Perfect Boyfriends: My Imaginary Ex, No Strings Attached, That Kind of Guy

I clicked "publish" this weekend on something. Don't panic -- I don't suddenly have a new book you've never heard of! But I did compile three of my earlier books, those that might be a bit difficult to find outside of the Philippines, and now they're available in print and ebook editions worldwide, from online stores you like.

I've opted this into CreateSpace Expanded Distribution which means bookstores and libraries that order from CreateSpace can sell and stock this book. (If you represent a library or bookstore, check this out if you want more Filipino authors/Asian setting romance on your shelves! Thanks!)

I will not be making a print on demand edition of this for the Philippines, nor will this be in Philippine bookstores. But it'll be available for purchase from sites that ship to the Philippines.

Three books by bestselling romance author Mina V. Esguerra, together in one edition for the first time. Fall in love three different ways... 

Jasmine once pretended to be Zack's ex girlfriend, to help him score with another girl. They've been good friends since then, so good that his two real exes rope Jasmine into their plan to stop him from marrying someone they think is totally wrong for him. (MY IMAGINARY EX)

Carla's 29 and won't settle down and marry just any guy, no matter what her friends say. She thinks Dante is a safe bet for a non-relationship, because he's 24 and couldn't possibly want something long-term. (NO STRINGS ATTACHED)

Anton has dated a lot of women and is everyone's "delicious distraction." But he seems to have fallen hard for good girl Julie -- if only she believed him. (THAT KIND OF GUY, winner of the 2013 Filipino Readers' Choice Award for Chick Lit.)

Buy links: Amazon  Smashwords  CreateSpace paperback (use code VB9SRYWV to get 20% off) 

Stephanie Perkins in Cebu

Can I just fangirl? Completely?

I already had my super fun super awesome moment meeting author Stephanie Perkins and having her sign my copies of her books. (Previously: Stephanie Perkins in the Philippines) It just so happened that I was going to be in Cebu in time for her signing there, so I...dropped by again.



Made the last-minute decision to get more copies of the same books too.



Got there a few minutes before it started, and spent the waiting time taking photos.









And then I got to have my fangirl fulfillment moment of the month -- I got to hand her a copy of my book That Kind of Guy. (Why that one? Because it has a chapter set in Cebu, coincidentally in the hotel that Stephanie was staying in.)



Happiness! Thanks, National Book Store. :)

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!

Happy author is happy

This weekend I was at the anniversary bash of The Filipino Group on Goodreads. I'm actually a semi lurker there and appreciate how they make me feel welcome when I show up once a year to say hello. There was yummy dinner, a meet-and-greet with Manix Abrera (which I missed -- I was late!) and a discussion on Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day (saw the movie, haven't read the book, would have flunked this). I answered a few questions from Ella about latest book That Kind of Guy (secrets were revealed!), after an introduction by Tina M of One More Page.

Then I walked back to my seat and saw that I had books to sign.  

So very cool. Thank you for this memory, Goodreads TFG. :)

That Kind of Guy

That Kind of Guy
Published by Summit Books


Good girl Julie never expected her hot former-player boyfriend to propose marriage. But when he did, she turned him down for reasons even she couldn't figure out. Will she settle for a nice, safe guy instead? Or will she let him find his way back into her carefully guarded heart?

Now in local bookstores! And Amazon!

Reviews
Goodreads
Girl Next Cubicle
One More Page
Perfect Nostalgia
Diurnalism
Chachic's Book Nook
Cookiecutter Caricature
Markings of a Dreamer

Another winner! That Kind of Guy giveaway

One more person is getting a copy of That Kind of Guy!

I opened up the giveaway another week, and received these lovely entries. (Hope you take the time to check each out.)

1    Joie  Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 5:51 PM
2    April Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 9:48 PM
3    Ula Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 10:55 PM
4    Tricia Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 12:03 AM
5    Roseann Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 3:01 PM
6    Monique Thu, Apr 12, 2012 at 11:03 AM
7    Agay Thu, Apr 12, 2012 at 11:32 AM
8    Chris Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 1:31 PM

Random.org screenshot...

And then clicked on "Generate..."

Tada!

 

 

Congratulations, Roseann! Please email me your preferred mailing address!

Thank you all for participating. I loved reading your entries. (They were, in fact, very inspiring -- and that means a lot since I'm a romance writer. Not that I was planning to write my next story about any of you. Or if I were, I'd ask for your permission!)

That Kind of Guy - Cover Reveal and Giveaway winners

My new book, published by Summit, is coming out this month. And here's the cover!

 

That Kind of Guy

Good girl Julie never expected her hot former-player boyfriend to propose marriage. But when he did, she turned him down for reasons even she couldn't figure out. Will she settle for a nice, safe guy instead? Or will she let him find his way back into her carefully guarded heart?

As a treat for the mailing list subscribers, I also offered free copies of That Kind of Guy to people who blogged about their kind of guy. And here are the winners!

Lee, the kind of guy who never forgets

Leia, who likes them witty and caring

Tina, looking out for a reader (and that's not all!)

Chachic, whose kind of guy should know what to do with a bookish wishlist

Thank you for participating! I loved reading the posts. Please email me a mailing address. You're all getting the book as soon as it comes out. :)

But wait! I think I can give another book away... so I'm opening up the giveaway to all of you. Here's how!

1. Post something cute/interesting/revealing/scandalous (maybe not scandalous) on your blog about the topic "My Kind of Guy." Is he tall, dark, fictional? Have you met him? Are you already with him? Feel free to include That Kind of Guy's cover in your post! You have until April 16, Monday.
2. If you are a guy, by all means, post about what kind of guy you are. In a relationship. You know what I mean.
3. Email a link to the post to minavesguerra@gmail.com.
4. I will be sharing the links sent to me on my Twitter and Facebook accounts, and picking a winner via random.org.
5. Winners based in the Philippines will get a copy of the book in print, when it comes out. If you win and you happen to be based overseas, I'll send you the Kindle version, when it comes out.

Have fun with it! I appreciate every post, I really do. :)