#AllTheFeels: Live readings at the Manila International Book Fair 2016
Rehearsing with Gio and Gab
Thanks to the Filipino Readercon, #romanceclass was able to fulfill one of those on-the-spot dreams: An event at the Manila International Book Fair.
When you’re into books, MIBF time is always a big deal. It’s not, “Do I go?” but “When do I go? What do I get? How long am I willing to line up for books that will inflate my TBR? What do I get on the first day I go? What’s the strategy for closing hour on Sunday?”
Last year we discovered that live readings (with actors) was a program that was always fun, entertaining, and still managed to be about the writing. When we got the chance to hold this event at MIBF, we got everything done.
Rehearsing with Gracielle and Migs
Seven books were featured at #AllTheFeels, the live reading event at MIBF. We had four actors performing: Gio Gahol, Migs Almendras, Gabriela Pangilinan, and Gracielle So.
Clip from #Scandalized by @tarafrejas performed by @giogahol and @gabpangilinan #AllTheFeels #romanceclass #SparkNA
Video by @GelaUy pic.twitter.com/fFJPSyxF96
— Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) September 21, 2016
Scandalized by Tara Frejas
This is an indie about a Filipina whose job is road manager for a Korean pop group, and…you know how it goes. But it’s also about how tricky fame is and what happens when you get something and then lose something else. Sometimes you find the right people too, because they stick with you. Gio gets to narrate this one, and also schooled me on pronunciation. The first thing we learn when we do these things is HOW IS THAT THING PRONOUNCED. It’s awesome. Educational. 🙂
Clip from #VintageLove by @agayskee. Performed by @Migs_Almendras and @iamhungraie. #AllTheFeels #romanceclass
Video by @GelaUy pic.twitter.com/9SyrTB00PS
— Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) September 20, 2016
Vintage Love by Agay Llanera
A lot of firsts. This was one of the first completed manuscripts from #romanceclass (and not, because Agay had been working on this for a while prior). It was one of the first from the community to be indie-pubbed in 2013, and one of the first to get a trad pub distribution deal with Visprint.
Also the first reading for new-to-us performer Gracielle So, and she had to do two characters at that! But she did well, and managed to make heart eyes at Migs at the right moment. (This clip. Heh.)
Clip from #LovelessChildlessClueless by @mirenbflores #AllTheFeels performed by @giogahol and @gabpangilinan #romanceclass (video @GelaUy) pic.twitter.com/1x9TrMBzFN
— Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) September 20, 2016
Loveless Childless Clueless by Miren B. Flores
Beautiful, touching, twist-your-guts-squeeze-your-heart book. An indie you might not have heard of just yet. We do the live readings and hope each time that readers of the book are reminded of scenes and characters they love, and for those who haven’t found the book yet to feel they want to pick it up.
We had copies of this book for sale at #AllTheFeels at MIBF, and they were purchased by those who attended. Enjoy the book! Blame Miren, Gio, and Gab for your feelings after.
Clip from #BeginnersGuide by @sixdlr. Performed by @Migs_Almendras and @iamhungraie. #AllTheFeels #romanceclass
Video by @GelaUy pic.twitter.com/XJrx8Fh3DG
— Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) September 20, 2016
Beginner’s Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions by Six de los Reyes
If you know about this book, it’s probably because you’re on Twitter and you follow Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Amara Royce, romance authors who’ve recommended this book about a Pinay scientist/grad student and the “unsuitable” guy who owns the cafe she hangs out in.
Or you’re in #romanceclass.
Or you were in the live reading of this book at MIBF, and your heart fluttered when Migs gave Gracielle that LOOK. (Don’t deny it — I HEARD YOU. And I SAW YOUR FACES hahaha.)
Clip from #MarryMeCharlotteB by @somemidnights. Performed by @giogahol and @gabpangilinan. #AllTheFeels #romanceclass
Video by @GelaUy pic.twitter.com/ElY38FUe5l
— Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) September 20, 2016
Marry Me Charlotte B by Carla de Guzman
Marry Me Charlotte B is about a reality show, and you see it on the page. The characters are aware of the “cameras”, the TV audience is us the readers, and there are sections that cut away for interview IN THE BOOK. I chose this scene for them to read not really knowing how they’d read it, but that maybe it would be fun to try anyway. Not in this clip, but Gab got to briefly do the voice of Charlotte B also, and it was so funny.
Thanks to Carlo Vergara (Zsazsa Zaturnnah and Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady) for answering my questions about staging, and Gio and Gab for coming up with this trick. YAY.
Clip from #KissingDay (I wrote this) performed by @Migs_Almendras and @iamhungraie #AllTheFeels #romanceclass
Video by @GelaUy pic.twitter.com/R6iwodbcMZ
— Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) September 21, 2016
Kissing Day by Mina V. Esguerra
I wrote this short story to close the loop on a series I wrote that’s set in Texas (where my family lives), released by Flirt Publishing as its Breathe Rockstar series. Chris was a character in two books and I always intended to write him a romance, but other things got in the way. So that thing is resolved in a short story that appears in the Anvil Spark Books edition of Tempting Victoria.
Clip from #LearningtoFall (I wrote this). Performed by @giogahol and @gabpangilinan. #AllTheFeels #romanceclass
Video by @GelaUy pic.twitter.com/a1fVq7wZX2
— Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) September 21, 2016
Learning to Fall by Mina V. Esguerra
I can’t be objective, but whatever. I loved it. They’re awesome. Thank you for nailing it. Thank you for unnecessarily showing arm.
We have another live reading event on October 22, at Glorietta 5, to help Little Free Library’s book donation drive. Drop by and bring books to donate!
