What's Cool? MIBF 2014 + others

What's Cool? is an anytime meme where I feature all the
Cool things happened, I got, blog news, and just anything Cool!

Heya! Let me show you some NEW exciting events for Pinoy bookworms, my photos from MIBF 2014, and a blog announcement.

• Manila International Book Fair 2014

Yep, I finally attended MIBF! :D

MIBF ran through September 17th to 21st. The only available (I made it available) time I had was on the second day (18th). And I thank God because if I came there on the first day as I originally wanted, I won't be seeing this really Cool booth! Photo below.

This is a "Book Museum" booth. Inside contains Philippine's literature history, I think. I only saw some photos from my standing point. Still, I love this part!

That's the National Bookstore's booth..which was SO huge. You'd think you were visiting another branch of theirs. XD

I just have to have a photo with Fullybooked booth art! I love it, along with their ticket. I even used it as a bookmark. ;)

Me and my friend, Janine.

It was soo fun and real eye-bulging. I've never seen THAT many books before. I almost dragged a sleeping bag and lived there. I'd definitely come back next year with a saved allowance for massive book shopping (it's free to dream, hey). I only bought one book (Legend) because I don't want to spend too much. Plus, I'm broke and saving for the future book signing tours. :P

Speaking of which...

• More book signings!

Let us take a minute to tackle hug National Bookstore. Ready.. Set... ATTACK! *tackle hugs*

Thank YOU for these authors you're bringing us next!

New York Time Bestselling Authors Claudia Gray and Medeleine Roux will light up Manila and Cebu this month with a book signing event.

Claudia Gray is the author of Evernight series, Spellcaster series, and the recently published cover-lusting first book of Firebird series, A Thousand Pieces of You. Madeleine Roux wrote horror novels such as Asylum and Zombie series.

Marie Lu, NY Times Bestselling author of Legend trilogy and The Young Elites (new series), will be invading Philippines next on November 22nd and 23rd. I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET HER!

Poet Lang Leav is coming back! So if you didn't had a chance to go to her previous signing, meet her on December 5th (Cebu), December 6th, or 7th (Manila). Prepare your copies of Lullabies, and Love and Misadventures!

And the latest author to add on your list..James Frey!

Welcome the new year with NY Times Bestselling author of End Game: The Calling, A Million Little Pieces, My Friend Leonard, Bright Shiny Morning, The Warmest December, and several more.

Check this out for NBS events on Facebook. Meet you on these events!

• Books

Here are some of my Cool haul!

For review:
Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini (review)
Sway by Kat Spears (review)
A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White (review)
Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios
In A Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

Lailah by Nikki Kelly
The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil
Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan + bookmarks and a sweet note!

Won:
Four by Veronica Roth

Bought:
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer
Legend by Marie Lu

Thank you so much to Ruth and Macmillan International, Megan and HarperCollins International, Mimi and Hardie Grant Egmont, Jean at BookNerd, and Amy Finnegan! ♡ 

• Blog announcement

I would like to let you all know that I will be having another blogging hiatus. I hate to do this but I need to prepare for something big in the next two months. I won't be reading books or blogging about them except for selected books that I really need to review. So you could expect two or three reviews on the blog before my comeback.

I will be back on December or last week of November (it depends) just in time for Celebrating Debutantes 2014. As (some of) you know, CD features different YA/MG/NA debut authors of the current year. There will be interviews, 14 facts about the authors, and giveaways! Check this out for the list of debut authors participated on the two previous years.

Thank you so much for your support! I'm excited to be back soon!

***

Share me your Cool stories/haul!

Ongoing: Splintered and Unhinged Read-A-Long + Giveaway

The time has come. Welcome to Splintered and Unhinged Read-A-Long!

As you can see on the banner above, #SplinteredReadALong is from 1st to 2nd of September, while #UnhingedReadALong will be running from 3rd to 5th of September. This post is to remind the participants of this exciting event, the giveaway, and to invite more people to join. It's pretty easy! Just SIGN UP HERE. 

To learn more about this read-a-long, please check out the FAQs I posted weeks ago. And here's another question to be added on the FAQs: Someone asked me today if participants should tag @AGHowardPH on Twitter in each post? That is actually up to you. We'd appreciate the tag so we can RT you and see how you're enjoying and fangirl together. Please include the appropriate hashtags too if you can (#SplinteredReadALong or #UnhingedReadALong). I know that Twitter has a limited amount of characters.

As for the giveaway, the Rafflecopter widget is attached below. for participants to enter. Again, this giveaway is for participants only. However, if you want to join this read-a-long and to be one of the two (INTL!) winners of the gorgeous Alice in Wonderland-inspired necklace or Splintered series swag (photos below), SIGN UP NOW! Please sign up before #UnhingedReadALong starts. Sign up closes on September 3rd.

Thank you so much to the fab author of this lovely series!
First, for writing such breathtaking and magical novels
and second, for donating these for the giveaway! *hugs*

There are TWO MANDATORY entries. (1) Your name that will serve as a confirmation that you have signed up to join this read-a-long. (2) Your links to your read-a-long updates, posts, etc. Yep, this is mandatory. BUT you'll earn 2 points everyday for that! The rest are non-mandatory entries but with cool amount of points to be earned.

Rafflecopter runs from September 1st to 14th. An additional week for you to earn points on your daily entries such as the update. You can add your previous update links as long as you HAVEN'T entered it before.

P.S Don't forget to follow @AGHowardPH on Twitter for updates and fangirling! ;)

***

GIVEAWAY!

- must be a read-a-long participant to join

- open INT

- ends September 14th

- I'll check the entries so be honest!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What's Cool? #StephaniePerkinsinPH + others!

What's Cool? is an anytime meme where I feature all the Cool things I got and happened,
and Cool blog announcements.

After years of waiting, I have finally met one of my favorite contemporary romance author, Stephanie Perkins. It was held in Glorietta 1 on July 6, 2014, hosted by the ever so wonderful, National Bookstore.

*Event photos are taken by National Bookstore (source here). I have my own but unfortunately, my phone got lost 2 weeks ago (so un-Cool worthy) and so I wouldn't be able to post pictures--ESPECIALLY the one that I'm with her and her husband, Jarrod *cries*---and the interview that I recorded. Ughh.

Part of the crowd

You can't find me here. I'm waay behind those backs.

Registration started at 10 am but I arrived 8 am and I'm already #296 (or was that #292?)! And here I thought I was early! I also heard that morning that there were 10 or 13 people waiting the day BEFORE the signing--Steph was just signing in Cebu that time! Talk about being a fangirl. I salute you guys. And envy too.

Why?

Because they received an ARC (advance reading copy) of Isla and the Happily Ever After (publishing on August)! O___O My heart was stolen and torn and dropped and stomped on the floor a million times the moment Steph handed Isla to each of them.

I've  learned a lot from Stephanie and her upcoming book Isla and the Happily Ever After during the interview. She said that [Isla] is about a girl who's been loving a guy from afar for years (crowd went "aww") and finally got her happily ever after (I was like, that sounds like a spoiler) but then she'll realize that it's not the happily ever after that she wanted and searches her real happily ever after (or something like that. I couldn't remember. Recording's on the phone!) Stephanie also mentioned that Isla is a really, really shy girl who strives to reach her dreams. That's when I knew that of all three books, I am most likely Isla. My excitement and enthusiasm for the book surpassed the highest level.

Stephanie mentioned that she met her husband when she was 17 years old (cue: aww) and that Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door most likely describes her husband but she also spread a bit of him on other main male characters (another crowd cue: awww!). Stephanie was asked what is her tip or message to aspiring writers. She said that aspiring writers should read, read, read a lot of books. You don't have to enroll on a writing course to learn. Most of the great writers she knew learned writing by reading a lot. She also mentioned that she has an upcoming horror novel in 2015.

NBS team set up a separate table for Jarrod Perkins (Stephanie's husband) to sign our books too. Jarrod, like her wife, is very warm and friendly. He's been smiling the whole time I wondered if his cheeks hurts. We are so lucky indeed.

Jarrod Perkins signing books.

The day got brighter when I finally came face to face with Stephanie. She was so nice and she have a huge friendly smile! She's so pretty. I love her vibe! It was a surreal moment that I didn't mind my haggard face when we took a picture together. Now I'm not sure I feel bad about the lost photo..

Stephanie Perkins signing books.

Here are my signed books!

I love that Stephanie used particular colors on signing each of her books!

Jarrod's section. I didn't know he wrote me a hidden message on my copy of Lola!
When I searched it on Google, I found out it meant "Don't Forget To Be Awesome".
Aw, thanks Jarrod!

Thank you National Bookstore for another fun-filled event! We are looking forward in meeting more exciting authors on the following months *wink, wink*.

For now, get ready to meet Alex London, author of YA dystopian sci-fi Proxy and Guardian, on August 30, 2014, 2 pm at National Bookstore, SM Aura. For more details or updates, stalk NBS on Facebook or Twitter.

                     * * *

Other Cool stories:

• Books!

My recent book haul..

Of course, my copies of Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door bought from NBS. ;)

Traded:
Free to Fall by Lauren Miller (ARC)
The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda (ARC)
Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen Coloma

Borrowed:
Unteachable by Leah Raeder
George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet Benge

I got this bookmark from Jennifer E. Smith Philippines during Stephanie Perkins signing. Thanks to the generous admin, Dianne! :D

For review (ebooks):
Prelude for a Lord by Camille Elliot
Magnolia by Kristi Cook


Thank you so much to Precious of Fragments of Life, Celine of Two Ends of a Bookshelf, Jen E. Smith PH, BookLookBloggers, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Simon and Schuster, and Netgalley!

• Celebrating Debutantes 2014

Celebrating Debutantes official button

The biggest and Coolest blog event for the current year's AMAZING debut authors will be back SOON!

If you're an AMAZING (yes, we need capitalization) young adult, new adult, or middle grade debut author of 2014, then Celebrating Debutantes is the event for you!

If you are an enthusiastic bookish fangirl (like me), tweet/email/message your favorite/anticipated YA/NA/MG debut author of 2014 about this event and make them join us! You would definitely want them to join here! *hints giveaways and more* ;)

To learn more about CD and check out the lovely authors who participated since 2012, check out Celebrating Debutantes page here.

To share or sign up, here's the FORM.

Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again and I are looking forward on featuring the most gorgeous debut authors of 2014! :)

• Trade

I still have books to trade so if you're interested, please visit my Trade page. Unfortunately, this is only applicable to Philippine residents. International shipping is scary.

Those are my Cool stories for now! Do you have too? Share them below! :)

If you have StS, In My Mailbox, Sunday Post,

or self-made meme like this, you can also link them up!

What's Cool? Celebrating Debutantes 2013 + Gayle Forman book signing!

I use Grammarly's plagiarism checker because copy-cats are not as Cool as this post! ;)

An anytime meme created by yours truly, where I share everything I think is Cool (plus, my Cool blog updates! ;)

January is soon to end yet Cool things just kept on happening since my last post of What's Cool? !

First off, Celebrating Debutantes 2013!

It's been an exciting and full of information about over 100 cool debut authors! I had fun reading their 13 random facts and interview questions. And I'm sure you did too, especially with the huge wave of giveaways!

I'd like to thank each and everyone of you who supported this event. Thank you so much to Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again for being the ever-patient and best co-host! Let's make CD 2014 easier for us (you know what I mean *wink, wink*). To Jessica L. Brooks for the congratulatory, supportive, enthusiastic, and advertising tweets about CD. You're Cool! And last but not the least, the debut authors of 2013 who said the magic word "yes" in joining us in this exciting event and for donating for the giveaways! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! *hugs*

Celebrating Debutantes 2013 has come to an end. Again, for now. We'll celebrate debut authors of 2014 later this year. So if you're a YA/NA/MG debut author of 2014 or you want your favorite/anticipated 2014 debut author to join this event, let them SIGN UP TO JOIN HERE!

Want to take a look back on the authors we've featured in 2012 and 2013? Or do you want to learn more about this event? Click here.

***

Last January 18th, National Bookstore held another exciting book signing event! This time, they brought us the New York Times Best-selling author of If I Stay and Just One Day duets, Gayle Forman!

Last March 2013, I've been to my first ever book signing event where I met Tahereh Mafi, author of Shatter Me trilogy. There have been several authors who visited the Philippines after Tahereh, but as always, I'm busy with college, so Gayle Forman's was my second signing. 

My co-bloggers are lucky to ask questions to Gayle and I really enjoyed listening to her answers. I learned that she loves reading contemporary books that's why she's writing them as well. When asked if she had plans to branch out of contemporary, she said that she loves writing about the world we live in, and that since some people see If I Stay as a paranormal book, she thinks she already branched out of the genre. She also said that she likes writing a love story that has life in it. Or, write about life. And that's what I saw in her books. I finished Just One Day a week ago, and her writing is just soo good. I felt the life in it--even when I read If I Stay duets years ago--and with the words that she said at the signing makes all sense. I knew then that this author doesn't only write because she has story to tell, but also because she wants to show her readers how life is and how we also should be. My respect to Gayle Forman grew. 

She said that yes, she's involved in the making of If I Stay movie, and that she read the script and cried several times. She said that it was embarrassing because she's the one behind the story. LOL She also mentioned that she have an upcoming novel called I Was Here that is set to release in 2015.

Photo from National Bookstore

Gayle with her fans (and their books) at the signing. So cute!
Gayle Forman definitely deserves to be in this Cool post. ;) :D

Thank you so much Precious of Fragments of Life for bringing me as your plus one! :D Thanks also to Elyssa for trading with me, and National Bookstore for another Cool event! One more Cool news from NBS.. THIS!!!

YEEEEEEEEEP!!!!


***

Another Cool thing? I'm back with Netgalley! Months ago I stopped requesting from Netgalley because I don't have an e-reader and I became slow in reading ebooks and didn't get to review the books I've been accepted. Now I have a better e-reader app on my tablet and somehow I can now mange my to-review pile. Yay!

Even though I'm back with NG, I'm still controlling my requesting tendencies. :)

Thank you so much MTV Books, Albert Whitman Teen, Random House Kids, and Netgalley!

***

Last year, I joined Debut Author Challenge..and I have quite failed on it. I forgot that I actually joined a reading challenge! I forgot to read more debuts, and if I do, I always forgot to add my links. So that was uncool, but now I'm still up for this year's challenge and willing to not forget! XD

 2014 Reading Challenge
   

         Michelle has read 8 books toward her goal of 50 books.

    

         

 8 of 50 (16%)

          view books

Another challenge that I failed was the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I aimed to read 50 books on 2013 but I only read 49. See, there's only one book left! Eeek! That was pretty understandable, though, because I've been busy for most of the year. This year, I challenged myself to read 50 books or more. As of today, I've read 8 books! Hoping to continue this Cool start. :)

***

On February 9th 2014, I will be launching a new blog event called Feb Feels: 7 days of Valentines! This event is for the month of love, obviously. I will be having a week full of book reviews, interviews from YA/NA romance contemporary authors, playlist, giveaways, and more! Be sure to check this Cool February event out!

On the Blog:

This Week:

Tue: Book Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

W: WWW Wednesdays (53) / Waiting on Wednesday (52): The Winner's Curse

F: Cover Reveal: Orenda by Ruth Silver

Sun: What's Cool? Celebrating Debutantes 2013 + Gayle Forman book signing

Last Week:

Tue: Book Review: Thornhill by Kathleen Peacock

W: WWW Wednesdays (52) / Waiting on Wednesday (51): Forever Summer

F: Cover Reveal: Cowboys and Kisses by Sasha Summers*Book Review: Deception by C.J Redwine

Giveaways:

Redemption by Venise Webb

- 5 ebooks. INT.

Veiled Shadow by Morgan Wylie

- 1st book (Silent Orchids) for FREE here

- 2nd ebook to win + swag. INT

Unbreathable by Hafsah Laziaf

- ebook, INT. Swag, US.

Being Henry David by Cal Armistead

- 1 book + swag. INT

Ink by Amanda Sun

- query or first chapter critique. INT

ACID by Emma Pass

- SIGNED copy. INT

The Boys of Summer [and] An Endless Summer by C.J Duggan

- ebook. INT

***

2014 has just started but Coolness is already flowing. Hopefully it would continue to overflow--I am very prepared to catch it! ;)

So...what are the Cool things that happened to you? Received? Bought? Gifted?

Don't let it concealed within you, share the good news! :)