The Way of the Soulful Thanksgiving

thestorywoman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:39:28 -0800

This little turkey is taking a good look at all the reasons I have for GivingThanks. I won’t subject you to my thankfulness list, but I’m asking you to gather your thoughts about your loved ones and thank them for all they’ve given you throughout the years. Maybe you’ll thank them openly around the bountiful Thanksgiving table; better yet, put your thanks in writing. WRITING MEMOIRS ...

LET ‘EM KNOW THEY MOVED YOU

thestorywoman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:25:59 -0800

Words – that’s what we’re all about here, are we not? But not just any words – words that have the power to move.No matter how passionate you are about your work, do you ever question if what you’re doing really matters in the larger scheme of things in life? Sometimes I ask myself – how much a difference does my memoir work make as I encourage sons and daughters to recognize the ...

All Saints Day – Halloween Vamps & Witches – Mother Memoir, anyone?

thestorywoman — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:42:42 -0700

The Story Witch stirs the cauldron. A friend called asking me if I were giving my “Tap Memoir & Write Memoir” workshop at Book Passage on November 1st because it was All Saints Day. Well, no. That timing had never occurred to me, but it’s an interesting tie, and it provoked a good chuckle between us.Many people are dwelling on Halloween this weekend: witches on broomsticks silhouetted ...

3 Billion Women. “I like your hat. Do you like mine?”

thestorywoman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:14:40 -0700

Soooo many stories waiting to be told. Tell me a story. A Tidbit. A trifle. What unique anecdote do you want remembered about a significant woman in your life? “If you could tell just one small story that would capture ‘her’ character and keep her spirit alive for future generations, what would it be?”If you read my guide book you might remember when I fell into Dr. Seuss syndrome with, ...

A new review of Give the Gift of Story Guide Book

thestorywoman — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:51:41 -0700

Lynn, what a wonderful GIFT you're giving writers! I loved your book, and your class on Sunday, Nov 1st will be terrific!Lynn Cook Henriksen's Give the Gift of Story: TellTale Souls' Essential Guide to Tap Memory & Write Memoir in Five Acts provides a fresh approach to crafting engaging memoirs about significant people in our lives. Writers of any caliber will find this gem of a ...

Memoir Workshop at Book Passage, November 1st

thestorywoman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:48:35 -0700

If you're anyone who's ever had a mother you will want to take this "different kind" of memoir writing workshop at Book Passage in Corte Maders offered by Lynn Henriksen, who believes in Keeping Spirits Alive One Memoir at a Time.2-consecutive Sundays - Nov 1st and 8th - 2pm-5pm"If you could tell just one small story that would capture your mother's character and keep her spirit ...

Beside Suicide’s Door

thestorywoman — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:44:45 -0700

Today I’m posting a guest blog by Laura McHale Holland because she has so much to share with us. Suicide is something hard for most of us to talk about. We don't want to even go there - especially when it involves the mother of young children. I appreciate Laura's honesty, and I am sorry for her pain, although I cannot know what she feels. Her poignant mother memoir speaks for itself. I ...

One day it will be your story, too.

thestorywoman — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:29:13 -0700

Yesterday I was looking over some quotes in my TellTale Souls material for an upcoming workshop when I came across a quote from Joyce Carol Oates from her novel, Missing Mom, which I find apropos to encouraging folks to write mother memoir."last timeLast time you see someone and you don't know it will be the last time. And all that you know now, if only you'd known then. But you didn't ...

3 Red Room Authors picked for WNBA-SF Oct. Event

thestorywoman — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:14:46 -0700

Tanya Egan Gibson, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, and C.W. GortnerCelebrate with us to Share the Joy of ReadingThursday, October 15th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. The San Francisco chapter of Women's National Book Association is proud to announce a special event at Book Passage's Corte Madera location, celebrating National Reading Group Month this October. Please join us for this exceptional reading group of ...

Contest on How Using COMMON SENSE Makes Perfect Sense

thestorywoman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:57:29 -0700

THE STORY WOMAN'S TWO-PART CONTESTSocial, 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 ...

Obsession, Passion, and Transformation make for Accordion Dreams

thestorywoman — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:03:25 -0700

I was lured into Blair Kilpatrick's memoir, Accordion Dreams: A Journey into Cajun and Creole Music, the moment I saw the charming cover depicting a happy little girl holding her accordion, although I was surprisingly unprepared for the extent of the adventure she'd lead me on in this extraordinary musical memoir. Before I even opened the book, a small voice in the recesses of my mind encouraged ...

Workshops: Tap Memory & Write Memoir (1st one starts Sept 29th)

thestorywoman — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:58:56 -0700

Give the Gift of Story Workshops in Larkspur & Corte Madera, CA.You're invited to a very different kind of MEMOIR WRITING CLASS Complete description on The Story Woman Blog • 2 Times & 2 Locations • Corte Madera & Larkspur • For Beginners to Experienced Writers MarinLearn: Sept 29, Oct 6, Oct 18, & Oct 20 • 6:30-8:30p.m. (four consecutive Tuesdays) ...

Captivating Throne of Passion, Juana la Loca of Spain

thestorywoman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:31:10 -0700

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 ...

Strikes a Universal Chord, Love Made of Heart

thestorywoman — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:01:58 -0700

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 ...

Teacher's Pet

thestorywoman — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:31:55 -0700

I close my eyes; I'm back there banging fat felt eraser blocks together making chock dust clouds slide down the slanted rays of sunshine coming through the open window on this golden afternoon the first week of 3rd grade. I try not to breathe that fuzzy stuff in, but it doesn't really matter because I am elated with my elevated position. I feel special.Close my eyes again to travel back even ...