Saturday, March 26, 2016

The Vardøger:and God Wrote My Love Story In Kanji are now AVAILABLE at selected Power Books and National Book Store branches!

Updated list of National Book Store and Powerbooks Store branches:
The Vardøger: 395.00
God Wrote My Love Story In Kanji: 215.00
Batangas:
SM CIty Lipa (God Wrote only)
Laguna:
NBS Paseo De Sta. Rosa (God Wrote only)
NBS Solenad 3 Nuvali (God Wrote only)
Parañaque:
NBS SM BF Parañaque (God Wrote only)
NBS Shop Wise Sucat (God Wrote only)
NBS SM City Sucat (God Wrote only)
Las Piñas
SM Southmall (God Wrote only)
Power Books Evia North Vista City
Alabang
Power Books Festival Mall Alabang
NBS Festival Mall Alabang
Power Books Alabang Town Center
NBS Alabang Commercial Center
Muntinlupa
NBS SM Putatan (God Wrote only)
Cavite
NBS SM Bacoor (God Wrote only)
NBS SM Dasma (God Wrote only)
Taguig
NBS Market Market (God Wrote only)
Power Books Serendra
NBS SM Aura
Manila
NBS Robinson's Ermita
NBS SM City Manila (God Wrote only)
NBS Harrison Plaza (God Wrote only)
NBS Madison (God Wrote only)
NBS Tutuban Center (God Wrote only)
NBS SM City San Lazaro (God Wrote only)
Mandaluyong
NBS Robinson's Pioneer (God Wrote only)
Makati
NBS Glorietta 1
NBS Greenbelt 1
Power Books Greenbelt 4
NBS Cash and Carry (God Wrote only)
NBS Power Plant
Ortigas
NBS SM Megamall
Power Books SM Megamall
NBS The Podium
NBS Shangri-la Plaza
Power Books Shangri-la Plaza
Robinson's Galleria
Pasay
SM MOA
GRAB YOUR COPIES NOW!

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

God Wrote My Love Story in Kanji --- now available in Amazon Kindle!

Purchase your copies here: GOD WROTE MY LOVE STORY IN KANJI


EXCERPT:

                I rubbed my eyes with my knuckles and turned to look at the actual view on the other side because no one’s blocking my view now—
                —only to find Introvert Guy, who was sitting on the row opposite our row, looking straight at me. He was asleep a while ago, but German guy probably bumped into him as he’s occupying the aisle seat, waking him up.
                I blame it on a force of nature. Maybe it’s because of the cold autumn weather. Or maybe it’s because of the beautiful countryside view—
                Because I smiled at him.
                Shit.
                I. Just. Smiled. At. A. Stranger.
                Fuck.
                I didn’t get to see his reaction because I immediately looked away after my stupid act. I calmly put on my earphones and closed my eyes just as German Guy came back. I couldn’t be more thankful. He just blocked Introvert Guy from my sight and vice versa.
                I enjoyed my bliss for 40 minutes before it was taken away from me again. German Guy, the businessmen, and the group of friends got off Shinagawa station, leaving me alone with Introvert Guy.
                Great.
                Well… it’s not like he’ll start a conversation with me… right? I mean he’s wearing a mask. Even though I can’t see his hair or his eyes, I think he’s Japanese. Maybe he doesn’t even speak English so I have no reason to worry. And Shibuya is not that far anymore. Even though the train just stopped and the intercom just announced that there was a coming train so we needed to wait a bit to change train lanes (are they even called lanes), Shibuya’s the next station.
                Right?
                Oh, man. This is the reason why people think I’m weird. Why do I always need to convince myself with… myself?
                Slowly, I turned my head towards Introvert Guy.
                And he was, again, looking at me from behind those sunglasses.
                Time stopped. It felt like a scene from a sci-fi movie.
                I was snapped back to reality when he suddenly moved and looked like he was about to stand up and talk to me.
                I, of course, panicked. So I stood up earlier than I was supposed to and proceeded to the luggage bins, thanking my lucky stars a bit later that I did, because I needed to dislodge my luggage from its cord lock.
                Damn these cord locks. Ah. There you go. Success! Now, all I need is to bring this thing down and—
                I felt the luggage being lifted off my hands and onto the floor.              
                It’s him. I know it’s him. After helping me, he didn’t say a word and just silently stood beside me, near the door, as the intercom announced we’ve arrived at Shibuya station.
                And so my conscience decided to nudge at me, the traitor.
                I cleared my throat, successfully catching his attention. He angled his head to face me.
                “Ah… thank you very much for helping me… with my luggage,” I muttered in English. I wanted to speak in Nihongo, but no Nihongo word came out.
                He simply stared at me—as if he’s deciding whether I was being sarcastic or not—and it made me uncomfortable. But he finally nodded after a short while, and turned his gaze away from me.
                I inwardly sighed with relief—that’s one worry gone. And by the time the train completely halted, I was already focused on another problem—forcing my determination to resurface.
                This is it. Don’t get scared now. I think I just quoted Kevin McAllister from Home Alone.
                When the door slid open, Introvert Guy moved aside to let me exit first. What a gentleman, I can’t help but think. The Japanese are really naturally polite and kind. I received nothing but smiles and the willingness to help from them since I landed at Narita Airport.
                I nodded my thanks and walked past him with my huge luggage in tow.
                And it’s when I heard it.
                “No English, huh?”
                I turned towards him right after I got out of the way, but he’s already walking towards the station stairs with his backpack.

The Vardøger --- NOW AVAILABLE IN AMAZON KINDLE!

Purchase your copy here: THE VARDOGER


Read the excerpt:


Blood red hair spilled at the sides of his head, framing his delicate facial features, stunning green eyes the color of forest after a rain shower, straight nose that no plastic surgery could ever achieve, and pinkish-red small lips soft and glossy, begging for attention. Though tall and fit, he wasn’t as muscular as Gene. He’s rather slender-looking, almost graceful, which added to the already-long list of his androgynous features.    
                He looked very pretty and he wasn’t even at his best yet.
                Slowly, and in dreadful recognition, Roseus’ eyes widened with horror. He does look like a girl.
                Letting out a dramatic sigh caused by his sudden acceptance of a certain fact, Roseus tied his hair into a low ponytail and tucked his white button down inside his dark denim jeans. Alfonso did not appreciate him wearing jeans, preferring slacks instead, but as usual, Roseus didn’t concede. Everybody but his parents wore jeans nowadays. Jeans are for the masses don’t hold true anymore, something which his parents still believed. Roseus preferred jeans. Jeans were way more comfortable than slacks in everyday activities. The best he could do to appease his father was to at least look smart casual. Roseus always wore a button-down with jeans.
                Satisfied that he looked more presentable, Roseus immediately proceeded to the study, not wanting to be caught loitering in the hallway when his father could already be calling for him.
                Upon reaching the entrance, Roseus was about to knock when something caught his attention. From the corner of his eyes, he saw something white and blurry appear at the other end of the hallway, leading to the grand staircase. When he turned his head fully, it wasn’t there.
                The hairs at the back of his neck rose. Did he just see a ghost?
Forgetting he needed to be at the lobby of his father’s study by now, he turned away from the double doors and slowly walked towards the end of the hallway, his heart drumming inside his chest. There was an internal debate going on inside him. He couldn’t hear anything, but the goosebumps on his skin tell him that there was something there.
A gush of cold air blew as he neared the corner, making him want to just get the hell out of there and ignore what he thought he saw.
                But his male pride wouldn’t let him.
                His heart started to beat faster with every step he took towards his destination. Upon reaching the end, he took a deep breath, mentally counting from 1 to 10. And before he could change his mind, he abruptly leaned in to peek at the corridor.
                He screamed.

                She has the blackest eyes he has ever seen.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Sunday, July 26, 2015

The Vardøger --- how do you pronounce it?


My best friend didn't like it. She said she doesn't even know how to pronounce it. Let me tell you this--- until now, I'm not even sure if the pronunciation I know is its true pronunciation and that's the truth. 

Of course, I researched. I can't NOT research. This is an audio from---Forvo.com. The word was pronounced by a male from Norway. It sounded like wahr-do-ghed.

There's this website The Vardoger.Com (their website seems to be gone now so I'm posting the FB page) which said the pronunciation of the word was var-DAY-uh-grr.

The pronunciation I prefer is wahr-the-ger (which seemed to be a combination of the Norwegian and (probably) English pronunciation). It came from this forum: Cry-of-fear.com

(Please feel free to correct/help me if you know the most correct way-- most correct because I still think the pronunciation differs depending on the language)

So why stick to that title, you might ask. This is my answer: finding the perfect title for a story is like finding a soul mate. You will feel a certain special connection and you know you'll never let go.

I didn't let go. I couldn't. It's the perfect title. And you will understand once you have finished reading the novel.

Please don't hesitate to share with me your thoughts after you have finished the story.

By the way, to further understand the title , please read this. This is one case of the Vardøger phenomenon: Article by Wirralglobe UK

Sources (links above): 

Wirralglobe UK
Forvo . com
Cry-of-fear. com
FB Page of The Vardoger