Archive for the ‘Mental Health’ Category

Was Peony In Love a Chinese Opera? No. The name of the opera was/is The Peony Pavilion.  Peony In Love is the haunting novel by Lisa See. What are the themes in the novel?  arranged marriage; teen depression; teen suicide; Chinese opera; romantic love; mother-daughter relationship; father-daughter relationship; The Three Wives’ Commentary on The Peony Pavilion; the opera The Peony Pavilion; dreams; ghosts; honor; forgiveness; in search of self; self love; self respect; rebellion; starvation.

I heard from colleague Deborah Grossman that:

on Tuesday June 7, 2011, 11:00am Lisa See will be at

Towne Center Books
555 Main Street, Pleasanton, California
925-846-8826

Coffee and Conversation with Lisa See

Judy Wheeler of Towne Center Books says: “Lisa’s newest book Dreams of Joy is set in China during the Great Leap Forward. It is full of adventure, meticulously researched details, and the intriguing characters we met in Shanghai Girls. I loved it and you will too……even if you haven’t read Shanghai Girls.  Lisa’s previous novel, Snowflower and the Secret Fan , has been made into a movie and will be in the theaters July 15, 2011.”

I wish I could be there! I told Deborah Grossman I would blog about Lisa Lee. Peony In Love touched me deeply because the themes connect with the subject matters I write about.

And how appropriate that Deborah Grossman, author of Goldie and Me (book of poetry by Deborah the daughter and Goldie the mother), reminds me that Lisa Lee lives in California too!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

author Teresa LeYung Ryan writes fiction to help mothers and daughters and prescriptive nonfiction to help writers

Author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days

Before I answer that question, I’d like to introduce you to my colleagues who are fine poets / excellent performers of their poetry.  I had asked them to send me links to their articles about mothers.

By Yolande Barial, a mom of 3, contributor in the anthologies If Women Ruled the World and Oakland’s Neighborhoods :

http://yolandebarial.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/www-examiner-com/

http://www.redroom.com/blog/yolandebarial/happy-mothers-day

http://www.redroom.com/blog/yolandebarial/thanks-mom

http://www.redroom.com/blog/yolandebarial/like-daughterlike-mother

http://www.examiner.com/motherhood-in-stockton/yolande-barial

http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/12489710/article-Her-Voice–To-helmet-or-not-to-helment?instance=home_opinion_lead_story

Joan Gelfand’s article “Mother’s Day Without Mom” for the Huffington Post

And, here are authors whose books are about relationships with mothers or mother-figures:

Lynn Scott – A Joyful Encounter: My Mother, My Alzheimer Clients, and Me

Deborah Grossman - Goldie and Me

Luisa Adams - Woven of Water

Lynn Henriksen – Telltale Souls

Linda Joy Myers - Don’t Call Me Mother

Matilda Butler - Rosie’s Daughters

Kate Farrell - Wisdom Has a Voice: Daughters Remember Mothers

(me) Teresa LeYung Ryan - Love Made of Heart

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Coach Teresa, what did you do on Mother’s Day this year?

Thank you for asking.  The day before Mother’s Day, I had helped dear colleague Mary E. Knippel create multiple videos about her fun Coaxing Creativity workshops:

http://www.youtube.com/maryeknippel#p/a/u/0/xZ2GgqEE3Q4

http://www.youtube.com/maryeknippel#p/a/u/1/JsaPHrUvVfo

Her events are all inspiring. “Simple” and “abundant” best describe what I get from Mary Knippel’s workshops.

The next Day (Mother’s Day) I met artist Chandra Garsson on Hayes Street.

Lunch at La Boulange Cafe & Bakery was delightful, sitting in the corner, with view of the entire cafe and looking out onto Hayes Street. My mom would have liked this place. People eating tasty-looking salads, sandwiches, soups, baked goods; you can see the baked goods and pre-made sandwiches in the counters, all appealing. People reading newspapers and drinking beverages.  High ceiling; a European-feel about the place.

Then Chandra treated me to San Francisco Ballet’s hypnotically beautiful production of The Little Mermaid. The story (tragedy) was written by Hans Christian Andersen.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150573069220430&oid=27923251292&comments
Principal dancer Yuan Yuan Tan says: “on stage … I am dancing without thinking.”

Thank you, Chandra, for giving me a day of bittersweet beauty.

I come home and there’s a Happy Mother’s Day e-card in my inbox from publicity expert Lin Lacombe. The animated card shows a wishing well. I make my wish for my mom–wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, I wish you lots and lots of joy and love.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

author of Love Made of  Heart

Love Made of Heart - get this book for your mom or sister

author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days

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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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Writing Career Coach Teresa, where will you be at Asian Heritage Street Celebration (street fair) in San Francisco?

It’s going to be so much fun!   Saturday May 21, 2011, 11:00am – 6:00pm

Look for me (author and writing career coach Teresa LeYung Ryan) and my colleagues on Larkin Street, Booth F-18 (on the 300 block of Larkin St., between McAllister St. & Golden Gate Ave. ), the block north of Asian Art Museum, same side of the street.

Margie Yee Webb has orchestrated our California Writers Club booth.  I went to Copy Edge (the folks are nice there) on University Ave. in Berkeley to get blow-ups of our book covers.  Dr. Patricia Tsang will join us this year.  Lloyd Lofthouse might be there again this year. Look for Booth F-18 with our beautiful book covers and the California Writers Club “sail on” logo.   See you at Booth F-18 !

I wish I could bring the street fair to my friend Diane . . .

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

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Love Made of Heart - get this book for your mom or sister

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California Writers Club - supportive colleagues

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

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Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine

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How Do Authors Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in San Francisco?

Saturday, May 21, 2011, 11:00am – 6:00pm Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC), organized by the AsianWeek Foundation

Two years ago author Margie Yee Webb helped me reconnect with the Asian-American community by inviting me to exhibit my book Love Made of Heart at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC). Thank you, Margie!

This year 2011 Margie Yee Webb (author of Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings), Lloyd Lofthouse (author of My Splendid Concubine), Patricia Tsang, M.D. (author of Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine) and yours truly Teresa LeYung Ryan (author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days) will share a booth.  Please stop by the California Writers Club booth and say hello if you’re going to the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on Larkin Street (between Grove St. and Ellis St.), San Francisco–close to BART Civic Center station.

Free Admission to Asian Art Museum Courtesy of Target – Throughout the day during the Asian Heritage Street Celebration May 21, 2011, Admission to the special exhibit “Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance” is $5.

How does protagonist Ruby Lin want to help her mother?

Teresa LeYung Ryan uses her novel Love Made of Heart (Kensington Publishing Corp NY 2002, 2003) to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and to gain resources for their families.

First honoree in this video from The Media Center is Bardi Rosman Koodrin. In the interview, Bardi tells about her remarkable experience when she was five years old.

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Friday June 17, 2011 Literary Arts Stage at the San Mateo County Fair

4:00-6:00pm Mary E. Knippel presents “Coaxing Creativity” workshop

6:30-8:00pm readings from California Writers Club–San Francisco Peninsula Branch members, including contributing authors in the anthology Fault Zone.

8:00-9:00pm  author Teresa LeYung-Ryan (past president of CWC-SF Peninsula Branch) 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 She is the sponsor for “The Immigrant Experience” Writing Contest and she hopes to meet the contestants at the fair.

How does protagonist Ruby Lin want to help her mother?

Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

What Can I Learn from the Stories in Anthologies?

Readers can learn about other cultures, other times, and even experience events through the “safety” of pages.  Readers who are also writers can learn how to craft stories from authors who contribute their work to anthologies.

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On May 5, 2011 while I was at the San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, getting ready for the Women’s National Book Association-SF Chapter celebration, I received a call from Christopher Wachlin of California Writers Club-SF Peninsula Branch. Chris is one of the talented authors in the anthology Fault Zone.  His news was that Kepler’s Books and Magazines (in Menlo Park, CA)  has sold out the anthology and Chris would be delivering more books.

“For readers who love engaging stories and poems, Fault Zone fits the bill.” –Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of the mother-daughter novel Love Made of Heart and the writer’s guide Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fan Base in 22 Days

I look forward to seeing the contributing authors, editor Lisa Meltzer Penn, and all the champions who made the anthology a reality.  Bravi! See you at the San Mateo County Fair-Literary Arts Department events June 11-19, 2011 (I, Teresa LeYung Ryan, will be presenting on Friday June 17, 8:00-9:00pm)

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Here’s my email to Editor-in-Chielf  Kate Farrell regarding her anthology Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother

May 11, 2011

Dear Kate,

I’ve read your beautiful introduction, Amber Lea Starfire’s and Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg’s, and the stories by Pat Jackson-Colando, Diane Hurles, Marilyn J. Curry,  Nancy LaTurner, Barbara Toboni, Ana Manwaring, and Laura McHale Holland.

The stories touched me deeply.

My praise:

“How daughters remember mothers’ lives, resurrecting maternal hold or finding courage through translations of their sorrows, dreams and triumphs.  Daughters answering the haunting question: ‘To be or not to be like them?’ The words and pages in the anthology Wisdom Has a Voice (Edited by Kate Farrell) touch the sometimes fragile oftentimes vibrant heart. Beautiful.”  Teresa LeYung-Ryan–author of Love Made of Heart and the Build Your Writer’s… workbook series

Too long? Let me know.

Thank you for including me in your labor of love; I predict great success for this anthology.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

May 13, 2011 Kate emailed back. She transformed my three long sentences into two concise ones.  Thank you, Kate!

So, now my praise reads:

In Wisdom Has a Voice daughters answer the haunting question: ‘To be or not to be like mother?’ As they remember their mothers’ lives, they discover courage in touching translations of her sorrows, dreams, and triumphs. Beautiful.”               —Teresa LeYung-Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s…workbook series

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Cheers to all the hearts in these two anthologies!

Coach Teresa

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What does protagonist Ruby Lin want?

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May is Personal History Month

AMY GORMAN – Guided Autobiography class

Saturday May 22, 2010
PORTLAND, OREGON
Elders in Action and the Geezer gallery presents:
Grand Works Northwest Art Festival
~celebrating creativity in aging~
Amy Gorman offers:
Workshop in Creative Aging with the film, “Still Kicking”
The Mark Building, 1119 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR
www.eldersinaction.org
CONTACT: Brenda Morgan

Go to Amy Gorman’s website for other programs. She is the author of book Aging Artfully — about the twelve women aged 85-105 who inspired her work. It’s also about promoting positive healthy aging for the general public, and for advocating involvement with the creative arts in retirement years.

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Do you know about NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEMOIR WRITERS?

Post your comment to NAMW founder Linda Joy Myers’s question: Why should I write my memoir?

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Saturday May 21, 2011 Asian Heritage Street Celebration in San Francisco, CA

Teresa LeYung Ryan will be with fellow authors Margie Yee Webb, Dr. Patricia Tsang, Lloyd Lofthouse at the California Writers Club booth at Asian Heritage Street Celebration “AHSC” on May 21, 2011.  Teresa uses her book Love Made of Heart to honor the Chinese immigrant experience and to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and gain resources for their families.

As a writing career coach, Teresa uses her workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days to help fiction and nonfiction authors attract agents, publishers, readers, and media attention before and after publication.

Teresa LeYung is the sponsor of “THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE: NOVEL, MEMOIR, OR SHORT STORY” Writing Contest—entries must be received by 7:00 pm, Friday, April 29, 2011 or postmarked by April 25th, 2011. Winners’ names will be displayed at the June 11-19, 2011 San Mateo County Fair Literary Arts Department.

Cheers from Writing Career Coach Teresa

Writing Contest, Immigrant Experience, Asian Heritage Street Celebration 2011, Wisdom Has a Voice Anthology, Mothers and Daughters, Mental Health

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan here, looking forward to four related events/projects.

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Thanks to Bardi Rosman Koodrin’s encouragement, I’m sponsoring a writing contest through the San Mateo County Fair Literary Arts Dept.

DIVISION 342 – THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE: NOVEL, MEMOIR, OR SHORT STORY Writing Contest
Sponsored by Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of  Love Made of Heart (the story that inspires daughters and mothers to speak from their hearts)

Contest entries must be received by 7:00 pm, Friday, April 29, 2011 or postmarked by April 25^th, 2011

http://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/competitive-exhibits/departments/literary-arts

After you go to above link, look at left side of the webpage and click on [ Entry Book Pages ] for general rules.

http://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/guide_book/creative_arts.pdf

Scroll down to page 66 for details of  THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE: NOVEL, MEMOIR, OR SHORT STORY writing contest.

http://lovemadeofheart.com

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Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother

This groundbreaking anthology, to be released October 2011, will include 25 true and compelling stories about mothers (or mother figures) that express the wisdom shared or learned from a particular experience with each woman.   http://wisdomhasavoice.com

Editor-in-Chief Kate Farrell has asked me, Teresa LeYung Ryan, to write advance praise; the other two members of the editorial team are JC Miller and Ana Manwaring; they are only weeks away from completing final edits. I so look forward to reading stories written by women representing each continent. Kate, I’m honored.

I’m a fan of Kate Farrell’s literary works. Take a look at her young-adult novel Girl In the Mirror

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Saturday, May 21, 2011 Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC), organized by the AsianWeek Foundation

Two years ago author Margie Yee Webb helped me reconnect with the Asian-American community by inviting me to exhibit my book Love Made of Heart at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC). Thank you, Margie!

This year, Margie Yee Webb (author of Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings), Lloyd Lofthouse (author of My Splendid Concubine), Patricia Tsang, M.D. (author of Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine) and yours truly Teresa LeYung Ryan (author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days) will share a booth.  Please stop by the California Writers Club booth and say hello if you’re going to the Asian Heritage Street Celebration

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May is National Mental Health Month in the United States of America.

Thank you to mental health professionals and advocates and organizations including National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI, Stamp Out Stigma (founded by Carmen Lee), and BringChange2Mind (created by Glenn Close, the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation CABF, Fountain House, and Garen and Shari Staglin of International Mental Health Research Organization IMHRO.

BringChange2Mind Walks with NAMI BringChange2Mind is forming NAMIWalks teams across the country, and a portion of the funds they raise will benefit their mission to combat the stigma associated with mental illness via a national communications campaign.

Twelve million children and adolescents suffer from diagnosable mental health disorders.

1 in 6 adults and almost 1 in 10 children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness. Yet, for many, the stigma associated with the illness, can be as great a challenge as the disease itself. This is where the misconceptions stop. This is where bias comes to an end. This is where we change lives. Because this is where we Bring Change 2 Mind.   The video  BC2M Nami Walks 2010 is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it2S0ja2GlU

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“My beautiful mom suffered mental illness and its stigmas all her life. I celebrate National Mental Health Month, Mother’s Day, and all mental health advocates.  Mom, I celebrate you!”

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan