Scribbled: Webs

Much of my inactivity on my blog has been because of everything else going on IRL at the moment. The past few weeks have been a delicate period for the desk job, I've taken on an online Archaeology course, and I've been writing, writing.

My next two (three?) projects are very close to my heart. I shuffle them with a determination to finish all, but other factors in my life have really been slow in cooperating. Meanwhile though, some things are still getting finished and my short story "A Rubbed Out Sky" appears on the maiden issue of Plural Online Prose Journal.

About Plural:

PLURAL is an online prose journal that caters to fiction, nonfiction, and criticism geared towards prose.

Through PLURAL, we aim to provide a venue for writers to showcase their prose.

We welcome writing that, whether it concerns itself with realism, genre fiction, or hybrid forms, exhibits a contemporary sensibility.

By this we mean stories that are unafraid of reworking familiar narratives and perspectives that are both grounded and progressive.

Push the boundaries of prose, or tease at its edges.

We are PLURAL.

When I wrote this weird little tale about people who did online web versions of fanfiction, I didn't really think I would find an avenue to publish it. I just wanted to write the story and pay tribute to The X-Files in my own way. Truth be told, I have many stories that I scribble down and not all of them find literary homes. I'm glad this one did, and with such talented company as well. Please take time to read the issue online or download a (free!) copy onto your desktops and e-readers here. Just follow the links to get your choice of .epbub, .mobi, and .pdf. The gorgeous cover is by Kevin Roque.

You can also check out the book trailer while you wait for things to load:

What to Want: Down Romance's Memory Lane

I came across this line from The Millions' Tumblr:

“Even though girls inevitably move on— whether to Harlequins or Anna Quindlen or Don DeLillo—for many of them, their first favorite author, the one who taught them what to want and what to envy, is likely to have been a ghostwriter hired by a team to distill the essence of middle-of-the-road idealized teenage life.”

I definitely agree.

Get ready, this will be a long post.

The Sweet Valley series was such a big part of my growing up years. I remember reading my first one (SVT #17, Boys against Girls) thanks to a classmate who brought her books on a fourth-grade field trip. I think nearly every girl there managed to borrow at least one book and I was pretty happy with my choice. Eventually I would move to teen series like Sweet Dreams and Sweet Valley High.

My favorites:
Sweet Valley High

#49 Playing for Keeps - The one where Jessica pretends to be demure and snags a really decent guy. [Spoiler alert] They break up after a few books, but it was one of those few times where I got kilig over Jessica's boy. Unfortunately though, it was just not meant to be. Moral: 'Conceal, don't feel' didn't fly for Queen Elsa; neither would it for Jessica Wakefield or anyone else.

#39 Secret Admirer - The one where Liz's editor Penny Ayala falls in love with a pen pal. Only the pen pal is fabricated by a bunch of jerks. One has a conscience though, and tries to make amends with Penny in the end. I really enjoyed reading the exchanges between Penny and Neil (conscience guy and the jerks' whipping boy designated letter writer), and I thought he redeemed himself in the end. What's interesting is that Neil's character and choices are eventually brought up in a later story. For a secondary character, I thought his portrayal in the books were pretty consistent. Moral: Do not wear madras to an eyeball.

#17 Love Letters - The one where you begin to sense a pattern in the books I like. In this one, the twins' neighbor Caroline fabricates a pen pal whose romantic letters are the talk of the school. I realize that a lot of these plots won't work so much in this day and age (said pen pal's identity could have been easily verified via Facebook), but I could relate to Caroline's loneliness and need for friends. Moral: Always have a Plan B. Or Z.

#28 Alone in the Crowd - The one where the singer/songwriter writes a song and gets a boyfriend. Lynne Henry was born a few decades too early; I think she wouldn't have been at a loss for friends now. SHe would make a great hipster. Not that hipsters are depressive, though. I remember a lot of moping around but Lynne got a boost of confidence in the end. A lot of people criticize SVH's penchant for makeovers as a solution to real-life issues, but in Lynne's case, I was Moral: Music (and makeovers) will save the world. (I was sarcastic about the 'makeovers' part, just in case you missed that.)

Sweet Dreams
I just have to include my SD titles, though they're not exactly written by 'the ghostwriter hired by a team' that the quote refers to. Reading Sweet Dreams made me feel grown up. I read my first one in fourth grade and my mother did not approve of my reading choices. So I had older busmates and titas who would slip me copies that I would then hide under my bed. The first ones I ever read were Wrong Kind of Boy by Shannon Blair and Ten-Speed Summer by Deborah Kent.

Some I loved because of the romance:

#145 Crazy for You (Jahnna Beecham)
This is one of my mega-faves. Piper Elliott finally gets the chance to work at a country club, which hosts a fancy masquerade ball. She is determined to make this the summer she hooks up with her crush David. There is always some kind of twist in their stories (Jahnna Beecham is a pseudonym for a husband-wife team) that made it slightly less predictable than most of the other Sweet Dreams stories. Of course, I read this when I was really young but I had a schoolgirl crush on Piper's friend Max.

#63 Kiss Me, Creep (Marian Woodruff)
I remember reading this and enjoying the banter between Joy Wilder and Richie Brennan (JW + RB). The two are always at each others' throats. Joy's no fan of Richie but when she gets stranded with him, she begins to change her mind.

#113 Private Eyes (Julia Winfield)
Christine is investigating some thefts at school, and Andy offers to help. But the more she investigates, the more it seems like Andy's the culprit. I love mysteries thanks to Nancy Drew, but I have a babaw reason for liking this--we share the same nickname.

I also loved the summer-oriented stories. When I was younger, I spent every summer in my family's province, so I had an affinity to these girls who would almost always hate being shipped off to some small town on a family vacation/unexpected family crisis.
#13 The Summer Jenny Fell in Love (Barbara Conklin) - Jenny doesn't leave their house for the summer, but what changes it is her mom's decision to take in boarders. Cliff and his mom move in, and Cliff's older brother ways put a damper on Jenny's plans to enjoy the summer. I didn't expect to like this when I first read it, but over the years, their story has stayed with me.

#75 First Summer Love (Stephanie Foster) - Lynn and her family has to share a summer house with Jody and his family -- which brings unexpected chaos into her life. I think Jody's such a feminine name, but I didn't let this affect me from enjoying how things blossomed between the two of them.
#53 Ghost of a Chance (Janet Quin-Harkin) - JQH taught me that not all stories had to have that perfect happy ending. (Actually, no, I learned that from Hans Christian Anderson, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and Daniel Keyes, but JQH did her part, too.) Meredith takes care of a crippled aunt for the summer and meets sailing enthusiast Nat. But Meredith has a boyfriend that she left behind. It sounds simple and uncomplicated but it really highlights how a point of view can change in just a few weeks.

Some of them I liked because of their writing-oriented stories:
#12 Night of the Prom (Debra Spencer) - The girl was the editor of her school paper, and I could relate to that! She and Michael have a nice friendly dynamic to them.
#146 Gifts from the Heart (Joanna Simbal) - This was special to me because the girl wanted to be a writer and I romanticized the idea of writing a manuscript. Plus it had horses! In one particular scene, Torie reads her story out loud and Kyle happens to hear it. Later he corrects her writing by citing lunar positions. This story is why I get anal about certain things when I'm writing, like making sure I check out the tidal charts when I have two characters walking by the beach.

Finally, no SD faves list is complete without mentioning Sherri Cobb South. I just love love love these romances. She wrote great stories with relatable heroines, cute hook-ups, and managed to do this by employing different romance tropes: Bickering Couples, Mistaken Identity, All It Takes is a Makeover, Love Right Under Her Nose.
#176 Wrong Way Romance
#186 That Certain Feeling
#192 The Cinderella Game
#214 Don't Bet on Love

'What to want and what to envy' so the quote says, and my girlish dreams and wishes did grow out of the highly romanticized ideals I read about in these pages. I wanted to be someone who was constantly surrounded by friends and was positive and was passionate about something. I dreamt of romances that grew out of friendship and concern (a summer fling was icing on the cake). Even if I have moved on to other reading choices, I'm not ashamed of what I used to read because they became the foundations of my romantic paradigm -- both in my reading choices and in real life. So much of this is fabricated and idealized, but even without knowing it, here was where I began to demand and expect, to judge and differentiate, to learn and settle. I'm no longer the same girl I was when I read these, but some things have definitely stayed.

I also asked book blogger Monique what her favorites are. Monique has the most extensive Sweet Dreams collection I know! You can check out the rest of the titles here. In the meantime, I'll let her do the fangirling over some of my favorite Sheri Cobb South books.

Monique's Top Ten Favorite Sweet Dreams titles (no particular order, except for #1, haha)

1. Wrong-Way Romance by Sheri Cobb South (#176) – I love Darby and Bruce: I love their squabbling, I love how they hated each other at first sight, I love how they are always seemingly thrown together by people and circumstances, and how they had no choice but to fall in love. I always remember the line, “it’s just a fender bender” and how Darby used to call Bruce a “Neanderthal.” Hands down, my favorite SD title of all time.

2. Questions of Love by Rosemary Vernon (#86) – It was the very first SD title I ever read, and I love it not only because it introduced me to the series but also because I love the couple there. They were their school’s representatives to a major quiz bee, and they were teammates at first until it came to a point when they had to compete against each other.

3. Lovebirds by Janet Quin-Harkin (#68) – JQH, I realize now, is one of my favorite SD writers. I love how she creates way-too-kilig scenes that I keep imagining in my head, and many of those scenes are here. The setting of the story is in the Australian outback; the female protagonist (I forget the name, I’m sorry, huhu) is forced to take a vacation with her documentary filmmaker father, who is scheduled to take films in the outback region. The guy of her dreams happens to be in the crew, and many things take place while they were out in the wild.

4. Dear Amanda by Rosemary Vernon (#33) – The female protagonist is the identity behind the Dear Amanda advice column in her school paper, and she answers the problems sent to her by the readers. I love this book because I used to be part of our school organ in high school and I also dreamed of doing the same advice column (someone else was writing it already). Also, I loved that the story didn’t merely focus on a love interest, but on family as well.

5. Comedy of Errors by Diane Michele Crawford (#195) – Hilarious! I was literally laughing out loud as I was reading this book because I remember how Stephanie (yes! I remember a name!) almost always seemed to find herself in an embarrassing situation whenever her love interest is around. It didn’t help that Stephanie’s own family was a hilarious bunch, so I totally love this book.

6. That Certain Feeling by Sheri Cobb South (#186) – This involves a love interest who wants to be (or already belongs to, can’t remember which) in a fraternity, or a clique of some sort. Our heroine is supposed to do some stuff for him as well to help him out. Mostly, what I remember from this book is being kilig from imagining the girl wearing the letterman jacket of the boy. Haha, so high school. Chris: The girl is Penny, the guy is Woody, and the task involved was to get Woody's playbook (both are from rival schools). My nerd is showing!

7. The Cinderella Game by Sheri Cobb South (#192) – There’s a pageant being held in town, and the female protagonist is a seamstress employed for the summer by the pageant organizers. Hot guy waltzes in with a piano to be used during the pageant proper, and what follows is a long-winded case of mistaken identity. I love the thrill and the suspense, the big reveal in the end, and how everything wraps up so nicely, too.

8. Exchange of Hearts by Janet Quin-Harkin (#61) – The female protagonist is an exchange student from Europe who’s going to spend an entire school year in a high school in the Midwest, staying with some country bumpkin-ish family. Being an exchange student and all, of course we know how this will end but what happens for an entire year is something to remember.

9. Night of the Prom by Debra Spector (#12) – I remember my prom nights in high school. Hehe. When you’re in high school and at that certain age, sometimes the prom is kind of a big deal. Barbara, the female lead, is the newspaper editor, so she’s known for being one of the intellectual, do-gooder types in school. And then Michael asks her to the prom... ;)

10. Three’s A Crowd by Alison Dale (#166) – It’s about the hazards and disadvantages when a couple hangs around too much with one of their siblings (or other close friend). Unlike the other books, the couple in this one doesn’t take too long to get together, and they only encounter conflicts later. I can’t remember if it’s the guy or the girl who had a sibling that tags with them way too much, thus the title. But I remember how much I appreciated this one because I could imagine how difficult it would be to choose one over the other.

Now it's your turn! What are your favorite SVH/SD titles? Or if you're from a younger generation, do you have favorite books from a romance franchise?

Time out for some music

I've laid this island sun a thousand times
I'm on it but I'm going strange
This island's chills and shell cover me
With winded rock and skies I've yet to see

I tried, I even sent in friends
They did it as a favor, 'cause I'm not that way
I am the autumn in the scarlet
I am the make-up on your eyes

I land to sail, island sail

- The Breeders, Off You

Author Interview: Ami Granada

Fellow #romanceclass classmate Ami Granada released her novella, Unspoken, close to the end of 2013. It's the story of free-spirited travel writer Georgina, whose perfect world is rocked by the return of a guy from her past. Now Ian is everywhere -- at work, on her trips -- and it's taking all of Georgi's willpower to resist falling under his spell again.

I asked Ms Ami (it's what I've called her since!) a few questions about her novella and she was gracious enough to answer them here:

Q: Do you have real-life inspirations that you've included in this book?
A: Georgina is a hodge podge of my favorite characters in movies and books, like Kathleen Kelly(You’ve got mail played by Meg Ryan), and my doppelganger who lives in a parallel world because although I am a travel writer (in hiatus) and have gone to Macau, I am not the character. My life is exciting in a very ordinary way, I have kids, I write and my best friend is also a travel writer.

Q: Georgina works for a travel magazine and you've really captured her job well. Do you also work for one? How have your experiences helped you write this book?
A: I contribute to magazines like Cruising, Manila Bulletin, and the now defunct Women’s Journal. I know what is possible and what is not. But of course I can always push boundaries because the excitement of what can be, the string of possibilities, is the core of romance.

Q: Do you have any writing habits?
A: I write 500 words a day, more or less. It has helped me finish the novel. When I can’t write, I tell myself it’s going to pass. Just wait. Because I know it will always be there. I can’t let it go. And writing is a craft which I have to learn. For now it’s a hobby because I have not reached my goal of ten books. When I reach that, I can call it a passion.

Q: What kind of characters do you like reading/writing about?
A: I like feisty women and men who can deal with them, woo and win them.

Q: Are you working on your next novella? What will it be about?
A: I’m working on Romancing Stone. It’s about a girl named Colette, an events specialist who’s trying to live independently from her parents. She had recently been dumped by her boyfriend. Her new job as events specialist entails working with models, divas, and her client, the shockingly handsome Stone.

About the Author:
Ami Granada first discovered books when she was 3 years old, when her family had a short stint in Cotabato, Mindanao.Her first books were Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat and Aristocats. Her family moved back to Manila when she was 6. She is an English teacher and has been teaching at the Manila Japanese School for 16 years. She co-authored a World Literature textbook, Breaking Grounds, in English.

She also writes lifestyle and travel articles for Manila Bulletin. Her poetry, articles and stories have been published in several magazines. She has written two Filipino romance novels and one romance novel in English.

2014 Reading Challenge

My reading resolution this year will be simple. Here are some books that, for one reason or another, I've put off reading. This 2014, I'll try not to let my excuses get the better of me:

1. IQ84 by Haruki Murakami - My main excuse for not reading this book sooner was that the family's copy was at my cousin's apartment and it seemed redundant to have another copy of a book that took up a lot of space! I wasn't eager to read an ebook copy of a Murakami book, but I vow that this will be the year for me to finally pick it up when I'm in Katipunan.

2. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo - I've heard nothing but good reviews about this book. A fantastical take on an Asian historical tale. Sold.

3. The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken by Tarquin Hall - I must have the print edition of this one, since I already have the first two. A digital version won't do at all.

4. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - I was a fan of his Gentleman Bastards Sequence, but it's been a while since I read the last story. I want to reread the first two books before I attack this latest one, which was released just last year.

5. The River of No Return by Bee Ridgeway - A time-travel story with both adventure and romance.

6. Errantry by Elizabeth Hand - Ms Hand is one of my favorite authors but I have yet to read her collection of short stories.

7. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki - Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, this novel has been on my TBR list for a while now. Just never found the time.

8. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray - The first book made me shiver in delicious horror and I'm looking forward to the next installment in the Diviners series.

9. At the Mouth of the River of Bees by Kij Johnson - I sampled this on Kindle and I just love what I've read so far. But I've been putting off buying a copy since I'm watching my credit purchases. If I can find a copy at Fully Booked, I'm grabbing it right away.

10. Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker - It's been on my wish list for a while now but I just keep on setting it aside in favor of other books. I hope this year I'll stick to my guns and read it.

Year in Review

I don't really write out a list of resolutions for the new year. What I do is to pick one goal and make sure that I stick to it. My goals are mainly hobby-oriented so that I can really gauge whether I've been successful or not. Over the years, they have ranged from entering contests (2010) to joining an astronomy group (2011) to getting published (2012).

In 2013, the goal was daunting: really publish my own book. It was an old goal that I failed to see through last year. A story of mine was included in a published anthology, so I thought mission accomplished; I could rest on my laurels. But I ached to have that one book that belonged to me and me alone, so when Mina V. Esguerra opened up an online writing class on Facebook, I was on board with the idea.

Because of that, 2013 turned out to be a really good writing year. Thanks to #romanceclass, I was able to release my first contemporary romance novella, Cover (Story) Girl in August. A few weeks after the e-book release, I had a few copies printed, which found their way to readers, giveaway winners, an online bookstore, and even brick-and-mortar shops in Aklan. The reviews and the feedback have been very encouraging. It introduced me to new people and new friends, pushing me to be more active on social networking sites like Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook. The class joined local book fairs and helped us connect with readers and even meet some industry bigwigs. I definitely wouldn't have predicted that last January.

Towards the end of the year, I collaborated with fellow #romanceclass writers Chrissie Peria and Miles Tan to write a holiday short story called All I Want for Christmas. It was the first time that the three of us have decided to enroll in Amazon's Kindle Select program and we were surprised by the results. At our highest ranking, we were #7 on the Kindle Store's Top 100 Free Titles, in the Women's Fiction NA/College list, #11 for Holidays, and #17 for Women's Fiction Romance. It even landed us a guesting stint at 5x5 Podcast! It was a holiday thank-you for our readers, but in the end we also felt very grateful to everyone who helped spread the love.

One of my speculative short stories, 'Rubbed Out Sky', is forthcoming in the maiden issue of Plural, the online prose journal of MFA grad students from De La Salle University. Please watch this space for more news.

What's nice about 2013 was that Cover (Story) Girl even made it to some readers' lists for their favorite reads/honorable mentions of the year:

• GMA Network Lifestyle Section
• I Like It Dog-Eared
• Bookish Little Me
• Book Junkie Joint

Despite all the challenges that 2013 has brought with it, I'm grateful that the writing part has been smooth sailing. I'm crossing my fingers that 2014 will be just as good!

My Favorite Reads of 2013

Recently, I was asked (along with other bloggers) to contribute my favorite books published in 2013. Check out the list here but I thought I'd share my other choices that didn't make the final list, in no particular order:

The Golem and the Jinni (Helene Wecker)
A rich, multi-cultural narrative that blends the immigrant story with Old World beliefs and legends. A golem and a jinni take separate paths but find themselves together in America, straining against the dictates of their natures and discovering themselves in the process. I was really immersed in the different histories of the characters, imagining deserts and dance halls as I turned each page.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home (Carol Rifka Brunt)
I have a rather biased review here, but in a nutshell, it tells how June is coming to terms with the death of her uncle Finn. They have a special bond, and she is devastated when he dies. But Finn has another life that he has kept from June. After his death, June meets Toby, and forms a delicate relationship with another soul who had loved and cherished her uncle. In my review, I admit that 'the prose can get bogged down by over-articulation,' but it was a story that really touched me deeply.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Neil Gaiman)
This will probably be included in a lot of year-end lists this so I'll be brief: it's a poignant and bittersweet coming-of-age.

Icon of the Indecisive (Mina V. Esguerra)
Mina's popular YA series ends on a high note. She takes elements from Filipino mythology and dresses them in familiar things: contemporary setting, love triangles, popular teens. But she also makes sure that Hannah's journey remains solid and relatable. It's great to read Pinoy YA -- popular Pinoy YA -- and discover that it has more to offer beyond the usual paranormal romance.

The Dream Thieves (Maggie Stiefvater)
I love Maggie Stiefvater's language and her fully-realized worlds. She peoples them with complex characters and The Dream Thieves is no exception. Here, she focuses the limelight on Ronan Lynch, a rich prep school boy whose titular capabilities hastens the Raven Boys along their quest for legend and power. I was looking forward to this book's release because I couldn't enough of the Aglionby boys Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah. Ms Stiefvater's writing is very visual and poetic, keeping this series on my must-read list.

Project 17 (Eliza Victoria)
Ms Victoria crafts a world of high-stakes security and medical advancement against the backdrop of a futuristic Manila. Lillian is hired as the babysitter of Paul Dolores' brother Caleb, a smart and introverted man with schizoaffective disorder. Her job was supposed to be easy but her curiosity lands her in a more than what she bargained for. Great tension and action, plus I thought the characters are very engaging. I finished this in one sitting because it moved at a great pace.

Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell)
Fangirl chronicles a college experience that isn't quite like what we encounter here in Manila, but the insecurities, doubts, and struggles remain on point. It's a great look at college, writing, family, sisterhood, friendship, love; it tackles all these and makes them place nice with each other. It's the kind of book I wish I had read when I was younger. It's richly-layered despite a simple-sounding plot.

The Rosie Project (Graeme Simsion)
I loved the protagonist Don Tillman, a genetics professor with a mild case of Asperger's Syndrome. He has decided to embark on a Wife Project, which makes him cross paths with Rosie, his opposite in a lot of ways. Mr Simsion did a great job of capturing Don's voice and making his character come alive. He never breaks character. It's the kind of book I'd recommend to anyone who says they're tired of the same old romance tropes -- or to anyone looking for a romance that can easily be translated into a romcom flick.

What were your favorite books of 2013 (whether released this year or not)? Share your thoughts -- I'd love to know!

Scribbled: All I Want for Christmas

My good friends and fellow #romanceclass authors Chrissie Peria and Miles Tan joined me in writing a short holiday story called All I Want for Christmas. It's free for a limited time as a thank you to our readers, mentors, fellow authors, and friends -- anyone and everyone who's helped us on our writing journey. It's also a way for us to end the year on a high note. Even if it's quite short (around 7,000-8,000 words), we still hope that you will like it.

Synopsis:
This holiday season, Ginny wants nothing less than hot model du jour Luis Inoue. That's why when her best friend Issa invites both of them to a small sit-down dinner, she jumps at the chance to show Luis she can be naughty and nice. Will everything go according to plan? Or will Issa's brother Marco's interference keep her single all the way?

It was crazy trying to write round-robin (more on that on later blog posts), but it's still something I'd do again. I really enjoyed writing this story and sharing the experience with my friends. There were many things that I learned from the experience. I really appreciated seeing things from different perspectives; often there would be an incident that the three of us would approach differently, and then we'd all end up talking about what would be the best course to take. It also gave the three of us a first-hand view of the KDP Select system.

We didn't get to mention our specific thank you's on the e-book, so please indulge me as I include my shout-outs here:

• to Chrissie and Miles for sharing this journey with me;
• to Mina for inspiring us and helping us with #romanceclass (and no, I won't tire of saying this);
• to our #romanceclass classmates Dia, Ron, Anne, Stella, Agay, Kesh, Kristel, Tina, Jayen, to name a few, who really made 2013 a great year to be a Pinoy romance writer;
• to book bloggers like Chachic, Tina, Lynai, Monique, Cassandra, Sol, Freine... there are so many that I can't remember all of you at the moment but please know that your support means so much to us;
• to Reev, for the self-publishing help, whether print or digital; and
• to our readers (my special TY to Cassandra, Jin, and Grelyn), for the heart-warming support. You took a chance on me especially -- your bravery must be commended! :) Whenever I feel that all this is unreal, I just look at your reviews and tweets and messages of encouragement. I am very blessed that I can do this, thanks to readers like you.
Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

So there you are, dear reader. I hope that you can download a copy of All I Want for Christmas now while it's still free -- and that it makes you smile at the end of your day. Happy holidays to you!

Notes on the 3rd Filipino ReaderCon

Last December 7, readers, writers, teachers, publishers, librarians, bloggers, and book clubs gathered to celebrate the 3rd Filipino ReaderCon at the Rizal Library of Ateneo de Manila University. I was there with three hats on: first, as a speaker for The Digital Reader panel; second, as a writer since the #romanceclass chipped in to get a table and sell our work; and last (and more importantly), as a Filipino reader.

In keeping with its theme 'What Do Readers Want?', ReaderCon provided con-goers an opportunity to share their thoughts by placing huge boards on-site. I was excited to read what people had to say and how I could use this to gauge my own place in the industry.

Everyone had an opinion. Great way for writers and publishers to hear it.

So good to see people asking for more stories from outside Manila
One of the things that delighted me was seeing these posts asking for books set in other regions. My novella Cover (Story) Girl is set in Aklan, so this was good news for me. Don't get me wrong; I love romances set in Manila! It's the heart of all the action. It's crazy and cosmopolitan but it can also be quirky and quaint. But there's always room for romances set elsewhere. I believe it's a sign of a healthy publishing environment when we can offer reader diverse choices. And not just in romance, of course.

I'm trying to make one of these happen ;)
One of the suggestions here actually touches on one of my upcoming projects. :) I wish I could claim it so that I know I won't back out of it! But I've got so many things lined up that it's better for me to take it one day at a time -- I get writing ADHD. Even if I don't end up writing it, I will be very happy if someone else will.

'More YA' and 'more spec-fic' were common, but readers also asked for ethnic stories and poetry!
Another interesting aspect about browsing through the replies is that you really get a range of responses. You'll have people clamoring for one thing, and then see someone ask for something totally different. More evidence that the Filipino audience is eager for more. The challenge is up to writers to answer these demands as quickly and as substantially as possible.

Diverse tastes: Not everyone was a fan of romance...

...or of science fiction, either
Then you find the most unexpected requests. What else can I say? To each his own!

This was the clear winner of all the suggestions. 'Seriously.'
Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren's How to Read a Book has this advice to dispense to readers: Your first judgment will naturally be one of taste. You will say not only that you like or dislike a book, but also why [...] The better you can reflectively discern the causes of your pleasure in reading fiction or poetry, the nearer you will come to knowing the artistic values in the literary work itself. I think that ReaderCon constantly reminds Filipino readers to speak up and be heard, to voice their opinions, to identify what works for them and what doesn't, and to allow them a forum where they can interact with authors and publishers. It's another way to aid all of us discover the artistic values within the works we read and demand whatever our reading needs require.

Congratulations to the organizers of Filipino ReaderCon and to all Filipino readers, because really, this is all about you. Us. See you again next year!

BONUS: One of the other boards asked who your favorite author was.

Someone wrote down EL James of Fifty Shades of Grey fame. Someone else couldn't resist adding, 'Tigang ka daw po ba?' (Tigang means dry or barren soil, but is also used to refer to someone who hasn't had sex in a while). No judgment, but it definitely made me smile.

The Real Score Blog Tour + Giveaway

This could just about be the last blog tour that #romanceclass will have this year, and the honor goes to Kesh Tanglao's The Real Score. At first I thought that I might not be able to relate to the novella, but I was wrong. Ms Tanglao writes with a careful hand, managing the fine line between wish-fulfillment and reality, and knowing how to elicit the right emotions from her readers at just the right time. It's a lovely story that is already winning a lot of fans.

About the Book:
Caitlin's friendship with Marcus, the de facto frontman of the world's biggest boy band Gezellig, has long been an object of scrutiny by almost everyone--their friends and families, the media, and his fans--ever since they "went public" a couple of years back. Who wouldn't be interested? She was a nobody, catapulted into the limelight of his fame when he struck an unusual friendship with her.

To both Caitlin and Marcus, what they have is a "perfect little thing." But then something comes along and threatens it.

In a no-holds-barred interview, will they finally be forced to settle the score?

You can purchase the book through any of the following links:
• Amazon
• Smashwords
• Kobo
• Paperback: Order here

Just as Caitlin and Marcus were persuaded to participate in an interview, so too has author Kesh Tanglao. The questions she has to answer are easier than her characters' though!

Q: Have you been to London?
A: No, I haven't, but it's one of the places that I want to go to (along with Paris, Italy, and Amsterdam)!

Q: What kind of research did you have to do to make the place come alive?
A:Working around how to make places you haven't been to in stories is a bit tough, so as much as possible I tried not mentioning specific areas. For research, I watched movies / TV series based in London, and there's Google and Buzzfeed UK (weird source, but their lists are fun!).

Q:Was it difficult to write a male character who wasn't Filipino?
A:Yes, it was. I think we were cautioned about this in class before, since Brits have different cultures than Filipinos, and there are different language nuances too. Some research helped, although I wished I had talked to someone British (or well-versed in UK culture) to make sure it was genuine.

Q:Did you set out to give Marcus any characteristics that might not be typically Filipino?
A:On Marcus' characteristics, not specifically, but I do made him out as someone more mature for his age.

--

I think that Marcus' maturity was definitely evident in the novella. He was shown to be very patient and understanding. The little dance he's had with Caitlin over the nature of their relationship was depicted quite well. With a different lead, with a different author, it may have gone a different direction, but in The Real Score, his devotion really hit all the right notes. So show Caitlin and Marcus some love and get your own copy of this book!

About the Author:

Kesh Tanglao is a full-time market researcher. When she’s not crunching numbers, she spends most of her free time watching TV shows, listening to music, and reading. Also a self-proclaimed fangirl, she likes cheering for her favorite sports teams and supporting her favorite artists. The Real Score is her first published novella.



Contact Info:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeshTanglao
• Twitter: @sparksfire
• 8Tracks: http://8tracks.com/sparksfire_
• Email: kesh.tanglao@gmail.com

Giveaway time! Get the chance to win one swag bag that contains the following items: a paperback and bookmarks of The Real Score, Marcus and Caitlin's mini-care package, and a charm bracelet.

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In Over Her Head Blog Tour + Giveaway

It's almost the end of the year and still, Mina V. Esguerra's #romanceclass is going strong. Ever since the class ended in early June, there have been eight contemporary romance novellas out in the market. Making a book tour stop on Ficsation is one that I devoured in one sitting, Anne Plaza's In Over Her Head.

About the Book:
All she wants is to get even...

Erika Apostol's quiet and unassuming life gets disrupted when she learns that Richard Javier, the very same person who broke her heart many years ago, is now back in the country. Her world is turned upside down as old feelings she thought were buried resurface to haunt her once more.

Determined to give Richard a dose of his own medicine, Erika finds herself involved in an outrageous plan devised by her friends. They enlist the help of Jerome Gonzales, an attractive and charismatic DJ (with a playboy reputation), to pose as her significant other.

As the plan goes in full swing, Erika discovers Richard's jealous side, and that there's something more to Jerome than meets the eye. Will this grand charade work out the way it should, or will she be left with nothing in the end?

You can purchase the book through any of the following links:
• Amazon
• Smashwords
• Paperback: Order here

One of the things I enjoyed about In Over Her Head is the Richard-Erika deal. Any child of the 80's will appreciate that! So I asked Ms Plaza more about her naming conventions and how she chose names and personalities for her characters. Did she know that she was going to name her leads over this iconic anime pair? Or did that come after?

Aside from forming a cohesive plot for a story, I take great pleasure in naming my characters. For me it's like a make or break thing that would either push me to finish writing or just get me stuck in a limbo of no return. Here are two main reasons why I personally give importance in naming their characters:

• A character's name is essential for me to be able to think of their personalities and visual pegs. Names that sound and feel right is something akin to inspiration—they usually hit me during the most unusual times (i.e., when I'm about to fall asleep, or when I'm taking a bath). And just like having that spark of an idea, I have to write it down; otherwise, I'd forget it.

• Thinking of appropriate character names for my stories is an exercise to show how characters come alive in the writing process—they evolve into distinct individuals with different personalities and quirks.

I never really thought to name my lead characters after the very famous anime couple, but when I was still just talking about the plot with my cousin, the idea was already there. I didn't have names at that time, and thought it would be great to go for it. I mean, who could ever forget Richard Hartford and Princess Erika? I was a sucker for romantic plots in the shows I watched when I was a kid, and Daimos takes the cake.

When it comes to fleshing out the characters, I try to come up with a visual peg (VP). When I outlined In Over Her Head for #romanceclass, I already had a mental picture of what my characters looked like. VPs help me describe the characters a lot more in detail, from their physical appearance down to their mannerisms and personalities.

For instance, my initial VP for Erika was Michelle Monaghan from the movie Made of Honor. Michelle's character in the movie was a go-getter, a person who takes things seriously career-wise, independent, and a hopeless romantic. On the other hand, my basis for Richard was Won Bin in the movie Friends (with Kyoko Fukada). In that film, his character was hardworking, youthful, and persevering. I imbued these characteristics in my leads, albeit with a few tinkering on the physical appearance.

I was also asked who I would cast for the role of Erika, Richard, and Jerome if the book was to be adapted into a movie. As much as I'd like to handpick the artists I earlier mentioned, I already have an idea which actors would be perfect for the part.

But names and characters are just one part of the equation. Beyond these, the novella really moved me by the way the romance was handled. It took a familiar story (getting back at the Ex) and deftly infused it with rom-com elements and tropes (a love triangle, a player, schemes and lies) to up the ante. I think Ms Plaza really dealt with this excellently. It was so easy for me to fall into the story and its premise without question. At its core, it was still anchored around a very realistic situation, one that tugged at my heartstrings. I liked how the leads danced around each other -- just slightly beyond reach -- so that we can have something to root for in the end.

About the Author:
Anne Plaza has a degree in Psychology, but has actively pursued a career in writing in her previous work as a reporter and online editor. She currently works in the field of marketing communications and spends most of her time writing fiction (while not on the lookout for the nearest cupcake and cronut store). Aside from writing, she loves to read contemporary romance, young adult, fantasy, and historical fiction. She also collects stamps and postcards, and loves everything about cats. Anne is based in Quezon City, Philippines. In Over Her Head is her first published work in English.

Contact Info:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anneplaza2013
• Twitter: @anneplaza
• Blog: http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com
• Email: anneplaza@gmail.com

Giveaway time! Get the chance to win one swag bag including the following: In Over Her Head postcard and bookmark, floral memo pad, A7 memo pad, and sticky notes, Idea Dream Think Memory Draw Japanese Wallpaper Planner, Jouets Origami Pure Diamond necklace (note: it’s not a real diamond. Haha!)

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What I've Been Reading

In the past few months, I've been blogging less about book reviews and more about local authors. It's a conscious decision, especially since I started publishing independently. To be honest, I have a lot of hesitations about what being an indie writer can mean to my book-blogging self. Can someone be both writer and critic -- especially someone who does not have the pedigree or the cajones to lay claim to either label yet?

While the choice might have been easy to some -- I grew up wanting to be a writer and not a book blogger anyway -- it still puts me in murky territory. I love discussing books. I like talking about the writing process. So please be patient with me while I still try to figure out what to do with my little space on the internet here. In the meantime, here are the books that I've managed to finish recently:

Welcome to Envy Park (Mina V. Esguerra) - A contemporary Filipino romance about Moira, who's back in Manila just biding her time before she heads off to another Asian country for her next job. I liked the tone and the dialogue in this one. Among Ms Esguerra's other heroines, I could also relate to Moira best. She speaks and thinks with candor and her voice felt very genuine. Her romance with Ethan was quite well-developed to me, so organic and natural and extremely kilig. Their interplay was engaging without being heavy-handed. Robbie and Dante are still my favorite male characters, but when couples are involved, Ethan and Moira appeal to me the most. I finished the paperback but I still went back to my ebook version just so I could mark my favorite lines and situations.

Love Story (Jennifer Echols) - This was my first Jennifer Echols book. Erin had a interesting poor-little-rich-girl story, and I thought the novel's writing class backdrop made it a bit more self-aware of the tropes that the story employs. Some comments from minor characters felt meta to me, which made me smile. One of my major reservations about it was that I don't understand how the class also seemed to be in the same residence hall (and they're all from different majors too), which I thought was pretty convenient.

Project 17 (Eliza Victoria) - I love reading science-fiction set in the Philippines. Ms Victoria crafts a world of high-stakes security and medical advancement against the backdrop of a futuristic Manila. Lillian is hired as the babysitter of Paul Dolores' brother Caleb, a smart and introverted man with schizoaffective disorder. Her job was supposed to be easy, but her curiosity lands her in a more than what she bargained for. Great tension and action, plus I thought the characters are very engaging. Finished this in one sitting.

The Manual of Detection (Jedediah Berry) - Part noir mystery, part dream. The narrative is expansive and many-layered, as it follows a clerk who has to step into the large (empty) shoes of the best detective in the agency. On one hand, it is the story of the clerk Unwin who, like his name, is far from being a force to reckon with. Bland and ordinary, he doesn't understand how he could be promoted to detective position vacated by the investigator for whom he clerks and attempts to find a way back to his old humdrum position. But there's more here than meets the eye. Add to his story the different mysteries that detective Silart has solved, which are also being told and re-told in bits and pieces. Chapter headings echo the headings of a manual that Unwin has received on his first day at the new job -- the so-called Manual of Detection. This was a really engrossing read.

Ngumiti si Andoy Blog Tour + Giveaway

Ngumiti si Andoy
By Xi Zuq
Illustrated by Dominic Agsaway
Published by Adarna House (2013)

About the Book:
Ngumiti si Andoy (Andoy Smiled) is the story of Andrew and his day at Heroes Park, as he is attempting to sketch the statue of the hero Andres Bonifacio. This award-winning book (2013 Philippine Board on Books for Young People-Salanga and Alcala Prize) is published by Adarna House in honor of the 150th birthday of the people's hero, Andres Bonifacio.

About the Author:
Xi Zuq is a teacher, writer, and reader from General Santos City. He is a member of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING) at Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA). You can find out more about him through his website: www.xizuqsnook.com.

About the Illustrator:
Dominic Agsaway is a comic- and children's book-illustrator. He is a member of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang InK). He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where he would wait at the park for his ride. You can email him at agsaway[at]gmail[dot]com.

Here are some excerpts from the book:

Ngumiti si Andoy is available at the Adarna House showroom and at your nearest bookstore. You can even show your support by joining the giveaway (see details below). You get the chance to win signed of this book and your own Kartilya poster -- definitely a great way to commemorate Andres Bonifacio's birthday!

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LitFest turns folk, pop!

Are you a Trese fanatic who just wishes you could run your own Kambal posse someday? Are you one of those who dissected the gender politics in My Husband's Lover after every episode? Or are you someone who's just plain interested in everything iconic in Pinoy pop culture? Then this event is perfect for you.


--
[Press Release] Filipino writers will discuss folk and popular literature as shown in komiks, TV, and film as the National Book Development Board (NBDB), Filipinas Heritage Library (FHL), and Ayala Museum hold POPtastik Pinoy! this November.

The event is part of the 4th Philippine International Literary Festival. Titled Text and the City, the LitFest will take place in the major universities in Metro Manila from November 11-14 and culminating at the Ayala Museum on November 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Promotional activities will also be held at the Makati Ayala Malls from November 17 to 24.

The November 15 event is a whole day series of talks which will cover the following topics: “Folklore in Pop Literature (komiks, graphic novels, novels, short stories, and TV);” “Kuwentuhan on Komiks;” and “Writing in Different Genres.” Among the panel discussants and moderators are comic artists Manix Abrera, Noel Pascual, AJ Bernardo, Karen Francisco, and Budjette Tan; novelists Eros Atalia, Luna Sicat Cleto, and Edgar Samar; scriptwriter Suzette Doctolero; fictionists Sarge Lacuesta and Yvette Tan; journalists Ruel de Vera and Kristine Fonacier; and Prof. Patrick Campos.

Celebrated writers Tony Perez and Rolando Tolentino will open the POPtastik Pinoy! program of activities with talks of writing and the city. Korean-American writer Krys Lee will then discuss her short story compilation Drifting House. Lee will be joined by Sarge Lacuesta, Andrea Pasion-Flores, and Kristine Fonacier for a flash fiction writing masterclass, “City Fiction 100,” while other pocket lectures are being held in the Ayala Museum function rooms.

From 5:00 pm, writer and educator Isagani R. Cruz will hold another seminar on “How to write a book” for professional and amateur writers. Garitony Nicolas will also share his experience of publishing his own books with the help of Central Books, the first publisher-on-demand in the Philippines.

The LitFest will stretch to the following week at the Ayala Malls. On November 17, a marathon of GMA films will be held at the New Glorietta Activity Center, along with a mini fair for indie komiks creators and sellers and small or independent publishers. The public can also view GMA 7 telefantasya costumes at Ground Floor Greenbelt 3 from November 18 to 24.

POPtastik Pinoy! is supported by Ayala Malls, GMA Network, Brother Philippines Inc., Intercontinental Hotel, the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), the Korea Copyright Commission (KCC), Fully Booked, and McDonald’s. For inquiries, contact Verne Ahyong at the Ayala Museum at 759-8288 local 46 or ahyong.vy@ayalafoundation.org. To register, call Marj Villaflores at 759-8288 local 25, or email litfest@filipinaslibrary.org.ph.

--
The Philippine International Literary Festival is always a great way for us to learn more about our country's literature. What's great about this year's theme is that it approaches literature from a very accessible standpoint. I hope that we can take part in it or, at least, encourage friends and family to give it a try. Hope to see you there!

The Plan.

then in winter
when there is no leaf left
invent one
- from Eve Merriam's Reply to the Question: "How can You Become a Poet?"

With all the work that I've been doing, my go-to reads have been the ebooks on my Kindle app. These lovely books have been claiming space on my bed for weeks, some months, touched only for a few pages in the morning or before I go to sleep at night. How to Build a Time Machine is the luckiest one, in a way, as I only have a few chapters left.

Here is the secret, to my heart's immediate desires, to the next few months, to the welcoming of a new year. The scientist's laboratory. The hidden lair.

There are plans, and there are plans.

ReaderCon/Filipino Friday: Pinoy Book Drop

Pinoy Book Drop Details
Book: One Day (David Nicholls)
Place: Noriter, Taft Avenue, Manila
Time: around 4:10 PM

Although my blog (in)activity may not show it, I'm really excited for the upcoming 3rd Filipino ReaderCon. This year it will be on November 9 at the Rizal Library at the Ateneo. As a countdown to the event, we're asked to share our answers on different book-related questions every Friday, and this week, it's all about a brilliant concept called the Pinoy Book Drop.

Printing the bookplates. I had grand plans of leaving three but so far I've only done one.
I actually had a hard time picking a book for the drop. By the time I had printed out the bookplates, I still hadn't decided. On one hand, the book drop was a good way to pass on an unwanted book that could be loved by someone else. But on the other, I didn't want to leave something that no one would pick up because it was extremely old and tattered.

The book drop was a great opportunity to spread the love, so another requirement I wanted to meet was to leave a book I fairly liked. I was going through my books and while a lot of them were good candidates for such the drop, I wasn't sure if I could find these editions again. In the end, I went with a book that 1) I could part with but was still in good condition, 2) could be easily replaced, and 3) I liked enough to share. I will not grieve over its absence from my shelves, but I think someone might appreciate it more.

I slipped the bookplate behind the plastic cover.
It was easy to decide where to leave it. A coffee shop seemed like a good location, since there are a lot of people talking and reading and looking for tables. I brought it with me in case I was going to be in the Alabang area. But then I found myself in front of my old university, where there were a lot of cafes and tambayans, so I thought this was a good place as any. I picked Noriter, a little Korean-inspired cafe very near the LRT. Its patrons were students who were studying or writing reports, so I was a bit more confident that someone would pick up One Day.

Noriter! This side is next to the windows so there weren't a lot of people on there.
One thing that I was afraid of was someone coming up to tell me I had left something. I didn't realize it then, but Noriter's colorful tables were a good camouflage for the book. Plus with all the students around (and all their books and papers on the tables), there seemed a little chance of that happening. I just bussed my table so that the servers didn't have to do it for me (and discover my book drop)!

Goodbye, dear book!
I didn't check back on who might have found it, but I'm crossing my fingers that one of the students brought it home to read. Not only would it be a welcome break from studying, but I think it's got a lot to say about friendship and love and growing up that would appeal to people at a turning point in their lives. I really hope my copy finds a good home.

Guardians of Tradition Review

My grandmother is a piña weaver, as was her mother before her, and her mother before her. My aunt also weaves. I have grown up surrounded by the finest pineapple cloth -- plain, embroidered, striped, painted, with the design inlaid. I've seen weavers at work. I can recite the weaving process in a rather factual manner, though I have to confess that it's been years since I've tried my hand at the loom. But this is my heritage and I'm very proud of what my grandmother and relatives do.

That's why I signed up for the Guardians of Tradition Blog Tour. My family has always been big on preserving traditional arts and crafts. Though I am familiar with the NCCA and the work that it does, I am still eager to know more about our Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees. Eleven of them are featured in this book, namely: Uwang Ahadas, Hadja Amina Appi, Ginaw Bilog, Federico Caballero, Lang Dulay, Masino Intaray, Salinta Monon, Eduardo Mutuc, Alonzo Saclag, Darhata Sawabi, and Samaon Sulaiman.

Guardians of Tradition is written by Mae Astrid Tobias, with illustrations by Rommel E. Joson and photographs by Renato S. Rastrollo. It's a non-fiction book that's currently nominated in the Children's Picture Book category of the 2013 Filipino Reader's Choice Awards. It manages to present all these information about our National Living Treasures in a very upbeat and informative way. Ms Tobias' tone is perfect: it's light and friendly as she uses Banog and Kiko to introduce artisans and their crafts.

Mr Joson's art and Mr Rastrollo's photographs complement the text perfectly. The book strikes a great balance between all these elements that it really doesn't matter if a child or an adult is reading it; there is so much to learn from every page (even from every image).

Case in point: cute and colorful illustrations to accompany all the info
But beyond the illustrations and the child-friendly text lies a deeper message that appeals to every Filipino. These artisans have devoted so much of their lives so that these traditional crafts may continue. We shouldn't let these die on our watch. With every page, you come to realize just how rich and diverse our culture is, how talented and creative our countrymen are. Every craft is unique. Every story is moving.

My grandmother and my aunt have actually met some of our National Living Treasures. The late Sumaon Sulaiman, who played the kutyapi, was one of the artisans who went on an expo with them at the Smithsonian back in the nineties. It was good to read about him and pass the information on. Another Living Treasure Iwho caught my interest was Lang Dulay, a dreamweaver from Lake Sebu. Dreamweavers weave t'nalak cloth from designs that come to them in their dreams. This was actually my first time to read about what the t'nalak's colors represent and it's quite inspiring. There is so much poetry in our lives. It's such a shame that we can lose this in the monotony of our worker-drone lives.

One of two t'nalak pieces at our house, taken with a bad camera phone

Ficsation has joined the Guardians of Tradition blog tour, and I hope that you can show your support by doing one of three things:

1) Spreading the word about our traditional arts and our National Living Treasures

2) Purchasing a copy through the following links

For the duration of the Guardians of Tradition Blog Tour, Guardians of Tradition is available at discounted prize at the Adarna showroom in Quezon City. For international readers and Filipinos abroad, an ebook version is coming soon.

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18070865-guardians-of-tradition
Adarna Order Form - http://adarna.com.ph/featured/guardians-of-tradition.html

3) Joining the raffle (this one's easy!)

If you're from the Philippines, you can start showing your support by joining the Guardians of Tradition giveaway! You can win one of the following prizes:

One $25 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 1 CD of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA

3 $10 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 1 CD of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA

6 signed copies of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 6 CDs of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA

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Guardians of Tradition Blog Tour + Giveaway

Guardians of Tradition: The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (2012)
By Mae Astrid Tobias
Illustrations by Rommel E. Joson
Photos by Renato S. Rastrollo / National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)

About the Book:

Who are the indigenous and folk artists of the Philippines? Guardians of Tradition is full of facts about 11 of Philippine master weavers, folk musicians, performing artists, mat weavers, and metal smiths whose talents and skills have earned them the title Manlilikha ng Bayan. Designed to help children recognize native Filipino ingenuity and creativity, the book includes fun activities to promote appreciation for culture and arts. Guardians of Tradition has a fun and colorful design that appeals to young readers.

The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan was created in 1992 through Republic Act No. 7355 to honor our National Living Treasures. These are men and women who have helped preserve our traditional crafts. Through their artistry and devotion, these talented Filipinos ensure that our culture's traditional arts are not forgotten.

About the Author:

Mae Astrid Tobias (1979-2009) was a Palanca-award winning author of children's books. In addition to Guardians of Tradition, her books include Blue Bananas (Crucible), Bayong ng Kuting (Lampara Books), My Forest Friends (Haribon), Bakawan (Adarna Books) and two books retelling the Ifugao traditional chant, hudhud. These are Halikpon: A Retelling of an Ancient Ifugao Chant and Pumbakhayon: An Origin Myth of the Ifugao Hudhud. Both are finalists for children’s literature and best design in the 2006 National Book Awards of the Manila Critics Circle.

She also spent several years in the field of children’s television. She served as the Manila Bureau Manager of Kabataan News Network, a project of UNICEF and Probe Media Foundation that trains young people nationwide how to produce their own broadcast quality documentaries. She also also wrote episodes for children shows like Sirit!, and ABS-CBN and Eskuwela ng Bayan, as well as worked for Philippine Junior Inquirer and Shell Foundation. She was a member of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING), an organization of Filipino writers for children.

About the Illustrator:

ROMMEL JOSON is a painter and an illustrator. He graduated magna cum laude and College Valedictorian from the University of Philippines College of Fine Arts. He was also a Merit Scholar and a recipient of the Dean's Awards for Visual Awards from the Ateneo de Manila University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He worked in the advertising industry for several years before devoting his time fully to painting and illustration. He has received awards and citations for painting, illustration, comics, and design from various organizations such as the Philippine Board of Books for Young People (Honorable Mention), the Shell National Art Competition (3rd Place Oil/Acrylic Category), the Neil Gaiman/Fully Booked Graphic Fiction Competition (3rd Place in the Graphic Fiction category), the Adobo Design Awards (Silver) and the Philippine Araw Awards (Silver in Art Direction) and the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Competition (Semifinalist in Oil). He is currently an active member of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK).

About the Photographer:
RENATO S. RASTROLLO, is a photographer, graphic artist, book and exhibit designer. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Advertising from the Philippine Women’s University. With over 25 years of experience in the field of documentary photography, his works have appeared in national and international publications. Presently, he is a culture and arts officer at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Guardians of Tradition was recently nominated for the 2013 Filipino Readers' Choice Awards, and is the only non-fiction finalist in the Children's Picture Book Category.

For the duration of the Guardians of Tradition Blog Tour, Guardians of Tradition is available at discounted prize at the Adarna showroom in Quezon City. For international readers and Filipinos abroad, an ebook version is coming soon. You can purchase the print copy through the following links:

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18070865-guardians-of-tradition
Adarna Order Form - http://adarna.com.ph/featured/guardians-of-tradition.html

Wouldn't it be awesome if we could get an e-book version of Guardians of Tradition? Maybe this can be our small contribution to preserving tradition. We can spread the word to a new generation of readers, who are likelier to hold a tablet than a gangsa. An e-book can reach Filipino children all over the world and ensure that the book and the knowledge that it hopes to impart never goes out of print.

You can start showing your support by joining the Guardians of Tradition giveaway! You can win one of the following prizes (open to Philippine residents only):

One $25 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 1 CD of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA

3 $10 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 1 CD of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA

6 signed copies of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 6 CDs of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA

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