It felt so good being connected with my roots as hundreds of Filipino shoppers gathered together at the Rizal Community Center last June 3 to enjoy Filipino culture and food. Fortunately, several shoppers stopped by my booth to see what I had to offer. Most of them were happy and proud to find out that there is a "kababayan" (countryman) author residing here in Sacramento. 
​Look at the pictures that I managed to take in between book signing and selling my crafts. Aren't they adorable?

All these three girls are showing off their purchases - notepad, children's book, and snap necklace. The one on the left came back to my booth after
a few minutes to make sure that she also had my autograph like her cousin in the middle. I found that so cute!

While I was there as a vendor, I also had a chance to meet some people connected to Eskwela Natin. They invited me to exhibit my books on their opening day. I felt so honored!
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​You can tell that several good things came out from this event. Even when I got home, my mind was still churning with exciting things. Thanks to a lovely lady who suggested that I publish some books with Filipino translations. Since then, I've been working on two of my books. ;-)

This boy melted my heart. I can clearly remember the warm hug he gave me when I first met him. Because he is a charming, unforgettable boy, I gifted him this book. I heard from his grandmother that he loved reading the book. 

Janella was just about 5-6 years old when I first met her in the Philippines.  She has been close to my heart since then because I tutored her every day during school days for several years. Being a small part of her childhood years was the one of the most memorable teaching experiences I had, but I had never guessed that one day, her first born would be learning how to read through books which I had written. How touching!

Finally, Gillena from Trinidad and Tobago sent me a picture of Zuri! I've been dying to see her cute granddaughter who now owns two of my books, Mud Spots and Candy Sprinkles & The Magic Paintbrush. I am so thankful to Gillena because she has thought of this idea of book swapping. Because of her, I have made a child smile through my books and I have received two of her children's books which are immensely enjoyed by my goddaughter. Last month, I had posted a picture of my goddaughter holding one of her books.

Last April 28, I was at Rancho Cordova Library with a few authors from the Northern California Publishers and Authors for a book signing event. I only sold two books, but it was enjoyable interacting with fellow indie authors. 

It was also wonderful to find out that there are more opportunities for book signings. I will soon post under Events the places where I will be participating, including the dates, of course. 

Just recently, I joined the Northern California Publishers and Authors. It didn't take long before I found how to volunteer to the group. I stepped up to the plate and decided to make the table decorations for the upcoming Book Awards Banquet. Out of some old pages of a book, I got my hands busy in making these paper flowers. 

It sounds daunting at first when I was asked if I could make some, but after searching for some videos on YouTube, I bravely gave it a try. I knew it would be fun after a few attempts. 
​If you want to learn how to make them, here are the links from YouTube. Just pick the flower you want from the five samples that I took a picture below and watch the video. Don't be afraid! It just looks very challenging, but once you patiently follow each step, you will soon see the rewards of your courageous attempt. 
​TAKE NOTE: To be a creative explorer, you have to come out of your comfort zone and be an intrepid beginner in trying new things. ​

1st flower - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyFcxB7pSZk
2nd flower - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70qo0GFYXL0
3rd flower - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evH2dYgVvFM
4th flower - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tne5d2fDYao
​5th flower - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VW2UWzq7Ew

If you like to attach it to a pencil, use some thin wire and flower tape. 

All the way from India, a precious smile from a child fills my heart with joy.

I love receiving pictures such as this. I can tell just by looking at the picture that the child is enjoying my book. I hope when Atharva grows up, he will still look back on Frankie's story and remember how the book had made him laugh even after many readings.