This is a bit overdue, but I guess it’s better late than never. On October 10, 2024, something big happened—I officially published my debut novel, True Hearts.
Looking back, the road to that day was long. And by long, I mean years and years and years of dreaming, writing, pausing, doubting, rewriting, and finally, releasing.
It All Started in 2004
Way back in 2004, I was in college. Stress was piling up, and I needed something to escape. Writing became my way of coping. I created stories and characters that gave me peace. True Hearts was born during that time—not as a novel, but as a quiet little side project I only shared with close friends (or sometimes, no one at all).
Fast Forward to 2021
Come 2021, murag na-inspire ko’g balik sa sulat. I found myself digging through old notebooks, forgotten files, and Word docs filled with half-finished plots. That was when I thought: “What if I actually finish this?”
But of course, it wasn’t as easy as opening a file and hitting “publish.” Rewriting took years, literal! Polishing the manuscript? That took even more.
A Book Is Never Built Alone
One thing I learned: writing might start alone, but publishing? That’s a team effort. You’ll need editors who’ll tell you when a scene feels flat, and proofreaders who’ll catch that one typo you never noticed. Every step required me to rewrite, rethink, and refine my work again and again.
Lisod pero worth it.
Finding the Right Partner
Eventually, I found the perfect home for True Hearts through 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing. With their help, my book became available in Philippine online stores like Shopee and Lazada, and even reached international readers.
I’m thankful for this partnership. It gave my story the wings it needed. Seeing something I wrote when I was still a teenager—when writing was just a “pastime”—become a printed, published, and distributed novel? Nothing compares.
Lahi ra gyud ang feeling. Gikan sa drafts nga gipatong-patong sa papel, karon usa na siya ka tinuod nga libro.
So What’s Next?
I don’t have a solid answer yet. But what I do know is this: this is only the beginning.
And if you’re someone who’s holding on to an old story, an idea, or a dream—ayaw og kahadlok. Stories deserve to be told. Even the ones you almost gave up on.
ʙᴏɴɴᴇ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴛɪᴛ 