Dear Ann,

I am thinking of you. May your darling Angel Mother watch over you and protect you and everyone in your circle. May she be mighty, happy and beautiful forevermore.

00:01 – 01:53 October 9, 2025 Teresa Jade LeYung, San Francisco, California; added more photos, links and tags 16:55 October 9, 2025

Author Ann Tashi Slater says:

“I’m a writer and speaker exploring how our personal histories and cultural roots shape us and how we find meaning in a world where everything—including we ourselves—changes and ends. My new book, TRAVELING IN BARDO: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World (Sept. 2025, Balance/Hachette), interweaves explorations of impermanence in relation to marriage and friendship, parents and children, and work and creativity with stories of my Tibetan ancestors and Buddhist perspectives on the fleeting nature of existence, offering a new way to navigate change and live life fully.”

TRAVELING IN BARDO is available in hardcover edition, Kindle e-book, and audio book format.

Please support your local booksellers and public libraries.

Ann Tashi Slater’s website: https://www.anntashislater.com/

Ann Tashi Slater's poignant memoir TRAVELING IN BARDO: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World. Ann Tashi Slater in conversation with Sylvia Boorstein - photo by LeYung

Ann Tashi Slater reads the opening lines of her book TRAVELING IN BARDO: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World.

https://youtu.be/kAj-jkRT-8c   56 seconds filmed by LeYung

Ann Tashi Slater in conversation with Sylvia Boorstein at Book Passage in Corte Madera, California

Sylvia Boorstein , Ph.D. and Ann Tashi Slater at Book Passage, Corte Madera, California - photo by LeYung

With a foreword by NYT best-selling author Dani Shapiro and praise from Elizabeth Gilbert, Melissa Febos, Sharon Salzberg, and others, Ann Tashi Slater’s book has been named a Next Big Idea Club “Must-Read” for September 2025. Publishers Weekly calls it a “rich and freewheeling meditation on life, death, and impermanence.”

photo: author Ann Tashi Slater and adoring family members, Book Passage, photo by LeYung

Publishers Weekly calls it a “rich and freewheeling meditation on life, death, and impermanence.”

Ann Tashi Slater autographing her compelling memoir TRAVELING IN BARDO: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World - photo by LeYung

TRAVELING IN BARDO is available in hardcover edition, Kindle e-book,

and audio book format

TRAVELING IN BARDO - book front cover and back cover

Cheers to author Ann Tashi Slater and her poignant memoir TRAVELING IN BARDO: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World

Please write your reviews for Ann’s compelling book

https://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Bardo-Living-Impermanent-World/dp/0306835215

Ann Tashi Slater with new fans - photo by DS at Book Passage, Corte Madera, California

Ann Tashi Slater dedicates her book - TRAVELING IN BARDO: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World - to her husband David

Ann Tashi Slater’s website: https://www.anntashislater.com/

audience at Book Passage cheering for Ann Tashi Slater in conversation with Sylvia Boorstein - photo by LeYung 2025.09.27

I wish everyone vibrant health, peace and happiness always!

Sincerely,

Teresa Jade LeYung

Author / Blogger / Story-Theme Consultant / Photo Historian

https://m.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/videos

https://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/blog/  goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog on Wellness, Story Themes, Archetypes

Love Made Of Heart ®

Dear Readers / Writers

I am visiting brilliant Olga Malyj in Oregon… enjoying her beautiful energy, her sweet home and garden.

Two evenings ago, I had a delightful conversation with Kristiane McKee Maas whom I met through author / teacher / The Plot Whisper Martha Alderson https://marthaalderson.com/ close to 19 years ago at a writers’ conference hosted by the South Bay Branch of the California Writers Club https://southbaywriters.com/.

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Kristiane McKee Maas is a writer, artist, and the owner of Bar 46 Ranch and breeder of Longhorn cattle.

She says:

“My paternal grandmother homesteaded Bar 46 Ranch in 1899 and is a continuing source of inspiration for me.”

https://bar46ranchlonghorns.com/about-bar-46-ranch-2/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF6pLi8kAWE

Kristiane McKee Maas is author of Table Affairs, contributing author of Seasons of our Lives: Spring

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Through Kristiane, I met  Matilda Butler – Author/Memoir Coach/Social Psychologist

Matilda Butler  is the award-winning author of Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story, Writing Alchemy: How to Write Fast and Deep, and a collection of award-winning anthologies: Tales of our Lives.

https://womensmemoirs.com/contact/about-the-two-women/

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Also through Kristiane, I met  artist and author Gale Henshel

Gale’s beautiful book:  Dyslexia, My Gift, My Story

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145870337197

https://www.abebooks.com/9781611702392/Dyslexia-Gift-Story-Henshel-Gale-1611702399/plp

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Teresa Jade LeYung thanks Olga Malyj, Martha Alderson, Kristiane McKee Maas, Matilda Butler, and Gale Henshel.

Sincerely,

Story Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung wishes Everyone – Beauty, Total Wellness, Peace and Joy!

—   photo by Nan and MEK

Published author, blogger, lover of Paris, FRANCE, photo historian, Writing Coach Teresa Jade LeYung says:

“I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog

Love Made Of Heart ®

Blog post by Teresa LeYung-Ryan

The date that Elisa Sasa Southard had written on the first page of the notebook (with drawing of Eiffel Tower on the cover) that she had given me is 20 April 2015. The words she penned in purple ink included pieces from my mental wish list:

“Must See – Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Rodin’s, Sainte-Chapelle, Shakespeare and Company

Must Do – Museum pass, Walking tour

Movies to Watch – Midnight In Paris, French Kiss, Irma La Douce, Populaire, The Closet ”

Aah I had seen Woody Allen’s movie Midnight In Paris in a theater, and, later, rented it several times just to see the first four minutes (shots of arrondissements “neighborhoods”) with 3 minutes and 20 seconds of composer Sidney Bechet’s saxophone magic  “Si Tu Vois Ma Mere”

Then Margie Yee Webb gifted me 3 books – The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris by John Baxter; Forever Paris: 25 Walks in the Footsteps of Chanel, Hemingway, Picasso, and More by Christina Henry de Tessan; The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World’s Most Glorious – and Perplexing – City by David Lebovitz

Even if I cannot go...reading David Lebovitz's most beautifully written book THE SWEET LIFE IN PARIS made me smile happy tears.

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The plan was to go to gay Paris (pronounced “Paree”) in 2016.  In May 2015, my papa received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease – that explains his leg weakness, tremors, and freezing, as well as the “shuffling”. As my darling friends were talking dates and flights, I heard myself saying “I can’t go…What if I am in Paris…and Papa falls…” My friends were sympathetic. Trip planning was terminated.

I created a blog series “Parkinson’s Disease, My Chinese Papa, and My practicing The Four Agreements” (you know, the book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz)

One day, after Papa had assembled a pedal-exerciser (I was so happy for him), he got up too fast…plop.  He fell, right in front of me. His recliner broke his fall. What a lucky fellow! I was in shock for two whole seconds. Gosh, a lot of worrisome thoughts raced through my brain as he popped up to standing position, with a look that said “That did not happen, you did not see that.”

Later that week, I had my epiphany – I could hear my mom telling me “You cannot worry about what might or might not happen.”  She’s been my muse every since she showed up in a mighty healing dream – a dream that inspired my “Talking to My Mom Monologues”.

Here she was again, being the muse.  I started a new monologue “Papa Fell Down, I’m Going to Paris”

I called my darling friends. “Let’s look at calendars. How’s September 2016?”

Teresa LeYung-Ryan here, inspired by the arrondissments we walked in and everyone who have made my 8-day trip to Paris a most remarkable experience. The “everyone” includes my papa, sister, friends (including Margie, Sasa et Will, Linda, Vicki, Lynn, Luisa, Martha, Olga, Kristiane, Cousin Howard, JB, my darling mom of course), colleagues, vendors, and strangers who have given me their well wishes or assistance or greetings of “bonjour” or all the above. Traveling with Elisa “Sasa” Southard (certified tour director and travel writer) who speaks Français and is such a fun and  thoughtful leader and Margie Yee Webb (author, photographer, documentary film producer) who pays attention to details and is also so thoughtful =  joy and delight for me (whose knowledge of magical Paris had been from watching Hollywood, English and French movies…until now).

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Aah, we (Elisa Sasa Southard, yours truly Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Margie Yee Webb) did go. Thank you, lovely AirFrance flight attendant, for taking photo minutes before landing at Charles de Gaulle airport.

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Oui! La Tour Eiffel ("tour" is French word for "tower") is really that beautiful - by day, by night, in sun, in rain! Oui! that is Sasa with Chronicle Books bag (that Margie gifted us) over her right shoulder.

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Parisian architecture, sandstone buildings, trees trees trees, Eiffel Tower!

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The most yummy-looking and truly delicious quiche we enjoyed in Paris was at Café de Flore

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The themes that I got from being in “The City of Light” are:

* sandstone buildings, why maximum height is eight-stories

* what to eat at a boulangerie, pâtisserie, bistrot, traiteur, brasserie, or a restaurant

* art is beauty for all the senses

Forthcoming:

Part 2 What I learned about the Eiffel Tower and the architect

Part 3 Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre, Musée Rodin, museum passes

Part 4 Croissants in Paris and my being wheat gluten intolerant

Part 5 Walked, Walking, Will Walk

Part 6 Airplane, Batobus (ferries), Metro (subway), buses, train, elevators

Part 7 I want to look at everything at the U Express supermarket s’il vous plaît

Part 8 “Make Your Name Stand for Something,” says Writers’ Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Part 9 “I’ll always cherish my time in Paris,” says Teresa LeYung-Ryan

For the slideshow  “We’ll always have Paris, my darling friends,” says author Teresa LeYung-Ryan on Teresa’s Youtube channel, please click on https://youtu.be/LbX50ojbc84

à bientôt!

Teresa LeYung-Ryan uses her fiction and nonfiction to advocate speaking openly about the stigmas associated with mental illness and the repercussions from family violence.

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She is the author of:

• the mother-daughter novel Love Made of Heart (used as required reading in colleges)
• the workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days
• Coach Teresa’s Blog at http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
• her monologue series “Talking to My Dead Mom” (her monologue “Answer Me Now” received an award from CWC Redwood Writers)

Creator of:

• the “Immigrant Experience” Writing Contest
• workshops including:
  • “For Theme’s Sake: Edit Your Own Manuscript Before Pitching to Agents or Self-Publishing”
  • “Heroes, Tricksters, Villains – Know Your Archetypes”
  • “Where Are You on Your Writer’s Journey?”
  • Build/Retrofit Your Writer’s Platform
  • her trademark Love Made of Heart

Affiliated with:

• Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter (member and past board member and officer)
• California Lawyers for the Arts (member)
• California Writers Club (member, San Francisco Peninsula Branch and Redwood Branch; a past president of the San Francisco Peninsula Branch); a recipient of the Jack London Award for outstanding service to California Writers Club

Advocate for:

• public schools and public libraries!

For other posts in my blog, please go to: https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog

If you’re looking for my blog posts pertaining to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity… https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog  look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”.  Please click on that category to get those posts.

Petaluma, CA  Argus-Courier Thursday July 18, 2013

Community Profile:  Marlene Cullen – Painting Pictures with Words

Lynn Schnitzer says: “Marlene Cullen is passionate about writing and helping other writers find their literary voice.”

Marlene says:  ”My favorite authors are:

Jacqueline Winspear

Rachael Herron

Elizabeth Berg

Sue Monk Kidd

John Dunning

Teresa LeYung Ryan

Jeannette Walls

Sheldon Siegel

Lolly Winston

Liza Gyllenhaal

Zoe Fitzgerald Carter

Anne Rivers Siddons

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Frances Lefkowitz

Gillian Flynn.”

Visit Marlene’s site:  http://www.thewritespot.us/ where she says:

“Thank you to the 2013 Writers Forum presenters. You are awesome: Frances Lefkowitz, Patricia V. Davis, Amanda McTigue, Jennifer Gennari, Andy Ross, Anne Jordan, Constance Hale, Melanie Thorne.”

Check out Marlene’s new blog:   http://thewritespot.us/marlenecullenblog/

I celebrate Marlene Cullen, Writers Forum of Petaluma, and everyone she cares about!

Sincerely,

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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

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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.”

Coach Teresa, what happened at Asian Heritage Street Celebration?

Everyday is an adventure for us writers.  The AHSC street fair (on Larkin Street between Grove St. and Ellis St.) was yesterday May 21, 2011, 11:00am-6:00pm

Margie Yee Webb and I rendezvoused a bit after 8:00am at our booth to set up; we were assigned booth F-18 (the 300 block of Larkin St., just yards away from the Asian Art Museum).

Margie is a pro at staging–she brought strings of colorful paper lanterns, red table clothes, a pot of silk irises, California Writers Club literature, and her vibrant display of her gift book Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings: Insight and Inspiration for a Wonderful Life.

I brought the blow-ups of our book covers; Margie had clips.

AHSC volunteers were friendly and helpful. Special thanks to Angela Pang of AsianWeek Foundation.

Patricia Tsang, M.D. was the third member of our booth.  Dr. Tsang’s book is Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine

The public couldn’t wait until 11:00am; they started browsing around 10:00am.

Here’s a partial list of delightful people I talked to:

Harvey of Eastwind Books of Berkeley told me he carries my novel Love Made of Heart and asked me to deliver a presentation at his store. I’d love to do that, and, also present my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days.

Beverly Lee wants to invite me, Margie and Patricia to her authors series at On Lok Senior Center.

Gemma Nemenzo invited us to exhibit our books at the Filipino American International Book Festival this year.

Mary Moreno gifted me a copy of Tao I: The Way of All Life (Soul Power series) by Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha.

Margie Yee Webb’s sister Pearl introduced me to Jeff Adachi, director of the  film You Don’t Know Jack: the Jack Soo Story.

Lucian Dang, ESL teacher, invited me to be a guest speaker on his online class.

Margie’s sisters Pearl, Linda, Anna, Betty, and her nieces and nephews came to cheer for us. Patricia’s former patients were delighted to see retired Dr. Tsang at the street fair.

Dear friend Jonathan came by with his bicycle and baked goods!

Mona!  What a surprise.  Inge Horton, fellow member of  Women’s National Book Association, showed up — what a treat!

Fred Glynn came by to show me his book Authors of the Bible .   Fred said he was on the Internet looking for information on Claudia Boutote of Harper One . . .  because I had “tagged” Claudia in my May 6, 2011 blog post, Fred found me through my blog !   My clients (if you’re reading this), are you smiling?  Don’t I always encourage you to spend time “tagging” on cyberspace?  Help your fans find you.

Elliotte Mao !!!  Elliotte trekked all the way from the mid-Peninsula.  CWC-SF Peninsula branch guest speaker was Scott James (aka Kemble Scott) and I would have been at that meeting if the street fair was another day.

More magic.  James Scott (not Scott James) and his partner Richard came by our booth.  James Scott illustrates architecture.  He demonstrated this talent for Margie, Patricia and me to see.

Writing Career Coach Teresa encourages illustrator James Scott to pursue grants

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Renel!  The KISS 98.1 booth was directly across from our booth.  Here I am — a Renel fan.

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Did Coach Teresa have fun?   Yes!  Being with colleagues, seeing friends, meeting folks who like to read and share the joy of reading, celebrating Asian American heritage, eating a Thai lunch, seeing the red dragon . . .

Writing Career Coach Teresa says: "Reach out not stress out"

“Building your writer’s platform ought to be fun!”

I’m cheering for you!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

Click on book cover to go to Amazon

Kim Randolph helps her clients promote their E-waste businesses so Coach Teresa dubs Kim "E-waste Liaison"

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