Racquel Sarah A. Castro's Blog, page 25
October 4, 2015
Day 5 – HeistClub Story
I have to focus . . Although I am not happy with my current word count, I am pretty sure I could pull it off because I have a big God. I also have my family and friends that encourage me to continue! Plus the tips from our mentors, what can be my excuse now?
Focus . . . focus . . . focus!
October 2, 2015
HashTag Heistclub
I decided to learn again. well, being new in Crime fiction isn’t bad at all. I must say that I leveled up as a writing student. I have my pink notebook and a black pen with me. (Thanks Mama Lelen!) Having a notebook, that’s new. ahaha. I hate my handwriting by the way. But I have to take down notes. It has been effective for me. I jotted the schedule, my schedule of submission, my thoughts about crime, the changes I made . . . It’s all there.
Sabi ko nga Kakaririn ko ito . . .
Well, I research possible theft cases and I have my first Title last Sept 17. But the lessons have been so helpful that i changed my first case, embezzlement. It is kinda new for me. So, I asked Michael, Mark, and other writers. They have been so helpful.
I even bothered my bundlemates, Jess and Yet. ahaha sorry guys!
I finished the first chapter. and soon the following chapters pa. I got 10 chapters in my outline. Let’s see how many will be added or deleted ahaha
I have to go! Got to write my opening sentence before calling it a day!
I have to say this and it’s kinda off the topic but . . . GIlas Pilipinas is on the FInals! oh i should blog about A great friday indeed!
September 30, 2015
September 29, 2015
JustWritePH-For Redemption [Review+EXCERPTS+Giveaway]
IT IS THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE JUSTWRITEPH BLOG TOUR! AND THAT ONLY MEANS IT IS OUR TURN! Take a glimpse on JustWritePH Blog Tour here
#JustWritePH—For Redemption
Authors: Jesse David, Yeyet Soriano, Cali (Angie Sanchez), and Racquel Sarah A. Castro
#JustWritePH-For Redemption’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ForRedemption
#JustWritePH-For Redemption on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26839475-justwriteph-for-redemption?ac=1
Buy For Only PHP 45.00 or $ 0.99 in buqo: Click here
Redemption doesn’t come easy. It involves hardship, righting wrongs, and making tough choices. This four-story bundle showcases characters who made wrong turns in life, and want nothing more than to make things right. Features “Era” by Jesse David, “Turning Points” by Yeyet Soriano, “A Fateful Encounter” by Cali (Angie Sanchez), and Encyclopedia Mystique by Racquel Sarah A. Castro.
Giveaway Time!
You can win a copy of #JustWritePH-For Redemption! Click here
REVIEW TIME!
Racq says:
I will give the bundle 5 stars! Aside from my story, I enjoyed reading the three stories. Dwelling on the past is the common problem with the protagonists in these stories and they were given a chance to correct it. It has moral lessons that you can learn. The different situations and choices the characters went through will make you say to yourself “Did I spend my time well?”
My thoughts of my bundlemates’ stories:
Racq on Era by Jesse David
I thought it was an ordinary story . . . Not until I reached Chapter 5. I said, “Wow! That’s a nice scene there!” Jesse has crafted a very great narrative. Upon reading, I realized the priorities Era had and how love transforms him. Just WOW! I also have this thought on how to get that drug for myself. And the ending is so satisfying. May Forever guys! (haha)
Racq on Turning Points by Yeyet Soriano
I love it when she started it with a princess! I cannot put my IPad down since then. I am captured! (haha) Choices really affects Sandy’s life. And the adorable Darryl, How can I forget? Well crafted descriptions! I really have this realization on how much time I wasted and how much time I spent with my love ones. Yeyet influenced me through Sandy.
Racq on A Fateful Encounter by Angie Sanchez
A Kilig thriller here! Spell BITIN! Let’s shout Book 2 please! I really enjoyed the first few scenes. I have to say that I can relate on what Sam has gone through the very first moment she saw Michael, the stranger. And How Michael gained her trust for a short period of time, allowing her vulnerability took over and how their relationship grown when he found out her secret!
Excerpts Time!
Era by Jesse David
What do we need to live this life to the fullest? For Era, it is money. He realizes that it is hard to live this life to the fullest without money. We need money to travel the world, to eat every food, and to live to in the most beautiful city. But what if, money is not the answer? What if you live your life the wrong way, and it is too late to turn back? What if you had a second chance?
Excerpt:
This story is about Era.
The story is about his lifetime, and also the meaning of his name is a lifetime. This person really follows a strict time when it comes to business. He wakes up on time. Go to his work on time, but never going home on time because going home is not part of the business.
A lot of people are like him. They love to follow a schedule. It is much easier to follow life on a schedule. It is easier to live if you know what you will do next.
Are you like him, always doing things on schedule? Exact time to eat, exact time to take a shower, and exact time to sleep.
The time now is 5:28 a.m., by exactly 5:30, his clock will alarm. He will wake up, go to the bathroom to take a shower, and brush his teeth. He will then have his coffee. After that, he will now proceed on leaving his unit at exactly 5:58 a.m.
He will now walk to the train station and arrived at 6:05 a.m. The train should arrive at 6:10 a.m. but we are not living in the perfect world or rather a perfect country that follows a strict time. It is acceptable to be for an hour late in this country.
The train arrives at the station at 6:23 a.m. which is totally occupied. To get inside of the train, you need to transform as Spartan soldier, this is one of the ways to get in the office on time with this volume of people. And since Era is a person that loves a schedule, he will ride this train even if only a single person is the only one that will fit in, but eventually 5 persons will try to get in. But don’t worry, with the magical push from the people outside, the 5 people will actually fit in.
After the train, he will then need to fall in line for the gate ticket. But with the volume of people in the line, Era estimated that it will take 2 minutes for him to pass the ticket gate and another 5 minutes to get in the building.
He could have a longer time to wait if the line for the elevator is long. Using the stairs could be an alternative but the time and effort will double or even triple.
Era works as an executive in an international company. He always makes it on time to go to the office but never going home. His dream is to live life to the fullest. Having this dream, he thought that he needs to be rich first before he can enjoy life to the fullest.
Connect with and follow Jesse David via these channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessedavidwriter
Turning Points by Yeyet Soriano
Imagine you were about to die, and you were given a chance to change something in your past and live for a few hours in the alternate world created with that change. Would you do it? What have you got to lose, right? What if you got stuck in that world, and although you have achieved all of the dreams you never pursued before, you lost everything that you’ve ever held dear? Sandy Garcia, a forty-something working mother of three, did just that. She wished she never met and married her husband, and she got to live in the world where she became a popular theater star instead. The trouble was, since she never met her husband, then she never had her children. Her entire life was different, and she started to realize that maybe she already had it good in her reality. Alex Marquez was a multi-hyphenated star—theater actress-singer-dancer-published author- professional photographer. On the road to success, she made a lot of wrong choices which left her single, with one child, in her forties, remembering the relationships she screwed up and the children she should have had in the past. Suddenly, she got the chance to live the family life since she got stuck in Sandy’s world. As both women navigate the intricate web of the lives they never initially chose to live, they question whether they still have a chance of getting back their own lives. What does it take to reclaim their real lives? Are both willing to do so? Will they succeed?
Excerpt:
“Hi, Sandy.”
I heard the voice. I knew the voice. Was I dead?
“No, you’re not dead,” the voice said.
I opened my eyes and saw him, my dear friend from very long ago.
I slapped him. I had no time to think; my hand had a life of its own.
Luca reeled from the slap. Served him right.
“Sandy . . .”
“Luca.”
We stayed that way for a while just looking at each other. I had so much anger and pain, emotions I thought I had forgotten about. How dare he show his face right now?
Oh, shit . . . this had to be a dream. I remembered I was on a plane, and it was crashing.
“Where am I?” I asked. I looked around and there was just nothing. Everything was white. “You said I was not dead, so where the hell am I?” I demanded an answer.
Luca still looked at me with a sad expression.
“You are in a pause state,” he said.
“A what state?” What the hell was he talking about? Why was I talking to Luca at this moment? And why would I believe him if he told me I wasn’t dead?
“Pause.” Luca enunciated the word. I heard it right the first time, I just didn’t understand it. I still didn’t understand now. I kept quiet and waited for him to explain.
“A pause state is when we get a chance to step away from time moving forward and just . . . take a breather.”
“A time-out of sorts?” I asked. Now I’m sure I am dreaming. This is ridiculous.
“You can say that,” Luca said.
“So . . . after this . . . the plane will still crash?”
“Ummm, yes, time will move forward.”
“Can’t we make it move backward so that the plane doesn’t crash?”
“It doesn’t work that way,” he said patiently.
“Then why the hell am I here?”
Luca breathed deeply as he stared at me. I was obviously still mad, but I couldn’t meet his stare. Memories were coming back, and I didn’t think I was ready to confront them . . . again. After all these years.
Connect with and follow Yeyet Soriano via these channels:
Email: yeyetms@gmail.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ysrealm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Yeyetsorianowrites
Website: http://www.ysrealm.com
A Fateful Encounter by Cali (Angie Sanchez)
A Fateful Encounter is a story about a college computer science student, Samantha, who just got back from an eight-month holiday. Not a single soul knows why she left in the first place – not her professors, her best friend Aimee and her closest group of friends. She logs in an online chat site and meets Michael, an engineering student from the same university.
Excerpt:
I continued to argue with myself quietly. I want ice cream. Do I really need ice cream? No. But do you want ice cream. Yes. Is it right to put yourself in danger for the sake of ice cream? No. But you want one, right? Yes. There you go. And there goes my logic. But in order to dig into my cravings, I must find someone to go out with me at this time of night. Now who’s going to be my knight? It would be wrong to ask for my friends after what happened earlier. My only available choice was Requiem. He offered to go out with me. Nothing’s wrong with accepting someone’s offer, right? I thought about it again. And again. It was unacceptable and irresponsible. Who goes out with a stranger, at night, for ice cream? I sat thinking of all the possible solutions for my dilemma. It wouldn’t be bad to trust someone, just this once?
[10:30 pm] Requiem: San kita pupuntahan?
[10:35 pm] Me: Nakatira ako sa may apartment sa dulo ng Emerald.
[10:36 pm] Requiem: Sige. Puntahan na kita.
[10:37 pm] Me: Ingat ka. Text mo na lang ako.
I suddenly became nervous. My heart started beating so fast that I could feel it could jump off my chest. Just because of a stupid craving, I invited a guy I didn’t even know over for ice cream. It was ridiculous. And idiotic. Aimee had already warned me before that nothing good comes out from meeting strangers. I could already picture out Aimee scolding me. I groaned. She is a very protective friend.
My legs are shaking from panic. I could feel my hands getting cold and sweaty. I couldn’t think right. What if this guy were a poser who might think of kidnapping me and holding me for ransom? Or worse, rape me and throw my body somewhere? I promised my parents to stay out of trouble, but I’m directly putting myself into a mess. No one except for myself knows that I would be meeting him tonight – not my friends, my family – absolutely, not a single soul. If something bad happens, no one would even know. I walked to the living room, then back again to the kitchen. I suddenly had the idea to send him a message that I have a bad stomachache and couldn’t get up. I was about to text him through WeChat, but a message appeared.
[10:46 pm] Requiem: Andito na ako.
I frantically rushed to the kitchen drawer to get my Swiss knife and pepper spray. I’ve always kept these in case of emergency. I placed both of them inside my purse along with my phone, my wallet and sneaked a peek frim my apartment window. There, I saw a person standing right outside the gate. For a while, I remained seated on the couch debating whether to go through with it or not. I gathered all my courage and closed the gates behind me.
“Hello,” a guy wearing a jacket and cap said.
“Hi,” I replied nervously.
“Tara na?” he spoke.
Connect with and follow Angie Sanchez via these channels:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorangie
Email: theangiesanchez@gmail.com
Encyclopedia Mystique by Racquel Sarah A. Castro
Amelia Agustin is a digital converter in the National Library of the Philippines by day and a digital artist by night. At 24, she supports Filipino Authors by buying and reading their works. She rates the books honestly but she didn’t have the courage to write a review. She has this habit of doing digital art inspired by her favorite scenes. She loves to go to Korea to visit Incheon, the newly proclaimed book capital of the world. She admires Jay Diaz, a popular newscaster/bachelor in town. Serendipity pulls them together in an embarrassing incident. Take a glimpse on where their relationship would go.
Excerpt:
“Techie geek . . . at the national library? Interesting!” He curiously stares at me. Well, I like geek reporters with glasses. That’s why I have a little admiration, okay, a lot of admiration for him. I have glasses too by the way. That’s a match.
“See you around!” I leave him with a quick glance and a friendly wave.
Toni sees me smiling and asks, “The smile is for . . .”
“I am going to the restaurant now. Bye.”
Toni grabs a bit of my hair and asks again;”Don’t you want to meet your crush?”
“I met him just a few minutes ago. Bye Toni! I am late.”
“Call me!” Toni shouts and to my surprise, I hear another familiar voice.
“Wait! Ms. Jiu Jitsu!” Jay Diaz runs towards my way. And he calls me Ms. Jiu Jitsu?
I display a what-do-you-need stare. Jay catches his breath while saying, “Can I get your name?”
“Her name is Amelia. Do you need her number?” Toni smiles at me. I stop walking. A thought bubble seems to come out of my head: Is he interested to get my name? Or maybe he will get my name to report me to my boss?
I notice that he is an inch too close to me. I turn back to hide my smile. He immediately pronounces, “Amelia! Wait.”
“Yes.” When I turn, he is closer than half an inch and our eyes meet.
“Can you wait for me?”
I curiously glance at him with narrowed eyebrows. He clarifies, “I mean, can I do what I have to do and go with you. This won’t take too long, I promise.”
I want to ask why but my inner self appears and verbalizes aloud, “Sure.” What are you thinking Lia? Are you sure about this?
I wait for him at the lobby. Mr. Villar sees me and asks, “Are you not going to the restaurant today?”
“I am waiting for Mr. Jay Diaz. He might feature our restaurant.”
“Hidden motives huh.”
“Yes sir.” I laugh.
“I’ll go ahead. See you on Monday!” Mr. Villar salutes me first before going upstairs.
At last, I spot Jay Diaz with his crew after 30 minutes of roaming the whole place. It is exactly 12:30 in the afternoon when we leave the national library. His crew, however, will take their lunch before going back to the place for another set of interviews.
I am about to get a cab when he shouted, “Hoy! Di ba sa akin ka sasabay.”
“Maka-hoy naman to. Sundan mo na lang yung taxi.” I get in the cab and wave farewell. While I can see him get in the car and follow the cab, I instruct the driver to take me to our restaurant.
When I arrive, I run as fast as I can. A staff greets me, “Good afternoon ma’am!” He probably observes my nervous-me-what-will-I-do glances and asks,”Ma’am Lia, sinu po tinataguan nyo?”
“Yung crush ko, kakain dito.”
“Si Jay Diaz, Ma’am?” He curiously says.
“Oo.” I intensely say with so much excitement on my voice. I ask, “Okay ba yung itsura ko?” I don’t have the time to wonder why one of my staff knows who my crush is.
“Yes. You look gorgeous.” My dad says while he and his business partner come and I pay respect to them by pagmamano.
Jay comes to me and says, “Huli ka!” He laughs and my dad clears his throat.
Connect with and follow Racquel Sarah A. Castro (That’s me!) via these channels:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rsacastro017
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racquelsarahcastro
Blog: http://www.racquelsarah.wordpress.com/
Email: racquelcastro2884@gmail.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rsacie
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11574447.Racquel_Sarah_A_Castro
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00RTBGT62
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/RacquelSarahCastro
Photos from Yeyet’s FacebookBonus:
Getting To know more about Team Redemption
Jesse David Yeyet Soriano Angie Sanchez Racquel Sarah A. Castro
Pictures:
Photo from Niki’s Facebook
#JUSTWRITEPH Authors at the book launch
While waiting for Niki, Let’s take a group picture! :)
Team Redemption
25 Random Things About Me
I am a fan of love teams… whether it’s onscreen or in novels.
I have this habit of daydreaming. If you see me smiling alone, you will know what I am doing.
I love eating different cuisines (Matakaw ako in short terms.)
I sing at the bathroom; if you see me going in the bathroom with my IPad, you will hear me singing after I close the door.
When I am writing, I often watch or listen to the TV
I love challenging myself on everything. From career moves to ministry decisions, i love to be hard on myself.
I love coffee, pizza, burger and spaghetti.
I love to plan the future.
My family and friends calls me Yayie, Yee, Racqs, Raxy, Sarah.
I love dogs.
My favorite colors are pink and green.
My favorite chocolates are Hershey’s Milk chocolates, 3 Musketeers, and M&Ms Milk Chocolate.
I love window shopping.
I buy what I need.
My money is for books and food.
In my free time, I play online games, research, eat (of course).
I love to praise God by singing. (Oh yes!)
I love tweeting in Twitter, posting on facebook.
I am a chatter. (well, not now.)
I have this burden on praying for people I know.
I have cerebral palsy but it doesn’t define me. It became my strong asset!
I am busy with research on my Heistclub story.
I started my very first crime fiction story!
I am busy thinking about my crush while outlining. (hi crush!)
September 28, 2015
September 27, 2015
Get to know more about Angie Sanchez
I met Niki in RWP’s Facebook Party where I hosted a time slot. I added her and we became friends. I was excited when I found out that she joined #JustWritePH. We became closer when we became bundle mates. I met her personally at the JustWritePH Book Launch last August 22. She even texted me and said that she was already there. Our rushing baby girl didn’t finished the launch party because she had to attend school work.
Finally, we met again at the MIBF and she dropped by to have our bundle’s group picture. (How sweet!)
Here is my interview to our bunso, Angie Sanchez, Author of A Fateful Encounter.
Racq: Tell me something about yourself.
Angie: Not your typical girl. I love relaxing a lot. I love destressing. I love watching and rewatching episodes of Gossip Girl, The Big Bang Theory, and other TV shows. I like reading. I love traveling. You get to travel to a whole new world when you read. (Grins)
Racq: Your friends calls you . . .
Angie: Niki. Nix.
Racq: Who is your favorite Author? Why?
Angie: Favorite author… I guess that would be Dan Brown. I’ve read most of his works and I just can’t put the book down until I finished it. I love his writing style. It’s a mix of action, thrill and a little bit of romance. There even came a point that I read three of his novels in one day. @_@
Racq: What is your motivation to become an author?
Angie: I want to achieve my dream on being able to publish a story.
Racq: What is your writing process?
Angie: I should be in the mood to write. If I’m not, I just can’t put anything into words. Basta if I’m in the mood, I immediately grab my pen and paper and start writing (smiles)
Racq: What is the first story you ever wrote?
Angie: If I don’t count my old requirements, then yes. This is my very first novel reaching 15k. (smiles)
Racq: Your story for JustWritePH, what is it all about?
Angie: It’s all about a college student, Samantha, who tries to move on from her horrendous past. But, as much as she wanted to run away from it, the past finally catches up to her present. In the process, she meets Michael from the same university.
Racq: When you are not writing, how did you spend your time?
Angie: I do different things. I watch, I read, I sleep. Haha. Or hang out with my friends (smiles)
Like her page on Facebook here
Personal Note to Niki:
Hi nix! I want to know you more so let’s bond when you have a lot of time. Thank you for the necklace! I love it! Take care bunso! I am so proud of you!
-Heart Heart
Ate Racquel
Get to know more about Jesse David
I met Jesse online when we were discussing our plans for the marketing. He was very quiet until I found out from him that he doesn’t receive any of our messages. I met him personally during the JustWritePH book launch. We became friends. (I hope)
Recently, we met again for MIBF with Yeyet and Niki. He is one of the nicest guys I know. (Promise!) While waiting for Niki, Yeyet and I kinda bonded with him and we kinda allowed him to speak more.
Here’s my interview of Jesse David, Author of Era.
Racq: Tell me something about yourself.
Jesse: I am fascinated on the idea of happiness.
Racq: Your friends call you . . .
Jesse: Je.
Racq: Who is your favorite Author? Why?
Jesse: Chuck Palahniuk. The writing style and how he deliver his story is not common. I find it amazing.
Racq: What is your motivation to become an author?
Jesse: I just want to tell a story.
Racq: What is your writing process?
Jesse: I create a plot for my story.
Racq: What is the first story you ever wrote?
Jesse: The title of the story is shot. It is about a poor guy that is living in the world of rich people.
Racq: Your story for JustWritePH, what is it all about?
Jesse: My story for JustWritePH is about a man that wants to live to the fullest. And to do this, he needs to earn as much money as possible, but his life revolved around on earning his money and forgot to live life to the fullest.
Racq: When you are not writing, how did you spend your time?
Jesse: Reading, chatting with friends and sleeping.
Like his Facebook Page here
Personal Note to Jess:
Hi. Thank you for your concern when we were in the MIBF. Hope to have more bonding with you. Want to hear your voice more ha. Take care and manlibre ka ahaha (Joke)
-Heart heart
Racquel
September 26, 2015
Get to know more about Yeyet Soriano
I met Yeyet online. We became close when we became bundlemates. We were discussing our plans for the bundle’s marketing strategies, JustWritePH Facebook Party, and this coming week’s blog tour. I finally met her during the MIBF 2015 and I must say that she was super like my sisters, so caring.
She always has a brilliant idea to share.
I sent my three equally talented friends (Jess, Yet and Niks as i call them) random questions and Yeyet answered it with all honesty. Here is our Q&A:
Racq: Tell me something about yourself.
Yeyet: I am a Sagittarian, married with 3 kids aged 15, 7 and 4 (the 2 older ones are girls and the youngest is a boy. I work in Johnson & Johnson as an Asia Pacific IT Manager and I travel a lot)
Racq: Your friends calls you . . .
Yeyet: Most call me Yeyet although school friends still tend to call me Mercy. Some cannot pronounce my nickname and call me YetYet instead. Some friends and family have pet names for me (as I do them) so I have weird names like Madds, Tink, Beaujest, YY, etc.
Racq: Who is your favorite Author? Why?
Yeyet: Stephen King. Because I love the way he weaves a story. He has a great imagination and I love that most if the horror happens in the mind of the characters.
Racq: What is your motivation to become an author?
Yeyet: I have always loved writing since I was young. I would write constantly even before I realized I could be an author. I wrote what I felt, what I was thinking, anything. When I was younger I wrote poems and songs as well. Now, I write because I just love to tell a story. There is alot going on in my head and if I dont write them down, I will go crazy!
Racq: What is your writing process?
Yeyet: Nothing really formal. I just write what comes to mind. But if I have a deadline and a specific story to write, I make an outline. But I write not based on the outline since sometimes inspiration strikes and I have the ending in mind before i write a beginning. I use the outline to determine the gaps…
Racq: What is the first story you ever wrote?
Yeyet: the first complete and coherent story I wrote was PIECES a novel about a young woman who had a traumatic past and a guy who helped her deal with it… wait i have to review it first… haha
Racq: Your story for JustWritePH, what makes it special?
Yeyet: It is special because it is semi autobiographical. Its about a version of me if I followed another path in life. It is my way of exorcising some of the demons of my life. Haha. Intense?
Racq: When you are not writing, how did you spend your time?
Yeyet: I spend time with the family. When i have alone time I read. I sometimes work on my photography–I am still.learning. I sketch and I listen to music. I love music. I also sing. But most of the time even when I am not writing, I am thinking of stories and sharing them with my kids before they go to bed…
Like her FB Page here
Personal Note for Yet:
Thank you for the friendship! I am hoping to get to know you more. I miss you! Let us Schedule a bonding when you get back! Enjoy!
– Heart Heart
Racquel
September 22, 2015
JustWritePH – For Love: Review+Excerpt+GIVEAWAY!
Week 3 of the JustWritePH Blog Tour. And we are featuring for love bundle! I LOVE ROMANCE!
Review Time
5 out of 5 stars for the For Love Bundle! The stories took me beyond loving. Upon reading the four stories, I want to buy many to share it with my friends.
Racquel Says On I still by Beth G: Well, I love the characters’ names! Denmark and Jamaica! The story is to die for. I experienced different emotions upon reading this story. I feel like I am Jamee who misinterpreted and believed in a lie! I still is really what I can relate with.
Racquel Says on One Sweet November Day by Amae Dechavez: I love reading in Tagalog. It is refreshing. Well, I felt like I am in UPLB or watching a documentary about it. The description of every scene is superb! And the ending! Whoa!
Racquel Says on Velvet Valentine by Griselle Bacalla: Magsi! I love neo na! as in. Every scene is well crafted. Ending it with another literary form… that is so wise! Good job!
Racquel Says on Sigh No More by Carla de Guzman: Hey Carla! I love how you crafted a multiple POVS! And the moments of Bea and Ben hay!
#JustWritePH—For Love
Authors: Beth G., Carla de Guzman, Giselle Bacalla, and Amae Dechavez
Buy in Buqo for only $0.99 or PHP 45.00 – Click here
GIVEAWAY TIME: You can win 3 FREE copies of JustWritePH-For Love Click here
Bundle Description: Love is never easy, but the journey to that happily ever after is what makes it worth it. Witness the struggles of these characters as they work their way through both new romances and second chances at love in this four-story bundle. Features “I Still…” by Beth G., “Sigh No More” by Carla de Guzman, “Velvet Valentine” by Giselle Bacalla, and “One Sweet November Day” by Amae Dechavez.
I Still… by Beth G.
Jamee is head over heels with Denmark. And after several years of not seeing each other, they meet again, and Jamee cannot deny the fact that after all those years, she is still in love with him. As their renewed friendship seems to progress, all while their common college friends hold a reunion for all of them, Jamee discovers the truth behind her heartache with Denmark years ago. Will she still surrender on how she feels for Denmark and give herself a chance on love? Or will it be too late?
Connect with and follow this author via these channels:
WordPress: http://bethgstories.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bethgonline
Sigh No More by Carla de Guzman
Beatrice and Claudia never thought they would see Benedick and Hiro ever again, not that they wanted to. But when the business opportunity of a lifetime hinges on Ben and Hiro’s work, they find themselves head over heels and crashing into the boys again. But why did they ever have to be apart in the first place? Can Hiro win Claudia’s heart back? Can Beatrice and Benedick ever stop fighting? This book is a modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Connect with and follow this author via these channels:
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/somemidnights
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/somemidnights
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/somemidnights
Website: http://www.somemidnight.wordpress.com
Velvet Valentine by Giselle Bacalla
Elizabeth Mariana Hernandez Cruz, a freshmen in St. Agnes Integrated School has only one agenda; to live the life she always dreamed about in school. She grew up from a small town and studied in a small sectional school until now. As soon as stepping into high school, she vowed that things will finally change. As young, careless and naïve Elizabeth struggles her way through her freshmen year and that changed until the day she meets Isaac D. Rodriguez, a third year senior who always dropped by in her classroom. Little did she know that this boy would be the catalyst of change. After long years of house arrest, watch her adventure to discover life in a different light as she experience friendship, love and reality. “Excuse me, are you by any chance, Sakura?” “How did you know about me?” Velvet Valentine’s Elizabeth will bring you places and memories you thought you’ve long forgotten.
Connect with and follow this author via these channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiselleMarisBacalla
WordPress: http://gpicks.wordpress.com/
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Gpicks
One Sweet November Day by Amae Dechavez
Nagtagpong muli si Ethan at Maylie. Sinong magaakala na pagkatapos nilang magkakilala at maging matalik na magkaibigan noong bakasyon sa Pila, Laguna ay magkikita silang muli? Sa saglit na pagkakalayo nilang dalawa ay lalong nilang napagtanto na mahal na nga nila ang isa’t isa. Kaya sa muli nilang pagkikita sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Los Baños ay hindi na pinalagpas pa ni Ethan ang pagkakataon niya. Sinabi niya kay Maylie ang mga katagang “Mahal kita.” “Mahal din kita” ang naging tugon ng dalaga. Girlfriend na Ethan si Maylie—first girlfriend. Ngunit magtatagal ba ang pag-iibigan nila?
Connect with and follow this author via these channels:
Website: http://amaedechavez.blogspot.com/
Email: amaeauthor@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/amaeauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amaeauthor
Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/amaeauthor
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/amaeauthor
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amaeauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amaeauthor/
Ask.fm: http://ask.fm/amaeauthor
EXCERPTS
Excerpt from I Still… by Beth G.
I SHOULD not have agreed with Greg.
I discreetly looked out of the glass window. The evening lights were blaring on the street and people were busy going in and out of bars, though I could not see any establishment in this area that screamed BAR. It’s Friday night, and instead of celebrating the end of a spectacularly tiring week, I was trapped in one of the tables for two of this seemingly high-end restaurant called Sernin’s, trying to hide my boredom. I haven’t been here, and I have never heard of this until now, and I was somehow grateful that I did. The food was superb and the ambience was great. Sitting across me was Carl. I just met him a few hours ago, and as much as I wanted to give him a chance to prove himself better, I was starting to regret agreeing into this whole idea of blind dating all together.
Earlier, I agreed to go out with Greg and Margot, two of my friends from Shön, the women’s magazine where I worked. But when I learned that Alex was also coming with them, I backed out.
“And why?” Greg asked sternly.
“I don’t want Alex pestering me the whole night,” I admitted.
“But Margot and I are planning to set you up with him!” he exclaimed.
“The more I shouldn’t come then,” I shrugged.
Then Greg went in front of my desk, put his arms across his chest and gave me The Look. The one he always gave me whenever he thought I was acting dumb or playing stupid. The one of the many things about him that made him so gay.
“You know, Jamee, why don’t you just go out with him and be done with it?”
I exhaled. I could not believe we were discussing The Reasons Why I Don’t Want to Go Out with Alex all over again. “Because number one, he’s not my type. Number two, he creeps me out. Number three, all the ladies here want him, and I don’t want to be in the way of their fantasies.”
“Is that so?” Greg sounded unsure, just like he always did whenever we talked about the subject. It was as if he never believed everything I said.
Well, it’s true. Alex had been asking me out, and I had been saying no. Sure, he’s the tall, dark and handsome type of guy that every lady in the office craved for his attention. Lean and muscular, like he could be one of those nude statues in Rome. It’s not that I was all into physical looks or anything. But like I said, he’s not my type. Or maybe it’s his muscles that crept me out.
“Yes,” I said firmly.
Excerpt from Sigh No More by Carla de Guzman
Right. Morning outfit selfie. Here we go.
I really looked awful in the morning, all messy hair and puffy eyes. That last beer really was a mistake. I adjusted the angle of my phone slightly, before I gave the camera my brightest, still-slightly-sleepy smile. I hadn’t really thought about what I was going to wear today (horror of horrors) and I ended up with my loose, ripped drawstring jeans, my favorite chunky sandals and a loose white shirt. It was going to be another hot day in DC, so a pair of plastic cat eye glasses went with the outfit. I put my hair up in its usual half-topknot and grabbed Claudia’s peach lip tint to swipe over my lips. I looked into my vintage full length mirror and snapped the photo.
“Beatrice Noble: Up and ready by 10 am and I’m already working,” I typed out on the phone’s notes. “Had a back and forth conversation with our printer regarding our new greeting card line while in bed, now heading off to meet with Claudia at Petit Jolie.”
That sounded good, didn’t it? I frowned little at myself in the mirror. I widened my eyes until I looked crazy and puffed out my cheeks. Gaze into the eyes of an underpaid, overworked, under-slept self-starter!
Claudia Crowne and I quit our jobs two years ago to start our baby, the Noble Crowne Paper Company. We started out with small jobs, making invites for relatives’ weddings, postcards and notepads. Then the next thing I knew, my life turned into a whirlwind of printers and paints, clients and meetings. Suddenly my social media posts were more important than times in and out, my 9 to 5 had turned into 24/7, and the voice in my head telling my that there was something inherently wrong with doing what I loved had finally dulled into a whisper.
Was it scary? It was still, in a lot of ways. Sometimes I think that it’s all been a fluke, or a dream of some kind, but then I check my ratty old filofax and the list of things I have to do just make me feel happy. It’s so weird.
One of the lifestyle blogs Claudia and I religiously followed finally responded to Claudia’s emails and asked for a ‘day in the life’ article from the girls of Noble Crowne. It was a big deal for us, and both Claudia and I were determined not to screw it up.
Which was why, when I arrived at Petit Jolie, I wasn’t at all surprised to see that Claudia was wearing a short, sleeveless tunic printed with orange roses, mums and little red flowers that I used to pick from bushes as a child. Claudia made that dress from a pattern I gave her when I was first starting to paint. Now almost every piece that we produced in our little stationery company featured my hand painted flowers.
“You couldn’t be just a bit more subtle?” I teased, kissing my best friend’s cheek as we sat on our usual table of the corner cafe. Claudia and I lived within walking distance of each other on Kings’ Street in Old Town, Alexandria, a little neighbourhood in Virginia that still had wrought iron street lamps, twinkle lights on the main street, small Victorian buildings, shops and boutiques just by the Potomac River. I loved our neighbourhood. It was so pretty and quaint, despite being a stone’s throw away from Washington DC. Petit Jolie was a small boulangerie in the middle of an American street and smack dab in the middle of the town. It was also where the idea for Noble Crowne was born.
Excerpt from Velvet Valentine by Giselle Bacalla
Do you still remember your childhood?
While you were a kid filled with curiosity about the world.
If you do, then everything new always made you feel like your heart was going to leap out of your chest.
Most of us thought that it was only temporary.
The excitement dies down as we grow tired of the feeling.
While our Parents would tell us that we should always calm down and wait, we would still find ourselves expecting for surprises.
It was also the same feeling for me, I guess.
When you started your first day of pre-school, where our parents held our hands tight as the moment sinks into them that their child is finally growing up.
It is in this moment we experience change.
Often times, children in these stages would drive themselves crazy of excitement while others feared the uncertain detachment of the normality that they grew accustomed at home.
Where meeting new people seemed like such a scary thing.
In these moments we find ourselves looking for support from our family, as they root for our success.
In these moments we are told that there is nothing to be afraid in going to school and that they are there for us when we fail. Even then we still feel that sense of uncertainty and because being young was all we were.
Our imaginations ran wildly and imagine the worst case scenarios and it is in these exact moments in our lives that define us without even knowing that it could be the very definition on how we can handle ourselves as we grow.
Unfortunately, not many of us had the same experience to hold dear in our hearts.
In this story told in a million ways possible through a series of different versions of your inner self. Travel back with me in time, as we remember our younger years together as youthful kids growing up into our ideal selves.
Excerpt from One Sweet November Day by Amae Dechavez
Hindi mapakali si Ethan sa klase niya. Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapa-sabi ng ‘mahal kita’ sa taong gustong-gusto mo na uling makita? Dapat nga noon ko pa nasabi ‘yon sa kaniya no’ng bakasyon sa Pila.
Pinanood niya saglit ang kanilang propesor na tutok sa pagsusulat sa pisara ng course syllabus nila.
‘So, ang ibig sabihin nito, may girlfriend na ‘ko…’ muni-muni ni Ethan. “YES!” Napalakas ang sabi niya ng ‘yes’ at nagtinginan ang lahat sa kaniya sa klase.
Tinignan siya ng masama ng propesyor at buti na lang at unang araw pa lamang ng klase kaya’t ini-dismiss pa rin sila, pati siya—nang maaga.
“Warning ha, Mr. Crisologo,” sita ng propesor niya.
—
Habang nasa koridor papunta sa kasunod niyang klase ay ini-text ni Ethan si Maylie, tinatanong kung anong oras ang bakante nito.
“Lunch break ko ng 11 am. Pero 30 minutes lang ang break ko,” text back sa kaniya ni Maylie.
“Eh hanggang anong oras ang trabaho mo sa library?” text muli ni Ethan.
“Hanggang 2.30.”
“11.30 pa ang vacant ko pero wala na rin akong klase ng 2.30 pm to 4. Susunduin kita mamaya d’yan sa library. :-D” text ni Ethan.
Excited na lumakad si Ethan patungo sa silid ng susunod niyang klase.
Hindi nagkakalayo ang gusali ng Humanities College of Arts and Sciences at ang Main Library kaya nang i-dismiss nang maaga ang klase ni Ethan sa Hum. ay agad siyang tumungo sa library.
Gaya ng inaasahan ay halos wala pang mga estudyante sa library sa unang araw ng school year. Ngunit gatambak at gabundok ang mga libro at babasahing kailangan isaayos ng mga empleyada at student assistants sa library.
Napatingin si Maylie sa may pasukan ng library dahil napansin niyang may isang lalaking huminto nang nakatayo roon, pinagmamasdan siya nang maigi.
“Ethan!”
“Shhh…” puna kay Maylie ng kasamahang estudyanteng empleyada.
Tumayo si Maylie sa kinauupuan at iniwan muna saglit ang pagsasaayos ng mga aklat base sa laki at paksa. Bago pa sila makita ng assistant head librarian ay hinila na niya si Ethan sa pagitan ng mga istante sa likuran ng silid-aklatan.
“Anong ginagawa mo dito?”
“Maaga kaming dinismis.”
“Eh bakit ka pumunta dito?”
“Eh namimiss na kita eh,” ngiti ni Ethan.
Pinigil ni Maylie ang puso niya. ‘Sana hindi ako namumula…’
“Ethan, may trabaho pa ‘ko. 11 pa ang break time ko.”
“Hindi naman ako magtatagal, gusto lang kitang makita.”
Habang patagal nang patagal, pahirap nang pahirap ata ang pagpipigil ni Maylie ng kilig at ngiti niya sa kakaibang epekto ni Ethan sa kaniya. “Mamaya na tayo magkita. 2.30, di ba?”
“O sige, susunduin kita.” Umakmang hahalik sa pisngi si Ethan ngunit pinigil siya ng hintuturo ni Maylie. Nginisian ito ng pilyong si Ethan at saka na umalis ang binata.
