Archive for the ‘Mental Health’ Category
Author & Publisher Leigh Anne Lindsey introduced me to Beth Barany‘s impressive work and in turn Beth introduced me to what she calls two cool women’s groups in the East Bay, California–The Goddess Collective and the Ripe Paradigm.
- Marta Maria Marraccin, founder of Goddess Collective, says:
- “The Birthing of The Goddess Collective was inspired from pure joy. As a business woman, I have been in a successful private practice known as Quantum Belief for almost 12 years now. In my practice, I help women overcome limiting beliefs, concepts, ideas of self, and much more.”
Last month, the Goddess Collective had a gathering at the Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club, 1650 Mountain Boulevard Oakland, CA 94611
Ripe Paradigm is a Women’s Online Community:
“Our network is a collection of women: mothers, teachers, artists, musicians, counselors, healers, dancers, life-lovers and much, much more. Many of us live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
We share generously, transparently with all the different parts of ourselves and trust that we will be given the gifts of engaged presence and respect. We hold space for this with our own curious exploration, empathy and openness to all possibilities; being ever inspiring and inspired by one another.”
Thank you, Leigh Anne and Beth, for introducing me to these forums.
What literary and cultural-wealthy cities we have in Oakland & Berkeley, CA!
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”
Coach Teresa’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung
Coach Teresa is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days and Love Made of Heart.
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!
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,
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!
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,
author of Love Made of Heart
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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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,
author of Love Made of Heart
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
How Do Authors Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Birgit Soyka Celebrate “Rebuild Your Life Month” in June?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 7:00-9:00pm
BookShop West Portal, 80 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 415-564-8080
Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) members celebrate June’s “Rebuild Your Life Month” featuring books by members Birgit Soyka and Teresa LeYung-Ryan. Join us for a fun evening— reception; authors’ presentations; meet the new board and members of the San Francisco Chapter. Please RSVP by emailing BookShopRSVP@wnba-sfchapter.org
Birgit Soyka (author of To Drink the Wild Air: One Woman’s Quest to Touch the Horizon)
and
Teresa LeYung-Ryan (author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days)
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Teresa LeYung-Ryan uses Love Made of Heart to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and gain resources for their families. As Writing Career Coach Teresa, she helps fiction and nonfiction authors gain a competitive edge before and after publication with her workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days. Visit Teresa’s blog at http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
Birgit Soyka (author of To Drink the Wild Air: One Woman’s Quest to Touch the Horizon )was the only female breaking into the male dominated sport of motorcycle racing in California, showing courage and determination to win a championship against all odds and encountering injuries, destitution, homelessness, and the threat of deportation. Visit Birgit’s blog at http://todrinkthewildair.com/
The Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that fosters professional development and exposure of our members (women & men) through a variety of book-related programs, workshops, and hands-on opportunities to make valuable contacts and connections that are beneficial at any stage of one’s career. WNBA-San Francisco Chapter (founded by Effie Lee Morris) is part of a National network promoting the value of books and reading throughout ten chapters stretching from coast to coast. Annual Membership is $45 http://wnba-sfchapter.org
How Do We Help Libraries?
Seems like we need to constantly watch over beloved underdog libraries. http://saveoaklandlibrary.org/
Again, thank you dear friend Martha Alderson for forwarding the email from Kathy Shepler.
Thank you dear friend Chandra Garsson for stepping out today to participate in the 14 hours-14 branches READ IN to save Oakland libraries. I like your photo album on facebook. I like your 45-second film of me on YouTube.
Here are emails–Oakland Mayor & City Council Members, etc. http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/help-our-underdog-public-libraries-in-every-city-town-incorporated-and-unincorporated-a…rea-in-the-united-states-of-america/ See you tomorrow June 21, 2011, 5:30pm at Oakland City Council meeting
One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
First and Second Floors
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone:(510) 238-3612
Voice Mail:(510) 238-3611
Email: cityclerk@oaklandnet.com
Apply for a speaker’s card:
http://www.oaklandnet.com/cityclerk/speaker_instructions.htm
Your “film voice” and “camera voice” are mighty. I know you’ll be beautifully “vocal” tomorrow at City Council meeting. Thank you for inspiring me to read Saving Your Library: A Guide to Getting, Using and Keeping the Power You Need by Sally Gardner Reed.
Here’s Amy Martin’s letter to Mayor Quan: http://oaklandlocal.com/posts/2011/05/save-oakland-libraries-letter-mayor-quan-librarian-amy-martin Today, Katy Lever from KGO radio interviewed Amy Martin.
Thank you, journalist Don Hudson! Not only did he show up for 14 hours-14 branches READ IN to Save Oakland Library (all branches) but also he helped the wonderful volunteers today.
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I am Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days, asking Mayor Jean Quan, City Council Members, City Administrators, and Everyone who Care about Oakland to please keep Oakland “literate” !
Help our underdog public libraries.
Libraries provide safe space for learning.
Librarians help us identify resources.
Help Oakland survive and thrive by keeping our libraries alive and well.
Email, write letters, call Mayor Quan and City Council Members.
Thank you, Everyone!!!!!
Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan
Help our underdog public libraries in every city, town, incorporated and unincorporated area in the United States of America!
Help our underdog public libraries in Oakland, CA. Mayor Jean Quan and City Council Members, please keep Oakland “literate” ! Libraries provide safe place for young and old; Librarians help us identify resources. Help us survive and thrive.
June 20, 2011, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
14 Hours, 14 Branches: A Read-In to Save Oakland Libraries
Amphitheater in front of City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA
Save Oakland Libraries created a survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XGGQD7V
Dear Friends, Neighbors, Colleagues,
Please help spread the word about June 20, 2011 Monday’s 14 hours-14 branches READ IN to save Oakland libraries.
If you can’t be there in person, please please call or email Mayor Jean Quan’s office, City Councilmembers, and Oakland City Administration.
Libraries help keep a city “safe” and literate… http://preview.tinyurl.com/14hours
City Council: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityCouncil/index.htm
Mayor’s office: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/Mayor/a/ContactUs/index.htm
I’ll be there on Monday; I’ll email too.
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
“Save Oakland Library” saveoaklandlibrary@gmail.com
Our mighty voices are needed. Today, call or stop by your library and ask questions. Help Librarians help us. Thank you!
Thank you, Kathy Shepler, for emailing author and plot teacher Martha Alderson. Thank you, Martha, for bring this urgent matter to my attention.
Writers and Readers, please step out or shout out. To promote literacy and help Oakland Libraries live well. I’ll see you all there!
Sincerely,
Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan
author of Love Made of Heart
What Do Dr. Andy, Poetry, Technology, Bardi Rosman Koodrin, San Mateo County Fair, Oakland Libraries, and Coach Teresa Have In Common?
Promoting literacy, literary arts and underdogs (a.k.a. libraries) . . .
Thank you, Dr. Andy O. Jones, for contacting me when you needed an expert/local celebrity to fill 20 minutes of air time on your wonderful radio show “Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour” and giving me a chance to invite your fans to fun literary events at the San Mateo County Fair June 11-19, 2011 . To see the schedule of workshops and authors Thursday through Saturday click here: Literary Arts Stage in the Expo Hall at San Mateo County Fair
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And thank you for letting me broadcast about helping our underdog public libraries in Oakland, CA. Mayor Jean Quan and City Council Members, please keep Oakland “literate” !
June 20, 2011, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
14 Hours, 14 Branches: A Read-In to Save Oakland Libraries
Amphitheater in front of City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA
Dear Friends, Neighbors, Colleagues,
Please help spread the word about June 20, 2011 Monday’s 14 hours-14 branches READ IN to save Oakland libraries.
If you can’t be there in person, please please call or email Mayor Jean Quan’s office and City Councilmembers.
Libraries help keep a city “safe” and literate… http://preview.tinyurl.com/14hours
City Council: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityCouncil/index.htm
Mayor’s office: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/Mayor/a/ContactUs/index.htm
I’ll be there on Monday; I’ll email too.
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
Our mighty voices are needed. Today, call or stop by your library and ask questions. Help Librarians help us. Thank you!
Thank you, Kathy Shepler, for emailing author and plot teacher Martha Alderson. Thank you, Martha, for bring this urgent matter to my attention.
Writers and Readers, please step out this week and next Monday. Step out to promote literacy at the San Mateo County Fair and help Oakland Libraries. I’ll see you all there!
Sincerely,
Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan
What Is Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour?
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour is a weekly public affairs program on radio station KDVS 90.3 FM heard live on Wednesday afternoons at 5 p.m., Pacific. On the air since the year 2000, Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour features interviews with local and faraway poets, innovative thinkers in the worlds of technology and social media, and practitioners of many other forms of creativity, including theatre, music, and writing across media. Poets with new books, creative innovators with new projects, and the representative of any local arts enterprise are invited to contact Dr. Andy to schedule an appearance on Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour.
Cheers to Dr. Andy, his show, U.C. Davis, and independent community freeform radio!
Sincerely,
Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan
author of Love Made of Heart

author and writing coach Teresa LeYung Ryan uses her mighty voice to say "Help our libraries and librarians help us stay literate."













