Thursday, September 10, 2015

PinoyWriMos: JustWritePH For the Feels Excerpts (2/2)


The #JustWritePH workshop, which ran from July 1 to August 8, 2015, challenged participants to write a story and prepare it for publication in a little under 6 weeks. Tips and lessons were delivered online & in person, and now these stories are available in bundles on online e-book shop Buqo.

Title: For the Feels
Authors: Lee Miyaki (Kim Derla), Maria Criselda Santos, iamloid, and Kristine Cuevas

About the Bundle:
The feels come in all shapes and sizes, with a million different unique stories for every kind. Experience bitter feels, forbidden feels, pretend feels and young feels in this four-story bundle that’s sure to tug at your heartstrings. Features "13th Prayer" by Lee Miyaki, "Never the Princess" by Maria Criselda Santos, "My Ampalaya Story" by iamloid, and "A Bump in Athena's Life" by Kristine Cuevas.


Here's an excerpt from iamloid's My Ampalaya Story:

“Ang mga ahas nasa gubat bakit nandito ka? Fieldtrip niyo siguro?” Panimula ko habang tinitignan ko siya mula paa hanggang ulo. Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko at dali-daling nagpunta si Paul upang maging kasangga niya. Nice!

“Hmp! Condolence nga pala para sa EX-Boyfriend mong patay na patay sa akin.” Sabay smirk niya with matching palupot pa ng kamay niya kay Paul!

“Malandi!” Sigaw ko at napatingin siya sa akin, akala niya siguro nagalit ako. Pero…

“Oh, sumigaw lang ako ng malandi, napatingin ka na sa akin? Bakit, malandi ka ba?” Ha! Ano ka ngayon? Nga-nga!

“Oh, baka mag-away na kayo. Tapusin niyo na ang debate.” Sabi ni Sir Values. Okay for the final wave (Plants vs. Zombies lang!?)

“Ito na lamang po ang message ko. Love is dangerous, kaya always take care.” Sabi ko habang palapit kay Zinnia upang kamayan siya. Spell plastic? E-R-I-C-K-A.

“Thanks for being a nice opponent.” Sabi ko habang nagsi-shake hands kami. Niyakap ko siya at bumulong.

“Kung saan ka man nakakuha ng Bachelor’s Degree sa kalandian at pagiging mang-aagaw, i-enroll mo naman ako.”





Enjoy another another excerpt, this time from Kristine Cuevas' A Bump in Athena’s Life:

I’m fidgeting at the hem of my shirt as we get closer and closer to my apartment. I don’t like being judged. If I spot one hint of pity or any kind of judgment on Callum’s voice, I’ll quit that assisting job.

He stops the engine. There are no words. It is quiet that I feel claustrophobic all of a sudden.

“We’re here,” he says afterwards. I hear a click. Through my peripheral vision, I see him unbuckle his seat belt and he turns to face me. “So this is where you live.” It’s a statement and not a question. I’m about to snap at him when: “Can I stay for a while?”

My head cricks so loud I almost break my neck when I turn to look at him. “You want to stay for a while?” I ask incredulously. “Can’t you see? That building is not as posh as the place you probably live in. There might be insects lurking on every corner of the room. I’m sure you don’t want any insects—”

“I don’t mind,” he cuts me off.

I’m in a daze then.

“So?”

And all I can do is nod at him.

The walk to my unit is slower than I use to. I’m thinking of something to say. Something that will make him go away maybe? It’s not like I don’t want him to be there but what if Jeremy’s already there? Sometimes Jeremy is so feel at home that he likes taking off everything he is wearing. Except for his boxers. Gross, I know. But he is my best friend and we’ve known each other since elementary days. There’s not any part of him I haven’t seen yet. Yes, I’ve seen everything of him because he is too liberal he likes to flaunt all of him. Gross again, I know.

I stop and spin around to face him. “You’re tired. You should take a rest,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I know when I’m tired. Are you trying to shoo me away?”

“Yes, I am,” I admit. There’s no way to deny the truth anyway.

He narrows his eyes at me. “Is there something you’re hiding in your apartment?”

I roll my eyes. “I hid a dead body under my old, dusty couch. I also used his blood as an air freshener. I bet you’re scared now.”

“I don’t mind any of those.” He shoves me slightly to the side and walks past me.

“But you’re Callum Young!” I yelp in alarm.

The sudden turn and surprised look on his face makes me regret what I said.

“I know I’m Callum Young but, can’t I just be a normal Callum Young tonight? When I get home, my mom will ask about the practice. How did it go, blah, blah, blah. Then my dad will ask when I will go back to school to take law. In short, when I’m home, I can’t be the normal Callum Young I want myself to be. I love acting, yes, and I’m thankful I got a big name at such a young age. But to have a normal life even just for a night will be something for me,” he exclaims.


There are four stories in this bundle, which you can purchase here. Or you can join the Rafflecopter promo below to win a FREE copy!

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PinoyWriMos: JustWritePH For the Feels Excerpts (1/2)


The #JustWritePH workshop, which ran from July 1 to August 8, 2015, challenged participants to write a story and prepare it for publication in a little under 6 weeks. Tips and lessons were delivered online & in person, and now these stories are available in bundles on online e-book shop Buqo.

Title: For the Feels
Authors: Lee Miyaki (Kim Derla), Maria Criselda Santos, iamloid, and Kristine Cuevas

About the Bundle:
The feels come in all shapes and sizes, with a million different unique stories for every kind. Experience bitter feels, forbidden feels, pretend feels and young feels in this four-story bundle that’s sure to tug at your heartstrings. Features "13th Prayer" by Lee Miyaki, "Never the Princess" by Maria Criselda Santos, "My Ampalaya Story" by iamloid, and "A Bump in Athena's Life" by Kristine Cuevas.


Here's an excerpt from Lee Miyaki's 13th Prayer:

Hindi ako paladasal. Hindi rin ako palasimba. Hindi rin ako mabait. Sa katunayan nga, binyag, Pasko, at tuwing may okasyon lang ako nakakapasok ng simbahan. Wala eh, hindi naman kasi ako relihiyoso tulad ng iba. Normal lang akong tao.

Eiffel ang tawag nila sa akin kahit pa Irish Faith Lim ang tunay kong pangalan. Relihiyoso ang nanay at tatay ko. Sa katunayan, pareho silang officers sa aming parokya. Samantalang akong nag-iisang anak nila, hindi ganoon karelihiyosa. Sa palagay ko, tama nang magsimba ako isang beses sa isang linggo. Minsan, pilit na pilit pa ako noon. Eh kasi, hindi naman ako katulad nila Nanay at Tatay. Hindi ako mabait.

Lagi akong nagtatago kapag niyayaya nila akong magsimba. Lagi akong nakipaghahabulan kina nanay bago ako sumama sa kanila. Kulang na nga lang ay itali nila ako para maisama nila ako sa simbahan. Sobrang pilit talaga ang pagsisimba ko.

Noong nag-college ako, mas madalang na akong sumama kina Nanay sa simbahan. Minsan, hindi na rin ako nakapagsisimba. Syempre, nagagalit si Nanay. Hindi raw ako marunong mag-manage ng oras ko. Eh bakit naman raw sila, maraming ginagawa, pero nakakapunta pa rin ng simbahan.

Naging matabang ang pakikitungo sa akin ni Nanay. Si Tatay naman, ayos lang. Pero, inaalala ko si Nanay. Ayokong magtampo siya sa akin habambuhay. Kaya naman, pagkatapos kong makauwi galing sa university para sa NSTP, dumiretso ako ng simbahan. Napilitan lang ako dahil ayoko talagang pumupunta nang madalas doon dahil may pumupunta naman nang taga-simbahan sa amin.

Aba, ilang araw na nga ba akong hindi nakapunta rito? Mukhang maraming nagbago. Ibang-iba na nga ang lahat. Pati mukha ng tao, ibang-iba na rin. Halos kaunti na lang ang kakilala ko.

“Miss, excuse me. Kilala mo ba si Father Alex?” Isang binata ang nagtanong sa akin. Nakasuot siya ng puting t-shirt at jeans. Maayos ang kanyang buhok. Maputi siya at pansin kong medyo mapula ang labi niya para sa isang lalaki.

“Hanapin mo,” matabang kong sagot sa kanya. Bukod sa hindi ko siya kilala, hindi rin ako pinalaking nakikipag-usap sa mga lalaki. Medyo boyish kasi ako. Basta, hindi ko ginustong makipag-usap sa kanila.




Here's another excerpt, this time from Maria Criselda R. Santos' Never the Princess:

It was another supposedly another sleepy afternoon in Physics class at San Mateo School for Science and the Arts (SMSAS) had Mr. Royce Cornejo not interrupted Ms. Tejera’s monotonous explanation of speed and acceleration. The English teacher and IV-Mahogany’s adviser cleared his throat and apologized for knocking, while Ms. Tejera abruptly stopped speaking and stepped aside to give room for him.

A slip of paper in hand, the tall and lanky adviser addressed his students and dropped the bomb half of the class had been waiting for:

The JS prom is three weeks away.

Exaggerated groans came mostly from the boys while sighs and protests came from the girls.

“Let’s have a Taylor Swift theme!” cried one girl, the class treasurer.

“Yuck!” cried another.

“Are we really going to wear tux, Sir?” asked another boy. The anxiety is his voice was too obvious not to be noticed.

Mr. Cornejo looked at Ms. Tejera helplessly, but the latter just shrugged at him.

The class has never been this excited. Sure, they jumped for joy when classes were suspended. They also got a little hyper when the seniors won in the cheerleading competition, besting out even the participants from the college department. But for IV-Mahogany, no subject or extracurricular activity is as worth waiting for as the JS prom.

“I can now wear the heels my Mom bought for me!” squealed Trish, who is seated beside a grim-looking bespectacled girl with curly hair. For Meryll, the prom is nothing to be excited about.

“I’d rather stay home and read.”

Trish looked aghast. “Don’t be such a spoilsport, Meryll. Come on, it’ll be fun!”

Meryll just sighed and concentrated on the Physics book on her desk. In her peripheral vision, she could see Justin de Mesa, basketball maverick and campus cutie, giving his seatmate a high five.


Like what you've read so far? You can purchase JustWritePH's For the Feels bundle here or you can join the Rafflecopter promo below to win a FREE copy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PinoyWriMos: JustWritePH For the Feels Blog Tour + Giveaway



The #JustWritePH workshop, which ran from July 1 to August 8, 2015, challenged participants to write a story and prepare it for publication in a little under 6 weeks. Tips and lessons were delivered online & in person, and now these stories are available in bundles on online e-book shop Buqo.

Title: For the Feels
Authors: Lee Miyaki (Kim Derla), Maria Criselda Santos, iamloid, and Kristine Cuevas

About the Bundle:
The feels come in all shapes and sizes, with a million different unique stories for every kind. Experience bitter feels, forbidden feels, pretend feels and young feels in this four-story bundle that’s sure to tug at your heartstrings. Features "13th Prayer" by Lee Miyaki, "Never the Princess" by Maria Criselda Santos, "My Ampalaya Story" by iamloid, and "A Bump in Athena's Life" by Kristine Cuevas.

You can purchase JustWritePH's For the Feels bundle here.


13th Prayer by Lee Miyaki (Kim Derla)

Paano nga ba magmahal nang bawal? Hindi kasi alam ni Eiffel kung paano. Sadyang malakas lang talaga mang-trip ang pagkakataon nang ipinakilala sa kanya ang seminaristang si Jem. Isa, dalawa, tatlo... Simula nang magsulat si Eiffel ng labintatlong dasal, tila nagbago na ang kanyang mundo.

Connect with and follow this author via these channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lee.miyaki
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imtheweirdapple
Blog: https://itsleemiyaki.wordpress.com/
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Lee__Miyaki
Instagram: http://instagram.com/theweirdapple


Never the Princess by Maria Criselda Santos

When their adviser announced that the JS prom is fast approaching, the class of IV-Mahogany was in high spirits, except for Meryll Yuson, a 16-year-old bespectacled bookworm, who wishes to dance with the school's badminton star at the prom. Too bad it seems he already has someone in mind -- Little Miss Perfect, who has been gifted with beauty and smarts. Fortunately for Meryll, she has her own mom to play fairy godmother to her, and her friend Trish who gives her all-out support. Will Meryll get the dance she so wants, or will she end up as a wallflower? Will she even attend prom after the news that she learns?

Connect with and follow this author via these channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-Criselda-R-Santos/1646500162272617
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crissemari
Blog: https://xoxocriseldalovestowrite.wordpress.com/
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/crissemari


My Ampalaya Story by iamloid

Paalala ang kuwentong ito ay ‘di angkop sa mga mambabasang naniniwala sa forever at sa happy ending. Halina’t pasukin ang mundo ng ka-bitter-an kung saan walang ka-sweet-an na masusumpungan. Ito ang My Ampalaya Story. One of the most ‘ampalaya’ work published in an online writing and reading site.

Connect with and follow this author via these channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoidOnWattpad
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamLoid
Blog: http://christianloid.webstarts.com
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/iamloid
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/iamloid


A Bump in Athena's Life by Kristine Cuevas

A rejection leads Athena to find a diversion on her plans for the summer. After finding out an assisting job at Star so Bright, particularly to be Callum Young’s assistant, she then becomes a pretend girlfriend, offered for whatever reason. And after all the hassle and bump she gets with Callum, there’s still that question that hangs in Athena’s head… How can an assisting job turns to a pretend girlfriend be of help in getting to Juilliard? It’s going to be a bumpy summer for Athena as she discovers that sometimes what you want is not what you always get but still have the best in the end.

Connect with and follow this author via these channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealKristineC
Twitter: http://www.twitter/kristinecuevas_
Blog: http://thetipofherpen.blogspot.com/
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/_fearlessdreamer
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ kristinecuevas_


Want to win a free copy of these four kilig stories? Join the Rafflecopter promo below:

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Saturday, January 24, 2015

Cities Blog Tour + Giveaway


As an SFF reader and writer, I was really excited about the premise of Cities. It reminded me a bit of Margaret Atwood's Happy Endings and Kasie West's Pivot Point series. The novella is brimming with possibilities, and I'd love to see more books like this in the market.

About the Book:
Celia has dreams.

She dreams of going to Seoul for a scholarship she never took, of leaving everything behind and moving to New York.

In all those dreams, she finds herself attached to Benedict, the boy she has always loved, but who doesn’t love her back.

Ben believes in parallel worlds.

Worlds where things you didn’t do come true—worlds in which he goes to London and falls in love with Celia, where he shows up on the day she needs him the most. He believes that dreams are glimpses into that parallel world, and it’s not a coincidence that Celia’s been having them too.

But here, now, they’re in Manila. It’s the day of Ben’s wedding, and a typhoon is raging through the city. How will these dreams and unmade decisions change their lives? Will they bring them closer together or drive them farther apart?

Cities is Carla de Guzman’s first original novella. The story is based on the theory of multiple universes, the idea that somewhere out there are worlds where the choices you make are different from the ones made here. Carla writes about the cities that have inspired her and changed the way she sees the world, in the hope that her readers will want to travel there too.

You can purchase the book through any of the following links:
Amazon
Createspace
• Smashwords

Excited yet? Get to know a little bit more about the author and the process that went into writing her novella.

Q: How long have you been writing? Can you share a little about how you got your start as a writer?
A: I've been writing since I was a kid, scribbling on scratch papers until my mom got me a scented diary. I started out writing about my own experiences (pouring milk over my
sister's head, having a pet die) and putting them in the context of my favourite cartoon and
anime characters. Then when we got dial-up, I discovered fanfiction. Oh what a world it
turned out to be. I like to say I really got into writing because of fanfiction (I'm still on Fanfiction.net and Archive of Our Own!). Reading all those adventures these characters
potentially had made me think of my own. Things kind of spiralled from there. :))

Q: What first sparked the idea for Cities?
A: To be honest, it was an article that I saw from Thought Catalog. It was an essay about someone who wasn't in love with someone else, but desperately wished that they were. The only comfort they could offer themselves was that somewhere else, s/he did love them
back. It was such a heartbreaking thought, and something I'm sure many people have experienced. Then all of the “what ifs” in my head started, and Cities was born.

Q: We see two notable fandoms in Cities, Star Wars and Dr. Who. Are these fandoms you
share with your characters?
A: Yes, definitely! More Doctor Who than Star Wars, really. I grew up watching the Star Wars Saga several times, and I remember it was Queen Amidala that struck me as a strong, steady character to admire, which carried over to Princess Leia in the older movies.

As for Doctor Who, my love is relatively new, and I've only seen the new series (that's 9th
Doctor onwards). But I was just so amazed by the stories! I could wax poetic on my favorite episodes, and how much I love Series 3 and 4. I consider 10 my Doctor and Donna Noble
and Martha Jones my favourite companions. I love the complexities of the characters and
how they react when faced with a new adventure. The show breaks my heart and makes
makes me happy, really. I couldn't write a book without mentioning it.

Q: Are Star Wars and Dr. Who where you got the idea for alternate timelines and
multiverses?
A: Doctor Who definitely helped me get a couple of the details right—the concept of dreams as glimpses definitely has shades of inspiration from Doctor Who. But the book isn't very into the fine details of the multiverses, it's just accepted.

Q: Do you have a personal favorite among the multiverses in this book?
A: Oooh. I would have to say that London is my favorite (which is mainly why we used it for the cover). I enjoyed writing about Ben still kind of stumbling his way through becoming a Londoner, and doing the same with his relationships with Vivian, Celia and Henry. Their story has several parallelisms with my own adventure there, so it's very close to my heart.

About the Author:

Carla de Guzman had horrible handwriting as a kid. That didn't stop her from writing, though. Riddled with sleep apnea and a vivid imagination, she started writing every midnight. She grew up with her toes in the sand and her bags packed and ready to go on adventures. These books are chronicles of her journeys, with a silly love story mixed in.

Contact Info:
• Blog: http://somemidnight.wordpress.com/
• Tumblr: http://www.somemidnights.tumblr.com/
• Archive of Our Own: http://archiveofourown.org/users/ckwhales/pseuds/ckwhales
• Instagram: @ckwhales

Want your own copy? Win an ebook of Cities (open to international entries) by joining the giveaway below:

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