"Sibling Symmetry" In Philippines Graphic

My essay, "Sibling Symmetry", is in the January 9, 2012 issue of Philippines Graphic, which features the Overseas Filipino Worker as its Person of the Year. I got my copies just now from National Bookstore. My thanks to editor Joel Pablo Salud for publishing my essay. Happy New Year everyone!

PGS Online Call For Submissions And Reading Period

PGS Online will be open to fiction submissions by Pinoy writers for reading and consideration from January 1, 2012 to April 30, 2012.

1. Word count: 1,500 up to 8,000 words.

2. Preferred genres: Science fiction, fantasy, crime, mystery, horror, and all subgenres falling under these.

3. Keep in mind that PGS caters not only to adult readers, but also to minors. This is not to say that profanity, gore, violence, and sex will not be accepted in a story, but make sure that such is integral to the story and not just for its own sake. Otherwise, PGS is open to any type of story treatment.

4. Payment is P500.00 for an accepted piece.

5. Please follow standard manuscript format for short story submissions.

6. Email submissions as rtf or doc attachments to pdofsf(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Feel free to either write the above email address or leave a comment here if you have any questions. Thank you.

Tablets, e-readers closing book on ink-and-paper era

Reader behavior is moving fast. Tablets and e-readers are making their mark, according to this article. An excerpt:

"Tablet computers and electronic readers promise to eventually close the book on the ink-and-paper era as they transform the way people browse magazines, check news or lose themselves in novels.

"It is only a matter of time before we stop killing trees and all publications become digital," Creative Strategies president and principal analyst Tim Bajarin told AFP.

Online retail giant Amazon made electronic readers mainstream with Kindle devices and Apple ignited insatiable demand for tablets ideal for devouring online content ranging from films to magazines and books.

The combined momentum of e-readers and tablets will push annual revenue from digital books to $9.7 billion by the year 2016, more than tripling the $3.2 billion tally expected this year, according to a Juniper Research report.

Readers are showing increased loyalty to digital books, according to the US Book Industry Study Group (BISG).

Nearly half of print book buyers who also got digital works said they would skip getting an ink-and-paper release by a favorite author if an electronic version could be had within three months, a BISG survey showed.

"The e-book market is developing very fast, with consumer attitudes and behaviors changing over the course of months, rather than years," said BISG deputy executive director Angela Bole.

Concerns about e-book reading are diminishing, with people mainly wishing for lower device prices, according to the survey.

Owning e-readers tended to ramp up the amount of money people spent on titles in what BISG described as a promising sign for publishers."

"Ang Mahiwagang Kahong Pamasko"

Ang pinakabagong kuwento mula sa Philippine Genre Stories: "Ang Mahiwagang Kahong Pamasko" ni M.R.R. Arcega. Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat!

Please Help The Victims Of Typhoon Sendong (International name: Washi)

Whatever Typhoon Ondoy did to Luzon in 2009, Typhoon Sendong has just repeated in Visayas and Mindanao last week, particularly hitting Northern Mindanao hard (Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City). I was just in CDO a few months ago, and I can't help but feel badly for the people there who are suffering from the worst flooding in their history.

Here's a link on how you can help by texting your donations.

Here's another link on how you can help by donating in kind.

Off the top of my head, I remember reading this year about terrible floods in Australia, Thailand, North America, and even certain parts of Europe. If this is an indication of a trend, we should all be prepared to take this as a general part of our weather patterns from now on.

"Falling Into Reading, My Way, And Early"

My essay, "Falling Into Reading, My Way, And Early", is in the current issue of Philippines Free Press. My thanks to literary editor Joel Toledo for accepting and publishing it.

The essay's a simple reflection on how I became a reader, and a "thank you" for old friendships remembered.

"The Librarian"

The latest story on Philippine Genre Stories: "The Librarian" by Michelle T. Tan. Guest-edited by Exie Abola.

"Ending The First Year Of PGS Online"

Ending The First Year Of PGS Online.

Ebook Inforgraphic 2011

Ebook Inforgraphic 2011

Taken from here.

"Selected Transmissions from Synthesized Human Emulation Mk.8.014b, Otherwise Known as Katey"

The latest story on Philippine Genre Stories: "Selected Transmissions from Synthesized Human Emulation Mk.8.014b, Otherwise Known as Katey" by Nikki Alfar.