8LETTERS

A Filipino Boutique Bookstore

[cindywongdelacruz]

THE BROKEN HEARTED’S TRAVEL GUIDE This is a zine about moving on from a past love through traveling. In this zine, I reiterated how I dealt with heartbreak. I also provided tips on how to travel wisely despite the distractions of a broken heart. If you are hurting, take a deep breath and carry this zine with you. - 16 pages | staple-bound - Size: A5 (148x210mm) / 5.8" x 8.3" inches - Will be shipped in a brown envelope. 

Purchase from our Etsy Shop! :) 

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Why Consistency Beats Flashiness

A flashy demo wears off in a day. What keeps you around is consistency, and that's where SweetDream wins. My companion is the same person tomorrow that she is today, with the same memories, voice, and personality I gave her.

Consistency is quiet quality. It's what makes an AI girlfriend feel trustworthy and real over weeks, not minutes. If you want something that holds up past the novelty, sweetdream.ai is built for the long run.

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We launched our youtube channel yesterday! SUBSCRIBE here: https://goo.gl/g7tq0d and watch out for the first episode! We'll talk about all things indie from books and writing, also coffee, time management, and how to run a boutique bookstore. SO EXCITED FOR THIS!! ❤️😊✏️📚

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Being an indie author means you have to do everything from writing your manuscript, designing the book cover, creating your website, and many other chores to ensure the success of your book. The GOOD NEWS is 8Letters is now offering the above services for indie authors so you can focus on the most important thing: to WRITE.

We work closely with illustrators, and Rose Poly and Andoyman are two of our favorites. All you need to do is be specific of your requirements: colors, theme, characters, etc. Rose Poly’s works start at PHP 2,250, and here are some samples:

While Andoyman’s cost is PHP 3,500+. Here are some samples of Andoyman’s creations:

We can create order forms connected to your email so every time you get an order, you will receive a notification.

The promotional graphic design serves as your poster. This is an announcement where you tell the public that your book is already out. It may contain a 3D book  cover with the important information of your book such as release date, where they can buy it, the cost, and a short blurb.  

Readers love bookmarks especially if it comes with your book. We can design a ready-to-print bookmark based on your book theme.

This advanced kit contains the inclusions of package no. 3, but this time, you will also get 20 more graphic designs for your book promotion. You can use these graphics if you want to organize a book blog tour, or you want to increase awareness for your book by uploading to your social media sites. Posting the graphics along with the order online form links creates a call-to-action which is effective for readers to buy your book.

For readers to take you seriously, having an author website is essential, however, building a website can take weeks eating up your writing time. Leave it to us! You can have your domain name with a 2-year validity and a comprehensive website containing all information about you and your writing career. You can put excerpts of your book or blog abut your creative process. We use Tumblr and Wordpress which offers an incredible variety of layouts, and you can pick which suits best to your personality or theme.  

For any enquiries on the above packages, you may send us an email at  [email protected] | Or you can also send us a message on our Facebook page.

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New Books!!!

Last April 1, we celebrated the launch of two new books by 8Letters. The first one was written by my partner Marigold Uy, an interactive notebook entitled 8Letters Psychic Research - The Cursed School. Here you are provided with a preliminary plot and default characters. You can then, add your character and continue the story on the 8-page space to write in every chapter. 

The goal behind this interactive notebook is to motivate people to write and to have fun while doing so. Here are some photos where Al Joseph of Lapis sa Kalye interviewing Marigold. 

An Excerpt: 

You first learned about them not through social media. You expected they would be on Facebook, bragging about how many spirits they’ve exorcised or how they could see the future, like most scammers would claim to make them seem that they’re legit.

Contrary to that, you heard about 8LETTERS Psychic Research through a neighbor who claimed they exorcised a malicious spirit in their house. You let the old woman share her story, unbelieving at first but eventually realized that the group might be legitimate after all.

Even as someone who has the ability to sense spirits, you were hesitant to believe that there was actually a weird team of ‘psychics’. And here in Manila even.

The second book is an anthology of memoirs by various of writers including me. The book entitled Ekspedisyon - Biyahe sa Nakaraan started from an online workshop I organized where I asked three mentors who are expert in writing creative non-fiction. Out of 40 students, only 7 finished their manuscripts. One of them was Christian Loid Valenzuela with his memoir entitled Amor Infinitus. He came all the way from Olongapo to Parañaque! On his memoir, he wrote about the death of his grandmother and his relationship with his parents. 

An Excerpt:

Natapos ang isang oras na panunood ko ngunit hindi pa rin lumalabas ng banyo ang aking lola. Akala ko ba nais niyang ng maaga upang marami siyang maitulong sa paggawa ng kalapati? Excited nga siyang suotin ang bago nilang uniporme na makukuha niya pagkatapos nilang gawin ang nasabing replika.

“Anong oras na? Umalis na ba si nanay?” tanong sa akin ng aking tiyahin na nanggaling sa likuran ng aming bahay. Katatapos niya lamang maglaba no’n.

“Hindi pa. Ni hindi pa nga siya lumalabas mula sa banyo, e,” sagot ko naman. Kung kaya’t agad naming tinungo ang banyo upang sabihin sa aking lola na malapit na siyang mahuli sa takdang oras ng pakikipagkita niya sa mga gagawa ng kalapati.

Nakailang katok kami pero walang sumasagot mula sa loob ng palikuran. Tanging ang lagaslas lamang ng tubig mula sa gripo ang aming naririnig. Kinabahan na kami dahil do’n. Puwersahan naming binuksan ang pinto ng banyo.

Jonalyn Mencias’ memoir entitled Mga Lihim ng Kahapon is about her relationship with his father, who was very strict while she was growing up. It entails how it affected her perception in life, and the changes to the whole family over the years. 

An Excerpt:

LAGI AKONG NAPAPALO noon ng aking tatay dahil magagalitin siya, dahil dito hagulgol naman akong umiiyak at pinapangakong di na uulitin ang pagkakamaling nagawa. Sabi nga ng aking ina, ako raw ang pinakamakulit sa aming magkakapatid kaya lagi akong napapagalitan at namumura ng aking tatay. Iba ang pagdidisplina niya sa amin na laging may kaakibat na pamalo. Gusto lang daw ni tatay, sabi ni nanay, na lumaki kaming may paggalang at disiplina sa sarili, dahil nga siguro sa puro kami mga babae at kailangan protektahan nang mabuti at bantayan.

Lagi siyang may tsinelas na handang ipamalo sa amin.

The memoir entitled Musikera by Raine Rillera tells the story about her love of music, the struggles how she started the band and the adventures of playing while studying. 

An Excerpt: 

The first "band" I played in was an all-girl acoustic group. After playing one gig in school, the girls and I had a falling out with each other and we never got together again to play.Then there was the 4-piece ensemble that couldn't get out of the so-called garage phase. After that nameless band died a natural death, the cute drummer invited me to play rhythm guitar for his other band. They called themselves "Empty Minds," which, looking back now, should have been a clear sign for me to go running in the opposite direction. One studio session with them confirmed my suspicion that it was, indeed, a pogi rock band. To this day, I don't know whether I should be flattered or offended that they had deemed me pogi enough to be in their band.

Afterthat spate of failed band attempts, I was starting to feel jaded. Among all the people I had played with so far, I hadn't felt that connection, that undeniable gravitational pull of a Music Bond. Putting together the perfect band was a lot like looking for Mr. Right, except I waslooking for three—or more —of him. I had no idea where to find the perfect bandmates, but more importantly, I began to doubt they existed at all. Were they all just rock fairy tales, fueled by my naïve adoration for bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Dream Theater whose musical minds seemed to fit each other's like a jigsaw puzzle?

Even her fashion states that she is a true hearted musician! And have I mentioned she came all the way from Baguio?

I (Cindy Dela Cruz) also wrote my fair share of memoirs entitled Unang Halik. Here, I wrote about my travels in life, reminiscing how I ended where I am. Basically it was about the last ten years of my life, right after my 18th birthday where I needed to fly to Hong Kong to help with the family’s financing, and how I decided to get in a secret marriage.

An Excerpt:

UNA KONG NAKILALA si Raymart nang naging magkaklase kami nung grade 4, taong 1999. Isa siya sa mga naunang crush ko kasi ang puti at ang tangkad niya. Nacu-cute- an ako sa kanya, isang paghanga na hindi nagtagal. Katulad ng iba kong naging crush ay tumagal lang ito ng tatlong buwan. Nakita ko na kasi agad ang kapintasan niya. Masyado siyang maputi kumpara sa kayumangging balat ko. Tapos, lagi pa siyang late sa school bus. Kung ano ang kinaaga ng paggising ko dahil ako ang unang sinusundo ng schoolbus, mukhang saka pa lang siya nagigising sa pagkakatulog sa oras na siya na ang sinusundo. Naiinis na ang mga ka-schoolbus namin dahil male- late na kami dahil sa kanya. Tapos papasok siya sa bus na puno ng pulbo ang leeg at may hawak pang pandesal. Ew, pampered. Turn off. Hindi ko na nga siya crush.

Dalawang taon pa kaming naging magka-schoolbus at naging mabuting magkaibigan nga kami. Tinutulungan niya ako sa paghila ng stroller kong bag, habang ako naman ay pinagtatanggol siya sa mga nang-aasar sa kanya.

There were three other authors who couldn’t make it. Two were in overseas: Analy Midsapak and Suzi Oliva; Then Gab Barrantes who lives in Lucena.

Mystic Brew Philippines where the book launch was held, created a cozy environment for our books and visitors. Their food was great too, local pinky food with new twists!

The night was capped by songs played by Raine’s band, Koko Pyup! 

For more information on our books, you can find us on: 

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/8lettersbooks 

INSTAGRAM www.instagram.com/8lettersbooks

The above beautiful photos are taken by: HIGHLIGHTS, EVENTS & PHOTOGRAPHY. 

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Indie Publishing 101

Where do I begin?

Perhaps I should start with my goal ten years ago. I always enjoyed writing and reading my own stories when I was younger. For me, it seemed I was recording my thoughts and my imaginations, and these fictitious characters in my head. I hoped people would read what I wrote, but I didn't have the courage back then. I didn't think I wanted to be so open to the world; I am afraid people would laugh at it, judged my works and say it is not good enough. I kept it as a secret, and so notebooks filled with my stories written over the summer were only read by my younger sister, and then they would all be stashed away, hidden where no one else could find them. I wrote love stories and witch stuff, some poems or things that happened to me every day. There were so many thoughts in my head and writing them down was therapeutic. I later found out that, should I invest more time polishing my stories and essays, I actually can let the world to read it, and I won't feel that alone anymore. Until today, I believe that sharing my stories helped me a lot to be a better person by boosting my confidence, helping me to articulate my thoughts, having a stand and making friends.

When I started publishing my works online, there were no rules to follow, and I didn't know whether I was doing the right thing the right way. We got a page with a thousand readers who sent us feedbacks. We all tried submitting our manuscripts to publishing companies, but they were rejected, so we gave that up. Besides, we don't want to be tied to a contract where we basically sell the rights of our work of art. We decided to publish our book. No one else in our radar had done it, so there was no one to ask. We did everything ourselves. What do we need to produce this book and make it a hit? Making it a hit means people will talk about it and buy it. That was a big question mark, and you can say, we tried all different ways, all possible channels. It worked. We sold more or less 300 copies in 3 months. Earning from what you have written is a good sign. It means people read your work; they are interested in you and stories. Therefore there is a higher chance of them buying your next book. Your imagination now has a VALUE, people think your stories and what you have to say are worth their time and money.

The rest is history, but the lessons we learned remains. Nowadays, a lot of author friends who have existing readership had struggled to sell even ten copies. Writers thought if they keep on writing and announcing it on social media, they would eventually turn it into sales. They failed taking other essential steps to make their book successful. Here are two of the most overlooked steps in indie-publishing.

1. Stephen Kings wrote in his memoir entitled On Writing, that once he finished a manuscript, he would show it to his wife and ask for her comments. Her wife is one of his most trusted person in the world, and whose comments he valued a lot.  He would listen to her comments and criticisms and discuss the changes he would do. Having another set of eyes to read your work without bias is a big help. These people can spot mistakes and inconsistencies you may have missed. He also mentioned letting the manuscript sit for a while, let it breathe for a few months, then read it again, this time with a fresh perception where he can spot his errors. If you do not have the time, there is always the option of getting an editor. An editor is who you paid to review and edit your manuscript.

2. This is marketing your book even if your MS isn't finished yet. You can talk about your characters, and the settings, and what makes them special yet relatable. You can also post about the creative process you are going through and why people should be excited about the finished product like you do. You create hashtags so people can search for it easily. Create attractive graphics and videos relevant to your book. Though try not to do it every day, again to give space and to make your art breathe and have people digest so they will not be drowned with so much information. Post enough that can create anticipation, so when your book officially comes out, readers who have been invested in the free content you were sharing, they would want to buy the finished product.

Step 1 & 2 already sounds a lot of work, and actually, there are more things you need to do, that you need to be physically, emotionally and financially ready for this BIG PROJECT. You need all the guts in you in this journey of getting your book out there. Yes, it is worth it and truly rewarding.

If you are interested in the process of indie publishing in the Philippines, we have an event on April 2 in Diligence Cafe, Manila where we invited speakers who managed to get their indie published books into bookstores. You can sign up here: https://goo.gl/gHTa8z

That will be all from me for now. If you have any questions about indie publishing, feel free to comment below and I will be happy to help. Until next time! :)

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/1867378053538716/

We are officially opening the doors of 8LETTERS Psychic Research's office!

Be updated with insider information. Piece them together. Solve the case ahead of others. Be a full-fledged psychic researcher. Meet the team and be part of us. Can YOU do it? Are YOU up for the challenge?

WE dare YOU.

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Can YOU help them? Can YOU do it? Are YOU up for the challenge? YOU are their only chance.

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A new ‘thing’ coming soon. YOU’ll be part of this. 

Are you up for the challenge?

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8Letters books have reached the south! Thank you, Lapis ArtCom. Like our page for the latest #Philippinespokenpoetry  events! 

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Join Porcupine Strongwill for an evening of love poems & music,  the perfect post-Valentine's date for romantics & word lovers! https://goo.gl/F6AV8T

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JOIN THE BLOG TOUR!!!

Be the first to read Forgotten Things to Say by Porcupine Strongwill, a collection of poems reflecting the journey of a young heart trying to forget a past love. Labeled by fellow poets as both a Romanticist and an avant-gardist, Strongwill ventures to experiment with the universal theme of romantic lost, using both unconventional and simplistic poetic techniques, whilst showing how writing has the power to disencumber and [ultimately] heal.

You may register by sending us your name, link to your blog and your preferred date to post your review. The blog tour will run from 25-31 Jan. 2017.

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Fantastic Books and Where to Find Them in Manila!

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Our books are now available in Forget Me Not Cafe! 

Address: 24 Lilac StreetMarikina City

Opening hours: 7:00AM - 12:00AM

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Our indie books selection is also now available at Belleville Cafe. Hurrah! It's perfectly cozy and best for reading while sipping a big cup of coffee. Address: 20B, Scout Rallos Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City 

Tel: [phone] Hours: 11:00AM - 12:00AM

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Another cafe has been added, hurrah!!! You can now find our books in Plaza Cafe. Their sandwich is definitely a must try in town! :) 

Address: Corinthia Plaza, 121 Paseo de Roxas Makati 1221

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We are happy to announce that our first selection can now be found in Dorissimo Pastries. How about trying their famous rainbow cake with a hot latte, while reading books from our first selection?

Dorissimo Pastries Address: 122 Maginhawa St., Teachers Village East, Diliman Quezon City 1101 Opening hours: 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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Every breakup has its playlist. 

How do you get over a seven-year relationship? 21-year-old Jill is trying to find out. But moving on is a harder job when Kim, her ex-boyfriend, is the lead guitarist of the band, and Jill is the vocalist. Every song they play together feels like slicing open a barely healed tattoo. Jill’s best friend Miki says she will be out of this gloom soon. Breakups have a probation period, he says. Jill is on the last month of hers and Miki is patiently keeping her company. But the real silver lining is Shinta. Having a hot Japanese actor friend in times like these is a welcome distraction. This gorgeous celebrity has been defying time zones and distance through the years to be there for Jill. Now he is here, physically present, and together he and Jill go through old lyrics, vivid memories, walks in the rain, and bottles of beer. Together they try to answer the question: what do you do when forever ends?

We are glad to announce that Songs of Our Breakup by Jay E. Tria is included in our first selection. Marigold and I both read the book and we both agreed it’s perfect when it’s rainy and you need some book to cuddle with.

WHY WE LOVE IT?

Lyrics of songs where you can make your own tune in your head;

Sessions with the band mates! Their loyalty was just heartwarming, giving out hope for possible friendship between Jill and Kim;

The steamy love scene of course (Between who? You need to find out for yourself!)

(We want to share more, but we’ll spare you the spoilers!)

REVIEWS OF THE BOOK CAN BE FOUND HERE:

http://www.willreadforfeels.com/reviews/songs-of-our-breakup-jay-e-tria/ https://taratriestowrite.wordpress.com/2015/09/09/book-review-songs-of-our-breakup-jay-e-tria/ http://thejapayukichronicles.blogspot.com/2015/08/book-review-songs-of-our-breakup.html http://romancenovelsincolor.com/2015/11/review-of-songs-of-our-breakup-by-jay-e-tria/ http://onemorepage.tinamats.com/songs-of-our-breakup/ http://agayisagirl.blogspot.com/2015/09/breakup-book.html

Find 8Letters is coming in the following cafes in Manila:

Cafe UK

Plaza Cafe

Dorissimo Pastries