tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37612752026-06-09T08:54:42.305+08:00my life as a husband, father, writer and businessmanDeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.comBlogger2147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-70662902367599528492010-12-19T21:54:00.002+08:002010-12-19T21:58:12.799+08:00

One of my stories, "Ghosts of Wan Chai", is in the December issue of Our Own Voice.It was first published in "Connecting Flights", an antho edited by Ruey de Vera.

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com520tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-27471551189722879922010-12-16T19:08:00.004+08:002010-12-16T19:40:17.463+08:00

Whoa. I haven't been around here for some time.And now, the obligatory preamble before I ramble on.There was a time when I could barely restrain myself from blogging. But as time went on, the need for self-confessionals and such was gored to death by Facebook's status messages and even (to a smaller degree for me) Twitter. Without being fully aware of it, I was Borged into micro-blogging (if I

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com102tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-81891610954329736562010-07-12T13:43:00.001+08:002010-07-12T13:44:59.201+08:00

Editors Nikki Alfar and Kate Aton-Osias invite you to submit short fiction for consideration for Philippine Speculative Fiction volume 6. Philippine Speculative Fiction is a yearly anthology series, which collects a wide range of stories that define, explore, and sometimes blur the boundaries of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and all things in between. The anthology has been shortlisted for

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-72209302629391563552010-07-11T20:53:00.000+08:002010-07-11T20:55:08.215+08:00

Hey LitCritters!Our next sessions is on July 17, 2010 at 2PM over at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Robinsons Galleria. The stories we'll discuss are the following (take note that the navigation for the MacDonald story is a little tricky):"The Queen of Spades" by Alexander Pushkinhttp://home.freeuk.net/russica2/books/pushk/spads/spads.html"The Light Princess" by George Macdonaldhttp://

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-91026204153133230732010-06-17T12:00:00.000+08:002010-06-17T12:01:20.355+08:00

LitCritters! After a long hiatus, we are back! Read the stories below and meet up with us on Saturday, June 26, 2PM at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Robinsons Galleria. Here are the stories we'll discuss - just follow the links: Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela by Saladin Ahmed http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2009/09/special-online-story-from-clockwork.html Spar by Kij

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-17901870608882072692010-04-14T13:26:00.004+08:002010-04-14T13:34:57.416+08:00

Philippine Speculative Fiction has become one of the country’s most consistent and highly-anticipated yearly anthology series, showcasing the continuing development of the exciting field of speculative fiction writing. This fifth volume, edited by Nikki Alfar and Vincent Michael Simbulan, collects a broad spectrum of short stories that define, explore, and sometimes blur the boundaries of

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-30653610678874673392010-03-25T08:33:00.004+08:002010-03-25T08:55:58.431+08:00

Sadly, I can't go "health schmealth" anymore. As I grow older, parts of me are just getting tired. This year, my litany of woes continued to grow, and so I finally finally decided to do something about the things I could do something about - bridgework for my teeth (yes, I honestly prefer to chew instead of gumming my food to death) despite my fear of the dentist (I take on the multiple

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-27973803551148610152010-03-25T08:28:00.002+08:002010-03-25T08:32:55.938+08:00

1st - "A Kind of Flotsam" - Christelle Rhodamae Mariano 2nd - "Filipina: The Super Maid" - Irene Carolina Sarmiento3rd (tie) - "Cherry Clubbing" - Kenneth Yu3rd (tie) - "Remembrance" - me :)Video from Tania.

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-90805181564772045322009-12-07T11:04:00.003+08:002009-12-07T11:27:50.030+08:00

...is what has swallowed my writing time. Yup, I'm blaming Facebook for not blogging haha.But not all of my time is spent at the trading forums looking for new furniture for my pet - I'm actually working on a couple of stories for the new collection (he says, defensively).On the publishing front, I have a number of stories available in anthologies:I have 3 stories in Growing Up Filipino II,

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-67028172813560640882009-10-09T08:46:00.003+08:002009-12-07T11:33:09.882+08:00

For Benjie I first met Benjie years ago, in Manila. He had recently arrived from the States and had gangsta swagger around him that was immediately interesting – because beneath the tough guy was a heart so vast in its capacity to give, a mind so powerful in its ability to learn, and a spirit so enormous in ability to share. We shared stories, he and I. He, about his difficult life and how

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-16117492940967512702009-10-08T11:19:00.002+08:002009-10-08T11:21:32.964+08:00

With all the floods, power outages and rain, the usual LitCritters sessions are suspended until further notice (I just realized that I sounded like the Department of Education right there).Better to stay safe and read indoors for now.

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-36052548516873564622009-10-08T11:15:00.003+08:002009-10-08T11:24:44.034+08:00

Just a quick note to remind you that you have one week to go before the deadline for submissions for Philippine Speculative Fiction V.Here's the original call for submissions: http://deanalfar.blogspot.com/2009/05/call-for-submissions-philippine.htmlYour editors, Nikki Alfar and Vin Simbulan, wait for your stories with bated breath :)

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-27371751164416339052009-10-08T09:18:00.001+08:002009-10-08T11:19:24.126+08:00

We're in the second of week of having no running water.And last night, we had no power.I hold fervently on to the hope that this too will pass.

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-75196599966199229672009-10-06T15:40:00.003+08:002009-10-06T15:45:25.098+08:00

The Farthest Shore: An Anthology of Secondary World Fantasy from the Philippines is live and free for reading. Edited by Joseph Nacino and myself, the antho collects stories set in places other than the world we know.Go and check it :)

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-16717259705292032202009-09-02T11:53:00.000+08:002009-09-02T11:54:13.660+08:00

Here's the reading list and links for our next meeting (Saturday, Sept 5, 2009 - Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Robinsons Galleria):The Wedding Gift by Jacqueline West (Ideomancer June 2009 issue)Pearl in Shadow by Darja Malcolm-Clarke (Ideomancer June 2008 issue)Hot by Haddayr Copley-Woods (Ideomancer September 2006)This time, we check out the stories from Ideomancer, presented by publisher Leah

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-2326564961591558262009-09-02T09:46:00.003+08:002009-09-02T09:57:27.054+08:00

The 59th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held last night at the Manila Pen. Great food, great company (I especially loved National Artist Bien's speech)- kudos to all the winners (especially to Kate, Eliza, Paolo, Luis, Anne, Ferdinand Balino and the 'winningest' Ed Maranan!)Kabataan DivisionSanaysay1st – Axcel L. Trinidad (Si Ate Elsa, Si Aling Carmen, at Ako Laban sa mga

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-75971591256962216162009-09-02T09:40:00.002+08:002009-09-02T09:46:24.511+08:00

On August 28, 2009, the 101st Philippines Free Press Awards were held at Carpaccio, Makati City.Short Story1st Place - Epic Life by Rhea Politado2nd Place- Marita Pangan by Mechu Aquino Sarmiento3rd Place (tie) - Catherine Theory by Sasha Martinez & Bad Heart by John BenganPoetry1st Place - Textbook Statistics by Arkaye Kierulf2nd Place - Poet Talks to an Old Movie by Sid Gomez Hildawa3rd

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-80375521238425404142009-08-18T12:23:00.001+08:002009-08-18T13:21:13.358+08:00

LitCritters!Here are the links to the readings for Aug 22, 2PM, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Robinsons Galleria:Palm Tree Bandit by Nnedi OkoraforCrossroads by Catherine Dybiec HolmRed Hands, Black Hands by Chris RobersonSee you soon!

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-46742947404670696962009-07-27T14:33:00.002+08:002009-07-27T14:35:33.867+08:00

Readings for Saturday, Aug 1:Edward Bear and the Very Long Walk by Ken Scholes (from Revolutions SF) Diving Light by Ted Kosmatka (from Asimov's; author's website) Chenting, in the Land of the Dead by Kij Johnson (from Realms of Fantasy; author's website) See you at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Robinsons Galleria, 2PM.

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-69927222365851983312009-07-15T16:32:00.003+08:002009-07-15T16:59:57.791+08:00

I'm happy to note that in the July issue of Locus, critic and editor Rich Horton gave both "Philippine Speculative Fiction IV" and "A Time for Dragons" thumbs up.This is fantastic news and a tremendous boost to the local spec fic community, as multiple authors from both anthos were cited. Congratulations to all the contributors (remember that the strength of an antho is derived from the quality

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-48213125715083080502009-07-07T16:29:00.003+08:002009-07-07T16:37:40.290+08:00

Here's the TOC for "The Farthest Shore", the secondary world-themed digital anthology that Joseph Nacino and I are editing. Thanks to everyone who submitted a story for consideration. Balancing Darkness by Rodelle SantosHindsight by Paolo ChikiamcoRite of Passage by Dominique CimafrancaThe Just World of Helena Jimenez by Eliza VictoriaSpelling Normal by Mia TijamEmberwilde by Nikki AlfarLight

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-76517315300134437602009-07-03T10:10:00.002+08:002009-07-03T10:14:14.335+08:00

Yes, it's a happy day!Here's what one of the authors I admire and look up to has to say on Philippine Speculative Fiction IV:I don't know how many US readers and writers are aware of it, but there is a vital and growing SF/F community in the Philippines these days. Good evidence exists for it in this latest volume of the anthology, Philippine Speculative Fiction IV. This volume is edited by

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-76238729283844523402009-06-22T10:07:00.002+08:002009-06-22T10:09:59.080+08:00

Hey, LitCriiters!Here's our reading list for Saturday:From the Lost Diary of TreeFrog7 by Nnedi Okorafor (Clarkesworld) Cockatrice Girl Meets Statue Boy by Willow Fagan (Fantasy Magazine) The Plagiarist by Alex Rose (Fantasy Magazine) See you 2PM at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Robinsons Galleria.And a big shout out to LitCritters Dumaguete!

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-87438463104368171092009-06-15T13:40:00.002+08:002009-06-15T13:41:32.326+08:00

The best game I've played this year!

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761275.post-75334173405047591712009-06-09T09:29:00.002+08:002009-06-09T09:33:35.953+08:00

Readings:Last Son of Tomorrow by Greg Van Eekhout (from Tor.com)The Secret Lives of Cats by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (from Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)A Weeping Czar Beholds the Fallen Moon by Ken Scholes (from Tor.com)Join us on June 13, 2PM at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Robinsons Galleria.

Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07664311165873518637noreply@blogger.com1