The Writing Community – Page 23 – Tara Tries To Write

Design Talk: Book Cover Edition feat. Tania Arpa

January 6, 2017 No Comments

First and foremost, let me greet all of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! ^_^ I hope 2017 will be fruitful, productive and blessed for all of us! <3

Secondly, I will admit I dropped the ball on this one. Design Talk should’ve been done ages ago, but ~things happened, so everything kinda got put in the backburner. (I know, excuses.) But anyway, Design Talk is back–this time featuring a quick interview with Tania Arpa!

I’m proud to say I had the opportunity to have a book cover designed by Tania back in 2015 (why does that seem so long ago?) when I won the #StrangeLit Long-ish Form Challenge. She was the designer responsible for the cover of The “Forget You” Brew, and is also credited for some of Jay E. Tria and Mina V. Esguerra‘s book covers. Suffice to say, if you’re familiar with #romanceclass books, you’re probably going to know who Tania Arpa is. Interview after the jump!

Events, The Writing Community

#RomanceClass Made My Wish Come True!

December 16, 2016 No Comments

I distinctly remember that afternoon in June when Ana Tejano mentioned planning for a #romanceclass Christmas anthology. Without even asking for any other details, I said I’m all for it, let’s do it, go!

We didn’t know yet then that we were going to have a SURPRISE!event at Trinoma the next month, or a booth (A BOOTH!) and an event (AN EVENT!) at the Manila International Book Fair in September. And we certainly weren’t even seriously planning October’s #FeelsFest yet back then. All those three events kind of threw us authors for a loop, and before we knew it, Christmas anthology deadlines were only two weeks away! (HAHAHA. HA. HA.)

But hey, what do you know? We actually made it. <3 And boy, did it feel awesome!

Here are some photos from last week’s Make My Wish Come True launch:

The Writing Community

Your #RomanceClass Christmas Shopping Guide! (Part 2)

November 28, 2016 No Comments

Hey everyone! Hope you were able to find new books to give your family and friends this coming holiday season OR add to your growing TBR list with the first #romanceclass Christmas shopping guide. In case you’re still looking for something in particular, here’s another set of books, sorted by the profession their characters have.

Ready? Click on the Continue Reading button for the entire list! Happy shopping!

The Writing Community

Your #RomanceClass Christmas Shopping Guide! (Part 1)

November 26, 2016 No Comments

I’ve always thought books are the best gifts. (There’s also food, but that’s not the point.) Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been excited by the prospect of receiving books as gifts for any occasion, and I know there are people in your life who would squee at the thought of unwrapping their presents and finding brand spanking new books for them to read and treasure.

Which is why I put together this very special shopping guide for those of you who are looking to buy your family members or friends new, Filipino-authored romance books in English for Christmas. Or maybe you want to create your own wishlist, that’s cool too!

Take a look at these #romanceclass titles I’ve sorted according to different categories. And as you window shop, please take note of the following:

MC = main character
LI = love interest

Click on the Continue Reading button to view the first part of the shopping guide. Buy links are provided.

Peripherals, The Writing Community

Deleted Scenes | “FIVE: Time Out” from Hustle Play

November 19, 2016 No Comments

In time for the Emerald Pep Rally (Settle the Score/Hustle Play blog tour) happening this weekend, I’m sharing a scene that didn’t make it to the final version of Hustle Play.

Settle the Score/Hustle Play

SETTLE THE SCORE

College senior Garnet Figueroa lives and breathes basketball. A reliable asset to her varsity team, she is equipped with the skills and smarts to get the De La Sierra Lady Hunters closer to this year’s championship title. But Garnet soon finds out that her good friend (and long-time crush), cheerdancer Charles Crisostomo, is being cheated on by his girl, and she lets her emotions get the best of her.

Will she be able to come up with a game plan to save herself from heartbreak before the buzzer signals Game Over?

HUSTLE PLAY

Running on pure adrenaline and working with game strategies is something a basketball player like Garnet Figueroa is trained for. On the court, she is unbeatable. Off the court… that’s a completely different story.

Because falling in love is trickier than a ball game, and Garnet finds herself fumbling over her feelings for Charles Crisostomo. The fact that her attention gets divided between him and rival school hard-court hottie Chris Barcelo doesn’t help.

Or does it?

Buy Settle the Score/Hustle Play on Amazon
Order paperback
Add it on Goodreads

Click on the Continue Reading button to read the deleted scene, and why I decided to do away with it.