..the author in German fest

Award-winning Pinoy author featured in German literary fest

 

09/19/2011

GMA News

An award-winning Filipino novelist, Miguel Syjuco, was one of the honored guests at the 11th International Literature Festival Berlin from September 7 to 17.

The Philippine Embassy in Berlin said Syjuco, based in Montreal, Canada, was only the third Filipino writer to be invited to the prestigious literature festival held every two years.

"He (Syjuco) discussed his award-winning novel "Ilustrado" before a packed crowd of literature enthusiasts from Germany and other nationals from all over the world," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Syjuco won the Man Asian Literary Prize and Palanca Award in 2008 for his novel "Ilustrado," a thriller-cum-political novel on a migrant Filipino's search for his mentor's killer.

The novel — published in more than a dozen languages, including German — was a commentary on Philippine life and politics.

The DFA said the festival's special focus this year is the Asia Pacific region.

The festival aims to make the literature and culture of the region accessible to a wider audience, promote mutual understanding, and a lively exchange among the authors and artists. - VVP, GMA News

...the novel that becomes tourism pitch

Pinay's hit int'l novel promotes Boracay

 

08/17/2011

GMA News

A new hit fiction novel by Filipino author Samantha Sotto is turning out to be a tourism pitch for world-famous Boracay Island in Western Visayas.

In a call on the Philippine Embassy to Washington, Sotto said that while her novel "Before Ever After" is set in Europe, Boracay figured prominently the story.

"She informed Philippine ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. that] while the setting of her novel is Europe, the famous island resort of Boracay in the Philippines is an important location in the story," the Philippine Embassy to Washington D.C. said in a news release.

"My being Filipino was definitely a plus. My living overseas was not an issue at all with my publisher," added Sotto, who lives in the Philippines.

Also, she said there are no barriers to Filipino talent and one of her goals in being an author is to raise awareness about the Philippines.

Sotto's fiction novel is published by the prestigious Random House, and was released last August 2. She is the second Filipino after National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose to have her work published by Random House.

"Before Ever After" is a love story that defies the boundaries of time and space. Sotto wrote it at a coffee shop while waiting for her son to get off from school. It is her first work.

For his part, Cuisia expressed pride at Sotto's achievement and urged her to continue with her good work to showcase Filipino talent not just in the US but in many parts of the world, the embassy said.

Sotto said she is already working on a second book. She said she is "80 percent done" with the second book and will be back in the US in October for more promotional events. — KBK, GMA News

...the novelist

Social media boosts Pinay's maiden novel

08/13/2011

GMA News

 

Filipina author Samantha Sotto has credited social media for the success of her debut novel, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday.

“Ms. Sotto expressed to the Philippine Consul General in New York, Mario de Leon Jr., how her book ‘suddenly exploded’ in just a few weeks because of the power of social media," the DFA said in a statement.

Sotto gave De Leon a copy of her novel, “Before Ever After," which was launched Aug. 2 by Crown Publishing Group/Random House Inc., according to the DFA.

Sotto is the first Filipina novelist to be published by Crown Publishing Group/Random House Inc.

The DFA said the book has only been released in hard copy and in electronic book (e-book) versions for only a few days. Yet, the public response has already surpassed the publisher’s expectations, it added.

“In terms of page views and website traffic, the video trailer of the book posted on Random House’s website ranked second to former US President George Bush’s ‘Decision Points,’ amazing for a debut novelist," the DFA said.

The publisher has received inquiries about the book from markets like Singapore. It shows the scope and depth of support that a “kababayan" can count on from the Filipino diaspora, according to the DFA

The consulate already organized a book reading and signing activity on Friday for Sotto’s novel. — JE/VS, GMA News