Kwentillion: A Million Stories to be Told

Last weekend was the Summer Komikon and I don’t really go there except if I’m looking for autographs for some of the local series I follow, or if there’s an interesting launch. This time around, it was the latter, and I am very proud to say that it’s the first launch I attended where I actually went onstage because I was a part of the project! :)

Kwentillion: A Million Stories to be ToldFrom the Summit Media page:

Kwentillion Magazine is the country’s first publication dedicated to young adult literature and media, featuring YA-themed comics and fiction by Filipino creators. The bi-monthly, black and white magazine (with an eight-page colored spread in every issue) features reviews and previews of young adult books, interviews with creators, and articles which tackle a wide variety of topics of interest to the YA community.

I co-wrote an article here with my friend Chachic about YA books in 2012:

Apocalypse Can Wait!

It’s not the first time I saw my name in print (I was in another independent magazine a few years ago :P), and I have been writing for Summit and other places online for a while now, but it’s quite nice to see my name in a project like this, something that I am passionate about. The other comics and articles are all awesome too — it’s always nice to read more local fiction. :)

The first issue is really a test run, and the next issue would depend on how well this first one sells, or how much buzz it generates. So! If you like young adult literature, or you want to read more about Filipino comics and fiction, Kwentillion is the magazine you are looking for! It’s available in National Bookstore and Powerbooks branches (last thing I heard, NBS Bestsellers in Galleria has copies) for Php 150. It has pretty good print quality too — I was surprised at the size of the magazine when I finally got my copy.

I’ll try to post a more comprehensive “review” of this issue later this week (promise to get rid of the personal bias over the project :D). I’m so honored to be a part of this project, and it was so cool to see it come to life. :)

Here’s a post from one of our editors about Kwentillion, and why he thinks this project is important. And then, you can also follow Kwentillion on Twitter or like the page on Facebook for more updates. :D

The Spark Project

Today I am over at my lovely lawyer (and all-around awesome nanay) friend Monique’s blog for the second installment of the new blog feature, The Spark Project.

After featuring her in my blog, it’s my turn to be on hers! This feature, as shown on the image, is really about *cue LOTR tone* the (one) book that started it all. :) Or in my case, several books. To be more specific, the book that started it all for me is a part of a series. Oh and it’s not Harry Potter or Twilight, if that’s your first guess. :P

Click here to read the interview!

Also, I am very flattered to read how Monique described me. :”> Thank you! Haha, and I love that she used pink on my name for the intro. And she even plugged my birthday too (in less than a month, eep!). :D

Again, thanks for the feature, Monique! And do drop by at her blog not just for the features but also for her detailed and honest reviews. :)

Win a signed Personal Demons ARC

I’ve been joining book giveaway contests left and right now, and until now I haven’t won anything. :( But I guess that’s what happens when good books are up for grabs, everyone gets excited and more people join and…well, hey, most of the time, it’s all about luck.

So here’s another one in hopes to get lucky! :)

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Last Wednesday, my WoW entry was Lisa DesrochersPersonal Demons. The first chapter excerpt was awesome and exciting (I am liking Luc already!), so now I can’t wait. So now I want to win that book.

Ergo, this blog post.

So yay! Lisa Desrochers is giving away a signed ARC of Personal Demons (as well as other books) for the month of July! Just leave a comment on this entry before noon July 30 (PST) — a question, a comment, say hi.

Here’s hoping I win it this time. :D Don’t forget, go visit this entry and leave a comment at this entry before July 30 to get a chance to win Personal Demons! If you win and I know you personally, can I borrow your copy? ;)

http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/2010/06/sneak-peek-personal-demons-chapter-1_29.html

Paranormal 5 Giveaway

The Simon and Schuster UK’s Big Fat YA giveaway has come and gone, and sadly, I didn’t win. But no worries, it seems like a lot of people are giving away books, including Reggie of The Undercover Book Lover (Not Really)! Her Paranormal 5 Giveaway is the most delicious giveaway I’ve seen yet — I’m not kidding. I mean, just look. She’s giving away ARCs of:

Plus 5 packs of gum!

That list contains two of my Waiting on Wednesday entries! And three other awesome books that are yet to be released! And gum! Yes, we musn’t forget the gum. :)

The best part? This is open to international entries — that means even I have a chance of winning. :)

The contest is open up to July 15, that’s more than enough time to send your entries in. Go, go, go!

Oh, and Feed giveaway is still ongoing, so residents of the Philippines, if you haven’t entered yet, you have until June 30 to enter!

Big Fat YA Giveaway from Simon and Schuster UK

We all love book giveaways, yes?

The Book Smugglers, one of my favorite review sites, is hosting Simon and Schuster UK’s Big Fat YA Giveaway. They’ll be giving away eight up and coming YA books, namely:

  • Passing Strange by Daniel Waters
  • The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
  • Night of Solstice by LJ Smith
  • Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1 and 2
  • Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (sequel to Hush Hush)
  • The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

This contest is open to everyone, just by commenting on their post! Personally, I’m most excited about The Replacement b Brenna Yovanoff. Look at the (UK) cover and blurb:

The Replacement by Brenna YovanoffMackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret – he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

Awesome, yes? Plus, finally, a male protagonist! It’s about time — it gets tiring to read about female protagonists. I want to read something about the other gender. :)

The cover kind of reminds me of an R.L. Stine book. Don’t you think?

Anyway, the contest is open to everyone (yay international contests!) until June 19th, so leave a comment to put you in the drawing! :)