Mina V. Esguerra's Blog, page 2

Kiss and Cry, So Forward [new covers]

My romances featuring Filipino figure skaters and hockey players, Kiss and Cry and So Forward, have new covers!

This edition features new cover art by Enid Din, and title design and layout by Carla de Guzman. Now available on Amazon, Gumroad, and Ko-fi.

Kiss and Cry: Amazon | Gumroad | Ko-fi

Calinda met Ramirez when she was 20 and he was 22. She was the rising star of women’s skating, and he was the superstar forward of men’s hockey. Her parents and coach were against their relationship, and because Calinda wanted to prove that no hot guy would ever distract her from her dream, she chose skating over him — and also avoided him all together.

Ten years later, they meet again as gold medalists and prominent sports advocates, still single and undeniably attracted to each other. It’s still not a good time for them, because Ramirez is retiring from hockey and moving back to the United States. Calinda doesn’t do relationships, really, and proposes they use his final three weeks in Manila to explore what might have been, and do all the things they wish they’d done (there’s a list!). Then he can leave for good, and they can both move on with their lives without this one regret.

So Forward: Amazon | Gumroad | Ko-fi

Colin Valerio has been performing practically all his life. From national team figure skating, to underwear modeling, and now posting (shirtless) selfies daily for his adoring audience. Many don’t know though that at 29, he’s quietly earning his MBA degree—that is, if he can fix his final paper. It’s got too much heart, not enough business.

National hockey team medalist, outstanding young professional, MBA prof on leave…Lexa Lorenzo is determined and driven, and did all that by age 32. She should be her family corp’s next CEO. But she’s all business, not enough heart, and her mentor/boss/aunt wants her to be more accessible, approachable, “charming.”

As luck would have it, Lexa’s alma mater calls her in to help a graduating MBA student—and it’s Colin Valerio, fellow winter sports athlete, walking/talking ball of charm. She has the sports and business background he needs. He is a natural at all the things she’s told to improve on, and may be able to teach her a thing or two. Let the lessons begin.

If you already have the previous edition, how do you get the new ones?

If you bought the ebooks already on Amazon, you don’t need to do anything. The covers will switch over to the new one, it just takes time or a refresh/redownload sometimes. (If you love the first edition photo cover and don’t want to lose it, email me with your Amazon receipt and I’ll send you a digital copy.)If you bought the ebook through Gumroad or Ko-Fi, you will have access to the new cover as well as the previous one. Just go back to your library/book page and download the new file.

Starting July 2025, only the new edition will be available in print via Amazon or other international retailers.

In the Philippines, both print editions will be available at the same time. Order the new edition here. (Or wait for it to show up at Komiket, Magdamag Market Cafe in QC, Collective Base Complex Greenhills Promenade, and our other retail partners.)

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Team Mango Summer, we have an update

TL;DR We’re producing an audiobook!

In 2019, we started pre-production to adapt Agay Llanera’s Mango Summer as a web series. There was a crowdfunding component, through this site. We didn’t get to raise a full amount for a web series, but we had plans for how to get the rest of it. Some plans included fundraising events/dinners, approaching other prods. We were supposed to start filming in the first quarter of 2020. We had attached lead actors, a director, screenwriters, and a production team.

We did not get to start production in 2020. (Because of covid, in case people forgot.) In 2021, another production company took over development of Mango Summer as a series or film adaptation. I’m confident this will happen, it’s just a bit beyond my control.

What do we do that’s a bit more in our control? That can get some members of the core team back and working on this? This week I sent an email to the fund contributors, and told them the new plan –we are producing a MANGO SUMMER audiobook. (If you contributed to this, please check your email–it includes refund options too.)

Why an audiobook?

– It’s a format that’s accessible, and has always led to more readers and more immersion in the story. (Personally, audiobooks helped me in 2020-2022 when I found myself unable to read a full book–if it was in print or an ebook.)

– It’s a format that can involve our friends in the performing arts community again. We’re absolutely working with human narrators. Who are Filipino. If you know anything about the audiobook industry, our voices (and correct pronunciation) are woefully underrepresented there.

– It’s a format that we can stream.

Agay’s book is gorgeous. I think we should experience it in all the formats.

Buy Mango Summer here (Amazon link, CW grief, recent death of parent).

If you want to help us produce more audio editions, “buy me a coffee” here: ko-fi.com/minavesguerra (put AUDIO in the message field).

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Sunday Writing Sprint at Common Room Mess Studio [post-event]

Some of my photos from the June 29 Sunday Writing Sprint with RomanceClass, sponsored by Komiket, at the Common Room Mess Studio, ground floor The Atrium of Makati.

The Blush Books edition of my book Better at Weddings Than You is available at Common Room!

Seven of eight Blush Books on display at Common Room.

My trusty 20-minute hourglass, stamps for everyone, our books with the centerpiece flower things, stickers I bought from Common Room that we gave away as prizes to the authors, each author’s project and writing session targets.

Some photos from Komiket:

Sunday sprint group! Thanks, everyone!

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Currently #19

1. RomanceClass authors are giving away 14 titles FREE until June 29! Go here for the list and links: romanceclassbooks.com/free.

Here’s the list of all titles:

Fake Date Number Three. A friends-to-lovers short story from me. Tame the Kitten by Bianca MoriLove at First Run and Home at Last by Angel C. AquinoIf the Dress Fits by Carla de GuzmanYour Heart, To Go by Tara FrejasLove to Meet You by Jay E. TriaThe Billionaire’s Game by Ansela CorsinoUntil You by Ana TejanoTake Two by Kaith CimafrancaComfortable and Familiar by H. BenthamPameowmanhikan: The Propawsal by Danice Mae P. SisonAnother Word for Happy by Agay LlaneraAlter Christus by Catherine Dellosa

If this is a lot and you feel overwhelmed, I recommend starting with the Amazon books because those will revert back to paid automatically and depending on the time zone might switch back at different times on June 29. If you see those free, download agad!

2. We have more news — and possible Philippine distribution??? — about the adaptation of Carla de Guzman‘s Sweet On You! It’ll be released as Recipe for Romance and will be out this year! Variety article here.

3. I’ve started posting chapters of My Usual and You again on Wattpad. I had started doing that last year, and then I panicked and unpublished it. Yes, I still get anxious about letting people see my drafts, and I’m also constantly telling myself to get over it. I mean yes readers may see things before my editors find them. Many writers are okay with this situation. I should get over myself!!! LOL. And I want to get over myself again because posting the chapters on Wattpad does help me commit to a schedule, and focus on writing and finishing the book. Let’s go, Erika and Daniel, let me give you your HEA now.

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A talk and a workshop in Davao [post-event]

On May 31, we did a talk on writing and publishing, and a workshop on writing contemporary YA, NA, and romance in Davao City. Grateful to everyone who attended, were so generous with their attention, and then shared (some shyly) their work that I tell you could be books we’d be reading and loving! I’d one-click!

We also got to talk about the money you can expect from publishing, which is always a refreshing question to get, to which there are only sobering responses. But that opens up discussions for what can be better, and where there’s hope. (Spoiler: Hope is in digital.)

There was time for food and chika before I got on my flight back and the idea came up that when I come back to Davao (when talaga not if) later this year romanceclassbooks should be launching a book BY Davao writers. I said yes we can do that, who’s ready?

#RomanceClassDavao (a project with Bookbed) starts today (June 16) with 11 authors participating. Can’t wait for everyone’s stories! #RomanceClass

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bibimangkiguesthouse, glasshousecoffeeph

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Love letter to What Kind of Day ($0.99 sale May 2025)

This month, my politics-adjacent book is on a $0.99 sale. WHAT KIND OF DAY is about a senator’s speechwriter on the day he is fired, which he spends wandering around Manila on a tour that he accidentally joins. The tour guide is Naya, who was also formerly with government tourism, now a struggling freelancer after she “rage quit” in the middle of a project.

I love this book. It contains the remnants of a West Wing-like series I had been planning, which I couldn’t write because by 2016 I honestly stopped caring about most of the characters. But then, in 2017, while sitting in a tour bus in Japan, this story showed up almost entirely complete in my head. I love it when that happens.

Everything about the book has been fun. Planning a tour based on real Metro Manila destinations. Designing the book with a map of Manila by @artofshai. Incorporating a touristy art workshop in the book and then having @januszate create the art for real. Doing a photo shoot with Bibo and Graie via @romanceclasscovers, and then having that cover featured in a landmark Publishers Weekly article about representation in romance. Filming a short with Gio and Gab (it’s on YouTube). Creating a pandemic-era epilogue for my characters via web series Hello, Ever After with Rachel and Rap (also on YouTube). It is still one of my bestselling books, and I just love everything about it.

Including and especially the part where my main characters stand up to their bosses, yell at a senator, plot against a shady political player. If I was going to write about politicians again, it was only going to be like this.

If you don’t have it yet, get it on Amazon, Kobo, Ko-fi, Gumroad. The PH print edition has the Make Good Days postcard–order that from me minavesguerra.com/books/buy-from-mina

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Dumaguete Literary Festival 2025 [Post-Event]

I had a wonderful time at the 2nd Dumaguete Literary Festival, and it’s taking me a while to figure out my feelings. I’d rather write this down now though than lose the (imperfect, inexact) words I do have.

Let’s start near the end, at the closing dinner on Sunday night, when I was asked to speak, and I said something like: I’m thankful for the welcome, for two years now, at this literary festival, set in a city that we’ve long associated with the kind of literature that does not recognize romance.

I have not encountered a lot of Silliman National Writers Workshop fellows in my romance genre orbit in my 16 years as a published romance author. Many of the Dumaguete and Silliman (and let’s face it, all the national writers workshops) writers have never sat beside, talked to, seen, much less read the work of, a romance author, in all their respective years of being in the book industry. Of course we’re aware that the other group exists; they’re just neighborhoods we never visit.

I said that this particular group (DumaLitFest’s organizers Ian, Gayle, Ernest, Renz, Tara, now plus Kaycee) made me feel that romance has a seat at this table. I felt so welcome last year that I started making plans for RomanceClass being more involved in 2025 even before the 2024 festival was over. Cut to the closing dinner in 2025, and the group from RomanceClass didn’t just get a seat, but an entire table.

What would a romance author do at a literary festival? As it turns out, several things.

1. Sell books.

Okay, so I told the authors to manage their expectations about being able to sell books there. I didn’t feel like there was a lot of demand for romance books last year, but that’s different now because this year, people were looking. My giveaway copies were gone in a flash. We didn’t leave books with the host bookshop Libraria as soon as we arrived and were told to fix that. (LOL) Our book covers were part of their lovely decor.

I was wrong, and I’m glad to be. I still don’t think an author should be there because they want to sell a lot of copies, but you’ll probably sell a couple.

2. Attend panels, talks, launches.

I’m still in my saying yes to events stage, and I’m seeing how it’s been helping RomanceClass as a whole. The books are finding their readers, the authors’ wonderful awesome work is being recognized, we get to see what’s happening in other parts of the industry and we can learn or help as needed. I also like paying attention when someone at the top of their game reveals what they don’t get or don’t have. There’s so much we need to fix in the literary and book industry, and a lot of on-the-ground info is shared at panels and event interactions.

So yeah wouldn’t it be great if these events could be a place where solutions happened? Blush Books; Vida New Adult; consignment at Mt. Cloud (Baguio), Lost Books (Cebu), Tibok Bookstore; countless good things we’re part of came to be because of people who show up to events, are candid and clear about the support they need, and people step up to say we can do this and that together.

*I had taken a break from doing this pre-2020 because being present also put me in spaces where some people are only interested in romanceclass to take advantage of us in some way, and that’s still the case! Everyone should absolutely be wary and take care but being a consistent presence helps build trust.

3. Represent our genre, process, and community.

Guys, I get it. Some of you can’t/won’t write HEA. I’ve been to Dumaguete to speak about being a romance writer three times (2015, 2024, 2025), and each time, I’ve met someone who was there as a literary writer but was actually or was also interested in writing romance. And I am going to be there for those people, sharing what I know and what works for us. The graphic above, created by artist Kiko Miranda, is a visual synthesis of my romance-writing workshop and it captures my intro to RomanceClass perfectly. I believe in what we do and the process we’ve created, which helps a lot of people and gets books made and published. I’m so glad Dumaguete is a welcoming space for it.

This has also been 12 months of me hearing from people that their writer friends or colleagues don’t like how we’ve been moving in “their” spaces. That’s hilarious to me, because we (romance authors) are not doing or saying anything new. But I understand that a bunch of them (literary writers) don’t read, don’t know, don’t interact with romance writers and we actually represent a huge part of the literary community. Their loss, truly.

Speaking of taking up space: I think it’s time for serial fiction, online fiction, fanfic, and Wattpad to be at these events. Like us, these are groups that are wildly successful and supported, but not present for one reason or another. I’ve helped program panels with authors who can speak about this for years, but I hope they also regularly join and step up as speakers at other events as well. This community is directly plugged into active and enthusiastic young readers — surely when discussing a reading crisis among the young they’ll have valuable insight.

4. Connect to the community.

Our favorite part of every RomanceClass event, the live readings, is also a learning experience for us as authors actually. It’s why we like to try new things here. We’ve been holding live readings for almost ten years now and we’ve learned so much from every iteration. For DumaLitFest, the idea was: What if in Bisaya?

And it was beautiful, okay. I’m going to let people who attended have their feelings and tell me what they thought of it, but I personally felt from rehearsal to actual performance day, that we had created something special here. It was one of those ideas that came to life because of people who said yes, like Beryl Delicana of Dumaguete whose translations were used for most of the readings. She’s never been to a RomanceClass event in Manila I think but I like to remind people that she joined the class and community in 2013–she’s been around as long as anyone and has been reading my books for longer. Thank you also to romanceclass readers Jera S and Cha M for supporting this.

And while we love our regular actors in Manila, they shouldn’t get to have all the fun lol–and it was such a pleasure to work with local actors from community theater group YATTA. Jon Quizo, Kelvin Lim, and Annie Calunod were all at once actors, accent/language coaches, the test audience for this um, bilingual landian. Their reactions at rehearsal were so helpful and validating. Avy Ticzon is a reader/romanceclass participant from Manila who made her live reading debut in Dumaguete. Jef Flores and Jade Albert are our regulars who said yes to getting on a plane to read romance in a totally different city.

This was such a fun project. Thank you DumaLitFest for giving us the time and the wonderful venue. And thank you to RomanceClass and friends for contributing to the fund that allowed us to give honoraria (honoraria!) to our actors and translators.

5. Eat.

Highlights of this visit: The Dining Room at The Henry Resort, Unwnd Boutique Hotel, Lantaw’s seafood tower, Esturya, Brunch Club Bakery, Ando’s Ice Cream.

And in general, visit Libraria Books and the Arts & Design Collective Dumaguete at 58 EJ Blanco whenever in Dumaguete.

Thank you, DumaLitFest! See you again soon!

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Luck and a plan

I often think about how I wouldn’t have been writing and publishing this long if I hadn’t gotten lucky twice.

I call it luck because the situation could have easily been terrible. But instead, my first book was published under a fair contract and supported in all publishing aspects by Aurora M. Suarez, and then edited by Ines Bautista-Yao. It was a great experience. Many Filipino authors get a sucky contract and a not-great editor and they can’t do anything about it; it keeps people from continuing in this industry just from sheer frustration.

The second time I got lucky was when Fairy Tale Fail, my only self-published book at the time, soared in the Kindle charts after languishing practically unnoticed for months. I was ready to call Kindle publishing a failed experiment, and had sold my third book to my trad pub instead. And then the algorithm chose Fairy Tale Fail. It wasn’t the kind of money that bought the other indie authors their houses, but it was enough to convince me that I should just self-publish from then on.

A lot of people don’t get a second chance in the book industry, and I took mine seriously. I couldn’t base an entire career on hoping trad pub chooses me, and praying the algorithm notices me. I got two head starts both in Philippine trad pub and in international digital publishing–what do I do with it?

The long version of this story is this entire website, every single post. The short version is that I started thinking of books as projects, that had to earn back what I spent. Some books are slower to earn back/earn out. Some are faster and carry the others.

The chart above represents my books’ performance according to Amazon. I’ve circled a set of items (books) that have not made back on Amazon what was spent on them–but that’s just on Amazon. It’s not the only place where my books are sold, and some books do better outside of Amazon. But that’s always on me to keep track of opportunities for books when current ones are not delivering.

In 2025 it’s so important to explore all our options. I feel like I’m always saying “good luck out there” to fellow authors lately, but it does feel like such a hostile publishing world.

It’s good to have a plan.

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Reasons why I finally started getting Philippine ISBNs

This year, I finally registered with National Library to be able to get ISBNs for my self-published books from them. I had not been doing that for years because Amazon KDP and Smashwords give free ISBNs, but then those editions don’t get counted as published in the Philippines. (Only based on how some institutions define “Philippine publication” because a book without an ISBN that I publish here is still a Philippine publication but anyway.)

Years ago I was asked what would convince me as an indie author to get PH ISBNs. I said I would consider it if it were online and free. The main reasons why I got PH ISBNs now in 2025:

1. It’s completely online.

2. It’s free.

3. If I wanted to be able to include my book in opportunities (like government procurement, etc) open only to Philippine publications, one of the usual requirements is a PH-issued ISBN.

I need to emphasize to fellow indies that our books are valid and real even without the number, and anyone selling us the idea that without it you’re fake…is just selling you something, and also doesn’t seem to care about actual craft. Ultimately the ISBN is a requirement to be able to scale or do more, but the good or bad book is still a good or bad book.

This is a reminder to some authors to get your ISBNs lol.

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RomanceClass2025 Signup, Q&A

I recently came from spending all four days at the Philippine Book Festival, and every day we had people come to the booth asking when the next class would be. I did not plan to hold any this year, but on the fourth day of the festival I relented and said sure, let’s do a RomanceClass2025.

Sign up here: RomanceClass2025. Form will close on April 20, 6 PM Philippines.

The class is free for accepted applicants. This will be mostly online so you don’t have to be in Manila. Will be a 3-month-long class, starting May 2. If you’re attending the workshop in Dumaguete, you get to skip the “read 3 books first” requirement.

For those who’ve asked me how to submit to Blush Books and Vida New Adult: All manuscripts finished during my classes and subsequently self-published books are automatic submissions. Start here, to be considered for our imprints.

This is a free class and I screen applications, prioritizing self-published authors and new-to-romance writers. If you already have a publisher or are affiliated with one, depending on who it is I may consider this training/author development and may charge for the time and access to the RomanceClass community. (We know we are worth it! We know what we are doing.)

AI may not be used at any point during the class.

If you’ve attended before, yes you can join again. And you can join again with the same book concept.

Reading RomanceClass books is required (with some exceptions but I will let you know if that’s you).

I will be periodically updating this page with answers to questions being sent in the form and my email!

Note: Some people have answered “n/a” in the form field that asks which RomanceClass books they’ve read. I will not be accepting these applications (unless I’ve informed the people that they can skip this part). But also–reading our books is a requirement before joining the class. How do you know I’m any good at this? If you hate the books then this isn’t a community you’ll want to learn from, and your story won’t find its audience with us as well. I close the form on April 20, so there’s time to read some of the books and decide if this is for you.

Q: What time are the classes scheduled po?

The lessons are delivered via email, with assignments submitted online. There will be at least one lecture but I’ll do that online or have a recording available.

Q: Are participants required to have an outline or summary of the story we want to write/workshop in RomanceClass?

Yes, the class still requires an outline, and actually a complete 30,000 word manuscript at the end of three months. (Not everyone finishes, but everyone has to submit an outline.)

Q: Can we use a pen name?

Yes.

Q: Will there be opportunities to meet in person during or before the end of the class?

Yes, I’m hoping to do an intro lecture in-person at least. And maybe writing hangouts every few weeks. And a party at the end lol.

Q: Is there a possibility to continue relationships with RomanceClass even after the class has ended, and maybe take on other roles such as an editor?

This is always a possibility and there’s more chances of it happening when people get to meet you and see your work and know they can trust you with their work! But yes, absolutely, we always need new editors.

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