bethgstories

If one had told me years ago that I would be writing about something else besides romance, I probably would have laughed. Romance was where I became a published author - I wrote stories about love, longing and the messy beauty of human emotions deliberately ignoring the way people dismiss it as if it’s some lesser genre when in reality it demands so much emotional depth, nuance, and skill but let me talk about this in another post . It was my comfort zone, familiar and safe. Love, after all, is a universal experience. But then, something changed. Panglawan Series. I plan to add at least one more book. I joined a writing community hoping against hope that my creativity that the pandemic took away would come back. Pinoy Indie Authors became another family that embraced me as an author with only romance books in my portfolio. My English didn't have to be exceptionally well. My talents were thoroughly explored. And just like that, I caught myself adding a twist of adventure to my tama...

Finally, you already fired up that keyboard (or pen and paper) and wrote the outline of your story. You may already even have written a few chapters and everything feels great and falling into their right places. But then here comes the imposter syndrome - suddenly you feel too inferior to even write a story, let alone publish it for the world to see. Suddenly, you're not as enthusiastic as when you first started. And just like that, you lost all the reason to lift a finger and continue writing, and scrolling through your for you page sounds more like an accomplishment than pretending you can make in the literary world.   Yes, I know the feeling. I have been there, too. So many times. Staying motivated while smashing your writing goals can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. And believe me when I say that we all have those days when the excitement wanes and distractions creep in. Heaven knows how many times I let Sylus rule over me, even though I know it has to stop and I ha...

If 2024 was my adventure author era, I guess 2025 is my non-fiction author era. 100 Life-Changing Quotes for Couples came to me as a surprise. If you've known me for more than ten years and we did not meet online, I guess it is safe to say that you know this side of me. The Bible-reading, Catholic-practicing girl who goes to confession twice a year and has always felt that going to the beach during the holy week feels like an ultimate betrayal. Yes, I pray the rosary, too, and attends bible study.  My new book has 100 quotes from famous people, a Bible verse that goes along with each quote, and some words for reflection. If you have a partner or a married person who wants to work on your relationship, this is a perfect guide that could help you with that. Get your copies today You can get your copies from Lifebooks Tiktok Shop and Shopee for only Php120 Signed copies can be bought right here . Spread the looooove!   @bethgstories i am now a non-fiction published author...

Internet connection sucked at the location, but we still managed to enjoy the two days Kim and I were at the Philippine Book Festival. This is my second year of attending the event, and just like before , the repeat buyer/reader and me couldn't get enough of author fangirling.   Fangirls unite! I met Rhois on Facebook, we've heard each other at the MIBF 2024, not only because we were both authors but we were both Kpop fangirls! Naturally, I was pretty excited about her latest release, which featured a boyband and their fangirls. Even more so when she mentioned that she was giving away photocards. Need I say more? I got there as early as I can to get my hands on the Mingyu photocard I was eyeing since the evening she posted it on Facebook. Meeting Ron Canimo (again...) It was during the last year's PBF when I first stood in line to get his books and have them signed. I didn't mind the long line, I didn't mind the wait. With him, it wasn't just about getting ...

I promised myself to read all the books I bought from last year's book fairs (and even from the year previous that) and decided to start with those written by women (yes, I just started this month). And so I immersed myself in the world of Sa Kalye Mailap , a Tagalog romance novel by Ana Digi . Published in 2023, the book has garnered love for its heartfelt storytelling, and I was fortunate enough to get my copy signed by the author at the MIBF 2024 . Meeting Ana Digi in person made the reading experience even more special. What is it about? Sa Kalye Mailap explores the intertwined lives of Robert and Lisa, two twenty-somethings thrust into unexpected circumstances that lead them to live as a couple. Rooted in the close ties between their families, the narrative unfolds with a focus on personal growth, familial bonds, and self-discovery. The plot follows Lisa and Robert, who have been childhood neighbors and whose fathers share a deep friendship. After the loss of their mothers, b...

If I were to choose one word to describe how I feel about 2024, it would be fulfilled .   I entered the year with high hopes and ambitious goals. Despite learning a few years ago to be kinder to myself, the goals I set down seemed demanding—perhaps even unachievable. I wanted to publish two books, read twenty, take vitamins, and watch more sunsets.   Funny how my sequential task execution kicked in as I worked on these goals. Four years of languishing in my literary career, surrounded by pages of progress yet unfinished manuscripts, finally led me to write and complete a love story inspired by my own happiness and self-love. It still amazes me that I created characters out of pure fiction and imagination, and even more so that I had the chance to introduce them to the world.   Routines are nurturing. Carving out dedicated time for writing, free from distractions, allowed my creativity to flow freely. Yet routines can also feel rigid. At times, I felt tr...

Iba iba ang uri ng pakikinig. Iba't iba ang tono, iba't iba ang himig.  Hindi rin pare-pareho ang layunin ng mga nakikinig. May mga pandinig na nakatuon para sumunod, ang bawat salitang naririnig ay nagiging gabay. Nakikinig sila hindi para sumalungat, kundi upang sundin ang landas na inilalatag ng sinumang nagsasalita.  Mayroon namang pakikinig na parang nasa classroom. Ang bawat salita ay sinusuring maigi, sinisipat, at sinasalin upang gawing aral. Ang ganitong pakikinig ay puno ng paghanga at pagkatuto. Sa bawat kwento, may natututunan.  Hindi rin lahat ng pakikinig ay dalisay. May mga pandinig na nag-aabang ng tsismis, na mga ibong mabilis magbitbit ng balita. Nakikinig sila hindi upang umunawa, kundi upang mag-ipon ng kwento na may panibagong dagdag pagdating sa ibang tagapakinig.  Meron ding pakikinig na may kasamang. Ang bawat sinabi ay sinusukat, hinuhusgahan, hinahambing sa sariling paniniwala. Ang pandinig na ito’y hindi naghahanap ng pag-unawa, kundi nagha...