Tag Archives: short stories

“Next Time” Media – CBC Radio & the Markham Economist and Sun

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My mentorship with Diaspora Dialogues and publication in TOK led me to new experiences, ushering me into a world of finger foods and wine, book launches and literary powwows and, bizarrely enough, interviews with press and radio personnel. I say “bizarrely enough” because I am used to being on the other side of journalism – the side that asks questions and forms stories rather than the one that becomes the story.

After the publication of “Next Time,” however, I found myself the subject of a few reporters’ interests.

One interview I did was with CBC Radio’s Metro Morning show. Released on the launch date of TOK 7, it may be found online via the Metro Morning webpage.

Another one appeared in the Markham Economist and Sun, and I’ll post the link soon if it can be found online. In the meantime, my brother was kind enough to take a photo of the publication and upload it to Facebook, where comments of, “Thank God it wasn’t a Wanted poster,” began peppering his page.

An article in the Markham Economist and Sun

Though it’s odd being the subject of interviews as opposed to the interviewer, it’s definitely much easier answering questions as opposed to formulating a story, asking questions, and transcribing it after (oh, dear Lord, I’ll never miss transcribing). The one thing I feel iffy about is having my friends and family read or hear the interviews later. Somehow I feel less awkward at the thought of strangers reading about my personal life as opposed to those actually involved in my personal life. I’m not sure if that’s a feeling I can ever get accustomed to.

Either way, thank you Aparita Bhandari from CBC Radio and Simon Martin from the Markham Economist and Sun for featuring me and promoting Diaspora Dialogues on your sites and media channels. It’s been a great experience and is much appreciated.

TOK: Writing the New Toronto, Book 7 Launch

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On Wednesday, May 9, the latest (and last) installment of the TOK series launched at Gladstone Hotel. The night was a great success, featuring readings by my fellow emerging writers, James Papoutsis, Zalika Reid-Benta and Yaya Yao, as well as a panel discussion involving mentors Moez Surani and Olive Senior. The turnout was huge, the beer ice cold, and finger foods great. Despite the fact that I drove (read: sat) in traffic for literally 2 ½ hours to get there (Grrr, I hate driving downtown), I’m happy I attended the TOK launch. Such events are always inspiring for me as a writer, not to mention the amazing sense of accomplishment it offered to finally see “Next Time” in print. Some kindly man even asked for my autograph, which was a definite first!

As always, thank you once again to Diaspora Dialogues staff – Helen, Natalie, Jordan and Holly – for organizing everything from the program to the anthology to the launch, and offering an amazing support network for emerging writers. The Diaspora Dialogues experience is one that keeps giving.

I am extremely fortunate to have experienced Diaspora Dialogues’ short form mentoring program, especially since I managed to sneak into its last year running. From now on, Diaspora Dialogues is offering a long form mentoring program, which I hope to apply for, that will offer emerging writers greater in-depth opportunities to hone their craft and ready a book-length project for publication. If you’re an emerging writer with a book in the desk drawer, this program is certainly one to consider.

If you have time, be sure to check Diaspora Dialogues out. Any support for the organization would be greatly appreciated, whether through donation or through purchasing a TOK book, so the organization can continue its support of emerging writers. The seventh edition of TOK contains the recurring theme of hope. The book submerges readers into a world of complex and compelling characters, offering greater insights into the dynamics men face in our society. I’m honoured to be among the authors in TOK 7. Trust me, the book is well worth the read.

My First Reading Ever

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Glowing with relief with my parents after my reading at Diaspora Dialogues’ “Toronto the Bad” event was done.

On Friday, April 20 I participated in my first reading ever. There’s a million things I could say about the event, from my anxiety in the face of public speaking, to my worry about what my parents would think, to the seeming serendipity of reading at an event I had been an awed witness of only a few years earlier. I could even touch on the way my voice shook from terror during my introduction, the way I zoned into the story halfway through, my failure to properly adjust the mic and therefore my need to talk into it through the side of my mouth, or that one annoying piece of hair that kept falling into my eyes. Perhaps I could even recap the fear I had when the reading was done, during which I realized I was in front of about 100 people reading my personal thoughts, and I just ran off stage.

But three weeks later, it still feels fresh enough to frighten, awe, and amaze me. Three weeks later, I’m still too shy to watch the video my Dad discreetly taped of me (against my wishes!), too high from the idea that I actually got paid for fiction, and too grateful to fully grasp the fact that one of the readers on stage was me and this week I’ll be published in this year’s TOK anthology.

Perhaps, when it all boils down to it, all I’d really like to say is, Thank you. To Diaspora Dialogues for the opportunity, to Olive Senior for the mentorship, to my fellow emerging writers for coming out and showing support at the event, and to my lovely boyfriend and family for witnessing me freak out, advising me to breathe, and allowing me to break their hands while I squeezed it out of fear and nervousness.

If you’re interested in finding me much more calm and composed at another awesome event, feel free to visit the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom at 7:30pm this Wednesday night (May 9). TOK: Writing the New Toronto, Book 7 will be launched – the book in which my short story, “Next Time,” is published. Accompanying the launch are readings by my fellow emerging writers, James Papotsis, Zalika Reid-Benta, and Yaya Yao, and a panel discussion between Moez Surani and Olive Senior.

Short Story: “Next Time”

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Great news! I recently received word that my short story, “Next Time,” will be published in this year’s TOK Anthology. The TOK series books are traditionally released in April, and I can’t wait to see the finished product.

I will be reading the same story at the Toronto Reference Library this April 20th for Keep Toronto Reading 2012 as part of the Friday Nights with Diaspora Dialogues series. It seems like only yesterday when I was nearly moved to tears by the MAD Poet’s spoken word at Friday Nights with Diaspora Dialogues in 2009, and now I will be one among the presenters.

It’s a mind-blowing opportunity that I’m still too giddy to wrap my head around. The sheer head rush that resulted from hearing both these things was enough to last me for a long time. I’m still buzzing from excitement!

For an excerpt of the short story, please feel free to read beyond the cut.

Continue reading→

“Mahal Kita” on Toronto In Colour

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My short story, “Mahal Kita”, is featured on Toronto In Colour. Become a TorontoInColour.ca member and check it out here. : )

I must say, it’s a little nerve-wracking to have the thing online for anyone to read. When it was initially published in the Hart House Review, I felt it had a limited readership since it was in print and therefore somewhat inaccessible to all my friends and relatives. I much prefer the image that accompanies the story on TIC.ca, however. The photo features a beautiful sunset, which is part of the initial setting of my story. When the story was published in HHR, it was featured beside an image of a poor Asian child, which I felt completely misconstrued the story’s Philippine setting!

Hart House Review Launch, etc.

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I am attending the Hart House Review Launch this Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30pm in the Hart House Debates Room and I’m not too sure what to expect, though I know there will be hors d’oeuvres and drinks. I suppose that means mingling is involved (unfortunately for me, as I am chronically anti-social). There will also be readings from Priscila Uppal and Ronna Bloom, with showcased pieces by Davida Nemeroff. I will also get my hands on this year’s issue of the Review with my short story, “Mahal Kita”.

I am still extremely grateful and excited about my acceptance into the Review. At the same time, I’m eager to start trying my hand at publications and contests outside the UofT community. I am currently working on a short story to be finished by early May tentatively titled “Lights Out”. It will focus more on Canadian culture – specifically cosmopolitan Toronto culture – although it will still cursorily refer to Philippine culture as a reference point as well. It is the first time I’m trying to seriously write something for publication in a while and I’m a bit nervous about it.

My screenplay is still in the works as well, and has actually regressed to the beat-sheet stage. There were a lot of issues I had to work out at the plot level, and I’ve come up with a completely different story from the one I first started with. I’m very happy with the changes and progress that has been made, as it’s starting to move at a movie-like pace as opposed to the novelistic turtle-walk it was moving at before.

Anyways, more later. Adios.