As a writer, there are so many authors I admire and aspire to be like. Jane Austen and L.M. Montgomery for the classics. J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, and J.K. Rowling for epic fantasies. Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, and Jennifer E. Smith for YA. Elizabeth Gilbert and Gretchen Rubin for self-help and inspiration. And so many more!
When we talk about authors, it’s usually the foreign ones who get more credit, but there are so many Filipino authors who also write great stories. I attended The Philippine Readers and Writers Festival last weekend and it was truly a celebration of local talent.
The panel I attended was “Clever Hands: How to Write Steamy Scenes in New Adult Lit.” Featuring local authors Brigitte Bautista, Six de los Reyes, Clare Elizabeth Marquez, C.P. Santi, Ines Bautista-Yao, and Mina V. Esguerra, the discussion was definitely eye-opening. To summarize, there are several heat levels in romance, ranging from zero (clean), one (sweet), two (sensual), three (sexy and sizzling), and four (erotic romance). These heat levels can help clarify who your readers might be, and they will affect your characters, plot, and word choices. (I’ve read books across all heat levels, but in terms of my fiction, I think I’ll stick to level one… for now. Haha!)
The authors gave great writing tips, but the highlight of the session was definitely the live readings, done by actors Gio Gahol, Rachel Coates, and Fred Lo. It was thrilling to see the written word come alive before my eyes. Check out these videos to see what I mean. (Thank you to April of The Reading Belles for uploading.)
All That Glitters by Ines Bautista-Yao, a sweet romance about college kids Carlos and Billie. I’ve read this and highly recommend it!
Bucket List to Love by C.P. Santi. I love that it’s set in Japan—and after hearing this excerpt, I just had to get a copy.
I wish I could have attended more talks (and bought more books), but sitting in on this panel was definitely worth it. It inspired me to keep reading, writing, improving—and having fun along the way!
Angel C. Aquino 
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