Teresa Jade LeYung's BLOG

Posts Tagged ‘Kim McMillon’

Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s Play (monologue) a Winner of the 2012 Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest

3 April 2012

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here to share sweet news with you.

At 8:19pm this evening I received a phone call from Linda Loveland Reid, telling me that my 10-minute play Answer Me Now has been chosen as one of the nine plays to be produced.  I listened to Linda as she explained that directors will be selected, auditions will be scheduled, then casting, and rehearsals, and that the plays would be performed at the annual Redwood Writers Play Festival on June 29, 30 and July 1, 2012 in California.

Performances will be June 29, Friday at 8pm; June 30, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; and July 1, Sunday at 2pm.  Tickets will be $16 per person.

at Santa Rosa’s premier theater, 6th Street Playhouse. The plays will be presented on 6th Street’s Studio stage.

I’m feeling proud and sad at the same time; my play is a monologue (middle-aged daughter talking to her mother); I miss my mom so much.

Thank you, Linda Loveland Reid, for your generosity in creating the annual Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest. Thank you, judges Natasha Carter-Yim, Michael Fontaine and Lennie Dean. Thank you to fellow playwrights and everyone involved in this project.

Thank you, dear Lynn Scott, for your editing my play.

Last week I had already asked dear Elisa Sasa Southard to attend the April 15, 2012 meeting with me, winning or not, so that we could cheer for all the playwrights. Tonight, after receiving the call from Linda . . . I called dear Luisa Adams.  Sasa could still be on her trip. It’s too late to call other pals, so, I write this blog post. Gotta email my sis (teaching abroad) and KB in Australia!

Kim McMillon, I’m thinking of you.  Your plays have inspired me so much!

Kathryn G. McCarty, thank you for inspiring me with your writing and directing plays, and for giving me the thrill to be on stage for the fundraiser performance of  Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues to benefit Community Violence Solutions.

Carol Sheldon, you have inspired me too.  I look forward to seeing your new play this month.

Chandra Garsson, I’m thinking of you too. Your films have inspired me so much!  Last month Chandra had offered to film me performing Answer Me Now so that I would have a Chandra Garsson production for my YouTube channel; I guess I better memorize my own lines… in addition to attending some of the rehearsals (as the playwright, not actor) when casting has been completed for the Redwood Writers Play Festival.

Screenwriter and screenwriting teacher Terrel Seltzer, thank you for having coached us on what a compelling story is.

Goodnight, Everyone!

Being a writer is a reward! Keep writing!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

As editor/story consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan identifies themes and universal archetypes for clients. As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she says: “Make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.” Teresa has built her own platform happily; her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. She says her novel and her play Answer Me Now carry the theme closest to her heart: mother-daughter relationship.  http://writingcoachteresa.com for Coach Teresa’s Blog and other resources.  “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

Here’s the email that I just received from Linda.

2012 March 10 Kim McMillon Celebrates First Lady Michelle Obama with Music and Poetry

free to the public

Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland, CA

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Thank you, beloved Kim McMillon!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

January 2012 Events for Writers, Authors, Business Owners

Happy New Year to You!

January 5, 2012 6:00-7:30pm Women’s National Book Association SF Chapter members and prospective members welcomed to “Authors Exchange Solutions” discussions with Birgit Soyka, Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Mary E. Knippel at San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Room A – free event

January 8, 2012 “Writing Career Make-Over with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan” at California Writers Club Redwood Branch in Santa Rosa, CA  $5 for CWC member; $8 non-member

January 12, 2012 roundtable discussion “Building Your Writer’s Platform with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan“  free Internet event. Sign up at National Assn. of Memoir Writers

January 29, 2012 10:00am–5:00pm Half Moon Bay, CA  “Create Your Success Story from the Inside Out” with Mary E. Knippel, founder of Your Writing Mentor, sponsored by Women’s National Book Assn-San Francisco Chapter $35 for WNBA member; $55 non-member

February 2, 2012 6:00-7:30pm Women’s National Book Association SF Chapter members and prospective members welcomed to “Authors Exchange Solutions” discussions with Birgit Soyka, Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Mary E. Knippel at San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Room A — free event

Arts in the Valley is hosted by Kim McMillon on 1480 KYOS in Merced, CA. Merced County has a vibrant arts community that Arts in the Valley showcases along with local and national authors. Arts in the Valley often has theme shows where topics of health, healing, women’s issues, and topics of interest to our listeners are discussed.  http://artsinthevalley.wordpress.com/

California Writers Club CWC http://calwriters.org/ 10 branches in northern California and 9 branches in southern California. CWC shall foster professionalism in writing, promote networking of writers with the writing community, mentor new writers, and provide literary support for writers and the writing community as is appropriate through education and leadership.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

Teresa is author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (in print edition and E-book)

January 1, 2012

Chandra Garsson asked me today: “Teresa, what did you really think about my film?”

As I was telling her, she said “Could you say it in your blog?”

So, here goes… It took Chandra 9 months to create her documentary Art & Gift 2011.  9 months of work–being the film’s protagonist, camera person, director, producer, editor. What impressed me the most about this film is seeing Chandra’s generous nature on the big screen.  She could have been the sole narrator, presenting the conflict.  But, she did so much more.  She interviewed over a dozen fellow artists and writers to give us a chance to express ourselves.  She presents a story with fairness.  She listens to the other side; she even gives the other side the spotlight so that we can hear/see the other side without any filters. In the case of her film, the other side was the landlord.

During our conversation today, we talked about theme.  I was telling Chandra about just having finished editing a children’s novel and helping my client identify the themes in her story.  Chandra said  there is theme in her work too.  Yes, in deed.

The first time I experienced her art was when the fabulous Kim McMillon orchestrated authors’ readings during the 5-week long exhibition of  Chandra’s Insomnia [Awakening] at Pro Arts in Oakland. I still remember what poet Mark G said about Chandra’s big pieces (Chandra had painted stories on doors).  “She understands trauma. I’m a vet.” That’s my recollection of what Mark said that day.

The plastic baby dolls in Chandra’s exhibit hooked my attention.  She understands broken child-within, I thought.

We’ve been friends since.

Please take a look at Chandra’s  film Art & Gift 2011!  I’m proud of my friend and her powerful work. I’m honored to be in the documentary with Lucille Lang Day, Mary Rudge, Pedro, and all the other artists/poets/musicians/writers who were invited to speak to Chandra Garsson’s camera.

December 24, 2011

My praise on Chandra Garsson’s latest film Art & Gift 2011

birds’ songs

dog’s barking

haunting music

You understand sorrow.

eviction.  Your losing your work space–to paint, to create, to sculpt, to work

from 2,400 square feet of artist’s space to 400

Your Insomnia [Awakening]

trusting Chandra Garsson to paint my dolls my ego my childhood symbolism onto Love Made of Heart bookcase

Your growth, blossoming, working with your hands, with colors, sounds, shapes.

Your masterpieces:  art-making; book-making; jewelry-making; film-making

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart

Chandra Garsson says of her film:  “Documents the gift of a lifetime of art-making after eviction from art studio. Interviews with recipients of art, including landlord. My goal was to save art from the dump, and I succeeded.”

Chandra’s blog: http://flyingpaintproductions.blogspot.com

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

Teresa is author of Love Made of Heart

Coach Teresa edits manuscripts (contemporary novels; thrillers; children’s novels; memoirs; short stories; anthologies) for authors who want to attract agents  & publishers  OR  want to be their own publishers.

Chandra Garsson wrote to Teresa LeYung-Ryan on facebook:

“A lovely holiday to you, dear friend, and thanks for the mention. There is a gravity and dignity to your presence in the film.”   “I am enjoying your newly poetic form of writing. Great and gorgeous New Year to you, Teresa!”

I wish Everyone a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving.

Coach Teresa, what are some December 2011 Events?

Margie Yee Webb author of Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings tells me that:

The Writer’s Yearbook 2012 (by Writer’s Digest) is available now! Read about 100 best book & magazine markets for writers, 101 best websites for writers… Chuck Sambuchino shares 5 facts on book publicity, San Francisco Writers Conference – Michael Larsen is the #17 website, Martha Alderson is the #40 website with The Plot Whisperer for Writers & Readers, and Ken & Dahlynn McKowen has their Publishing Syndicate ad for three new anthology series looking for stories and for the free publishing & writing tips e-newsletter! Happy reading and writing!

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Women’s National Book Association

San Francisco, CA Thursday December 1, 2011 6:00-7:30pm

Yours truly Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan will be at the December 1, 2011 get-together at the San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room–see you there!

Los Angeles, CA

Seattle, WA

Nashville

Charlotte

Detroit

Boston

New York

Washington D.C.

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California Writers Club  19 branches in the state

Ann Foster of California Writers Club–SF Peninsula Branch tells me:

DON’T MISS THE SF/PEN WRITERS

HOLIDAY PARTY & FAULT ZONE PRE-LAUNCH HULLABALLOO

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011
Peninsula Regent, One Baldwin Street at El Camino, San Mateo, CA
(Baldwin is one block north of 2nd Avenue).

5:00pm – 8:00pm
Donation $10 for members and non-members

RSVP: pres@sfpeninsulawriters.com

Parking in the neighborhood, or go down the ramp under One Baldwin, press the button and tell the attendant you are there for the CWC Holiday Party (Ida Lewenstein is our Peninsula Regent host.) Only park in visitor spaces, please.

No host bar. Coffee, tea, and hors d’oeuvres provided.

Copies of Fault Zone will be for sale for $7.50 (plus tax). Bring your checkbook! We’ll have an autograph party! Bring your camera! Bring your mother-in-law!

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Kim McMillon founder of Arts in the Valley tells me that:

PEN Oakland — 2011 Josephine Miles National Literary Awards

Saturday December 10, 2011, 2:00pm at Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Ave., Oakland CA  94618

I met Mary Monroe when she received this award for God Don’t Like Ugly.  Later when my novel Love Made of Heart was published by Kensington Publishing Corp. NY, I found out that Mary Monroe was/is a superstar at Kensington. I’ve met so many talented artists through Kim. Cheers to Kim McMillon, Mary Monroe, all the authors who have received the Josephine Miles award, and everyone involved with PEN Oakland.

PEN Oakland “The Blue-Collar PEN”

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Remember to give yourself a gift if you’re going to give presents to loved ones and friends. Here’s one that won’t cost any money. Do the 2 exercises for Day 1 in my workbook by clicking on the book title: Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Then, if you want to own the workbook, ask your loved ones & friends to chip in $1 each.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachteresa.com  Click on Coach Teresa’s Blog

Another Magical Week for Writing Career Coach Teresa Part II

Chandra Garsson wrote:
“Thank you Dearest Teresa, for your kind words before you even saw the film below. I hope hope hope you like it.  I loved the process start to finish! You are a marvelous subject, to me the result is pure magic. It is up on Youtube, too— I posted it to facebook and it should be on your homepage.”

My reply:

Also I need to thank dear friend Kim McMillon (playwright, literacy advocate, teacher, producer). It was at a” Kim McMillon Production” at Swans Marketplace in Oakland where I met Chandra Garsson. Kim had given me (a newbie then) stage time to read a scene from pre-published Love Made of Heart. I ended my presentation with “NO to domestic violence and child abuse!!” and when I got off the stage, Chandra introduced herself… Kim, you are a hero in the writing community. I’ve met so many big-hearted do-ers through you; MamaCoAtl I’m talking about you    Kim, thank you for being a beautiful friend. I see how busy you are by looking at your blog http://artsinthevalley.wordpress.com

I thank my friends and Chandra’s friends for being so supportive.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan, writing career coach

http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

When & Where Is Pen Oakland Josephine Miles 2010 Literary Awards?
Thanks to Bookman Beattie's blog, here's the answer:

The 20th Annual PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles National Literary Awards will take place on Saturday, December 11, 2010, at the Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Avenue–from 2 to 5 p.m.

I, Teresa LeYung Ryan (manuscript consultant & writing career coach), will be there with my pal Kim McMillon (playwright and radio show producer).

The ceremony, which will be followed by a reception and book signings, is free and open to the public. Former state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata will be the keynote speaker.

PEN Oakland, founded in 1989, is a chapter of PEN International, founded in 1921.
Dubbed “the blue collar PEN” by the New York Times, PEN Oakland annually sponsors the PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Book Awards, named for the late poet and faculty member of U.C. Berkeley’s English Department. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the awards.
Each year PEN Oakland presents an award to outstanding book titles published in the previous year.

For names and book titles of the 2010 PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Literary Award winners:

http://beattiesbookblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/pen-oakland-20th-annual-2010-literary.html

See you there!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

GraceArt Publishing is the publisher of Build My Name, Beat the Game: 22 Days to Identify & Develop My Writer’s Platform to Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention. Paypal is available http://writingcoachteresa.com

Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name/platform.”  

Is Thanksgiving Day an American Holiday?     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

I give thanks to everyone in my life and wish you all tasty and nourishing foods, music, art, laughter, books, literacy, nature, love and peace.

MamaCoAtl & Kim McMillon, thank you for giving me a role in blogging about activities to raise public awareness that say “END Violence Against Women & Girls!”: http://16daysofartivismforthehealingofviolence.wordpress.com/

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In honor of UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women & Girls, please feel free to tell the world about any events you support by submitting a comment at:
http://16daysofartivismforthehealingofviolence.wordpress.com/tell-us-about-your-events-to-commemorate-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-violence-against-women/

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan
Author / Writing Career Coach / Manuscript Consultant / Publisher

16 days of ARTivism (Nov. 25 – Dec. 10 San Francisco Bay Area) begin on Nov. 25 United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women & Girls, which is also Thanksgiving Day this year  http://16daysofartivismforthehealingofviolence.wordpress.com/

GraceArt Publishing is the publisher of Build My Name, Beat the Game: 22 Days to Identify & Develop My Writer’s Platform to Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention. Paypal is available http://writingcoachteresa.com

Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name/platform.”  

To comment on any of my columns (blog posts), just click on the blue title bar of the post, fill in the boxes and press “submit.”  Please click here for my blog http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

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

I am happy to announce my Love Made of Heart online store where you’ll find gift items for yourselves, women, children, moms, grandmas, babies, friends and pets. http://lovemadeofheart.com/Love-Made-of-Heart-Online-Store-&-Gift-Shop.html

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

Are There Any Events in San Francisco Bay Area for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women & Girls?

Yes!

Today, Tuesday November 23, 2010,  Noon– at steps of San Francisco City Hall.  MamaCoAtl, playwright Kim McMillon, Poet Nina Serrano, city officials and community members will kick off 16 Days of ARTivism for healing and education to end violence against women and girls. How befitting that the 16 days of ARTivism will then begin on Nov. 25 United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women & Girls, which is also Thanksgiving Day this year 2010!
For schedule of events through Dec. 10, 2010 http://16daysofartivismforthehealingofviolence.wordpress.com/

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan,  Author/ Writing Career Coach / Manuscript Consultant / GraceArt Publishing

“Teresa uses her book Love Made of Heart to help survivors of violence find their own voices through writing.”

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

http://writingcoachteresa.com

A client called to tell me he read my blog post about fun events for writers in October and asked if I would recommend his going to Martha Alderson’s plot workshop on Saturday.  He said he had pitched his novel to agents; more than one agent complimented on his narrator’s voice but they felt that the manuscript is not ready for acquisition editors’ eyes.  One agent told my client that the manuscript has “too much back story.”  “Aah,” I tell my client, “too much back story means not enough front story, and, you need front story to plot character growth.  Learning how to plot from Martha, the Master, is priceless. Go. You’ll thank yourself.”

For writers who couldn’t go to Martha’s workshop at Capitola Bookstore on Saturday, check her schedule http://www.blockbusterplots.com for future workshops.  She’s teaching a 5-day Plot Retreat in November 2010

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I’m reformatting the second edition of my workbook Build My Name, Beat the Game with the help of Perfect Pages, by Aaron Shepard.  I’ll be subscribing to Aaron’s newsletter.  www.newselfpublish.com Also, I’m using a wonderful reference book –  Indexing Books by Nancy C. Mulvany.  http://www.bayside-indexing.com

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I was at the San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch for a Women’s National Book Association board meeting when I saw the flyer for the exhibit on “Iris Chang and Her Unfinished Dream.” San Francisco Public Library exhibition documents the life of the late author and her work exposing the truth of the Nanking Massacre; on view in the Chinese Center, Main Library, October 2 – December 2, 2010.

http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=1002855001

On Sunday October 17, 2010  1:30-3:30pm Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library Film Screening: Iris Chang–The Rape of Nanking,   the full length docudrama (103 minutes, in English with Chinese subtitles, 2007) made for the 70th anniversary of the Nanking massacre, tells the compelling and courageous life story of Iris Chang, a young woman who at age 26 dedicated her life to teaching the world about the forgotten holocaust in World War II.  Followed by Q & A with Iris Chang’s parents and Dr. Peter Stanek, president of the Global Alliance for Preserving the History of World War II in Asia.

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Kim McMillon informed me that she will be teaching a playwriting workshop once a month at UC Merced (a part of the Merced Writers’ Center). http://kimmcmillon.wordpress.com/ The class is the first Monday of every month. Also, Kim asked if I would be interested in conducting “Major League Tryouts with Writing Career Coach Teresa to Build Your Writer’s Name/Platform” I would have to say “I’d love to.” Thank you, Kim!

Did you that Kim is the producer of a wonderful blog talk radio show?  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword and click on “Writers Sanctuary”

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I was reading colleague Yolande Barial’s blog (I knew about her advocacy in regards to bicycle-helmet-safety for children  http://yolandebarial.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/bicycle-helmet-locks/) and was surprised and humbled by her post about my work as a writing career coach. http://yolandebarial.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/bicycle-helmet-locks/ Thank you, Yolande!

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I critiqued colleague Elisa Southard ’s keynote speech for the Redwood Writers’ Conference http://redwoodwriters.org/redwood-conference/.  I hope you’ll be able to hear the speech yourself on Oct. 30, 2010 because Elisa is a generous teacher who helps writers turn into their best advocates.  http://breakthroughthenoise.com/

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I gave advice to author Nina Amir http://writenonfictionnow.com/ on her new book proposal.  She emailed to say: “Teresa, I can see now why everyone raves about your work… you are phenomenal and very giving.”  This writing-career coach definitely appreciates the acknowledgment.  It’s fun to help hard-working authors who want to help writers.

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Kim McMillon asked me to help MamaCoAtl update their new blog http://16daysofartivismforthehealingofviolence.wordpress.com to commemorate United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.  http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/violence/

What does a typical week look like for a writer/writing career coach/publisher? That’s it.

This coming week:

• I meet with my mastermind group (Linda Lee, Mary E. Knippel, Lori Noack and me–Teresa LeYung Ryan);
• I meet with Elisa Southard http://elisaonassignment.com/ (we work together once a month)
• I prepare for my presentation at California Writers Club-Berkeley Branch (they meet at Oakland Library-Main Branch) on Sunday October 17, 2010 http://lovemadeofheart.com/Teresa-LeYung-Ryan%27s-Events.html
• Upload my publishing company’s profile on Bowker.  http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/index.asp https://www.myidentifiers.com/
• Continue helping MamaCoAtl post updates on the website http://16daysofartivismforthehealingofviolence.wordpress.com/ for United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
• Continue reading How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson; The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan; The Chinese Laborers of Lake Chabot (San Leandro, California) A History of Their Contributions to the Construction of Lake Chabot Dam, 1874-1892 by Jacqueline Beggs.
• I just said “Yes” to Bardi Rosman Koodrin http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000536791573 regarding my sponsoring one of the writing-contest at the 2011 San Mateo County Fair–Fine Arts Department.

Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan
Author / Writing Career Coach / Publisher

Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name/platform.”   http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

GraceArt Publishing is the publisher of Build My Writer’s Name, Beat the Game:  How Do I Create a Platform to Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention? (the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook)

To comment on any of my columns (blog posts), just click on the blue title bar of the post, fill in the boxes and press “submit.”  Please click here for my blog http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/