Making Time

I always have time to read. I always have time to write. If it's something that you love doing, you just have to make time. But not at the expense of the people you care most about. That's why I try to do my reading or writing when everyone else in the household is sleeping. That way, I don't miss spending that time with them.

Uninterrupted

Ah, I like it when I wake up early in the morning and have time to myself to read or write down my uninterrupted thoughts and ideas. It's my most productive time of the day as far as imagination and creativity is concerned.
I got up an hour ago reading a book that I bought at the Dollar Tree, "The People's Act of Love" by James Meek. It's set in Siberia/Russia/The Czech Republic at the turn of the 20th century. I finished two chapters so far and I like what I've read so that I would like to keep going. After this blog, I'd be writing some thoughts down on my journal and then I'm reading again before I have to get ready to take the boys to school.

If You Want a Copy of My Books at the Book Fair

Many people are asking me if I would be signing my books at the fair. Unfortunately, Barnes and Noble does not stock my books so if you want a copy of any of my books, you'll have to order it from Barnes and Nobles ahead of time. Tell them you want to pick it up at the book fair so that I can sign it. I apologize for any inconvenience.

May First Book Fair

The Filipino-American National Historical Society-WI Chapter & Barnes and Nobles at MAYFAIR MALL is having a bookfair!
Mayfair Mall is located at 2500 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa, WI 53226.
The bookfair is on Saturday, May 1, 2010 All Day from 9am-11pm.
Special events will take place from 11:00 am to 1:30.pm.
Present this flyer, or the attached Barnes and Nobles flyer for 2 additional coupons indicating FANHS-WI BOOKFAIR ID: 10179802 at the time of purchase, or let the cashiers know you are with the FANHS–WI bookfair and 10% will be given to FANHS-WI.
Can't attend the bookfair? Visit bn.com to support us online from May 1 to May 6, 2010 by entering Bookfair ID 10179802 at checkout.
SPECIAL FEATURES Filipino Martial Arts Exhibit with Marlon Patawaran and Students 11:30 am Upper Level
Guitarist Paul Estante and Friends The Starbuck’s Café lower level 12:00-1:00 ****Present flyers/ coupons at the Café for 10% donation to FANHS-WI
Story Telling by Filipino Author Margie Tayone Bruce 11:00 and 1:00 pm Upper Level
Please pass this to your families, friends and other communities in the US. It's the weekend before Mother's day, graduation days, Father's day. Purchasing a Barnes and Nobles gift card will not be part of the 10% support to FANHS-WI. Proceeds are used to help future educational events. FANHS is a 501(c) 3 society for donations and tax purposes. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOU HELP.

Sporadically

People ask me, "When do you find the time to write?" I usually wake up two hours before my kids do and stay up 2-3 hours later than they do. That's usually when I do my writing. It's not everyday. I'm a sporadic writer. I write in spurts. I wait for the creative juice to fill me up and spill over. There is an article written about me in Bulalakaw, the newsletter of the Filipino-American Association in Wisconsin (FAAWIS) right about the time "Portrait" came out. I'll see if I can upload that, if not here, on FB.

Book Fair

I will still be attending the Book Fair on May 1st. I will be reading a book for story time for the kids at 11am and 1pm. I'm excited to go. I plan to take the boys with me and ask my mom to come along so that she can contain Tommy while I read a book.

Lessons

There's always a lesson to be learned in every book. One just has to acknowledge it.

Emotional Connection Between Writer and Character

We, as the readers, ride in the roller coaster of emotions that characters in a book go through. Even more so for the writer who writes the story. The connection to the characters' emotions is deeper. I feel their joy and their sorrow, their disappointments and their triumphs. I remember one day when I was still writing "Portrait of Young Woman." I was writing the emotional reunion of Eva and Marissa, I cried my eyes out. In the middle of my good cry, the doorbell rang. I couldn't help the tears that were falling from my eyes even when I opened the door. It was our neighbor. I was so embarrassed at the mess that I must have looked I had to explain to her why I was crying. I don't know if she truly believed me or if she could even comprehend it all.
Most of the emotional scenes are hard to write but only when a writer truly feels what the character is feeling at the moment that she conveys those emotions to her readers.