AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Yeyet Soriano's Crime Circle

Some of the #HeistClub authors launched their book 2 early this year. One of these authors is Yeyet Soriano. If you have already read her book The Retreat, then you would know what the plot of the stories for her sequel would be. I talked to Yeyet and asked her more about her sequel, The Crime Circle.

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The stories started with #HeistClub's The Retreat, how did the idea for this came about?

I had to think about the plot and outcome of the stories already in order to write The Retreat and after that novella was done, I knew I owed it to the characters I created to explore each of the stories in more detail..the last part of The Retreat was the announcement of the future release of the 4 stories collection entitled The Crime Circle or TCC... so I knew my book 2 would be the 4 novella collection.


How long did you finish writing the stories?

It took me around 2 years to complete everything. I needed to do a lot of research, interviews and consultations because of the nature of the crimes. Plus I was not always "ready" to write continuously. Sometimes the stories became too dark that I had to take a break and do something "light" to recover. During the period I wrote other short stories in other genres--mostly romance. I needed to do those so I could go back to writing TCC and not go full dark!

What was the first story from the Crime Circle that you had first finished? Why is this so? Did you find it more relatable (as opposed to being easy, as well know)?

Believe it or not, I wrote a version of 3B4U back in the late 90s to early 2000s. I was the same age as the protagonists. Although I had to rewrite it completely to include in TCC, the bare bones of the story remained the same. The music of the '90s is very close to my heart and I've lived through the era's angst.

The story that really was the easiest to write with minimal rewrites is CLIMB. It was also the most fun as it was quite light compared to the others with a high heat level! It was also very relatable because I live in a gated subdivision and these kinds of heists happen all the time. I also see everything being shared on social media by the residents and by experience see the kinds of people we let in our homes--tutors, massage therapists, construction workers, plumbers, electricians, delivery guys, our maids, our family members' friends and acquaintances, etc. It was not too much of a stretch for me to concoct that story of an information broker. I also loved the thought of using the subdivision sari sari stores and convenience stores as settings for some key scenes.

What about the last story? 

The last story BREATHE was inspired by an idea from my nephew about a massacre survivor who was actually not as innocent as initially thought. He gave me the visual cue of an 11-year-old girl holding a pillow over her 4-year-old brother's face.  And it started there. The story is close to my heart because I wrote my late father into it as a key character.

Another interesting fact: most of the poems /songs used in the book, specifically for 3B4U and BREATHE, were written by me during my angst-filled youth. So you could say I felt those emotions, enough to write those words, so I could definitely empathize with the characters. Looking at them now (the poems) in the context of the stories, i am glad I survived through that time. Some of my characters didn't. But I hope I placed enough hope in the stories to at least alleviate the darkness.

What about Lost?

This one you already know, but LOST was based on the experience of our common friend GMB. This was the hardest story to write not only because of the difficult topic but also because this
...as far from my own knowledge and experience as it could get. I needed to do tons of research, interviews and the like. It helped that GMB was very open about her experience and she even shared her journals so I can get insights into how she was  coping. I had a lawyer friend who helped me with the legalese including the laws, the way the courts worked, and the like. But it took meeting another woman with a similar experience, MF, for me to get this novel completed. She shared with me what happened to her and she even beta read the story. While for GMB the perpetrator was a neighbor, for MF it was her father. So it helped with writing Breathe as well. But it was MF's advocacy to help other victims and to not let her past define her that inspired me towards the ending of Lost. It also inspired me to help out the institution that she was advocating by donating a percentage of the profits to benefit young girls who went through similar circumstances.  So let's just say neeting these women and writimg these stories made me a better person as well.

Any other things you'd like to share?

Someone pointed out to me that my stories had one thing in common: Adults who failed their children by (1) putting unrealistic expectations on them, (2) inflicting physical, mental, emotional and psychological abuse, (3) withholding love and acceptance, and (4) not listening and believing.

It was not intentional on my part. So when he pointed it out, I was intrigued. He did say that for every adult who failed a child, there was another adult or surrogate parent who provided the needed support or love. As mentioned, not all the characters survive... but those who do survive did so because they had the necessary support system.

***The novellas are available on Amazon and Bookbed.

Author Interview: Yeyet Soriano and her retreat

What were the hurdles that you had to overcome when you were writing the retreat?

Initially, the hurdle was that there were four story ideas in my head and I couldn’t make up my mind which one to focus on. I wanted to do a 90’s inspired murder mystery where the lead singers of popular local rock bands were getting killed off one by one (the title is 3B4U). I also wanted to do a family massacre story where the sole survivor is an eleven-year-old girl and the prime suspect is her twelve-year-old guy best friend (the title is Breathe). Then there is the modern akyat-bahay story (the title is Climb) that I wanted to write because it was happening in our village. And lastly, there was the story of a woman who was raped as a five-year-old child by a neighbor (the title is Lost). And the way I overcame the hurdle? I told myself, I will cover ALL four, so I had to think of a premise where that would be possible. So I basically fictionalized the #HeistClub writing workshop into something a bit more mysterious, sinister, and provocative. A challenge from one of the biggest publishers in the country, for authors to write a true-to-life crime story set in the Philippines, not fully resolved. The authors should be willing to go on a writers’ retreat in an undisclosed place, cut-off from the real world, without telling anyone. And the prize would be enough money to retire and just write with a guaranteed platform for release.

And with that, I had the stories of my four writers retreat participants.

What made you take a chance to write crime fiction?

I love crime fiction. I love reading and watching it (TV series or movies) and am really just interested in anything related to crime, mystery and suspense. I also am interested in police work and the workings of court cases. I used to want to be either a detective or a lawyer, then I said maybe I would be better as a psychologist and focus on abnormal psychology and be a profiler, but I ended up as an Accountant who went into IT and Project Management. Reality bites, huh? So I guess, the next best thing for me was to write about crime and crime solving, since I couldn’t live it.

How was it different from your other books: genres you write in?

I always said that I could write in any genre. It all depends on what story is stuck in my head and needs to come out. Having said that, I’ve written speculative fiction (time travel and alternate realities), paranormal romance, children’s literature, romance and now crime. What’s different is that crime fiction needed more research and more believability. I had to ensure that I had all my facts straight. A lot of my crimes had to be psychologically sound, so I use a lot of resource persons to validate my character portrayals.

Have you always wanted to write crime fic? Why so?

My earliest writings when I was a child could be filed under crime fiction, because I was a Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys fan – the books and the TV series way back. So yes, crime fiction has always been something I wanted to write and the #HeistClub writing workshop was a welcome surprise and suddenly, I was back to my first love in terms of writing.

The retreat is not your first book right? There's turning points and in my dreams, right? So this is your third book?
Yes, The Retreat is my third book released. Turning Points was the first. This is the speculative fiction book about time travel and alternate realities. It is also a product of a writing workshop-#JustWritePH. In My Dreams is the paranormal romance which was written as part of Mina V. Esguerra’s #StrangeLit workshop. So you could say that I write mostly well under pressure and on a deadline, as those three books would be proof of. I am working on a romance book right now, again for Mina’s #romanceclass workshop, and let me tell you, out of all the genres, romance is probably the most difficult for me to write. And it’s because of the dark part of my brain which lets me write crime fiction well. I always want something dark and sinister to happen, and in romance, everything needs to be done based on a structure, with of course a happy ending. My initial draft actually had elements of crime that I was not aware of, and I have to clean it up so it becomes a real contemporary romance story. So yes, crime fiction is in my blood.

Other things that you would like to share

I mentioned earlier that I included the concept of four stories in The Retreat, as these were the manuscripts brought by the authors participating in the writers’ retreat that were reviewed, critiqued and in the process, solved. These four “manuscripts” will be released as the next part of The Retreat. They may be released individually (probably in ebook format), or in tandem (maybe 2 in a book for print release), or maybe as a whole – an anthology with four stories for print release. But the four stories have more or less been written, three completed and in the process of beta reading and revisions (3B4U, Breathe, and Climb), while one is in the process of being completely written (Lost)—it is a bit more challenging, and it is because of the nature of the topic. This is the story of the woman who was raped when she was five years old. What is hard is that it is a true-to-life story and I need to be able to write it well and get it right, in fairness to the person this horrible crime happened to. That is my challenge right now.

Author Interview: Till Death Do Us Part's Irene Recio

*This is the full transcript of the author interview, parts of which came out in in an article in Manila Bulletin titled Criminal Minds last July 11, 2016.

Mother and author Irene Recio talks about juggling motherhood and a writing career. She's raising a wonderful daughter, that my best friend swear is the best kid ever. But. it's not an ordinary motherhood blog that she's engaging in, it's more of the troublesome kind, as she engages in crime fiction.

What were the hurdles that you had to overcome when you were writing Till Death Do Us Part?

Time is always a problem when I write. I usually write late at night when the whole house is asleep – when there are less distractions. But I wake up everyday at 3am so I usually pass out from exhaustion around 8 in the evening after all the chores have been done. Sadly, there goes my time to write. So I just try to write whenever I can. Like small pockets of opportunities at any given time of the day. 

I also found it hard (and scary) at times when I have to dive into the dark side to write about the antagonist or even the aggrieved character and suddenly switch back to high-energy positivity that motherhood requires. It can be challenging to stay in character when your bubbly happy child calls to mommy to proudly show her artwork or an impromptu performance. It’s funny now that I look back, but it was kind of crazy switching from character to real life back and forth! J 

Another thing, even though I love to watch police procedural and crime fiction, I pretty much avoid the gore and carnage that most crime stories offer. I’m not a big fan of guts and extreme violence. I found it difficult to research on violence and motivations and take on that kind of mental state while writing. And I think one of the hardest parts in writing in this genre is that it would stir up the darkest fears I have. Being a wife and mother, my fears are so much more than my own already. Writing about it was very stressful and challenging.

For a review of this book: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/2016/06/read-till-death-do-us-part-by-irene.html

What made you take a chance to write crime fiction?
I’ve always loved reading mysteries. It all started in grade school when I would borrow Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys from my school’s library. It was addicting. These books would take me to thrilling adventures and be part of their crime solving activities. And my love for a good suspense thriller really motivated me to try writing crime fic. 

How was it different from your other written works?
This is my first attempt at writing crime fiction. My other stories are about romance and others are for children’s literature. So this is really different from the ones I’ve written before, but not so totally different because it still has a romance angle to it. 

Have you always wanted to write crime fic? Why so? 
Aside from my love of books stemming from my discovery of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, I also love how women are now represented in tv and movies as strong, independent, and very capable – deviating from the usual damsels in distress. I’ve always wanted to be able to write about such women. I want my women characters not just to be strong, smart, clever, independent, and capable, but also show their vulnerable and human side. And it was so awesome that #HeistClub gave us this platform where we could create characters to our liking. 

She ends, "We have the most awesome group of #HeistClub writers where people support one another. How cool is that??! This is such a nurturing and uplifting group!"

For a review of Till Death Do Us Part: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/2016/06/read-till-death-do-us-part-by-irene.html

Till Death Do Us Part and other #heistclub books are available here   href="http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon">http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon

For more about #HeistClub: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/search/label/%23heistclub

Review: Sampaguita by Mark Manalang

Goodreads blurb

What would you do when a crime happens before you? When Japanese expat Keniichi Daimon witnessed a kidnapping, he failed to answer that question.

His moment of indecision would later cost a little girl her life, and endanger what he dearly holds the most. With innocent blood now in his hands, Keniichi will aim to atone by seeking out the perpetrator, but his quest will expose a greater evil hiding in Manila's lights and shadows, a force as terrible as the crime and corruption seeping into society itself.

Thus begins a story of vengeance, love, unbreakable will, and justice.

Review (Warning: may contain spoilers)

Keniichi's love Manila is transparent as he takes walks by his lonesome in the red light district of Manila. But not to ogle at the girls mind you, but to relish (I hope, as I feel the same way) the old glory. Surely, he's not the prime target in a place full of whites, and nobody will automatically peg him as a CEO of a multimillion company. Maybe for some, he is just some random Tsinoy, but what Manila is and Keniichi's crime-conscious ways is an odd if not affable mix.

Strong female characters in the novella Sampaguita are not lacking. Maya is in control of Keniichi even of the office that she manages to run things on the day that her boyfriend cannot function, Jasmine stood as the parent for her younger sister providing for her in both physical and emotional support.

These women's weakness, however, seems to be in the sexual aspect. They both cannot seem to say no, or rather they cannot manipulate the opposite sex when it comes to physical desires, the way that they can manipulate fate in everything else.

Maya, even just a humble secretary, rose to power and can control a company but cannot ward off the hungry predators who are the Keniichi's business partners. Jasmine, who grew up in the streets and knew what GRO meant, cannot fight off her urges towards an expat even in the most crucial times.

I have to say, that I was affected with Maya's passing, but call it as a McGuffin, as if the lovely Filipina had not died, would Keniichi have acted out the way that he did?

This may seem trite and all, but I cannot wait to know what will happen to Keniichi, especially since Maya is now gone.

Guest Post! Writing with The Gung Ho Lady, one of the #HeistClub Books

Hi everyone! Arlene Manocot here, and the generous Ana offered me to do a guest post on her blog that’s why I’m here. Thank you

This is part of the #HeistClub Blog Tour this month, and I’ll be talking about my #HeistClub story. Take it away! :)

The Gung Ho Lady was the second book I published after the Vengeance: The Awakening from the #StrangeLit class. My first crime fiction TGHL was produced from the #HeistClub online writing workshop facilitated by Ms. Mina V. Esguerra. I didn’t intend to write any genre in particular, but the opportunity knocked and who was I to resist.

It was not easy to write in this genre, but with the help of F.H. Batacan, R.J. Taduran and Jennifer Hillier, at least I was able to get a glimpse of what was writing crime fiction like. The hardest part would naming the procedures, and the technical terms and the likes, and the World Wide Web helped a lot. It was also fun writing the book, the whole writing process per se. Also, I was able to get my very first help from a beta reader, Amae, and I realized the importance of having someone to read my manuscript.

In the Philippines, F.H. Batacan was the first crime fiction Filipino writer, I heard of, if my memory would serve me well. It would be safe to say that there’s really no comprehensive selection of in print crime fiction in our country, but don’t fret anymore because we’re here, the 16 #HeistClub Authors with your support and patience, dear readers, we would be able to write more stories in this genre. Writing in this genre is very important because it’s a reflection of what kind of society we have in our country, and it can serve as an eye opener to some certain issues we are facing now. Hopefully, we can get solutions for these issues through writing Filipino crime fiction. Together, let’s fight crime through writing crime fiction! Aja! Fighting!

Blurb

DARKNESS is buried within the deepest part of her soul. A blurry past unceasingly haunts her passive and calm universe and her distorted mind is a burden she can’t get over with. Involved in a murder case, will she be able to prove her innocence?

Margaux Dela Cruz has always viewed the world as a place for repentance. A place to pay the debt of sins, a place where humans pay the price of being alive. The price that can never be sufficed by anyone in this world and while praying for the permanency of her everlasting solitude, men, creatures from another herd, appears and bedlam begins to ensue in her once placid life.

A story of Sins. Repentance. And Love.

Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gung-Ho-Lady-Book-ebook/dp/B01H8621U0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469232636&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Gung+Ho+Lady
Buqo: http://buqo.ph/Shop/Book/f0b91ff6-c752-48fc-8454-79e979498d45
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-gung-ho-lady
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31165205-the-gung-ho-lady?from_search=true 

 About the author:

Arlene Manocot is a fantasy-suspense-romance fiction Filipino author. She also writes poems about life and love (mostly unrequited). She is an avid fan of anime and manga. Her works are available on Amazon, Kobo and Buqo, or http://bit.ly/BooksbyArleneManocot for print edition.

Blogsite: writingandlovinit.blogspot.com
Facebook: facebook.com/manocot.arlene
Twitter and Instagram: @arlenemanocot
Wattpad: ArleneManocot
Email: arlenemanocot@gmail.com

The Gung Ho Lady and other #heistclub books are available here  http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon

For more about #HeistClub: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/search/label/%23heistclub

Author Interview: Georgette Gonzales and her book Classified

Georgette Gonzales (aka Edith Joaquin) has set out a four part crime series. We talk about what made her decide to make women as the main characters and what were the challenges.

How long did it take you to conceptualize the story? You said that it was a four story book right, how long was the idea in your head?
This series was meant initially for My Special Valentine (Bookware Publishing Corp.). Or at least the next four books after Classified. The concept and plot was given to me by a fellow author who believed I could give the story better justice than she ever could. She wanted it full-blown action and she said between her and me, I can do it better.

So with that, technically, I didn't spend time with the concept. What I will be spending so much time on would be researching for the details. The plots for the books are rather complicated (and I like making things difficult for myself) because the stories involve terrorist plots and such.

What made you decide to make women as the protagonists in your book?
When we speak of crime lit, usually, men take the lead. And although I love taking the male POV when I write my romance novels, I feel women kicking ass give a higher adrenaline rush. Like, I know the lead for Salt was first intended for a man. Tom Cruise, to be exact. But the producers (or director ba?) changed their minds and offered the role to Angelina Jolie. Made the role more interesting, yes?

What was the most difficult part of writing the story? Was it the research oe maybe writing the actual crime?
In any of my work, the more difficult part is writing the ideas down. Research is enjoyable even if it's difficult but to translate the details into a story that I want readers to enjoy, that's a different thing.

I can also say that writing the actual crime could be difficult, but I enjoy it because it gives me a chance to practice being evil and devious (insert wicked laughter here, with thunder and lightning). I love delving into the mind of the perpetrator, the problem solver, the victim.

Were there any character or scene that you had a problem writing about? How about you found easy? How so?
Conspiracies are easy enough to come up with but it's the tedious task of nitpicking which ones are believable but obviously fiction, and those that are fiction yet appear to be too close to the real thing. Because that last thing? That could get me into trouble with the law. I could be labeled a terrorist or conspirator. Thank God, though, I haven't encountered that kind of road block. Otherwise, I'll see you in Muntinlupa. Har har

Do you have any learnings that you would incorporate into the next books of the series?
When I come up with stories, I make it a point to outdo myself from the last. I can't specify what particular learning point to apply, but I know, and I can feel if my current WiP is something I can be prouder of than the more previous one. If not, then that only means I didn't work hard enough.

Other things you would like to share
This is not the first crime plot I came up with. In the interview by Bookbed for the #HeistClub bundles, one of the questions were about how crime fic fares in the local scene. I said there are readers who love reading crime but as a subgenre of romance. And that's what I had been writing for My Special Valentine. That being so, crime fic has become a genre I enjoy writing. I hope to come up with more of these stories as I fulfill my dream of putting out a Tom Clancy-ish series sometime in the future. Crossing my fingers. ;)


Classified and other #heistclub books are available here  http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon

For more about #HeistClub: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/search/label/%23heistclub

Author Interview: Bianca Mori talks about #HeistClub

*This is the full transcript of the author interview, parts of which came out in in an article in Manila Bulletin titled Criminal Minds last July 11, 2016.

Romance author Bianca Mori, known for Tame the Kitten tries her hand at a completely different genre, she shares her experience with us. 

What were the hurdles that you had to overcome when you were writing Snakehead?
Time, mostly! We had about two months to submit the first draft, and I was really busy with work, so at one point I locked myself in one Saturday and banged out 8 chapters in order to make the deadline. In retrospect...not the best way to write a procedural. Editing was brutal. Another hurdle is just getting into that headspace which allows a person to write about crime. Crimes are an aberration - basically an act that declares rebellion against moral and legal mores that we all agree to live with in exchange for a relatively harmonious society. So trying to understand why a person would commit such an aberration - exploring their motives, and the fallout/consequences of their act - that's not an easy place to inhabit.

What made you take a chance to write crime fiction?
It's one of my favorite genres. I love a good procedural. I had a true crime phase when I was all caught up with heinous murders and such, but in time I had to stop because it was really disturbing. So I guess I just wanted to write something that I also liked to read.

How was it different from your other books, genres you write in? Romance right?
I've mainly written romance, but since last year I shifted towards romance-suspense which shares some aspects with crime (i.e. morally compromised characters, violence, tricky procedurals). I also used to write a lot of horror so writing crime was like revisiting the same well. There are a lot of differences especially in the genre conventions. Romance mandates a happily ever after, for example. You also have to root for the characters, which is not necessarily the case with crime.

Have you always wanted to write crime fic? Why so?
 It was something I really wanted to try, since I enjoy reading it. There's a technical aspect to writing crime / mystery / thrillers that really interests me, that sleight-of-hand, misdirection thing that is so satisfying when done well. I don't think I'm at that level yet, but it's fun to figure out how it's done!

Other things that you would like to share?
I re-read Snakehead prior to adding it on Amazon and I just realized how influenced it is by Gillian Flynn. I remember reading Dark Places in preparation for #HeistClub and that book is so distasteful, but I kind of have echoes of that in my story.

Snakehead and other #heistclub books are available here  http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon

For more about #HeistClub: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/search/label/%23heistclub

Interview with #HeistClub Facilitator Mina V. Esguerra

*This is the full transcript of the author interview, parts of which came out in in an article in Manila Bulletin titled Criminal Minds last July 11, 2016.

Romance queen Mina V. Esguerra initiated an online class; but instead of all the usual feels, she went on a different route, and set out to stir trouble.

Esguerra author of Young Adult (Interim Goddess of Love) and contemporary romance novels (Fairy Tale Fail, The Harder We Fall) helmed an online writing class where sixteen crime stories where produced.

Why crime? Why did you choose this genre?
I enjoyed reading it, and have dabbled in writing it. I'm not alone in this and apparently many authors were up for it, but were maybe overwhelmed by the research and procedure aspect of crime fiction. So I tried to provide a basic set of resources for the authors, that would make it easier to start writing their stories.

Mina V. Esguerra

You yourself is a mentor, but was it hard to get insights from other mentors (FH Batacan, Jennifer Hiller, etc)? How so? 
It wasn't difficult reaching out to established authors Jennifer Hillier and FH Batacan. I knew people who knew them and worked with them, and once they found out about the class they were happy to share their advice.

Do you think that there is a market here in the Philippines for crime? 
I think if we can watch Hollywood movies about it, and read foreign crime fiction books, then there will be an audience for the kind of crime fiction that #HeistClub authors wrote.

When comparing readership to your online (romance, YA, etc) books, how does the Philippine market fare?
What are the top countries which hou sell the most? Anyone already on Amazon is probably already paying for ebooks, and that's why it's been easier for years to just market to Amazon's audience which is primarily international. But the Philippine market is still substantial, in terms of sheer number of readers. When a free story can get thousands (or over 100,000!) downloads and reads just within our country, and then the challenge becomes producing something that a percentage of them will be willing to pay for.

Was it hard to encourage writers to join and finish their stories? What were the challenges? Over 30 authors signed up for #HeistClub and about half of them completed stories. That's an awesome enough turnout and finishing rate, but a romance class for example will get 100 interested authors. I guess it's so far been a genre that many authors think is difficult to start with, so they don't. I hope the story of the #HeistClub class makes it seem a little more accessible.

How do you think can we get the Philippine market to read crime (and even romance for that matter)? 
Write good books and get them in the hands of people who already like reading them, or were curious to begin with. I'm not for converting the uninterested--this was done for fun and we welcome readers who approach the process of reading and discovering new books with the same spirit of fun and joy.

What other genres will you be exploring? 
I'm not sure yet if we should do more genres or just do a batch 2 of the classes we already tried!

Other things that you would like to share.
Anyone interested in reading the books should go buy the ebook anthologies on buqo.ph. If you buy from Amazon, you can also support the authors there. Here's a list of what's available: http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon

For more about #HeistClub: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/search/label/%23heistclub

Read: Chasing an ATM Schemer

This book is part of #HeistClub, where authors were challenged to create a book one of a crime series. This is a fast paced intro to what seems to be a promising expansive series.

Gabe Jacinto is a famed detective who has been nicknamed the Fraud Hunter.  In his first outing, he goes after Teri Francisco. The two know each other, and they both know that they are not friends. Teri, whose real name is Ella, plots out her illegal moves not to get rich but to get even to an ex-lover. That former flame is engaged to Jacinto's sister. Oh, how the world is small and these two characters go after each other, it gets smaller and smaller.

ATM schemes are just one of the many fraudulent (estafa) acts in the country. So, looking forward to more of that. Hopefully, the next books in the series will expound how Jacinto garnered popularity and how his intel sources grew.

Goodreads blurb:

Gabe Jacinto is assigned to capture a lady ATM Schemer, Teri Francisco. When Teri heard that he was dating the beautiful Carrie Rios, she plots on using her to trap the fraud hunter. Will Gabe risk his life and money to save Carrie even though he knows her true identity?

This books and other #heistclub books are available here at http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon

For more about #HeistClub: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/search/label/%23heistclub

Read: The Retreat by Yeyet Soriano

Goodreads blurb:

What would you be willing to do to secure a publication deal of a lifetime from the biggest publisher in the country?

The challenge: You have to write a true-to-life crime story set in the Philippines. The case should not be completely resolved. At least 75 percent of the manuscript needs to be completed within thirty days. You have to be willing to go on a week-long writers’ retreat in an undisclosed location to discuss your manuscript and be critiqued by the other participants. Afterward, you have to be ready to revise and edit the manuscript for final publication.

The prize: Enough money to retire and just write with a guaranteed platform for release locally and internationally.

The catch: You can’t breathe a word to anyone. Post anything on social media and you are out. You will be asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement and a release that removes any responsibility from the organizers should anything untoward happens to you. You will not be allowed to bring any gadgets to the retreat. You will be completely cut off.

So . . . are you game?

Alice's review

Great, entertaining read.

The characters each had a chance to open up about wrong doings (whether they did it, it was done to them, or they were in any way a spectator). A

Simon (rockstar murder who I guessed right (yippy)) and Philip's (akyat-bahay) story were interesting, but it was the women's who moved me more. Pity, Maggie and Rhodney though.

However, statistics speaks true about this. One out of every four girls have been sexually harassed, abused, or raped. I can only imagine the horrors of their childhood. Thank goodness Rhodney came to this retreat for she finally confronted her demons. Even though Maggie had no knowledge that was being done to her was wrong, the implications that it gave her were more severe. Case in point, is the recent Stanford rape victim letter.  Part of my advice to these women is to accept it, but do not let the perpetrators run free. Make them accept the greater consequences, just as you have had. It will be a hard road to travel, but never give up.

The story of the four authors have already been talked about in this book, which makes me wonder what the other four books will offer that has not been spoiled by book 1.

That's something to watch out for, yes?

The Retreat and other #HeistClub Books are available here at http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon

For more about #HeistClub: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/search/label/%23heistclub

Read: Silkworm by Robert Gall

Just like the first novel, this had me guessing who the killer was, which I again did not get right. Hahah!

The reason why I'm blogging about this (apart from the fact that it is a great thrilling read) is that there are Filipino characters in the story, Manny and his mother Nenita.

I am not going to call the author racist because she portrayed the Pinoys as househelpers. I will just leave it as it is.

It makes me proud each time I read or hear the word Filipino or Philippines. It makes me even prouder is that wherever you are in the world, there will always be someone who you can hear or talk to in Filipino. So, if ever you get lost, you know you can truly trust in that person.

Finding a Pinoy (whether in real life or in the books) is like finding a long lost sibling. #luksongdugo


***
From Abante (tabloid):

Pinoy ang mag-inang Nenita at Manny na minor-minor characters sa nobelang The Silkworm, bagong akda ni Robert Galbraith.


Ang ‘Robert Galbraith’ ay pseudonym ni J. K. Rowling, ang may-akda ng mga nobela tungkol kay Harry Potter.


Sa The Silkworm, nag-pose nang walang saplot ang poging si Manny sa amo niyang latent homosexual (publisher na si Daniel Chard).

Read: Till Death Do Us Part by Irene Recio

A great husband was what Nikki thought she has. Even though he's too busy with work and even though he will get angry for little things such as having her hair cut, her husband knows how to make amends like surprising her with a bouquet of flowers and arranging for an anniversary in Baguio.

That same weekend that the couple were in Baguio, a serial killer named the Tailor makes his kill. And, just as Nikki thought that she had made a life changing decision for them, then she finds out something that will make your heart race.

A great and fast read that will leave you wondering what comes next. If this was movie, I'd peg it as Audrey Hepburn's Charade meets Christian Bale's American Psycho.

This book is part of #heistclub

Goodreads blurb: 

Everything in Nikki's life is picture perfect: her photography has taken off and is now a thriving business, she is reconnecting with old friends, and her husband is nothing but devoted to her. That is, until she discovers a shocking truth that might put her and her family in danger.

Till Death Do us Part and other #HeistClub Books are available http://bit.ly/heistclubamazon

For more about #HeistClub: http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/search/label/%23heistclub

#HeistClub: The Launch

Let’s write Crime! Filipino writers were challenged to write tales of dark pathways and mysterious psyches, misdemeanor and trouble, dread and doubt.

#HeistClub was an online workshop facilitated by Mina V. Esguerra in the last quarter of 2015. The class was organized by Bronze Age Media and sponsored by Buqo and Enderun’s The Study.

Each crime story had to be set in the Philippines, and it had to be written in English. Each story should pave the way for a series, so it should be Case #1, with the next cases in the works for subsequent release. A foreign language needed to be incorporated into the story, with our sponsor, Enderun providing the writers free translation services.


 The following mentors gave invaluable tips and lessons to the writers during the course of the workshop: Jennifer Hillier, F.H. Batacan, R.J. Taduran, Kevin Uy, Juliet Grames, and Andrea Pasion-Flores.

 In the end, sixteen crime stories were produced. They were released in three ebook bundles on the Buqo application early this year. The bundle names are: What We Fear, Why We Run, and What We Hide.

#HeistClub: Why We Run ·
 Bayawak’s Trail by Justine Camacho-Tajonera ·
The Fraud Hunter Book 1: Chasing an ATM Schemer by Racquel Sarah A. Castro ·
The Retreat by Yeyet Soriano ·
Come With Me by Michael Recto ·
Inertia by Sette Luis

#HeistClub: What We Fear ·
Till Death Do Us Apart by Irene Nicholas-Recio
Soul Makers by Jee Ann Guibone ·
 Classified by Georgette S. Gonzales ·
 High Stakes by Ana Valenzuela ·
 Dressed to Kill by Cassandra Javier

#HeistClub: What We Hide
Snakehead by Bianca Mori
Sampaguita by Mark Manalang
Let’s Play Murder by Farrah F. Polestico
Corpus Delicti by Porcupine Strongwill
The Flame Squad: Sly Prince by Jessica E. Larsen
The Gung Ho Lady by Arlene Manocot


On June 25, 2016, at 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Enderun’s The Study, located at 4th Floor, Podium, Ortigas Center, the sixteen stories will be officially launched to the public. From the time they were released in their ebook bundles, some of the authors have refined, updated and enhanced their respective stories for release as stand-alone novels/novellas in multiple platforms: Buqo, Kindle, Smashwords, and print.

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1623193478001367/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/heistclubthelaunch/

Read: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Sharp Objects

by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gillian Flynn slowly weaves out the story of Camille Preaker. First giving hints of her alcoholism, then her cutting streak, and most importantly what was it about her (numb and stiff neck) mother that made her who she is.

Camille comes back to Wind Gap, Missouri against her better judgement to cover a possible serial killer who kills young girls and takes out their teeth. As the story progresses, Natalie, the second victim is found, confirming her editor's hunch and making Camille stay with Wind Gapians (that's what they prefer to be called). But, it isn't only the police or her friends that Camille gets to interact with, there is also her mother Adora, never present step-father Allan, her crazy, attention-craving step-sister Amma (whose named bothered me because that's my mama's name on my phone), and the ghost of her sister Marian.

Who killed Natalie and Ann? Hmm, read the book, promise you won't regret it.

My first guess was really the mother. How can she be so cold to her own daughter? She does not even address or communicate with Camille? She was, she was, as it turns out an attention seeker and she took it out on her daughters. This was confirmed later by what Camille found on Marian's files.
Amma, I ruled her out because of her age. I mean a 13 year-old killer. But hey there have been younger killers (I checked), plus the girl had accomplices. This really is a good case of the nature vs nurture. Adora was making her sick, and then she suddenly pours her attention to other girls who reminded her of Camille. Adora made her into this killer, sorry, but I just had to call it. Thankfully, she needed the approval of Camille later on, which am sure the girl and her family from Chicago was not that thankful for.

Blurb

WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart 
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg 
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle 
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.

Read: A Scandal in Bohemia

For Doyle's first story about Sherlock Holmes, the ace detective is hired by a king. This tells us of the gravitas and greatness of Holmes. Also, it is interesting to note that the antagonist (?) is a woman, who matches and even surpasses Holmes' wit. Great read :)

Goodreads Blurb:

Holmes is hired by the King of Bohemia to recover blackmail evidence, held by the woman whom the king once promised to marry, but who he abandoned for a woman of noble birth.

Read: Russian Roulette by Mike Faricy

Dev Haskell is, as some reviewers did say, misogynistic, but I guess that's how a normal man would think. In a way, he's full of himself, (hell he said he was handsome but I guess his charms did work to the women in the book) which the author refutes with the turnout of events. His curiosity is both a plague and an advantage.

The author's upbeat writing was the only thing that kept me reading. Enjoyable indeed.

Will I be reading other Dev Haskell mysteries, I guess. That's something to think about, but maybe another from the author.

But, I just have to post this question: would you still continue on a case if your client has gone incognito and has admitted to accidentally hurting (no spoilers here) you? Well, if yes, then go ahead read it.

Alice Kamatis rating: 4 stars

Goodreads blurb: 

Russian Roulette is the FIRST novel in the highly entertaining Dev Haskell Private Investigator mystery series. 

Bestselling author Mike Faricy kicks off his mystery series with this humorous, suspenseful tale of intrigue, rank ineptitude, and one night-stands. 

Book Finished: Girl on the Train

It was 6 maybe 7 months ago that @livingproofinc had #jenniferaniston handle their account for a few days. Luckily #rachelgreen shared and posted this story of another rachel! A great great read! Intense! Only regret was I hadnt read it earlier. Oh by the way, the movie version is currently filming with her hubby, #justintheroux as one of its lead stars. #thegirlonthetrain #bookstagram

A photo posted by Ana Valenzuela (@ana_valenz) on Dec 17, 2015 at 5:31am PST

Blurb fro Goodreads: A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people’s lives. Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost. And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good? Compulsively readable, The Girl on the Train is an emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller and an electrifying debut.