As part of the upcoming Manila Book Fair, the folks behind Read or Die have all sorts of activities lined up to get us excited about reading. One of these activities is a literary cosplay competition. If you haven’t heard of cosplay, the word is a combination of “costume” and “roleplay;” it is something that started in Japan where fans of manga, anime, videogames, TV shows and other popular Japanese media, dress up as their favorite characters. If you have been to comic or toy or science fiction conventions and have seen costumed characters walking around, then you know what cosplay is.

Now, instead of dressing up as Pikachu, Kenshin, or Voltes V, a Read or Die cosplay asks you to dress up as a literary character. It will be the first of its kind in the world. The Read or Die website has the complete guidelines for the competition. Characters must originally be from a book so that any character from anime, movies, or cartoons with book adaptations that came after are disqualified. Please choose a costume that is tasteful and appropriate for all ages.

Of course you can dress up as a Harry Potter character but chances are you will see many people in the same costume so go back to your library and pick out a character from another book that you like. Read or Die suggests characters from Noli or Fili or The Three Musketeers. There are millions of books to choose from.

If you have questions, please contact Read or Die. I imagine that characters originally from manga and comicbooks (e.g., Superman) will be allowed but this is something that probably has to be confirmed with the organizers. Also, we will try to find out if the contest is open to all ages.

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.

If you have a favorite foundation or public school, we are giving away tickets to the Read or Die Convention on Feb3-4 at the Intercon in Makati. Read or Die is a book festival, the first event of its kind in the Philippines. We will have book sales, book signings, book discussions, book auctions, book exhibits, storytelling, book-related movie screenings, etc. This is a way for your foundation or sponsored school to be part of this literary revolution. Let’s celebrate reading!

Call us at 634-6544.

This is the panel we are sponsoring for RodCon 2007. The panel will be presented by the LitCritters group. It is scheduled for Sunday, February 4, 3:30-5:00pm. We hope you attend!

Speculative Fiction for Beginners: Reading Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror

The LitCritters discuss which books and authors provide perfect introductions to the wild and wonderful world of Speculative Fiction, with selections from the genres of Fantasy, Scifi and Horror. In addition, the panel will talk about developing Filipino SF - where we are and where we hope to be in future.

Panelists include published authors Dean Francis Alfar, Nikki Alfar, Vincent Michael Simbulan, Andrew Drilon, Alexander Osias and Kate Aton-Osias.

Here is an edited excerpt (a long one) from the January newsletter of RodCon. We’ve already told you why we like it, but for those of you who need more convincing, perhaps this rundown of what will happen during the convention is what you need. Thanks to Kristin M. for a great update.

I. Tickets

Ticket rates are:
Students: P100/one-day pass; P200/two-day pass
Professionals: P150/one-day pass; P300/two-day pass

The tickets will be exchanged for a convention kit and badge during registration. Please keep your tickets. They are non-refundable. For those who purchase 2-day passes, you will use the same badge for both days, so hang on to it!

Also, please note that tickets will only be available at pre-registration rates until January 31, 2007. If you buy your ticket on February 1 onwards, you will be charged registration rates.

Tickets are now on sale at Booktopia.

II. Hotel Reservations

Hotel Intercontinental is offering convention attendees a special flat rate of P5000+++ for both single and twin occupancies from February 3 to February 4. The package comes with a free breakfast buffet at the Jeepney Deli, among other amenities. Please note that the rate for regular hotel guests is P7000+++. If you wish to make a reservation, please contact the RodCon 2007 secretariat at “rodcon dot sec at gmail dot com”. Interested parties are advised to make reservations before January 25, 2007 at the very latest.

III. Online Pre-Registration

Online pre-registration will end on January 19, 2007. People who signed up through the RodCon website will be contacted this week with instructions about where and how to pay for their tickets. They will also be provided with the function room schedule once the final list has taken form and asked to make priority reservations for up to two function room events of choice. People who did not pre-register online will only receive their schedules during the convention.

IV. Registration

Registration will start at 8AM daily. Please try to come on time. Early bird registrants will receive special kits. The Dealers Room will be open at exactly 9AM. Opening ceremonies–with speeches by the Guests Of Honor and keynote speakers–will last until around 10AM. Function room events will start at 11AM.

V. Guests of Honor / Live Performances

National Artists Virgilio Almario and F. Sionil Jose will be this year’s Guests of Honor.

Noted Filipino bands Radioactive Sago Project and Up Dharma Down will also be performing live in the Grand Ballroom on February 4, 2007. The bands will be debuting songs from an upcoming concept album produced by Read or Die featuring bands from innovative indie record label Terno Recordings. All the songs in the album will be original compositions based on Filipino literary works. New Terno Recordings artist Swissy will also be coming to the con to perform.

VI. Activities

RodCon activities will take place simultaneously on several fronts:

1) Function Rooms: Or the panel discussions, lectures, and workshops which will run continuously throughout the convention.

2) Stage: Film screenings, raffles, auctions, contests, special performances.

VII. Update: Portrait of the Filipino as a Reader
Photographers (or anyone) are encouraged to bring their photographs to the convention and paste or tack them onto a community wall. People can then vote for their favorite photos on the spot through a ballot box. Winners will receive special prizes.

Photos must at least be 3R in size and must conform to the theme. Attendees may submit as many photographs they want, just be sure to register your participation at the registration desk.

VIII. Read or Die Interactive

New! Specific areas of the convention have been set aside for meet-ups and (very) informal discussion circles. While these sessions are technically free, groups and individuals who do participate will be asked to pay some sort of toll fee (amount optional, money optional). It’s to supplement the donation to AHON, as per usual.

1) Readers Corner : Where readers can meet up and talk about books to their hearts’ content. Facilitated by Read or Die. Schedule/list of books to be discussed to follow. The swap area can also be found here.

Convention attendees are encouraged to bring their secondhand books to either swap or donate.

2) Writers Corner : Writers are notoriously hard to pin down but several writers have been asked to consider making time to meet their readers. If one is seen wandering around the convention, an announcement will be made on the PA. Or, if you’re a writer or you belong to a writers’ group and would like to use RodCon as a meeting place, please contact the secretariat so they can schedule your slot in the Writers Corner. Slots can only last for an hour.

3) Artists Corner: Artists may likewise avail of a spot in the convention where they can meet up or chat with their favorite comic artist. Please note that, as in the case with Writers Corner, there is no guarantee that your favorite artists will in fact appear or will be willing to sit for an hour and sign autographs. But if you are a comic artist and would not mind donating your time to meet with your readers (and acolytes, extant or otherwise), please do so. You can either email the secretariat to avail of your slot (or fill out the web form in the site) or sign up during the convention itself. First come first served.

4) Publishing Depot: Publishing representatives are invited to make time to meet readers or to field inquiries from potential authors in the Publishing Depot. Writers are advised to bring their manuscripts with them for the convention

IX. Press Releases

Ads and a feature article on Read or Die have appeared in the Inquirer, Star, Tribune, the Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Malaya and other magazine publications. RodCon would like to thank Dee Mandigma for his efforts on their behalf.

X. Further Notes

The New Worlds Alliance members will be coming in costume. Other hobby organizations who wish to attend the convention in costume or cosplay are free to do so. You do not have to ask prior permission from the secretariat. There will be no official cosplay competition, however.

XI. Wrapping Up

We hope to see you all in RodCon. We end with a quote from the British novelist Zadie Smith:

“But the problem with readers, the idea we’re given of reading is that the model of a reader is the person watching a film, or watching television. So the greatest principle is, ‘I should sit here and I should be entertained.’ And the more classical model, which has been completely taken away, is the idea of a reader as an amateur musician. An amateur musician who sits at the piano, has a piece of music, which is the work, made by somebody they don’t know, who they probably couldn’t comprehend entirely, and they have to use their skills to play this piece of music. The greater the skill, the greater the gift that you give the artist and that the artist gives you. That’s the incredibly unfashionable idea of reading. And yet when you practice reading, and you work at a text, it can only give you what you put into it. It’s an old moral, but it’s completely true.

I would add that talented writers begin as talent readers, though I’ve scarcely heard it remarked upon.

The two activities are not only fundamentally similar, they’re the necessary halves of a single human activity.

The reader completes the arc.

If there is no reader, there is no text.”

Here’s to the readers.

We are now selling one-day passes to RodCon 2007.

One-day passes can be used on either February 3 or February 4 so if you have this ticket, try to check the program schedule to make sure you go on the day they are holding the event/discussion you want to attend.

Prices for a one-day pass until January 31:

Students - P100
Non-students - P150

For groups of 10 or more, we are giving away one free ticket for every ten tickets purchased.

We will also be selling two-day passes very soon.

Read or Die is hosting a photography competition and exhibit called “Portrait of the Filipino as Reader.” Through visual media, the goal is to showcase the different faces of the Filipino as a reader in a world which challenges our definitions and perceptions of literacy and what it really means to read.

You are allowed to enter at most three photographs. Contest entries will be displayed in the RodCon site and finalists will be chosen through online voting. The top twenty photographs will be displayed in a special exhibit during RodCon 2007.

For the full set of rules, please visit the official contest site.

Also, on the sidebar is a preview of the RodCon pass which just arrived in our inbox. Nice.

If you didn’t know it yet, you can reserve tickets to RodCon 2007 in advance. It might be difficult to determine now if you want tickets for both days or for just one of the days of the event until the final program schedule is released, but there’s no harm in reserving ahead since you will have until January 20 to pay for the tickets. We might also be selling tickets at the store when they become available.

We met with Kristin M. of RodCon at the bookstore to discuss Booktopia’s planned involvement. We will be putting up a booth and we will also be hosting a panel or two. If you know what types of books you want to see there or what panel topic you would be most interested in, please get in touch with us.

We really encourage attendance to RodCon. We like that it’s new and different, that it’s trying to do something good, that it’s ambitious and idealistic. It’s about getting readers together for two days to celebrate reading and it’s also about creating new readers. The people behind Rodcon believe, and we agree, that developing a reading culture is something we desperately need as a society. Remember that proceeds from the event will go to a foundation that builds libraries for rural public schools.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a casual reader or a serious reader, RodCon is for everyone. I know someone who only reads comicbooks, someone who can only get himself to read computer manuals, someone who only buys magazines, and someone who is a book snob through and through and will read only the most obscure stuff. It doesn’t matter.

And then if you count yourself among those who don’t read but from time to time maybe you wish you did, go to RodCon, you just might see something you like.

Please be reminded, the deadline for submitting nominations for the Pinoy Readers Choice Awards is tomorrow, November 3. Four categories are available: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Young Adult, Poetry. Votes will then be accepted from November 10 of this year to January 26 of next year. The award will be presented to winning authors on February 4, 2007, during the RodCon.

Get more information from the Rodcon site.

Have you ever been to a convention for readers before? RodCon 2007 will be the first of its kind in the country and we’re very excited about it. This is most likely the first in a series of articles we will be doing on RodCon 2007 as we will make sure we let you know of developments the closer we get to the event date.

RodCon 2007 is a two-day literary convention from February 3 to 4 at the Hotel Intercon Makati, organized by Read or Die Inc. RodCon focuses on readers and the serious craft of reading. Here’s what you can expect from RodCon 2007:

• Panel discussions ranging from lectures to discussion groups to workshops to book signings and launchings. The panels are multi-track, which means they will take place continuously throughout the convention.
• Specially themed book exhibits of book genres or author collections.
• Screenings of movies based on books.
• Lotteries, free books, signed book auctions, quiz shows, a book bingo.
• A dealers room with booksellers ranging from your favorite bookstores to your neighbor’s garage sale.
• The first ever Pinoy Readers Choice Awards.

The convention seeks to bring together readers, writers, publishers, government and school organizations and book dealers to highlight the importance of reading and literacy in building an open world for every Filipino through books. All proceeds of the event will be donated to UNICEF in partnership with AHON Foundation.

For information on ticket prices and other details, please visit the RodCon website.