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.”

Platform-Building and Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “My deep gratitude to colleagues who have endorsed me on LinkedIn in September and October 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! 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:

Barbara Toboni  –  video of Barbara reading her poetry

Carol Sheldon, author, playwright, actress, poet, novelist; Carol’s mystery Mother Lode received BAIPA award for Best Fiction

Elaine Webster  President of Redwood Writers; author of multiple books

Kathryn (Kay) Mehl Miller – author of Living with the Stranger In Me: An Exploration of Aging

Kim McMillon – playwright, Arts In the Valley radio show producer, event producer, teaching assistant at U.C. Merced.  Kim is flying to Hawaii to help Vince McMillon, creator of the 1st Annual Hilo Coconut Festival,  Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 at Mokuola (Coconut Island).  Free to the public.

Linda C. McCabe – author of the historical novel Quest of the Warrior Maid

Mary E. Knippel, founder of The Unleashed Homemaker

Mona Mechling – memoirist; creator of The Fridge Magnet Chronicles

Sandy Baker – author of Mrs. Feeny & the Grubby Garden Gang

Steve (Fredericks) Liddick – author at Top Cat Publications

Thonie Hevron – Suspense stories that navigate the murky waters of right and wrong–on both sides of the law

Here are some organizations that connect these colleagues to me:

California Writers Club – Santa Rosa Branch aka Redwood Writers

California Writers Club – Marin Branch

California Writers Club – Sacramento Branch

California Writers Club – San Francisco Peninsula Branch

Writers Forum Petaluma with Marlene Cullen

Wisdom Has A Voice with Kate Farrell

Napa Writers Network

National Association of Memoir Writers with Linda Joy Myers

Women’s National Book Association

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

http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

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

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I had redesigned one of my signature presentations for California Writers Club-Redwood Branch and created a new template for Writing Career Make-Over with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan.

I so wanted to help every writer in the audience see how simple building one’s platform could be.  To get familiar with my audience, I read every word of Redwood Writers’ January 2012 newsletter and looked at the names of the entire membership roster on the branch’s website.  The exciting programs created by the members are synonymous with Redwood Writers. I spent weeks preparing for my presentation.

But I goofed!   Even though my definition of platform was on the template, I didn’t say it!  And, because I didn’t say: “A platform is making your name stand for something—to attract targeted consumers who are likely to buy what you have to sell,”  my talk was missing  structure.

Whether you write fiction, narrative nonfiction or prescriptive nonfiction (how to books) or poetry or plays or anthologies. . . whether you want to land an agent or acquisition editor at a publishing house . . . whether you want to be your own publisher . . . you’re going to need a platform.

Let’s dissect the definition of a platform.  “Making your name stand for something—to attract targeted consumers who are likely to buy what you have to sell.” (page 1 of my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days)

The last part “what you have to sell” — what you’re selling is your literary works or services.

The middle part “to attract targeted consumers” — the targeted consumers are the folks who read and buy the kind of material you write about.

The first part “Making your name stand for something” — that was the heart of my presentation–to help each writer identify the themes/subject matters/issues that he/she writes about. For my template, I had found on Google Images the perfect hard hat  to illustrate my point that the hardest job in platform-building is asking yourself and answering these questions: What is it that I write about? What are my themes/subject matters/issues? What will readers gain from reading my work?

So, there I was, asking 7 delightful authors (Marcia Naomi Berger, Deborah Taylor-French, Amanda McTigue, Robbi Sommers Bryant, Paul Greenberg,  Ana Manwaring, Heidi Roth) to come up to the stage to speak their full names. I guided them on how to identify: her/his picture of success; the themes/subject matters/issues that he/she writes about;  his/her motivators & modus operandi; her/his fans and where to find them.

Making one’s name synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues one writes about.

If I had prepared everyone with the “why” for doing the exercises, then more writers in the audience would have gained their “aha moments” too.

When I coach my clients  . . .prescriptive nonfiction (how to books) authors usually answer those questions with ease. It’s not so easy for fiction and narrative nonfiction authors. I’d say: “Instead of telling me the plotline or the character sketch, think about the issues and the themes.  What does your protagonist have to deal with?  What will your protagonist learn in story world?  What your main character learns, your readers will also learn!”  The answers will help you form your mission statement.

So, Coach Teresa, define a writer’s platform!  “Making your name stand for something—to attract targeted consumers who are likely to buy what you have to sell.”

Understanding what a platform is gives you a fresh look at your writing career.

And you’ll be ready to have more fun doing the exercises in my workbook. Day I exercises:  “Who am I?” and “What I Have in Common with Super Famous People” (take a sneak peek at Amazon’s “look inside” of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days

I wish to thank these folks again:

Linda C. McCabe for inviting me to present

The entire Redwood Writers Board

Everyone in the audience yesterday

Kate Farrell for helping me format my template on her MAC and being a loving friend

Everyone who gave me their comments on the evaluation sheet.

Everyone who told me about their themes before and after the presentation.

Everyone who bought Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days and will start Day I exercises:  “Who am I?” and “What I Have in Common with Super Famous People”

Everyone who bought Love Made of Heart (my novel to inspire adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families)

Kate Farrell made my day by showing me Lindsay Pasdera Marquez’s email to Redwood Writers’ listserver.

Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 8:57 AM

Re: [RWmembers] glad to have found RWC

I joined RWC a few months back, and was able to attend my first meeting yesterday.  Wow!  I feel very fortunate to have access to such a vibrant community of passionate writers in my own backyard.

I appreciated Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s perspective and am thrilled to have a written mission statement (Dream) for my work. Mine is: to dramatically increase the percentage of Americans who are aware that humans have a rich history of cooperation, egalitarianism, and non-violence. Writing that statement helped me see the coherence between my two current writing projects: one, a historical fiction set in sixth century Scotland among a matrilineal tribal people, and two, my blog (www.ancientabundance.blogspot.com) on the true nature of pre-agricultural humanity.  I have chosen a pen name for both the novel and the blog.

I look forward to taking advantage of all the wonderful growth opportunities that RWC has to offer and to getting to know each of you over time.

Happy New Year!

Lindsay Pasdera Marquez

Here’s my response:

Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 8:57 AM

Good Day Fabulous Redwood Writers!

Thank you for your participation yesterday for my “Writing Career Make-Over with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan” presentation.
Thank you for your comments on the evaluation sheets.

Lindsay, I am jumping for joy seeing your mission statement; it speaks with clarity. Be sure to add your mission statement to your signature block in emails (even emails to personal friends). Why? You want all your fans to see what you are passionate about. Fans talk about passionate people.

I will write a follow-up to yesterday’s session and submit it to Robin Moore and/or Lynn Millar for those who could not make it yesterday.

“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s platform!”
Sincerely,
Coach Teresa 

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (in print edition and E-book)

More rewards:

I’m going to submit my 10-minute play to 2012 Redwood Writers 2nd Playwriting Contest. Thank you, Linda Loveland Reid, for creating the contest!

Today, after Kate Farrell fed me breakfast and got me to Golden Gate Transit Mall in plenty of time (Thank you, Kate!), I met up with another dear friend–author Lynn Scott. I told Lynn about my goof-up yesterday; she laughed at me, lovingly. Thank you, Lynn! “Focus on the positive,” reminded Lynn.  Once again, writers brighten my day. I am a happy and thankful coach/author/friend.

To participate in this blog post (article), submit a comment by: clicking on the blue title bar of this post, scrolling down to get the boxes, filling in the boxes and click on “submit comment” button — so that thousands of my fans will see your name, URL (your website/blog address if you have one), and what themes/subject matters/issues you write about.

I’m cheering for you!

Coach Teresa, What Happened at the Sonoma County Book Festival – Part 1

Kate Farrell, Book Festival Director Melissa Kelley, Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Margie Yee Webb celebrating the literary arts & promoting literacy at the Sonoma County Book Festival 2011

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “I had a delightful day. Fun with booth partners Kate Farrell & Margie Yee Webb; saw colleagues and fans old and new; was able to see Maxine Hong Kingston and her circle of Veterans; met Ron Shaw of National Alliance for Mental Illness NAMI; got to be on stage at Redwood Writers Reading Circle and read opening lines from Love Made of Heart; sold many copies of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days . Thank you, everyone, especially Melissa Kelley and her team, Ana Manwaring for orchestrating the show and David for creating that beautiful stage,  Linda Loveland Reid (president of California Writers Club-Redwood Branch) for all that she does for the community, and Linda C. McCabe for inviting me to be January 2012 speaker at Redwood Writers!”

Teresa LeYung Ryan let Ron Shaw know that NAMI is on her Advocacy for Mental Health page on her website and that she uses Love Made of Heart to inspire other adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.

Kate Farrell showcased a new anthology she’s edited, Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother. With this anthology Kate conveys the wisdom of our mothers and the meaning daughters bring to this unique and deeply bonded relationship—through memoir. She is very excited that some of the local authors in the anthology read on the Reading Circle stage in the Redwood Village, sponsored by the Redwood Branch of California Writers Club.

Margie Yee Webb is author/photographer of Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings: Insight and Inspiration for a Wonderful Life a gift book for cat lovers and their finicky friends!  “Through my book, I promote pet awareness and encourage people to make a difference in the lives of cats and other companion animals.” says Margie.  She adds, “With the photographs of my cat Mulan complemented with words of wisdom, I bring people joy, smiles, and laughter.”

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President Linda Loveland Reid standing & cheering for Redwood Writers at Sonoma County Book Festival 2011--photo by Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Linda Loveland Reid (author of Touch of Magenta) says: “I was born in Hollywood, which has always been fun to say, and who knows, maybe it has lent its magic to my involvement with Theater. In any case, it has been suggested that there is a bit of the dramatic in my ways. I’ll take that as a compliment… I think.”

Check out Linda’s website to see all that she does for the community.

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Carol Sheldon, Barbara Truax, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Kate Farrell, Margie Yee Webb having fun at Sonoma County Book Festival 2011

Mother Lode placed in the top 5% of 5000 entries in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2011. It is Carole Sheldon’s first foray into the novel form as a playwright, her sandcastles and lifelines were both chosen for professional productions on the East Coast.

Barbara Truax is a founding member of Marin branch and past president of the state-wide California Writers Club. During her state presidency, the California Writers Club accepted a California Legislative Resolution, declaring the third week of October as California Writers Week.  She has published short stories and articles and after a three-year hiatus, has returned to writing.

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Margie Yee Webb greets new fans at Sonoma County Book Festival--photo by Coach Teresa

Linda Loveland Reid, Kate Farrell, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Carol Sheldon, Margaret Murray, Margie Yee Webb at Sonoma County Book Festival 2011--representing California Writers Club, Women's National Book Association, and Bay Area Independent Publishers Association

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Coach Teresa (right) recommends Nicole Zimmerman's blog http://paper-pencil-pen.blogspot.com/

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Ana Manwaring orchestrated the Redwood Writers Reading Circle stage (stage built by David) at Sonoma County Book Festival 2011

Ana Manwaring writes, edits, teaches and connects writers with writers in Wine Country, California. She’s branded cattle in Hollister, out-run gun totin’ maniacs on lonely highways, rented casas to Canadians in Cuernavaca, slept in ruins, PEMEX stations and beached sailboats, hitchhiked through-out the West, discovered hot springs in Baja, lived on houseboats, learned Spanish, advocated for immigration reform, consulted brujos, prepared hundreds of tax returns, visited every California mission, worked for a PI, and swum with dolphins.

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Linda C. McCabe & Kate Farrell

Linda C. McCabe Quest of the Warrior Maid brings the legends of Charlemagne to life with a retelling of the classic love story of Bradamante and Ruggiero.  See all the places that Quest of the Warrior Maid is available at!

Kate Farrell Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother–groundbreaking anthology includes 25 true and compelling stories about mother that express the wisdom shared or learned.

Persia Woolley & Leigh Anne Lindsey meeting new fans at Sonoma County Book Festival 2011

Leigh Anne Lindsey says: “SeaStorm Press is an ‘author-centric’ indie epublisher. We publish ebooks, establish and manage social media accounts and create websites and marketing materials. Our first author is Jim T. Lindsey  (Nova Scotia) with his ebook: ‘The Flaw in the Fabric, Book 1 of A Travellers Guide for Lost Souls’ ebook available now for $2.95 @ Smashwords, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google  Books and Scribd.”

Coach Teresa here . . . This is Part 1 of a series of photo-posts.  What a magical day we experienced at the Sonoma County Book Festival!

YOUTUBE Video — Day after the event — back at the site of the book festival.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”

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

$9.81 for ebook; $22 for print edition

Love Made of Heart inspiring adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.

As a manuscript consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan loves helping writers identify their themes and archetypes.

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Teresa on facebook!  She’s also involved in Women’s National Book Association and California Writers Club

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