keeping miss kalila

Keeping Miss Kalila is FIVE!

April 7, 2025 No Comments

Do all of you ever feel like time has been running so quickly? I’m always in some kind of mild shock when my babies (my books, lol) turn a year older. Like…what do you mean Keeping Miss Kalila is now five years old?

I released Keeping Miss Kalila on April 1st of the year the whole world shut down because of COVID. We were in a very uncertain, very scary situation and I wasn’t even sure if releasing a new book at the time was a smart move. But I did, and after I while I received messages from readers who said they found comfort in Datu and Kalila’s love story, which made me feel like I made the right decision.

But a book is never too “old” for anyone who’s just discovering them, and here’s your chance to discover Datu and Kalila’s love story too. To celebrate the book’s fifth birthday, Keeping Miss Kalila is now available for only $0.99 on Amazon!

Buy Keeping Miss Kalila for $0.99 here!

Read a sample on Wattpad!

This special birthday sale will run until April 30, 2025.

Happy reading, everyone! <3

Events, The Writing Community

#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!

Featured, Personal, Writing

Strong female leads? That’s my thing.

March 8, 2022 No Comments

Do you know what I like about my favorite #romanceclass books? Apart from the fact that they have the swooniest (is that even a word) love interests, they also celebrate intelligent, beautiful, empowered women. From college students fighting for The Only Grant to musicians trying to find their voice to mothers juggling career, parenthood, and romance—we’ve seen it all, and not just in fiction! For every amazing fictional main character, there’s an amazing real-life woman living their best life, and I salute all of them today (Happy International Women’s Day!) and every day. You are all awesome.

Projects, The Writing Community

COVER REVEAL: Keeping Miss Kalila

March 22, 2020 No Comments

Here’s some good news for those of you who read and love my books: I’m releasing a new title on the 1st of April!

Keeping Miss Kalila has been in development since late 2018, but I only went full steam ahead in terms of writing the novel April last year. I wrote another blog entry about my struggles to finish it here.

But finally, everything’s on track and I’m very excited to share this beautiful, beautiful cover created by the amazing Miles Tan. This was based on the original photograph shot by Chi Yu Rodriguez (for @romanceclasscovers) which featured models Gab Pangilinan and Gio Gahol. Check it out!

With a job that she loves, an adorable senior dog, and a baby she fought hard to conceive on the way, life is going well for thirty-one-year old school teacher Kalila Rayos. That is, until her ex-boyfriend and first love, filmmaker Datu Alvez asks if they could try again.

Saying yes shouldn’t be too difficult. After all, she’s still also in love with him and Datu’s efforts to be there for her make her feel she truly has it all. But on top of her worries as a soon-to-be mom, a crisis that hits her school forces her to shift her priorities away from her own desires.

Will the one who got away be strong enough to stay, or will their second chance at love crumble and break her heart once more?

Please note the following content warnings for this book: miscarriage (backstory), casual sexism, and verbal and physical abuse from a parent.

This book follows #romanceclass guidelines requiring HEA/HFN for romance, and is Heat Level 3 (at least one “open door” sex scene).

Keeping Miss Kalila will be released digitally on April 1, 2020, but you may already pre-order a copy on Amazon. If you have already bought a copy, thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy reading Datu and Kalila’s love story.

P.S. If you’re posting about Keeping Miss Kalila on social media, please use the hashtags #romanceclass, #KMKNovel, and #ProjectDatu. ^^ See you all on April 1!