2014: The Year to Write More

Image from Natasha Ngan

Wow, it's been a while since I last blogged, but I just gave myself a few days to get things settled so I could get back to my groove. Anyway, 2014 is already proving to be a busy year for me, which is always good. I hate to take it easy after last year's NaNoWriMo, but now that I've recharged (somewhat), it's time to hit the ground running!

Here are some great things to anticipate this first half of 2014:

• Luna East Arts Academy (vol. 1) - Me and my fellow writers from #romanceclass are coming out with a YA anthology set in high school. We'll have print and digital editions and dig this...a book launch! I'll update you with deets about the event and how to get your copies of the anthology, so stay tuned!

•  I've finished writing my second novel, Forever Sisters, and I'm currently in the process of editing and revising the manuscript. I'm hoping to get things done and release it by Q2, so I hope this works out for the best!

• A short story anthology is up in the works with two of my #romanceclass classmates. I'm very excited about this project and we hope to get this done in Q1 to release  sometime within Q2.

• #buqosteamyreads - I've joined yet another writing class, and hopefully this will take my contemporary romance work another notch. This is a short story writing class with author Mina V. Esguerra, sponsored by Buqo.

Just by looking at my list of to-dos, I just realize that wow, I really have a lot of things going for me. I guess the universe is telling me to stop procrastinating and start working. :) And yes, I will get these done!

Transitions

See you in the next life, buddy. You will be missed.

I learned today that Coco, one of the stray cats I take care of, has passed away. The last time I saw him was a few days after Christmas, and he was lounging around near one of the neighbors' houses watching people pass by. Being a stray and an un-fixed cat, he would usually acquire a few wounds, but it was nothing fatal that he couldn't handle. I usually fed him, along with Scrappy and Momma Cat, in the afternoons, but I found it odd that I hadn't seen him around for the past couple of days. I thought it was probably that time of the day when he's in heat and he goes around the neighborhood looking for female cats. I thought it was just one of those things. But I was already feeling anxious.

My mom informed me today that the neighbors saw the body of a dead orange cat a few blocks away from our house. They thought it was a dead rat because of the bad smell, but found the body when they tracked it down. I'm not sure whether they threw the body away or buried it. What makes me sad is the thought that they may have thrown Coco to the trash instead of burying him; I know I would've if only I was there when they found him.

I've never felt a loss like this. We didn't have any pets growing up, and it was only until I was earning my own keep that I got to have pets around the house. I know they will eventually pass on, as all living things do, but I just feel bad not knowing what happened why Coco died so suddenly. I will miss the times he would look up and ask me to pet his head, or the times when I'd call the cats and he'd be the first to come running. He was the first stray who warmed up to me after giving them snacks and treats on occasion until I finally took to feeding them on a regular basis. I miss him already and I know his passing will leave a hole in my heart. I don't think I'd be able to look at a ginger cat and not think about Coco, but I hope wherever he is right now, he's also thinking about me. 

Safe travels and see you on the other side, buddy. I'll take better care of Scrappy and Momma for you.

Blog Tour Thanks + Holiday Greetings

First off, I'd like to thank everyone who participated in The Real Score + In Over Her Head blog tour from the organizer, Dia, to the gracious book bloggers, and the amazing people who joined the giveaway. Congrats to Henley, the winner of my awesome swag bag. I'll be sending your prize once the courier resumes business operations. :)

I'd also like to thank the people who've bought, read, and reviewed my book! It's been such a great year for me, and your support is a huge part of this gratitude in my heart. I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Holidays! Here's to the coming year filled with more great surprises!

Photo from christmasxcite.com

The Real Score Blog Tour: Author Interview

Music has been a central theme in The Real Score, with no less than a boy band as part of the cast. Read on about the author's thoughts on music, fangirling (yay!), and some deets on the sequel novel!

The Real Score Blog Tour: Excerpt Reveal

Welcome to today's blog stop (and my first time to join a blog tour) for The Real Score!

Just a brief note: The author and I were classmates from Mina V. Esguerra's #romanceclass (and we have a common friend...small world indeed!).

About The Book

 The Real Score by Kesh Tanglao

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Caitlin's friendship with Marcus, the de facto frontman of the world's biggest boy band, Gezellig, has long been an object of scrutiny by almost everyone--their friends and families, the media, and his fans--ever since they "went public" a couple of years back. Who wouldn't be interested? She was a nobody, catapulted into the limelight of his fame when he struck an unusual friendship with her.

To both Caitlin and Marcus, what they have is a "perfect little thing." But then something comes along and threatens it.

In a no-holds-barred interview, will they finally be forced to settle the score?