Coach Teresa says: “Fortify Your Platform with New Tags for Your Books and All Your Writings.”

How do you attract new fans?  When your friends and colleagues brag about you?  Yes!   What else?  How do you help your prospective fans find you?  By making your name synonymous with the issues / themes / subject matter you write about?  Yes!!  After all, when folks need something, don’t they go to search engines and type keywords and key phrases (aka “tags”) to find what they need?  Those folks will find you through the tags associated with your name!

Here’s an excellent example — let’s look at author Wendy D. Walter and her tags.  Wendy writes fantasy / adventure stories for young adults / teens.  Her protagonist is fourteen-year-old Ambril Derwyn.

I hosted Wendy D. Walter (author of Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith) in a live-blog event on January 5, 2013.  Nineteen fans (old and new) showed up to greet her and cheer for her and to ask questions.

Thank you, Anne M. Beggs, Bardi Rosman Koodrin, Christopher Wachlin, Deborah Taylor-French, Diane LeBow, Dorcas Cheng-Tozun, Eugenia Budman, Eve Visconti, Janine, Jean Morrow, Kate Farrell, LakshmiLove, Linda C. McCabe, Margie Yee Webb, Maria, Tera, Thonie Hevron, Yolande Barial, for participating on January 5th, 2013!

To see complete questions and answers and  comments from please click on: http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/please-help-me-welcome-author-wendy-d-walter-to-this-live-blog-appearance/

To read my interview with Wendy, please click on:

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/coach-teresas-interview-questions-for-author-wendy-d-walter-ambrils-tale-the-return-of-the-dullaith/

Here are some tags associated with Wendy D. Walter’s writings

• Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith
• father’s death
• half-truth
• ancient Celtic magic and nature-based magic
• introverts
• Global Warming, rising seas, raging storms
• Utah in the middle of winter
• taking on the bullies
• fictional California town Trelawnyd
• fantasy stories
• monsters
• young adult Y/A
• secret warriors
• human morality

Thank you,Wendy, for having written a compelling story. What a page-turner!

Look for more “tags” in Wendy D. Walter‘s answers to the questions asked by fans:

“My all time favorite writer is Jane Austen. It’s been over 200 years since she was first published and her stories still enthrall me. From her books, I learned that the most important thing a writer can do is to make your readers care about what happens to your character and to never underestimate your reader.”

“I’m also a great admirer of Diana Wynne Jones, my favorite fantasy writer. She also never underestimated her readers and gave us incredibly intricate and original stories. Her books are often funny as well!”

“And that is why Ambril’s Tail has a very robust plot, with lots of twists and turns and strives to be humorous as often as possible!”

“Some of my characters are right out of my imagination, but some of them have roots in mythology. The Aunties, for instance, are the seers of the story, who share one pair of glasses. Perseus runs into three crones who share one eye and a tooth in one of his adventures, but groupings of three witches/hags/seers appear in all sorts of ancient Nordic and Germanic stories as well!”

“The Cerberus, the guardians of the underworld, is one of my favorite Greek legends.”

“I’m not sure why this is, but if you take a simple bullying exchange off the playground in our world and give the characters fangs and fairy wings, the issue becomes much clearer. In fantasy, we get a bit heavy handed at times and tend to make our bullies actual monsters (it’s more fun that way). Also, as bullying is an obvious abuse of power, it works well within worlds where it’s clear who the good and bad guys are, at least most of the time! Check out the Q & A Teresa posted on this blog for more on bullying: http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/coach-teresas-interview-questions-for-author-wendy-d-walter-ambrils-tale-the-return-of-the-dullaith/  Bullying appears to be a behavior that some mistake for strength, particularly the immature (of all ages).”

“And there is a great male main character called Ygg. My beta readers all chose him as their favorite character!”

“Ambril’s Tale is for the 10-14 marketplace, just right for middle schoolers!”

Get your copy of Wendy D. Walter's book or ask your library to carry it!

Where to Find the book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith:

http://www.amazon.com/Ambrils-Tale-Return-Dullaith-ebook/dp/B008EALE3A/

Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith at Barnes and Noble

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174750

“Book 2, Ambril’s Tale, Riding the Cursed Shoots, is coming out in March, 2013!”

Cheers to Wendy D. Walter, protagonist Ambril and everyone she cares about!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”
http://writingcoachteresa.com

As author of Love Made of Heart, creator of Love Made of Heart gift items and the “Talking to My Dead Mom Monologues,” Teresa encourages writers to speak out (in print) for those who cannot speak for themselves.

As coach and author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW , Teresa says: “Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.”

Wendy and Everyone!

I humbly thank you all for showing up to create a fun 3-hours.
You can still leave comments and tell your friends to leave comments on this post; I will ask Wendy to look for new comments in the next 4 days.

Your submitting comments today January 5th, 2013 qualified you to enter a contest. Wendy will be giving away a prize — a copy of one of her books (paperback or e-book).   On January 9, 2013 I will put your names in a pouch and ask Aster or Sid (Ambril’s guardian angels) to reach it and pull out the winner’s name.  The winner will get an email from me.

Also, you can enter Wendy’s End-of-Tour Grand Prize Giveaway of a hand-painted gnome, hand-painted by Wendy herself!  Go to  http://wendydwalter.com/blog-tour/ and scroll to bottom of that page.

To see the discussions (comments) from today, please click on the blue title-bar (header) of this post and scroll down your screen.

Thank you, Wendy, for your appearance!

Thank you, Everyone, for helping me welcome Wendy!

Please tell your friends about Wendy’s wonderful book  Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith!

Cheers!
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan
http://writingcoachteresa.com
“Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

Welcome, Everyone!  Thank you for being here!  It’s fine if you’re here early 

Author Wendy D. Walter will be here 10:00am to 1:00pm PST to answer your questions about her wonderful book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith, her spunky protagonist Ambril Derwyn, and her own writing life.

First, please click on the blue title-bar (header) of this post and scroll up and down your screen; you’ll see empty boxes at the bottom of this post. I’ll tell you more about how to fill in boxes later.

Wendy did the illustrations in her book.  Above is the gazebo in The Derwyn Garden.  I invite you to take a seat in the gazebo and wait for Wendy’s arrival.

Wendy says: “Ambril discovers that the garden is more of an overgrown jungle, as she wanders its rumpled paths seeking clues to her family’s mysterious heritage.”

   **

Wendy D. Walter uses her book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith to:

*  help young adults transform grief into courage

*  inspire readers to step into their unique inherent gifts

* show teens how to overcome obstacles, including battling foul-breath monsters (and bullies in any human form), and find their way home

From 10:00am to 1:00pm PST on January 5th, 2013 you’ll be experiencing live-blog (because Wendy and I will be at our stations).

You can  participate before 10:00am or after 1:00pm PST January 5, 2013; Wendy will still answer questions if you get here after January 5th; it’s just that  you would miss out on the live-blog-experience.

How to participate (by filling in the boxes below)  . . .  If you do not see empty boxes . . . remember to click on the blue title bar/header of this post and scroll down the screen.  You submit your comments/question; I publish them so that Wendy can see them; she’ll respond by submitting comments and I publish them.  And that is how a live-blog appearance works:

In the appropriate boxes, give:

• your full name
• your email address [the box is labeled "Mail"] – you do need to fill in that box
• your website/blog address if you have one [leave that box empty if you do not have a website address]
• in the large box, you ask your question or just welcome Wendy if you do not have any questions; tell Wendy what city you’re in [perhaps you're halfway around the world from San Francisco]
• then click on [Submit Comment] button. [If you do not press that button, it would be as if you’ve written your question for Wendy on a piece of paper but lost it . . . ]

Every few minutes between 10:00am and 1:00pm PST on January 5, 2013,  I will look for incoming comments and publish them so that everyone can see them. How fun is that!

If long minutes have gone by after you clicked on [Submit Comment] and you do not see your comment or Wendy’s response, it could be that you need to refresh your screen.  How do you refresh your screen?  Either click on the “Reload” icon on your tool bar on your screen  OR  press your F5 key  OR  press your Ctrl key and the R key at the same time.

 Ambril’s Tale, The Return of the Dullaith has received great 4-5-star reviews.

Fourteen-year-old Ambril Derwyn struggles with the mystery surrounding her father’s death when she moves back to the mysterious town where she was born. When she accidentally uncovers a secret which threatens to destroy her entire family, she continues her quest, against all odds, to clear her father’s name. But will she be able to claim her magic and heal the rifts in her family?

Aster and Sid
A fat blue-eyed squirrel and an old Crow take up the daunting task of watching over Ambril and keeping the monsters at bay.

Your submitting comments qualifies you to enter a contest. Wendy will be giving away a prize — a copy of one of her books (paperback or e-book).   On January 9, 2013 I will put your names in a pouch and ask Aster or Sid to reach it and pull out the winner’s name.  The winner will get an email from me.

Also, you can enter Wendy’s End-of-Tour Grand Prize Giveaway of a hand-painted gnome, hand-painted by Wendy herself!  Click on http://wendydwalter.com/blog-tour/

Thank you, Wendy, for stopping by my blog!

Thank you, Everyone, for helping me welcome Wendy!

Please tell your friends about Wendy’s wonderful book.  

Where to find Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith:

http://www.amazon.com/Ambrils-Tale-Return-Dullaith-ebook/dp/B008EALE3A/

Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith at Barnes and Noble

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174750

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”
http://writingcoachteresa.com

If you are looking for the live-blog experience on January 5, 2013 , 10:00am – 1:00pm PST, please go to  http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/please-help-me-welcome-author-wendy-d-walter-to-this-live-blog-appearance/  now.  Thanks!

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here . . . wishing you a  Happy New Year!  Below is the  interview with delightful Wendy D. Walter, author of Ambril’s Tale, The Return of the Dullaith (compelling story for teens . . . any age really).

About Ambril’s Tale, The Return of the Dullaith

Fourteen-year-old Ambril struggles with the mystery surrounding her father’s death when she moves back to the mysterious town where she was born. When she accidentally uncovers a secret which threatens to destroy her entire family, she continues her quest, against all odds, to clear her father’s name. But will she be able to claim her magic and heal the rifts in her family?

Ambril’s Tale, The Return of the Dullaith has received great 4-5-star reviews. Readers are impatiently demanding Book Two, which will be out early Spring 2013.

Be sure to come back to this blog on January 5, 2013, 10:00am-1:00pm PST

Wendy will be giving away a prize — a copy of one of her books (paperback or e-book).

Also, you can enter her End-of-Tour Grand Prize Giveaway of a hand-painted gnome, hand-painted by Wendy herself!  Click on http://wendydwalter.com/blog-tour/

What to expect on January 5th?  Click here.

author Wendy D. Walter

Coach Teresa’s Interview-Questions for Author Wendy D. Walter

Ambril's Tale, Return of the Dullaith

Coach Teresa:   Wendy, what is the symbolism behind Ambril and the Dullaith?

Wendy:    When protagonist Ambril moves back to the weird, little town where she was born, she is immediately attacked by a smelly, smoky, demon called a Dullaith. But the demon is more than just a salivating monster who wants to make Ambril a bedtime snack. Ambril soon finds that there’s a connection between it and her father’s death.

Smoke swirls around the Dullaith, just as lies cloak the truth about her father’s death. Ambril realizes that she must choose between acceptance in her new home town, and shining a light on the dark truths surrounding her father’s mysterious death.

We, as humans, tend to protect the status quo, no matter how rotten, to avoid  destabilizing events. The Dullaith represents how a festering half-truth can balloon to demonic proportions. All it requires is for us to close our eyes, and look away. It’s so easy . . . until it turns around, shows its jaggle tooth grin, and chases us.

Coach Teresa:   What makes  fantasy tick?

Wendy:    It isn’t really about gnomes and fairies. Fantasy provides us with an opportunity to flex our creativity and dream big. It’s also the perfect platform for dealing with human flaws. In fact, we fantasy-writers have it easy. If it suits us, we can dress up our bullies and despots as demons, give them breath so bad that it singes everyone’s eyebrows, then trounce them in battle…soooo satisfying.

We get to the heart of the matter with less fuss this way. This allows us more time to spend showing, rather than telling, how to deal with the sometimes monstrous behavior of our fellow humans.

Coach Teresa:   Bullying behavior is a hot topic today, tell us how you deal with it in Ambril’s Tale.

Wendy:    I have to admit, bullying is overused in YA fantasy books. Why? Because it works so well, as we’re allowed to paint human emotions with a broad brush. Bullying is an obvious abuse of power, it works well within worlds where it’s clear who the good and bad guys are, most of the time. But because it’s overused, it has to be done…delicately. That’s why, when I chose to sprinkle bullies throughout Ambril’s Tale, I did so with caution. But I did it, because I wanted to use them to expose nastier forms of abuse.

Bullying is just as rampant in Ambril’s world as it is in our world. Lance, one of Ambril’s schoolmates, is a classic bully. He shoves kids around and gleefully abuses his brother. But Lance has a reason for doing this, his fate hinges on his relationship with his father and brother, and how his family relates to the village of Trelawnyd.  Because the abuse of power becomes especially bad if it’s allowed to fester, the secrets of Trelawnyd threaten to bring everyone to their knees.

The only method of ridding ourselves of bullies and despots of all shapes and sizes is through education, intervention, or by forcing the bully to live with the consequences of his/her behavior. Lance’s behavior sets in motion a power greater than his own, and it changes him. Whether it’s for better or for worse, you’ll have to keep reading!

Coach Teresa:  Ambril’s Tale has many references to ancient Celtic magic and nature based magic. Why is that?

Wendy:    A while back, I stumbled on a genealogy website. As a child of the melting pot, I had never thought past my American heritage. But I was intrigued, so I started clicking and soon found myself back in a small Welsh village. The place where my ancestors had stumped around in Wellies—and whatever came before Wellies—for nearly 500 years. It was a little place, a village called Trelawnyd.

Nature and magic. This is where it all began for us humans. Around the globe, religion started out as a way to tame the elements, and to minimize the damage nature often exacts. In honor of my newly found heritage, I named my fictional California town Trelawnyd. There, Ambril finds that nature based magic is alive and well.

We live under the threat of Global Warming, rising seas and raging storms. I thought that by using the ancient magic of the Celts, and their firm belief that a balance of nature must be maintained,  it might help us gain the courage to face our man-made demons and make some much needed changes.

There are little bits and pieces of Celtic magic everywhere in Ambril’s Tale. The  demons in Ambril’s Tale take the form of unbalanced nature. The Dullaith is made of noxious smoke and the big, bad guy in the series, Moroz, is something only a mad scientist would be proud of; a toxic mesh of humanity and tortured tree. I don’t want to say anymore as I’ll probably ruin it for you, Book 2, Riding the Cursed Shoots will be coming out in March!

Coach Teresa:   Is there a particular human flaw that you most wanted to address in Ambril’s Tale?

Wendy:    Every writer has issues to put forth in their books. One of mine centers around my experience of moving to Utah from California at the age of ten.

Before I go any further, I have to say that this is a human problem, not a religious one. In fact, there are football fans who exhibit what we’re about to discuss.

Coming from California, Utah felt cold and closed. I found it hard to fit in. Why? Was I weird, were they, or was it something else? I’ve thought long and hard about this and, although I am a little weird, I think that it was something else. For when 90% of your neighbors, the kids at school, and your parent’s friends share a restrictive belief system, everything is just a bit skewed. People strive to cover up their idiosyncrasies, they hide away their family secrets and desperately pretend to be normal.

In Ambril’s Tale, Trelawnyd mirrors the environment I found in Utah. It is a village obsessed with pretending to be something it isn’t, normal. Magical beings are everywhere, in the forests, the skies and among the villagers. But no one ever talks about them. Keeping this secret has made the villagers fearful and suspicious of outsiders. Though Ambril has roots in Trelawnyd, most villagers regard her as an outsider. She has to tread lightly as she tries to unlock the secrets surrounding her father’s death.

Coach Teresa:  Tell us about Ambril’s source of power and why you created it.

Wendy:    Magical objects imbued with power, are a great way to showcase just how much power corrupts. In fantasy, we use them to convey power exchanges.  They get stolen, destroyed, ransomed, enslaved—etc. In real life, we exchange power in conversation, body language and transactions. But real life is complicated,  it is difficult to tell if someone behaved honorably when he’s caught holding your wallet. Did he really pick it up off the sidewalk or did he pick your pocket? Because he’s your cousin, exactly when do you ask him about the missing $100 bill? In front of the cops? At Thanksgiving?

It’s often a relief to see how well our moral compasses work when given clear choices. And with practice, perhaps it may even work better in real life, so that you can find a way to recover your $100 and remain friends with all of your cousins.

Coach Teresa:  Some believe that the violent nature of fantasy stories is too extreme. What are your thoughts?

Wendy:    Death, destruction, mayhem—it’s everywhere in fantasy stories. Without them, the good guys don’t shine nearly bright enough. Stories of all genres require a broad spectrum of life to ring true, particularly so with fantasy stories.

Physical violence and emotional abuse are all too common in our world. If we practice dealing with it in a world where we can’t personally get hurt, it helps us deal with real life bullies, thieves and people on the verge of going postal.

I have had my share of dragon bosses, ferrety friends and relatives who would give the Wicked Witch of the West pause. Fantasy characters may look different, but most of them are human inside.  Learning how to deal with monsters in a fantasy world such as Ambril’s might help everyone deal with the nasty’s in their life. I know it’s helped me. Practice, practice, practice.

Coach Teresa:  In your book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith . . . Ambril heals her family.  Did you set out to write this familiar theme in your YA (young adult) novel?

Wendy:    All those with perfect families please raise your hand…Yeah, I thought so, are there any? Let’s face it, we all have family issues;  crazy uncles,  aunts who drink too much at Christmas, and the occasional incarcerated cousin. Kids fantasize about fixing these problems. If only Mom and Dad would fall in love again, then we would all live happily ever after…If only Dad stopped drinking…If only Mom wasn’t working so hard…if only, if only…

Ambril is no different than any other kid. There is a secret hidden in Ambril’s family, a secret that no one is willing to talk about. Ambril realizes that if she can drag this secret into the light, her family might begin to heal. She is desperate for this, and risks everything to reveal this one secret including: losing her friends, her future in Trelawnyd…even her life. All for the chance of knitting her family back together again.

Coach Teresa:  What specifically is empowering to women in Ambril’s Tale?

Wendy:    It’s electrifying to see through the eyes of a demon slayer and share the triumph when power is snatched from the hands of the evil overlord, isn’t it?

One of the things that I find thrilling is the proliferation of female warriors today. In our world, there are few outlets for women to be warrior-like as it counters our nurturing image. Secretly, I suspect that the women of the world would love to try it once in a while, and fantasize about it when they can.

I’m one of those secret warriors. Secret, because it never works in real life for me. When I take up a cause and go once more, into the breach, I usually find myself going off a cliff and into the mud…amidst laughter. It’s so humiliating. Fantasy books allow me to be physically adept and best the bad guys, occasionally.

In fantasy, the rules are clear and the tasks simple: save the universe or everyone dies. There is absolutely no ambiguity. It allows us to escape the shifty, gray edges of human morality. When we root for the good guys, it refreshes our view of reality. Because we all know we can’t slug our overbearing, bombastic bosses in real life. But besting demons in Ambril’s world feels almost as good. It’s exhilarating and empowering.

Be sure to come back to this blog on January 5, 2013, 10:00am-1:00pm PST

Reward Number 1 for showing up on this blog on January 5th:  Schmooze with Wendy D. Walter!

Another reward:  Wendy’s publisher will give away a prize — a copy of one of Wendy’s books (paperback or e-book).  The giveaway ends five days after my blog post goes live.

Another reward:  Over 6,000 readers visit my blog each month. Introduce yourselves and ask Wendy questions, so that everyone will get to meet you too.

About The Author:  Wendy D. Walter

Writing was an early passion for Wendy. As a kid, she wrote lots of stories, but being shy, those  usually ended up under the mattress. When she finally set out to tell Ambril’s Tale, she decided not to write a story but a world, full with her own marvelous illustrations. She considers The Return of the Dullaith as just the curly tip of the fairy boot. Wendy lives near San Francisco with her husband, daughters, cat and border collie. More information about Wendy’s book and art, check her site: http://wendydwalter.com

Ambril's Tale, Return of the Dullaith

Where to Find the book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith:

http://www.amazon.com/Ambrils-Tale-Return-Dullaith-ebook/dp/B008EALE3A/

Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith at Barnes and Noble

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174750

See you on January 5th!

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”
http://writingcoachteresa.com

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here, with exciting news!

 Wendy D. Walter uses her new book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith to:

*  help young adults transform grief into courage

*  inspire readers to step into their unique inherent gifts

* show teens how to overcome obstacles, including battling foul-breath monsters (and bullies in any human form), and find their way home

Ambril's Tale, Return of the Dullaith by Wendy D. Walter

Please mark your calendars.  Come by my blog  http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog on January 3rd and 5th, 2013.

On January 3, 2013  I will publish my interview with delightful author Wendy D. Walter!

author Wendy D. Walter

Then, on January 5th, 2013, 10:00am – 1:00pm Pacific Standard Time -  Wendy D. Walter will be here, live on my blog!

What does that mean?  That morning, I will publish a post at http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog with instructions for you to submit comments.  Your submitting comments is how you would “show up” to greet my guest-author and ask her questions.  I will be at my computer, publishing your comments (making your comments “live”) . . .  so that you, Wendy, and everyone who submit comments (“showing up” during those hours) will see what everyone else is saying.  Wendy will be at her computer, submitting comments too . . . that’s how she would “show up” to say hello to you and answer your questions.

You might be asking:  “Coach Teresa, what if I cannot be at my computer during those hours on January 5th to greet Wendy?”

Answer:  “You can participate anyway . . . by submitting your comments when you do show up after Jan. 5th 1:00pm PST; I will check my blog within 48 hours after the event, publish your comments, and notify Wendy that there were guests who showed up after the live-event . . . then she will respond by submitting her comments . . . I will publish within 48 hours.”

Reward Number 1 for submitting comments:  Schmooze with Wendy D. Walter!

Another reward for submitting comments:  Wendy’s publisher will give away a prize — a copy of one of Wendy’s books (paperback or e-book).  The giveaway ends five days after my blog post goes live.

Another reward for submitting comments:  Over 6,000 readers visit my blog each month. Introduce yourselves and ask Wendy questions, so that my fans will get to meet you too.

Where to Find the book Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith :

http://www.amazon.com/Ambrils-Tale-Return-Dullaith-ebook/dp/B008EALE3A/

Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith at Barnes and Noble

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174750

What is Kirkus Review saying about Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith ?

Normal teenagers are thrust into a world of magic in this heartfelt, occasionally hair-raising story for the Harry Potter set…The cliff-hanger ending will leave readers craving the next installment. Bound to satisfy young readers hungry for tales of magic, adventure and friendship.  – Kirkus Review

To see complete schedule of Wendy’s blog tour:  http://ambrils-tale.com

I am very happy for Wendy and so excited that she will be here on January 5th!

See you all then!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

Teresa LeYung-Ryan at LinkedIn

http://www.facebook.com/Teresa.LeYung.Ryan

http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here to thank Margie Yee Webb for telling me about Laurie Hoirup’s orchestrating the authors’ event at Carvalho Family Winery on Dec. 15 & 16, 2012, 1:00-5:00pm, and Amy Gorman for saying “yes” to going too!  Margie, Amy and I will be there Saturday Dec. 15th only.

authors Margie Yee Webb, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Amy Gorman

Click here for updated list of authors.

Click here for directions to the winery.

 Carvalho Family Winery

at Old Sugar Mill
35265 Willow Avenue
Clarksburg, CA 95612

December 15 & 16, 2012, 1:00pm to 5:00pm both days
“Gifts of Wine & Words!”

Come out and enjoy a glass of wine (or two) while buying a new book signed by the author! Over 40 authors–representing a multitude of genres. Pair the perfect wine with your new favorite book.  No charge to attend this event.

1. Laurie Hoirup - I Can Dance: My Life with a Disability
2.  A. K. Buckroth - My Diabetic Soul
3. Cindy Sample – Dying for a Date
4.  Theodora Graves – Through Phantom Eyes
5. Amy Rogers – Petroplague
6. Jeannie Nishikawa – Dreaming in English: A Memoir
7. Margie Yee Webb – Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings: Insight and Inspiration for a Wonderful Life
   
8. Penny Callmeyer, co-author Villa of  Youth
9. TE Watson – The Man Who Spoke With Cats
10. Shelley Buck – Floating Point
11. Teresa LeYung-Ryan – Love Made of Heart; Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days
12. Amy Gorman – Aging Artfully: 12 Profiles of Visual and Performing Women Artists 85-105
13. Liz Allenby – Appearances Deceive
14. Cheryl Stapp – Disaster & Triumph: Sacramento Women-Gold Rush through Civil War
15. Murray Stapp – Those Radio Days
16. Loraine Holden – Don’t Get Thin, Get Healthy
17. Norma Thorton - Nonie’s  1st Big Bottom Girls’ Rio Linda Cookbook
18. Marsha Robinson – Rescuing Humphrey
19. Sheri Cockrell - contributor to Mom Entrepreneur Extraordinaire
20. Judith Horstman – Scientific American brain books
21. Phil Silver – Andi the Bee
22. Naida West - California Gold Trilogy
23. Peggy  Dulle – Saddle Up
24. Owen Sullivan - The House’s Money
25. Nan  Mahon – Blind Buddies
26. Linda  Lohman – contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul
27. Robert M Pacholik – Crab Louie
28. Mort  Rumberg – Codename: Snake
29. Denise Lee Branco - Horse at the Corner Post
30. Jen Barton - Fiona Thorn and the Carapacem Spell
31. Marilyn Reynolds – Over 70 and I Don’t Mean MPH
32. Anara Guard - Late Peaches
33. Frank Luna – Red Storm
34. Mary Weins - Bootstrap Your Way to a Successful Business
35. Lonon Smith - Wise Men
36. Frank Leek – Shared Parenting; Beyond the Great Divide
37. Shirley Parenteau - Bears in Beds
38. Margaret Murray - Dreamers, A Coming of Age Love Story of the 60s
39. Elaine Macko – Armed
40. Joyce Mikal-Flynn – Turning Tragedy Into Triumph, Metahabilitation; A Contemporary Model of Rehabilitation

Meet authors at “Gifts of Wine & Words” Dec. 15 & 16, 2012 near Sacramento, CA

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Teresa LeYung-Ryan at LinkedIn

http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

http://www.facebook.com/Teresa.LeYung.Ryan

http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

October 25, 2012 through December 6, 2012

Platform-Building and Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “My deep gratitude to colleagues who have endorsed me on LinkedIn in October, November, December 2012.  If other colleagues / clients have endorsed me but I haven’t received notification, please let me know by emailing me or submitting a comment to this post.  Thank you so much! Anyone who reads this post can submit a comment – please brag about your own work / specialties; let my fans know what you are doing in the writing / publishing world.”

To submit a comment: click on the headline/title bar of this post, scroll down to the end of this post, fill in the boxes, and press the [submit comment] button.

I thank these colleagues for endorsing my services relating to: blogging; book publishing; editing; writer’s platform-building; Search Engine Optimization “SEO” for websites/blogs; creative-writing coaching; social media

• Suzanne Corson – email marketing manager; newsletter project manager; freelance editor; writer; business owner; bookseller; independent bookstores

• Nancy Suib- 30+ years in publishing industry. Book retail experience. In-house publishing sales and marketing. Owner of sales and marketing independent rep organization selling to 13 western states
• Carole Bumpus – author of A Cup of Redemption- Carole has been researching family life in both France and Italy, regarding women who have suffered the ‘collateral damages’ of war.
• Patricia Chan-Miller- Organized coordinator; Expert negotiator; Skilled compiling information/data into reports and spreadsheets

• Steve (Fredericks) Liddick – book publishing; book promoting; California Writers Club; Top Cat Publications; retired from radio business

• Linda C. McCabe – author of  Quest of the Warrior Maiden- Book One in the Bradamante and Ruggiero series
• Thonie Hevron - author of By Force Or Fear  “Giving writers–and readers–an authentic cop experience.”
• Kim McMillon- interviews artists, writers, those interested in the healing arts and theater arts.  Playwright; teacher; member of PEN Oakland;  radio show host & promoter of San Joaquin and Northern California events.
• Kathryn (Kay) Mehl Miller, Ph.D. -  interested in living as an aging woman and writing about the subject; author of  Living with the Stranger in Me: An Exploration of Aging
• Marcia Naomi Berger- The Marriage Maven; creator of The Marriage Meeting Starter Kit.  “I am an experienced psychotherapist who is well-trained in both cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic approaches. I love drawing on my knowledge of many treatment approaches so that I can customize my work for each client and situation. My mission is to help people get the marriage they’ve always wanted; a loving one that fosters the growth and vitality of both partners, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.”
• Julaina Kleist-Corwin- award-winning writer, school teacher, and field supervisor
• Linda Joy Myers – writing teacher; founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers; author of multiple books, including The Power of Memoir
• Carol Sheldon – award-winning author of Mother Lode, playwright, director, actress, poet, educator
• Elaine Webster -  author of Heartfelt: A Caregivers Guide to Cardiomyopathy and Mitral Valve Surgery;  Jesse’s Tale: Overcoming Fear Aggression and Separation Anxiety in an Adopted Greyhound  president of California Writers Club–Redwood Branch
• Barbara Santos – Created, developed and publicized signature events on Maui and in California both non-profit and for profit. Transitioned small grass-roots events into multi-million dollar budgeted events; marketing director for San Francisco Writers Conference; author of Practice Aloha Book: Secrets to Living Life Hawaiian Style;
• Tory Hartmann – Tory is a writer who has sold articles to San Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo Times, Parenting on the Peninsula, as well as many other publications; Editor at Sand Hill Review Press
• Martha Alderson – The Plot Whisperer is an international plot consultant for writers. Her clients include best-selling authors, screenwriters, writing teachers and fiction editors. As the author of  The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master, and the workbook, and Blockbuster Plots Pure & Simple, she created a unique line of plot tools for writers, including the Scene Tracker Kit, and the Plot Planner DVDs
• Susan Novak- botanist; gardener; plant identifying
• Diane Warner- memoirist; doll maker; artist; retired clown
• Sandy Baker – author of Mrs. Feeny and the Grubby Garden Gang;  Zack’s Zany Zucchiniland; The Tehran Triangle; a master gardener
• Mona Mechling – Writer;  creator of The Fridge Magnet Chronicles(collection of short stories)
• Barbara Toboni – writer; bookkeeper. Barbara writes short stories, poetry, memoir, and picture books. Her poetry and essays have been published in literary journals and newspapers including Alura Poetry and the Napa Valley Register. Her short stories have been published in anthologies, including Wisdom Has a Voice, Vintage Voices, and Cup of Comfort. Undertow, a chapbook of poetry, was published in 2011

Here are some organizations that connect these colleagues to me:

San Francisco Writers Conference

California Writers Club – San Francisco Peninsula Branch

California Writers Club – Santa Rosa Branch aka Redwood Writers

California Writers Club – Berkeley Branch

California Writers Club – Marin Branch

California Writers Club – Sacramento Branch

California Writers Club – South Bay Branch

For all branches of  California Writers Club http://calwriters.org

Writers Forum Petaluma

Wisdom Has A Voice

National Association of Memoir Writers

Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter

For all chapters of Women’s National Book Association http://www.wnba-books.org

Have you seen Coach Teresa interviewed by Frank Mallicoat on CBS Channel 5?

Cheering for writers and readers and everyone who has a story in her/his heart!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Teresa LeYung-Ryan at LinkedIn

http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

http://www.facebook.com/Teresa.LeYung.Ryan
http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Thanksgiving Day for me (Coach Teresa) marks the beginning of “the season for wonderment.”  I especially like this time of year – rainy days; pumpkin pies, sweet potato pies; leaves turning yellow, orange, red; cards from friends; more rain.

It’s also bittersweet – the ending of a year; what projects didn’t get done?

It’s also extremely sad – people we care about getting sick, suffering, dying.

As I give thanks to every living being who has helped me come this far in life, I give thanks to every angel who has inspired me to find joy in work.

This year, I am extremely sad for these heroes who have suffered and died. These dear hearts are: Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Jacquelyn Amira Hayes, Dr. Pamela Rogers, Miriam May Meyer Pollock, and Lori Hope.  Thank you, Kathi, Amira, Pamela, Miriam, and Lori, for all that you did to help people and for the legacies you leave behind.

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Did you know that the City of San Francisco had declared Nov. 8, 2008 as "Kathi Kamen Goldmark Day"? That same day, Kathi received the Women's National Book Association (WNBA) Award.

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On her facebook profile, beautiful Amira Hayes's response to "Religious Views" was: "Love"

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Vibrant Dr. Pamela D. Rogers helped women understand and enjoy their own sexuality

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A smile from Miriam Pollock would make one's whole day bright.

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Author Lori Hope would ask: "What do you say to someone with cancer — how do you show how much you care?"

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Two other beautiful hearts have left for their next journeys – my husband’s cousin Sue and twenty-three year old Leah.

I miss you all so much; and, I am so sad for your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

As author of Love Made of Heart, creator of Love Made of Heart gift items and the “Talking to My Dead Mom Monologues,” Teresa encourages writers to speak out (in print) for those who cannot speak for themselves.

As coach and author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW , Teresa says: “Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.”

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Literacy Advocate Kim McMillon invites us to:

PEN OAKLAND National Literary Awards

Saturday, December 1, 2012, 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Oakland Public Library – Rockridge Branch, Oakland, CA

PEN OAKLAND “The Blue-Collar PEN”

The 22nd Annual PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles National Literary Awards will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2012, at the Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Avenue from 2 to 5 p.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a reception and book signings.

THE 2012 PEN OAKLAND-JOSEPHINE MILES LITERARY AWARD WINNERS

Ocotillo Dreams by Melinda Palacio.
Bilingual Review Press. (novel)

The Armageddon of Funk by Michael Warr.
Tia Chucha Press. (poetry)

Solitude of Five Black Moons by Aurora Harris.
Broadside Press/University of Detroit Mercy Press. (poetry)

La Negra y Blanca: Fugue & Commentary by Deena Metzger.
Hand to Hand Press. (novel)

Fug You by Ed Sanders.
Da Capo Press. (memoir)

Sugar Zone by Mary Mackey.
Marsh Hawk Press (poetry)

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward.
Bloomsbury. (novel)

CENSORSHIP AND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Alexander Cockburn is the winner of the 2012 Censorship Award.

Q.R. Hand will receive the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Hearty congratulations to all the winners and everyone at PEN Oakland !

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

As coach and author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW , Teresa says: “Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.”

After Thanksgiving Day . . . Events for Writers & Readers in Placerville, Fremont, El Dorado Hills, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, CA

Friday, November 23, 2012,  11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Award-winning authors at Placerville News Company!

409 Main Street
Placerville, CA 95667
530-622-4510

Author/photographer Margie Yee Webb, Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings: Insight and Inspiration for a Wonderful Life; and author Cindy Sample, Dying For A Date and Dying For A Dance, during Merchants Open House on Historic Main Street.  Just in time to start your Christmas shopping!

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Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, 2:00-4:00pm  California Writers Club–Fremont Branch

For details: http://www.cwc-fremontareawriters.org/

Get ready to put aside the Thanksgiving leftovers, and dine on Fremont Area Writers’ Two for One Turkey Time Treat!

No, not food—food for thought.

We’re planning a revival of Open Mic, followed by a panel discussion in which three intrepid FAW members will attempt to answer your questions about writing, editing, marketing…you name it!

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Authors Dahlynn McKowen & Ken McKowen at Face In A Book

Book Signing
FACE IN A BOOK Bookstore and Gifts
El Dorado Hills Town Center, El Dorado Hills, CA

Come meet local authors Dahlynn and Ken McKowen, creators of the Not Your Mother’s Book anthology series, at this special Small Business Saturday event. Also joining them will be Granite Bay resident Nancy Withers, who contributed a story to the On Being a Woman title. Light refreshments will be served.

The McKowens spent 10 years creating Chicken Soup for the Soul books with Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen before launching the NYMB series. NYMB books are contemporary, fun and even daring! No sad, sappy or death and dying stories—EVER! They are looking for stories for 30-plus new NYMB titles. Submission guidelines can be found at www.PublishingSyndicate.com

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Saturday, December 8, 2012  California Writers Club–Mt. Diablo Branch in Pleasant Hill, CA

For details: http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/next-program/

Special End-of-Year Luncheon

with “Two of Our Own”

Susan Pace-Koch

Susan will discuss Get Out of My Head, I Should Go to Bed, illustrated by award-winning Jeremy Kwan, and her latest children’s book, In One Ear and Out the Other, illustrated by Jack Wiens.  Her books will be available for sale for those special children on your “list.”

Kathleen Curtis Wilson

Kathleen will speak of her twenty years of writing set-backs, successes, and opportunities.  She will describe two years of photography, three years of research, and four years to find a publisher for her third book, Irish People, Irish Linen.

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Saturday, December 15, 2012  California Writers Club–Tri-Valley Branch in Pleasanton, CA

For details:  http://trivalleywriters.org/

Meg Waite Clayton is the national bestselling author of The Four Ms. Bradwells, The Wednesday Sisters, and the Bellwether Prize finalist The Language of Light, published by Ballantine Books, a Random House imprint, and acclaimed by all major national book club picks.

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Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

As coach and author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW , Teresa says: “Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.”

Do you know anyone ages 13-21 in Sacramento County, CA who likes to make movies?  Videographers called to create videos addressing mental illness stigma and discrimination–entries due December 21, 2012.

Press release:   Video Contest for Mental Health Stigma – Entries Due December 21, 2012

Love Made of Heart (mother-daughter love story) by Teresa LeYung-Ryan