Wear Your Books PH - Features

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 11:16:00 +0000

✿ From Great-Grandma's Books to Her Own: How One Family Nurtured a Bookworm

I could not remember my age then, but (my reading journey) definitely began with picture books. A relative, a great grandmother I think, gifted me and my older sister this beautiful, small boxed set of Beatrix Potter books.

GETTING TO KNOW JENG

My whole name is Jenghis Gonzalez Espanol, I go by Jen or Jeng to my friends, Jis to my family and relatives. I’ve lived most of my life here in San Pedro, Laguna. Currently I am a lucky housewife to an even luckier hubby. Being his long-term partner I developed a love for cooking as well as gaming!

I graduated way, way back with a Communication Arts degree, which was a blast and I don’t regret it but maybe I should have chosen HRM instead. However as a high school student, I didn’t take interest in cooking yet and I ended up with AB Comm just because I disliked all the other courses! It was still a blessing though, as through that journey I’ve met and made life-long friends. I was interested in Literature, this is true but my only college options then didn’t have them. During most of my college years, I indulged myself in Augustinian Link, the college publication. Some time back I also got to write feature articles for the website “The Film Dream.” I do enjoy writing, especially poetry. I used to write poems all the time when I was a young student, and a little bit more after that.

It’s appropriate to call myself a poet on hiatus. I’m not closing that passion just yet. My dream of publishing a poetry book is just hibernating.

HOW HER READING JOURNEY BEGAN

As far as my memory goes, I have had some access to books. I could not remember my age, but it definitely began with picture books. A relative, a great grandmother I think, gifted me and my older sister (it could have been just to my ate but either way) this beautiful, small boxed set of Beatrix Potter books. The box was mostly white with the printed art and it was like a treasure box with the type of clasp that opens when you push it. It had maybe ten or twelve picture books featuring different “Tales of” animal characters. I remember enjoying reading those over and over again, my favorite being “Tale of Tom Kitten” because I found their mischief just absolutely hilarious. We also had this comic book kind, hardbound Bible made for children, and huge Disney Princess picture books. Aside from the Beatrix Potter tales, I also kept rereading this big and heavy hardbound (it is so frustrating because I really can’t remember the title or even the cover of the book!) of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, with colored illustrations and it was just divine. Horrifying, but a delight! The most vivid memory for me is the “Fisherman and His Wife” and the one page illustration of the fish becoming absolutely livid with the wife’s last wish. For a long time, those were it.

We couldn’t afford books, especially new ones. Mine isn’t a ‘growing up poor’ narrative, we got the necessities - three meals a day, vitamins, school, a small house with stable water and electricity, but not much for luxuries except the occasional swimming outings or picnics. Those were my earliest memories involving books. But the actual turning point, the time I truly realized and recognized that I enjoy and love reading was when I received and read my first paperback novel (without illustrations) - “A Little Princess” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It might have been a holiday when my cousin and his partner gifted me that and for my sister, The Wizard of Oz. Up until now, I wasn’t sure what about the story captured me.

The day I got a shelf felt monumental — it was a piece of wood drilled on the wall above my bed, because the top of our Orocan dresser could no longer hold our growing collection of books.

Books were either gifts or if we do get to buy one, it’ll be the ones that are marked down or on sale and it would be a very rare occasion. My mom has some books that were gifted to her, I read a few Chicken Soup for the Soul books and they were indeed warm and kept me sated.

Every now and then my older sister would buy me preloved books too, while my cousin would send me some from her own collection. Going into high school and college, I would spend my free time at the campus’ library, and buy what I can with the little savings I could muster.

HER FAVE AUTHORS

In no order, some of my favorite authors are:

✍ Lang Leav - I stumbled upon one of her poems on Facebook when I was a teenager, it was “Her Words” and around that time I was really into writing poems and I just felt so connected to it. Her style of writing and poems (catchy, rhyme-y, heartfelt, modern but still romantic) sort of ignited my passion for writing and I have collected her works ever since. I once spent a whole day in line just to meet her and have a book signed.

✍ Neal Shusterman - The first time I read his work was when one of my close friends lent me their copy of “Everlost.” To this day, it is one of my favorites. His unique ideas and world built and the way he tells the stories, everything was just enjoyable. Another excellent work of his and another favorite of mine is the “Arc of A Scythe” trilogy.

✍Lemony Snicket / Daniel Handler - The author of the famous and one of a kind “A Series of Unfortunate Events” is a genius. The genres combined seamlessly in the books are sort of funny because the list is long: mystery, gothic, dark comedy, drama, thriller, adventure, horror, and still somehow a children’s book. Moreso, one of the themes prominently featured in the books is one I’ve grown to take much guilty pleasure in - useless adults. Nowadays I steer clear from heavy and sad stories with tragic endings, but the way ASOUE was narrated was wonderfully entertaining, the writing style balancing out the horrible, horrible events that the poor Baudelaire orphans go through.

✍ Chris Priestley - Another children books author, he writes the most captivating short horror stories. The same bestie who lent me “Everlost” also lent me “Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth” and it was absolutely, terrifyingly splendid. His books I believe are also accompanied by haunting and beautiful illustrations. Unfortunately, they are difficult to find here in the Philippines so may this also call the attention of fellow bookworms who may help me in locating his wonderful books.

HER 2024 FAVE READS SO FAR

Last year I started the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series, and this year I’ve read books 2 and 3 Tales from the Cafe and Before Your Memory Fades and it just continues to leave an impact on me.

I normally stay away and dislike it when books make me cry but this series is an exception because it is too wholesome. I also dislike it when books are too dictatory - like if it’s trying too hard to come off as inspirational. BtCGC’s mix of contemporary and magical realism and way of storytelling is the kind that ‘shows’ and not just ‘tells’ and it leaves me thinking and feeling about my way of living here in reality. It’s the kind of story that inspires me to live better, to be a better, kinder person to myself and everyone else. And the plot is so different from “Little Women” but both had that same effect on me. Another one I truly enjoyed is “Legends and Lattes” which is about a retired orc mercenary who goes on to build and manage her own coffee shop. It is such a delightful, cozy read and it’s perfect for someone like me, who loves fantasy (but dislikes too much violence or fighting), and well, coffee!

JENG & THE BOOKWORM'S ODYSSEY BOX!

🎁 You were one of the few people to purchase the Bookworm's Odyssey box. What made you decide to get it? Is there a particular reason why it appeals to you?

While I do love the actual bookish-themed items (the shirt, the mug, and most especially the pouch), the thing that appealed to me the most is the concept. "Bookworm's Odyssey" sounded quite alluring, like it was prompting me to do some kind of action that doesn't necessarily translate to doing something outrageous or over the top.

It sounds like I could go on an adventure that still welcomes and acknowledges my comfort, but at the same time encourages me to be brave and open-minded. A journey that values the experience just as much as the destination, and with no time pressure. I can go at my own pace and it'll be just as meaningful.

The collection's mention of that needed spark from 2023 and then segueing to fresher and newer paths and possibilities this 2024 felt relatable and inspiring. I feel like I am ready and I do want to be more adventurous and still get to choose and make the literary quests I want, and the products are my accessories, my companion to my bookworm voyage.

I loved the design and concept, but the very item that caught my attention before ordering is the pouch bag. I love my comfort and usual totes, but that ‘something new’ vibe the pouch bag brought is something I indulged in. I just thought, “Well, I don’t have something like that yet.” The bag with that style, size, and shape, it’ll have a new or different function for me. I loved the experience of opening and going through the box itself, similar to my giddiness when I got the IDK What’s Going On Book Club collection. It’s a box of bookworm goodies!

Among the many cute and functional items (excluding the main products), my favorite is the fellowship band.

While there are Bookfitters that have the same shirts, bags, and mugs, there’s something special and charming about having a sort of ‘official’ band. It’s not something for sale, for me it’s a physical manifestation of the slowly but surely coming together of us bookworms through Wear Your Books. We’re from different areas of the country and we’ve attracted each other through the internet and unknowingly we’ve created this light-hearted, pressure-less community that shares the love for books and reading, and tastes for expressing that. Isn’t that just wholesome? I live for wholesome stuff.

HOW TO SUPPORT

Follow Jeng in these platforms for book reviews and recommendations!

📸 Bookstagram: jen_thereadinglion

🤳 Booktok: jen.the.reading.lion

Thank you for being here! Jeng might be a familiar face to some of you especially around Bookstagram and Booktok where she shares her love for reading. Jeng isn't just a customer at Wear Your Books, she's a book nerd extraordinaire! She's also one of the most supportive person you'll find online. Fun fact: Jeng is the mastermind behind the name for our bookish community - Bookfitters, because we don't just read books, we wear them! Our name reflects how deeply we connect with stories, and how finding the right book feels like finding the perfect outfit. Leave a comment for us to read!

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:15:00 +0000

✿ Spotlight: Get to Know Love Julienne of #Booktok and Her Journey to Getting 160K Followers!

As someone who has been creating bookish content since 2016, I have dreamt of having a large audience to share my love for books. But it was still so surprising to me when my first video got so many interactions. I was just expecting 10 likes yet I got 10,000!

✿ GETTING TO KNOW JULIENNE

Hi, I'm Julienne! When I'm not reading for fun... I'm probably still reading. Less on romance & chemistry, and more on biochemistry as a first-year medical student. I also feel like I always tend to share things I love, hence it might be redundant to say how much I love collecting blind boxes, assigning Taylor Swift songs to different eras of my life, and cafe-hopping.

What's the most unexpected book that impacted you deeply?

I would say "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins because it's the first ever book I've finished. I had a Hunger Games fan account phase and I'm very proud of it haha.

Julienne's bookish nature is also met with her creativity and love for doodles and colors!

How did you get into reading? Who or what were your influences growing up?

My sister is also a bookworm and of course, as the bunso, I have this tendency to follow everything she does haha. I still vividly remember how we would buy every volume of W.I.T.C.H and we would read it together.

Who are some of the authors you love and why?

Lately, Emily Henry, Ashley Poston and Ali Hazelwood have been my 'auto-buy' authors. But I also enjoy the writing of Fredrik Backman and Brandon Sanderson.

✿ MAKING A NAME ON BOOKTOK

I started watching BookTok back in 2020 when I was studying for my board exam. That was also the time when the pandemic was at its peak, hence it gave me a sort of escape. I had fun reading people's recommendations. So after my board exam, I decided to create videos, too. I like how BookTok is very candid. It made me feel like I’m just sharing a book that I like with a friend.

Julienne's Tiktok content is authentic, down-to-earth, light, and fun. You'll find book recommendations, insightful reviews, and epic collabs!

Did you ever imagine your love for books would translate to a 160k+ strong Booktok community? How did you navigate the initial growth and exposure?

As someone who has been creating bookish content since 2016, I have dreamt of having a large audience to share my love for books. But it was still so surprising to me when my first video got so many interactions. I was just expecting 10 likes yet I got 10,000.

At first, I was scared because I thought this happy feeling was just fleeting. I thought that it was just luck. But I’m VERY VERY grateful that a lot of the viewers from my very first video still stayed until now. It felt like all the hard work from 2016 paid off. It literally felt like so many of my prayers were being answered.

I did my best to be consistent in every video. Before uploading it, I have this test: the first person I should entertain is myself. I have to make sure that I enjoyed making and watching the video before I share it to the world.

✿ BUILDING A FILIPINA VOICE IN THE BOOK COMMUNITY

Are there any tools that you found particularly helpful on your journey as an influencer and content creator?

I think the best way to improve is to just do it! I watched my old videos (especially from 2016) and it was SO visible that I was not yet comfortable with the camera. But after many years, it really gets better. I also love watching other bookish creators and interacting with them, because they inspire me to create more content. I think that reading books on communication skills help too! I recommend 'Influence is your Superpower' by Zoe Chance.

What advice would you give to aspiring Filipina Booktokers who want to follow in your footsteps as a creative influencer and content creator who are hesitant to take the leap and pursue their creative dreams? How did you overcome fear or self-doubt?

At the end of the day, we are all just too busy to care about anything but ourselves. That is what I always keep in my mind. At first, I was afraid and I even received comments saying that I was ‘trying-hard’, ‘cringe’ and so much more. But I think, we are all just not used to seeing people ‘starting’ or ‘trying’.

How can we be better if we don’t try? How can the opportunities find you if you don’t put yourself out there?

It might take a long time but I believe that every hard work eventually pays off. Sometimes, not in the way that we expect it to.

My good tip is to surround yourself with people who support you. I owe it to the people who supported my content creator dreams. My two roommates who watched me upload my first video, my family who has been watching my homemade vlogs since I was 6 years old, and my friends who always celebrate my wins and helped me in my losses.

Of course, your biggest supporter should also be you. Ever since 2016, when I was getting 100-200 views for a video that I edited for 10 hours (!!!), I already had this feeling that eventually people who love the same things would find me. And they did!

Julienne's first ever Tiktok video where she shares a mini book haul featuring Haikyuu manga.

What do you consider are the biggest challenges with content creating for a book community? How do you handle such challenges?

Challenge 1. Being continually creative. I always make sure that every video that I do is fun not just for the viewers, but also for me! I watch bookish content creators that inspire me. When it starts to feel more like work than fun, I tend to take breaks to prevent burnout.

Challenge 2. Being consistent. It's very difficult to be consistent, especially with short-form content wherein you must capture their attention within 10 seconds because it's very easy to scroll! I also feel like with TikTok, it's a challenge to always upload consistently because of its algorithm. I think I overcame this by building a community even outside TikTok. Through broadcast channels, Instagram, and a bookclub (coming soon!). I am so happy that I know and see a lot of viewers who have been watching my videos since 2021! I am grateful that there are people who still watch my videos even if I take long breaks hehe.

We collaborated with Julienne in 2020 before she even took the Booktok community by storm! We found her Youtube channel and immediately knew she deserves a larger audience!

✿ DEALING WITH READING SLUMPS & CREATIVE ROADBLOCKS

What are your personal tips for staying inspired and keeping your content fresh, especially while managing such a demanding academic schedule as a med student?

I take long breaks and I think my community knows that because they call me their 'favorite ghoster'. 👻 But despite the breaks, I don't stop reading. It's like a vacation! Whenever I come back on TikTok, I have 'pasalubongs' aka book recos hehe. I also plan my schedule thoroughly. My friends know this because I tend to get stressed when there are sudden events! 😂 I aim to really follow what I planned (even though, of course, there are times when life is just so hard to keep up with and I end up just sleeping haha).

What are your ultimate goals and aspirations in the space of content creating?

My main goal is to create a safe space for everyone who loves books and for those who want to start loving them. I started bookstagram in 2016 and I can't explain with words the joy I got from having internet friends wherein I can share my love for reading. I want people to experience this too. I also want to be able to do this for a long long time.

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you'd like to share with our audience?

For upcoming projects, I have things lined up! I'll be launching an online book club soon and I've been preparing for it. I'm also working on a secret project that I cannot disclose yet but let's just say that it involves a longer form of content.

✿ HOW TO SUPPORT

🤳 Tiktok: lovejulienne

📸 Instagram: juliennereads

Thank you for being here! We're glad to share Julienne's story as we celebrate women and their passion to create! All photos are from Julienne's public social media accounts. Leave a comment for us to read! We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 13:24:00 +0000

✿ February Spotlight: The Life of a Young Librarian and Bookseller

Before I started college, I told myself volunteering in the library will be a great opportunity to understand the technical side of books. After all, a library is a system passed down to us by the ancient world. So after enrolling myself, I went directly to the library and asked if I can volunteer.

I am more known as 'ij' in my current circle and in Passion Inside Bookstore, but you can call me Irish, Rish, or bestie. I live in Cavite, currently taking Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

GETTING TO KNOW IRISH

Before books, I was so passionate about TV. But during the summer of 2014, my friends introduced me to e-book or electronic book. With One Direction singing in my ears, and love stories after love stories unraveling before my mind's eye, I was hooked. It took many years before I turned into a mystery and classic geek. Because I rely on a high school student allowance, it didn't enter my mind to start collecting books at first. If I may use Wonka and Desiree's line, "I rely on the kindness of strangers."

When my classmates learned that I was into reading, they would voluntarily lend me their books.

I only started collecting when accidentally I ordered two books published by a no-longer publishing company from a supplier, and I was startled to find out that I was holding in my hand a copy that was thrice as old as me.

Aside from the Bible, there are actually two classic books that impacted me deeply. And I'll gladly name them because I don't understand why they're not so popular. It was The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton and Sister Carrie by Theodore Drieser.

Reading these two gothic classics stripped off all the entitlement spirit in me. I read it at a time when I was into the 'BLING' era— when all I see is the glitter and possibilities and getting rich and thinking rich and all that jazz. These two books humbled me.

How did you get into reading classic literature?

I didn't know there was such a genre as classic then. Only that Detective Conan (anime character) talks non-stop about Sherlock Holmes — and I like Detective Conan A LOT. So I went to my dad to ask if Sherlock Holmes was a real thing. He didn't know either, so I started researching. Honestly, I first read Arthur Conan Doyle's creation long before I started reading the manga of Detective Conan. The first time I read it was on a PDF I downloaded for free, on my phone, and I wasn't the least intimidated by the Victorian language.

One thing I know is that I am curious. And with my Merriam Webster app on hand, I read, and read, and read. Every word I didn't know means an addition to my lexicon of vocabularies.

Who are some of the authors you love and why?

In Christian fiction, that would be Robin Lee Hatcher. In memoirs and biography, Frank McCourt. In Wattpad, HeadphonesAndLuck and Purpleyhan. In contemporary literature, Khaled Hosseini and Carlos Ruiz Zafon. In classic, Thomas Hardy and Edith Wharton. If I just want to have fun and relax, it's Neil Gaiman. In the Bible, it's David, Solomon, Habakkuk anddd Luke. The why lies in their creations. Please do try 'em.

HOW IRISH GOT INTO BOOKSELLING

Passion Inside started as a bookstagram account. And although I have money enough at that point to indulge in book buying, my shelf space was too limited. And so I started an experiment. I decided that after I finish a book, I should sell it.

My first customer was Ate Ella who is now a professor in Ateneo. Soon enough, I find that the books I read started attracting readers of classics and mystery books. I also got the opportunity to learn their stories. Ate Ella's endorsement through her post & stories helped a lot! It became a cycle. Until we started buying books more than I can read, but I was "able-bodied" to circulate in the market anyway. Passion Inside used to be called 'Read Like Never Before', but it was such a mouthful.

I used to always dream of being the CEO of a company named 'Passion Inside'. Vague in name, because it can be anything, but true to its form. So it became Passion Inside Bookstore, or PIBS for short. I learned a lot throughout the years. But more than that, I also carry with me my father's teaching: Smile even if they're only passersby, and my mother's advice, too: Treat the customer like family.

Given the growing number of book sellers online nowadays, what fuels you to continue serving through Passion Inside?

Oh, I like meeting readers! It's unfortunate that I rarely find a ka-co-genre though, but that's okay.

And frankly, I think this is the reason why I never thrive in a book club. Because I love the diversity. I love to see readers reading different kinds of books. I love scrolling through Instagram and seeing the progress of everyone on it. I love knowing that I am not alone in seasons when I feel like only reading every once in a while, and that's acceptable.

I never thrive in a book club. Because I love the diversity.

APPLYING AS A STUDENT LIBRARIAN

The Rejection

Before I started college, I told myself that volunteering in the library will be a great opportunity to understand the technical side of books. After all, a library is a system passed down to us by the ancient world. So after enrolling myself, I went directly to the library, and asked if I can volunteer. I remember the confused faces of the library staff. You see, there were no advertisements about this so my proposal surprised them. However, since the pandemic just ended, access to the library was limited and they did not need much help. So they told me they cannot cater to my request yet. I went home disappointed. But that's okay.

The Reflection

During the summer break of 2023, I reflected, like every human being facing the question of what do I really want to do in life? and where do I invest my energy and time?

I told myself, 'If you really want to work with books, you have to try to work in a library.'

This is so I can widen my understanding of how it all works. I remember the writer of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. The ultimate purpose behind every job he got into was to build the skills and knowledge to achieve what he wants to become. So, after the first few weeks of second year college, I sent the library a message on their Facebook page.

Finally Accepted

I received a so-so again. I was promised that they'll get back to me. Few days passed, and I heard from them again. The chief librarian wanted to interview me! We will not get into all the details. But I went from being a volunteer to being a student library assistant.

What kept me motivated was the family we created in the library. A week before January 2024 ended, me and my co-SLAs ate out. Joey, a friend and co-SLA asked, 'what are you most grateful about in the library?' and I answered I'm thankful for them, which we all agree. Because even when we're tired, we still look at each other with a ready smile, and that refreshed us.

Irish worked in the library of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA - Molino where she also studies Psychology.

The Role of Librarians

Librarians do a lot of things. I said this time and time again in PIBS, they're one of the busiest people in the planet. But I guess, for me, their most valuable role is that they are the supplier of knowledge available and accessible to the community.

I think of librarians as the middleman between readers and all the technicalities, so we can get access to the knowledge conveniently and ready-made.

You should see how librarians juggle meeting and calling suppliers, choosing the best books, searching the web for the best online sites for journals and research materials, all the while preparing these books in a systematic order. This is so that clients will have what they need to support their readings in a matter of less than two minutes. They're amazing. I promise, they deserve the respect.

During the past four months, our library conducted a lot of events. We were rolling with things to do and expect. We also had this free books event - instead of donating the old books to a third party, the school library gave them away to the community of UPHSD-Molino.

Most people think that the library is not a fun place. Are you kidding me? Our librarians are thinking of events just to let the world see how fun it is to be part of that community.

What It Takes to be a Librarian

My specific tasks in the library were focused at the Circulation Section, where the students and faculties go to transact with book borrowing, returning, and renewal; renting of the Discussion Room, Media and/or Internet room; guiding the students in using the library system and scanning ID's for attendance. However, I became more active in the Technical Section. Here, we process the books and memos. We update the inventory, go around the university following up on the memos of our department, take stocks from the property office, shelve books, plastic-cover the books, prepare library cards, shelf read, and decorate the library with reminders and holiday joy every once in a while.

For anyone and everyone who is interested in working in the library, I suggest you eat right, sleep right and enjoy the presence of your kapwa student worker and the library staff. Kasi you really need all the strength, focus, energy and most of all your smile intact. My chief librarian used to say, 'It's all about resilience.'

As for knowledge, I didn't possess any before I started. So everything I learned, I learned from experience.

I guess one of the specific skills one has to possess was to know how to shush the noisy kids haha! Kidding aside, an understanding of how to shelf read, MS Excel shortcuts, how your library system works, and how to talk to talk to people of authority is what you'll need (for our memo people), if you're a volunteer or part time worker.

Just be open to learn and try. It helps a lot. Be patient. When you're too shy to ask a library staff, go to a co-student library assistant, and ask. I bet you'll be a natural in less than 10 days.

Faith & Literature

When I was a kid, I used to always have nightmares, and I would wake up around midnight to 3 AM - devil's hour, they say. But then I'll find my dad at our dining room, reading his Bible. So I started doing that, too. I'd wake up from a nightmare, get our gold-edged Tagalog Bible and start reading.

One Christmas night, our friends from church gifted me and my sister a Children's Bible. I wasn't much of a reader then, but I read that book one story at a time. Another church friend gave us a book that I consider to be the turning point of it all, The House of Simple Blessings. When I turned 14, I received my first novels, passed down from my father's shelf. Looking back, I realized that God used these moments and gifts to lead me closer to one conclusion: And that is through and through, I can only my find my rest in Him. Naturally, I sought Him.

The funny thing is, I see Him in places I never thought I'll do. I parallel God's involvement in the lives of the characters in the Bible in almost every book I read.

I never really plan what to read. I just kinda go 'Lord, please lead me what to read next.'

I think we can safely say that the Bible is not only God's love letter, it is also a historical record of the most grandeur stories. From the parting of the Red Sea, to Daniel in the lion' den, to Joseph being sold by his brothers into slavery and the becoming a prime minister in Egypt, to Jesus coming to the world, his miracles and wonders and love, and the birth of Christianity.

And you know what Solomon said, nothing is ever really new under the sun. Things get updated or modified but the point of it all still remains, and it all came from one ancient idea.

HOW TO SUPPORT

You can send me pambili po ng Jollibee sa— kidding! Do visit us:

📸 Instagram: Passion Inside by ijl

💬 Facebook: Passion Inside

🛒 Shopee: Passion Inside Bookstore

If you want to talk about anything at all, such as books, movies, art, events, your dreams, your plans, world domination, etc., or would like to share reels, do not think twice, and just hit me up at the DMs. 🤍 Just remember this simple rule, I sleep early hehe.

Thank you for being here! Our theme for February is ‘Love Your Local Library’ as we celebrate Library Lover’s Month. Leave a comment for us to read! We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 17:45:00 +0000

✿ January Spotlight: Isla Jane on Writing Her First Book

The cornerstones of my writing skills are writing pieces for myself, voracious reading of fiction books, and the lessons I picked up from joining student publications back in college.

When people say you need to make a name for yourself to succeed in this world, I may have taken that advice literally. Isla Jane Noriega is the home I made for my creative self. It's a nod to my home island, Cebu, though I am a city girl through and through.

Although my academic and work background focuses on management accounting and finance, I thrive better in words and become the occasional Grammar Nazi.

My mother's side of the family has dabbled in the arts, whether that be performance or literary arts. Though these are my roots, I felt more at home with the written word. It started with language, my fascination with spelling and vocabulary, since I apparently had good memory recall for that. Care for proper grammar and pronunciation followed. Lessons on subject-verb agreement didn't faze me when I was young. I daresay it felt like the most effortless thing I ever got to learn in school. It felt like breathing.

Then came reading, a way to pick up stories without talking too much. When my tween heart felt like it held too many emotions for it to bear, I turned to writing. There are some things about reading that I find endearing even after all this time. It's a great way to access all sorts of knowledge without much physical effort. You can do it anywhere and it generally doesn't disturb anyone. But most importantly, storytelling for performance and literary arts are two different things and with the latter, you literally get to see how the story unfolds at your own pace and be transported elsewhere. Plus, there is less guilt in placing a story on hold.

Books, unlike people, can wait for a long time.

For my love of collecting books, I think it's safe to say that my schools' libraries and that specific scene in Beauty and the Beast did the most to spark my interest.

Who are some authors you've enjoyed reading?

I love Gail Carriger's work, especially for supernatural steampunk where she presents so much wit and love in her characters while creating an expansive world that is both logical and whimsical at the same time.

What's the most unexpected book that impacted you deeply? Tell us why it resonated with you.

That has to be "The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America" by David Whyte. It's a diamond in the rough among the various books in a Booksale branch since it was in good condition and only sold for PHP 20! The main title may fool you but if you're a creative soul in the workforce, this might be for you. Whyte's book is, for me, a literary analysis with a dash of self-help, a combination that I thought would never work but actually did, to my delight.

Photo by Helen Woodward

How has your perspective about book-reading changed overtime?

I guess my perspective about book reading shifted to this protective instinct over time, especially with the concerns regarding AI usage in different fields. Book reading shows our appreciation for authors of all kinds and the incredible power of the human imagination.

WRITING THE JANUS-FACED JOURNAL

Could you walk us through the journey of writing The Janus-faced Journal? How did that initial spark evolve into a fully realized book?

The Janus-faced Journal simply started as a compilation of write-ups for the 2023 edition of the 31Letters challenge, 8Letters Bookstore & Publishing's annual writing challenge done every January to write every day for a month. I knew beforehand that there were people who would be selected to have their compilations published as a booklet but that honestly wasn't my target as it was my first time joining the challenge. Unlike the other published booklets from the challenge, I did not have a plan or theme going on other than making sure I wrote poems on odd days and prose or personal essays on even days. I was impulsively tapping on my phone, making most of the notes app.

Many of the entries in my collection were written during odd hours of the day (or technically, night) when my train of thought was less likely to be disturbed.

I aimed to finish the challenge in one piece so imagine my surprise when I received not only a certification of completion for my compilation but also an opportunity to sign with 8Letters to have it published as well with an ISBN!

What's the story behind the title?

Out of the slush that was my compilation, I was able to identify two certain things: that the pieces I wrote showed a portion of what I thought and felt for a month & the emotions I was trying to evoke in my pieces would lead the reader in different directions. It is literally a Janus-faced (having two contrasting aspects) journal (a record of ideas in a period of time).

What themes or messages are woven into the fabric of your writing? What do you hope readers take away from your work?

Even if my accidental literary debut is as erratic as it may seem, I hope readers find some method to my madness and realize that I have given them a candid piece of myself that I cannot hide or retract. A month's worth of unfiltered ideas borne from an actual human being, originally written to satisfy the writer alone, is out there for the world to see.

INSPIRING OTHERS TO TAKE THE LEAP

What would you consider your biggest obstacle in writing a book?

It's probably deciding what you want to write and simultaneously sticking to the plan and giving yourself leeway when you get a Eureka moment along the way. Since I had no expectations when I first joined the 31Letters challenge last year, I didn't have that problem bothering me when writing my pieces. This time around, writer's block and procrastination creep up on me almost every day because I chose a theme months ahead to make my compilation more cohesive. I don't like setting my creative goals in stone so I'm still getting used to the structure I gave myself.

Are there any writing tools, courses, or resources that you found particularly helpful on your journey?

Getting to write "formally" (not relying on instinct for direction) is still fairly new to me. In my case, the cornerstones of my writing skills are writing pieces for myself, voracious reading of fiction books, and the lessons I picked up from joining student publications back when I was in college and applying for writing workshops when I started working. It doesn't mean you can't trust your gut at all. That's what close reading and practice writing are for. If you have the chance and time to actively participate in writing clubs, especially school-based ones where you'll have multiple opportunities to write various pieces, please do so. When you're confident enough to share your work outside your student pub circles, try opening yourself up to critique by applying to local writing workshops. And when you have time to scour the internet, peruse the search results for writing resources from reputable organizations.

How did the book community play a part in your writing journey?

In many ways, the book community as a whole has reminded me that there is surely a reader for every writer. What we regularly do on book-related social media circles may be the up-and-coming for certain genres but their increased visibility doesn't mean the absence of other kinds of storytelling. Finding your ideal book (as a reader) and your ideal audience (as an author) may feel futile but hey, at least your chances are better than finding a significant other in today's dating climate.

Big Bad Wolf Cebu 2023. Impromptu Book Signing at Book Chickas PH meetup.

You can call yourselves writers as early as now the same way you call yourselves readers. Like what many creatives ahead of me have said, if you love doing something so much that you can't stand the idea of parting from it, it's worth pursuing.

Hang on to the words of support and encouragement you received over the years and have faith in them. And most importantly, believe in yourself and be gracious to your abilities.

HOW TO SUPPORT

I hope to see you on my socials on Facebook (Isla Jane Noriega) and Instagram (@ijnescentwrit). Grab a copy of "The Janus-faced Journal" from 8Letters on Shopee and if you enjoyed my work, make sure to write a review on Goodreads and The Storygraph. More links and info are on my website at https://islajanenoriega.wixsite.com/author.

Thank you so much for your time, dear reader! 💜

📚 "The Janus-faced Journal" from 8Letters on Shopee

💻 Isla Jane Noriega Website

Thank you for being here! Isla's story is the very first one we published under Bookfitter Spotlight. Our theme for January is ‘new beginnings,’ and we wanted to feature someone breaking free from limitations and pursuing a dream — a unique endeavor, a creative leap, or a journey to finding their own voice this 2024.

Leave a comment for us to read! We'd love to hear your thoughts.