SF City College; Ms. Miriam Queen and her students at SF City College; Ms. Patricia Costello and her students at SF City College;  Professor Dan Haytin and his students at UC Berkeley; Ms. Barbara Whittaker and students at Stanford University.

SFSU Sheryl Fairchild's students delight Teresa LeYung Ryan with their thoughtful questions 2011 Sept 26 - photo by Colin Sutton

When I got home, I filmed a personal “Thank You” to you.  Here it is…

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

“Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams.”

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Also, Teresa is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (ebook Kindle edition $9.81 print edition $22)

Saturday, May 21, 2011, 11:00am – 6:00pm Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC), organized by the AsianWeek Foundation

Two years ago author Margie Yee Webb helped me reconnect with the Asian-American community by inviting me to exhibit my book Love Made of Heart at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC). Thank you, Margie!

This year 2011 Margie Yee Webb (author of Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings), Lloyd Lofthouse (author of My Splendid Concubine), Patricia Tsang, M.D. (author of Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine) and yours truly Teresa LeYung Ryan (author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days) will share a booth.  Please stop by the California Writers Club booth and say hello if you’re going to the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on Larkin Street (between Grove St. and Ellis St.), San Francisco–close to BART Civic Center station.

Free Admission to Asian Art Museum Courtesy of Target – Throughout the day during the Asian Heritage Street Celebration May 21, 2011, Admission to the special exhibit “Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance” is $5.

How does protagonist Ruby Lin want to help her mother?

Teresa LeYung Ryan uses her novel Love Made of Heart (Kensington Publishing Corp NY 2002, 2003) to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and to gain resources for their families.

Let’s take this month – May

Did you know that May is:
•   National Arthritis Month
•    Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
•    Better Hearing and Speech Month
•    National Bike Month
•    International Business Image Improvement Month
•    Creative Beginnings Month
•    Family Wellness Month
•    Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
•   Get Caught Reading Month
•    Gifts From the Garden Month
•    Haitian Heritage Month
•    Heal the Children Month
•    National Hepatitis Awareness Month
•    Jewish American Heritage Month
•    Latino Books Month
•    National Meditation Month
•    Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

•    National Mental Health Month
•    Motorcycle Safety Month
•    Older Americans Month
•    National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
•    Personal History Month
•    National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
•    National Salsa Month
•    National Stroke Awareness Month
•    Teen Self-Esteem Month
•    International Victorious Woman Month
•    Women’s Health Care Month

Whether you’re sending out press releases or blogging or broadcasting via social media, be sure to link your name and work to these recognized dates.

For example, I use my novel Love Made of Heart to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and to gain resources for their families. For my press release, my headline could be:  Author Honors Her Parent & National Mental Health Month with Love Made of Heart.

Cheers from Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan!

To find more ways to link your name to recognized dates, get Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (paperback) $22.00

If you’re looking for Fringe of Marin Dominican Unversity Community Players (as of January 2010, they do not have a website), contact House/Stage Manager and Director David Kester (his email address is:  DavidK (at) riverpointenapa.com

Playwright Carol Sheldon (in lavender jacket, sitting) cheered by Teresa LeYung Ryan, Diane, Flo, Marisa.

Fringe of Marin.  Memorable one-act plays.

Playwright Carol Sheldon is a fellow member of Women’s National Book Association. Tonight I got to see one of her plays. My friends Diane and Marisa and Marisa’s friend Flo went too. 7  one-act plays were on Program II. One play didn’t get to be performed due to food poison–poor actors. Of the 6 plays, I particularly enjoyed L’Amour or Less (a Timely Comedy written and directed by Carol Sheldon) about how the economic slump impacts a brothel and  Eros and Mors (a Dramedy of Love written by Micheline Birger and directed by David Kester) about 2 gay friends running into each other after 20 years and discovering how they could live out their remaining days together.

Diner Memories (a Family Drama, written by Jim Fazackerley and directed by Naomi Glixman) was poignant. Two grown children grapple with decisions as Alzheimer’s disease ravages their mother. My sitting there, moved by the authenticity of the lines and performances, I thought about Lynn Scott’s memoir A Joyful Encounter: My Mother, My Alzheimer Clients, and Me.  http://lynnscottbooks.com

Fine acting and direction in all six plays.

In the Artistic Director’s Notes on the program, Dr. Annette Lust ended with:  “Many thanks to our audiences and to the courageous playwrights, directors, actors, and production crew participating in this season’s festival who, despite current financial and other problems facing little theatres, have made the show go on.”

Artistic Director Annette Lust and author Teresa LeYung Ryan

Annette Lust and my friend Diane encouraged me to pull scenes from my novel Love Made of Heart and turn them into an one-act play. That would be a huge project for yours truly who has no experience in play-writing.

Annette also encouraged me to sign up for auditions on January 20, 2010. I have been wanting to observe the process. So much to look forward to.  Aah, the life of a writer and having fun with friends.

Two more performances.  Program II on Saturday Dec.5 at 7:30pm and Program I on Sunday Dec. 6 at 2:00pm (awards follow performance).

Actors Donna Andrews & Stuart Chappell with playwright Carol Sheldon & Teresa LeYung Ryan

Fringe of Marin dedicates its Fall 2009 season to the memory of Mary Walker, a Dominican University English teacher and author who died this fall.

At Meadowlands Assembly Hall, Dominican University, San Rafael.  For information, call (415) 673-3131.

Carol Sheldon said she’s looking for the right producer for her 90-minute play Last Call (about the right to die).  I’d go see any and all plays written by Carol. What a gutsy writer!

http://www.fringeofmarin.com

Sincerely,

Teresa

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan helps writers & authors build their platforms and fanbases and polish their manuscripts by identifying their themes and archetypes.  Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW Coach Teresa says: “Reach out not stress out when pursuing your dreams!”

Novelist Teresa LeYung-Ryan uses Love Made of Heart to inspire adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.

Coach Teresa’s videos http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

http://writingcoachteresa.com