Category: philippine speculative fiction 8

spec fic triple book launch + wildflour

First of all, that Friday downpour was a bitch, wasn’t it. I left the office at 6 pm, carrying a big bag of clothes (I was supposed to stay with J at his parents’ house), but couldn’t get a cab or a bus or a tricycle. It’s alarming how easily this city gets paralyzed by rain. I ended up waiting at The Columns until 7:30 before I could line up for a tricycle. Suffice it to say that the city didn’t let me leave that night.

Anyway. I crawled out of my dungeon the next day to attend the Amazing Tripartite Book Launch with J at the EDSA Shangri-La Mall, where I ended up dancing with Dean Alfar. There was, amazingly, no alcohol involved.

A fun afternoon! It was great catching up with Katz Navarro (I exclaimed, “You’re so cute!” when I saw her, and I am not embarrassed by this outburst, I am not), Kate Osias, Elyss Punsalan, and all the other gorgeous writers. Thanks for having us, Dean and Nikki!

20130727_131508

20130727_131617

20130727_140528

I love the packaging by Flipside. Look at that creepy eye.

20130727_152613

Dean Alfar with authors Ichi Batacan and Peep Warren:

20130727_153301

Dragons!

20130727_154852

My copy of Nikki Alfar’s first collection of stories. Congratulations!

20130727_182326

20130727_182338

Do buy the books!

Here’s a soberer account by Gabriela Lee on Rappler: “3 books, one community, countless stories“.

*

And of course the rain went on and on. I love the rain, I really do, but not when I have to get out of the house.

We were in Ortigas again on Sunday and finally got to try eating at Wildflour Cafe + Bakery. Just their coffee and desserts. Highly recommended, though drop by during payday because their prices are…wild.

20130728_175045

20130728_174342

I had the Vietnamese latte.

20130728_174621

J got honey soy latte. Recommended!

20130728_174927

Bread pudding with yummy chocolate sauce.

20130728_175232

Coconut cake.

20130728_175245

philippine speculative fiction 8 now available

Darna encashes a check at the bank one morning; a god trapped in a statue is awakened by the intoxicating scent of the scholar studying his stone prison; human beings are homogenized for the sake of idealizing the species. The Philippine Speculative Fiction series showcases the rich variety of Philippine literature. Between these covers you will find magic realism next to science fiction, traditional fantasy beside slipstream, and imaginary worlds rubbing shoulders with alternate Philippine history—demonstrating that the literature of the fantastic is alive and well in the Philippines.

Stories from this series have been included in the Honorable Mentions list from The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror edited by Ellen Datlow and Kelly Link & Gavin Grant.

2tgxj

Amazon ($5.99) | Flipreads (PhP 193)

Check Flipside Publishing’s Twitter feed for updates!

I have a story here! Launch is this Saturday! Exclamation points! See you there.

the amazing tripartite book launch on july 27

I don’t know why I’m mentioned here! (Thank you?)

This is from Nikki Alfar:

1015710_10201119978816572_1744064745_o

The Amazing Tripartite Book Launch

The UST Publishing House, Flipside Publishing, and Kestrel DDM invite you to the launch of ‘Philippine Speculative Fiction volume 8’, edited by Dean Francis Alfar and Nikki Alfar, ‘Now, Then, and Elsewhen’, a short story collection by Nikki Alfar, and the digital edition of the ‘Best of Philippine Speculative Fiction, 2005 – 2010’, edited by Dean Francis Alfar and Nikki Alfar.

Ours has regularly been called “the most fun book launch of the year”, so do join us for an afternoon of laughter, merienda, and the inevitable teasing of Eliza Victoria.

And probably you. And probably me. But, you know, we believe that mockery is the sincerest form of friendship.

(Please note that this will be held at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at EDSA Shangri-La MALL, not the hotel, and also not the 26th Street Bistro at the new wing. It’s the ground-level Coffee Bean, facing the driveway.)

Do feel free to invite everyone you want, and post this indiscriminately!

When Sat, July 27, 2:00pm – 4:30pm GMT+08:00
Where The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, ground floor, EDSA Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Shaw Boulevard corner EDSA, Mandaluyong

I have a story in PSF 8 called “A Fire That Cannot Be Touched”.  It starts like this:

HER NAME WAS Nemeli of the Firelands, and she saw the Moirae Shade approaching while she was peddling bird bones at a Christmas bazaar.

“Ah, shit,” Nemeli said, because a visit from the Shade like this—without warning, among mortals—had never been known to be pleasant. She turned to her fire-companion, and saw that Dene’s face had turned the color of brackwater.

2tgxj

I’m going with J. See you there!

PS Please don’t tease me.