His Secondhand Heart (2010)

His Secondhand Heart

Camryn Morrell

Hindi puwedeng basta na lamang kalimutan ni Devin ang motto niya: Smart people stay single. Sa loob ng dalawang taon, matapos ang isang matinding heartache mula sa one great love niya, iyon na ang definition niya sa relationships: isang malaking sakit ng ulo. Pangako niya sa sarili, hindi na siya muling papayag na kontrolin ng isang babae ang emosyon niya. Pero mukhang kailangan niyang bawiin ang mga ipangako sa sarili nang makilala niya si Vivienne. He thought she was one of a kind. Hindi niya maitanggi na masaya siya kapag kasama ito—ecstatic pa nga, actually. And he was in big trouble.

Ang hindi niya lang maintindihan, parang excited pa siya sa pagkakataong ito, na magpakatanga at sumugal sa pag-ibig….

Acknowledgement

This book is dedicated to the people who helped me on my quest to get published. To Ms. Elise Estrella, a fellow MSV writer, for answering all my questions about formatting and submitting a manuscript.
To my Engineering friends for inspiring me to write this story. I might not be one of you anymore, but I'm still here if you need advice or a shoulder to cry on. :)

Extra Info:

• It took me eight months to write His Secondhand Heart.
• This is the first Tagalog romance novel I’ve ever written and the first piece of writing I ever got paid for.

Books, Books, and More Books

After summer classes ended, I had an entire week to myself and I used it to at least diminish the books on my to-be-read pile.

The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

To be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to reading this series. Yes, I was intrigued by the premise since the series revolves around the Greek gods and modern-day demi-gods. However, I saw the movie (Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief) first, and it was really predictable. I could tell who the villain was halfway through the movie, but the books were totally different.

All five books in the series were action-packed, funny, and suspenseful. Percy Jackson is also a very likable character, and so are his friends, especially Grover and Annabeth. They all go through the same issues that kids today experience, like growing up with one parent or feeling like an outsider.

I also liked how the gods were portrayed. Riordan managed to stay true to the thousand-year-old myths while managing to make his take fresh.

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

"...Have you fallen in love with the wrong person yet?'
Jace said, "Unfortunately, Lady of the Haven, my one true love remains myself."
..."At least," she said, "you don't have to worry about rejection, Jace Wayland."
Not necessarily. I turn myself down occasionally, just to keep it interesting."— Cassandra Clare (City of Bones)

"I am a man" he told her,"and men do not consume pink beverages. Get thee gone woman, and bring me something brown"-Jace Wayland"
— Cassandra Clare (City of Glass)

I heard a lot of good things about this series before actually reading it. When I finally started on the first book, I wasn't disappointed. Cassandra Clare created a fabulous world I'd love to escape to, especially since it's filled with hot Shadowhunters--humans with angel blood who were created to rid the earth of demons.

This series has a lot of surprises in store for the reader. It twisted my emotions and it twisted it some more until I couldn't stop reading. It makes you hope, smashes said hope, and makes you start hoping again. Basically, the Mortal Instruments series is an awesome rollercoaster ride, one I enjoyed immensely.

The thing I liked most about this series was the romance between Clary and Jace, the two main characters. Once you start reading, I think you'll understand why.

I'm really looking forward to reading the fourth book in the series.

My First Book is Almost Out! Yay!

I just wanted to share this, since I'm really excited. :)

My recent e-mail exchange with Miss Apple, one of Bookware's editors:

Hello po, Miss Apple.

Gusto ko lang po sanang itanong kung anong buwan ire-release 'yong first novel ko (His Second Heart).

Thanks po, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Her reply:

Nasa printer na po yung book ninyo. Anytime this week po ang labas niyon.

Apple

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Post-college

I’m about to embark on my last year of college, and it amazes me that, until now, I still don’t know what to do with my life.

When classes open again, I’m sure I’ll be surrounded by people who have goals and know how to achieve them. I, on the other hand, have no idea what to do with myself after graduation.

Maybe that’s why I’m so listless. I feel like a ship without a mast. I’m just sailing through life without ambitions or goals to drive me.

I’m sure of one thing, though. I want to write, but will that keep me alive in today’s economy?

Sometimes, I feel like I was born in the wrong country with the wrong skills and dreams.

Backing Up Files

(via deviantart)

I've come across a ton of blogs during my brief stint as a blogger. Most of the entries tackle topics about the craft itself like characterization, plot, and even purple prose. However, once in a while, I encounter a blog post about the importance of backing up files.

Yes, of course, every writer should consider having multiple copies of manuscripts a golden rule. I believed it, too. I memorized it, even.

It just never occurred to me that my computer would crash less than a month later. Only then did I realize the importance of so-called back ups.

See, I've been working on my fifth romance novel for about three months. I usually finish one every month, but this novel was harder to write. It was the first time I ever tried to incorporate research into my writing. Before, I just went and made things up. I had to make sure that I got every little detail right this time, because I was writing about an actual place.

So, three months of hard work on a manuscript...

Then, my computer crashed.

I would've freaked out if I didn't have a back up copy. I got my computer fixed and breathed a giant sigh of relief.

I ended up asking myself: What if I lost the entire manuscript?