Mina V. Esguerra's Blog, page 25
April 17, 2017
April 14, 2017
Recipe for Better At Weddings Than You
“Where do your stories come from?” I’m often asked. Usually I don’t really know, but for this book? I knew.
First prompt:
@minavesguerra naisip ko lang, sana may book din si Daphne (^_−)−☆ Hihihi
— Caryn P.Santi (@arkiCpsanti) October 21, 2015
Second prompt:
A post shared by Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) on Jul 22, 2016 at 1:45am PDT
On this day, before rehearsal started, Salve suggested to Migs that he should be a wedding planner. Other things happened but the idea crawled into my head and stayed there.
Third prompt:
A friend sent me a link to this NY Times article thinking I could be inspired by it: China’s Cheating Husbands Fuel an Industry of ‘Mistress Dispellers’. It did inspire me in an unexpected way. I didn’t really want to find a plot bunny in the actual story because I couldn’t root for anyone in that situation as described, you know? But the idea of knowing someone who’d be that manipulative was all that I needed.
With all of that in place, all it took was having pieces fall together, and I had my characters and plot. Choosing this to be Daphne’s book also gave me the chance to explore a couple of things I had been waiting to — primarily, what this kind of romance novel would feel like when both main characters are over thirty.
I thought it would be difficult, since I was writing New Adult and the younger side of adult romance for a while, but Daphne and Aaron were a relief! They totally were. I’m in my thirties, and these are things I’ve talked about. Or thought about. I won’t say which is which for now. Daphne was a minor character who didn’t start out having a solo story, but I wanted that when we check in on her years later we see that she’s doing just fine. There’s no need to feel sorry for her — we don’t get to tell her what her timeline is for things.
So yes, this book is my love letter to thirtysomethings, and everything else that I put into the book. I hope you pick it up! It’s the 9th Chic Manila book but it’s a standalone, and you can catch up on the other books any time. Links to get the book here.
March 30, 2017
March 29, 2017
Better At Weddings Than You
Daphne Cardenas is the best wedding planner around, and everyone knows it. That’s why her friend Greg hired her as an emergency replacement one month before his wedding—because he fears his fiancée Helen is falling for the guy they first hired for the job.
Aaron Trinidad is new to the wedding industry but years of conference planning and loads of charm make him good at it. Really good at it. Planning the wedding of his friend Helen should be easy, and it is. To be unceremoniously fired isn’t good for his new career, but the chance to learn from the best might be the silver lining.
Aaron and Daphne have chemistry, but there’s history with Helen that at least one other person considers a threat. Who’s the planner who can fix this impending disaster?
(Part of the Chic Manila series, but can be read as a standalone.)
Buy: Amazon Print (Philippines)
Better At Weddings Than You blog tour! Thank you for helping me spread the word about the book! Posts compiled here:
Lacy Literary: Cover Reveal
Tara Frejas: Cover Reveal
Something Maybe This Way Comes: Cover Reveal
@romanceclasstrash Instagram: Cover Reveal
@readbyher Instagram: Cover Reveal
Miel Salva: Feels Blog (Review)
Idle Hands: Review
March 24, 2017
#AprilFeelsDay2017! April 30, Urban Turf, U.P. Town Center
We’re at it again this year! Visit our #romanceclass event at U.P. Town Center. Watch live readings, and share the feels as we launch LOTS of new books! Facebook event page is here. Watch out for the #AprilFeelsDay2017 updates on Twitter too.
March 11, 2017
March 10, 2017
That Kind of Guy (2017)
New edit, new scene, new cover! Get That Kind of Guy if you haven’t yet!
Yes, it’s true: “Good girl” Julie Crisostomo dated that guy Anton Santos for almost a year.
Julie is everyone’s loyal and concerned friend, but she has no experience being someone’s girlfriend. Then Anton, a “player” she never thought would be interested in her, swoops into her life and doesn’t seem to want to leave it.
Anton has dated a lot of women and is everyone’s “delicious distraction.” But he seems to have fallen hard for Julie—if only she believed him.
(Part of CHIC MANILA series, but can be read as a standalone.)
Buy links: Amazon Print (Philippines)
Get it Free if you have a previous edition. Code is the shape of the infinity pool in chapter 20.
Cover designed by Tania Arpa, with photography by Alexandra Urrea, featuring Rachel Coates and Jef Flores. Styling by Alex Lapa and Nio Manzano.
February 25, 2017
February 16, 2017
February 7, 2017
#romanceclass at Ayala Museum, February 11, 2017
It’s a busy month for us romance people! But it’s all fun! See you on Saturday at Ayala Museum, ok?
