Thank you for your honest and poignant writing. You have a gift of writing from the heart with a sincerity that is far-reaching. Heart-felt, heart-warming and perfect. Just what I needed to hear right now.

Marlene Cullen

Please click here for “Transforming Depression Into My Writer’s Muse” by Teresa LeYung-Ryan (on Marlene Cullen’s blog)

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

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Please click  here for Writing Teacher Marlene Cullen’s Book Review of Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s Love Made of Heart

Love Made of Heart by Teresa LeYung Ryan is excellent. I read it in two sittings. Dinner could wait. I had to find out what would happen to Ruby Lin. Teresa uses her novel to advocate compassion for mental illness and to help survivors of family violence find their own voices. Teresa’s writing is evocative and from the heart. . . she reaches deep and succeeds with her genuine and authentic voice. I want to read Love Made of Heart again. Yes, it’s that good.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan is an advocate for mental health.   Advocacy For Mental Health — Resources for Women, Girls, Boys, Teens, Men, Families

Love Made of Heart Gift Shop

Marlene Cullen

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Thank you, Writing Teacher Marlene Cullen, for reviewing my book Love Made of Heart on your blog, facebook, and Goodreads. Being the author of the book gives me strength to encourage other adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas. Also, thank you again for letting me guest blog to talk about “Transforming Depression Into My Writer’s Muse”  You have my deep gratitude.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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For more information about Marlene Cullen’s blog, writing workshops and Writers’ Forum of Petaluma, please click here.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Teresa’s novel Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby is used in college courses and archived at the San Francisco History Center.

As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, Coach Teresa helps clients identify their themes and archetypes.

http://writingcoachTeresa.com   Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog”

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Thank you, dear Marlene Cullen, for asking me to be your guest-blogger this week.

Here’s how I had started the post for Marlene’s blog (The Write Spot Blog–Sharing the Light):

What do I have to be depressed about?

I am blessed with friends, writing colleagues, housemates, spouse, family members, coworkers, a half-time day job, health insurance, my intellectual properties . . .  and what friends call a sense of humor.  But I don’t feel like laughing in my condition, maybe later. I may have inherited the depression gene (or genes) from my loving mother.

While I sympathized with my mother’s illness (my novel Love Made of Heart was inspired by her), it would take experiencing the illness myself before I could gain empathy.

To read more . . .  please visit Marlene Cullen’s blog post by clicking on Transforming Depression Into My Writer’s Muse — by Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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For a list of resources, please visit my blog page Helpful Websites & Resources & Guides for Mental Health / Mental Illness / Depression.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Teresa’s novel Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby is used in college courses and archived at the San Francisco History Center.

As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, Coach Teresa helps clients identify their themes and archetypes.

http://writingcoachTeresa.com   Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog”

Petaluma, CA  Argus-Courier Thursday July 18, 2013

Community Profile:  Marlene Cullen – Painting Pictures with Words

Lynn Schnitzer says: “Marlene Cullen is passionate about writing and helping other writers find their literary voice.”

Marlene says:  ”My favorite authors are:

Jacqueline Winspear

Rachael Herron

Elizabeth Berg

Sue Monk Kidd

John Dunning

Teresa LeYung Ryan

Jeannette Walls

Sheldon Siegel

Lolly Winston

Liza Gyllenhaal

Zoe Fitzgerald Carter

Anne Rivers Siddons

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Frances Lefkowitz

Gillian Flynn.”

Visit Marlene’s site:  http://www.thewritespot.us/ where she says:

“Thank you to the 2013 Writers Forum presenters. You are awesome: Frances Lefkowitz, Patricia V. Davis, Amanda McTigue, Jennifer Gennari, Andy Ross, Anne Jordan, Constance Hale, Melanie Thorne.”

Check out Marlene’s new blog:   http://thewritespot.us/marlenecullenblog/

I celebrate Marlene Cullen, Writers Forum of Petaluma, and everyone she cares about!

Sincerely,

Sunday, January 27, 2013,  1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Location: The Sunflower Center, 1435 No. McDowell Blvd. (in the Redwood Business Park, behind Applebee’s), Petaluma, CA

Cost:  $25 pre-registration; $30 at the door

Registration:  Marlene Cullen’s email address at comcast.net is: mcullen   or call her at 707-762-6279

The first part of this workshop will be an exploration of significant events through writing. The second part features art collage as a fun way to discover personal paths.

No special writing experience needed. Bring a notebook and pen.  Material for art collage will be provided. You are welcome to bring a poem, magazines or any other material you would like to use for collage. 

Marlene Cullen is a cheerleader for writers and founder of Writers Forum of Petaluma. Her workshops provide essential elements for successful writing, where participants often experience transformational changes. 

Please visit Marlene’s website for more information: www.thewritespot.us

“By writing our stories, we begin to understand what was formerly unclear.”  

                     — Louise DeSalvo, Writing As A Way of Healing

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

“Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”   http://writingcoachteresa.com

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.”

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.

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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Please introduce yourselves by clicking on the title bar of this post and submitting a comment. Invite my blog visitors to your events. Thank you!

Some Events for Writers & Readers in September & October 2011 in these two counties:

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California Writers Club–Redwood Branch meets at the Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa in Santa Rosa, CA

Redwood Writers Meeting 2:30-5 PM at the Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa, 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 • Phone: (707) 545-8530

September 11, 2011 Speaker will be Joan Price, “What I Learned about Book Publicity after Wasting
$1000 of My Publisher’s Money.”

October 9, 2011 Speaker  will be Joan Frank “Ideas and Discovery: Protecting and Celebrating the Fictional Dream.”

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Writers Forum of Petaluma (founder: Marlene Cullen) These literary workshops take place on the third Thursday of each month, March through November (no workshops in January, February and December).

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (we start promptly at 7:00 pm); $15 at the door
Location: Petaluma Community Center at Lucchesi Park, 320 No. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, California

September 15, 2011 Christine Walker  “Image & The Senses”

October 20, 2011 Barbara Spicer   “Telling Tales”

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Saturday, September 24, 2011, 10:00am–4:00pm

Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter members and California Writers Club-Redwood Branch members at Sonoma County Book Festival

Look for Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Margie Yee Webb, Kate Farrell, Ana Manwaring at their booths and on the Redwood Village/Readers Circle Stage.  Leigh Anne Lindsey, Linda Joy Myers, Zoe FitzGerald Carter, Laurel Anne Hill. Who else?     Ana Manwaring orchestrates Redwood Writers Village Stage! Stage times: 1:00pm Redwood Writers Vintage Voices; 1:45-2:00pm Margie Yee Webb & Teresa LeYung-Ryan; 2:00-2:45pm Kate Farrell and anthology contributing authors

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Sunday, September 25, 2011,   2 to 4 pm

California Writers Club–Marin Branch meets at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA

Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA

Traditional Publishing or Self-Publishing:
Which One’s For You?

Our panel of authors and publishing professionals includes April Eberhardt, literary agent; Judith Marshall, author of Husbands May Come and Go But Friends Are Forever; Holly Payne, author of Kingdom of Simplicity, The Sound of Blue and The Virgin’s Knot, and founder of Skywriter Books; and Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, author of Love in Translation, Midori by Moonlight, and Marriage in Translation: Foreign Wife, Japanese Husband.

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Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

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

Coach Teresa is the author of 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

Teresa is the author of Love Made of Heart

Coach Teresa’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Teresa on facebook!

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If you’re in the Santa Cruz/Capitola/Soquel/Aptos area –

Saturday, October 9, 2010, 10:00AM-3:00PM  Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola, California

PLOT PLANNER WORKSHOP for Writers — Plot at the overall story level — with International Plot Consultant Martha Alderson

Plot is a series of scenes deliberately arranged by cause and effect to create the most satisfying DRAMA/ACTION, EMOTION/CHARACTER through tension and conflict and reveal the deepest and most significant THEMATIC MEANING.  http://www.blockbusterplots.com/resc/workshop_pp.html

To reserve a spot now, please go to Capitola Book Cafe or call 831-462-4415  with a credit card. $95.00 No on-line registration at this time.

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If you’re in Marin County –

Thursday October 14, 2010 Noon  Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA — luncheon with Author Joyce Maynard.

Women’s National Book Association celebrates National Reading Group Month (NRGM) with author Joyce Maynard.

Call Book Passage, Corte Madera (415) 927-0960 ext.1, to reserve. The ticket price of $55 includes an outstanding lunch catered by Insalata’s Restaurant & an autographed copy of Joyce Maynard’s book (The Good Daughters). http://wnba-sfchapter.org/

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If you’re in the Oakland/Berkeley/Alameda/Albany/Emeryville area, CA

Sunday, October 17, 2010  California Writers Club–Berkeley Branch Meets in Oakland

Oakland Main Library, West Auditorium
125  14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612.
There is an entrance directly to the meeting room from Madison Street. Free street parking is available on Sundays. Library is a short walk from the Lake Merritt BART station.
Meetings are open to the public & without charge

• doors open at 1:05,  people come in and mingle, and there is a marketing group (anyone can sit in) meeting while club members set up the room.
• the general meeting begins at 2:00
• a club-member author will present her/his work from about 2:15 to 2:45pm
• Main Speaker (Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan)  2:45ish to 4:00pm

CWC Berkeley Branch  presents: “Major League Tryouts with Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan to Build Your Writer’s Name”

• understand the need to build one’s name/fame in today’s publishing arena.
• identify advocates, endorsers and fans.
• gain recognition through your words and your community.

Teresa’s books will be available for purchase:

Build My Writer’s Name, Beat the Game:  How Do I Create a Platform to Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention? (the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook)  $22

Love Made of Heart (archived in the San Francisco History Center; recommended by the CA School Library Assn. and the CA Reading Assn.) — inspires adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas that their parents suffer.  http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com

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If you’re in Sonoma County OR if you’re interested in going to a wonderful one-day writers’ conference:

Friday night October 29, 2010 Poetry Evening $35

Saturday October 30, 2010 Redwood Writers Conference $155 for CWC members; $175 for non-members

I (Writing Career Coach Teresa) will be presenting my workshop and exhibiting my books at the Redwood Writers Conference.  Elisa Southard will be the morning keynote speaker. Friends from CWC, WNBA, BAIPA, NCPA and other writers’ organizations will all be there to help writers further their careers.  Cheers to Marlene Cullen & everyone on the conference-planning team.

Register now:     http://redwoodwriters.org/redwood-conference/

Conference Schedule: October 30, 2010 7:30 am to 6:30 pm

7:30 – 8:15 am – Check-in

8:30 – 9:15 am – Morning Keynote Address by Elisa Southard

9:30 – 4:15 pm – Twelve Sessions available

12:30 – 1:15 pm – Luncheon Keynote Address by Sheldon Siegel

Recognition: Winners of the Prose contest

5:00 – 6:30 pm – Networking Session, hosted by your CWC – Redwood Branch Board

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If  you’re in the mid-peninsula (Belmont, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, Burlingame), CA

Saturday October 30, 2010 California Writers Club–SF Peninsula Branch

Author Geri Spieler will present her signature-workshop:

Super Sleuthing: Internet Research Secrets

• How to safely conduct Internet research
• Discover 100 tools that cut Internet research time by 80%
• Don’t  get caught with unintentional plagiarism

Takeaway: This workshop is best delivered using a PowerPoint presentation in addition to my handouts. Attendees will gain a high level of understanding on how to effectively research information using a long list of research tools, Internet search strings and skills to recognize bogus Websites.

More info:    www.cwc-peninsula.org/ and  Geri Spieler

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Are There Especially Fun Events for Writers in October in San Francisco Bay Area California? If you have others to add to the above listings, please submit a comment to this post by clicking on the title-bar of this post to get the comment box.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author, writing-career coach, founder of GraceArt Publishing

Build My Writer’s Name and Platform: Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook.
“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name/platform.”

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

Saturday October 30, 2010 Redwood Writers Conference

I (Writing Career Coach Teresa) will be presenting my workshop and exhibiting my books at the Redwood Writers Conference.  Elisa Southard will be the morning keynote speaker. Friends from CWC, WNBA, BAIPA, NCPA and other writers’ organizations will all be there to help writers further their careers.  Cheers to Marlene Cullen & everyone on the conference-planning team.

Register now:     http://redwoodwriters.org/redwood-conference/

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 Saturday October 30, 2010 California Writers Club–SF Peninsula Branch

Geri Spieler will present her signature-workshop:

Super Sleuthing: Internet Research Secrets     

•       How to safely conduct Internet research
•      Discover 100 tools that cut Internet research time by 80%
•      Don’t  get caught with unintentional plagiarism

 Takeaway: This workshop is best delivered using a PowerPoint presentation in addition to my handouts. Attendees will gain a high level of understanding on how to effectively research information using a long list of research tools, Internet search strings and skills to recognize bogus Websites.

More info:    www.cwc-peninsula.org/  and  Geri Spieler

Meanwhile, see you on Sunday Sept 12, 2010 at SF Main Library for the Publishing Panel http://wnba-sfchapter.org/   and/or Oct. 17, 2010 at California Writers Club-Berkeley Branch (meeting and program at Oakland Main Library); I’ll be the guest speaker http://calwritersclub.wordpress.com/

Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author, writing-career coach, founder of GraceArt Publishing

Build My Writer’s Name and Platform: Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention
is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook.
“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.”

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

I just got home from being with 26 writers who showed up to help each other, and, I am still smiling.

Thank you, Marlene, for having created the Writers Forum of Petaluma. What a caring community you have attracted!

Tonight, Mickie, Carol, Jeanne, Malena, Nancy, Claudia, Eva, Elaine, Catherine, Susan, Christina, Connie, John, Janice, Meta, Armando, Linda, Brenda, Nancy, Mona, Dave, Sharon, Karen, Pat, Elizabeth and Marlene all helped me facilitate “Swap Meet/Circle of Sharing.”

These generous writers brought items from the list I had presented to Marlene months ago. Items included: Submission guidelines from agents and publishers; publications that accept unsolicited submissions; info on writers’ conferences, classes, workshops, writing contests; calendar of community events.

What was the purpose of the swap meet? To demonstrate that there are opportunities for all of us to sharpen our writing and marketing skills (conferences, workshops), compete for awards (contests), identify publications or agents, acquisition editors and publishers most suitable for the type of writing we wish to sell; be in the greater community to build relationships and write about the experiences.

Be the Matchmaker for Your Writing:

How to find the “right” agent or publisher (for books) or the “right” publication (for articles, essays, short stories, poetry): Examples: If you write novels for teens, pitch your work to agents or publishers who specialize in selling that genre. If you write personal essays, submit your work to publications that typically publish personal essays. Sending your work to places that don’t have the readership/audience for your type of writing is “rejection waiting to happen.” In other words: “Give them what they want.”

Honoring Instructions:

Whether you’re looking at submission guidelines or writing-contest rules, create a checklist so that you don’t miss any steps. In any competition, the contestants who follow instructions make the first cut. Again… “Give them what they want.”

Be True to Yourself:

What if you don’t want a website or a blog, not even an email address? That’s okay. You don’t want them because you don’t need them right now. Don’t force yourself. When the need arises, then, reconsider. Focus on what needs to be done, right now. If what needs to be done is your writing a letter to a friend who suffered a loss, then, that piece of writing would be the greatest gift you can give to your friend and yourself. If a mentor/colleague/friend says: “Everyone is doing [it] and if you want to succeed you’d better do [it] too!” . . . but your intuition says: “I’m not comfortable with the idea” . . . please trust your inner voice. My motto: I do what brings me joy and light; stress I don’t want.

Reaching Out (not stressing out):

Because we are writers, we can do outreach without leaving our homes.

We can write:

* “Letters to the Editor.”
* Book reviews on Amazon.com or bookstores’ websites or publishers’ websites or authors’ websites.
* Thank you notes to people who have inspired us.
* Tips on how to have fun and excel (in our hobbies).
* About our experiences after attending an event or receiving service (this could be as simple as posting a rating and review on YELP.com)
* on our blogs and post comments on other people’s blogs.
* an article for our club’s newsletter. Offer to write a recap of a meeting (focus on what you gained).

Why do I write?

· To connect with the reader on an emotional level.

· To speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

· To honor the people in the stories.

Why do YOU write?

“Goodnight and sweet dreams” to the awesome members of the Writers Forum of Petaluma who made “circle of sharing” a huge success. I encourage you to do a little outreach with the members who were not able to show up tonight. Ask each other these questions: “How are you doing with your project? What do you need to get to the next step?”

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/blog

Visit: www.thewritespot.us for more information on the Writers Forum of Petaluma.

Teresa LeYung Ryan’s Tips for Success

In the fiercely competitive arena of the publishing world, how does one stand out in a crowd? Building relationships is one key to success in this business. Another key is to know how to translate the themes from your life to your writing and articulate those themes as community concerns. I want to see all hardworking writers realize their dreams.

• Make every word count—especially in your query letter and synopsis.

• Research when looking for an agent or acquisition editor/publisher. Who are their clients? How well are they connected in the industry?

• Learn about the industry yourself. Join organizations; talk to people in the business; find mentors; find joyful ways to network and gain resources.

• Say “Thank you” whenever anyone helps you. Being courteous goes a long way.

• Surround yourself with people who are supportive of your dreams and encourage others to do the same.

• Keep voicemails and E-mails succinct. Use bullet-points when asking questions.

• Follow-through will save you from “I assumed…” headaches.
• Remember that perseverance + talent + business savvy = dreams come true.

www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com