Update: Some people are emailing their comments, so that works, too, if you'd rather: lynn(at)telltalesouls(dot)com. Tell me how Using COMMON SENSE Makes Perfect Sense THE STORY WOMAN'S TWO-PART COMMON SENSE CONTEST Social, Intellectual, Religious, Political– you name it! Winner of Part 1 receives my “how-to” book, Give the Gift of Story: TellTale Souls’ Essential Guide to Tap Memory & Write Memoir in Five Acts, since learning to capture the character of a loved one in story makes Perfect Sense. Winner of Part 2 receives $25 USD from The Story Woman™, since my Common Sense tells me people like cash; it’s as simple as that. Threads of Common Sense run throughout the Mother Memoirs of TellTale Souls, but collecting pieces, examples, or bits of Common Sense is not the purpose of the bio-vignettes that daughters and sons write about their mothers. However, the purpose of this contest is to do just that. This is a very simple contest with very simple rules
Captivating Throne of Passion, Juana la Loca of Spain
I'm posting this book review on an historical novel by C.W. Gortner because I think The Last Queen is a great read and highlights the difficulties women have had throughout history attempting to be taken seriously whether they are royalty or not. Gortner will be honored this October 15th at an event for National Reading Group Month by Women's National Book Association, San Francisco Chapter. See links below for more information. Juana’s courage, strength, and passion amazed me as The Last Queen came of age so vividly under C.W. Gortner’s admirable pen. This historical novel is fraught with crushing battles of power and chilling intrigue throughout the courts of her parents, Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, and of her husband, Philip of Flanders, as the Infanta of Spain attempts to take her rightful place on the thrown she inherited from her mother. My soul was struck as I witnessed, through Gortner’s well paced story, the agony Juana endured as her
Love Made of Heart Strikes a Universal Chord
Teresa LeYung Ryan's, Love Made of Heart, is a stirring look at the intricacies of familial relationships, including mental illness and abuse, that for Ruby Lin, the narrator, have taken the bright, clear color from her world as she struggles to grow up as an American girl drowning in a sea of distinctly Asian values. Although the intricacies of the mother-daughter bond are the overall theme of this heartfelt story, there is a convoluted push and pull in Ruby's psyche as she clashes with her father, her Chinese husband, and in-laws, while leaning heavily on the powerful goodness and understanding she discovers in her sister and an adopted Jewish grandmother who has become her beacon in this violent coming of age saga. LeYung Ryan has Ruby slowly awaken through self-reflection to a universal truth as she works over time with her psychologist. Dr. Thatcher encourages her to unravel the conflicts and mysteries within by speaking with a clarity that resonated with Ruby (as it does
Proof You Can Write Memoir Anywhere, Anytime
This picture says it all, but, of course, I'll add a word or two. When the words start to flow... Some say our best insights come at the most unexpected times and places, so always be prepared. This picture actually reminded me of my daughter, Samantha - you just can't keep that girl from working and creating. You go, girl! Okay, no more excuses. Write your Mother Memoir now. That's it; you're on your way to honoring that most important woman by capturing her character in a bio-vignette - because you love who she is in the here & now AND want future generations to get a glimpse of that spirit you loved so much. My friend, Judith Marshall, author of the soon to be published book, Husbands May Come and Go, but Friends are Forever, gave me permission to filch this picture from her blog. So, I didn't really steal it, and now I invite you to steal away from my blog for a bit to check out what Judith is blathering about. The Story Woman asks all daughters and sons to
GREAT “How-to-Write” BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Give the Gift of Story will be given away soon. Don't delay, enter by Feb 19, 2009, see details below: Posted by Cami Walker, Founder of 29Gifts.org, on February 13, 2009 at 2:31pm in Great Giveaways View Discussions Fellow 29Gifts member and author, Lynn Henriksen, has made a generous offer. She's offering a copy of her book, "Give the Gift of Story," as well as donating 20% of her book sales for the month of March to help raise the money Mbali (the mother of our movement) needs to make her humanitarian trip to South Africa. About Lynn's book: Give the Gift of Story: Tap Memory and Write Memoir in Five Acts is a stimulating "how-to" book designed to guide you through writing a true short story, a bio-vignette. Activities, memory & writing exercises, and inspiring stories will prompt you to capture your mother's character in a 'Mother Memoir," even if you never thought you could. You will delve into memories with ease, trigger creativity, polish your prose, and find
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