Tara Frejas's Blog, page 2

Everything I loved about SB19’s Simula at Wakas World Tour Kickoff

“Dam, ano’ng pakiramdam?” —was the question SB19 posed at the beginning of the show, with a cloaked ensemble of 70 or so dancers and singers on stage, chanting as the live band made the music swell to fever pitch. In front of them, a 55,000-strong crowd roared enthusiastically back at them. And if Pablo’s words were a battlecry, we made sure we were all heard: We’re all in this together, Pins. Let’s fucking go! On May 31 and June 1, SB19 mounted their most ambitious concert yet: The Simula at Wa...

Keeping Miss Kalila is FIVE!

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 rea...

Happy World Theatre Week!

This is a little late — I just learned over the weekend that World Theatre Week begins on the 21st of March — but hey, I didn’t forget! Happy World Theatre Week to all who celebrate, and as always, my hats off to everyone who works tirelessly to create wonderful theatre productions, onstage or off. You are all heroes to me. As you know, I’m a big musical theatre fan and I endeavor every year to catch as many shows as I can (as my savings can afford LOL) to support local theatre. I’ve seen Next t...

On safe spaces and success: My post-#PBF2025 musings

We had a favorite TikTok meme last week as we were manning the #RomanceClass booth at the Philippine Book Festival: “Bigla kang sumakses eh, pero istep by the step pala bago ka sumakses.” We used it to tease H. Bentham, who, after 8 years, was finally able to finish and publish his first full-length novella in time for PBF. And he didn’t just publish it, mind you — his book, Kiss Away the Goodbye was picked up by Blush Books for its Philippine print edition, and so many people came to the booth ...

It’s time for #PBF2025!

Hey hey, book lovers — the 2025 Philippine Book Festival is in A WEEK and I’m very excited! Why, you ask? Well, my friends, it’s because the Philippine Book Festival is the ONE big bookish event in the country that has Filipino-authored publications as its focus. So if you wanna get into Filipino authors and their works, this is THE event you should be at. This year, the Philippine Book Festival is happening on March 13-16 (Thursday to Sunday) at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall Building B. As...

Tara’s Thoughts On: The Sandbox Co.’s Next to Normal

Since discovering the musical in 2012 (Thanks, Aaron Tveit!) and falling in love with the material, I’ve dreamt of seeing the musical live — so of course I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. (I’m even watching a second time, duh.) Next to Normal is a rock musical that explores the effects of repressed grief and a crumbling mental state on an individual as well as the people around them. Created by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, the story revolves around Diana Goodman, a wife and mother struggl...

Connect The Hearts is now available for digital pre-order!

That’s right, friends! You may now pre-order your digital copy of my upcoming book, Connect the Hearts on Amazon! In case you missed it, Connect the Hearts is a collection of four short stories about the ways we find, forge, and foster our relationships using the technology available to us. Some of you who are familiar with my work will be able to meet familiar characters in these stories! And if you’re new to my work, don’t worry—I’m sure you’ll be able to enjoy these stories too. The ebook com...

COVER REVEAL: Connect the Hearts

So I’ve teased a cover for a new book the other time, right? And now it’s finally here! I’m so happy to share with you this gorgeous cover of my upcoming book, Connect the Hearts! Beautiful, isn’t she? I’m kilig just looking at it! About the book Connect the Hearts is a collection of four short stories that explore the many ways we find, forge, and foster our relationships using the technology available to us. Tech Week Makes the Heart Grow Fonder is about Erin and Ramon (Waiting in the Wings) n...

I have a new book coming out!

Yep, you read that right! I’m working on a new short story collection which I’m planning to release in March, and here’s a sneak peek of the cover that I’ve commissioned Filipino artist Lori Rebluna to create: Tara, what’s the new book about? It’s a collection of short stories, kind of similar with What If We Fall In Love?, but some of them are in epistolary form. If you have been following my publishing journey closely, you may have consumed some of these short stories in some shape or form in ...

Christmas Sale Alert!

We have a little over a week until Christmas, and for those of you who are still looking for presents to give your book-loving friends, family members, or significant others, here’s some good news: All #RomanceClass Blush Books are ON SALE right now at the Komiket Lazada and Shopee stores! Get my book, Scandalized, and other Blush Books titles for only P400 today until December 20! Komiket Lazada Store | Komiket Shopee Store Give someone the gift of kilig this Christmas — check out our books and...