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NATIONAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION

LOS ANGELES

SEPTEMBER 2010Beach scene on Nantucket Island by Tom Howard

An inspiring, surprising, sometimes shocking,

and ultimately deeply informative memoir of

the high-stakes, high-pressured life of a female

heart surgeon Healing Hearts is the story of

the making of a surgeon who is also a wife and

mother. Dr. Magliato takes us into her highly

demanding, physically intense, male-domi-

nated world and shows us how she masterfullyworks to save patients’ lives every day.

Dr. Kathy Magliato is one of the few female

heart surgeons practicing in the world today.

She is also a member of an even more exclu-

sive group — those surgeons specially trained

to perform heart transplants.

In her memoir, we come to know many of

those patients whose lives Dr. Magliato has

touched: a baby born with a hole in her heart, a

ninety-four-year-old woman with a lethal tear

in her aorta, and a thirty-five-year-old movie

producer who saves her own life by recogniz-

ing the symptoms of a heart attack. Along the

way, Dr. Magliato sheds light on the too of-

ten unrecognized symptoms of a heart attack

and cardiovascular disease — the number one

killer of women in America — and the specific

measures that can be taken to prevent it.

As we begin to see what it takes for Dr. Maglia-

to to heal hearts day after day, we come to un-

derstand a more human side of the medical

profession. Dr. Magliato celebrates with her

patients when they overcome their disease and personally mourns when they die as a result

of it. She understands deeply the pain and suf-

fering that heart disease can wreak on patients

as well as on their families. Healing Hearts is

not only her story, it is also the story of every-

one affected by heart disease — roughly one in

three Americans.

Dr. Magliato acquaints us with the day-to-day

realities of her life and work. We see her skill-

fully juggle a full and happy family life as the

wife of a liver transplant surgeon (they have bedside tables cluttered with pagers and cell

phones that ring throughout the night) and the

mother of two young boys. We also see the toll

that being a female pioneer can take, as well

as the rewards of such demanding work. She,

like many working women, is striving to have

it all.

Dr. Magliato’s powerful and moving memoir

demonstrates her passion and commitment to

her family, her patients, and her profession and

reveals that, at the end of a long day, it’s our

hearts that matter most.

As Director of Women’s Cardiac Services at

Saint John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica,

California, she is developing a Multidisci-

plinary Women’s Health Center to address the

cardiac needs of female patients. Dr. Magliato

is also developing a Ventricular Assist De-

vice Program to treat end-stage heart failure

patients. Prior to joining Saint John’s Medical

Center, Dr. Magliato was a heart/

lung transplant surgeon and Director of the

Mechanical Assist Device Program at Cedars-

Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree

in Biochemistry at Union College in Sche-

nectady, New York where she graduated with

Cum Laude honors, she earned her medical

degree from Case Western Reserve University

in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed an intern-

ship and residency in general surgery at Akron

General Medical Center.

Further postgraduate training included a re-

search fellowship in thoracic organ transplan-

tation at the University of Michigan Medical

Center in Ann Arbor and a cardiothoracic sur-

gery residency at Loyola University Medical

Center in Chicago, Illinois. Dr Magliato also

completed a fellowship in heart transplanta-

It’s our hearts thatmatter the most

IN A CLASS ALL HER OWN

continued on page two

With over two hundred

speaking engagements, Dr. Magliato is

a sought-after lecturer and has been an

invited speaker on a multitude

of topics to audiences

throughout the world.

Meet Dr. Magliato at Mo’s Restaurant, 4301 Riverside Drive, Burbank - Saturday Sept. 18, 2-4 pm



People Magazine book review

by Caroline Leavitt

HEALING HEARTS

One o the ew emale heart surgeons in the world, Magliatopresents a ascinating look at the lie-or-death world o

cardiothoracic surgery. Along the way she reminds readers

that heart disease presents dierently in women (nausea,

jaw pain), kills a woman every sixty seconds and is largely

preventable. Magliato’s passion and verbal skills make her

the kind o doctor you’d want — and a writer to watch.

It’s our hearts that matter ...

tion, lung transplantation, and ventricular as-

sist devices at the University of Pittsburgh

Medical Center. In 2006, she earned an execu-

tive MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of

Management.

Dr. Magliato is a member of many profession-

al societies, including the American Society

for Artificial Internal Organs, the Association

of Women Surgeons, the American College of

Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons

and the International Society for Heart and

Lung Transplantation. With the surgical treat-

ment of congestive heart failure her primary

focus, Dr. Magliato has served as either prin-

cipal investigator or co-investigator for many

clinical trials and has contributed numerous

articles and abstracts to the medical litera-

ture. Additionally, she has a keen interest in promoting cardiac health for women and was

recently elected President of the Board of the

LA County American Heart Association. She

is the first woman to ever hold this position in

the history of this board.

Dr. Magliato’s areas of expertise include con-

gestive heart failure, heart transplantation,

lung transplantation, heart disease in women

and artificial heart technology. She has served

as a consultant to a wide array of biotechnol-

ogy companies including start-up ventures,

privately held companies and mature public

companies. Currently, she is overseeing the

clinical trial of the Jarvik artificial heart in the

United States.

Dr. Magliato is the recipient of many national

and regional awards including the Women’s

Leadership Exchange 2003 Compass Award

and, in 2006, was initiated into the American

College of Surgeons. In 2008, Dr. Magliato

was honored at the American Red Cross

gala, along with the cast of Grey’s Anatomy,and received their “Spirit of Humanitarian-

ism” award. In May of this year, she and Kate

White, editor in chief of Cosmopolitan maga-

zine, were awarded the Exceptional Women

award in Boston.

She has been highlighted by the media

as an expert in heart disease and has re-

cently been seen on NBC’s iVillage, ABC

News, CBS news and NBC news, as well

as being featured on WebMD. In Febru-

ary, she was featured in Shape magazine.

She has also worked on character development

with actresses Brooke Smith, Mary McDonnell

and Kim Raver, all of whom have played cardiac

surgeons on Grey’s Anatomy. Dr. Magliato has

been featured in several documentaries includ-

ing Lifetime’s Everywoman and the National

Geographic Explorer series “The Moment of

Death,” which aired September 23, 2008. Dr.

Magliato’s memoir Healing Hearts was pub-

lished by Random House Publishing, Broadway

Books Division in February 2010 and received a

starred review by Publisher’s Weekly and a four-

out-of-four star review in People Magazine.

Editorial

EVER MOVING FORWARD

TO A BETTER FUTURE

TWO

A book signing will follow the program.

September is an active month or

National Writers Association Los

Angeles. This is the time when we

renew our commitment to ourselves

as writers by signing up or another

year o interaction and support rom

ellow writers. You will fnd the sign-

up sheet enclosed. Please use the

enclosed envelope to return it with

your check as soon as possible.

Be sure to include your birthday

inormation.

Voting or our ofcers or the next

year is also a September activity, and

ballots are enclosed. Those can beplaced in the return envelope with

your membership, or returned when

you attend the meeting in September.

A ocus or the next ew months

will be an active membership drive,

which will be two-pronged. As a way

o encouraging current members to

introduce new people to our group,

we will oer awards:

AWARD ONEA ree breakast or each current

member who brings the most visitors

that sign up or a year’s membership

at the meeting. The requirement is

that the newcomers must sign up at

the meeting.

AWARD TWO

The current member, who over a six-

month period rom September 1, 2010

to February 28, 2011, brings in the

most new members will get a $15.00

rebate o their yearly dues.

So now is the time to let your

enthusiasm shine! Tell others about

our group. Distribute extra newsletters

(let the editor know how many you

can distribute) at libraries, bookstores,

restaurants, classes, etc. Bring riends

to the meetings. New acquaintances

and connections will beneft us all.



Member Jo Ann Colton presents a book series

designed to give writers the inside scoop on

how to be effective in the business of writing.

So, You Want to be a Writer

Written by a writer whounderstands writers’

concerns about enter-

ing the writing world,

So, You Want To Be A

Writer offers assistance

to aspiring writers. Cre-

ated strictly as a helpful

overview of the writing

process, it is informa-

tive and enlightening!

The book guides the writer/reader on a step-

by-step journey down the writer’s path. From

answering the “write” question and gettingstarted as a writer, to believing in one’s ability

to achieve, developing tools of the trade, mak-

ing that first impression as a writer and more,

Colton shares not only her own experiences as

a writer and author, but also her interactions

with other emerging writers and published au-

thors.

If you’ve always wanted to be a writer, but

didn’t know how to get started, this book

definitely belongs in your home library. Filled

with lots of helpful writing-related informa-

tion, dos and don’ts, and tips of the trade, So,You Want To Be A Writer, book one of Jo Ann

M. Colton’s “Little Red Writer Book” series,

is a must-read resource for beginning and un-

published writers.

How to DevelopStory Line Ideas

How to Develop Story

Line Ideas is a stimu-

lant for the imaginativemind. Designed to help

new writers seek and

recognize a plethora of

ideas for books and oth-

er pieces, book two of

Jo Ann M. Colton’s “Little Red Writer Book”

series energizes aspiring writers to follow their

literary dreams and aim high for success.

Story line ideas are everywhere — often right

before our very eyes. Colton discusses what

she believes to be the fundamental foundationfor developing ideas for writing books, short

stories and articles, and then expands upon her

theories.

This seek-and-you-will-find guide provides

innovative tips, information and exercises to

increase writers’ mental acuity and get their

creative juices flowing. From embracing the

idea of writing to discovering and gathering

story line ideas to getting those ideas down

on paper, the book encourages writers’ to push

themselves toward greater accomplishments.

As a result, How to Develop Story Line Ideas

is an interesting and enjoyable motivational

experience for rising writers.

Marketing MattersFor writers who subscribe to the “nontra-

ditional” approach to book publishing via

self-publishing or publishing through a POD

(print-on-demand) pub-lisher, Marketing Mat-

ters belongs on your

bookshelf.

Marketing is a means

of transferring services

and products to con-

sumers. As cited by

www.parapublishing.

com, according to R.R. Bowker as reported in

The Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2004, there

are “over 2.8 million books in print.” Writerswill have to take an aggressive approach to tar-

geting their book’s audience and reaching their

readers.

For those who feel a bit intimidated by the sub-

ject, Marketing Matters provides a reassuring

introduction into the mechanics of marketing.

This basic guide offers an elementary glimpse

of the activities involved in the marketing pro-

cess. Designed for aspiring writers, beginning

writers and recently published new writers

who don’t consider themselves marketers, the

book presents helpful information and sugges-

tions about marketing.

On the journey through its pages readers will

learn of the connection between marketing,

advertising, publicity, and public relations.

Marketing Matters also discusses the four

Ps of marketing, what they mean and how

they relate to the author’s own book. From

“MAPP-ing” for success, to thinking outside

the box, from marketing plans to marketing

tools, readers will soon be enlightened as to

what they can do to market their books, even

on a shoestring budget.

Helping writers live the dream

THREE

“LITTLE RED WRITER BOOK” SERIES BY JO ANN COLTON

Look for Jo Ann M. Colton’s

“Little Red Writer Book” series-

AVAILABLE NOW

through your favorite bookstore or

for a free preview of each book

and/or to order visit

www.authorhouse.com

WHO SAID THIS?Can you match the famous quote in history

with the inspiring do-gooder who said it? Test

your knowledge with our trivia quiz. Mark

your best guess, then find the answers on

page six.

1. “It always seems impossible until it’sdone.”

Thomas Jefferson

John F. Kennedy

George W. Bush

Nelson Mandela

2. “You must be the change you want to

see in the world.”

Bobby Kennedy

Mahatma Gandhi

Golda Meir

Albert Schweitzer

3. “For everyone of us that succeeds, it’s

because there’s somebody there to show

you the way out. The light doesn’t always

necessarily have to be in your family; for

me it was teachers and school.”

Oprah Winfrey

Abraham LincolnFranklin D. Roosevelt

Barack Obama

4. “As we express our gratitude, we must

never forget that the highest appreciation

is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

Mother Teresa

Brian Williams

John F. Kennedy

John Lennon

more on page six



PRESIDENT’S CORNER

WRITING ADVICE

ENERGIZING YOUR CRAFT

FOUR

Among the activities we have planned for theupcoming program year are support sessions by

writers for writers, which will be take place in

October and February.

The October meeting will be a forum for our

member/writers to share what or who inspired them

to write. A book or attending a class or some other

catalyst.

In February participating writers will get a chance

to have their work critiqued by the group. It helps

a writer’s ego as well as their ability to write if theyhave peers read and give feedback on their work. One

of the best ways to connect with writers and to gather

feedback on your work is being a member of a writing

club.

SOME RULES OF THE ROAD When critiquing

the work of others, remember to keep things

positive and constructive, encouraging each other

rather than tearing down the other writers in the

group. Keep criticism constructive rather thanmean. Too much negativity can often be devastating

for group members, especially since sharing one’s

writing can be a soul-baring experience to begin

with.

Passages read should be brief, such as excerpts

from longer works, short stories, etc., allowing

everyone in the group to have time to share. Putting

a limit on time for reading and discussion can give

everyone an opportunity to hear feedback and

listen.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE One way to gain moremembers (see editorial on page two), is go through

your personal address book and invite friends that

might be interested. You can also make a flyer with

information about the club and post it in places

such as the local library, newspaper, community

center, and in local bookstores around town.

We will post ads for the group on sites such as

Facebook and Craigslist. When prospective

continued on page six

Ater much thoughtul deliberation

I have decided to temporarily

relocate to the East Coast or the

next several months to be closer

to my mom and fnish work on her

oral history, Mrs. Foley’s Flowers.

For this reason, I have decided not

to place my name on the ballot in

the presidential position or the

upcoming year. Since LaVonne

Taylor has been nominated or the

position, I am happy to recommend

that at the next meeting at

Mo’s Restaurant on Saturday,

September 18 at 2:00 pm, the group

unanimously vote her in as the nextpresident and give her your ullest

support.

Passing the baton

It has been an honor to serve as president, acilitate

meetings, and write or the newsletter. I hope to

attend on September 18 and am impressed with the

plans that LaVonne has made or the upcoming year

to keep the group alive and vibrant.

— Your President, Tom Howard

Perils of a tight

deadline

Due to a late night deadline, I

inadvertently introduced a few

errors into the story, “Can anyone

Spare a Typewriter,” an excerpt

from our book in progress,

Mrs. Foley’s Flowers and other

Autobiographical Tales of Growing

up Irish Catholic as told by Trudy

Mulcahy Howard to her son,

Thomas Howard, that appeared in

the April, 2010 issue of Views. As

writer/editor I must be respectful of

the subject, narrator, and source of

all the stories in the book, my dear

mother, Trudy Mulcahy Howard,

who would like the following

corrections to be noted:

Paragraph 6, line 8 should read:

Before I knew it, I was in all-black

Harlem. Daylight was fading and

the people also were getting darker.

Mr. Sutherbee had warned me not

to go into that area unaccompanied

so I turned back. I started to get a

little worried, saying to myself,

“Oh, my God! What am I going to

do?”

The correct spelling of the order

of Dominican nuns is Sinsinawa.

... The Sinsinawa nuns were

brought to NYC by Father Ford,

not Monsignor Rigney.

In the third column, second

paragraph of the story (as it was

printed), line 4 should read:

... This sister, whose name was

Sister Mary Jacqueline, came down

and showed me her classroom that

featured on the walls pictures of the

United Nations. (Graybeard poets

of New England were featured on a

wall when mom student taught.)

In utmost humility,

Thomas Acquinas Howard



By Mary L. Ports

In the July, 2010 issue of Views, was an account of a sleep study I un-

derwent at Kaiser Permanente. Then, I felt somewhat like a recalcitrant

horse, rebellious to the use of an apparatus that could improve the qual-

ity of life. My experiences during the study, understandably led me to

mistake the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP), for a “CRAP” machine. However, as with any story, there is always another

side and this one is no exception.

I recently learned from LaVonne, our il-

lustrious editor, that Jaime, her husband,

refused to have a sleep study suggested by

his doctor. After reading my article, he was

glad that he had refused.

About a week after my sleep study, my

doctor scheduled me for a one-and-a-half-

hour class at the Aprea Health Care Unit

in Van Nuys, California. Here, I would be

instructed how to use the machine. Since the

results of my study showed a severe sleep disorder, I decided it best to

take the class.

In the small class of four, was a gentleman who came for a review, re-

questing another mask, which you can do every three months. He told

me an interesting story about what happened the very first day after he

used his mask.

He was out shopping with his wife and about 2:00 p.m. he looked at his

watch and asked her, “Why aren’t I tired?” About 4:00 p.m. he looked

at his watch again and asked her the same question. He continued won-

dering throughout the day why he wasn’t as tired as usual and finally

realized after a few days that the CPAP machine was a Godsend.

I was surprised to learn that my maid, Robin, who drove me to the clinic

and sat in on the class, had sleep apnea. She decided to start using her

sleep mask that night and excitedly reported that the swelling and pain

in her right arthritic knee had subsided.

Talking with my CPA, I learned that his grandfather has been using a

sleep mask for five years and swears by it. He takes it with him wher-

ever he goes and often travels by airplane, using it every night. It is

amazing to find how many people make use of the CPAP machine and

wear the mask to bed.

When you don’t get enough sleep or proper rest, fatigue sets in. And

when you are terribly low on energy, there isn’t much to laugh about.

But the other night, just before bed, I decided to make a last phone call

to one of my night-owl friends. Bleary-eyed, I picked up the phone

and dialed. Putting it to my ear, I noticed that there wasn’t any ring.

Puzzled, I looked at the phone only to discover that it was my remote

control. Tired as I was, I let out a huge laugh, wondering if I had finally

lost all of my marbles.

I’ve only used it for three nights and for me, I think it is too soon to tell

about the benefits. For others, it may be sooner. It takes practice getting

it on and off with dexterity. A touch of arthritis in my fingers makes it

difficult for me to use the clip on the right side, especially since it can’t be seen, only felt. The chin guard was not included in my full face mask

kit as it should have been, so when I went for a refit, this was discov-

ered. The guard was given to me with the second fit and demonstration,

which was more thorough. This plas-

tic guard keeps the mask more secure

around the mouth and prevents air from

escaping, provided that it is strapped on

securely. It’s quite an invention. I’m told

that they are constantly changing and

improving the apparatus and I should or-

der another one every three months.

Now, with a chin guard on my full face

mask, oxygen gets to my brain. Perhaps I won’t continue to be such a

numbskull, but only time will tell.

FIVE

FOLLOW- UP ON ‘TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM’

RECOGNITION

Being lauded by my peers is a hoot

We all know we’re not in it or the loot

Since recognition is the most I’ll ever get

Monetary expectations aren’t my bet

I sit here mulling over what I’ve got

Which word where? To rhyme or not?

Meter or ree orm, narrative or lyric?

Why do I bother? ... Ain’t it clearic?

This is how I want to spend my days ...

Eventually ... perhaps ... going out in a blaze.

— LaVonne Taylor, August 2010

With apologies to Ogden Nash, 1902-1971



SIX

5. “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken

with painstaking excellence.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Confucius

Hillary Clinton

Buddha

6. “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.”

Benjamin Franklin

Harry S Truman

Abraham Lincoln

Michael Jordan

7. “My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”

Sarah Palin

Henry Kissinger

George W. Bush

Thomas Paine

8. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to

improve the world.”

Anne Frank

Pope Paul

Margaret Thatcher

Norman Vincent Peale

Energizing your craft ...

members ask about the group, we will have an

information packet to give them that contains

the information about our group. It is best that

these prospective members know as much as

possible about the group before joining.

For the February critique session, please

submit the excerpt to be read to LaVonne in

December or before, so there will be time to

copy and distribute a print version to the rest of

the members that will be in attendance.

Remember, the writing group should focus

on the group, not the leader or one particular

writer. The group should be supportive of each

other as writers rather than competitive. The

friendlier and more caring the atmosphere, the

less likely that negative drama is to creep in.

Outside of the writing, that is.

PROPOSED PROGRAM SCHEDULE

FOR SEPTEMBER 18, 2010 to JUNE 18, 2011

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010 – DR. KATHY MAGLIATO

OCTOBER 16, 2010 – WORKSHOP: DISCUSSION - WHAT INSPIRED

YOU THE MOST AS A WRITER? BOOK,

TEACHER, CLASS, ANOTHER WRITER, ETC.,

THAT HELPED OR ENCOURAGED YOU THE

MOST AND WHY (Submit a synopsis to LaVonne

in September)

NOVEMBER 20, 2010 – AUTHOR/PUBLISHER DIANA M. JOHNSON

TOPIC TBA (See enclosure for a chance to choose.)

DECEMBER 18, 2010 – CHRISTMAS PARTY, MEMBER

PERFORMANCE ART

JANUARY 15, 2011 – MORGAN ST. JAMES

FEBRUARY 19, 2011 – WORKSHOP: WRITING CRITIQUE OF

MEMBERS

MARCH 19, 2011 – SPEAKER TBA

APRIL 16, 2011 – NATIONAL POETRY MONTH;

EARTH DAY, SPEAKER TBA

MAY 21, 2011 – SPEAKER TBA

JUNE 18, 2011 – SUMMER PARTY, MEMBER

PERFORMANCES

JULY & AUGUST, 2011 – VACATION

WHO SAID THIS?

1. Nelson Mandela

2. Mahatma Gandhi

3. Oprah Winfrey

4. John F. Kennedy

5. Martin Luther King, Jr.

6. Abraham Lincoln

7. Thomas Paine

8. Anne Frank

VIEWS, a newsletter for the members of the

Los Angeles chapter of the National Writers

Association monthly. The meetings take place at

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the third Saturday of every

other month, except July and August, at Mo’s

Restaurant, 4301 Riverside Drive, Burbank.

For information, call: 661-267-2220

or send an e-mail to

[email protected]

IN MEMORIAMDonna Daniel, a riend

o Nwala, recently passedaway. We mourn the loss and

send our sincerest condolences tothe amily. Donna died ollowingcomplications rom an aneurysm

sustained August 22nd.

Her ashes will be interred in a spotshe chose in Oregon. Because there

will be no service or uneral, thatsometimes leaves people eeling asense that things are unresolved. Iinclined, you might consider con-tributions to the LA Public Library,

purchases o books in her name, do-nations to doggie charities (she loved

her doggies!), or simply to write anote to her amily, c/o The Family

o Donna Daniel, 1619 NorthStanley Avenue, Los

Angeles, CA90046-2712.

Views September 2010(2)

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