Teresa Jade LeYung's BLOG

Posts Tagged ‘Love Made of Heart’

My first book turned seven on October 1, 2009.  So much has happened since. I wish to publicly thank the following people for helping me bring Love Made of Heart into the world and sending her to wonderful places:

archived in the San Francisco History Center

• Everyone recognized on the acknowledgment page of Love Made of Heart
• My agent Stacey Glick and all her colleagues at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
• Editor John Scognamiglio, president Steven Zacharius, publisher Laurie Perkin, art director Lou Malcangi, sales director Debbie Tobias then, sales director Doug Mendini, author Libba Bray, copy-editor Jacquie Edwards, and Everyone who were at (or associated with) Kensington Publishing Corp. NY (so many talented folks).
• Nancy Suib, Anne Shulenberger and all independent sales reps;
• Folk who are associated with booksellers, libraries, schools, book groups.
• My darling husband, sister & brother-in-law, family members, friends, mentors and colleagues
• Folks related to Women’s National Book Association, California Writers Club, California Reading Association, California School Library Association, San Francisco History Center
• Teachers & students in Advanced Composition/English-as-a-Second-Language classes
• Readers
• Everyone who helped me quietly (the secret angels)

I wish you all a healthful & prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan
http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com

As an author and a community member, I use my novel Love Made of Heart to:
• help mothers and daughters speak from the heart
• shed light on stigmas suffered by immigrants
• advocate compassion for mental illness
• help survivors of family violence find their own voices
http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Love Made of Heart is the story of Ruby Lin, a Chinese-immigrant-daughter, and her journey to self-forgiveness.

Friday, December 4, 2009

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

Talk about writers collaborating and having fun… Barbara Whittaker, GM of The Axe & Palm Café, Stanford University, created a literary series and invited yours truly Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart, to kick-off the new program on November 12, 2009. Dear friend Elisa Southard, author of Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message, showed up to take photos and video. What a delightful evening.  My hubby was there to record and cheer.

Teresa LeYung Ryan shows Chinese word for "love" and Barbara Whittaker holds Teresa's novel Love Made of Heart

Stanford students Natalia, Chana Rose, Zach with Teresa LeYung Ryan (middle) and Barbara Whittaker (right)

Lyle Ryan & Teresa LeYung Ryan

Stanford students Natalia Birgisson, Chana Rose Rabinovitz and Zach O’Keeffe read scenes with me. These young people made a deep impression on me.

David, thank you for setting up P/A system; Anthony, thank you for tranforming space; Scott (Barbara’s hubby), thank you for helping with sound-check. Friends who couldn’t attend, thank you for sweet  emails and voicemails.

Stanford students & The Axe & Palm Cafe staff are memorable characters.

The heroes & heroines at The Axe & Palm Cafe with Teresa and Barbara, photo by Elisa

Everyone at Stanford who contributed their time and energy also deserve praise.

QUESTIONS that I answered:

• Is Love Made of Heart autobiographical?
• Where do you get your ideas for stories?
• What other genres do you write?
• What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
• You write about sobering subject matters; what do you do for fun?

A portion of the proceeds from book sales was donated to Save-the-Libraries.

Thank you, Barbara Whittaker, for further promoting literacy and sharing your brainchild with us!

Stanford student Mitchell Holt represented Marketing Dept. with authors Teresa LeYung Ryan & Elisa Southard

Protagonist Ruby Lin, Ruby’s mom, Mrs. Nussbaum, Ruby’s boss Chad, and Dr. Thatcher . . . from my novel Love Made of Heart when Stanford students Natalia Birgisson, Chana Rose Rabinovitz, and Zach O’Keeffe read scenes with me on Thursday, November 12, 2009, 7:00-8:00pm.

The Axe & Palm Cafe at Old Union
520 Lasuen Mall, Stanford University, CA 94305

Stanford students Zach O'Keeffe & Chana Rose Rabinovitz & Natalia Birgisson

The hardcover book will be sold for $10; a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Save the Libraries.

Love Made of Heart by Teresa LeYung Ryan

www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Many thanks to Barbara Whittaker (GM of the Axe & Palm Cafe), Arabella Napier (Residence Student Affairs Specialist), Natalia, Chana Rose, Zach, Jemal Diamond in Business Support Services, the folks in the Marketing Dept., student liaisons, and everyone at Stanford for coordinating this much-anticipated event. Cheers to the Axe & Palm culinary staff!

Map of Stanford Campus: http://campus-map.stanford.edu/index.cfm?ID=02-580

Menu: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/shaa/pdfs/2009TheAxeandPalm_menu.pdf

 
How The Axe & Palm Cafe got its name? http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/shaa/pdfs/storyoftheaxeandpalm.pdf

September 27, 2009

Speech for Salinas Libraries Centennial Celebrations and Read-In Reunion

Kathy Richman translates Teresa LeYung Ryan's speech into Spanish

Greetings.  I am Teresa LeYung Ryan, the author of Love Made of Heart.  The title of my book describes the Chinese character for “love.”  Inside the character “love” is the word “heart.”

It is a story about an immigrant-mother’s love and sacrifices; it’s about her daughter who ultimately finds self-forgiveness.

Today I’m here to wish Salinas Public Libraries a happy birthday and another hundred years of “open doors for open minds!”   The California Writers Club is also celebrating their centennial birthday this year!   I give a shout, out to all the branches of CWC!

To honor today’s celebrations, I have written a letter to my mom, who died of metastasized breast cancer in 2000.

Dear MaMa,
Guess where I am today?  In Salinas, California, the birthplace of your mother.

4 years ago, Lyle and I packed our tent and sleeping bags to join library advocates at the 24-Hour Emergency Read-In.

Kathy Richman helped me read a mother-daughter scene from my novel.  The reading was fun, so was camping out, but, we all knew what would happen if our beloved libraries were going to be shut down.

It is 4 years late.  The Salinas libraries are thriving because of community love and support.  Three weeks ago, when I opened Patti Fashing’s email about a re-union, I ran to check my calendar.

So, this time, instead of packing sleeping bags, Lyle packed a canopy.  We carpooled with Patrick Camacho of Save-the-Libraries.

You see, MaMa, public libraries have a special place in my heart.  Remember when I used to tell you?: “I won’t be home after school, I’m going to the library.”

Well, that’s where I really went.  I wrote all my book reports there. Even though I could have brought home the books and read them in our apartment, I chose to read and write in my quiet and safe place. The library was my sanctuary.

All those years, I never thanked you and Father for the great sacrifices you both made—packing up your lives, leaving Hong Kong, so that your 3 children would get an education.

Here in the U.S.A. we the children gained the power of reading and writing while you struggled with a new language in a new world.

I thank you now, for having the wisdom to let me spend many hours at my quiet and safe place. Those days I was a scared little girl and felt that I had nothing to say.  But how I loved writing book reports.

These days I am speaking out for libraries—at city council meetings; through letters to editors; through emails; on my blog and other blogs.

Also, I am using the gift of reading and writing to honor immigrant-stories; to advocate compassion for mental illness; to help survivors of family violence find their own voices; to encourage parents and grown-children to speak from the heart.

Today I celebrate libraries, librarians, patrons, and everyone involved in organizing this lovely party. I celebrate California Writers Club.  I celebrate you, MaMa. You are all love made of heart.

Last week while my husband was at a music workshop, I started a new writing project–a guide for writers to build their names so that they’d have the competitive edge when pitching to an agent or an
acquisition editor at a publishing house  or pursuing the independent publishing route. The guide will serve my clients as well as writers who prefer to learn from written instructions.

The catalyst for my coaching came from their reports:

• “I landed a big acquisition editor. He helped me with the book proposal over months. Everything looked promising until he pitched my book to the sales people at the publishing house and they asked him: ‘What kind of platform does this author have?’ Just like that I was rejected. I hope they won’t take my idea and let a big-name author write it before I build my fame.”
• “I’m tired of getting rejection letters from agents. They tell me I’m a fine writer, but, they also tell me that fiction is very competitive . . .”
• “I’m an expert in my field, and, still I can’t get a publisher to take my book. They asked me: ‘How big is your readership?’ Isn’t that their job, to find the readers?”
• “I was a ghost writer for a celebrity. He got the big advance from the publisher. I got paid one time, a small sum, and, I’m supposed to keep my mouth shut that I did the work.”

Writing-Career-Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan

Here’s a tip from my upcoming guide:  Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, identify the themes in your work.  In my all-time -favorite story, Charlotte’s Web, the themes included: cycle of life; friendship;
self-esteem; courage; loyalty. In Love Made of Heart, the themes included: daughter wanting mother’s approval; woman carrying guilt; traumas from domestic-violence and effects on children; stigmas with mental illness; struggles and courage of immigrants.

When you’re describing your book to anyone, focus on the themes. When  you’re calling in a talk show, make your comment or question relevant to the themes of the program as well as to your book. Be sure to say your full name.

What is fame, really?  Fame is when people hear or see your name, again and again.

Are you writing letters to newspaper editors? Read the paper and see what your community is most concerned with; then write the letter and offer a solution. Pure complaints usually don’t help; succinct proposals offering resources often do help (and get published).

I hope to see writers and readers in the next few months, at these events:

Sunday, August 23, 2009 1:00-3:00pm
Three Stories, Three Writers, Three Paths.

Teresa LeYung Ryan, Martha Alderson, Luisa Adams at San Mateo County Fair/Peninsula Festival

with Luisa Adams, author of Woven of Water; Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots—Pure & Simple; Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart; Moderator: Tory Hartmann, author of The Ghost of Harvey Milk and president of California Writers Club-SF Peninsula Branch
Expo Hall–Creative Arts Stage (west of #13 on festival map)—-at San Mateo County Fair/Peninsula Festival

www.sanmateocountyfair.com/event-info/fairgrounds-map
They met through the Jack London Writers Conference and the California Writers Club over 10 years ago.
How are they inspiring the reading and writing community today?

http://www.lovemadeofheart.com/Teresa-LeYung-Ryan-s-Events.html

Thank you, CWC SF Peninsula Branch President Tory Hartmann, Bardi Rosman Koodrin and Alexandra King,  for orchestrating this fun gig for us!  Other CWC members at the festival will include:  Tory Hartmann, Christopher Wachlin, Laurel Anne Hill, Joyce Robins, Geri Spieler, Inés Villafañe-León, Jo Carpignano, Lucy Murray, and Linda Okerlund.

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Thursday, Sept. 3rd, 2009  6:00-8:00pm
Library Advocates MEET!
Oakland Main Library – West Auditorium
125 14th Street, Oakland, CA

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com

Teresa LeYung Ryan and fellow library advocates show up at Save-the-Libraries meetings

Find out how we can help the folks who have lost Book Mobile.

Find out how we can help the learners and tutors at Second Start-the adult literary program in Oakland.

Find out how our might voices can influence city council members.

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com

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Saturday,  September 19, 2009,  10:00am–4:00pm in Santa Rosa

Sonoma County Book Festival,  Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, CA  http://socobookfest.org/

Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Mary Lunning, aka “Shyne” the poet, author of My Human Heart www.shynespoems.com

Kate Farrell, author of Girl in the Mirror www.girlinthemirror.info

Marcia E. Canton, Ph.D., co-author of Mentoring in Higher Education: Best Practices
www.cantonassociates.com

Stop by and say hello to these 4 authors and members of Women’s National Book Association.
http://www.lovemadeofheart.com/Teresa-LeYung-Ryan-s-Events.html

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Saturday & Sunday, October 10 & 11, 2009

Jack London Writers Conference http://jacklondonwritersconference.org/Event-Schedule.html
Saturday October 10, 2009  11:00-11:45am

Map Out Your Career NOW:
3 Easy Steps for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers
with Author and Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan

Learn how to:
• identify advocates, endorsers and fans.
• gain recognition through your words and your community.
• build your platform by reaching out, not stressing out.

How do writers thrive in the fiercely competitive industry?  Find out for yourself in this fun

interactive session.

http://www.lovemadeofheart.com

Student Intern Nadia helps Teresa

Teresa LeYung Ryan is delighted

As a writing-career coach, I advise my clients to find interns to help them with research, correspondence, and sending out press releases so that they can free up time to launch new projects. I am happy to say that I have found a reliable student intern to help me this summer. Nadia is her name. While I’m busy with library advocacy in Oakland, CA, Nadia is compiling a mailing list for me so that I can let folks know that my publisher, Kensington Publishing in New York, has lowered the price of the hardcover of Love Made of Heart from $23 to $16.10. I am so pleased to have this dependable young lady in my corner. Thank you, Nadia!

The novel:  Love Made of Heart (archived in the San Francisco History
Center)

Teresa LeYung Ryan uses her mother-daughter novel Love Made of Heart to:
•    shed light on stigmas suffered by immigrants
•    advocate compassion for mental illness
•    help survivors of family violence find their own voices

www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/catalog.cfm?dest=itempg&itemid=6274&secid=83&linkon=subsection&linkid=1793

Teresa LeYung Ryan has been helping writers since her mother-daughter
novel Love Made of Heart was published. As a manuscript consultant and
writing-career coach, she helps her clients identify themes and
archetypes, polish their manuscripts, and map out their careers. As a
community spirit, Teresa advocates compassion for mental illness and she
helps survivors of family violence find their own voices through writing.
Her website www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com offers resources for readers and
writers.