We’ve been running here and there since the end of January and have only had a few chances to take pause. We’ve been packing books, unpacking books, moving shelves, talking to people, printing signs, and all the other activities connected with book sales and in-store events. It sounds tiring, and it is, but it’s also a lot of fun.

Near the end of January, we held a week-long book sale at the Ateneo de Manila University for their Humanities Week through the Ateneo Literary Society. Thanks to the teachers and students who passed by our table and thanks especially to Marielle of LitSoc.

The first weekend of February saw us at the Hotel Intercon in Makati for the Read or Die Convention. It was our first convention and we experienced for the first time setting up a booth. This involves hauling shelves and boxes and unpacking our things in the wee hours of the morning. It was a great experience though and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves during the convention. One of our favorite activities at RodCon 2007 was watching the Alitaptap Storytellers on stage. They were very entertaining and the children (and adults) in the audience were obviously enthralled by the storytelling. Even people who don’t read will love them. We plan on bringing the storytellers to the store in the future. We were pleasantly surprised to see a series of posters featuring local actors in a ‘Get Caught Reading’ campaign by the National Book Development Board (NBDB). (Local talents featured in the posters are Miriam Quiambao and Makisig Morales of Super Inggo. Interesting stuff, but useless if it doesn’t get the proper exposure.) We also loved that there was a publisher’s room where writers could meet up with publishers and discuss submissions. We enjoyed the concert with local artists featuring music based on literary works. It’s all in the interest of building a literary culture.

Hopefully, the other attendees and exhibitors feel the same way we do about the convention. It’s not the famous Los Angeles Times Festival of Books just yet but given a few more tries and a few more supporters, that’s how I imagine it can be. After seeing how much fun can be had and how much good can be done by having our very own book festival, I don’t see why we shouldn’t have another one next year. Thanks to the Read or Die organizers.

On the second day of the convention, we sponsored a panel discussion entitled “Speculative Fiction for Beginners: Reading Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror” which award-winning author and editor Dean Alfar facilitated with the LitCritters. It was great! And to think the LitCritters group only had a few days to work on their panel. It was a lively and interesting session. The LitCritters described their particular speculative fiction preferences: science fiction, fantasy, horror, interstitial fiction (general and young adult). Then they each recommended titles for beginning readers to look up. No wonder the sign-up sheet was full before noon and had to be taken from the reception desk because more people wanted to attend. Thank you to Dean and the rest of the LitCritters for a wonderful panel.

A few days after that, we held a book launch/discussion with first-time publisher Cozy Reads Publishing. (Incidentally, RodCon is where we met Cozy Reads Publishing!) The publishers and contributing authors were around to answer questions on the writing and publishing process. A book signing followed afterwards. Thanks to Sherwil for bringing their book, Heartbreak, to our store and for bringing those delicious mini donuts. We wish Cozy Reads more success with their upcoming titles.

(I don’t think it has been mentioned yet that aside from giving you the stories, one of the things that will impress you about the book Heartbreak is how beautiful it looks. People often complain that local books are just a bit unattractive but this book is different. The cover, the print and the thick and creamy paper look very professional; not your usual newsprint, and yet readers find it very affordable.)

We don’t really mind the running around. We love spending time with our customers and talking to publishers and writers. Hopefully the rest of year brings us a lot more of these activities. So if you have suggestions or ideas for future events, please tell us.