WiP [Work in Progress]

Thoughts and ramblings of a Filipino author

My Stories on Buqo

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Hey peeps! I know, I’ve been babbling about my stories released online in the last month or so but that’s really how it goes. Gotta push!

Anyway, I have something new out just this morning on Buqo. It’s another shortie for our #TalesFromTheMetro series. This time, I harnessed the soulful words of one of the greatest songwriters and singers of my generation, Barry Manilow. (Spoiler: I plan to do a Barry Manilow anthology. About three or four of his songs including this one.)

The song is Lonely Together, about two people who found one another after a bout of heartbreak. These two people are Janine and Nikos in When Broken Hearts Find Love.

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So with that, I now have three stories so far available online. With You Tonight is written in Taglish, FYI. 😉

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Oh, and just to share a bit of wonderful news, When Broken Hearts Find Love hit #3 in the short story category on its first day! Yaaaaayyy!!! With You Tonight is at #4. And I didn’t take a screencap but the #HeistClub bundles are in the Top 3 in Novel/Mystery category, in the top 15 overall. Triple yaaayyy!

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My most profound thanks goes to everyone who took time to buy the stories. Love love!

Oh, and not to forget my other persona as Edith Joaquin, these old titles are also available on Buqo…

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#HeistClub!

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We challenged Filipino writers to tell us tales of crime and mischief, fear and suspicion, dark alleys and darker souls. Welcome to #HeistClub. ~ Buqo, Bronze Age Media and Mina V. Esguerra

I’ve written about this before – my venture into indie writing and writing in English (for the new followers of this blog and this writer, I am a Tagalog romance writer first and foremost). It started with a really short shortie on clararomance.com. Then I got to know people from the Romance Writers of the Philippines and the #romanceclass groups on FB. Then there was the call for two online writing workshops organized by Bronze Age Media, Inc. and Mina V. Esguerra. The second workshop birthed this story.

Submitted last November, the finished product of my October workshop, #HeistClub, is up online via Buqo! Yey! There are three bundles available, 16 stories in all. My story, Classified is available under the What We Fear bundle. Here’s the blurb:

coverDanilo Halili’s latest assignment as a photographer led him to unearth, quite by accident, a plot to harm the indigenous people living in the Sierra Madre Mountains. He was caught sending information to a trusted contact and he died, never to know that he died a hero.
Classified is the story of simple people, their efforts to keep this country safe, and the system that prompted them to take up arms and protect the innocent.

Classified is the prologue to a crime series I am plotting, Les Dames Des Fleurs. I have scheduled the series to (hopefully) come out later this year on Buqo, Amazon and other online platforms. So, pray for me? Haha!

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Oh, also available on Buqo from me is With You Tonight, a very short story for #TalesFromTheMetro. These are stories that are inspired by a popular song. It’s only for P15.00! Am coming up with more of these shorties. Will update you via this blog, and my FB pages, for news.

One last thing, leave me a review? *wink*

Welcome to the Majestic Stormdome

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Welcome to the future Philippines.

stormdome

* Photo from PETA FB page

70 years ago, extreme weather and the threat of global war led the government to construct The Stormdome, a fallout shelter that covers the entire archipelago, blotting out the sky. The Stormdome is covered in solar panels while LED lights on its underside diffuse electricity back to the people. The Stormdome is also equipped with millions of hidden cameras that keep track of the citizens and maintain peace and order.

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Gio Gahol as Chino and Nicco Manalo as Sol

Two barkadas will clash inside The Stormdome: the kids form glossy and developed Lumino City led by smug slacker Chino, and the kids from the rough streets of Diliman City led by fiery trouble-maker Sol. Despite their varied backgrounds and upbringing, both groups must realize that there are larger problems in Pinasland than their petty gang issues.

3 Stars and a Sun offers a dystopian look at what our future can come to if the problems of the present are left unresolved. Featuring visionary master rapper Francis Magalona’s music, the play aims to serve as a cautionary tale and a challenge to today’s youth to act together and act swiftly before it’s too late.

Directed by Nor Domingo
Written by Mixcaela Villalon & Rody Vera
Arranged by Myke Salomon
Production Design by Gino Gonzales
Lighting Design by Shoko Matsumoto and Ian Torqueza
Sound Design by Teresa Barrozo
Choreography by Delphine Buencamino

CAST
Nicco Manalo / Gold Villar as Sol
Anna Luna / Jet Barrun as Nazty
John Moran / Nar Cabico as Poy
Lee Villoria / EJ Pepito as Kat
Bodjie Pascua / Raffy Tejada as Mang Okik
Paolo Valenciano / Gio Gahol as Chino
Giannina Ocampo / Justine Peña as Dianne
Che Ramos-Cosio / Carla Laforteza as Congresswoman Inky Montevista
Anj Heruela / Gab Pangilinan as Chelsea
Jef Flores / Norbs Portales as Winston

Ensemble

Raflesia Bravo / Yesh Burce
Nica Santiago / Gimbey Dela Cruz
Roi Calilong / Jason Barcial
Lance Busa / Ian Segarra

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For tickets to the Feb. 13, 3PM, Sat show please contact:

Ticketworld: 891-9999/ ticketworld.com.ph
Gay Balignasay: 0917-5183654

Ticket Prices:
VIP (Elevated Seats+Orch Center) – Php 1,800
Orch Sides – Php 1,500
Balcony Center – Php 1,000
Balcony – Php 800

Join us and defend the 3 Stars and A Sun! See you at the show!

The 365 Days That Was

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I have so much to be thankful for this year. I mean, I already am thankful for every minute, every hour, every day, every month of this lowly life. God is with me, He blesses me. And that is more than enough.

But I do want to mention here (new) people and things that made 2015 extra special for me.

* Bff Queng, Sir Jun Matias, the rest of the creative staff and the authors featured in Precious Pages’ 25th Anniversary commemorative coffee table book, thank you for making me part of a milestone project;

* Malou, Apple and Bookware for trusting me with manuscripts from Pink & Purple and MSV

* Romance Writers of the Philippines and the #romanceclass community of writers on FB where I found a new home with new friends as I start a new journey to self-publishing new stuff;

* #StrangeLit (which I have yet to finish), #HeistClub (which will be up on Buqo this January to start off my 2016), #TalesFromTheMetro (which is my first ever presence online as a publisher, yay!), a short story for an unnamed anthology of love stories written in collaboration with some of the most talented writers I have come to know;

* Special mention to Reev, Anne, Mina, Liana, Stella, Ines, Chrissie, Chris, Tara, Kaith, Caryn, Ysa, Kristel, Kat, Bianca (Katrina), Carla, Chi, Agay, Jay, April, and … OMG, sino pa ba ang mga madalas ko kakulitan? Salamat sa panahon, salamat sa tawanan, salamat sa karanasan;

* Meril and the rest of Angel Bautista’s angels, thank you for adopting me in your community;

* Marigold, thank you for your trust. I promise not to fail you. 😉

* Family and friends who have always been there with me and for me, I love you.

Thank you, 2015! May the coming year be just as wonderful and even more.

For you, I have this wish:

Malawak na pag-iisip
Kapayapaan ng diwa
Kapatawaran sa puso
Kasaganaan ng buhay
Ligaya. Kaalwan.

 

http://happynewyear2.com/

* Via Google Images

God bless us all!

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