Personal – Page 13 – Tara Tries To Write

Bayan o Sarili: Mamili Ka!

December 24, 2015 No Comments

So this was a thing that happened last Sunday. 🙂

I was initially apprehensive about attending the Heneral Luna DVD Launch because 1) it had been raining non-stop the day before (and we know what happens to the already congested roads when it rains) and 2) the venue was in Eastwood City, a place I wouldn’t know how else to get to aside from riding a cab.

So imagine my excitement when the rain let up on Sunday, allowing me to do a bit of shopping early in the afternoon before heading to Libis. I was so scared of being late for the 7:00 PM event that I rode a cab to the venue at around 4:00 and arrived 20 minutes later. (LOL, what traffic? Where? It was a miracle!)

Reporting for duty! In fairness sa bilis ng byahe ko! pic.twitter.com/4Gp7EFnrO7
— Tara 🐰 (@tarafrejas) December 20, 2015

Heneral Luna DVDs were being sold at the venue entrance for P699 (roughly $15) and I think I was one of the first ones to buy that day. The staff were still setting up their wares when I approached and told them to

Just kidding. I didn’t say that.

I did let them take my money though.

Personal, Photos

Gallery: Paper Planes Back Home Fancast

December 3, 2015 No Comments

A month ago, I had my very first blog tour which had me writing my very first guest post ever (this is a year of firsts, see?) and I thought of posting these little graphic cards I made for said guest post just ’cause.

You may read the entire guest post at The Bookwhore Diaries.

Events, Personal, The Writing Community

My #FilReaderCon Feels

December 1, 2015 No Comments

I revisited (part of) my old alma mater last Saturday, November 28, for my very first Filipino ReaderCon experience, and to say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement. Granted, it took me several years to return to DLSU-Manila, but I still wasn’t prepared for how different it looked. The Henry Sy Sr. Building was HUGE. Escalators and elevators were everywhere. When I attended college there more than ten years back, the only buildings that had an elevator (if memory serves me right) were the Saint Joseph and SPS Buildings. Gokongwei? Not so sure; I didn’t frequent that area of the campus even if there was a walkway connecting it to Miguel.

Anyway, I digress.

This year marks the 5th year of #FilReaderCon, and I am so glad to have been part of it. I would’ve loved to have participated in more of the sessions, but I was happy to have spent time at the #romanceclass booth anyway, helping to sell and restock books. Also buy them.

Personal, Writing

COVER REVEAL: The “Forget You” Brew

November 19, 2015 No Comments

*sings* Isn’t she lovely~

Back in September, I finished what was to become my second published manuscript, The “Forget You” Brew. It was part of a five-week long online workshop called #StrangeLit, in which we were taught the basics of writing in the paranormal/urban fantasy genre.

At the beginning of the workshop, a shiny perk was dangled in front of us: the promise of a pretty book cover, IF! 1) we finish a novella length manuscript (15K words and above), and 2) our story meets artist Tania Arpa’s standards. Only one story was to be chosen as the lucky winner of a book cover, and I remember feeling pretty competitive after the announcement.

Personal, Writing

The Paper Plane Tour Has Begun!

October 26, 2015 No Comments

Word of warning: I am struggling with an annoying headache as I write this. Possible incoherence ahead.
Oh who am I kidding? I could be incoherent without this headache.

My very first blog tour for Paper Planes Back Home officially began last Saturday (October 24), and I’m having mixed feelings about it. For one, the reviewers have so far been very generous (thank you so much!), which makes me even more excited and anxious to read the rest. Secondly, I did this interview with author Chi Rodriguez yesterday, and one of her questions reminded me of a certain second-hand sadness I thought I’d forgotten. I know I have another Q&A coming up but I’m not sure how that’d go . . . so I’m just going to brace myself for it. And the rest of the reviews the book will be getting by the end of the week, of course.

When I started writing Paper Planes Back Home in 2013, it never occurred to me that it’d go this far. This meaning making it available on Amazon, getting it printed in pretty paperback, and asking people to read it in exchange of an honest review. I didn’t think then that I was ready for something like this, and I can’t say that’s changed either. I can’t confidently say “I’m ready!” to receive praise or criticism for the work I’ve done, but went through with it anyway because I wanted to learn how to be.

Because aside from the technical aspect of writing, I also wanted to learn how to accept the bad with the good, and to see my work through another person’s perspective. Writing fiction is something I’ve wanted to do (and have been doing) for a long time, and now that I’m finding more opportunities, more targeted readership, it makes me want to hone my craft even more. It’s a journey to self-improvement, and for the enjoyment of readers who are now looking forward to getting their hands on my future work.