WiP [Work in Progress]

BLOG TOUR: #JustWritePH For The Win

October 10, 2015 • Leave a Comment

#JustWritePH For The Win bundle is on sale on Buqo.ph!

In this bundle…

Insurmountable challenges from supernatural beings, political scandals in vast kingdoms, post-apocalyptic survival, and…dealing with the extended family? All in a day’s work for the characters in this thrilling bundle of stories about overcoming obstacles and testing their resolve. Features “Hunter Zero” by Viai, “The Seeker’s Inn” by Maita Rue, “A Solarpunk Fairytale” by Mary Beatrice Ponce, and “Her Highness, The Handmaiden: Ascension” by Saelynne G. LeClerk.

Here they are…

Hunter Zero by Viai

Hunters – people who exterminate supernatural elements from the world. A certain element, called the Nis, latches on to our main protagonist, Eri Geiju, a stern-looking high school student with a peculiar reputation. This catches the attention of two professional hunters, Eight and Ten and opens her eyes to the true nature of the Hunting business.

The air felt heavy as tension built up. We were behind an old abandoned building when it all happened. “Drag me into their world? What are you taking abo—” Eight slammed her hand on the wall, a hair’s width away from my face. I could feel my heartbeat getting faster. I didn’t understand the danger I was in, or the danger they think I was in. “I never bothered them, and they never bothered me… At least not until today.”

“Was there anything you did that might have caught this Nis’ attention?” Ten spoke softly.

“I don’t remember.” I told the small-framed redhead. Her twin was a different story. I could see her toned arms up close after her hand had rushed beside my face. Eight had brute strength and agility, but Ten was so fragile. Small little thing she was and will remain to be.

“It doesn’t matter. We just need to deal with this one like we always do.” Eight removed her hand and proceeded to walk towards a nearby forest. Hano was more forest than city, so there’s always a cluster of trees nearby. Ten just stood there, eyes hooded by her heavy set bangs. Her lips were moving but I couldn’t quite understand what she was saying. “Ten, let’s go! We’ve got work to do.”

I followed the two deeper into the forest. “What are you planning to do?” I said as I grabbed Eight by the shoulder. She hesitated for a while then slowly turned towards me.

“We’re going to hunt. You should go back now”

“We might need her, Eight.” Ten said meekly. “The Nis is attached to her.”

“We can just lure it out. She doesn’t have to be here.” Ten leaned in closer to her sister and whispered something in her ear. Eight griped but seemed to agree with Ten, nonetheless. She headed towards me and grabbed me by the shirt, pulling me towards her. “Listen Eri. You don’t have to be here, but I know you. You’re going to force yourself to stay here, anyway. We don’t have time for that. I need you to stay still and follow what I say. If you don’t, you’re going to get us all killed. Yes, killed, you little halfwit.” I grumbled at that comment. She released her grip and pointed to the ground “Sit here while Ten and I wait for your parasite. If you start seeing white again, don’t move, don’t talk. Whatever you see after that is an illusion of the Nis. Try not to get pulled in”

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The Seeker’s Inn by Maita Rue

Alexandra Jekyll inherits the Seeker’s Inn but there is a condition. Dearly departed Aunt Emily states that she has to run the inn for a full season in order to keep it. Simple, right? Things get complicated when she arrives to find Aunt Emily’s nephew, Dunstan Draycott, also claiming the inn. Alexandra is determined to keep the inn for herself and for her little sister. She is reluctant to call on her twin, Alexa Hyde, who was showing an interest in Aunt Emily’s nephew, for help. Will Hyde and Jekyll work together or will their rivalry tear the inn and their hearts apart?

The Will

Alexandra Jekyll read and re-read the letter. Her bright eyes didn’t deceive her. It was a dream. Or more, it was an opportunity. Upon her lap was a letter from faraway Great Aunt Emily stating a possible inheritance. She didn’t even know she had a great aunt let alone any living relative apart from her sister Amanda. It was a will and a condition. Alexandra read the letter one more time to make sure she was reading it correctly. Amidst the rattle of the carriage, she was sure she read it correctly.

“My Dear Alexandra,

Greetings, my dear niece! It is unfortunate that I learn of your existence a little too late. When this letter reaches you, I may be no longer in this world. I leave some provisions for you and a condition. Upon Martyr’s Wood Folly is an establishment of mine. It is called the Seeker’s Inn. Run it successfully for a full season and it will be yours. My solicitor will get in touch for further details. I do wish you well in life.

Hoping to have met you,

Emily H. Norwoods”

Attached with Aunt Emily’s letter were the solicitor’s instructions and a map of the property. “Well, this is an opportunity of a lifetime.” Alexandra said excitedly. How fortunate to have relatives that cared! They have not known about each other yet here was Aunt Emily leaving them an inn!

Living in Prestwood Farm has been a blessing for her and Amanda. Amanda, her little sister, was all she had. They were orphans, out in the world without a penny to their name. The Prestwoods were family friends. They took the girls in after the death of their parents. Unfortunately, not much was provided for them. Alexandra hasn’t come out for her season. She was turning twenty-five this year and is considered on the shelf. She had taken nanny jobs and governess positions over the years but she always came back to Prestwood Farm to see Amanda.

Amanda will be twelve soon. She’ll be starting a life away from Alexandra, training as a Lady’s companion in a household of a countess. It was better than the work house. Amanda’s life was better than most orphans her age. But it was not what Alexandra hoped for her sister.

“Stop fidgeting. You are always saying it’s unbecoming of a lady.” Her little sister scolded her. Amanda was doing some mending. Her fingers were so delicate she could darn socks like she was embroidering. The carriage was rocky but Amanda sewed like she was embroidering in a calm sea. The two of them were on their way to the Seeker’s Inn.

“I am not fidgeting!” She said. “Sit up straight, Amanda, please. You’ll ruin your posture, you will. I am just eager to see this inn.” Alexandra said.

Amanda was sitting slouched while doing her darning. It became a hobby. She needs another hobby, Alexandra decided. She wanted to put up some money for Amanda. She wanted her sister to have a good marriage, something she couldn’t have. At five and twenty, she was considered on the shelf, a spinster long overdue. If she ran this inn successfully for a season, it would be all hers. She could have a little corner of the world for herself. She’d have income to support Amanda until she could become of age.

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A Solarpunk Fairytale by Mary Beatrice Ponce

Eons ago, the world was at an end. However, the days of that nightmarish apocalypse have long since past. Through the combined efforts of the various races, life flourished once again. But when Godfreed Bayani and her service dragon, Ludwig the Steadfast, uncover the remnants of a bygone age, the fate of the progressive land of Celestiano hangs in the balance. When the future meets the past, a duality is revealed and everyone must begin to understand why the world had to make such a drastic change to survive.

Godfreed was entranced. Nero was unlike any other dragon she had ever met before. In the post-capitalist land of Celestiano, no one had ever spoken to her this way before. No one had ever enabled her desire to hoard and keep things. Godfreed felt a deeper compulsion awaken within her upon hearing Nero’s words. It grew into an absolute voracity and the sensation overwhelmed her. She found herself unable to say no. She could not refuse Nero and all sense of self restraint, the shreds of which had been carefully cultivated by Ludwig, evaporated.

Godfreed was tempted by Nero’s promises of power and greatness. He lured her, saying that she would be enriched beyond her wildest dreams, that the earth’s resources were theirs for the taking simply because they existed and that it was their Manifest Destiny to do so. He thrashed his hefty tail dramatically as he said this, knocking over trees and uprooting nearby shrubbery.

Ludwig countered and said it was contrary to the Seven Environmental Commandments as decreed by the High Ethos. He maintained that it would desecrate the lands to act so self-indulgently and that nature should instead be treated with mutual respect and understanding.

The two dragons debated by Godfreed, flanking both her sides, with Nero beckoning her to come with him and Ludwig pleading her to stay with him instead. When had they made their arguments, they circled around her, waiting for her to make her choice. Godfreed stood perfectly still, like the mantis she was before taking action. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity had passed, Godfreed answered.
With a profound regret but also absolute certainty, Godfreed chose to leave with Nero and she released Ludwig from her service. Ludwig bowed his head in defeat and accepted his fate with a sigh. But before Godfreed could whisper her solemn goodbye, Ludwig said something to her. He looked deep into his former master’s eyes and peered into Godfreed’s soul and he said, “You have a choice, Godfreed. You always have a choice.”

And so with a heavy heart but also a calm disposition, Godfreed took off into the sky with Nero, leaving a trail of dark, billowing, clouds of smoke and ash behind.

Ludwig wasn’t sure if it was the loss of his master, whom he supported ceaselessly for years, or the remaining miasma of smoke that forced tears to well up in his crystalline eyes. Ludwig was about to slink off and wallow in his misery if not for a female voice that cried out from inside the forgotten mausoleum.

Out of the mausoleum tumbled out a small young vampire with bat-like wings. Upon touching the sunlight though, she screamed in agony and her flesh blistered, forcing her back into the safety of the shadows. She cried out for Nero and begged for help.

Godfreed was entranced. Nero was unlike any other dragon she had ever met before. In the post-capitalist land of Celestiano, no one had ever spoken to her this way before. No one had ever enabled her desire to hoard and keep things. Godfreed felt a deeper compulsion awaken within her upon hearing Nero’s words. It grew into an absolute voracity and the sensation overwhelmed her. She found herself unable to say no. She could not refuse Nero and all sense of self restraint, the shreds of which had been carefully cultivated by Ludwig, evaporated.

Godfreed was tempted by Nero’s promises of power and greatness. He lured her, saying that she would be enriched beyond her wildest dreams, that the earth’s resources were theirs for the taking simply because they existed and that it was their Manifest Destiny to do so. He thrashed his hefty tail dramatically as he said this, knocking over trees and uprooting nearby shrubbery.

Ludwig countered and said it was contrary to the Seven Environmental Commandments as decreed by the High Ethos. He maintained that it would desecrate the lands to act so self-indulgently and that nature should instead be treated with mutual respect and understanding.

The two dragons debated by Godfreed, flanking both her sides, with Nero beckoning her to come with him and Ludwig pleading her to stay with him instead. When had they made their arguments, they circled around her, waiting for her to make her choice. Godfreed stood perfectly still, like the mantis she was before taking action. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity had passed, Godfreed answered.
With a profound regret but also absolute certainty, Godfreed chose to leave with Nero and she released Ludwig from her service. Ludwig bowed his head in defeat and accepted his fate with a sigh. But before Godfreed could whisper her solemn goodbye, Ludwig said something to her. He looked deep into his former master’s eyes and peered into Godfreed’s soul and he said, “You have a choice, Godfreed. You always have a choice.”

And so with a heavy heart but also a calm disposition, Godfreed took off into the sky with Nero, leaving a trail of dark, billowing, clouds of smoke and ash behind.

Ludwig wasn’t sure if it was the loss of his master, whom he supported ceaselessly for years, or the remaining miasma of smoke that forced tears to well up in his crystalline eyes. Ludwig was about to slink off and wallow in his misery if not for a female voice that cried out from inside the forgotten mausoleum.

Out of the mausoleum tumbled out a small young vampire with bat-like wings. Upon touching the sunlight though, she screamed in agony and her flesh blistered, forcing her back into the safety of the shadows. She cried out for Nero and begged for help.

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Her Highness, The Handmaiden: Ascension by Saelynne G. LeClerk

To ascend to the throne is no easy task as many would think and to be a handmaiden caught in the middle of a kingdom-wide scandal, there is no real way to go but to follow what you are told. Follow Helena in her quest to ascend to the throne and find who her real friends are and who may her enemies in the shadows be.

Now, here I am comfy in the temporary room assigned to me. Smelling the flowers, I take one gladiola and lie down; putting it beside me. I turn off the lights after. I must have been asleep for half an hour already when I felt like someone was staring at me.

I sit up slowly and turn on the lamps beside me. Getting down from the bed, I walk to the windows to check if there was someone outside; No one; only empty darkness beyond.

I was about to head to bed when the glass behind me shattered to a million pieces as something solid hit it. Screaming, I covered my head for fear of getting wounded.

Turning around, I saw no one but the cold wind moaning. In front of me, I find a pretty large rock—its size could easily fit in the palm of my hand. It’s wrapped in crumpled paper. Nervously, I remove the paper. On it was a message written in black ink.

I know who you are.

Frightened, I crumple the paper and throw it away. It was then that I noticed what’s carved on the stone.

USURPER

The rock slips from my hand as I move away and press the intercom.

“Yes, this is Lady Helena. I’d like to have you check if there’s an intruder in the kingdom. Someone threw a large rock in my room and shattered the glass window at the right side of my bed.” I described in my frantic voice.

“I’m in the Emerald Suite, yes, I’ll wait.” With my knees shaking, I sit on the bed as I curl up my legs close to me.

Who could have done this?

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About #JustWritePH:

The #JustWritePH workshop, which ran from July 1 to August 8, 2015, challenged participants to write a story and prepare it for publication in a little under 6 weeks. Tips and lessons were delivered online & in person. The reward? Guaranteed distribution on Buqo, plus marketing opportunities like a bundle launch (held at Bo’s Coffee Megamall on August 22), a Facebook party, and a blog tour.

Blog Tour: #JustWritePH For Redemption

October 1, 2015 • Leave a Comment

Authors: Beth G., Carla de Guzman, Giselle Bacalla, and Amae Dechavez

In this bundle:

Redemption doesn’t come easy. It involves hardship, righting wrongs, and making tough choices. This four-story bundle showcases characters who made wrong turns in life, and want nothing more than to make things right. Features “Era” by Jesse David, “Turning Points” by Yeyet Soriano, “A Fateful Encounter” by Cali (Angie Sanchez), and Encyclopedia Mystique by Racquel Sarah A. Castro.

Get the bundle at a special promo rate this week! Just head on over to Buqo.ph!

To give you a preview of the stories…

Era by Jesse David
What do we need to live this life to the fullest? For Era, it is money. He realizes that it is hard to live this life to the fullest without money. We need money to travel the world, to eat every food, and to live to in the most beautiful city. But what if, money is not the answer? What if you live your life the wrong way, and it is too late to turn back? What if you had a second chance?

This story is about Era.

The story is about his lifetime, and also the meaning of his name is a lifetime. This person really follows a strict time when it comes to business. He wakes up on time. Go to his work on time, but never going home on time because going home is not part of the business.

A lot of people are like him. They love to follow a schedule. It is much easier to follow life on a schedule. It is easier to live if you know what you will do next.

Are you like him, always doing things on schedule? Exact time to eat, exact time to take a shower, and exact time to sleep.

The time now is 5:28 a.m., by exactly 5:30, his clock will alarm. He will wake up, go to the bathroom to take a shower, and brush his teeth. He will then have his coffee. After that, he will now proceed on leaving his unit at exactly 5:58 a.m.

He will now walk to the train station and arrived at 6:05 a.m. The train should arrive at 6:10 a.m. but we are not living in the perfect world or rather a perfect country that follows a strict time. It is acceptable to be for an hour late in this country.

The train arrives at the station at 6:23 a.m. which is totally occupied. To get inside of the train, you need to transform as Spartan soldier, this is one of the ways to get in the office on time with this volume of people. And since Era is a person that loves a schedule, he will ride this train even if only a single person is the only one that will fit in, but eventually 5 persons will try to get in. But don’t worry, with the magical push from the people outside, the 5 people will actually fit in.

After the train, he will then need to fall in line for the gate ticket. But with the volume of people in the line, Era estimated that it will take 2 minutes for him to pass the ticket gate and another 5 minutes to get in the building.

He could have a longer time to wait if the line for the elevator is long. Using the stairs could be an alternative but the time and effort will double or even triple.

Era works as an executive in an international company. He always makes it on time to go to the office but never going home. His dream is to live life to the fullest. Having this dream, he thought that he needs to be rich first before he can enjoy life to the fullest.

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Turning Points by Yeyet Soriano

Imagine you were about to die, and you were given a chance to change something in your past and live for a few hours in the alternate world created with that change. Would you do it? What have you got to lose, right? What if you got stuck in that world, and although you have achieved all of the dreams you never pursued before, you lost everything that you’ve ever held dear? Sandy Garcia, a forty-something working mother of three, did just that. She wished she never met and married her husband, and she got to live in the world where she became a popular theater star instead. The trouble was, since she never met her husband, then she never had her children. Her entire life was different, and she started to realize that maybe she already had it good in her reality. Alex Marquez was a multi-hyphenated star—theater actress-singer-dancer-published author- professional photographer. On the road to success, she made a lot of wrong choices which left her single, with one child, in her forties, remembering the relationships she screwed up and the children she should have had in the past. Suddenly, she got the chance to live the family life since she got stuck in Sandy’s world. As both women navigate the intricate web of the lives they never initially chose to live, they question whether they still have a chance of getting back their own lives. What does it take to reclaim their real lives? Are both willing to do so? Will they succeed?

“Hi, Sandy.”

I heard the voice. I knew the voice. Was I dead?

“No, you’re not dead,” the voice said.

I opened my eyes and saw him, my dear friend from very long ago.

I slapped him. I had no time to think; my hand had a life of its own.

Luca reeled from the slap. Served him right.

“Sandy . . .”

“Luca.”

We stayed that way for a while just looking at each other. I had so much anger and pain, emotions I thought I had forgotten about. How dare he show his face right now?

Oh, shit . . . this had to be a dream. I remembered I was on a plane, and it was crashing.

“Where am I?” I asked. I looked around and there was just nothing. Everything was white. “You said I was not dead, so where the hell am I?” I demanded an answer.

Luca still looked at me with a sad expression.

“You are in a pause state,” he said.

“A what state?” What the hell was he talking about? Why was I talking to Luca at this moment? And why would I believe him if he told me I wasn’t dead?

“Pause.” Luca enunciated the word. I heard it right the first time, I just didn’t understand it. I still didn’t understand now. I kept quiet and waited for him to explain.

“A pause state is when we get a chance to step away from time moving forward and just . . . take a breather.”

“A time-out of sorts?” I asked. Now I’m sure I am dreaming. This is ridiculous.

“You can say that,” Luca said.

“So . . . after this . . . the plane will still crash?”

“Ummm, yes, time will move forward.”

“Can’t we make it move backward so that the plane doesn’t crash?”

“It doesn’t work that way,” he said patiently.

“Then why the hell am I here?”

Luca breathed deeply as he stared at me. I was obviously still mad, but I couldn’t meet his stare. Memories were coming back, and I didn’t think I was ready to confront them . . . again. After all these years.

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A Fateful Encounter by Cali (Angie Sanchez)

A Fateful Encounter is a story about a college computer science student, Samantha, who just got back from an eight-month holiday. Not a single soul knows why she left in the first place – not her professors, her best friend Aimee and her closest group of friends. She logs in an online chat site and meets Michael, an engineering student from the same university.

I continued to argue with myself quietly. I want ice cream. Do I really need ice cream? No. But do you want ice cream. Yes. Is it right to put yourself in danger for the sake of ice cream? No. But you want one, right? Yes. There you go. And there goes my logic. But in order to dig into my cravings, I must find someone to go out with me at this time of night. Now who’s going to be my knight? It would be wrong to ask for my friends after what happened earlier. My only available choice was Requiem. He offered to go out with me. Nothing’s wrong with accepting someone’s offer, right? I thought about it again. And again. It was unacceptable and irresponsible. Who goes out with a stranger, at night, for ice cream? I sat thinking of all the possible solutions for my dilemma. It wouldn’t be bad to trust someone, just this once?

[10:30 pm] Requiem: San kita pupuntahan?

[10:35 pm] Me: Nakatira ako sa may apartment sa dulo ng Emerald.

[10:36 pm] Requiem: Sige. Puntahan na kita.

[10:37 pm] Me: Ingat ka. Text mo na lang ako.

I suddenly became nervous. My heart started beating so fast that I could feel it could jump off my chest. Just because of a stupid craving, I invited a guy I didn’t even know over for ice cream. It was ridiculous. And idiotic. Aimee had already warned me before that nothing good comes out from meeting strangers. I could already picture out Aimee scolding me. I groaned. She is a very protective friend.

My legs are shaking from panic. I could feel my hands getting cold and sweaty. I couldn’t think right. What if this guy were a poser who might think of kidnapping me and holding me for ransom? Or worse, rape me and throw my body somewhere? I promised my parents to stay out of trouble, but I’m directly putting myself into a mess. No one except for myself knows that I would be meeting him tonight – not my friends, my family – absolutely, not a single soul. If something bad happens, no one would even know. I walked to the living room, then back again to the kitchen. I suddenly had the idea to send him a message that I have a bad stomachache and couldn’t get up. I was about to text him through WeChat, but a message appeared.

[10:46 pm] Requiem: Andito na ako.

I frantically rushed to the kitchen drawer to get my Swiss knife and pepper spray. I’ve always kept these in case of emergency. I placed both of them inside my purse along with my phone, my wallet and sneaked a peek frim my apartment window. There, I saw a person standing right outside the gate. For a while, I remained seated on the couch debating whether to go through with it or not. I gathered all my courage and closed the gates behind me.

“Hello,” a guy wearing a jacket and cap said.

“Hi,” I replied nervously.

“Tara na?” he spoke.

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Encyclopedia Mystique by Racquel Sarah A. Castro

Amelia Agustin is a digital converter in the National Library of the Philippines by day and a digital artist by night. At 24, she supports Filipino Authors by buying and reading their works. She rates the books honestly but she didn’t have the courage to write a review. She has this habit of doing digital art inspired by her favorite scenes. She loves to go to Korea to visit Incheon, the newly proclaimed book capital of the world. She admires Jay Diaz, a popular newscaster/bachelor in town. Serendipity pulls them together in an embarrassing incident. Take a glimpse on where their relationship would go.

“Techie geek . . . at the national library? Interesting!” He curiously stares at me. Well, I like geek reporters with glasses. That’s why I have a little admiration, okay, a lot of admiration for him. I have glasses too by the way. That’s a match.

“See you around!” I leave him with a quick glance and a friendly wave.

Toni sees me smiling and asks, “The smile is for . . .”

“I am going to the restaurant now. Bye.”

Toni grabs a bit of my hair and asks again;”Don’t you want to meet your crush?”

“I met him just a few minutes ago. Bye Toni! I am late.”

“Call me!” Toni shouts and to my surprise, I hear another familiar voice.

“Wait! Ms. Jiu Jitsu!” Jay Diaz runs towards my way. And he calls me Ms. Jiu Jitsu?

I display a what-do-you-need stare. Jay catches his breath while saying, “Can I get your name?”

“Her name is Amelia. Do you need her number?” Toni smiles at me. I stop walking. A thought bubble seems to come out of my head: Is he interested to get my name? Or maybe he will get my name to report me to my boss?

I notice that he is an inch too close to me. I turn back to hide my smile. He immediately pronounces, “Amelia! Wait.”

“Yes.” When I turn, he is closer than half an inch and our eyes meet.

“Can you wait for me?”

I curiously glance at him with narrowed eyebrows. He clarifies, “I mean, can I do what I have to do and go with you. This won’t take too long, I promise.”

I want to ask why but my inner self appears and verbalizes aloud, “Sure.” What are you thinking Lia? Are you sure about this?

I wait for him at the lobby. Mr. Villar sees me and asks, “Are you not going to the restaurant today?”

“I am waiting for Mr. Jay Diaz. He might feature our restaurant.”

“Hidden motives huh.”

“Yes sir.” I laugh.

“I’ll go ahead. See you on Monday!” Mr. Villar salutes me first before going upstairs.

At last, I spot Jay Diaz with his crew after 30 minutes of roaming the whole place. It is exactly 12:30 in the afternoon when we leave the national library. His crew, however, will take their lunch before going back to the place for another set of interviews.

I am about to get a cab when he shouted, “Hoy! Di ba sa akin ka sasabay.”

“Maka-hoy naman to. Sundan mo na lang yung taxi.” I get in the cab and wave farewell. While I can see him get in the car and follow the cab, I instruct the driver to take me to our restaurant.

When I arrive, I run as fast as I can. A staff greets me, “Good afternoon ma’am!” He probably observes my nervous-me-what-will-I-do glances and asks,”Ma’am Lia, sinu po tinataguan nyo?”

“Yung crush ko, kakain dito.”

“Si Jay Diaz, Ma’am?” He curiously says.

“Oo.” I intensely say with so much excitement on my voice. I ask, “Okay ba yung itsura ko?” I don’t have the time to wonder why one of my staff knows who my crush is.

“Yes. You look gorgeous.” My dad says while he and his business partner come and I pay respect to them by pagmamano.

Jay comes to me and says, “Huli ka!” He laughs and my dad clears his throat.

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About #JustWritePH

The #JustWritePH workshop, which ran from July 1 to August 8, 2015, challenged participants to write a story and prepare it for publication in a little under 6 weeks. Tips and lessons were delivered online & in person. The reward? Guaranteed distribution on Buqo, plus marketing opportunities like a bundle launch (held at Bo’s Coffee Megamall on August 22), a Facebook party, and a blog tour.

Blog Tour: #JustWritePH For Love

September 22, 2015 • Leave a Comment

Buy this bundle from Buqo, on sale this whole week. Only $0.99/P45.00 from the regular price of $3.99/P180.00. That’s a whopping 75% off so hurry!

#JustWritePH — For Love

Authors: Beth G., Carla de Guzman, Giselle Bacalla, and Amae Dechavez

In This Bundle:

Love is never easy, but the journey to that happily ever after is what makes it worth it. Witness the struggles of these characters as they work their way through both new romances and second chances at love in this four-story bundle. Features “I Still…” by Beth G., “Sigh No More” by Carla de Guzman, “Velvet Valentine” by Giselle Bacalla, and “One Sweet November Day” by Amae Dechavez.

I Still… by Beth G.

Jamee is head over heels with Denmark. And after several years of not seeing each other, they meet again, and Jamee cannot deny the fact that after all those years, she is still in love with him. As their renewed friendship seems to progress, all while their common college friends hold a reunion for all of them, Jamee discovers the truth behind her heartache with Denmark years ago. Will she still surrender on how she feels for Denmark and give herself a chance on love? Or will it be too late?

I SHOULD not have agreed with Greg.

I discreetly looked out of the glass window. The evening lights were blaring on the street and people were busy going in and out of bars, though I could not see any establishment in this area that screamed BAR. It’s Friday night, and instead of celebrating the end of a spectacularly tiring week, I was trapped in one of the tables for two of this seemingly high-end restaurant called Sernin’s, trying to hide my boredom. I haven’t been here, and I have never heard of this until now, and I was somehow grateful that I did. The food was superb and the ambience was great. Sitting across me was Carl. I just met him a few hours ago, and as much as I wanted to give him a chance to prove himself better, I was starting to regret agreeing into this whole idea of blind dating all together.

Earlier, I agreed to go out with Greg and Margot, two of my friends from Shön, the women’s magazine where I worked. But when I learned that Alex was also coming with them, I backed out.

“And why?” Greg asked sternly.

“I don’t want Alex pestering me the whole night,” I admitted.

“But Margot and I are planning to set you up with him!” he exclaimed.

“The more I shouldn’t come then,” I shrugged.

Then Greg went in front of my desk, put his arms across his chest and gave me The Look. The one he always gave me whenever he thought I was acting dumb or playing stupid. The one of the many things about him that made him so gay.

“You know, Jamee, why don’t you just go out with him and be done with it?”

I exhaled. I could not believe we were discussing The Reasons Why I Don’t Want to Go Out with Alex all over again. “Because number one, he’s not my type. Number two, he creeps me out. Number three, all the ladies here want him, and I don’t want to be in the way of their fantasies.”

“Is that so?” Greg sounded unsure, just like he always did whenever we talked about the subject. It was as if he never believed everything I said.

Well, it’s true. Alex had been asking me out, and I had been saying no. Sure, he’s the tall, dark and handsome type of guy that every lady in the office craved for his attention. Lean and muscular, like he could be one of those nude statues in Rome. It’s not that I was all into physical looks or anything. But like I said, he’s not my type. Or maybe it’s his muscles that crept me out.

“Yes,” I said firmly.

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Sigh No More by Carla de Guzman

Beatrice and Claudia never thought they would see Benedick and Hiro ever again, not that they wanted to. But when the business opportunity of a lifetime hinges on Ben and Hiro’s work, they find themselves head over heels and crashing into the boys again. But why did they ever have to be apart in the first place? Can Hiro win Claudia’s heart back? Can Beatrice and Benedick ever stop fighting? This book is a modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

Right. Morning outfit selfie. Here we go.

I really looked awful in the morning, all messy hair and puffy eyes. That last beer really was a mistake. I adjusted the angle of my phone slightly, before I gave the camera my brightest, still-slightly-sleepy smile. I hadn’t really thought about what I was going to wear today (horror of horrors) and I ended up with my loose, ripped drawstring jeans, my favorite chunky sandals and a loose white shirt. It was going to be another hot day in DC, so a pair of plastic cat eye glasses went with the outfit. I put my hair up in its usual half-topknot and grabbed Claudia’s peach lip tint to swipe over my lips. I looked into my vintage full length mirror and snapped the photo.

“Beatrice Noble: Up and ready by 10 am and I’m already working,” I typed out on the phone’s notes. “Had a back and forth conversation with our printer regarding our new greeting card line while in bed, now heading off to meet with Claudia at Petit Jolie.”

That sounded good, didn’t it? I frowned little at myself in the mirror. I widened my eyes until I looked crazy and puffed out my cheeks. Gaze into the eyes of an underpaid, overworked, under-slept self-starter!

Claudia Crowne and I quit our jobs two years ago to start our baby, the Noble Crowne Paper Company. We started out with small jobs, making invites for relatives’ weddings, postcards and notepads. Then the next thing I knew, my life turned into a whirlwind of printers and paints, clients and meetings. Suddenly my social media posts were more important than times in and out, my 9 to 5 had turned into 24/7, and the voice in my head telling my that there was something inherently wrong with doing what I loved had finally dulled into a whisper.

Was it scary? It was still, in a lot of ways. Sometimes I think that it’s all been a fluke, or a dream of some kind, but then I check my ratty old filofax and the list of things I have to do just make me feel happy. It’s so weird.

One of the lifestyle blogs Claudia and I religiously followed finally responded to Claudia’s emails and asked for a ‘day in the life’ article from the girls of Noble Crowne. It was a big deal for us, and both Claudia and I were determined not to screw it up.

Which was why, when I arrived at Petit Jolie, I wasn’t at all surprised to see that Claudia was wearing a short, sleeveless tunic printed with orange roses, mums and little red flowers that I used to pick from bushes as a child. Claudia made that dress from a pattern I gave her when I was first starting to paint. Now almost every piece that we produced in our little stationery company featured my hand painted flowers.

“You couldn’t be just a bit more subtle?” I teased, kissing my best friend’s cheek as we sat on our usual table of the corner cafe. Claudia and I lived within walking distance of each other on Kings’ Street in Old Town, Alexandria, a little neighbourhood in Virginia that still had wrought iron street lamps, twinkle lights on the main street, small Victorian buildings, shops and boutiques just by the Potomac River. I loved our neighbourhood. It was so pretty and quaint, despite being a stone’s throw away from Washington DC. Petit Jolie was a small boulangerie in the middle of an American street and smack dab in the middle of the town. It was also where the idea for Noble Crowne was born.

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Velvet Valentine by Giselle Bacalla

Elizabeth Mariana Hernandez Cruz, a freshman in St. Agnes Integrated School has only one agenda; to live the life she always dreamed about in school. She grew up from a small town and studied in a small sectional school until now. As soon as stepping into high school, she vowed that things will finally change. As young, careless and naïve Elizabeth struggles her way through her freshmen year and that changed until the day she meets Isaac D. Rodriguez, a third year senior who always dropped by in her classroom. Little did she know that this boy would be the catalyst of change. After long years of house arrest, watch her adventure to discover life in a different light as she experience friendship, love and reality. “Excuse me, are you by any chance, Sakura?” “How did you know about me?” Velvet Valentine’s Elizabeth will bring you places and memories you thought you’ve long forgotten.

Do you still remember your childhood?

While you were a kid filled with curiosity about the world.

If you do, then everything new always made you feel like your heart was going to leap out of your chest.

Most of us thought that it was only temporary.

The excitement dies down as we grow tired of the feeling.

While our Parents would tell us that we should always calm down and wait, we would still find ourselves expecting for surprises.

It was also the same feeling for me, I guess.

When you started your first day of pre-school, where our parents held our hands tight as the moment sinks into them that their child is finally growing up.

It is in this moment we experience change.

Often times, children in these stages would drive themselves crazy of excitement while others feared the uncertain detachment of the normality that they grew accustomed at home.

Where meeting new people seemed like such a scary thing.

In these moments we find ourselves looking for support from our family, as they root for our success.

In these moments we are told that there is nothing to be afraid in going to school and that they are there for us when we fail. Even then we still feel that sense of uncertainty and because being young was all we were.

Our imaginations ran wildly and imagine the worst case scenarios and it is in these exact moments in our lives that define us without even knowing that it could be the very definition on how we can handle ourselves as we grow.

Unfortunately, not many of us had the same experience to hold dear in our hearts.

In this story told in a million ways possible through a series of different versions of your inner self. Travel back with me in time, as we remember our younger years together as youthful kids growing up into our ideal selves.

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One Sweet November Day by Amae Dechavez

Nagtagpong muli si Ethan at Maylie. Sinong magaakala na pagkatapos nilang magkakilala at maging matalik na magkaibigan noong bakasyon sa Pila, Laguna ay magkikita silang muli? Sa saglit na pagkakalayo nilang dalawa ay lalong nilang napagtanto na mahal na nga nila ang isa’t isa. Kaya sa muli nilang pagkikita sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Los Baños ay hindi na pinalagpas pa ni Ethan ang pagkakataon niya. Sinabi niya kay Maylie ang mga katagang “Mahal kita.” “Mahal din kita” ang naging tugon ng dalaga. Girlfriend na Ethan si Maylie—first girlfriend. Ngunit magtatagal ba ang pag-iibigan nila?

Hindi mapakali si Ethan sa klase niya. Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapa-sabi ng ‘mahal kita’ sa taong gustong-gusto mo na uling makita? Dapat nga noon ko pa nasabi ‘yon sa kaniya no’ng bakasyon sa Pila.

Pinanood niya saglit ang kanilang propesor na tutok sa pagsusulat sa pisara ng course syllabus nila.

‘So, ang ibig sabihin nito, may girlfriend na ‘ko…’ muni-muni ni Ethan. “YES!” Napalakas ang sabi niya ng ‘yes’ at nagtinginan ang lahat sa kaniya sa klase.

Tinignan siya ng masama ng propesyor at buti na lang at unang araw pa lamang ng klase kaya’t ini-dismiss pa rin sila, pati siya—nang maaga.

“Warning ha, Mr. Crisologo,” sita ng propesor niya.

—

Habang nasa koridor papunta sa kasunod niyang klase ay ini-text ni Ethan si Maylie, tinatanong kung anong oras ang bakante nito.

“Lunch break ko ng 11 am. Pero 30 minutes lang ang break ko,” text back sa kaniya ni Maylie.

“Eh hanggang anong oras ang trabaho mo sa library?” text muli ni Ethan.

“Hanggang 2.30.”

“11.30 pa ang vacant ko pero wala na rin akong klase ng 2.30 pm to 4. Susunduin kita mamaya d’yan sa library. :-D” text ni Ethan.

Excited na lumakad si Ethan patungo sa silid ng susunod niyang klase.

Hindi nagkakalayo ang gusali ng Humanities College of Arts and Sciences at ang Main Library kaya nang i-dismiss nang maaga ang klase ni Ethan sa Hum. ay agad siyang tumungo sa library.

Gaya ng inaasahan ay halos wala pang mga estudyante sa library sa unang araw ng school year. Ngunit gatambak at gabundok ang mga libro at babasahing kailangan isaayos ng mga empleyada at student assistants sa library.

Napatingin si Maylie sa may pasukan ng library dahil napansin niyang may isang lalaking huminto nang nakatayo roon, pinagmamasdan siya nang maigi.

“Ethan!”

“Shhh…” puna kay Maylie ng kasamahang estudyanteng empleyada.

Tumayo si Maylie sa kinauupuan at iniwan muna saglit ang pagsasaayos ng mga aklat base sa laki at paksa. Bago pa sila makita ng assistant head librarian ay hinila na niya si Ethan sa pagitan ng mga istante sa likuran ng silid-aklatan.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito?”

“Maaga kaming dinismis.”

“Eh bakit ka pumunta dito?”

“Eh namimiss na kita eh,” ngiti ni Ethan.

Pinigil ni Maylie ang puso niya. ‘Sana hindi ako namumula…’

“Ethan, may trabaho pa ‘ko. 11 pa ang break time ko.”

“Hindi naman ako magtatagal, gusto lang kitang makita.”

Habang patagal nang patagal, pahirap nang pahirap ata ang pagpipigil ni Maylie ng kilig at ngiti niya sa kakaibang epekto ni Ethan sa kaniya. “Mamaya na tayo magkita. 2.30, di ba?”

“O sige, susunduin kita.” Umakmang hahalik sa pisngi si Ethan ngunit pinigil siya ng hintuturo ni Maylie. Nginisian ito ng pilyong si Ethan at saka na umalis ang binata.

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What is #JustWritePH?

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Blog Tour: Peyton Riley by Bianca Mori

September 17, 2015 • Leave a Comment

Peyton Riley (Takedown Book 2)

*Can be read as a standalone*

Release date: September 5, 2015
by Bianca Mori
Genre: Steamy/Action-Adventure

Links:
Goodreads

Amazon

SYNOPSIS:

She’s the girl with the very specific skillset and he’s the guy out to get her to do a job she doesn’t feel like doing. Can she get away from him — and can he get it together to pull off the job?

EXCERPT:

“Gustave!” Carson cried as the older man lunged. Quote card #1

He gripped her arms, bound to the chair, with such force that she yelped in pain. “You caused my sister’s death, you witch!” he screamed in her face. “Was it worth s
topping the acquisition that a poor woman had to lose her life?”

“I—I didn’t mean for her to die!” she yelled back, the panic that she’d been mastering surging through her body, a lunatic tide, burning and acidic. “I’ve never—in all my time—no one’s ever been hurt—”

“Ha!” Gustave cried, and then he laughed maniacally. “‘No one’s ever been hurt’? Do you truly believe that, cheri? That when you destroy a person’s livelihood, they are not ever hurt?”

They stared back at each other—she watching every flicker of muscle in his face for an approaching strike, he as though at something unpleasant stuck under his shoe. The revulsion in his face was clear. “Nagore may have been the first woman who’s life you ended, but you have killed others before, oh yes, cheri, scores of them—killed their worth, killed their estimation, killed them in their minds so they walk among us like zombies—and you have done it all, Mademoiselle. You have blood on your hands!”

“What do you want from me?” she cried.

He gripped her arms again and shook her. “You owe me my sister’s life!”

“I cannot bring her back!”

“Then you are in my debt!” He stood and appraised her, a dead calm stealing over his face as he looked her up and down. “Oh yes, dearest. You are in my debt.”

GIVEAWAY:

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bianca Mori is the author of “One Night at the Palace Hotel” and “Tame The Kitten.” She is interested in exploring power in romance and enjoys reading about demimondaines, pin-up girls and Jazz Age personalities and hopes to reinterpret these in her stories. She lives with her family and a hyperactive pug. Sign up for Bianca Mori’s newsletter here:http://eepurl.com/3BfSb, follow Bianca on Twitter (@thebiancamori), add her on Facebook and on GoodReads.

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Buqo’s Book for an eBook Project

September 11, 2015 • Leave a Comment

* reblogging from http://blog.buqo.ph/a-book-for-an-ebook-project

The Manila International Book Fair (MIBF 2015) started out as an event for the publishing industry and the academe has now evolved to one of the most-awaited exhibitions for all sorts of readers.

MIBF’s goal is to spread the love for reading among the Filipino public. It acts as a venue where publishers and industry professionals meet together and engage with readers.

That is also the reason why we exist — to act as a bridge between readers and publishers / authors.

After almost two years of being in business, we, at Buqo, want to stay true to our mission. We want to make a difference.

At the 36th MIBF, 16 to 20 September at the SMX Convention Center, MOA Complex, Pasay City, we will launch #ABookForAnEBook. This is a book drive that has been percolating in the backburner for while. Now, it has become a reality.

The Mechanics

You donate a book and get an eBook in exchange. It’s that simple!

To join #ABookForAnEBook, all you have to do is drop by our booth at the MIBF, leave your book(s), and get your eBook(s).

The donated books will be given to a chosen library (we have identified certain libraries and will finalize before MIBF starts).

And to show our appreciation, we will be giving an eBook bundle in exchange for every book you donate. You will have 19 bundles to choose from. These bundles all came from the workshops we sponsored.

#buqosteamyreads – 5 bundles.
#buqoYA – 5 bundles.
#JustWritePH – 5 bundles.
#StrangeLit – 4 bundles.

(Updates will be posted in the next couple of days so you can view which bundles you can avail of. For now, feel free to search them on our website).

Important Reminders

We are at Booth 419, located at Hall 1 of the SMX Convention Center.
There will be people from our team who will be manning the booth. Just approach any one of us to assist you so you can get your eBook bundles.
The eBook bundles are only accessible through our app, buqo (available on both iOS and Android devices).

Want to support our cause? Donate a book or two that you haven’t opened in a while. Follow the hashtag #ABookForAnEBook on social media. Share this with your friends and family.

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