notes from the peanut gallery

rowan's baptism

2008-08-19T16:55:00.000+08:00

Me, Nikki, Sage and little Rowan

open call for submissions - philippine speculative fiction IV

2008-08-19T13:48:00.003+08:00

(repost) It's hard to believe, but it's that time of year again (even harder to believe that this is our 4th year)! Nikki Alfar and I are now accepting submissions of short fiction pieces for consideration for the anthology "Philippine Speculative Fiction Vol.4". Speculative fiction is the literature of wonder that spans the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror and magic realism or falls

carlos palanca award winners 2008

2008-08-07T09:35:00.019+08:00

Word is slowly (verrrry slowly) getting around about this year's crop of winners of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. Like last time, I'll be posting the names and works of the happy winners - assuming, of course, that you share your news with me. So this post starts empty, but may blossom into a small list of happy people within the next couple of weeks as the Sept 1 awards

vignette: Ven

2008-08-06T14:59:00.002+08:00

from Strange Weather forthcoming from Story Philippines Ven bent over the line of small wet stones, flecking away the rainwater that dripped down his cowl, trying to gain a sense of the muddied oracular tidings. When he had awakened from his once-a-decade month-long druidic sleep, he had been perturbed by the news - word of which reached him through the gossip of winged insects - of an

publish or perish

2008-08-06T12:21:00.004+08:00

I'll be part of the "Publish or Perish!" panel slated for 1-3PM on September 14th at the 29th Manila International Book Fair next month. I'll talk about spec fic and how we need to be working writers. I'd be there anyway, even without the panel - the bibliophile in me cannot resist the lure of so many books, and the hope of finding something extraordinary. Besides, there is something oddly

novel ideas

2008-08-05T12:45:00.003+08:00

Butch Dalisay wrote me while I was at hospital waiting for Rowan to be born - and believe me, I was happy to answer him to take my mind off my anxieties then. He was prepping for a talk on novels by Filipino authors and decided to publish the responses from Charlson Ong, Jing Hidalgo, Vince Groyon and myself. Part One is over here.

learning to love the dentist (no, not really)

2008-08-04T11:12:00.001+08:00

My fear of the dentist is actually more like aichmophobia, an irrational fear of needles, specifically, the injection that deliver the anesthetic. When I was a child, I imagined the needle to around 12 inches long, supported by a huge metallic syringe designed specifically to hurt me. My mother hated taking me to the dentist as much as I hated having to be taken: this involved much weeping,

rowan - short vid

2008-07-24T11:32:00.001+08:00

Because the embed function of YouTube completly defies me, just head on over here.From my sister, Jo (and Coldplay)!

here's rowan

2008-07-24T11:25:00.000+08:00

Born July 23, 2008. I am now the delighted father of two!

on spec fic and writer's block

2008-07-23T14:12:00.000+08:00

From an interview (Inquirer.net) This page requires a higher version browser

rowan alfar

2008-07-23T13:54:00.003+08:00

Rowan Alfar, the newest and tiniest Alfar, joined us this morning, July 23, 2008. The bundle of nerves masquerading as myself was terrified of something going wrong with the procedure, but Nikki - morphined and all - glided through safely. I thought that Lily was a lovely name for a child, but Rowan is better, stronger, more unique, and better matched with Sage. Despite myself, I'm enjoying St

ratify

2008-07-03T13:06:00.004+08:00

Nikki's doctor says that our new child will join the human race from mid-July onwards. Which mean I'll be a bundled of nerves, expecting the next cell call or text I get while I'm at work or at a meeting to be a summons to the hospital. Things still feel a bit unreal right now, despite all the preparations and layette stuff, and all the kicking action from Nikki's belly. Like silence before

build your own anthology

2008-07-03T09:48:00.000+08:00

If, like me, you love short fiction that has appeared in various publications (such as Asimov's, F&SF, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, Realms of Fantasy, Interzone and other hard-to-find-without-a-subscription magazines) and want them on your bookshelf, then AnthologyBuilder is for you. AnthologyBuilder is the brainchild of Nancy Fulda, author and assistant editor of the speculative

litcritters

2008-06-25T12:36:00.001+08:00

This week's readings: Dead by Haddayr Copley-Woods No Love for Middleman by Tony Frazier The God Engine by Ted Kosmatka What the Thunder Said by Lavie Tidhar

flash fic

2008-06-19T09:54:00.002+08:00

Come on over to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf over at Bonifacio High Street, Global City, Taguig, on June 24, 2008, at 7:00 pm. I'll be talking about writing flash fiction (with just a tiny segue into creative non-fiction). It's all part of Coffee Bean's contest. In addition to me, there'll be speakers for videography (Mike Cabardo) and photography. Should be fun. See you there.

fly, racoon, fly~

2008-06-18T15:09:00.001+08:00

the night monkeys

2008-06-18T10:18:00.002+08:00

Hey, hey! The launch for The Night Monkeys: More Palanca Prize Winners for Children (Tahanan Books) is on June 30, 2008 at 7PM (that's a Monday). Come on over to Mary Grace Café at Serendra, Fort Bonifacio Global City and join the celebration. Nikki Alfar has a story in the antho, as well as Raissa Rivera-Falgui, Natasha Vizcarra, Luis Katigbak, Yvette Tan, Cyan Abad-Jugo, Herb Fondevilla,

litcritters open at robinsons galleria

2008-06-18T10:12:00.000+08:00

LitCritters! Here are the details for this weekend's open session. When: June 21, 2008, 2PM Where: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Robinsons Galleria The readings: Deadnauts by Ted Kosmatka Falling Onto Mars by Geoffrey Landis Conhoon and the Fairy Dancer by John Morressey Make sure to read up - and then come on over :)

story update

2008-06-17T12:38:00.001+08:00

anthologies I got a chance to see the TOC of the upcoming Exotic Gothic 2 (edited by Danel Olson from Ash-Tree Press) and I must say that I have silly smile plastered all over my face. Can’t tell you why though until the TOC is made public but it really made my day. It’s quite a thrill to be in company of these writers – authors I know only by name or because of their books. I’m finishing my

centralize

2008-06-13T10:17:00.001+08:00

I've been loyal to Blogger since forever, but I find certain features on Multiply and Facebook quite entertaining and useful. My big issue with Facebook is the lack of a blog space, but now it seems with this application (Blog It) I may have issues no longer - so I'm trying it out. I'm updating from Facebook and this should also appear in my Blogger blog. Sadly, there seems to be no direct

running the game

2008-06-12T16:36:00.002+08:00

I'm sharpening my game notes for tomorrow and it got me thinking. For many years now, I've been the GM (or Gamemaster) of an extended series of role-playing games, with intricate storylines that have taken many years to tell. I love fantasy and I love acting and I love telling stories, so it is an activity I relish - even if, at times, I get fatigued. Why do I get tired? Well, fundamentally, I

litcritters open @ robinsons galleria

2008-06-05T12:39:00.002+08:00

This Saturday, the LitCritters will hold the Open Session at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at Robinsons Galleria at 2PM. The readings are: The Fantasy Writer's Assistant by Jeffrey Ford The Man on the Threshold by Jorge Luis Borges The Man with the Scale in his Head by Eman Quotah Hope to see you there.

sick season

2008-06-05T12:22:00.002+08:00

I started feeling ill Sunday afternoon. I got a clogged nose and a mild headache which were gradually revealed to be symptoms of the flu. I should've known it was coming since this happens to me around this time every year. I missed three days of work, unable to think very well as I alternately got the chills and sweated like there was no tomorrow. I kept rehydrating and replenishing all the

film, friends and fun - updated

2008-05-27T11:21:00.004+08:00

Nikki, Vin and I had a great time last night at Mogwai. The film adaptation of my play was the main event, but seeing old friends and sharing food and wine added to my enjoyment of the evening. Direk Rico Gutierrez immediately plied us with baked tahong and red wine and we ordered variations on rumaki (while my companions blissed out on Molten Chocolate Cake). I was happy to see Francis and

litcritters open session

2008-05-21T15:10:00.001+08:00

Everyone is invited to the LitCritters Open Session this Saturday, May 24th at 2PM over at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center. Here are the stories we'll be talking about: Among the Bissayans of Zvbv by Carlos Cortes The Fantasy Writer's Assistant by Jeffrey Ford Every Angel is Terrifying by John Kessel Come on over and join the discussion.