Nominated yay! Filipino Readers' Choice Awards 2014

Happy news!

Welcome to Envy Park is a nominee in the Romance in English category in the 2014 Filipino Readers' Choice Awards.

Queen of the Clueless and Icon of the Indecisive were nominated in the Young Adult category too!

FRCA is chosen by Filipino readers. Nominees are now part of the voting phase, and the top 3 books in each category move on to be judged by a panel -- also composed of Filipino readers. Vote for your favorite Filipino books here! 

#romanceclass at #filreadercon

To recap: In January 2013, we started a (free) class about writing contemporary romance novellas.
By the official end of the course (June), 14 authors had finished their draft manuscripts. (Batch 1 Batch 2)
In September, 5 of the books had been indie published by the authors, and we sold them at our very first book fair.

And now it's December, and we just participated in our second event as an exhibitor, at the Filipino ReaderCon. 8 books had been indie-published by that time, so the table got a little crowded. (Also, I had published a few more books since then. But they're technically not part of #romanceclass.)

@jayensandiego on Instagram

We're also still selling digital versions of the books at P50 each. We figured that since we as indie publishers can't get the cost of our print books down to that price, we might as well offer an alternative. And then if you love the book that much (and I'm confident that this will happen!) you will actually not blink as you pay P300-P350 for the print edition. I've seen it happen. It's not often, because P300 is no amount to sneeze at, but when it does happen, everything's worth it.

@dementedchris on Instagram

Your friendly neighborhood #romanceclass. From left to right: Chris Mariano author of Cover (Story) Girl, Stella Torres author of Save the Cake, Anne Plaza author of In Over Her Head, Tina, Jayen San Diego author of Just A Little Rain, Ron, and me.

We will be at BLTX on Saturday, December 14, Lopez Museum Ortigas to sell more romance! Drop by and say hi.

Our Anton, That Guy

So this guy was a challenge to write. But you know me, I'm always up for a personal writing challenge.

That Kind of Guy's story is based on not a few conversations I've had with friends about why women, even those who are so smart about other things, fall for "bad boys." Players. Guys who are, based on history and common sense, heartbreakers. And trust me, when conversations are about love, everyone is an expert: "We think we can fix them." "We're compensating for having to be good girls all our lives." "He just knows what women want." "They're just hotter."

The difficulty with this book wasn't with the character, by the way. Anton (oh Anton) has been in more of my books than any other character I think, always in the background, if you hadn't noticed. I knew who he was so well, and was excited about finally getting to his story. But then there was the matter of Anton's writer becoming a mother, and writing his story while also adjusting to caring for an infant. This was not easy.

Good thing other people believed in this and pushed our progress along. Ines Yao, Abi Goy, Aurora Suarez, Koko Ko and people at Summit Books whose names and faces I should know (but I don't, because I'm not hanging around there as often as I probably should!).

So in 2012 we had this, Anton's book, out in every bookstore, and I realized that I had thrown the challenge out to the readers: Would you, sensible smart Filipina, believe this guy? He's such a player. Has always been. He could be lying to you right now. Why trust him even? Especially when you have someone like Harry (nice, historically faithful, historically harmless) in your life, as we all do?

Watching the reviews and reaction to this has been fascinating, and I can't say who's right (because everyone is an expert). But I've read every post about it that I could find, and I've learned a lot about how the people who've read this book view love, and trust, and forgiveness, and change.

This weekend, That Kind of Guy won the 2013 Filipino Readers' Choice Award for Chick Lit. Thank you to every person who bought, considered buying, read, lent, borrowed, reviewed, talked about, asked about, and voted for this book. What this tells me is that writing challenges are so worth taking on, because people are ready for it. Yes, even in "Chick Lit." Especially in Chick Lit.

That Kind of Guy and Interim Goddess of Love nominated!

That Kind of Guy and Interim Goddess of Love (both published in 2012) have been nominated in the Chick Lit category of the Filipino Readers' Choice Awards which will be held at the 2013 Filipino Readercon! Thank you to the kind people who nominated them. :) Visit the link to see the other nominees!

Update: Voting is open now!

2nd Filipino Reader Conference - August 18

So on Saturday, I will be hanging out with cool people (readers), talking about cool things (books), and spending some time in a place that is close to my heart (where I got married*).

Hope you can all make it to the Filipino ReaderCon on Saturday, August 18, at the Filipinas Heritage Library. I'm part of one of the sessions. Go register now so you don't lose your slot. :)


*Yes, I got married in a former air traffic control tower/now library. It's a cool thing to do. Everyone should try it!

Filipino Friday: Reading habits and book formats

This week's about Reading Habits and Book Formats.
Where and how do you read? Can you read anywhere and everywhere, or do you need a certain place/mood/state of mind to get reading? Do you read more in the morning or at night or any minute that you can? Where and how do you usually read?
I can't read in cars. Trains and planes, sure, but cars and buses trigger the dizzy spells. I used to have a comfy chair and a pillow that I relax into when reading, but now that I'm taking care of a little girl, I get most of my reading while in line for a cab.

Are you exclusively for print, or do you go for ebooks more than print? 
It's been a mix for the past few years, but since we got a Kindle and iPad, I've been reading the digital versions more. I like that I can be reading it on one device at home and another on the road, especially because every sliver of reading time I find is precious! Also, I've maxed out my side of the shelf.

Have you ever tried audiobooks?
Yes, a few. I find audiobooks to be great for road trips actually, or when you're just going around anywhere in a car. Recent ones we listened to: Casino Royale and The Bro Code. Fun!

PS. Fairy Tale Fail is a finalist in the Chick Lit category of the Filipino Readers' Choice Awards! Thank you for the nominations and votes! See you at the ReaderCon!

Filipino Friday: School of Reading

Today's Filipino Friday topic!

School of Reading. We all started reading somewhere, and more often than not, we were influenced by someone. Who got you into reading? Your parents? A friend? A librarian? One teacher who always lends out his/her books? How helpful was your school in helping your reading habit / fueling your book addiction?

Three people who might be responsible (blamed?) for my love of reading:

My mother, who patiently read everything (including cookbooks!) to me when I was a kid. Now that I have a daughter I'm trying to do the same for her.
My neighbor Erika, who had Sweet Valley Twins #2 Teacher's Pet and Nancy Drew The Mysterious Mannequin on her shelf that day when I was eleven, and let me borrow them. This is what started my "bookworm" stage and since then started reading a new book (or three) a week.
My husband Mike, who loves books and reading way way way more than I do, such that my love looks like a casual fling. This helps me get rid of any feelings of superiority I might consider having, just because I consider myself a reader.

When I was younger, I was the kind of person who would thrust a book into someone's hands and force them to read it. I hope at least one picked up the habit because of my pushiness.

Filipino Friday: Hello from me!

Oh look, it's the return of Filipino Friday! The 2012 Filipino Readercon is coming up, and I'm delighted to join bloggers devoting time to talk about books by Filipinos and other lit topics near and dear to readers' hearts.

And now to introduce myself. My name is Mina, and I'm totally failing at my reading list this year. It's July and I've finished (only) a dozen books, and it doesn't look like my sked will free up anytime soon so I can read more. When I do have time to read, I usually pick up contemporary romances, fantasy, something that won a Booker, something South Asian, or a classic that I never got to read. What I never really choose? Westerns.

One of my favorite recent reads, though, was True Grit.

Picked this up because I enjoyed the movie, and I could hear my husband laughing as he read it. Not only did I enjoy this, I laughed out loud too. I think the last time that happened to me was when I read ZsaZsa Zaturnnah.

So I guess the lesson is, I shouldn't dismiss an entire genre outright. Or maybe I'm a Western kind of girl after all.

Post-ReaderCon 2: Bloggers make people buy, it's true

I wish I had thought of this prior to the ReaderCon, but anyway, better late than never.

I hope, in the interest of learning more about the impact of word of mouth and book bloggers on book sales, you (visitor to my website) take a minute to answer this quick survey:

1. How did you find out about me, Mina V. Esguerra author of chick lit/romance novellas?
(Was it through a blog? Amazon? A bookstore? An article in the newspaper or news site? Your friend? Who was the friend?)

2. Did you buy my book/s?
(Which ones? Ebook or paperback?)

If you haven't yet, do you plan to buy in the future?
(It's OK to say no. I'd like to know why though! I hope you share the reason.)

3. Have you told anyone else about my book/s?
(I'd appreciate any other details -- which book, why that friend, how did she/he like it.)

Please leave your responses in the comment section below, or email them to minavesguerra@gmail.com. (Should I offer a prize? Maybe I will.)

I'm starting this survey because I was surprised (surprised!) to hear Chachic (of Chachic's Book Nook) say that she didn't know if her book blogging had an impact on book sales. I was all, are you kidding?! Of course your blogging has an impact! In my own experience, I know for sure that her blog and others who have reviewed my books have directly contributed to actual sales.

But of course I happen to be publishing those two books too, so I get to see the figures. I see, for example, that on the day or week of Chachic or Tina or dementedchris (to name a few) mentioning my books, I get purchase notifications from Smashwords. Some people who have emailed me to buy the paperback versions actually said that they heard about the book from these bloggers. And when I read a post from someone saying she bought my book because she has "heard so much about it" I assume that she means the blogosphere, and if she means actual word of mouth then I assume that this person got his/her info from the book blogs. (Reviews on Amazon count too, and people like Laura and Vicki Tyley are part of this too, but that is maybe another topic.)

So yes yes, definitely yes -- if you're not a household-name author like me, book blogs count, and are probably responsible for a significant chunk of sales. If you answer the survey, maybe we get to find out just how much.

Post-ReaderCon 1: Where I talk about being a reader and a Slayer

In 2001, I co-founded the online email group for Philippine fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (PinoySlayer). It was an active fan group for years, and even though the show has ended, the core group still gets together for other things. Prior to that I had been watching the show for years, participating in international forums and fannish stuff like that.

One of my longest posts ever in a Goodreads forum was on the topic of readers in the Philippines. I wanted to provide a counterpoint to the view that some readers seem to have, that they feel they are alone as readers because they can't talk about their books to friends or family, and don't see people reading in public.

Short version of that post: I am not a social reader. My extended family has at least one regular fiction reader per family, but we don't talk about books when we meet. My husband and I don't read in public transport. He doesn't read in a coffee shop too because he considers his books precious and will not take them out and place them in close proximity to that many beverages. We both don't blog about books. He doesn't even have a Goodreads account.

So, to casual observers, we probably won't look like readers. But there is a difference between, say, the person who watches and enjoys Buffy the Vampire Slayer if it happens to be on TV, and the person who loves it so much that she starts an online fan group (and buys merchandise, and reviews episodes, and buys DVD boxed sets even if she has taped all the episodes on VHS, and invites strangers to her house to watch the series finale... you get the point).

Some people aren't as ready to be social about their hobby as others are. Does that mean they love it less? They buy books too, but don't necessarily go on shopping sprees. How many books do you have to buy a year to be considered a "real" reader? What if you only borrow?

This by no means dimishes what the book bloggers and book clubs do -- in fact, I think that non-social readers rely on what the more social readers are doing. They also want to know they're not alone, but sometimes would prefer to lurk and privately agree or disagree in discussions, instead of participate.

The Filipino ReaderCon is a great first step though to get these readers to de-lurk, come forward, and participate in a non-intimidating way. And if you're this kind of reader you may have to step up at some point, like I did when I wrote that post, so your own issues are heard too.

ReaderCon Filipino Friday Week 5: What I expect from ReaderCon

The 1st Filipino ReaderCon is coming up!

My reading has not been a social activity lately. It was, back in high school, when I would actively promote (push) books to friends. In college, I told the entire story of Carl Sagan's Contact -- with difference-between-book-and-film commentary -- to a friend who preferred that to actually reading the thing. (That was a very long lunch.) Now, even though I read new books, I rarely discuss them or write reviews. But maybe a session or two at the ReaderCon will get me to "make it social" again.

I'm also expecting to learn more about what Filipino readers want, which I'm very curious about (as an author and publisher).

See you on September 14!

ReaderCon Filipino Friday Week 4: Philippine Lit

"Reading" to me means mostly novels and novellas, and these are the Filipino authors/novelists I've read since 2004 (when I started my book list).

Arlene J. Chai
F. Sionil Jose
Abi Aquino
Tweet Sering
Carla M. Pacis
Tara FT Sering
Bob Ong
Maya Burgos Cruzada
M.D. Balangue
Zara Irigo
Anna Ishikawa
Katrina Ramos Atienza
Abi Malonzo
Faye Ilogon
Jose Rizal
Miriam Delos Santos
Marla Miniano
Melissa dela Cruz
Vince O. Teves
Miguel Syjuco
Andrea Pasion
Maya Calica
Claire Betita
Marian Pinera
Martha Cecilia
David Hontiveros
Samantha Sotto

Graphic novels: Budjette Tan, Carlo Vergara

Not all of them were published in the Philippines, and not all of them have written specifically about the Philippines. My goal however has been to read more novels by Filipinos, and this list will keep growing.

My rather biased recommendation though is my husband, Michael AR Co. He hasn't (finished) a novel yet, but I'm a genuine fan of his work.

Visit the Filipino ReaderCon site!

ReaderCon Filipino Friday Week 3: Being a reader in the Philippines

This week's Filipino Friday post is about the pros and cons of being a reader in the Philippines.

When it comes to book buying I'm a bargain hunter, and I like that I can get cheap books here. This of course depends on reading taste, and the books I read are the ones that tend to show up in Book Sale eventually. I've gone into really nice bookstores in other countries and chose not to buy a thing, because upon conversion I knew I'd get a better deal back home. (The exception is my copy of ...Kavalier and Clay from the Strand, more of a souvenir.)

I like that Filipino readers talk to each other about books. My 2011 reading list has titles I discovered because of the local book bloggers I follow.

I don't like that some ebooks are more expensive or not available to me at all because I'm in the Philippines. I know there's distribution drama behind it, but come on.

I wish that we had a really nice and accessible library, but I have to admit -- I had access to a fairly good one in college, and all I did there was use the Internet kiosks. I work in a place with a really good one now, and I'm there only to buy stuff from the coffee shop. I'm a reader but I'm the type who would rather own than borrow, and if a book is too expensive then I wait for a sale or tell myself I can live without it. I visited the New York Public Library and spent some happy hours in the ones in Singapore and Hong Kong, but I don't think I'll be spending much time browsing there on a regular basis if I lived in those places.

But maybe if the books were sent to my house? Like a Netflix for books? Years ago my husband and I started a service kind of like this -- we sold a book cheap, sent it to the buyer, and after a certain amount of time they could send it back and get another one. (Or not send it back at all and it's like they just bought a book.) We stopped doing it because it was time-consuming, and courier services didn't offer cheap pickup and delivery then as they do now.

Is there something like that here now? Because I'd definitely try it.

Anyway, the Filipino Reader Conference is happening on September 14. Babysitter's been booked, so I think I can go. See you all there!

ReaderCon Filipino Friday Week 2: Your Reader's Story

When I was a kid, my mom used to read me stories from Children Everywhere, volume 3 of the Childcraft series. This was probably the first book I read, when I actually could read for myself.

We might have given away our Childcraft set when we moved out of the house, but I saw a Children Everywhere in a Book Sale in 2005, and I bought it.

Stories I love from that volume:

Sorry for the photo quality. These were taken in 2005, and I can't find the raw files anymore.

My next leap was when I discovered YA. I was at a friend's house and saw her copy of Sweet Valley Twins #2, Teacher's Pet. And from then on I followed that franchise, Twins to High to a few books in University. My reading life began here, and this particular branch led to Sweet Dreams and contemporary romance stories.

I talked about it in my Inquirer interview. (PS - Why did I do that? I should have come up with a fancier origin story for my reader self.) What I did not mention, but also really happened, was that I borrowed the Nancy Drew story Mysterious Mannequin at the same time.

I was eleven. Nancy Drew is not at all scary, and yet I put this book front-cover-side-down every time I took a break from it. This led to more Nancy Drew hardcover mysteries, a handful of Hardy Boys (Boyses?), to "harder" stuff like Christopher Pike and RL Stine.

And then, a slump. I blamed it on the tons of required reading in college. I took a Great Books class to feel good about reading again, but speed-reading through Faulkner's Light in August (because of a presentation I had to make) and four other books in one semester was not very fun.

I got over it after taking a chance on The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

It was beautiful, and stayed with me long after I finished it. This started the branch that led me to more Indian lit (Jhumpa Lahiri et al), which has since become part of my yearly reading lists. And I discovered that I apparently like Booker winners and finalists.

Posted this in support of the 1st Filipino Reader Conference. Off to read the other posts...