Archive | October, 2010

The Check Came in the Mail!

29 Oct

Last Friday, I was thrilled to receive my new books, bookmarks, and business cards from the printers.

This Friday, I am thrilled to receive a check from E! Entertainment for One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And 00 Cents!

That check will go a long way toward getting my new business The Write Alley Coaching and Writing Strategies and my new book Middle of the Night Poems From Daughter to Mother :: Mother to Son off the ground!

Wow! It’s still hard to believe! I was shocked when “How Do I Look” host Jeannie Mai announced on stage at The Women’s Conference that I would be receiving $1500 of office furniture. Then when segment producer Sonia told me a check for $1500 was on its way and I could spend it how I liked to help my business, I was even more shocked! Really? Wow!

And today here it is–a check for $1500! Can you see me doing my happy dance to Tom Tom Club?

What Are Words Worth? Theme Songs part 2

28 Oct

Two weeks ago I posted about finding my theme song and asked what’s your theme music–what’t the music that gets YOU going and that you identify with.

Unfortunately, at rehearsal on Monday, I found out the Style Network chose the song “Walking on Sunshine” for me. While it’s not a bad song and it certainly wasn’t a song I’d ever choose,  I hammed it up appropriately and danced so convincingly across the stage during the rehearsal that the other women were encouraged to take after me!

Since I had planned on doing a blog post post-conference about my theme music, I am going to anyway–the Style Network might have been able to take away my blond hair (temporarily!), they can’t take away my theme music!

I chose Tom Tom Club for my theme music for the reasons I talk about here, but also because of a video I found two weeks ago (above) and because of an interaction I had with Tina Weymouth.

I have an eclectic fashion style. I have lots of vintage clothes and fun hats and scarves and I enjoy dressing up and going out dancing, to parties or on bike rides.

So when I dressed to go see Tom Tom Club (more…)

Fun Networking This Friday

27 Oct

While the Women’s Conference is considered the premier networking event for women in the country, locally we’re fortunate that business women like Jodi Womack (No More Nylons), Donna Van Hoesslin (Linchpins), Hilary Forstadt Jiler and Tea Silvestre (Green Drinks), Erika Harding (Architexture Salon & Gallery/Fashion Week) and others offer fun networking opportunities on a regular basis.

This Friday, catch two great events: “Pink Party” in Ventura and in Ojai, Women’s Business Social. (more…)

The Women’s Conference: waiting & watching from afar

26 Oct

Yesterday was a “Day Of Transformation and Healing” and “A Night at at the Village” at the Women’s Conference.

What an absolutely amazing event; unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to attend. I had to leave Deepak Chopra’s talk early for a rehearsal; the rehearsal was scheduled after his talk but I was told I was needed immediately–which was not even close to the truth and which meant I sat in the convention hall waiting around for 90 aggravating minutes. I couldn’t even get online to hear the rest of his talk on the Women’s Conference website. I promise to get my notes turned into a blog post as soon as possible.

Above is a photo of “How Do I Look” host Jeannie Mai during rehearsal. Her glasses are so clear you can put your finger right through (but you might poke her in the eye so be careful!). It’s all about style she told me. We also talked about Vietnamese food and I invited her to visit with me the An Lac Mission Buddhist Temple in Ventura in February for a huge festival celebrating the visit of the Jade Buddha.

When the rehearsal was over, I wasn’t allowed to stay at the convention center: I had to leave my car there and be driven back to the hotel where I had to stay with the other women in one of two hotel rooms until I was called in almost four hours later for my hair. I couldn’t even go to my own room.

At least today I thought (more…)

So “How Do I Look?”

25 Oct

Today was the BIG DAY, the day of the Style Network “How Do I Look” show’s big reveal of myself and three other women at the Women’s Conference in Long Beach, California.

It was also the “Day of Transformation and Healing” at the Women’s Conference with lots of amazing speakers including Deepak Chopra and Tony Robbins.

Unfortunately, I was only able to get a very small taste of the  Women’s Conference. (More on that in a later blog post; a blog post from my notes from the opening session with Deepak Chopra will be posted soon).

My experience with the Style Network brought me quite a few surprises: on Sunday, I went from a natural blond to a brunette and on Monday, during the segment on the Main Stage in front of a thousand or so people, they gave me $1500 worth of office furniture (!) and a week’s worth of professional clothing.

And I was able to hand a copy of my new poetry book, Middle of the Night Poems From Daughter to Mother:: Mother to Son” to Maria Shriver who is a mother to four children herself (two boys, two girls) and who recently lost her own mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

So “How Do I Look”? Decide for yourself! (more…)

New Poetry Book Arrives!

22 Oct

Just in time for the Women’s Conference in Long Beach on Monday, I have 108 signed limited edition copies of my new poetry book, Middle of the Night Poems From Daughter to Mother :: Mother to Son (en theos press). I also put my “chop” on it: a special jade stamp the traditional red wax with my name in Chinese.

The signed limited edition published for the Women’s Conference will be available at the Devone Designs Perfect Fit Jewelry display in the WE Programs area in the Village part of the exhibit area of the Long Beach Convention Center.

The chapbook comes in two covers, 54 of each. Both covers feature a photo by Alan Sailer–one of a shooting star and the second of a red tent like shape.

Middle of the Night is also available from en theos press for $12 plus shipping and handling or from me for $10!

You can order the regular bound edition now for $12; it will be available in time for holiday giving.

Or buy a chapbook from me and a bound edition now for $15 (plus $2 shipping and handling.)

Thank you for buying my book and reading my work!

New Write Alley Bookmarks & Biz Cards in time for Women’s Conference!

21 Oct

Ahh, the company I will be keeping! Here’s a screen shot of the page for speakers at the Night at the Village at the Women’s Conference Monday, Oct. 25.

And yes, there I am! How exciting!

Obviously, for an event as HUGE as this, I needed new business cards and materials to promote my business!

And since I have a new poetry collection coming out in a special edition for the occasion, I decided to do bookmarks with information on the book on one side and information on the business on the other.

At the last minute, I was able to recruit friends and graphic artists Borbala Arvai to help me on my business card and the business side of the book mark while Tracy Hudak did the book side of the bookmark. Tracy was also a huge help in paring down the text to the essentials to show off the stunning photograph by Alan Sailer of a shooting star which is on the cover of the book as well.

This afternoon, we sent the files over to Matt Faussett at Fausett Printing; my brother’s high school surfing buddy promises to have them done by close of business tomorrow, Friday.

I am so grateful to my friends. I couldn’t get this book and these materials together so quickly without them. Thank You!

PS Order your copy of the book Middle of the Night Poems From Daughter to Mother  Mother to Son from Tod at en theos press today!

Head Coach Gwendolyn Alley Prepares for The Women’s Conference with new poetry collection!

20 Oct

Yes that’s me, Gwendolyn Alley, in the black and white photo (under the Governor!) listed as a speaker at this year’s Women’s Conference, the premier conference and networking event for women in the country if not the world!

At least that’s how I look now! On Sunday, I will begin a makeover; on Monday night on the Main Stage in the Village at the conference will be the reveal!

Go see for yourself at the Women’s Conference Website!

Getting ready for this has kept me very busy! For the occasion I decided to put together a collection of my poetry that traces my journey of being a daughter, becoming a mother, and losing my mother all from the perspective of 3:15 am on August nights from 2002-2010.

I am also working on new business cards and bookmarks for the book and my business! I’m very very excited about being a part of the Women’s Conference and getting a makeover from the Style Network!

Please join me on my journey!

“The Social Network” : Review by Guest Blogger Ron Wells

19 Oct
My friend Ron Wells is a tutor who specializes in working with autistic teens. He’s passionate about music, especially all things Bruce Springsteen, and films. He loves to write and when he gets a chance, he writes reviews of books, concerts, and other topics that interest him. Often I post his reviews on my blog Art Predator. Since facebook is an important marketing element for any business, I thought I’d go ahead and post his review of the film  The Social Network here.
The Social Network is a movie for our times, where everything, including business dealings, moves fast, faster, fastest,  and where all the lonely people, rich and poor, are desperate to connect with someone, anyone, for business or social reasons, amidst devices that seem to promise happiness in just a few quick keystokes on the keyboard.
 

Expertly directed by David Fincher (Seven, Zodiac) and written by one of the best screenwriters working today, Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, West Wing), from Ben Mezrich’s book Accidental Billionaires, the film moves at the speed of light, or as fast as a text message,  (more…)

Eco-Networking: Green Drinks Ventura Meets Tues. Oct. 19

18 Oct

Green Drinks is an international monthly networking opportunity for folks in eco-friendly businesses.

After a summer hiatus, Green Drinks Ventura County is meeting once again, this time in the Aqua Lounge at the Crown Plaza Ventura on Tuesday Oct. 19 from 5:30-7pm for free appetizers, conversation, organic beverages, and networking.

According to organizers,

Green Drinks fosters connections, raises awareness, and catalyzes the movement toward a more vibrant and sustainable Ventura County. If we’re lucky (which is likely) we’ll cross-pollinate, make new friends, catch up with old ones, and maybe even sprout an idea or three.

You can just show up or RSVP on facebook: Green Drinks – Thousand Oaks/Ventura County.

← Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 34 other followers