#romanceclass finishers! (Batch 1)

Source: weheartit.com via ℰｒｉｋａ on Pinterest

This post makes me giddy.

The writers who participated in #romanceclass were part of an online community, sure, but by design the course had them do most of the work on their own. So sure, I set deadlines, and gave assignments, and handed over a big secret (my outline), but they came up with everything else. I only came in again at the end and helped some write book descriptions and suggested titles.

How can you help make a writer even happier? You could offer:

• Editing services
• Cover design services
• A book deal!
• To promote these books (when they are published) through your blog or book club by signing up here: bit.ly/asianbooks

Fourteen novellas were completed (and submitted to me) by the official deadline of June 9. The others have sworn not to give up the fight, and I will continue to help them out. But let's give this first batch of finishers (presented in no particular order) a round of applause. And a big yay!

All's Fair in Blog and War by Chrissie Peria

Five Cuevas @fivetravels
Three guesses to where I'm going next. Starts with an M. Ends with a U. Has a lechon named after it. #travel

Travel blogger Five thinks she's hit the jackpot when the Macau Tourism Board invites her over for an all-expense-paid blogger tour in exchange for blogging about Macau. But while she happily signs up for the trip, she didn't sign up to be travel buddies with the infuriating Jesse. Will her dream vacation turn into a nightmare junket? Or will falling in love be on the itinerary?

Fall Like Rain by Ana Tejano

24-year old Rain De Castro has been burying herself in her IT work for months for highly personal reasons: her best friend since forever, Mark Velasco, is happy with his own love life while she has been pining over him since college. When she finds out that Mark is single again, she thinks this might be her chance to finally get out of the friend zone and show Mark that he is meant to be with her.

But it's proving to be difficult when Rain's estranged cousin comes into the picture, and sets her eyes on Mark. And it seems like Mark likes her cousin, too. Rain is more than willing to fight for him this time around, but is he willing to fight for her, too? Will she step aside to give way for her best friend's happiness, even if it means losing him to someone else, again?

A Heart Full of Love by Jayen San Diego

Samantha Soriano can make a love song come alive when she sings it, but all her true feelings are trapped inside. Jared's one of the cutest guys in school and when he befriends her anyway -- despite her being so clumsy and awkward -- she falls hard, but was content with keeping it a secret. When she decides to finally tell him, he surprises her with a request: He wants to date Claudette, her beautiful (not at all clumsy and awkward) foster sister. Would she help him? Should she?

Backstage Pass to Love by Ellaine Dimla

Ashley was all about finding her dream job. At twenty-four, settling for a blah career wasn't even an option. She may have gotten her wish when a series of (fortunate?) events lead her to a new job -- working with The Labyrinth, hottest band in the country, and right alongside with rock demigod Red Rodrigo. How will this regular girl survive the ups and downs of life in the spotlight?

Vintage Love by Agay Llanera

25-year-old Crissy Lopez’s life is in dire need of a makeover. Her wardrobe revolves around ratty shirts and beat-up sneaks; her grueling schedule as a TV Executive leaves no room for a social life; and worst of all, she’s still hung up on the Evil Ex who left her five years ago.

When her fashionable grand-aunt passes away and leaves behind a roomful of vintage stuff, the Shy Stylista inside Crissy gradually resurfaces. Soon, she feels like she's making progress -- with a budding lovelife to boot! But the grim ghost of her past catches up with her, threatening to push her back into depression. To finally move on, Crissy learns that walking away is not enough. This time, she needs to take a leap of faith.

In Over Her Head by Anne Plaza

29-year-old Erika Apostol is the picture of success, at least, that's what they all think. Life couldn't be more perfect, until she learns that Richard Javier, the very same person who broke her heart many years ago, is now back in the Philippines. 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 enlists the help of the reluctant Jerome Gonzales. All she wants is to get back at Richard, but there's something more to Jerome than meets the eye. Will Erika's plan work out the way it should, or is she just in for a lot more hurt?

Second Time Around by Danica Cohu

Rianne has lost her memory of the past two years due to an accident, but letters from a mysterious "Sparks" -- found in a pile of unread mail at home -- has been helping her cope. The letters tell her of a couple's love story, and she hopes to find the same unconditional love someday. Rebuilding her life has been a mess though: her guy best friend is claiming to have been her boyfriend that time, but she seems more at ease with a mysterious stranger. Does she trust the past she can't remember, or take a chance with a more uncertain future?