#buqoYA is LIVE!

From the Buqo.ph blog

It's LIVE, folks! The #buqoYA bundles are now available at the Buqo digital store and you can already purchase them from the app. For the uninitiated, Buqo is a digital book store where you can buy ebooks (here's a guide on how to install the app, create an account, and purchase books). 

In case you might ask, the bundles will be exclusively available in the digital store for a certain period. Let's support our local authors by purchasing the books in Buqo (since it's also a book store for the Filipino reader)!

Fangirl Moment at the Til Death Book Launch

Chloe reads an excerpt from chapter 2 of Til Death.

I first encountered Kate Evangelista's books through the Pinoywrimo FB page last year and I've been reading her work since then. When she announced there was going to be a local launch for her latest book, I jumped at the chance to attend and finally meet her.

The Til Death Book Launch was held at the National Book Store in Glorietta 1 last March 15 and it was truly exciting to meet the author behind the books I've been reading. I'm a staunch supporter of local authors and Kate's success in the publishing world is truly an inspiration. At the launch, I got to see fellow author Mina V. Esguerra (who hosted the event), along with a few of my classmates from #romanceclass. Book bloggers were also there to show support as well as Kate's friends and family.

Supporters from Kate's alma mater

One of the event highlights was an excerpt reading of Til Death by Chloe, a ninth grader from Southville International Schools and Colleges (Kate's alma mater). I was amazed by how the school supported their alumna...complete with a streamer! There was also a raffle portion where Kate gave away swag bags of Taste and Savor.

Celebrating #LunaEast and #RomanceClass

Last Saturday, me and my fellow #romanceclass authors had our very first book launch and signing. It was quite a big thing, with most of us delving into writing and publishing for the first time. With the local publishing landscape evolving to bring indie publishing to the forefront, now has never been a better time to be an author and self-publish!

At the registration area with (l-r): Jayen, AC, Alyssa, and friend. :)

We had an abundance of sweets...and milk!

Friends and family members of authors Chrissie Peria, with Chris Mariano

What was even more amazing was that the party was held at the Ayala Museum, one of the swankiest places at the heart of Makati. The last time I was there, a friend of mine got married and we had a mini tour around the place.

We're having a par-teeey! (And you're invited!)

Last year, I signed up to join Mina V. Esguerra's call for a romance novella writing class. After more than six  months, I finished writing and self-published my first contemporary romance novella, met new friends, and jump-started 2014 with more writing projects. A year after this amazing experience, me and my fellow #romanceclass writers are celebrating the anniversary of our writing adventure with the book launch of our YA anthology, #LunaEast!

I can't say enough how excited I am when we first started talking about doing a short story anthology of a fictional high school ala Sweet Valley High. What used to be just fun-filled discussions of our experiences and (mis)adventures in our yester-years yielded stories after stories of teenagers attending high school at this "co-ed non-sectarian private school, somewhere in the metro, a bit upscale but with a growing percentage of scholarship students".

The first volume of the anthology features the following stories:

Be Creative by Stella Torres

Senpai's #1 Fan by Anne Plaza

Love Lies A'Bleeding by Alyssa Ashley Lucas

Picture Me Naked by D. R. Lee

Something Real by Miles Tan

Wouldn't Change A Thing by Jayen San Diego

You Are the Apple of My Eye by Addie Lynn Co

The Letter by M. Protacio-De Guzman

Where Do We Go From Here by Jen Carpio

The Rumor About Me by Kristel S. Villar

He Loves Me...Not? by Athena Claire Duenas

Sitting in a Tree by Chrissie Peria

Yours Is the First Face That I Saw by Ron Lim

Fifty-Two Weeks by Mina V. Esguerra 

Join us on February 8, 6pm at the Ayala Museum and meet the writers behind #romanceclass and #lunaeast. We've got books, freebies, and stories to give away. See you there!