Books Books Books! Selling and reading them

I have been selling a few of my portfolio books and with each purchase, I sketch a personalized drawing in the inner pages of the books. Not just a signature =) but a drawing.

Johann gave me that quote from "The Notebook" and I came up with a pair of bleeding heart doves.

Brett is a lawyer and this is the sketch I came up with.

Speaking of books, I have been reading book after book after book. I have been reading and writing as well as sketching. Gotta use all parts of the brain.

Loving Christopher Moore's books. I finally finished the "Blood-sucking fiends," "You Suck" and now 

"Bite Me" trilogy. Highly recommend this series.

Some reading snacks and beverage: fresh figs from my friend's tree and chrysanthamum tea

I also got into Gillian Flynn's novel, "Sharp Objects."

Sending the book to my friend in Maui.Books are not meant to be sitting on my library shelf.

I also got a copy of Fafi's new graphic novel. One of my favorite artists from France, I am happy to be able to grab this book. (It was sold out at Gallery Nucleus.)

I just wish the story was just as solid as the sketches.

Celebrating Love: Michele and Chris

Wedding Watch 2012 continues on. As I earlier posted, my man and I went to the East Coast to attend his college friend's wedding. The trip was memorable as I wouldn't have seen that part of the US had it not been for this event. I had a wonderful time discovering a new area of the country and getting to know where he had grown up.

Now back home, long time friends/loves finally tied the knot at what locals called the "Glass Church." Located in Rancho Palos Verde, we drove all the way up the hills over looking the ocean to this beautiful spot where Michele (a writer and teacher and vintage fashion boutique owner) and Chris (a graphic designer and fellow Beatrock artist) made their vows.

I love how recently, weddings are more so about labors of love, creativity and personalization. It used to be weddings were  all about being flashy and excessive, bigger is everything and this puts couples in huge debt for a celebration that is bigger than the real true message. The money saved can be now towards a honeymoon, a house or just a nice nest egg for them to secured with. 

engagement photos

waiting to make her entrance

handmade felt roses

photobooth bookmarks

handmade number table plaques

mr. and mrs.

clinking our glasses for them to kiss

mark canto and i drawing on our doilies

my bf was working so i brought one of my best friends

Now, michele and chris are part of my reading joy!

"If I can't be Beautiful, then I want to be Invisible."

"If I can't be Beautiful, then I want to be Invisible."
Mixed Media on wood
2011
"Choruses & Hidden Guns"
Chuck Palahniuk themed art show

This is a line from the book; I don't really believe this line nor do I think this way but I thought this quote was interesting to illustrate and sums up the mood of the book nicely. Check out "Invisible Monsters" about a fashion model who had an accident and lost her lower jaw. She meets a transexual man and has an unlikely friendship, as she teaches the model to feel fabulous and beautiful again, regardless of the deformity.

From Buy Pinoy: buypinoy.org

BOOK TALKS TO CELEBRATE FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH


Saturday, October 8, 2011
2:00pm - 4:30pm
LA County Regional Library
Carson Public Library
151 E. Carson St., Carson, CA
Tel (310) 830-0901

The following authors will talk and read excerpts from their latest books.





Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is the multi-awarded author and editor of 14 books of novels, short stories, anthologies and essays. Her awards include a California Arts Council Fellowship in Fiction, a Brody Arts Fund Award, a Special Recognition Award from the Los Angeles Unified School District, a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate 2lst District, a 1998 Outstanding Individual Award from her birth city, Cebu, Philippines. She teaches creative writing at the Writers Program at UCLA-Extension. She will read from her two latest books, Vigan and Other Stories andAngelica's Daughters, a Dugtungan novel.


Samantha Sotto, based in Manila, shattered barriers that have previously stymied Filipino authors when Random House, one of the biggest publishers in the world published her debut novel, Before Ever After  last month. Described as 'gutsy' and 'unusual', the book has been garnering some rave reviews. What if 'til death do us part  meant longer than you realized? This is a love story that defies the boundaries of time and space to redefine our notion of forever.


Lorenzo Paran III was born and raised in Daraga, Albay, in the Philippines. He has a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in creative writing from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. His book, Pinoy in America is written with wry humor and it documents the immigrant's experiences which are anecdotal and experiential which the transplanted reader in America can relate to. He lives in Southern California, editing news stories for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He continues to write about the Pinoy-in-American life on his blog, pinoyinamerica.blogspot.com.


Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier's mother was from Baguio but Carlene herself was born in the heart of Historic Filipinotown when it was still teeming with Filipino immigrant families, and of aging Manongs. The word Manongs refer to elderly Filipino men who came to America in the early 20's to work as stoop labor in the farmlands of America; they have remained unmarried due to a twist in history. Carlene is a poet and novelist, and has co-authored a play entitled Brown Man in White Sheets which is about the Manongs. She will read from her novel, Seeking Thirst which took her three years to write but herewith condensed in one sentence: "Shrouded in normalcy - reliable husband, nice home in Noe Valley, health plan, Honda - Carol anesthetizes her memories of Dierdra and foster homes in alcohol until she discovers her orphan past in Los Angeles' Historic Filipinotown."  
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If you will be unable to attend but would like an autographed copy of any of the books, just email us and we will handle accordingly.


A table exhibit of  some photographs of Filipinos during WWll will also be on display. Filipino American soldiers have played a part in fighting against the Japanese Army during WWll and their bravery is being remembered during this month of October which annually has been declared as Filipino American History Month.


This literary event is part of the celebration and is also an ongoing outreach program of Philippine Expressions Bookshop. It is co-sponsored by the Friends of Carson Public Library.  Seats are limited.  RSVP to <linda@philippineexpressionsbookshop.com> or call (310) 514-9139.

Christopher Moore: My New Favorite Author

For the longest time, I didn't have much time to read books. This is a complete opposite of a much younger version of myself. As a kid, I got in trouble for reading too much.

K. gave me a book to read called "The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove" by Christopher Moore. I loved it so much that I make sure I MAKE time to read. I recently bought his other books "A Dirty Job" and "Bite Me" now have a few of my friends ready for me to pass along the books to them.

If you like watching movies like Zombieland and Shawn of the Dead, then for sure you will appreciate the whimsical dark world of C. Moore

Around one year ago, lil baby Riley was born to my college friend and my long time roommate.

She was a teeny tiny thing and immediately she started resembling after her father. but as she grew, she started showing her mama's features. and who they have is one of the most girliest daughters around.

I remember her mom (before she became a wife to my college friend and before she became a mommy) used to collect toys for her future kiddies. She had so many beanie babies, all stored in plastic tubs to keep the dust and the spiders out. I think deep down inside she knew her first child was going to be a girl.

but of course, auntie alfie has her own version of the word "girly." hahhaha!

Happy bday, lil mama!

and speaking of zombies and girly at the same time.. did you get to read this book? because it is hilarious!

It made Jane Austen a bit less boring to me =)

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Check it out!