Summer Is All In Bloom

I was hoping to be able to start this blog post with a less cheesy title,but I think the summer heat has truly fried my brains because I just couldn't think of anything else. I haven't posted on here in almost three weeks and that's because I've been busy with first, the Paperweight booklaunch and then finals week and then getting sick and then revamping the MoarBooks site and all the this while recuperating from the most persistent dry cough ever. 

Also, excuses aside, I wasn't quite sure how to talk about the stuff I've been doing without feeling like the most conceited person on earth. :)) I've been really happy lately and talking about happiness always seems to be more difficult than talking about discontent or sadness. But I figure, ah what the hell. It's summer and life's rarely this good so why the hell not talk about it?

The Paperweight booklaunch was a lot of fun and surprisingly, a lot of people came. Not to be self-deprecating or anything, but before events I always get really, really, really nervous because I'm never sure if anyone is going to show up. There are ways of lessening the anxiety but the possibility of you partying all by your lonesome is always, always a possibility. 

Photos c/o Angie Pablo

Also, earlier that week I'd encountered a lot of set-backs re: the launch; there were issues with the printing (let's just say I had to staple all 50 copies by hand hours before show time) and logistical problems with the exhibit and up until people started pouring in, part of me was ready to call it quits and just take my parents to dinner. But people came! And people bought the book and had a good time!

One of my biggest fears is becoming obsolete. To a certain extent I know that I must know something about things,  but there's a part of me that wonders whether or not people are interested in what I know. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the time going through my feed kinda feels like talking to myself while lots of other people are talking to themselves. I suppose that is the tragedy of the internet--it magnifies and exacerbates the ongoing struggle (as well as blurs the lines) between engaging with people and being terribly self-centered. 

But that night everyone was extremely engaging and people were listening to the performances and talking to one another and I was just so filled with happiness and hope that maybe I'm not insane. Maybe there really are people out there who are interested in "changing the conversation". 

I met a lot of new people that night and it was so refreshing to know that people are willing to come out and meet new people and be around creative stimuli. I learned that night that people still listen and read and pay attention.

 I'm also really happy that we had it at Exile On Main Street, which is this hole-in-the-wall place along Leon Guinto (behind Burgundy and the CSB area). It's a small restaurant founded by a couple of artists and writers and even if it was an unconventional place to launch a book, it all seemed to fit. A huge shout out to Josh So and Ces Santos--thank you for having us!

Aside from the launch, I've also been concentrating on MoarBooks and really making it a viable avenue for people who want to keep creative--whether by making something or by appreciating books and art, or both.  I've been experimenting with a lot of DIY and have been coming up with new ideas for merch and bundles, that'll encourage people to read and to seek out work from people from different walks of life.

One of the things that I made are these paint-splatter bags and have come up with a list of ideas to take hand-painted accessories a step further. :)

I don't think I've been this excited for the summer in a long, long time. Ironically, I think it's the thought of doing a lot of productive things with my time that's making me look forward to the next few weeks. 

The heat is such a bitch, but ah well. :D

I hope that all of you are doing well, too! I'm looking forward to FINALLY scrolling through my feed and giving everyone's posts a proper looksie. :) Happy summer, everyone!