First, the good news.
The huge, noisy crowd before the pandemic at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) is back! I could hardly navigate my way to the CSM booth where I launched my new book, a devoseries titled “Ready, Set, Focus!” I was pushed in so many directions by the excited throng of book enthusiasts.
Second, the not-so-good news.
The looooong queues for signature and selfie were toward celebrities (movie and TV stars) and authors of romance novels written in either Tagalog or Taglish. These demonstrate where reading in the Philippines is going.
I am neither a celebrity nor an author of romance books, so I sign books for those who value reading about grace, which is where I am in writing for children and adults.
On the other hand, this is good news, a very good news. As we called it in advertising: niche market. Readers queue for my books, not for me. This is a concrete reminder that writing about values is not about fame or fortune.
I am grateful for the grace every stroke of a pen brings--writing a short message on the blessings that come with every book, every book fair--for every reader.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice" Philippians 4:4
No comments:
Post a Comment