Tara Tries To Write

#MIBF2022, let’s go!

September 16, 2022 No Comments

As restrictions ease around the world, many in-person events have also returned, and one of these is the annual Manila International Book Fair or MIBF! Woohoo!

Although I’m a little put off by crowds by default (and even more so now because of the COVID-19 pandemic), I’ve been an avid MIBF goer since I started self-publishing in 2015. Sometimes I buy a bunch of books and stationery, and sometimes I come just home carrying the fun conversations I’ve had with fellow authors. Either way, I enjoy just being part of the experience, and I’m so glad I’ll be able to do that again this week!

Yes, folks~ I will be at #MIBF2022 representing #romanceclass as an author and reader. I have four books available at the venue:

The Writing Community

[ FRCA 2022 ] My babies are nominated!

September 8, 2022 No Comments

Well, what do you know ~ three of my books have been nominated for Filipino Reader’s Choice Awards 2022! This is the first FRCA in seven years, so you can imagine how very tough the competition might be. To be named as a nominee alongside friends and fellow #romanceclass authors feels so good, though!

Here are my nominated books!

The Writing Community

Free on Wattpad: Almost There

September 5, 2022 No Comments

Newly reinstated EG Project roadie Filipina Legaspi flies with her band back to the Philippines for Summer Crush, unaware of the emotional waves that engulf her when she sets foot in the beaches of San Juan, La Union.

This story first appeared in a three-part anthology called Summer Crush, which I co-wrote with Six de los Reyes and Jay E. Tria. In the Backstage Pass Series reading order, this comes third (Scandalized and Gabriel’s Checklist are #1 and #2, respectively). The happenings in this short story precede Play It By Ear, which came out in 2019.

Read it for free on Wattpad.

Tags: beach music festival, hidden relationship, hidden feelings, secret songs, band shenanigans, crossovers

KDrama, Review

Tara’s Thoughts On: Cafe Minamdang

August 31, 2022 No Comments

The drama’s premise was promising. I admit it got me hooked the first time I read it, and I was expecting a lot of Squad 38-esque hijinks, led once again by the brilliant Seo Inguk. But alas, everything turned out to be a hot mess from the third episode on. I came in for Inguk and stayed for Inguk, but honestly if I weren’t watch partying this with anyone, I would have dropped this very early on. (Thanks for keeping me company, Jay.)

KDrama, Review

Tara’s Thoughts On: Extraordinary Attorney Woo

August 31, 2022 No Comments

Thoroughly enjoyed this drama through its light and tender moments to the ones that made me hold my breath because oh-my-god-I-cannot-believe-this-is-happening-right-now. I don’t have the authority to speak on the autism representation in this drama, but I will say I appreciate that there were more people in Woo Youngwoo’s circle who were supportive and understanding of her situation. This is in comparison to the KDrama Good Doctor (2013), which featured the trials and triumphs of an autistic pediatrician new to the medical field. I had rewatched Good Doctor while waiting for the new Extraordinary Attorney Woo episodes to drop, and it meant so much to me that Youngwoo wasn’t surrounded by too many people whose first instinct is to yell at her for being different. This is not to say we didn’t meet characters like this, but compared to Good Doctor’s Park Sion, Youngwoo had better people on her side.