Los Angeles Premier of Kochiyama's Crusaders

Many of my #SharingwithWriters subscribers and visitors know that much of my poetry and fiction has a tolerance theme and so I felt I just must let you know about the premiere productions of a new play by Marlan Warren.  It's in Los Angeles so I hope you Southern Californians can support it; I hope the rest of you will stow this play in the recesses of your memory and gift it some affirmative energy so it will make it to your town!




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Playwright: Bits of Paradise: Kochiyama's Crusaders

http://bit.ly/2tSXRto

THE PLAY: BITS OF PARADISE -  What did you do in the War, Mama?  Kochiyama's Crusaders This documentary film will honor the war effort of Japanese  American girls and women held in American concentration camps  during World War II. Led by the young activist, Yuri  Kochiyama (aka "Mary Nakahara"), they called themselves  "The Crusaders" as they embarked on a passionate  letter-writing campaign to boost the morale of  "any soldier in need of a letter."

Filmmaker: What did you do in the War, Mama?: Kochiyama's Crusaders
https://sites.google.com/site/bitsofparadisethemovie/home

What did you do in the War, Mama?  Kochiyama's Crusaders sites.google.com What did you do in the War, Mama: Kochiyama's Crusaders grew  out of the play, Bits of Paradise by producer/director/playwright  Marlan Warren which showcased at The ...

Learn more about Marlan:

Marlan Warren

Roadmap Communications

Book Publicity by Marlan

Twitter: @marlanwarren

Roadmap Girl's Book Buzz: http://roadmapgirlsbookbuzz.blogspot.com/

Web site:  http://bookpublicitybymarlan.blogspot.com/

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for

writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. In addition to this blog, she helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com) Her most recent book is Imperfect Echoes which fits right in with today's theme of tolerance and was released this year to rave reviews from Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief of the Midwest Book Review.  The cover is by Conrad Jackson, an artist who is serving 25 years to life in the California penal system for receiving stolen property.

A Little Story to Encourage Authors to Have Faith

I was touched by this essay from a good friend of mine, so touched that I thought it might inspire my followers, subscribers, and visitors to persist, that it might give them hope.  Many thanks to author, playwright--and friend--Marlan Warren for allowing me to reprint her little story that reaffirms my "never give up" and "keep persisting" mottoes.

FAITH

Bits of Paradise my play about the women of the World War II Japanese American "internment" (aka "incarceration") women's movement led by budding activist Yuri Kochiyama (then named "Mary Nakahara") was accepted in May by Rogue Machine Theatre in Hollywood (they are upstairs in The MET Theatre, which also has a great rep for theater artists).

It's been a long haul since I directed/produced the show nine years ago in San Francisco at The Marsh Theatre in '08, and returned to L.A. in '09. An uphill battle to interest anyone in the show. Then, last June, I noticed that Ariel Kayoko Labasan was performing her one-woman show, Yuri Speaks, but I was too sick to attend. After months of missing each other, Ariel reached out to me recently to say she's on board.

Last month, I came across the beautiful MET Theatre in Hollywood. They do not answer their phone or emails, so Ariel and I had our first meeting about how to rewrite the play (now entitled Bits of Paradise: Kochiyama's Crusaders), and afterward, we walked into The MET, ran right into a producer and she said, "Yes!" They will host us and split ticket sales. She told us that has never happened with folks walking in off the street. 

And...(drum roll)...The set they have up right now for their production looks exactly like the inside of a barracks in a Japanese American concentration camp barracks. (But they can't guarantee the set will be there in July for us.)

So the show is slated to run July 19 and 20, with possibly the following Friday or Sunday. And we have to do everything, including finding rehearsal/audition space.

Last week, Ariel gently pushed me to find audition/rehearsal space. We have zero budget. I made some calls, sent emails re possible spaces that morning, and an hour later, I got a call from the pastor of the Founders Metropolitan Community Church in Los Feliz.

"How fast can you get down here?" he asked.

Here's what happened:

I walked into that church and cried the whole time that the pastor (with the unlikely name of "Reverend Downer") showed me around rather gleefully unveiling each miracle. 

Kicker #2: The pastor informed me that the original church congregants had protested against the Japanese Americans being placed in concentration camps on US soil during WWII. And he really, really wants us there. The church has many beautiful rooms, perfect for rehearsals. And they do rent space to actors. But...since we do not have money...we will not have to pay. 

He took me into various rooms, all with names. And each one made me go: "Oh this is perfect!" He twinkled, "Now you really should look at all the rooms..."

Finally, I walked into a room at the highest level of the church. The light from the windows, the Oriental carpet, the space and the acoustics...all perfect. With tears in my eyes, I asked, "What is the name of this room?" He smiled, very happy and announced:

"This is the Ghandi Room."

He explained that he had conducted a series of workshops in that room re non-violent resistance. That is what Yuri Kochiyama did. I told him how she chained herself to the Statue of Liberty. And I have her telling her story about it, for the documentary I've been making about the actual women who were The Crusaders.

The Good Pastor has a sense of drama because rather than tell me everything at once, he seemed to enjoy showing me this and that...revealing this info and that info...very gradually. Until...

We were in the Church Theater! And he said we could do our show there too (yes, they have projectors for the film clips I want to blend with this new version of the show).

When I first saw him and he showed me the chapel with its wooden pews for auditions, I said, "This is Divine Intervention!"

And he said, "You are exactly right."

Then he issued the coup de gras: taking me into the cathedral. There, in front of the altar is a wooden cross draped with golden cloth. 

"The cross is made from the wood of a Japanese American concentration camp," said Rev. Downer. "It was in the attic when we moved in, and we didn't know its history until an original member came by and told us."

That made me cry harder.

Only the people I've known for years know what I've been through with this play and then with the documentary which remains unfinished for lack of post-production funds. And I will not even bother to explain all that. 

All that matters is that I know we are in the right place.

The MET is located at 1089 N. Oxford Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029.

Show Dates and Times:

July 19 (Afternoon and Eve. - Not sure what time yet)

July 20 (Eve.)

Maybe July 28 or 30, but not confirmed yet.

Do not call the theater (not sure how much the tickets are yet).

Call Marlan Warren for Details: (323) 347-6762

Play Website: https://sites.google.com/site/bitsofparadisethemovie/the-play-bits-of-paradise

What did you do in the War, Mama? Kochiyama's Crusaders sites.google.com Bits of Paradise places its footprint on the timeline of a much needed theatrical examination of the Asian American journey."--ASIAN WEEK Bits of Paradise was ...

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER



Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter (where she talks more about choosing and the advantages of winning contests and how to use those honors)  and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is  How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. In addition to this blog, she helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com )

Britain's Schindler Dies at 106

I know a few of my SharingwithWriters subscribers and visitors are aware of some of my creative writing as well as my how-to books for writers and those who are probably know it often touches on the theme of tolerance. I was raised with intolerance all around me, a child torn between two families, neither one more accepting than the other. So I was touched anew when I learned that Nicholas Winton died at the age of 106 after a lifetime of doing for children what he thought was right at the risk of his own safety and reputation.

I first heard of him a couple years ago on CBS’s 60 Minutes. He saved 669 children from the holocaust. He was said to be “Britain’s Schindler.” Of Jewish heritage, he was raised a Christian. By dint of pure willpower and his own money, he convinced many British families to accept children in danger into their homes; each were paid 50 pounds for the expenses to return to their homes in Czechoslovakia for most were certain the placement would be only temporary. Toward the end of the program to save children, he lost 250 of them who were waylaid and never made it to Britain.

I try not to get too serious or political in this blog, but as writers we are all in a unique position to speak out about what is right. Political correctness is popular right now. In fact, it can be carried so far it becomes a deterrent to clear writing. But the greatest good is not working at trying not to offend but at acting when we see an injustice. Winton was an unsung hero most of his life. Though eventually knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, it was not accolades but a sense of Justice that moved and motivated him. He took action at a time when few believed him or trusted him and many still held long established prejudices against the people he was determined to save. He was so firm in his belief that he broke many laws to carry out his plan.

He will be missed, but writers can carry his torch for doing what is right. 

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 Carolyn Howard-Johnson's new book of poetry, Imperfect Echoes: Writing Truth and Justice with Capital tLetters, lie and oppression with small, will soon be published. She is author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .

In the Publishing World: No National Book Fair Equality for Self-Published Authors

Span Connection, the print newsletter of www.spannet.org, runs the headline "The Almost-National Book Festival." Writer Edward Allan Faine tell us that though care was taken to represent diverse group[s from age to reading categories to ethnic and racial groups at the National Book Festival in our capital, one group was woefully neglected.

Sighhhh!

I’m sure you can guess which one. Of the 156 books of invited artists 2/3 were published by the six large conglomerates (many of them foreign owned), about 1/3 by large and mid-size independents and nine by university presses. The writer of the article notes that there was one out-print chapbook by poet Michael Lind so at least out-of print got represented.

So where does that leave what many incorrectly call POD-published authors (really self-, subsidy- or partner-published). Exactly nowhere. By the way, this is a festival sponsored by the Library of Congress (our tax dollars?) and founded by former First Lady Laura Bush.

It will be interesting to note what the mix will be at the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books this weekend. After all, LA is known for its acceptance in general. Let’s hope that extends to books. At least in Christine’s and my booth, there will be authors published every which way. All were welcome this year. All will be welcome next. Those signing in booths are not the invited guests of the fair administration but rather talented, hard-working authors of books period. They deserve readers' support. See www.sizzlingbookfairbooths.blogspot.com for more information on how we make that booth successful.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her FRUGAL book for retailers is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog.

Have Some Fun! Write Opinion

In the Frugal Book Promoter I suggest that one way people who hate to promote (read that "be in public" or "sell") can get noticed is by doing what they love and that is writing or letting people know what they think.

Authors or other business people can get their names out there by using letters-to-the-editor or public forums. It's a way to build credibility in your field. And, yes, you have a field even if you write fiction or poetry. Your job is to find out what that field is. Mine is tolerance and all the things affected by it or the lack of it. With the world the way it is, I find tons of stuff to write on the subject, both locally and nationally.

The secret is to watch for a news item (either in the public forum or in the news pages) that relates to your book or field of expertise and write about it. Here are tips on how to do that:

 Follow the newspaper or magazine's guidelines for the letters, if they have them. You'll usually find guidelines on their website but you can also tell by watching the letters page.
 If you submit frequently (and get published), you'll position yourself to get freelance work with those newspapers and magazines. Perhaps even a column.
 If you don't get published, contact the opinion editor and offer to do a longer op-ed essay for him or her. Op-ed pieces are often paid-for material.
 When your letter is published, follow up with a proposal to the editor for a freelance article--preferably related to the subject of your book or your field of expertise. Yes, mention that they published your piece.
 Follow that up with a phone call.
 If that doesn't work, send a query to the book review or entertainment editor with a feature story idea or request for a review. Mention that you've often been published as an expert in their very own newspaper.
 Follow that up with more letters to the editor.
 Then you might offer to review books for that same publication. One more way to do what you love to do which is to write.

Keep in mind that this is a process. You want to measure your submissions and proposals. The trick is to make contact (and get published) often enough for the editor to remember you but not so often that your approach feels forced. Certainly submitting a letter-to-the-editor every few weeks is not too much.
CHJ

PS: Many people who do not consider themselves writers enjoy this process, too. Retirees. People interested in local government or politics. Gadflies.
Have at it. Have fun.
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THIS IS THE PLACE; HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED; TRACINGS, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books, THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T; and THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS.
Her other blogs include TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com and AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog that helps writers and publishers turn a ho-hum book fair booth into a sizzler.