Sunday, December 30, 2012

This writer's 2012 by the numbers

2 new books published
1 book re-released for Philippine market
1 manuscript finished
4 indie publishing workshops organized
3 tv appearances
6 speaking engagements 
3500+ indie books sold/given away

I don't have figures from Summit yet, but That Kind of Guy made it to National Bookstore's bestseller list (#9) so I'll just imagine happy numbers for now.

Thank you, readers! And thanks too, writers and artists I've met, going on your own exciting journeys. 

The plan for next year? To keep writing. :) 

P.S. Interim Goddess of Love is having a good year too! It's been mentioned on the following yearend lists!
GMA News' 12 Recommended Reads from 2012
One More Page's 12 Best Books of 2012
The Blair Book Project's Best in Books 2012

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Next Big Thing

Paolo Chikiamco tagged me, so I'm up next in this Next Big Thing writer blog meme. Writers get to talk about their upcoming books by answering the questions. I've been tagged! I am it.


1) What is the working title of your next book?
Queen of the Clueless (Interim Goddess of Love #2). But it's not just a working title anymore, it's the title by now.

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?
I wanted to write something that incorporated mythology, but keep it within my comfort zone of contemporary romance. So this happened.

This book is the second volume of a three-book series I launched early this year, called Interim Goddess of Love. It's set in a college just outside Manila where some Philippine gods and goddesses happen to be studying. I wanted to write QotC as soon as two specific scenes came to my mind -- which were neither appropriate for the first book (where the premise and characters are introduced) or the last (when the protagonist makes that brave final choice). It might have come to me during a cab ride, or while standing in line for something.

3) What genre does your book fall under?
Young Adult/Older YA/New Adult Fantasy Romance, I think. That exists, right?

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Sorry, I'm wussing out of this question. I have pegs and inspirations for the roles, but some of them are odd and I suspect are attractive only to me. I wouldn't want to ruin anyone else's experience of the book by superimposing that image. By all means, insert the hottest actors today in any role! (Update: Someone just did -- yay, Viel!)


5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
College sophomore Hannah, temporarily the Goddess of Love, tries to help out with her best friend's troubled relationship, and ends up discovering more about her new power.

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Self-published first. My traditional publisher (Summit Books) has offered to do a Philippine print run of my self-published titles though, so if this book gets the same treatment, I wouldn't mind at all.

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Ten months. It's not significantly longer or more difficult to write than other novels that I've finished in a shorter timespan, but I just didn't have enough time this year to do it. Arg.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Mostly Sweet Dreams, and maybe a hint of Beautiful Creatures and The Vampire Diaries. (But in writing it I was guided so much by TV's The Good Wife, which most people may find odd.)

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I taught a communication course in a college for a year. One day I gave a writing assignment, and told a friend about how two students interacted in a meet-cute way in that class, and she said "YA novel premise!"

10) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
It's romance, but with Philippine myths! Which is a fit because many Philippine myths are romances!

I'm tagging:
Ines Bautista-Yao
Chinggay Labrador
Marla Miniano
Katrina Ramos-Atienza
Gypsy Esguerra

Thursday, December 20, 2012

How to get a discounted or free ebook

My ebooks cost $2.99/P125 each, but if you want to get a dollar off the regular price, you just need to visit:

Chachic's Book Nook
One More Page
Ficsation

Those are book blogs maintained by Chachic, Tina and Chris, and based on the data I've managed to get, are responsible for a good chunk of traffic this blog receives. The discount coupons on their sites are valid for a year, so feel free to share them to all your ebook-buying, romance-reading friends -- and check out their review archive too. (I personally decide what to read next based on books they've covered!)

If you want more than a discount, like maybe free, you can also go to Wattpad, where I've uploaded the prologue and first 9 chapters of Interim Goddess of Love. The sequel's going to be out soon, so now is a good time to catch up!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Liebster blog survey

I should talk more about this obsession. But anyway.

I was tagged by fab author Katrina Ramos Atienza, and now I finally get to post this blog survey thing!

Her questions:

1. It's been a long, tiring, draining, I-just-want-to-cry kind of day. What do you do for comfort?
Steak and chocolate. I try not to have those together, but some days you need both.

2. Name one crush that usually makes your loved ones go "Really? That guy? You like him? You sure?"
Mike (my husband) does not understand why I like John Lloyd Cruz. When we pass a billboard with JLC's face, he'll go, "Really? Why?" and I have no answer.

But that's not really a guilty pleasure, because I had one, and I can't even bear to mention his name. Basta I shared that crush with a friend, and then after a year or so, the friend told me, "Hindi mo na sya crush ano? Hindi ba kadiri na siya ngayon?" And yes, I felt the same way.

3. If you could be dressed by just one designer/brand, who/what would it be and why?
I am so drawing a blank. My fashion sense is still evolving.

4. One movie you will never ever be tired of seeing:
Mean Girls.

5. Last five songs you've listened to:
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift
Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
Fortress Around Your Heart by Sting
Moon Over Bourbon Street by Sting
All This Time by Sting
(my daughter controls the iPad and she keeps choosing the Sting songs)

6. Trend you will never ever ever in a million years try:
Anything having to do with shoulder pads. Don't bring it back!

7. Complete the sentence: "People will be surprised to learn of my obsessive knowledge about _____"
Joss Whedon show episode titles, although I must admit that I slacked off on Dollhouse season 2.

8. Do you have a life peg -- a successful person who's achieved much through ways you generally approve of? Who is it, and why?
Yes, David Leechiu. Not exactly in the same industry or career as mine but I can't help but reference him when I talk about achieving things.

9. How has blogging changed for you from when you first started?
The giving up of anonymity, at least as far as this blog is concerned. I started this the year my first novel was published, and before this, I never blogged using my actual name and photo. But I consider this my other career now, and have to be professional about it.

10. What's one legacy you hope to be remembered for, 30 years from now?
Wow. Maybe my books? It would be cool if in the future young people were still reading them. Or beaming them straight into their eyes, I dunno.

11. Number one frustration:
Right now, bossy people.