Ying Chang Compestine
Testimonials
Ying is a breath of fresh air!! Her secret recipe for inspiring, crowd-pleasing events consists of
contagious enthusiasm for healthy living and motivational and empowering encouragement to
follow one's dreams. As a coordinator and a liaison for many community events for Whole Foods
Market, collaborating with Ying to inspire and educate was not only easy but so much fun! Ying's
can-do attitude and relentless determination to succeed is a recipe I look forward to creating
over and over again.
-Marketing Team Leader, Whole Foods Market
I hired Ying Chang Compestine to serve as the UC Davis School of Education's children's
literature lecturer for our annual Words Take Wing event. Ying eagerly and expertly handled a
live radio interview to promote her work and the event. She visited the UC Davis Children's
Hospital and was personable and patient with the ill children who gathered to meet her. The
following day, she addressed 650 children and teachers (3rd - 6th grade) in a presentation that
was both informative and entertaining, and included a live dumpling-making demonstration
with children from the audience. In the evening on the same day, she presented a highly
engaging lecture to a smaller group of educators and literature lovers. She was extremely wellprepared and a delight to work with. I highly recommend Ying for just about any public
speaking, cooking demonstration or reading engagement.
-Director of Marketing and Communications, UC Davis School of Education
I've known Ying Compestine for a few years now, all because of her early book, Revolution is Not
a Dinner Party. What a great historical, easy-read look at the occurrences preceding China's rise
today as a world power. I've had the pleasure of participating in one of her quasi-Iron Chef
dinners in a private home where guests buy, chop and consume a sumptuous—and always
healthy—feast. Who knew green tea ice cream was so tasty?! She's a terrific speaker on
everything from her personal story to cooking demonstrations.
-Executive Director, Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation
Thank you so very much for putting on that workshop, it was not only amazing to get firsthand
tips, but completely invaluable. Your guidance has revolutionized how I put a story together so
that I keep the agents and publishers in mind, and also for the reader in how I construct my
paragraphs and chapters. I've even taken the hook that I wrote in your class and started a book
with it! I laid out the chapters first, as if I were going to present it to a publisher, and it has made
the writing process a lot more productive than just going with the flow.
-Book Passage Workshop Student
One Gateway Center, Suite 751 | Newton, MA 02458 | Phone: 617.614.1600 | Fax: 617.965.6610 | apbspeakers.com
I appreciated your interest in what each of us sought to learn from the workshop and your clear
effort to incorporate our personal goals into the program. Most importantly, I found your
confidence and ambition infectious. [You] encouraged me to really go after the big agents and
publishers and to believe in my product. For that, I can't thank you enough.
-Workshop Attendee
Something that helped me specifically was your discussion about how you focus your time and
energy so the writing becomes a flow instead of a struggle. I believe your workshop has helped
me focus my thoughts about writing children's books so that I can translate some of my ideas
into marketable stories. I also enjoyed hearing how your dreams as a child and experiences as a
parent have become imbued within your stories.
-Workshop Attendee
I gained more practical knowledge about publishing today than in four years of undergrad
studies in creative writing.
-Student on Course Evaluation
Thank you for an inspiring workshop! I came in with no knowledge of writing for the children's
market and in eight short hours, you gave me enough writing technique and marketing
information to feel like I can get started with confidence.
-Workshop Attendee
Thank you for being so diligent, so focused and so professional in your approach to the class. I
found the whole experience exceeded my most optimistic expectations.
-Workshop Student
One Gateway Center, Suite 751 | Newton, MA 02458 | Phone: 617.614.1600 | Fax: 617.965.6610 | apbspeakers.com