Posts Tagged ‘Maxine Hong Kingston’

  • 2023 Oct 19, 16:56 Thursday; Oct 21, 00:25; Oct 22, 14:23; Oct 23, 20:22; October 26, 12:52pm California

    Hello  Everyone,

    I wish you total wellness.

    I am grateful to all the people who care about my wellness / who teach me how to look for the goodness in obstacles / who inspire me to be happy, in spite of illness.  

  • So many people suffer silently – their illnesses don’t display overt signs like wearing a cast or a splint.  Whenever someone asks me the question “How are you doing?” …  I feel gratitude and I reply “Thank you for asking.”  (That’s all… I don’t go into details except with close friends. Just grateful that the person asked)  Whenever I ask someone that question… I am prepared to stop and listen.

  • This past month, while my Body/Brain continues to learn from Neuro Integration System (N.I.S.) and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) treatments from Dr. Jae Reed, DC, and, from Chi Nei Tsang treatments from Stephanie Wilger, NC

Thank you, YouTube channel “Film Courage”, for posting the 11 videos of Mr. Christopher Vogler. Mr. Vogler is the author of The Writer”s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers.

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLez8jOvskc-OFbFPTf03N8PZBwcjK5VJt

Christopher Vogler’s 12 steps of the Hero’s Journey:

 

Ordinary World

Call To Adventure

  • Refusal Of The Call

    Meeting Of The Mentor

    Crossing The Threshold (Launch Into The Special World)

    Tests, Allies, Enemies

    Approach To The Inmost Cave

    The Ordeal

    Reward

    The Chase

    Resurrection

    Return With Elixir

  • Illness propels us to all the stages of a Hero’s Journey, whether we want to go or not; for me, the stages are repeating – I would feel better, then worse, then better… My Body knows so much more than my conscious Brain.

            As Dr. Amy Grace Lam’s poem says: “Maybe we only need to ask, ask our remember bones.”

  • All the cells in our body perform as archetypes on our journeys / in our stories.

  • Thank you, Philipp Dettmer, for your book Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive.  Mr. Dettmer is the creator of the popular science YouTube channel “Kurzgesagt—In a Nutshell”  https://www.youtube.com/@kurzgesagt/videos


  • Christopher Vogler’s 8 types of Archetypes/Characters

  • Hero

    Herald

    Mentor

    Threshold Guardian

    Ally

    Shapeshifter

    Shadow

    Trickster

    The person who introduced story-telling to me was my mother who was a school teacher in Hong Kong before she immigrated to the USA; she told me stories – translations of Aesop’s Fables. Even though I don’t remember details of the fables, I do recall how a character’s “cleverness” or “perseverance” can get one out of trouble.

    (Thank you, the folks at https://www.umass.edu/aesop/fables.php, for showing Aesop’s Fables.)

    The person who told me about the book that would inspire me to write about my experiences is Dr. Susan Thackrey, Ph.D. who taught me compassion.

    The author who wrote that book (The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts) is Maxine Hong Kingston.

    In 1998 award-winning writer Martha Alderson (who would become The Plot Whisperer https://marthaalderson.com/books-and-ebooks/) introduced me to Christopher Volger’s book The Writer”s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers.

    Fast forward to 2023…

    To my client, compassionate author Edward C. Hartshorn, I am cheering for you and all your characters in your new book. May you gain more aha moments listening to the interviews with Christopher Vogler.

  • Thank you, YouTube channel “Film Courage”https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLez8jOvskc-OFbFPTf03N8PZBwcjK5VJt for posting the 11 videos of Mr. Christopher Vogler

  • Joseph Campbell (author of  The Hero with a Thousand Faces)  was Mr. Vogler’s mentor
    Carl Jung https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carl-Jung (Angel Suzanne, I am thinking of you)
    Archetypes
    Characters
    Mythology
    Gods and Goddesses

    Fairy Tales
    Stories
    Movies
    Films
    Books
    Metaphors
    Symbols

 

12 Stages Of The Hero’s Journey – Christopher Vogler 22:48

8 Common Character Types Writers Should Know – Christopher Vogler 17:31

The Hero’s Journey Is Not A Formula – Christopher Vogler 12:33

This Is Why It Doesn’t Matter If Every Story Has Been Told – Christopher Vogler 11:23

How Writers Can Use Symbols To Improve Their Stories – Christopher Vogler 11:01

How The Hero’s Journey Helps Writers With Their Characters – Christopher Vogler 12:13

Impact Of Myths And Fairy Tales On Modern Stories – Christopher Vogler 11:01

You Don’t Have To Suffer To Be An Artist But You Should Understand This – Christopher Vogler 13:38

The Big Problem With American Movies – Christopher Vogler 9:03

How To Write A Character’s Death – Christopher Vogler 16:05

A thousand thanks to Mr. CHRISTOPHER VOGLER and his book  THE WRITER’S JOURNEY: Mythic Structure for Writers

I am grateful to beloved LAH who directly / indirectly led me to many of  these remarkable healers:

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Stephanie Wilger, NC for Chi Nei Tsang, Breast Wellness, Nutrition  https://stephaniewilgernc.net/

***

Dr. Jae Reed D.C. for Neuro Integration System (N.I.S.) and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) https://azureskychiro.com/

***

Amy Grace Lam, Ph.D.  https://www.vibrationalenergywellness.com who taught me how to ask my Body questions.

Amy’s artist website https://www.amygracelam.com/  Her poem “The Remember Bones” https://www.kalw.org/show/bay-poets/2023-02-06/the-remember-bones-by-poet-amy-grace-lam

***

Loduskia “Dusky” Pierce, MFT  http://www.duskyswondersite.com/about/ who taught me EMDR and EFT and gave me grief counseling numerous times.

***

Gilles Marin, master teacher and practitioner of Chi Nei Tsang, who gave me new hope on my journey.
USA: https://www.chineitsang.com/   France: http://chineitsang.marin.free.fr/

***

Marie-Christine Cornet in France who taught me to be gentle with self wherever I am  http://www.mariechristinecornet.com/

***

Stephanie Doucette, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. OM, for her kindness and acupuncture treatments

***

Danielle Rosenman, M.D. for coaching me in Neuroplasticity (I achieved success in training my Brain to stop sending chronic pain signals) at the beginning of my journey in the autumn of 2020; 

Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s and Dr. Marla Golden’s workbook, webinars, brain graphics, and more..

 

TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION

http://www.neuroplastix.com  

https://shop.neuroplastix.com/Neuroplastic-Transformation-Workbook-92-W8PZ-LIIY.htm


Thank you for reading my blog post:

Story Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “When illness takes us onto a Hero’s Journey”

I wish YOU total wellness!

Sincerely,

photo of Teresa by Teresa’s beloved mentor Lynn Scott

https://lynnscott.wordpress.com/category/memoir-a-joyful-encountermy-mother-my-alzheimer-clients-and-me/

Teresa Jade LeYung

(formerly Teresa LeYung-Ryan)

author Love Made of Heart - the mother-daughter novel (archived at the San Francisco History Center)

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

author of the Talking To My Dead Mom monologues

author of all the blog posts at https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

 

Writing Coach Teresa says:

“I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”


Love Made Of Heart ®

 

http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com  goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog

2021 November 12, 13, 14, 20; Nov 21, 07:00-07:30 (wild winds), 13:00-13:40 — Berkeley, California – Blog post #610

What was screenwriter / screenwriting teacher Terrel Seltzer’s mantra? Her simple and powerful question at the beginning of class: 

“What makes a story?” 

The answer:  “Someone we care about wants something badly and is having a terrible time getting it.”

Someone we care about (the protagonist or another character) wants something badly and is having a terrible time getting it.

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As I compose this blog post …  I am thinking about the precious people and  the 4-legged kids in my life, past and present. What do I want in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic?  I want resources to wellness for everyone in this world.  Two books have helped millions of people, including me and the people in my life.

 

Dr. Norman Doidge’s first book

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science

 

Dr. Norman Doidge’s second book

The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity

 

Chapter titles in both books are in this blog post – below.

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I am thinking about Vicki Weiland  (developmental editor). Women’s National Book Association had brought this vibrant spirit into our lives when we were board members at the San Francisco chapter.

Vicki’s life became severely difficult when illness appeared; diagnosis was not immediate. Guillain-Barre syndrome.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/guillain-barre-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20362793 says:

“Guillain-Barre (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms.”  ….   “Although most people recover from Guillain-Barre syndrome, the mortality rate is 4% to 7%.”

 

What did  dear Vicki want the last ten years of her life? What did we, who loved her, want for her? Restored health!

Victoria C. Weiland - photo by Teresa Jade LeYung

Vicki wanted the pain to go away (often 10 on the scale)… to go away through organic paths. She wanted NOT to suffer other symptoms caused by side effects of prescribed drugs. By the time Vicki tried the healing modalities described in Dr. Norman Doidge’s books (including laser light treatments which alleviated pain in parts of her body) … her system had  already been overwhelmed by the years of prescriptions that only “tricked” her Beautiful Brain (“BB”) for short periods of time while pain pathways hijacked other brain functions -  impacting emotions, problem-solving, memory, creativity ….

Our precious friend died in June this year 2021.

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Brain map below is from the workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION 

written by Michael H. Moskowitz, MD & Marla D. Golden, DO

 

Who is Dr. Michael Moskowitz? He is “Physician Hurt, Then Heal Thyself: Michael Moskowitz Discovers That Chronic Pain Can Be Unlearned” which is Chapter 1 in Dr. Norman Doidge’s second book.

 

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I am thinking about Dr. Danielle Rosenman who opened a new world to me when she coached me to retrain beautiful brain last year and led me to the workbook written by Dr. Michael Moskowitz and Dr. Marla Golden. Thank you, Steven Falk (Dr. Rosenman’s husband), for sharing wonderful news that Dr. Rosenman’s own health is improving. May Dr. Rosenman continue to get stronger and stronger, on her way to complete wellness soon!

I am thinking about my mentor author Lynn Scott (author of A Joyful Encounter: My Mother, My Alzheimer Clients, and Me) who taught me the meaning of courage and compassion. Lynn says she is experiencing more symptoms in her illness.  I’m thinking about Lynn’s housemate Bob who had a heart attack and is in the hospital; I’m thinking about Lynn’s friend Diana who has cancer.

I am thinking about Maxine Hong Kingston – the author who taught me self-forgiveness through her book The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts  and also inspired me to use the written word to speak up (through the birth of my novel Love Made of Heart ).  Maxine’s words have been godsend every since Dr. Susan Thackrey (San Francisco) advised me to read  THE WOMAN WARRIORaround  1985.

I want for everyone new vitality! That’s what I want!

I am thinking about Kristiane McKee Maas (longhorn cattle rancher and creator of beautiful events),  artist, curator, and founder of A Place of Her Own Cynthia Tom, artist and author Gale Henshel (her book is Dyslexia, My Gift, My Story), Lakshmi Hannah Kerner, author Mahyar A. Amouzegar  (his novels - A Dark Sunny Afternoon; Dinner at 10:32; Pisgah Road), author Geneva “Neva” Dinwiddie (Sister Hold My Hand: Together We Stand) who is primary caregiver to her spouse, and LaH who is grieving loss of precious kittie Gracie.

I am thinking about these dear folks and other friends and other mentors and mentees … who are dealing with loss of health or loss of relationships.

Addendum:

November 22 morning – I just read email from dear Madame Hamou in France. I must tell Madame Hamou about Dr. Doidge’s books – translated into French and other languages. May Madame Hamou continue to get stronger and stronger, on her way to complete wellness soon.

Chi Nei Tsang practitioner Marie-Christine Cornet is now in France http://www.mariechristinecornet.com/

 

I want for everyone new vitality! That’s what I want!

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November 12 and 13, 2021 , I am running the movie THE SIXTH SENSE(written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan).  And to think I didn’t want to watch this movie when brilliant screenwriter / teacher Terrel Seltzer polled the class. The mother character Lynn Sear (portrayed by Toni Collette) is the most memorable element for me. What did Lynn want for her 9-year-old son Cole?  What did Cole (portrayed by Haley Joel Osment) want, actually, what didn’t he want? What did Dr. Malcolm Crowe (portrayed by Bruce Willis) want? What did  his wife Anna (portrayed by Olivia Williams) want? What did the other characters (whom only Cole could see) want?

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I want wellness.  For myself.  For everyone.

 

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So many great books on wellness.  The two that continue to show me how our beautiful brains are awesome conductors working the orchestras we call “Bodies” are the two books written by Norman Doidge, M.D. https://www.normandoidge.com

Below are chapter titles of both books.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page of Dr Doidge’s website: https://www.normandoidge.com/?page_id=1052

Dr. Norman Doidge’s first book

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science

Chapter titles -

1.  A Woman Perpetually Falling – Rescued by the Man Who Discovered the Plasticity of Our Senses 2.  Building Herself a Better Brain -  A Woman Labeled “Retarded” Discovers How to Heal Herself 3.  Redesigning the Brain – A Scientist Changes Brains to Sharpen Perception and Memory, Increase Speed of Thought and Heal Learning Problems 4.  Acquiring Tastes and Loves – What Neuroplasticity Teaches Us About Sexual Attraction and Love 5.  Midnight Resurrections – Stroke Victims Learn to Move and Speak Again 6.  Brain Lock Unlocked – Using Plasticity to stop Worries, Obsessions, Compulsions and Bad Habits 7.  Pain – The Dark Side of Plasticity 8.  Imagination – How Thinking Makes It So 9.  Turning Our Ghosts into Ancestors – Psychoanalysis as Neuroplastic Therapy 10.  Rejuvenation – The Discovery of the Neuronal Stem Cell and Lessons for Preserving Our Brains 11.  More than the Sum of Her Parts – A Woman Shows Us How Radically Plastic the Brain Can Be Appendix 1 – The Culturally Modified Brain Appendix 2 – Plasticity and the Idea of Progress

https://www.normandoidge.com/?page_id=1259  says:

“The Brain That Changes Itself™  now available in over 100 countries, and in 27 languages including translations from English into Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (traditional characters), Chinese (modern characters), Czech, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Mongolian. Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish. Thai (forthcoming 2021) and Turkish.” English Editions: North American Editions, (Viking Penguin U.S.A.) UK Edition, (Penguin U.K.) Australian & New Zealand Edition (Scribe) Kindle Edition, Amazon. Audio books by Brilliance Audio in North America, and Bolinda in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand

 

Dr. Norman Doidge’s second book

The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity

Chapter titles -

Chapter 1 Physician Hurt, Then Heal Thyself Michael Moskowitz Discovers That Chronic Pain Can Be Unlearned Chapter 2 A Man Walks Off His Parkinsonian Symptoms How Exercise Helps Fend Off Degenerative Disorders and Can Defer Dementia

(Teresa here to say that this chapter – about Mr. John Pepper -inspired me to be a smart advocate for my papa. Mr. Pepper’s website https://www.reverseparkinsons.net/ )

  Chapter 3 The Stages of Neuroplastic Healing How and Why It Works Chapter 4 Rewiring a Brain with Light Using Light to Reawaken Dormant Neural Circuits Chapter 5 Moshe Feldenkrais: Physicist, Black Belt, and Healer Healing Serious Brain Problems Through Mental Awareness of Movement Chapter 6 A Blind Man Learns to See Using Feldenkrais, Buddhist, and Other Neuroplastic Methods Chapter 7 A Device That Resets the Brain Stimulating Neuromodulation to Reverse Symptoms I. A Cane Against the Wall II. Three Resets: Parkinson’s, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis III. The Cracked Potters IV. How the Brain Balances Itself—with a Little Help Chapter 8 A Bridge of Sound The Special Connection Between Music and the BrainI. A Dyslexic Boy Reverses His Misfortune II. A Mother’s Voice III. Rebuilding the Brain from the Bottom Up: Autism, Attention Deficits, and Sensory Processing Disorder IV. Solving the Mystery at the Abbey: How Music Raises Our Spirits and Energy Afterword to the Paperback Edition Appendix 1 – A General Approach to TBI and Brain Problems Appendix 2 – Matrix Repatterning for TBI Appendix 3 – Neurofeedback for ADD, ADHD, Epilepsy, Anxiety, and TBI

https://www.normandoidge.com/?page_id=1042  says:

Available, so far, in 22 languages. The Brain’s Way of Healing is now available in over 100 countries, and 22 languages including translations from English into  Bulgarian, Chinese Traditional Characters, Chinese Simplified Characters, Czech, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Polish,  Portuguese, Portuguese-Brazil,  Romanian, Russian,  Spanish,  Turkish and Ukrainian. English Editions: North American Editions, (Viking Penguin U.S.A.) UK Edition, (Penguin U.K.) Australian & New Zealand Edition (Scribe) Kindle Edition, Amazon. Audio books by Brilliance Audio in North America, and Bolinda in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand

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Thank you, dear Loduskia “Dusky” Pierce, MFT,  http://www.duskyswondersite.com/ for displaying Dr. Doidge’s first book on your shelf many years ago.

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Norman Doidge: Brain’s Healing Energies on YouTube  https://youtu.be/ifYcE4-eI_s  Dr. Doidgetalks about our brains, pain, Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Moshe Feldenkrais (Physicist, Black Belt, Healer),  electrical circuits, chemistry, light, sound, vibration, brain-body connection.

Dr. Doidge reminds us why WALKING can only be good for us – that prehistoric humans and animals walked to find food and shelter, to get away from predators – the brain releases chemicals to promote movement.  Our brains release beneficial chemicals even when the movement is imaginary. Athletes, musicians, all types of performers use “Visualization”.   Our beautiful brains!  Mind-Body connection at work!

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Thank you for reading my blog post: “Want Wellness; Norman Doidge, M.D.’s books -The Brain That Changes Itself, Neuroplasticity”

For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains, Pain, and Neuroplasticity  in my blog  https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog …  If you scroll to top of page, look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”.  Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to the topic.

I wish you new vitality, total wellness!

Sincerely,

Teresa Jade LeYung

Story Consultant and Photo Historian

Teresa Jade LeYung shares croissants - in Paris 2019 - photo by plant healer Nan Noonan and author / writing coach Mary E. Knippel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Story Consultant and Photo Historian Teresa Jade LeYung  (formerly Teresa LeYung-Ryan) says:

“I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”

Love Made Of Heart ® is Teresa’s trademark

Lists of Books Referenced in Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s & Mary E. Knippel’s “Be Your Own Editor” session at SFWC

Tool #1   Grounding Reader with the four Ws (Who? When? Where? What?) “What does Protagonist want?” (in prescriptive nonfiction “What does Reader need?”)

Tool #2   Hooking Reader from first page to last with core themes. 

Tool #3     In Fiction & Narrative Nonfiction (both genres are forms of  “story-telling”) — Who are your protagonist, antagonist(s), and other archetypes?

Fiction:

The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler

Lost In Yonkers – a play by Neil Simon

Wordsworth! Stop the Bulldozer! children’s picture book by Frances Kawugawa

Love Made of Heart – mother-daughter novel by Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Charlotte’s Web – a children’s classic by E. B. White

Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts

Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever by Judith Marshall

Narrative Nonfiction:

Woven of Water by Luisa Adams

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

The Secret Artist – Give Yourself Permission to Let Your Creativity Shine! by Mary E. Knippel

The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston

Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother – anthology edited by Kate Farrell

If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland

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

A Dreamer’s Guide to Cities and Streams (poetry) by Joan Gelfand

Prescriptive Nonfiction:

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings: Insight and Inspiration for a Wonderful Life – photo/gift book by Margie Yee Webb

Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message by Elisa Sasa Southard

My Dreams: A Simple Guide to Dream Interpretation by Angie Choi

Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know by Lori Hope

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

The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson

TellTale Souls Writing the Mother Memoir: How To Tap Memory and Write Your Story Capturing Character & Spirit by Lynn Cook Henriksen

Correct Me If I’m Wrong: Getting Your Grammar, Punctuation, and Word Usage Right!  by Arlene Miller

Social Media Just for Writers: The Best Online Marketing Tips for Selling Your Books by Frances Caballo

The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages: A Book Promotion Reference Guide for Authors and Small Press Publishers  by Christine Pinheiro  e-book published by http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net

How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

The Power of Memoir by Linda Joy Myers

Marriage Meeting Starter Kit  by Marcia Naomi Berger

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach

The Secret Artist – Give Yourself Permission to Let Your Creativity Shine! by Mary E. Knippel

Also, please refer to the SFWC list of presenters

Mary E. Knippel & Teresa LeYung-Ryan teach 'Be Your Own Editor' at SFWC - photo by Margie Yee Webb

 

Free Webinars –   register with https://www.authorlearningcenter.com

3 Top Tools for Editing Your Manuscript After You’ve Written Your First Draft  with Coach Teresa

·         April 10, 2013  at 10:30am Pacific Time / 1:30pm Eastern Time

·         April 25, 2013  at 4:30pm Pacific Time /  7:30pm Eastern Time

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cares about helping fiction and nonfiction writers build their platforms and work on their craft simultaneously with ease.  She says: “Wear the dual hats as promoter and writer and be happily published. Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

 

(Clicking on underscored text in this post will open a new window to get to referenced site.)

Meet Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Book Marketing Coach!

1. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about your background in the industry?
My name is Teresa LeYung-Ryan and my clients call me Writing-and-Platform-Building Coach Teresa. I wish to thank Christy Pinheiro-Silva of www.StepByStepSelfPublishing.net for this interview, and, I encourage everyone to look for the core messages in my responses—which are:  Reach out, not stress out, to material your dreams;  and, wear your two hats as a writer and be happy (whether you’re writing fiction, narrative nonfiction, or prescription nonfiction also known as “how to” books/articles).

This is what happened to me, over ten years ago, and the choices I’ve made.

I had a dream—a dream of connecting with readers the way Maxine Hong Kingston touched me with her memoir The Woman Warrior.  My writer’s journey started with learning the components of a story in a ten-week course Writing Children’s Literature at the community center and forming a critique group with three classmates after the course ended.

Fast forward.  After seven years of writing and rewriting, showing up at critique meetings twice a month,  I received a gift from a friend—a brochure for the Jack London Writers’ Conference with an entry form for their writing contest.   Two months later, at the conference, I met members from California Writers’ Club and I received “Second Prize” in the Novel Category in the writing contest. I thought that by being a winner in a contest, surely I would attract mentors and be “discovered” by an agent the following week.  (Are you laughing?)

Fast forward.  After sending query letters and the first two chapters of my novel to dozens of agents over a year, and, receiving “rejection letters” and getting very depressed, I took a friend’s advice and registered for a workshop “How to Get Published.” Also, I got together with two other contest-winners (Luisa Adams and Martha Alderson) and we pledged to help each other on our writers’ journeys.

I took a six-week leave of absence from my job to perform the last big rewrite of my manuscript.  (Note: Surround yourself with people who really support your dreams. My husband and my friends were cheering for me.)

Fast forward.  My first novel Love Made of Heart (a mother-daughter love story) is used in college composition classes; available at public libraries; recommended by the CA School Library Association and the CA Reading Association; and archived at the San Francisco History Center.   October 2012 marks the tenth anniversary of Love Made of Heart.  The book is still in print, and, I continue to meet new fans.

For the past nine years, through my coaching  and my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days, I have been helping writers reach out, not stress out, to attract agents, editors, publishers, readers, and media attention.

2. What is your opinion on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing and represented by an agent?

The advantage of identifying the right agent who will pitch your intellectual property to the right publishers— agents have their specialties and their relationships with acquisition editors at publishing houses; established publishers have relationships with book distributors.

Note: An agent gets 15% of what the author receives from the publisher (similar to a finder’s fee). Agents are not publicists, marketing managers or promoters.  The publisher, not the agent, offers you the contract (to buy the rights to publish your book).

Note: Hire a literary attorney to interpret and negotiate the contract for you if your agent doesn’t have access to legal counsel. Know what rights you are selling to the publisher.

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The advantage of being your own publisher—you have full control regarding:

  • rights to publish and re-print
  • how to promote your book, when, and to whom
  • publication date and publication format
  • book layout, cover design, jacket copy
  • cover price; discounts to booksellers
  • budget and profits

Consider Your and Other People’s Timetables:
It might take years to find your agent; it might take years before your agent finds the publisher.  By the way, my super-agent Stacey Glick tells me that only 2% of her clients would receive contracts from publishers.  When Stacey negotiated the deal with acquisition editor John Scognamiglio at Kensington Publishing Corp. New York (a publisher who releases 500+ new titles each year) for my  mother-daughter novel Love Made of Heart, my book title got onto the “conveyor belt” (it would take 18 months from when I sign the contract to when the book would show up in bookstores).

Note: A publisher could “fast track” a new title,  releasing the book within months or even weeks.  An example of releasing a book within weeks would be when a super-famous person dies and big publishers would forego some of the stops in the conveyor belt process.

How much attention are you going to get and give?
The bigger the publisher, the more new titles they release each year, the less attention each author gets.  Their best-selling authors, celebrity-authors, and new authors to whom they have given huge advances would get the most attention of course.

A decade ago when John Scognamiglio told me “You have six weeks to get on the radar”  I thought I knew what that meant.  You see, I was one of the lucky authors.  Kensington had bought “front of the store” shelf space at chain-stores for Love Made of Heart.  Chain-stores would rotate inventory every six weeks.  If a book sells during those six weeks, then the store would order more copies through their distributor.  Independent sales representatives (especially Nancy Suib and Anne Shulenberger) introduced Love Made of Heart to their accounts (independent booksellers).  “Indies” also had to rotate their inventory every few weeks.  What does this mean?  Unsold books are returned to the distributors (warehouses).  Publishers have to pay taxes on inventory—it is a costly business—selling printed books.

To stay on that “radar” meant making one’s name and the subject matter/issues/themes in one’s book visible in media attention over those precious six weeks. Which also meant having lined up interviews—in print, radio, television.  You’re probably saying . . . Wouldn’t the publisher handle all that?  Yes, if you are one of their best-selling authors, a celebrity, or a new author who has been given a huge advance.

Note:  Cyberspace magic provides opportunities galore for authors to broadcast ourselves (build our platforms and fanbases). What is a platform?  The definition is on page 1 from my workbook  Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days“Making your name stand for something—to attract targeted consumers—who are likely to buy what you have to sell.”

3. What do you feel is the most important thing that authors can do to promote their books?
The simple yet powerful tool is:  Making your name synonymous with the  themes/subject matter/issues in your literary works.

In my interview on CBS Channel 5, I talked about:  “What I care about … leads to my writing about those themes/subject matters/issues.  What I write about …   attracts my fans because they also care about what I care about.  Help your fans find you.”

Introduce yourself with your full name.  Then use these three words:  “I care about . . . ”

Example: (as a writer of fiction, narrative nonfiction, including memoirs )
I am Teresa LeYung-Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart (a mother-daughter love story).   I care about helping adult-children (of mentally-ill parents) speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their loved ones.
Example: (as a writer of prescriptive nonfiction  a.k.a. “how to” )
I am Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan, author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW.   I care about helping writers thrive in today’s publishing arena.

I call these self-introductions my platform-statement.
Where to “show” your platform-statement? 

  • Your email signature-block! 
  • Your letterhead! 
  • Your website and blog slogan/tagline/description! 
  • Your bio! 
  • Your business cards! 
  • The caption for your photographs! 
  • Headline for press releases!
  • Social media pages! 
  • And, let’s hear it on your voicemail!

Even when I’m emailing my loved ones (my biggest fans), I show them my platform-statement in my signature block.  Help your fans brag about you with ease.

4. What are your feelings on Social Media? (Facebook, Google+, Twitter, etc)
I thank creators and users of social media.  How else could our fans from faraway places find us?  Be consistent.  Update your bio in all these forums to reflect your current platform-statement. A picture speaks a thousand words; be sure to rename photo-files (show your full name and book title, and even keywords from your platform-statement)

5. Do you feel that book marketing for fiction is different than book marketing for non-fiction?

No difference in today’s markets.
How do I choose books as a consumer?
As Teresa-the-consumer, I pay attention when:

  • friends recommend a book
  • I read about or hear or meet the author and I appreciate what the author has to say
  • I need information on a particular subject, so  I use a search engine (like Google.com) to find those books or I ask my favorite booksellers and librarians.

How would I help these consumers find me if I am an author?
Please see the answers to Question # 3—“What do you feel is the most important thing that authors can do to promote their books?”

6. What are some of the biggest mistakes that authors make when trying to promote their books?

  • One big mistake is misdirecting your energy pitching to book reviewers or radio or television producers who are not interested in the subject matter /issues/ themes that you are promoting.  Do your homework; seek advice from mentors, colleagues, and yours truly Coach Teresa; use The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages; listen and watch shows you’d like to be invited to, and, please study their format
  • Another common mistake is what my colleague Elisa Sasa Southard calls “killing a marketing moment.”   Her book Break Through the Noise shows you the 9 tools to propel your marketing message.
  • The third common mistake is tiring yourself out when promoting at events where there is traveling, schlepping, and setting up involved. I have lots of fun with colleagues/co-presenters at writers’ conferences, book festivals, and community events. Recently I shared a booth with Margie Yee Webb and Rita Lakin at the Sonoma County Book Festival.  Every year I join forces with co-presenters Sasa Southard and Mary E. Knippel at the San Francisco Writers Conference.  On December 15, 2012 I’ll be sharing a table with Margie Yee Webb (she’s the author of the gift-book Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings) at a Local Authors event.  Please check my events page.

7. Do you have any other useful advice for beginning authors?

  • Get yourself a calendar (month at a glance) with big squares to write in, and, schedule time to work on your craft and your platform.
  • Get to know members in writers’ organizations (my favorite ones are California Writers Club and Women’s National Book Association)
  • Please read my blog post:  Wear Two Hats as a Writer and Be Happy


8. How can authors contact you if they have any questions?

I encourage you to ask me question by posting a comment on any of my blog posts. That way, my fans will see your name and questions (so, promote yourself).  To submit a comment: click on the headline/blue title bar of the post, scroll down to the end of the post, fill in the boxes, and press the [submit comment] button.

Here’s a blog post you might like to submit a comment/question:  Who Really Is the Most Qualified Person to Build the Author’s Platform and Fanbase?

My email address:   WritingCoachTeresag   at    gmail.com

You will find links to the organizations referenced in this interview on my “Writers’ Resources” page at  http://writingcoachteresa.com

In closing, I wish to reiterate my thanks to Christy Pinheiro and to say “I cheer for all writers!”

Reach out, not stress out!
Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

Christy Pinheiro-Silva of www.StepByStepSelfPublishing.net  says:

“Thanks, Teresa, for a great interview!!!”

Dear Writers,

When someone whom I respect asks me to share my expertise (even on short notice), and, I can adjust my schedule, I say “Yes!”

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

Author & Writers’ Platform & Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

Writers’ Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan was honored to respond to Christy Pinheiro’s interview invitation

Oct. 26, 2012
Hi Teresa;
The book reviewer website and our monthly newsletter need to interview a writing/publishing industry pro.   This is last-minute–the person I planned to interview for this month had some personal issues and had to drop out.   Any chance you’d be interested?  The interview would go out to our newsletter subscribers. I’d need you to answer questions, and I’d need it back by the 28th, so around 48 hours. Let me know if you are interested.
Best Regards,
Christy Pinheiro-Silva, EA ABA RTRP
PassKey Publications
***
# # # # # # # # # # # # #
Oct. 26, 2012
Hi, Christy,
I’d be honored.  Thanks!
I’ll focus on you all day tomorrow Saturday.
What a fun weekend it shall be — interviewed by you, and, my writing to Mr. Richard Bolles of  What Color Is Your Parachute (last week, I found a letter he had sent me 18 years ago!)
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung-Ryan
Author & Writers’ Platform & Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan
***
# # # # # # # # # # # # #
Oct. 26, 2012
Teresa,
Great! I watched your interview on Bay Sunday– lots of good ideas, I will add a link to that video if you like.Here are some interview questions, feel free to expand them.
1. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about your background in the industry?
2. What is your opinion on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing with an agent?
3. What do you feel is the most important thing that authors can do to  promote their books?
4. What are your feelings on Social Media? (Facebook, Google+, Twitter, etc)
5. Do you feel that book marketing for fiction is different than book marketing for non-fiction?
6. What are some of the biggest mistakes that authors make when trying to promote their books?
7. Do you have any other useful advice for beginning authors?
8. How can authors contact you if they have any questions?
Thanks for doing this at such short notice!
Best Regards,
Christy Pinheiro-Silva, EA ABA RTRP
Passkey Publications
Defiant Press
***
# # # # # # # # # # # # #
Oct. 28, 2012
Dear Christy,
Here goes… Please see attached document.  I inserted hyperlinks; all you’ll need to do is “open link to a new window” for each one.
Also attached are 2 photos and both book covers.
I had fun answering your interesting questions.Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you.
:)
Sincerely,
Teresa

Writers’ Platform & Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan
says:
“Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”
http://writingcoachteresa.com
***
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Oct. 28, 2012
Hi Teresa;
The interview sounded great. I just sent out the newsletter and I’ll post the interview and your images to our main website on Nov 1st.
I really appreciate you taking the time to do this– lots of great information.
 
Best Regards,
Christy Pinheiro-Silva, EA ABA RTRP
***
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Oct. 28, 2012
from: Book Reviewer List

Book Reviewer Yellow Pages

Book Reviewers for November 2012:
Plus, Interview with Teresa LeYung-Ryan, professional book marketing coach!

Kevin’s Corner
RoseBuz
Regency Reader
so much to write so little time
Red Square Reviews

Dear Authors and Publishers,
We have a new batch of great book reviewers, as well a great  interview with  Teresa LeYung-Ryan, professional book marketing and writing coach. We will feature an interview with a different publishing professional each month.  I hope our tools have been helpful, and improved the way you promote your own books.

As always, subscribers to our newsletter get an additional 48 hours to contact these new reviewers before we list them on our main website. Please respect their submission guidelines, and be polite. Thank you!

Christy Pinheiro-Silva, EA ABA RTRP
Passkey Publications
Defiant Press
***
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Nov. 1, 2012
Hi Teresa;
Your interview has been posted to our homepage:
Thanks again for pulling this together at such short notice!
Best Regards,
Christy Pinheiro-Silva, EA ABA RTRP
Passkey Publications
Defiant Press

Here’s the answer to Question #1; please go to Christy Pinheiro’s StepByStepPublishing for answers to Questions 2 through 8 . . .

1. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about your background in the industry?
My name is Teresa LeYung-Ryan and my clients call me Writing-and-Platform-Building Coach Teresa. I wish to thank Christy Pinheiro-Silva for this interview, and, I encourage everyone to look for the core messages in my responses—which are:  Reach out, not stress out, to material your dreams;  and, wear your two hats as a writer and be happy(whether you’re writing fiction, narrative nonfiction, or prescription nonfiction also known as “how to” books/articles).This is what happened to me, over ten years ago, and the choices I’ve made.I had a dream—a dream of connecting with readers the way Maxine Hong Kingston touched me with her memoir The Woman Warrior.  My writer’s journey started with learning the components of a story in a ten-week course Writing Children’s Literature at the community center and forming a critique group with three classmates after the course ended.Fast forward.  After seven years of writing and rewriting, showing up at critique meetings twice a month,  I received a gift from a friend—a brochure for the Jack London Writers’ Conference with an entry form for their writing contest.
****
Two months later, at the conference, I met members from California Writers’ Club and I received “Second Prize” in the Novel Category in the writing contest. I thought that by being a winner in a contest, surely I would attract mentors and be “discovered” by an agent the following week.  (Are you laughing?)Fast forward.
****
After sending query letters and the first two chapters of my novel to dozens of agents over a year, and, receiving “rejection letters” and getting very depressed, I took a friend’s advice and registered for a workshop “How to Get Published.” Also, I got together with two other contest-winners (Luisa Adams and Martha Alderson) and we pledged to help each other on our writers’ journeys.I took a six-week leave of absence from my job to perform the last big rewrite of my manuscript.  (Note: Surround yourself with people who really support your dreams. My husband and my friends were cheering for me.)

Fast forward.  My first novel Love Made of Heart (a mother-daughter love story) is used in college composition classes; available at public libraries; recommended by the CA School Library Association and the CA Reading Association; and archived at the San Francisco History Center.   October 2012 marks the tenth anniversary of Love Made of Heart.  The book is still in print, and, I continue to meet new fans.

For the past nine years, through my coaching  and my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days, I have been helping writers reach out, not stress out, to attract agents, editors, publishers, readers, and media attention.

***
# # # # # # # # # # # # #
Coach Teresa here . . .
If you have seen my co-presenting at San Francisco Writers Conference with The Elisa “Sasa” Southard in the past 9 years, then you’ll recognize her speaking those magic words “Yes I can!”
Cheers to Christy!  Cheers to Sasa!  Cheers to Everyone!
Sincerely,
Coach Teresa
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan on CBS Bay Sunday with Host Frank Mallicoat
Writers’ Platform & Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says:
“Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”
http://writingcoachteresa.com

 

  • Teresa has built her own platform happily. Her first novel Love Made of Heart  is used in college composition classes; available at public libraries; recommended by the CA School Library Association and the CA Reading Association; and archived at the San Francisco History Center. Love Made of Heart and her short play Answer Me Now carry the themes closest to her heart:  mother-daughter relationship; Chinese-American immigrant experience; helping adult-children (of mentally-ill parents) speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their loved ones.

 

Thank you, dear Luisa Adams (author of the exquisite memoir Woven of Water ) for telling me that Maxine Hong Kingston’s being at A Great Good Place for Books Wed. April 25, 2012 7:00pm

MAXINE HONG KINGSTON AND PHYLLIS HOGE - Hello, House
Start: April 25, 2012 7:00 pm

A Great Good Place for Books welcomes our good friend, Maxine Hong Kingston, author of I Love A Broad Margin, and her friend Phyllis Hoge reading from Hello, House on Wednesday, April 25th at 7:00 p.m.
6120 LaSalle Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611

* * * * * * *

Rita Lakin says on her website:

Blog Appearances

Every first Friday of the month I contribute the the Lady Killers blog. Visit the fabulous blog here.

In August 2011 I wrote about my experiences writing in a very male-dominated ’60s Hollywood on indieWIRE’s Women and Hollywood blog.

* * * * * * *
Ginger Rogers died in 1995 yet her name (and what her name stands for) lives on.

* * * * * * *

What Do Maxine Hong Kingston, Rita Lakin, Ginger Rogers Have In Common? They speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. These 3 luminaries and their perseverance have inspired me immensely. I celebrate them by spotlighting them in my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW.

What do you have in common with people you admire? You too can build your name recognition by following the examples in my workbook. Start by going to my website: http://writingcoachteresa.com
You can preview the 2 exercises for Day 1 of the workbook at Amazon

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

As editor/story consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan identifies themes and universal archetypes for clients. As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she says: “Make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.” Teresa has built her own platform happily; her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. She says her novel and her play Answer Me Now carry the theme closest to her heart: mother-daughter relationship. http://writingcoachteresa.com for Coach Teresa’s Blog and other resources. “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here to encourage you to wear your 2 hats as a writer — work on the craft and your platform at the same time.  Pursue more and more resources . . . by visiting my website and this blog on a regular basis.  If you are not in the vicinity of the events I blog about . . . please look at the names of the people who are referenced in my posts, go to their websites by clicking on the links I provide or your keying their names in a search engine.  The people  I blog about will lead you to their colleagues, and so on.  More ways to build your platform?  See the exercises in Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days.  I can help you polish your manuscript and coach you on platform-building – click here.

* * * * * * * * * *

Coach Teresa says: “You can write any genre that hooks you. Just write.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Just recently I remembered that in a college English class, the teacher gave us this assignment… to write about any book or story we had read in class. She had said: “No rules. Just give me a 3-page paper.”  I didn’t want to write a summary or a book report, so, I wrote a monologue (a speech–what I would have said if I were Othello on Judgment Day). The teacher gave me a B and wrote next to it “Creative.”

That was three decades ago.

Since then . . . I have:

  • taken a 10-week course “Writing Children’s Literature” and have written 2 children’s stories; someday I’ll publish them. [ rewards: learned how to craft a story for any age group; formed a critique group with 3 classmates--we met twice each month for 10 years ]
  • taking my counselor’s recommendation to read Maxine Hong Kingston’s memoir
  • received an award for my fiction [ rewards: joined California Writers Club which opened my networking world ]
  • found my agent for my novel Love Made of Heart and she landed a contract for me with Kensington Publishing Corp. New York [ rewards: being represented by respected experts in the book industry and receiving advance praise from celebrated authors before publication of my novel]
  • written and delivered keynote speeches for Denim Day and Take Back the Night during Sexual-Violence-Awareness-Month on behalf of the folks at Community Violence Solutions [ rewards: making my name synonymous with subject matters I write about; speaking out for folks who cannot speak for themselves;  ]
  • writing President’s Message for monthly newsletter of California Writers Club-San Francisco Peninsula Branch [ rewards: building my name as writing-career-coach and advocate for writers  ]
  • sold my signature article “The Perfect Pitch” to Writer’s Digest [ rewards:  gaining recognition as an expert on how to pitch to agents, acquisition editors and publishers ]
  • submitting short pieces and getting published in San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Chronicle [ rewards: making my name visible to general readership ]
  • started my own publishing company and launched my workbook Build Your Name Beat the Game which a year later became Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days [ rewards: being Coach Teresa who provides a 22-day program for writers to make their names synonymous with issues they write about ]
  • on January 8, 2012 when I presented”Writing-Career-Make-Over with Coach Teresa” at California Writers Club– Redwood Branch, I heard that  Linda Loveland Reid was sponsoring the 3rd annual Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest.  The entries had to be 10-minute pieces.  Hmm… I would like to write a 10-minute play.  So, the following week . . . I wrote the play in 30 minutes, but, it took several weeks to rewrite (after receiving critique from Lynn Scott).  Answer Me Now (a 10-minute monologue) is about a middle-aged woman asking her dead mom a question. [ rewards: I will get to hang out with directors, actors, producers, set designers, theater folks and theater supporters ]

Playwright Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Creator of Redwood Writers Play Contest & Festival / Playwright / Novelist Linda Loveland Reid. Thank you, Linda!

Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: "Thank you, Elisa Sasa Southard, for going to awards ceremony with me even though you have so much to do after having led Washington D.C. and New York City tours for students!"

Thank you, Sasa!  I’m on Cloud Nine and I plan to stay there/here . . .  long after the performances at the Redwood Writers Play Festival of  June 29, 30 and July 1, 2012.

The 4 shows will be at the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, CA:

June 29, Friday at 8pm; June 30, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; and July 1, Sunday at 2pm.  Tickets will be on sale starting May 1st, 2012.  $16 per person.

the 9 contest winners: Elaine Maikovska, Harry Reid, Jean Wong, Amanda McTigue, Nancy Lockard Gallop, Malena Eljumaily, Elizabeth VanPatten, Teresa LeYung-Ryan; Gene Griffith was not at awards ceremony

Again, thank you, Linda Loveland Reid, contest judges Lennie Dean, Natasha Carter-Yim, Michael Fontaine (who couldn’t attend the awards ceremony), Redwood Writers, fellow playwrights, Lynn Scott, Elisa Sasa Southard, my MaMa, and my friends who send me good wishes.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest Judge & Playwright Natasha Carter Yim. Thank you, Natasha!

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Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest Judge & Festival Director Lennie Dean tells Teresa LeYung-Ryan which symbolism in Teresa's play touched her. Thank you, Lennie!

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Redwood Writers Play Festival Director Lennie Dean with Playwright/Writing Coach/Story Consultant Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Travel Writer/Certified Tour Director Elisa Sasa Southard

 

Teresa,

Congratulations! Answer Me Now is a beautiful sojourn of the mother/daughter soul affinity. I continually seek to be the best of the best of my mother: your play is a tribute to that ongoing relationship of mind, heart and healing spirit. Thank you.

As Festival Director, I am thrilled at the announcement of the collaboration between Redwood Writers President Linda Loveland Reid  and 6th Street Playhouse – Craig Miller, Artistic and Education Director. This match will bring the best of both worlds to serve in the enrichment of our community. It is sure to be an event of the year!

I will update as the process of the creation of this event unfolds!

Lennie Dean

Thank you so much, Lennie!

Thinking back to that monologue (Othello on judgment day) I had written for that English class. . . I wonder where that paper is.

You can write any genre that hooks you. Just write.

 

Thank you, Elisa Sasa Southard, for helping me (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) do advance publicity for Redwood Writers Play Festival at 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, CA

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

As editor/story consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan identifies themes and universal archetypes for clients. As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she says: “Make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.” Teresa has built her own platform happily; her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. She says her novel and her play Answer Me Now carry the theme closest to her heart: mother-daughter relationship.  http://writingcoachteresa.com for Coach Teresa’s Blog and other resources.  “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

**

 

 

Coach Teresa, do I need special manuscript paper?
Those days are gone–special paper to type manuscripts and legal documents.
Just use plain white paper.
Agent, publishers and printers will want the final manuscript in electronic format.
Use WORD for text; 12 pt. font; double spaced; 1″ margins; your full name, book title, your email address or telephone number in header (so that if pages get separated, there’s no confusion as to who the author is); pages numbered.
Cover sheet (no page numbering) would show:
  • book title
  • number of pages or words
  • author’s name
  • author’s contact info
Also, back-up all your electronic files.  Get yourself a flashdrive to back up your manuscripts and photos. Or use an online back-up service. Make multiple back-ups.
The Fifth Book of Peace opens as Maxine Hong Kingston, driving home from her father’s funeral in the early 1990s, discovers that her neighborhood in the Oakland-Berkeley hills is engulfed in flames. Her home burns to the ground, and with it, all her earthly possessions, including her novel-in-progress. Kingston, who at the time was deeply disturbed by the Persian Gulf War, decides that she must understand her own loss of all she possessed as a kind of shadow-experience of war: a lesson about what it would be like to experience up close its utter devastation. Thus she embarks on a mission to re-create her novel from scratch, to rebuild her life, and to reach out to veterans of war and share with them her views as a lover of peace.

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your platform.”

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

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

Teresa is author of Love Made of Heart (to inspire adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families)

Coach Teresa edits manuscripts (contemporary novels; thrillers; children’s novels; memoirs; short stories; anthologies) for authors who want to attract agents  & publishers  OR  want to be their own publishers.

Exactly the right words; social networking; taglines; job seekers; grammar; manuscripts; Chinese word for heart

I started a new format for my blog posts on November 16, 2011. Once a month, I will write a post to include 3 sections.

As 22-day Platform-Building Coach Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days:

Write Your Story Now! PLAYshop with Mary E. Knippel

Are you frustrated trying to find just exactly the right words
- for your blog posts?
-for that end-of-the-year letter to family or customers?
-to update your profile on your website or social media site?

Come and explore how you can overcome your writing challenges and have fun at the same time!

Nov. 19, 2011   9 a.m. -4 p.m. Free Event
$20 holds your seat (refunded at the door)
Workshop in Half Moon Bay, CA

Click here for more details.

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Mary Tang tells me that George Kao teaches people/small businesses how to gain visibility and find customers via social networking http://www.georgekao.net/
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Learn how to craft your talking-tagline from Guru Elisa Sasa Southard http://breakthroughthenoise.com/ Get Elisa’s book!
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Job Seekers check out http://dearjane.info/
*******

As Editor & Manuscript Consultantidentify themes and archetypes:

Get yourself a book on grammar. I recommend Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O’Conner

*******

Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Mary E. Knippel show writers how to polish their manuscripts before:

  • hiring book doctor/developmental editor
  • pitching to agents or acquisition editors
  • self-publishing

As author of Love Made of Heart:

November is:

“Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”

Please click here for details to Coach Teresa’s event.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

 

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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