Teresa Jade LeYung's BLOG

Archive for the ‘Art / Craft / Teaching’ Category

What Is Practice Aloha?

In May at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration, I had shared a booth with authors Margie Yee Webb and Dr. Patricia Tsang. Our neighboring exhibitors were the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. Today while putting away my files, I found their promotional material. Seeing those souvenirs inspired me to tell  you about a new book Practice Aloha: Secrets to Living Life Hawaiian Style — Stories, Recipes and Lyrics from Hawai’i's Favorite Folks, compiled & edited by Barbara Santos & Mark Ellman

How do you practice Aloha? Go to the Practice Aloha website and share your story.

Two other books that go well with Practice Aloha:

Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings: Insight and Inspiration for a Wonderful Life

Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine

Sincerely,

Coach 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

Teresa LeYung-Ryan on facebook!

Coach Teresa and California Writers Club Members All So Sad for Ruth Silnes’s Loved Ones

I just received an email from CWC-SF Peninsula Branch President Christopher Wachlin who had received news from author Margaret Davis…

So sad for Ruth’s loved ones and us friends and fans ! Ruth was a sparkling light.

Author Ruth Silnes was a generous artist and teacher.

She offered on her blog :

FREE Art Lessons

We will begin by touching on various aspects of drawing: seeing with the artist’s eye, values, creativity, abstraction, armchair research and where to go from there. The goal is to encourage your artistic abilities. It will be a journey of discovery.

Lessons 1 through 11

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On Ruth’s other blog The Art of Aging, by Ruth Silnes Ruth had just written:   AS I SEE IT: AGING IS WHEN?

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Ruth’s most recent book:  YOU and THE ARTS: Why Art Matters
written and illustrated by Ruth Silnes; written for travelers, educators, artists and art lovers

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July 24, 2011

Legacy online guestbook via The Mercury News for beloved Ruth Silnes

Dear Sandra, My heart has been heavy. I send prayers that your darling mom (a.k.a. “Ruth-Can-Do-Anything”) will visit you in sweet dreams.

Ruth Silnes & Diane Warner (both sitting) with Bob Davis, Mary Knippel, Valerie Lee, Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Margaret Davis at California Writers Club December 2009 celebration of literary agents

Sincerely,

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

What Fun at the Women’s National Book Association Meet Up!

Creativity & Writing Mentor Mary E. Knippel & I (Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan) had pledged to show up on the first Thursday of each month to help WNBA members build their platforms.

Mary couldn’t meet on July 7  and we were going to skip this month. But, at BookShop West Portal, Birgit Soyka’s friend Jacqueline E. Boone expressed interest in attending our Meet Ups, so, we kept our date at the San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch.

I am so happy that we did!  Those who show up create magic for each other; that’s my motto.   I was the first to arrive; a gal came in to ask if she could use the outlet to re-charge her camera battery. Cecilia is her name; she said she speaks only a little English; I told her about Project Read (right here at the San Francisco Public Library).

Then my dear colleague Birgit Soyka, Jing Li, Samantha Roberts and Birgit’s dear friend Jacqueline E. Boone showed up and the fun began . . .

So, Birgit, Samantha, Jing, Jacqueline, to get mileage on cyberspace promoting, tell our fans what you’re working on by posting comments on these blogs.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s blog &   Mary E. Knippel’s blog

Birgit Soyka’s blog &   Jacqueline E. Boone’s blog

WNBA-SF Chapter’s blog

To submit your comment to any post (article) in this blog, click on the blue header (title bar) of the post and fill in the boxes (you don’t need to fill in your website address if you don’t have a website; if  you have a website, do provide your web address so that our fans can visit you there); then be sure to click “submit comment” otherwise I won’t get to see your comment. I’d like to hear from you.

Barbara Santos! Thank you for sending out the SFWC newsletter – that’s how Jing found out about tonight’s meet-up.

AUGUST – DECEMBER 2011 WNBA-San Francisco Chapter MEET UPS

First Thursday of the month 6:00-7:30pm at San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room (lower level) where food is allowed.

Near BART Civic Center Station. 2 entrances for the library: 100 Larkin St. (and 30 Grove St.), S.F., CA 94102

Meet-Ups are WNBA membership benefits; non-members can attend one meet-up a year. To become a member: http://wnba-sfchapter.org/ WNBA-SF Meet Ups are orchestrated by Teresa LeYung Ryan and Mary E. Knippel.

Coach Teresa says: “Reach out not stress out when building your readership/platform/fanbase!”

Coach Teresa, How Is Building My Writer’s Platform Similar to Landing a Job?

Last weekend I (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) introduced Margie Yee Webb (author of Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings: Insight and Inspiration for a Wonderful Life) to Luan Stauss at Laurel Bookstore.  I bought a copy of Margie’s book and a copy of The Job-Hunter’s Survival Guide: How to Find Hope and Rewarding Work, Even When “There Are No Jobs” by Richard N. Bolles (author of What Color Is Your Parachute?).
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I have started a list of books I recommend. Building one’s writing career requires the same perseverance as finding and landing work that brings you joy.

The parallels in Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan and The Job-Hunter’s Survival Guide with Richard N. Bolles include:

You have a great query letter or book proposal, but, will the right agent or acquisition editor or publisher see it? / You have a well-written resume, but, who gets to really see it?

Books get published every day / There are always jobs out there

Saying that you write about all kinds of subject matters doesn’t make you an expert in a field / “Staying loose” about what you’re looking for is job-hunting suicide.

Reach out not stress out to help yourself and colleagues / In facing any problem, look for three alternatives

Do the exercises “Who Am I?” / Do a thorough self-inventory

Also I recommend Elisa Southard’s book Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message

Consider reading: Coach Teresa, did you write an article about plotting a writer’s platform for Plot Teacher Martha Alderson?

Richard N. Bolles recommends Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover and Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound.

Amazon.com reveals pages 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 You can see the exercises for Day I in the workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Author, Manuscript Consultant,  Writing Career Coach

When Is Next Women’s National Book Association Meet Up in San Francisco?

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan (WNBA-SF Chapter Secretary) here to say: The next WNBA Meet-Up is Thursday July 7, 2011, 6:00-7:30pm in the Stong Conference Room at San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch (use BART Civic Center Station). There are 2 entrances for the library: 100 Larkin St. (and 30 Grove St.), S.F., CA 94102  Food is not permitted in the Stong Conference Room; you can get food and eat at the cafe (lower level) before the Meet-Up. Meet-Ups are membership benefits; non-members can attend one meet-up a year. To become a member: http://wnba-sfchapter.org/

August – December 2011 Meet-Ups will be in the Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room where food is allowed. WNBA-SF Meet Ups are orchestrated by Teresa LeYung Ryan and Mary E. Knippel.

By the way I (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) had so much fun Tuesday night (in spite of the rain) co-presenting with colleague Birgit Soyka and cheered on by Leigh Anne Lindsey, our friends and fans at BookShop West Portal.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Author, Manuscript Consultant,  Writing Career Coach

Jelani Harper interviews Marie Elena Gaspari for the Hercules Patch “The workshops are called ‘Writing For Everyone’ because I believe everyone has words to share,” Gaspari said. “Writing is making voices heard, having faith in your creativity and describing the reality of our lives.” Gaspari was talking about the classes she taught at the Hercules Library in June 2011.

RIVER oF DREAMS

WRITING & POETRY

“I wake

from a river of dreams

laughing places

long forgotten…”

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July 2011    WRITING GROUP

Friday Morning Group
Fridays 10:30am -1:00pm
July 1 – 29, 2011
Five-week Series: $150.00   $35.00 Drop-In
Location: Pinole , CA 94564

Contact:   Marie Elena Gaspari

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July 16, 2011 WRITING WORKSHOP

Writing For Everyone: Creative Writing Workshop
Saturday July 16, 2011   1:30PM – 4:30PM
1 Day   Fee: $50.00
Location:  Pinole, CA 94564

Contact:   Marie Elena Gaspari

Marie Elena Gaspari is a compassionate teacher. I highly recommend her classes.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Author, Manuscript Consultant,  Writing Career Coach

What Is So Important About Public Libraries?

Public libraries (also called “circulating libraries“) exist in most places in the world and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population.  Then, why is Mayor Jean Quan proposing to close Oakland (California) public libraries?

Please please call, write to or email Mayor Jean Quan’s office, City Councilmembers, and Oakland City Administration.
Libraries help keep a city “safe” and literate… 

Mayor Jean Quan’s Office – officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com

* District 1 – Jane Brunner    jbrunner@oaklandnet.com
* District 2 – Pat Kernighan  pkernighan@oaklandnet.com
* District 3 – Nancy Nadel  nnadel@oaklandnet.com
* District 4 – Libby Schaaf  lschaaf@oaklandnet.com
* District 5 – Ignacio De La Fuente  idelafuente@oaklandnet.com
* District 6 – Desley Brooks  dbrooks@oaklandnet.com
* District 7 – Larry Reid  lreid@oaklandnet.com
* At-Large – Rebecca Kaplan  atlarge@oaklandnet.com

Oakland City Administration – cityadministrator@oaklandnet.com

What else can we do?  http://www.saveoaklandlibrary.org has suggestions:

http://saveoaklandlibrary.org/act-now/

• Keep libraries open. Don’t close branch libraries or reduce service hours at any library.
• Don’t violate the public trust by throwing away Measure Q funds
• Closing libraries hurts all of Oakland’s citizens.
• Libraries give everyone, regardless of income, free access to books and the Internet.
• Libraries have already sacrificed by limiting service to 5 days/week at all of the branches.
• These cuts are unfair. The Library represents only 2% of the general fund monies but the “All Cuts” proposal calls for 198 full time library jobs to be eliminated out of 367 citywide. The library’s share of jobs lost equals more than 52% of the total positions eliminated.
• Measure Q supplies the library’s entire budget for buying books, DVDs, CDs, downloadable audiobooks and e-books, and other popular materials. Locations which remain open will not have new materials to offer the public.
• The “All Cuts” budget proposal suggests that there will be limited or no programs, including adult literacy, children’s storytimes and the Summer Reading Game.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan “Let’s use our mighty voices for public libraries!’

Author, Manuscript Consultant,  Writing Career Coach

What is the “I Sent Bastard to School” Fund created by Vicki Hudson?

Hi Teresa,

Thanks for the update.
I’m working on a project I wanted to let you know about and ask that you send it out to your network. This came from hearing Dorothy Allison and the Fremont High School (California) teacher and student talk at the last San Francisco Writers Conference about Fremont school board censoring Dorothy’s  book. I’m raising funds to purchase books. Please check out the site: http://www.indiegogo.com/Send-Bastard2School

Thanks!

Vicki Hudson

Bastard out of Carolina

by Dorothy Allison

I salute Dorothy Allison for writing books that inspire hope for children and adults. I salute Vicki Hudson for creating the “I Sent Bastard to School” Fund.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Manuscript Consultant

Writing Career Coach

author of Love Made of Heart

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

To submit your comment to any post (article) in my blog, click on the blue header (title bar) of the post and fill in the boxes (you don’t need to fill in your website address if you don’t have a website); then be sure to click “submit comment” otherwise I won’t get to see your comment. I’d like to hear from you.

Coach Teresa, How Do Writers & Authors Rebuild Their Lives?

June 28, 2011 was a delightful display of authors rebuilding their lives.

Birgit Soyka and I (Teresa LeYung Ryan) were the featured authors at our Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter event at BookShop West Portal in San Francisco.

Birgit Soyka and Teresa LeYung Ryan celebrate Rebuild Your Life Month at BookShop West Portal - photo by Teresa's sister Maria

Birgit Soyka rebuilt her life, leaving Germany and coming to California. Motorcycle racing there and motorcycle racing here – two different worlds. Read her book To Drink the Wild Air.

I, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, rebuilt my career after Love Made of Heart was published by Kensington Publishing Corp. New York.  I discovered that I had an eye as an editor–helping other writers identify the themes and archetypes in their stories, so, I became a manuscript consultant.  Then when my clients reported that agents and publishers passed them by because they (the writers) didn’t have platforms and fanbases, I became a writing career coach for them.  And, I published Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Neal Sofman, the owner of BookShop West Portal, had to rebuild his business. Remember A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books? Those bookstores were owned by Neal.  To survive hard times, he had to close those stores.  Closure of one dream, invitation to another dream. BookShop West Portal in San Francisco is thriving.

Neal Sofman & BookShop West Portal get support from WNBA's Teresa LeYung Ryan & Birgit Soyka--photo by Leigh Anne Lindsey

I thank everyone who stepped out on rainy June 28, 2011 to support BookShop West Portal, WNBA, Birgit Soyka and yours truly Teresa LeYung-Ryan. May everyone who wants to rebuild her/his life do it joyfully.

Thank you to Neal, Kevin, Loretta, Jose, Jess at BookShop West Portal, Leigh Anne Lindsey, Birgit, Birgit’s friends, my sister and my friends Jonathan, Paula, Michelle Tapia, Miss Lauren Jung, bookstore loyalists and everyone there that evening.

And, remember, “Reach out, not stress out, when building or rebuilding your platform and fanbase!”

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan (who helps writers build their platforms and fanbases) celebrates "Rebuild Your Life Month" at BookShop West Portal photo by Maria

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Lauren Jung and Michelle Tapia read scene from Love Made of Heart photo by Teresa LeYung-Ryan's sister Maria

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Maria and Jonathan support BookShop West Portal

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Paula, Michelle, Lauren, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Jonathan support BookShop West Portal photo by Maria

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authors & publishers Leigh Anne Lindsey & Teresa LeYung Ryan cheer for Women's National Book Assn & BookShop West Portal

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Neal Sofman & BookShop West Portal praised by Author & Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan photo by Maria

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Manuscript Consultant

Writing Career Coach

author of Love Made of Heart

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

Dear Birgit,

I had so much fun celebrating “Rebuild Your Life Month” with you, my friends and yours at BookShop West Portal! I too blogged http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/coach-teresa-how-do-writers-authors-rebuild-their-lives/ See you and Jacqueline on Thursday July 7, 2011 at San Francisco Public Library-main branch, Stong Conference Room 6:00-7:30pm for WNBA meet-up!

Cheers from Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan Loves Stories About Words

Tuesday night, my sister and I dined at Squat & Gobble Cafe & Crepery before going to my gig with fellow Women’s National Book Association member Birgit Soyka at BookShop West Portal.

At first I thought the eatery was called Squab & Gobble, but, the name is Squat & Gobble. Why “Squat” ?  Chickens squat. People squat.  Squatting is done with the lower half of our body. Why “Gobble” ? Gobbling is done with our mouths.

What’s the lore behind the phrase squat and gobble?

Here’s a story about the Chinese word for “heart”:   The word “heart” is inside the words “grace,” “forgiveness,” “perseverance,” “compassion.” The word “heart” is inside the word “love” thus love made of heart.

What was our gig? http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/how-do-authors-teresa-leyung-ryan-and-birgit-soyka-celebrate-rebuild-your-life-month-in-june/

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Manuscript Consultant

author of Love Made of Heart

Writing Career Coach

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