#SparkNA Journey to Bravery

I signed up for the #SparkNA online class by Ms. Mina Esguerra because it's been almost two years since I last wrote a full novella. I thought I should join the online class to motivate myself to finish and produce another novella after my second self-publish book Forget Me Not for #romanceclass.

What I really liked about joining these online classes was that I was given a deadline which motivated me to meet them and produce something significant by the timeline set for us. Also, we were given themes/ topics to work on in these classes which was good for me since I usually get writer's block when thinking of what to write about. Somehow I get to have ideas pop into my head from these themes. Although I think two months to finish a full novella with a minimum of 20K words was a very short period compared to what was set for us back in #romanceclass. So it was really one hell of cramming and daydreaming in my head. I wasn't even sure I was going to finish it because of some unexpected events.

Around the time we were already writing Act One of our #SparkNA novella, I got chicken pox and was really feeling unwell. At first, I thought, "Is this a sign from God that I won't be able to submit anything for the #SparkNA? Maybe it just isn't meant to be." But then, spending only two days locked up in my room and still 12 more days to go until I can go out and not be contagious anymore, I saw the situation more as an opportunity for me to actually write since I don't have to go to work. I literally spent the whole time in front of my laptop watching TV shows I have been keeping for future viewing and sleeping and resting. After only two days, I was really bored and restless that I needed to do something and get my mind off all the itchiness and redness. So I started to work on my #SparkNA novella for 4 hours every night before I go to sleep. Soon enough, I was able to complete my novella way ahead of the deadline. I was actually surprised that I was brave enough to see the disaster as an opportunity and something positive and dump the Nega Girl that I have always been. ;) I guess the possibility of getting published by Anvil Spark Books and getting my book to the bookstores was motivation enough for me to push through and not get held back by chicken pox and myself--my own worst enemy!

Since 'Be Brave' was the theme of #SparkNA, I, like my other classmates, also came to the conclusion that not only did my character became brave but also me. (I don't know if they'll get how my character was brave but this is how I was.) This was the first time I was really challenged to write something different and mature with regards to heat levels of a romance novella. Since it is a New Adult genre I thought maybe I should up the heat level in my writing but I was still not ready for Heat Level #5 so I went from 0 to level #2 only. That was still really something new for me since I have never written anything but 'clean' sweet romance. With my #SparkNA novella I braved new territory which I still don't know if I succeeded to make readers get the feels or not. In my opinion, I was able to do it quite better than I expected since I got a reaction from one of my beta readers. :p

Submitting this #SparkNA novella meant either achieving something (which was to get published and be in the bookstores) or getting a big fat rejection. I have had my fair share of rejections from a lot of publishers from way back when I was still in college and most probably it's because of my poor writing skills back then which I would like to assume that I have improved a lot on since. I was thinking twice about submitting because I did not really want to get rejected or left hanging without any response at all. I could always get my book out there by self-publishing it, right? Why do I have to let myself go through the pain of getting rejected again. But then I thought, maybe it was time to try again. Maybe this time, the outcome will be better. Am really crossing my fingers for me and my classmates that we all get approved by Anvil Spark Books. So I did what I had to do and submitted my manuscript and braved whatever may come--rejection or acceptance. Come what may. As my best friend told me, at least I know clearly in my head it was a rejection and not just a bunch of endless 'what ifs'. It was better to have an actual result. She was right so I hit 'Send'.

To sum it up, this #SparkNA class was a great experience for me. Being more active in the Twitter feeds than I was before made me meet new friends that could help me improve and be motivated knowing that I am not alone in this journey.  It was nice to know that we have someone to cheer us on and cram together with.

On to my next journey with #HeistClub! That if life permits it. Haha

Congrats to my #SparkNA classmates! 31 novellas were produced! WOOT WOOT!!!
Let's reach for the stars!

Artwork credits to Cherriuki

 

[Book Review]: In Over Her Head by Anne Plaza

This contemporary romance novella was also a product of Ms. Mina Esguerra's #romanceclass that I joined last year. I am a pretty slow reader that I only got to read Anne Plaza's self-published novella now. I really want to read all of the other seven masterpiece of my classmates but so far, I have only read two. Boohoo!

Anyway, this novella reminded me of One More Chance but less drama. The first half of the book got me thinking and kept me asking questions about why Richard just dropped her fast like Erika was insignificant and all... or the fact that Richard would be jealous of Jerome when it was too easy for him to leave her...

I liked the dynamic among Erika's barkada. It was very realistic and at the same, I felt like I was watching a rom-com. It was a very light read and fun. I was expecting a bigger, more grand gesture from Richard but I can't say that the ending was not satisfactory.

I would definitely recommend this to friends and readers who love chicklit.

Book Review: The Real Score by Kesh Tanglao

This book review is rather short so bear with me a little.

The Real Score by Kesh Tanglao was written for the online #romanceclass mentored by Ms. Mina Esguerra. It is a contemporary novella written for the said online class. I have bought this book some months ago but procrastinated on reading it because of hectic work schedule and for fear of comparing it with my work and I might get discouraged with how great my other classmates' works are that I might shy away and not release my book anymore.

Anyway, for the review proper, I think this book is one of those books where the reader would say, "Come on! Get together already! You both love each other! Why let fear and emotions stop you!" But it is the awful reality in life. Fear is the number one downer for people to reach their dreams or what they want in life or who they really want to be with.

At first, the book didn't catch my interest but still read on and by the middle of the book, I couldn't put it down anymore. I just had to finish reading it and see what happens to Caitlin and Marcus' love story. It has this hanging factor that makes you want to read more. Just when you think they are already getting together, something happens that they don't so you keep on reading until they finally do and you don't realize, you're already on the last page of the story.

The book cover looks amazing like it was published mainstream.

Overall, it was worth the money I paid for. Although, it's still "bitin". I feel like I want to get to know more of how their story will go on. So, I will be looking forward to Gezellig 2. If there will be.

Must read for those who love to daydream about being a fangirl who someday will end up with the lead singer of a band or someone in the show business.

Invitation to the book launch!

Everyone's invited to the book launch of Luna East Arts Academy Vol.1! This is a project of Ms. Mina Esguerra's online contemporary romance class and we hope you could support us!

Here's the Table of  Contents:

Be Creative - Stella Torres 
Senpai's #1 Fan - Anne Plaza 
Not Exactly Queen-Like - Alyssa Ashley Lucas 
Picture Me Naked - D. R. Lee 
Something Real - Miles Tan 
Wouldn't Change A Thing - Jayen San Diego 
You Are the Apple of My Eye - Addie Lynn Co 
 The Letter - M. Protacio-De Guzman 
Where Do We Go From Here - Jen Carpio 
The Rumor About Me - Kristel S. Villar 
He Loves Me Not - Athena Claire Duenas 
 Sitting in a Tree - Chrissie Peria 
Yours Is the First Face That I Saw - Ron Lim 
 Fifty-Two Weeks - Mina V. Esguerra


Fill up the order form http://bit.ly/lunaeastv1 and you can pick up the book at the launch.

Hope to see you there! Shine on! 

Review: Love Your Frenemies by Mina V. Esguerra

To begin, I especially loved the cover design of this book. It looked classy and feminine. It was oozing with girl drama. And the colors were light and easy to the eyes.

This book is actually something fresh from all the others I've read. The concept is supposedly "ang kontrabidang bida". The readers should be hating her, right? But as I read the whole book, my sympathy really is with her because she's not really the evil one here, it's the people around her who seems to be "wanting what's best for her" but ends up pushing Kimmy to be the "evil" one. This made me realize how realistic the concept is after all. People just tend to act bad for a reason; it's just the way people perceive it that makes it either worse or justified.

I also liked Kimmy and Manolo's seemingly love-hate relationship. But in the end, I knew he'd be there for Kimmy.

This book is definitely in my Top Ten books. It is a very interesting read. I finished it in three days. That is of course, in between my work. I just could not put it down but had to because of the work load I had to finish.

Definite recommendation to those Chicklit lovers!