a time for dragons

Join the book launch of A Time for Dragons (Anvil Publishing), edited by Vincent Simbulan, March 29, 2009 (Sunday), 3:00 pm, Shangri-la Mall Grand Atrium. And yes, there will be a parade of dragons.

Accodring to Vin, this book is a collection of new dragon stories by Filipino authors to present the dragon in new and inventive ways, and renew and refresh the dragon for a more sophisticated and mature audience. The kickass cover and all interior art is by Andrew Drilon - and his original book art will be available for purchase at the launch.

Table of Contents:

"Glass" by Nikki Alfar

"Dragon Brother" by Cyan Abad-Jugo

"The Annotated Account of Tholomew Mestich" by Elyss Punsalan

"The Clockwork Dragon's Heart" by Vincent Michael Simbulan

"Moondown and Fugue" by Alexander Drilon

"Gunsaddled" by Alexander Marcos Osias

"Lex Talionis" by Paolo Chikiamco

"The Final Tale of Zhang Bai Long" by Elbert Or

"A Fishy Tale" by Apol Lejano-Massebieau

"Johnny Tatô and the Dragon of Pasig" by Joseph Nacino

"Capture" by Gabriela Lee

"3:30pm with Sir Galahad" by Kate Aton-Osias

"A Change of Guards" by Oscar Alvarez

"The Fossil" by Angelo R. Lacuesta

"A Little Knowledge" by Dominique Cimafranca

"The Bridge" by Yvette Natalie U. Tan

"Fallow's Flight" by Dean Francis Alfar

"Dragons Among Us (Essay)" by Charles Tan

psf iv launch vid

A video of the Philippine Speculative Fiction IV launch can be found over at the Inquirer.net.

Thanks to Leo and Alex!

spec fic iv launch

Don't forget!

Philippine Speculative Fiction IV Book Launch
5:30 PM U-View Theater, Fully Booked High Street

See you there! Jai Ho!

philippine speculative fiction IV

Philippine Speculative Fiction IV
Edited by Dean Francis Alfar & Nikki Alfar

Book launch: February 28, 2009 - 5:30PM
U-View Theater, Fully Booked High Street
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

You are invited, of course :)

the night monkeys

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, Celeste Flores-Coscolluela, Honoel Ibardolaza, and Bing Sitoy.

Just look at that cover - I love it!

philippine speculative fiction III launch

(L to R front row - Alex Osias, Joseph Nacino, Andrew Drilo; middle row - Elyss Punsalan, Marguerite de Leon, Mia Tijam, Yvette Tan, Joanna Cailas; back row - Nikki Alfar, TJ Dimacali, Charles Tan, Luis Katigbak, Ian Casocot, Domonique Cimafranca, Dean Francis Alfar)




Thanks to everyone who came over and joined the celebration! We tried our best to make the launch as fun as possible (personally, I get bored with the more rigid launches), with each contributor taking the stage to speak about his or her story or whatever was on their mind (and I'm delighted that everyone was game for the unconventional format).

Nikki subbed for the missing (and very much missed) authors who were mostly abroad, and Vin manned the laptop while exchanging repartee with me, while Jacque manned the book sales/food table. The venue was the arctic U View Theater at the basement of the giant Fully Booked at Bonifacio High Street (thanks to Tals Diaz and Jaime Daez). Thanks also to photographers Kate and Kyu for the great shots.

I was happy to meet the authors I hadn't met in person before (remember that Nikki and I selected stories, not people), as well as the parents of Rod Santos who flew in from New York, and the mother of MRR Arcega.

We'll take the usual break to regain our editorial sanity (and market the book, of course) before the cycle begins anew next year with Philippine Speculative Fiction IV.

Maraming, maraming salamat!

book launch: philippine speculative fiction III

Nikki and I would like to you invite you to the book launch of Philippine Speculative Fiction III. It will be on December 8 at 4PM at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street - just head on down the basement theater.

The anthology, third in an annual series, showcases the literature of the imagination from Filipino writers living in the Philippines and abroad. We made sure to select wonderful pieces of fantasy, science fiction, horror and other things in between, and are certain you will find something to your taste.

PSF III's roster of writers includes first time authors as well as more established ones - and we had the toughest time determining the final table of contents (and had to pass on a number of excellent pieces which we are sure will have no problem finding a home in a magazine or another anthology).

Pedro Diyego’s Homecoming *Apol Lejano-Massebieau
Keeping Time *FH Batacan
Facester *Dominique Cimafranca
Reclamation *Angelo A. Lacuesta
The Datu’s Daughters *Raymond G. Falgui
The Ascension of Our Lady Boy *Mia Tijam
Peekli *Andrew Drilon
The Hand *Marianne Villanueva
Brigada *Joseph F. Nacino
The Singer’s Man *MRR Arcega
Hamog *Joanna Paula L. Cailas
Visitors *Luis Katigbak
Sidhi *Yvette Natalie U. Tan
The Death and Rebirth of Nathaniel Alan Sempio *Alexander Marcos Osias
In Earthen Vessels *Rodello Santos
Carmen and Josephine *Elyss G. Punsalan
Sky Gypsies *Timothy James M. Dimacali
The Flicker *Ian Rosales Casocot
Urban Legends *Charles Tan
The Music Child *Alfred A. Yuson
Frozen Delight *Marguerite Alcazaren de Leon

Make sure you're there to celebrate with us!

kite launched

Thanks to everyone who came over to celebrate the launch of "The Kite of Stars"! All pictures by Kenneth Yu and Charles Tan - because I never get to be the photographer at these things LOL - thanks, Kyu and Charles!


Vin Simbulan, Tin Mandigma of ROD & Gwenn Galvez of Anvil


Luis Katigbak, Yvette Tan, Charles Tan & Jade Bernas of Story Philippines

We had a simple program: Kristin Mandigma of Read or Die, master of ceremonies, introduced the book, followed by a speech by my publisher Karina Bolasco of Anvil, and then a brief talk from me.



Nikki Alfar, Andrew Drilon, Kate Aton-Osias, Vin Simbulan, Alex Osias & me

Then the LitCritters performed a reading of "The Kite of Stars" (the play version with my usual 'choreo-poem' styling haha). This was quite a lot of fun for us.

Then food and signing.


The lovely folk of Read or Die


Me & Kristel of ROD

I was delighted that Read or Die came over (part of the fun was my trying to understand just what the hell "crack fiction" is), as well as members of my family and friends old and new.


With family: Tita Eve, Mama, Nikki, Sage, Uncle Lito, Reb

I am grateful: to everyone at Anvil who believed in the book - Karina, Gwen and Ani Habulan (my kickass editor and book designer); to Hiyas for the beauiful cover and Andrew for the wicked illustrations; to Anna, Chris, Luis, Sarge, Jing, Cecilia and Ruey for their support and blurbs; to the LitCritters for having to bear through these stories; to my daughter Sage for wanting to have a book of her own stories; to Nikki for being, always, my kakampi. It was my mother who first took my hand and led through the worlds behind words. I owe her the power words have over me. This book is for her as well.


Cyan with one of the twins & Elbert Or


Spec Fic Peddlers: Vin, me, Andrew & Nikki

Thanks, all!

"The Kite of Stars and Other Stories" is available at Powerbooks and National Bookstore (order) (and soon, Fully Booked and other fine bookstores).

Yvette Tan writes about the launch here.

Let me know what you think.