Works in progress

So now I'm learning that if I want to reach out to new audiences for my work, I have to really put myself out there as a writer. I mean, really out there. This led to the creation of the Facebook page, the Multiply site, the Twitter account, the Goodreads page (the latest one, by the way -- add me!), and the Amazon author page.

Because of all this online real estate, I have to now talk about stuff. And writing. It's expected, isn't it? And I appreciate it when authors I admire write about the process. It's like a support group. Also, looking back at my entries, there's an appearance of actual work being done. I get to talk -- for the first time -- about works in progress.

I posted a few entries back that I finished a draft called Fling Flop. That's the first one I completed this year, because Fairy Tale Fail was actually written last year. The idea for Fling Flop came from a comment thread with some friends, and the female protagonist is somewhat based on an actual person I know, a person I think is truly the Best Assistant Ever.

It's possible that if I continue to write love stories, I will write them based on friends, and give them the romances they deserve. We'll see.

So now that FF is done and being read by other eyes, I'm starting work on a project I'm calling LYF. LYF was something I had finished last year, but I wasn't comfortable with it. Too many false starts, and I couldn't get the tone right (this is still in first-person POV). But I recently thought of how to fix it, and I'm doing that now.

LYF is Kimmy's story, by the way. Those who've read My Imaginary Ex may remember that character.

I hope I finish it soon. I have the last scene in my head, and usually that's when I feel good about a story. When I know how it ends.

A good year

My Imaginary Ex was reviewed at Sumthinblue's blog, including other Summit chick lit books. Feedback from readers feels great every time, but it's a tiny bit cooler when they hit on something I totally intended, or point out something that I didn't even realize. Her review has a bit of both.

Also, a shoutout to Chessie, who sent a lovely text message this week after reading the book.

Will consider these words of celebration. It's been a year since I first saw My Imaginary Ex on a bookstore's shelf (the Bestseller branch in Galleria). Happy bookstore birthday, MIE!

Here it was, a year ago! Beside my friend Katrina Ramos Atienza's book.

The Indie Spotlight

Fairy Tale Fail is being featured on The Indie Spotlight, like right now. My thanks to them for all they're doing to get the word out for indie authors and publishers.

A snippet:

What inspired you to write the book?
The book’s plot and characters were inspired by stories my friends and I would share about dating. I think the tendency for some women is to hold on too tightly to someone they think is perfect, because they don’t know how to start the process with someone new. It’s daunting! It’s also about being a certain kind of young woman in the Philippines, because not all of us live like the heroines of American or UK chick lit do.

So many of those stories were told over what used to be an annual Valentine's Day dinner with "the girls." There should be more Pinoy chick lit out there, just based on the material gathered from those conversations alone. :)

Now in editing

Finally finished the draft for what I've been calling the "FF Project." It's called Fling Flop, and it's about a 29-year-old girl who goes out with a 24-year-old guy.

The idea for it came from a friend. I wish her the best. :)

Fairy Tale Fail's Google Books page

Oh look! A way to browse pages of Fairy Tale Fail in case Amazon and Smashwords aren't enough for you. Google Books has made the book entirely searchable (handy if you want to know if I used your name in a good/bad way), but not all pages can be read online.

The "Buy this book" link is a bit wonky, though. The only link that really works is the one with Mina V. Esguerra on it, which leads to Smashwords.

Consider me persuaded

I have to admit, I was going through the motions while reading Jane Austen's Persuasion. I've read Pride and Prejudice and Emma recently, and because I tend to see them occurring in the same universe, I became lazy when I read the latest one.

So I was ho-humming through maybe 80% of this novel... and then I got to THAT SCENE. (You know, when Anne and Harville were talking about men and women and Wentworth is writing a letter on the other side of the room.)

Man! It was kilig city from that point on. I'm sorry I doubted you, Jane. You brought so much more out of two people walking (and not even really talking) than I ever thought possible.

Get Persuasion free on Project Gutenberg.

One More Page's review

So I feel a little weird because I started composing a post about one of the coolest things to happen to me this week, which is Tina M's review of Fairy Tale Fail and My Imaginary Ex at her book blog, One More Page.

And then I remembered that I also, I don't know, participated in the first automated elections in my country's history. I still have indelible ink on my finger! The results were so fast, and each little bit of news was discussed by so many people, it feels like so days ago. Or maybe I'm just all electioned out and my brain is recovering by moving on to other things.

I've decided that this will not be the place for discussing politics though. Instead, this post is a shoutout to Tina, who pointed out a few things that'll surely be helpful for other stuff I plan to write (because at this point I can't really go back and change the published work unless... well I can't). I'm thankful for her review and subscribing to her blog has inspired me to read more already. (How long have I been in the middle of Persuasion? Grrr.)