Could you tell us a little bit about yourself

I was born and raised in the Philippines and finished a bachelor’s degree in English. I worked as Regional Youth Coordinator in a youth center, giving seminars, retreats, recollections, organizing regional and national youth assemblies. My work required a lot of travelling so I stopped after five years and worked instead as Executive Staff in an importer/distributor company in Manila. I live in Denmark now with my Danish husband.

Describe your book in 30 words.

Victor and the Sun Orb is a fantasy novel for children ages 9-12. It recounts the quest of a sun fairy prince in retrieving the sun orb before everything is perished.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Editing is always the hardest part for me. Even if I have a bachelor’s degree in English, still English is not my native language, so I spend a lot of time editing my work. And like any other writer’s struggle, I experience writer’s block, too. There are times when my mind isn’t creative enough, or there are situations when I stop in the middle of the page and I don’t know how to proceed with the story. I really have to convince myself that I have to write or else I will never finish the book.

What books have had the greatest influence on you?

I’m an avid reader of fantasy books. The Lord of the Rings, Fairy Tale, Harry Potter, Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales, these are the four books that inspire me to write a fantasy book myself. The authors’ writing styles are different from each other, they have distinctive voices and their approaches to storytelling are vibrant. They made history in the fantasy genre.

Briefly share us what you do to market your book?

Since I have a full-time job, I couldn’t go on a “road tour” to promote my book. The alternative way is maximizing the use of the Internet. I have my own web site and I sign up with other related links, where I could post my book and profile. I issue press releases, post book video trailer, send my book for review, Google Ad words, e-mail campaigns, social networking, join book and author clubs and organizations, and book giveaways. All of these work well to get my book noticed.

How do you spend your time when you are not writing?

I read books and writer’s magazines and continuously promoting my book through the Internet. During fall and winter, I really sit down and write my book, when spring and summer comes, I go out and enjoy nature’s beauty, visit places, and travel outside the country. It refreshes me and gives me a lot of ideas in writing my storyline.

What are you working on next?

I’m done with my second book titled In the Light of God’s Grace, a short memoir and an inspirational book about a mother with a son with cerebral palsy. It will be available this fall. I am currently working also on the sequel of Victor and the Sun Orb titled Victor and the Seven Circles of Darkness. Hopefully it will be finished in 2012.