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[BLOG TOUR] Flipping The Script by Danice Mae P. Sison

February 25, 2019 • Leave a Comment

Miri dela Merced’s film director grandfather and Pabs Paglinauan’s studio head grandmother had a huge falling out that ended Lolo Ikong’s career. At seventeen, Miri finds herself in the same summer film internship program as the down-to-earth film studio heir Pabs, whom she’s decided to automatically write off, just because of his lineage. As Miri gets a crash course in her expectations vs the reality of what it’s like to work on a real movie, her true feelings for Pabs become harder and harder to ignore. In between attending outdoor screenings of classic Pinoy movies and battling monster production assistants together, can flipping the script on a decades-old grudge be only a few sequences away?

 

Genre: Romance, Young Adult
Release Date: February 15, 2019
Cover Models: Liane Palomo, Boo Gabunada
Cover Designed by: Tara Frejas
Flicker Design Identity: Clarissa Ines
Photographed by: Chi Yu Rodriguez
Makeup by: Carla De Guzman
Styling by: Alex Lapa

BUY LINKS:
For PH print edition: http://bit.ly/FTSPrintOrder
For International readers: http://bit.ly/FTSintl
For the Kindle edition: http://bit.ly/loloikong
Add us on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/FTSgr

So now what? Are we a thing? Do I want us to be a thing? Would it be so wrong if I say that I do? What do I do with these feelings, exactly?

 

So now what? Are we a thing? Do I want us to be a thing? Would it be so wrong if I say that I do? What do I do with these feelings, exactly? It was definitely more simple when we weren’t friends. It was easier hating Pabs, but I must admit that falling for him is a lot more interesting.

 

THE AUTHOR

Danice Mae P. Sison realized she wanted to be Harriet the Spy when she was very young. Since then, she has been digging out from real life experiences, pop culture obsessions, and her growing TBR pile of young adult and romance books for inspiration. She works in pay television as a channel manager, and has previously contributed as an author on the anthology Start Here. Flipping the Script is her first book.

Contact Danice:
danicemaepsison.wordpress.com
Twitter: @danicemaepsison
Email: hastyteenflick@gmail.com

 

I interviewed Danice about the book and her writing journey. Here’s what she has to say…

Tell me about your writing journey. How/when you started and how did you come by #romanceclass.

Iirc it was about the time after I read Mina V. Esguerra’s The Interim Goddess of Love in 2015 or so? I read it in one sitting on a bus trip from Manila to Baguio, and wanted to read more of her work. When I visited her blog, I came across an entry about #romanceclass and the free romance writing workshop she was holding at the time. I submitted a book description but dropped out very early in the game because… life. Anyway, I signed up for the FB group and lurked for about a year. I only became more active in the community when I spotted the callout for the “Start Here” anthology and the #romanceclassYA workshop shortly after.

Before you discovered #romanceclass, what romance books did you read?

I grew up reading Sweet Dreams, Sweet Valley High and Crosswinds pocketbooks. I read those from age 10-13. Then there was a long gap where I stopped reading romance and only one or two titles would grab my interest, like Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” series, (though I stopped after the fourth book!). I rediscovered the romance genre recently when I discovered Tiffany Reisz’s Original Sinners series. I was also reading a lot of M/M fanfic and BL manga, which led to C.S Pacat’s “Captive Prince” and K.J. Charles’ “A Charm of Magpies” and her “Society of Gentlemen” series.

Do you have a favorite romance author/book?

It’s hard to pick a favorite especially after discovering so many awesome authors, but a recent favorite would have to be Rebekah Weatherspoon’s FIT trilogy. I marathon-ed all three (plus the novella) in late 2018 because I couldn’t get enough of the “fit but soft” heroes in the books.

Tell us about how you came up with FTS. What were the difficulties you encountered while writing FTS? In what way was the writing process easy?

The #romanceclassYA workshop called for a story for young adults incorporating one Pinoy element that I wished there was more of in YA stories, or a Pinoy element I haven’t seen yet written in any YA. I immediately thought of coming up with a storyline that had to do with a couple of young filmmakers because I’d just completed my undergrad in Film the previous year (after a 15 year hiatus!) so a lot of my experience from being around young people in film was still quite fresh. That was the easy part.

However, to be honest I’m terrible with conflict, so I was struggling in the beginning how to bring the story to Act 2. I kept going back to the #romanceclass textbook to keep myself in check as I pieced the story together.

Is there a character you identify with?

It would have to be Mimi Dela Merced, the mom of the MC, Miri. I think if I became a parent, my parenting style would be like hers. That, and I wish any future daughter of mine would be as awesome as Miri is.

Is there a trope you dream of writing? What is it and why?

Oooh, there’s a lot I want to try experimenting with. The biggest one right now (and I’ve been thinking of this for about a year) is Older Woman/Younger Man. I look to previous work done by awesome #romanceclass writers Agay Llanera, Jay E. Tria, and Carla De Guzman and I want to contribute my own story! Reading these writers’ work have inspired me, and I think we need more of these. I need more of these, especially as I approach my 40’s. There are thankfully a lot of seasoned romances available, but I think I may need to write seasoned romances about 35+ women who don’t necessarily identify with those who are/have been previously married or have had children, because I’m 39 and haven’t experienced those personally. There must be a lot of us that haven’t, and am sure we’d also love to see some representation.

Where is Danice headed from here? What can we expect from you in the near future?

I’m a really slow writer when I don’t have any imposed deadlines, but I’m hoping to finish my next book, which is Older Woman/Younger Man, or Woman-in-her-thirties/young-man-in-his-barely-twenties. Here’s hoping I finish! *crosses fingers*

 

  • Is a community of authors who attended #romanceclass, #romanceclass2016, the steamy reads, YA classes organized by Mina V. Esguerra
  • Readers of the books by those authors
  • Readers of English-language romance books by Filipino authors
  • Actors and artists who are part of the event and publishing process

We are a community of Filipino writers and readers who gather together to do what we love. Quoting from Mina V. Esguerra:

“The #romanceclass community of authors is a group that came out of the free class I ran in 2013, meant to encourage Filipino readers of chick lit and contemporary romance to start writing and publishing their own stories. “romanceclass” was the hashtag used to informally discuss things with each other over Twitter, and it stuck. That time, 100 people signed up, and 16 authors completed a contemporary romance novella. They’ve since gone on to write more, publish, get publishing deals…and we continue to support each other on social media and everywhere else.”

[BLOG TOUR] Second Wave Summer by Tara Frejas, Six delos Reyes, Jay E. Tria

June 4, 2018 • Leave a Comment

Genre: Contemporary / Romance / Anthology

Release date: May 19, 2018

 

All roads lead back to beachside music festival Summer Crush for another weekend of high waves, rock & roll, and the promise of summer romance.

 

On any given day, Michael Brian doesn’t need to do much to hit the right notes with a girl, but there’s something about this day—and something about this girl—that’s got him out of tune. (A Taste of Summer, Six delos Reyes)

 

Indie filmmaker Datu puts on his dusty event videographer hat for Summer Crush. But memories of a love he let slip away resurface from every corner of this surf town. Now what he thought would be an easy job just isn’t so easy anymore. (Rushes, Tara Frejas)

 

Corporate-highflyer-on-vacation Ringo has a question to which cookie bar boss woman Kris has the answer, if only they’d stop getting in each other’s way. (Ask Me Nicely, Jay E. Tria)

 

LINKS

Amazon (ebook): bit.ly/secondwavesummer
Paperback (PH only): tarafrejas.com/orderform | http://www.jayetria.com/print-books-order-form/

Add the book on Goodreads

 

Excerpts

 

A Taste of Summer
Six de los Reyes

 

“Just so we’re on the same page. There’s no boyfriend, is there?” he asked when she returned. As much as he wanted to seem disinterested, even he could tell he was focusing too intently on the calluses on his fingertips. He raised his eyes, blinked away the memories, and grinned.

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, there is no boyfriend currently in the picture?”

She raised a brow. “No.”

“Because I’d rather not be a party to…whatever. Also, I reserve the right to defend myself.”

“A party to…whatever. That happened before?”

“Actively in avoidance of.”

He smiled at her, the kind that said I’m trying to make this better and less awkward and I hope I’m not upsetting you. But she smiled at him too. As if it were he who inspired worry. She was worried about him. About something he’d said.

“It wouldn’t do to make premature conclusions.” That wasn’t an answer.

“I don’t conclude prematurely.”

“I should hope not.”

He was just tripping over his feet and making a fool of himself, wasn’t he?

“But no. No man in my life,” she said, stepping closer, so close a cloud of her scent fell over him. She smelled sweet. A familiar and disconcerting scent he couldn’t place. She anchored her hands on his sides. “Holy latissimus dorsi.”

“What?”

She blinked. “What?”

 

Rushes
Tara Frejas

 

“I knew it was you.”

Datu’s knitted brows strained when he looked up from his phone. “Oh. Hey.”

“You’re wearing that famous frown again,” Audrey, his brother’s girlfriend, pointed out. The strapless yellow dress she wore was bright and sunny, matching her smile. The sight gave him no other choice but to turn his frown upside down.

“Didn’t know you’d be here.”

“Didn’t know you’d be here!” she exclaimed, her eyes fixed on his laptop. “And in true Datu Alvez fashion, too.”

“Work is what I’m here for.”

“Figures. You looked pretty intense just now.”

“Oh. I did?” he asked and threw his phone a quick glance before putting it away. “Well, you know me—I take my work seriously.”

That was a lie. Technically, he hadn’t really been working for the last ten minutes. Instead, he was having some sort of crisis upon realizing he had somehow butt-texted Kalila. It was that “do you wanna hang out” message, plus a string of random characters one could have only managed while drunk-texting.

That he had sent that message before he was ready was one thing, but it had been over an hour, and the lack of response made him antsy. He had to remind himself that she didn’t owe him a reply, but he wished she would.

He’d still take “no” over no reply at all.

“I know. I’ll be on my way then…” Audrey started to step away.

“Wait, aren’t you here with Pio?” Datu gathered his equipment, placed them neatly on his side of the wooden table, and motioned for Audrey to have a seat. She obliged.

“Pio’s still in Pampanga for a mall show.” Audrey took a small sip of what looked like sangria and turned her attention to the tabletop menu.

“Oh, yeah. For that movie.”

Her gold and red tassel earrings swung back and forth when she nodded. Nothing in her facial expression hinted at any sort of displeasure over Pio’s absence, and Datu wondered if she was okay with this set-up, or…

“Yes, Datu?”

He blinked. “What?”

“You look like you wanna ask me something.”

“Just wondering if you two are on vacation.”

Audrey nodded. “Until Monday.”

“Nice. And Pio being late to the party isn’t gonna be a problem, is it?”

“Nah, don’t worry. Besides, we have this running bet over who arrives at our dates first, and I’m two for three.” Audrey took sip of her drink, and a dimple appeared on her left cheek when she smirked.

A running bet. Huh. Where was that nifty idea when I needed it? He once had been the “absentee boyfriend” who got intoxicated by all his dreamchasing and forgot to hold on to the one dream that kept him grounded. Who are you kidding, Datu? Bet or not, it never would have worked out because you never showed up.

 

Ask Me Nicely
Jay E. Tria

 

April 14, Saturday
Kris


Ringo de Dios had a question to ask.

He always did. This wasn’t new. Ringo had a brain that ran faster than any driving I’d done in the traffic-less streets of Makati past midnight, egged on by an ‘80s rock anthem and one too many bottles of beer. His brain wasn’t reckless like that though (and neither was my driving since I crossed into my 30s, might I add). His brain operated on functioning levers and blueprints and workplans. It was a sound, beautiful, overworking mind. I loved it.

I was in love with this man and his beautiful, overworking mind.

“A backstage what to meet who again?” was the question he asked now.

It wasn’t at all what I’d been dodging. This question was cute, and I was expecting it. I’d been fielding quite a few like it in the past five plus months we’ve been together. It was one of my favorite things to do.

“A backstage pass,” I said, brushing the stubble on his chin with my knuckles. “To meet Trainman.”

I was trying to be cool when I said it, which was pointless. Ringo was there to witness me squeal like a pig on death row when I won the tickets off a radio show contest last month.

So oldschool, right? Snatching tickets from a radio show gimmick thanks to an hour of dialing-redialing-hanging-on-to-a-phone-line-with-a-whispered-prayer and a deep well of random trivia about a favorite band. But tried-and-true was so for reasons. And often they rewarded you.

Like now. Exhibit A. Two free tickets to Summer Crush music festival, inclusive of backstage passes to meet Trainman, the headlining band. The reason why now, at 2 a.m. on aSaturday, Ringo and I were out of bed and on our way to surf town La Union, where there was sand, music, bagnet, and bronzed abs a-plenty.

I died a little inside when I won, I swear.

“Ah, that band with the surly-looking guitarist,” Ringo said, clapping his hands once for effect, dark eyes rounding. “The guy whose lips curl and eyebrows meet when he sings the chorus like it makes him angry. Why does he need to do that, I wonder?”

“Because he is Kim, the band leader, and he is sexy and he knows it.” I slapped Ringo’s arm as I said it, which was cue for laughter. His and mine.

Of course Ringo knew about Trainman. On our first date, I learned that despite being 25, a.k.a. seven years younger than me, the guy knew nothing about music enjoyed by most kids, erm, people his age. He knew virtually nothing about music, despite having a cool mother who named him after the most chill Beatle. So I made sure to commence his indie rock-and-roll education ASAP. He had aced it, of course, as he was programmed to do.

An offshoot of this though was that teasing me about my rockstar crush was now one of his hobbies.

“Who’s sexy?” Ringo had stopped laughing. The spark remained in his eyes but it hinted at danger now. My heart jumped inside my chest and my lips parted, first to give him a smile, next to accept his kiss.

Ringo’s kiss was slow and deliberate. Mouth weighing against my mouth, claiming, tasting. Tip of his tongue stroking the corners of my lips, teasing, while his strong hand cradled the back of my head. Fingers buried in my long, thick curls, kneading down to my nape and up again, melting everything away.

Awareness, included. And propriety.

Our suspended moment broke with the screech of rubber against road. The bus braked, lurched forward, taking us passengers with it, jerking most of the rows awake. It must have been a goat or a horse crossing the road. Dawn was hours away from breaking and it was dark and cool outside, sheets of fog visible through the grimy windows.

Soon the bus was back to its rolling stroll on the pavement. Our fellow passengers were groaning and folding back to sleep around us, and I was reminded that Ringo and I were not exactly in the best place for melt-the-world-away kisses.

“There are people.” I shushed the man whose lips were toying with my earlobe.

“Who is sexy?” His tongue grazed the shell of my ear.

I shivered, from the blast of pine-scented air above us and the shot of heat from my navel. “We’re in a bus.”

“Whose idea was that?” Ringo chuckled, but he eased off and leaned back. He tugged at the thick cotton of my hoodie and tucked it around me, zipping it all the way up under my chin. “I wanted to drive you.”

I buried myself inside my jacket as he pulled the hood up and over my head. “This is your first music festival. You need the full experience. And it starts with a long trip on a midnight bus.”

“I’m not complaining. I am asking who’s sexy.” Dark eyebrows up and wiggling. Ripe lips curved in a smirk, bearing my final warning.

“My boyfriend is sexy,” I whispered in a rush, should he dare attack me with his demanding kisses again while we were in this packed public transport vehicle surrounded by half-asleep, full-on snoring travelers. “And apparently requires validation.” I met his mouth with mine anyway, quick and firm, before sinking back against my seat.

Ringo let out a quiet laugh, self-satisfied and triumphant. The brat.

[BLOG TOUR] The Secrets That We Keep (A #HeistClub New Blood Anthology)

April 1, 2018 • Leave a Comment

The Secrets That We Keep

Liam Blunt, Amae Dechavez, I.P. Lanz, Buñag Manlapaz, Celestine Trinidad,

J. Guibone, Mark Manalang, Irene Recio, Yeyet Soriano

Genre: Crime

Release date: March 24, 2018

Compiled and edited by Georgette Gonzales & Yeyet Soriano

Cover design and interior layout by Porcupine Strongwill

SYNOPSIS

Oh, we weave such a tangled dark web. Is it possible to disentangle oneself without inflicting damage, permanent damage, to one’s person?

When a person goes missing, how do you find her? Where do you find her? Does she even want to be found?

A vigilante targets neighborhood nuisances. But without any evidence, how will he be apprehended?

Don’t do unto others, lest they do to you what you did to them. In a manner more gruesome than you can ever imagine. Can you survive the retribution?

Dead bodies can’t go anywhere on their own, right? Or can they?

Buy The Secrets That We Keep on Amazon

Get The Secrets That We Keep on Paperback (PH Only)

Add The Secrets That We Keep on Goodreads

 

Read about the individual stories…

 

“Security is an illusion.”

 

After a satisfying click, the door opened into a messy dining area with a lone white light bulb flickering on the ceiling. Robert moved to the left, past a small living room where a brown sofa and a television divider stood, and up a short flight of stairs behind the latter.

A creaking sound pierced the silence of the night air as Robert planted his boot on the floorboards. The blood in his veins froze as he stood next to the stairs, not moving even a single inch of his being. He closed his eyes as he recalled the spots on the floor that did not groan. Eventually, he made it to the door at the end of the hallway and picked its lock. He opened it a few inches and peeked through the narrow slit.

An old couple slept on a queen-sized bed, surrounded by pillows and half-covered by a thick white sheet. The ceiling fan revolved furiously above them. A row of waist-high drawers stood on the left, next to an open square window.

Robert sighed. He already met the elderly pair months ago. They were very nice to him, offering him snacks and cold drinks while he repaired their floorboards. Now, his chest ached as he stood by the door, the other half of his body still in the hallway.

Business is business.

In this kind of business, being emotional is a no-no.

 

The Author:

Liam began telling stories in fifth grade by drawing crude stick-figure comics on the back of his school notebooks. Now in his late twenties, he’s still weaving characters and worlds together through writing.  Some of his inspirations include Frank Herbert, Michael Crichton, James Rollins, and Steve Berry.

Contact Liam at https://www.facebook.com/lbluntwrites/

 

“I just wanted her to stop hurting you. I never expected her to fall off the roof.”

“Nobody wanted what happened to her.” Sandra glanced at him. “The same goes for me, Zanj.

 

Zanjo observed Sandra’s bedroom again that night. From the lenses of his black binoculars, he saw that she had already closed the curtains and turned off the lights. Sandra…Two years ago, she had broken up with him. She was fourteen, he was sixteen. While all she wanted was fun, he was serious and tried to nudge her to become better. Just like him. It must have suffocated her, leading her to break up with him.

He had always been a good son, at least at home, and a straight-A student. In fact, he was so studious it weirded everyone out. Too clever, most people thought. Many of his acquaintances joked that if he were a criminal, he’d get away with the crime clean. It bugged his classmates, even his teachers, how he was able to solve the School Reading Mystery Game on one Foundation Day with just a few jumbled clues in just a few seconds. Seconds.

Rumor had it that he tried to control Sandra, which was why she had wanted out of their relationship quick. Zanjo often engaged in fistfights in his temper bouts with the bullies at school too, so it didn’t surprise anyone that he’d become single again so soon.

Just before closing his eyes to sleep, he took one last look at Sandra’s window, hoping to catch even a glimpse of her shadow…

 

The Author:

Amae Dechavez was born in Quezon City, Philippines to a mother from Baguio and father from Quezon Province. She works as a V.A. and social media marketing associate-slash-SEO content writer by day, and currently resides with her dog within the suburbs of Metro Manila.

Stay updated on the release of the sequel to “All About Sandra” Cozy Crime Mysteries: Who Can Find Sandra?

Follow Amae:

Facebook.com/amaeauthor

Twitter: @amaeauthor

Goodreads.com/amaeauthor

Email: amaeauthor@gmail.com

For orders: bit.ly/amaebooks

 

“Tuning [motorcycle mufflers] is not a crime.”

 

Nick began feeling dizzy again. The reality of what he just did hit him. It was both scary and liberating.

Relax, Nick told himself. It’s done.

His arms shook from hatred and excitement. Nick wiped the rifle to remove any fingerprints and left it in the kitchen. He would just need to come back for it sometime within the week or the next before Karla returned.

He walked out of Karla’s apartment and slowly went back home. He entered his room, changed back to his house clothes, and went to see his grandmother.

Lola Teresa removed the earplugs as soon as she saw him.

“I’m afraid this won’t do.” She handed them over, showing her appreciation with a smile. “But thank you.”

Nick smiled back. The loud motorcycle won’t be making loud noises anymore. Not tonight at least.

After bidding his grandmother good night, he went to his room and lay on his bed. He looked at his hands and realized they were still shaking. Ending the life of an arrogant useless son of a bitch felt liberating.

It was better than sex.

The whole world had just become his playground.

 

The Author:

Ivan is an avid reader and a daydreamer. Writing is his way of putting both to good use.

Contact Ivan at  https://ivansnotebook.wordpress.com

 

“No one can get away anywhere anymore. No one will be safe. You now know things the public shouldn’t. You are now. . .among us”.

           -Os Magnum

 

My headache has grown worse. I take a pain reliever.

When I switch on the television, every channel is devoted to the (Hercules Trail) crime scene which just makes my head throb even more.

The dead talks and we can only listen.

           I put the TV on mute and let the images dance before my eyes. I take out my notes and start writing on my small whiteboard in the living room. The smell of the white board pen’s ink keeps me company.

Victim’s name…

Method of Death…

Suspect…

Missing on Crime Scene…

Evidence Left…

           Three cases of unconventional murders, each one happening one year after the other, almost to the day.

Who are these people? Why do they seem familiar?

My headache returns in full force. Didn’t I just take a pain reliever?

I close my eyes, breathing deeply. Am I getting sick again? What is wrong with me?

I open my eyes and try to focus.

Why these particular people?  What is the common denominator?

What connects them?

I study my notes. They are all male.  They are all of the same age range, mid to late twenties.

Same as me.

They went to the same high school.

I stare at the school name.

Something is tickling the base of my skull.

I’ve seen that name before.

A wave of nausea comes over me. With it, something clicks in my head. Suddenly, the pain is gone.

What is their common denominator?

Now, I remember.

Me.

 

The Author:

Buñag Manlapaz spends most of his time trying to attain immortality. And through writing, he found the key. AMONG US is the first of many crime fiction stories he intends to release, where he weaves together the fabric of criminality [villainy] and justice.

Contact Buñag:

https://www.facebook.com/author.bmanlapaz

b.manlapaz3@gmail.com

https://www.wattpad.com/user/BunagManlapaz

https://cosmicchronicle.wordpress.com

 

“If there was anything that Inspector Eva Andrada knew she was really good at, it was keeping surveillance on a target. This time, her target was not a criminal, but a fellow police officer.”

 

The tension in the air was almost palpable, weighing down on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. It didn’t help that Torres didn’t turn the radio on, and he didn’t say a single word either. He was exactly what the others said he was: taciturn, standoffish, and it was no wonder no one liked being his partner on cases.

But she didn’t really care how friendly he was. What she only cared about was if he could be trusted to work with her on this case.

“Okay.” She rifled through the folders he had given her and began talking as the awkwardness of his silence began to get to her. “Nicolas Santos, 43 year-old male, and Joel de Vera, 27 year-old male. Found dead more than a week apart in June last year, one in an abandoned lot and the other at a construction site near his home. Both known drug users, with de Vera even arrested once for selling them, but was eventually released on bail.” She scanned more papers. “There was something missing in their files and that was how I made the connection between our cases. The autopsy reports were missing.” She frowned. “Or rather, the autopsies were never performed in the first place. The bodies disappeared before anyone could.”

Torres nodded, ever so slightly.

She brought out her own folder. “Henry Banal, 18 year-old male, resident of Poblacion. Is that the only connection between our cases, Sir? Do you have any new leads? Says here you haven’t had any new leads since July of last year.”

He glanced briefly at her. “Your case is my new lead.”

 

The Author:

Celestine Trinidad is a physician by profession, particularly, a pathologist. In her spare time, she writes fiction of several genres, including romance, speculative fiction, crime fiction, and children’s stories. Her stories have been published in other print and online venues, such as Philippines Free Press, Philippines Graphic, The Digest of Philippine Genre Stories, Philippine Speculative Fiction, and Insignia.

Email: cmgtrinidad@gmail.com

Website: celestinetrinidad.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CelestineTrinidadAuthor/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/luckychan

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/luckychanmd/

 

BONUS MATERIAL

Short stories by:

J. Guibone has an appetite for crime and horror fiction even though she’s a real-life scaredy-cat. Anything mysterious and creepy intrigues her, and she’ll gladly fork out a few bills for an almanac of strange phenomena (but will forget to replace her ancient sneakers).

She juggles working as a freelance writer, penning fiction, and entertaining her dogs. When not typing away at her laptop, she can usually be found with her nose buried in a book—either reading or sniffing it.

You can connect with J. Guibone through her blog at www.jguibonewrites.com

 

 

 

Mark Manalang describes himself as an “armchair journalist by day, novelist by night, foodie on call, writer by calling, author by choice.”

He is doing his best to make time for his manuscripts and poems while resuming his career in journalism. His next project, aside from the “Sampaguita” series, supposedly involves romance (or maybe not).

Throughout his exile (read: hiatus), he developed an appetite for mapo tofu, and he now also craves the beef and beer chili bowl at the Oarhouse Pub of Manila. He is also currently rewatching his old anime.

Follow Mark on:

Website: http://unlimitedgrubgrabs.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MTJManalang

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Tenkouken

Twitter: @mtjmanalang

Instagram: @unlimitedgrubgrabs

 

Irene Recio is a ninja masquerading as a stay-at-home mom with a double degree in BS Applied Economics and Business Management.  She found her happiness teaching pre-nursery children and was taking her Masters in Education when she had to put her career on pause to focus on her amazing daughter. Just recently, she received the greatest (and cutest!) surprise of her life – a bouncing (literally) baby girl! Her children are the heart and her husband is the soul of her happiness. Together they inspire her to be better and to do better always.

She used to do freelance writing for a parenting website and various magazines. She has always been fascinated with mystery and crime fiction, and her love for the genre started with Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.

When not writing crime, she is writing new adult novellas and children’s books.

Find her on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/irene.nicolasrecio and on Twitter and Instagram:  @inrecio

 

Yeyet Soriano is a multi-genre author who writes speculative fiction, crime fiction and contemporary romance.Based in Manila, Philippines, her day job is that of an Asia-Pacific regional senior IT manager for a multinational corporation. She is married to a man who has never read of any of her works (he only reads to fall asleep), and they have three wonderful kids—a teen-aged daughter who just entered college and who is pursuing her passion for street dance, a sweet daughter in fourth grade who is a budding poet and writer in her own right, and a son in first grade who hasn’t taken up reading for fun yet, but is unbelievably smart and charming.

Email: yeyetms@gmail.com

Author Website and Blog: www.yeyetsoriano.com

Blog: www.ysrealm.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Yeyetsorianowrites/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ysrealm

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ysrealm/

 

Excerpts from future #HeistClub releases:

The Fall of the Filipino Romance Scammer by Racquel Sarah A. Castro

The Catalys by Georgette S. Gonzales

The Flame Squad: Shadow Prince by Jessica Larsen

Sampaguita: Stray Lamb by Mark Manalang

Sins of the Past by Arlene Manocot

A Higher Level by Chris Nava

The Sound of Silence by Irene Recio

Come With Me Vol. 2 by Michael Recto

The Crime Circle by Yeyet Soriano

 

PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE NEW RELEASES BY #HEISTCLUB: CASE NUMBER 2

 

Sins of the Past by Arlene Manocot

She sheds tears for the loss of the man she thought would never leave her hanging in the wilderness. Once he pulls the trigger, he is banished in her life forever.

Book link: bit.ly/BooksbyArleneManocot

 

Sampaguita: Stray Lamb by Mark Manalang

Japanese tycoon Kenichi Daimon is now a cold and bitter shadow of his former self. In between maintaining his public image as the CEO of the Diamond Group of Companies, and privately mourning for his murdered fiancée, he has become a seething predator, ever scouring Manila’s underworld for the man who took what was most precious for him.

A chance encounter with a petty thief gives Kenichi a chance to make a difference in someone’s life. But a beggar syndicate is after the child, hoping to silence him. Can Kenichi make his first step towards redemption, or will his rage lead him astray once more?

Buy on Amazon

 

The Flame Squad: Shadow Prince by Jessica Larsen

Efrain has one reason why he agrees to be Blaze’s shadow, and that is to hunt down those responsible for ruining his life. Falling in love is not a part of the plan, but the heart is the hardest thing to fight.

Book links:

Amazon Kindle

Smashwords

iBooks

Barnes&Noble

Goodreads

 

The Crime Circle by Yeyet Soriano

Four stories/arcs make up a circle, where the lines are blurred between victim and perpetrator, between innocent bystander and involved participant, and between right and wrong.

Print: bitly.com/TCC-print

 

Follow #HeistClub

fb.com/heistclubph

Instagram @heistclubauthorsph

Happy release day! (Late post)

March 29, 2018 • Leave a Comment

Congratulations to the #HeistClub team, especially the new batch of authors for the successful launch of #TheSecretsThatWeKeep last 24 March at the Tweedle Book Cafe!

Here’s a video by Reev Robledo of some scenes from the event.

 

 

The Secrets That We Keep is available on Amazon Kindle and in print (PH only). Add us also on Goodreads and leave a review, maybe? Follow #HeistClub on Facebook and Instagram for more news and updates.

[COVER REVEAL] The Secrets That We Keep by #HeistClub New Blood

March 18, 2018 • 2 Comments

OMG! Here it is! So excited to post about this! Tada!!!

 

This is the cover of the new #HeistClub release, an anthology of 5 new short stories from 5 new #crimefic authors. We (the senior and original batch of workshop participants) opened the invitation over a year ago for those who want to write crime fiction in Philippine setting with Filipino characters. Ten individuals signed up, only five submitted finished manuscripts. And yeah, their stories are E-X-C-I-T-I-N-G af!

You can preorder your print copies now (PH only) and opt to either have the book shipped to your address, or pick them up during the launch (see you there? *wink*). As of this writing, we’re still working on the Kindle version, so stay tuned.

Book launch is slated on 24 March 2018 at the Tweedle Book Cafe and you can learn more at our FB event page.

There is no entrance fee, but everyone is encouraged to order at least one drink just to cover the use of the venue. Tweedle Book Cafe serves coffee, juices, beer, and wine.

The launch is also a way for some authors to further an advocacy to help victims of crime, in this case, children/teenagers who have been abused (Marillac Hills). Profits from sale of some of the books will be for their benefit. #HeistClub also encourages attendees to donate cash or in kind. These kids need food (rice, canned goods, noodles, etc.), hygiene items (soap, shampoo, napkins, etc.), school supplies, and others.

 

 

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