by KB Meniado “You read those stuff?” is something romance readers commonly hear from other people—and let’s be real, it often comes along with strong judgment. Funnily enough, when you drop by bookstores, chances are the romance section is usually the most packed. (And most likely, many people you know have “romance stuff” in their…More
Monthly Archives: September 2018
Lessons in Romance Writing, Self-Publishing and Community Building: An Interview with Author Mina V. Esguerra
by KB Meniado It’s hard to miss Mina V. Esguerra, especially if you’re looking at Filipino romance authors in English. With over 30 published novels and her fantastic work with #romanceclass, she has been helping make major breakthroughs in revolutionizing how the romance genre is recognized and appreciated among Filipino readers, and putting Filipino writers…More
Poetry Submission: ‘My Polaris’
by Christian Loid Valenzuela It all happened like this: The night sky requested someone So it’ll no longer be alone. And then there you came. You became The Star In the darkest of days. You became Daylight Through the blackest of heavens. It all happened like this: A “being” wished to have…More
Bookbed recommends: Island-based Filipino Children’s Books
by KB Meniado My beautiful country, the Philippines, is made up of about eight thousand islands. To portray, let alone discuss, the abundance and diversity of our people’s experiences is a challenge so great it might just take another hundred of lifetimes before we get to the bottom of it. But there’s always trying, and…More
Writing, Feeling, Believing: An Interview with Author Betsy Gacutan-Ochosa
by KB Meniado Most authors I’ve had the privilege to meet tell me it had been their dream to write and publish a book since they were young—and often because they were a reader first. Here, author Betsy Gacutan-Ochosa talks about the same, including what inspired her novella Twenty Years in Between… The Love Story of…More
Poetry Submission: ‘Unwritten Love Letters’
by Christian Loid Valenzuela I. It’s a cold evening. My love’s warmer than coffee— I take a pen and write. I pour my heart into this drastic art— forming words into letters to converse with my inners, a lover; a giver; a carer— a bearer. II. Every pierce to my heart reminds…More
Chasing the Thrill: An Interview with Author Mayumi Cruz
by KB Meniado Local box office history tells us we like romance and suspense films—why not translate that level of investment into print too? Here, author Mayumi Cruz talks about what it means to write romantic thrillers, what she loves about engaging with readers and why she thinks self-publishing is worth it. Mayumi Cruz is…More
8 Exciting Things to Check Out at #MIBF2018
by KB Meniado It’s Day 3 of the Manila International Book Fair 2018, which means you still have today + the weekend to enjoy one of, if not the, biggest book sales in the country. While there are a lot of familiar elements about the fair this year, there are also quite refreshing additions to…More
Bookbed reviews: ‘Ekspedisyon: Biyahe sa Nakaraan’ edited by Cindy Dela Cruz
by Gaelle Ansaldo THE STORY Tara, roadtrip tayo! Lakbayin natin ang nakaraan. Ating ungkatin ang mga nakatagong kuwento at… mga sikretong matagal mo nang kinalimutan. Malayo-layo ‘to, marami kang masasakyan: motor, tricycle, jeep, tren, eroplano, tangke de gyera karo ng patay. Bakit kamo? Para makausad na tayong muli sa kasalukuyan. Get a copy: 8Letters, Bookbed Store / Read…More
Writing for A Grand Purpose: An Interview with Author Charlene DI
by KB Meniado There’s a profound satisfaction in figuring out things on your own, and a lot of times, you want others to experience the same, so you try to help pave the way for them. This is what author Charlene DI is doing. Here, she briefly talks about realizing her dream through indie publishing…More
