Ever since I joined the #StrangeLit workshop and wrote Bloodline Maharlika, I’ve been on a quest to get my hands on every reference book pertaining to Philippine mythology, history, and folklore. Acquiring these books took effort not just on the financial side, but on the logistics aspect as well. I consider myself lucky if I find one in mint condition or wrapped in plastic. I had to actively look for them book stores, but most of the time I’d find them in a dusty, forgotten corner, abandoned and ignored with creased pages and torn covers. Sometimes I’d go out of my way to brick-and-mortar book shops and I’d find rare gems. And there are moments when I’d score the last copy in mainstream book stores.
Book Review + Interview: #StrangeLit Fateful Turns

#StrangeLit
Paranormal, Horror, Fantasy
September 2015
e-book
ARC from Bookish Diaries Book Tours

Maybe once upon a time we all were ordinary, until the day life took a fateful turn. Do we accept this, or run from it? Explore the path of extraordinary choices in these stories.
Book Review
The Mermaid from Siquijor by Justine Camacho-Tajonera
I’m a sucker for stories dealing with Philippine mythology and folklore. There’s so much to explore and talk about in our own myths that I want to constantly look for stories that feed my wonder and interest in this topic. Justine Camacho-Tajonera’s The Mermaid from Siquijor was the perfect read–it was an intriguing story about mermaids/sirena and it had elements of mystery and romance. I was sold!
Cover Reveal: Bloodline Maharlika
I should be promoting the heck out of Reader Con happening this weekend, BUT this is just one thing I need to share before I go crazy.
So, do you remember this?
I finally, FINALLY have a cover that makes me proud to call this book my “baby”.
Say hello to the new Bloodline Maharlika cover:
Thank you to my super awesome cover artist Robert Wong for bringing Owenn Magpantay to life. Every time I look at it, I am just washed over by a tidal wave of feels. And it also reminds me that I need to finish book 2, stat! Haha.
I’ll be selling Bloodline Maharlika along with my other books at the Filipino Reader Con this Saturday! If you’d like to get a copy, you can fill out the order form. 🙂
The Super Swag Giveaway
I have a couple of stuff to giveaway in a nifty thing I call a “super swag”. Here’s what’s up for grabs:
- Modo Arte journal
- kampilan keychain
- Lingling O necklace
- Supernatural novel #1 Nevermore
- Bloodline Maharlika wire bookmark
- #StrangeLit Incredible Truths ebook code
How do you win this? Easy peasy. Just subscribe to my mailing list (found at the right-hand column, or fill in the form here). After subscribing, just enter the email address you used to sign up into the Rafflecopter magic machine:
There you have it! Thank you for your interest and look forward to more updates and giveaways from me! 🙂
The #StrangeLit Launch Party

Last weekend was magical, crazy, awesome, and all sorts of fun! The #StrangeLit Book Launch was held last October 24 at Recession Coffee in Eastwood Mall and by the time the program started to roll, the place was PACKED! I was pleasantly surprised to find the place teeming with familiar faces of the authors I’ve met during the #StrangeLit classes. The turnout of attendees was truly amazing! Friends, family, colleagues, and other people close to the authors were there to support everyone.
StrangeLit workshop organizer/mentor Mina V. Esguerra started the ball rolling with an intro to what the workshop was all about and what it meant to all of us who were part of it. That was followed by a one-minute excerpt reading of each author of their finished work. For most of us, it was a tall order, being that a lot of us have the jitters in speaking to a crowd, but I have to say each one did very well. I personally had my own slip-ups, but I think it wasn’t a sloppy job. 🙂