I’m back! Sorry for the delayed update, but between jet lag, a horrible cold, and then a tweaked back (I’m in total pain as I type this), it’s taken me a little while to get all my pictures organized.
If you follow me on Twitter or you “like” my Facebook page, you’ve probably seen most of these already, but just in case, here are the highlights of my three-week trip to the Philippines. There’s so much more that happened than what I’m showing here, but there was just no way to include everything.
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| First day in Manila! After receiving a VIP welcome at the airport, I checked into my hotel and then the amazing folks from National Book Store took me, my dad, and my uncle out to lunch. |
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| On the day of my Powerbooks/National Book Store book signing, with Jenny Javier from Simon & Schuster right before my media interviews. |
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| Being interviewed by Xandra Ramos from National Book Store on stage. The sign behind us was huge! |
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| Signing (photo courtesy of National Book Store). |
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| Signing (photo courtesy of National Book Store). |
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| Signing for my family in Manila (that’s my Dad watching over me). |
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| Who’s this beautiful girl beside me? Why, that would be Samantha Sotto, author of BEFORE EVER AFTER. So happy we finally got to meet! |
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| It was amazing to meet all my readers! |
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| With Christine Lina from National Book Store, who made me feel completely comfortable at all my book events. |
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| Dinner at a Japanese restaurant after the book signing with the National Book Store gang. |
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| After my morning radio interview at 94.7 with Vince & Tracy. Radio is so much fun! |
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| Hanging with Chad from National Book Store, who got me through all my media interviews. He’s so much cuter than I am. |
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| Taking a break between interviews. I kept having flashbacks to that movie Notting Hill – was the guy from Horse & Hound going to show up? 😉 Maybe if I was Julia Roberts… |
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| Hanging at the casino after a long day, where Manny took all my money. |
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| Finally in Cebu! This sign greeted me as soon as I got to my aunt’s house. |
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| Dinner with the family! The men folk must be in a different picture. |
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| Lunch at another aunt’s pizza parlor. So yummy. |
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| This is the beach at my aunt’s resort, Hale Manna (which translates to “house of good energy”). Not a bad place to call home for a week. It was the perfect place to decompress after my first few crazy busy days in Manila. |
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| Lounging in a hammock, reading my Kindle. |
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| And at night, losing at mahjong. |
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| Getting adobo cooking lessons from the chef at Hale Manna. Adobo is a traditional Filipino dish, usually made with pork or chicken and cooked in garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar. |
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| While I was relaxing in Cebu, my feature in the Philippine Daily Inquirer came out! |
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| Another feature (different day) in the Philippine Daily Inquirer! |
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| My feature in the Manila Bulletin! There was also another feature in the Philippine Star, but I never got to read it. |
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| When we got back from the beach resort, I happened to walk into a National Book Store and was bummed I couldn’t find my books in stock. Then my Dad told me to turn around… I didn’t realize I actually had my own little SECTION! Woo hoo! |
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| At a different book store. CREEP is an “International Best Seller”, right next to FIFTY SHADES! |
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| Being interviewed by Xandra Ramos of National Book Store. There were so many people watching. |
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| And taking pictures of us… |
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| Having fun with the people attending the book fair! |
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| Always so amazing to meet the readers. |
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| Book events done! At the Manila Polo Club having lunch with more family. |
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| My dad took this picture of me towards the end of my trip. I think my expression says it all. |
The trip to the Philippines was a dream come true. The wonderful people at National Book Store made me feel like a celebrity, and I had a great time at every book event and interview. In total, I had two book signings (one at Powerbooks and one at the Manila International Book Fair), I gave maybe seven interviews (four with national newspapers), and did three TV interviews and one radio show. Whew! And in between, I spent time with my dad and huge extended family, both in Cebu and Manila.
Oh, and I ate. A LOT. And yet somehow managed to lose seven pounds while I was away – and no, I didn’t get sick at all! Go figure . . . maybe all that Filipino food agrees with me?
I hope to go back to the Philippines again next year. It’s a thrill to see my books in so many stores, and it was just plain fun to meet all my readers.
All right guys, I’m off to Cleveland, Ohio for Bouchercon, the huge crime fiction conference, and I’ll be back next week with all the news!
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Now that's what i call a book tour. Looks like you had an amazing time conquering the Phillipines.
mood
Moody Writing
Great pictures! You're famous now! : )
Whew! My friend the rock star. Gotta love it! 😀
I'm glad you had a good time, but I hate to hear your back is messed up! It better work itself out before Bouchercon. I expect loads of happy photos from that event! And maybe one somber one, because I'm not there… 😉
Kumusta ka?
Hey, you didn't hit me up either! I was a stones throw away. Nevertheless, I am sure you had a full slate by the sounds of it. A lot of fun in the Philippines, right? Have to love it!
Cool pics. The next time I go to the mall I will check for your book. Since Fully Booked stocks my book, I usually shoplift…er, shop there. lol
I am so glad you got here and I wish you all the success. Stay in youch.
…or touch. lol
Beautiful pictures. It's like we shared your experiences on your visit. The Philippines look stunning, especially the beach, and your family rocks! The flu sucks but you can't have everything, right?
Welcome home. 🙂
Hi Jenny! Gina here. Yes you must know that the family LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to eat! 🙂 Liana told me about the 2 chocolates that disappeared while at Moalboal. I laughed my heart out when you said "That is so not cool!". 🙂
I just got my signed copies of your book and I'm reading Creep again before I start off with Freak. Hey, please send me a PM of your home address. I'm going to send you something. Cheers!
Wow, what a tour! And heck no – you are much cuter than Chad.
I understand you're going to see my buddy, Nancy Thompson, at the conference. Very cool!
Looks like you had an incredible trip. Have fun at Bouchercon – you lucky dog. Bring pics. I'm living vicariously through you. ;o)
Your dad looks like such an alpha male.
Wow, looks like such a fabulous time! I want to be on that beach right now. 🙂
Looks amazing! What a fantastic welcome you had there, and all that interest in your books. GO JENNIFER!
I may have actually teared up a little.ha SOOOO happy for you! I would have lost it just seeing my name that big behind me.ha You are such an inspiration, not just with your success but with how you have handled it. I am so glad to have you for a friend! That last picture of you is stunning too! And you're right, the expression says it all.
Now where the hell is my invite to that beach?lol
Wow, you're a rock star! Great pics. Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time. 🙂
Wow, what a great time. Love the pic of you and Sammy. Oh, and the beach!! What a gorgeous place. And can I just say, The Philippines really know how to appreciate authors!
How cool! It good your dad was with you to help you find that gigantic display!
Yes, I've seen them all already but I still love experiencing it through your eyes. And girl, you ARE a celebrity! Can't wait to see you tomorrow afternoon. We'll go easy on your back. But still, it's gonna be an EPIC 5 days!!
Now THAT'S a book tour! How exciting for you to see all of this unfold! I'm totally jealous -but in a good way. 🙂
Have fun at the conference and can't wait to hear all about it.
Such lovely pics that I don't mind seeing them twice! 🙂
Glad you had such an amazing time. Dang, I would have, too, were I in your shoes. Lucky you!!!
In Caribbean cooking, we have Adobo as well. Except it's a seasoning/marinade and not a method of preparation as it seems to be in the Philippines. Strange coincidence, but all yummy!
No idea if I said this on your Twitter (I've been absent-ish), but that LBD you're rocking during the signing looks awesome on you! Quite jealous of the beach pictures, not gonna lie. I'm glad you had such a great time, Jennifer!
Such great pictures. It looks like you had so much fun. YAY!!!!
OMG! So exciting! I had read your tweets while you were there, but I hadn't actually realized you were really SO FAR AWAY! lol. Anyway, I'm so happy everything went well there and that's awesome that you got to sign books there, and you appeared on the paper and that you went to those gorgeous beaches! Amazing!! WOOT!!
Forgot to say… I just love that pic that your dad took at the end of the trip!
I always love these travel posts!! How exciting! I love that beach… and "house of good energy" – so cool!
Oh, and forgot to say that I recommended Creep and Freak to one of my coworkers and she loved them. She keeps asking me when the third is coming out…
Nice article, thanks for the information.
Wow – looks like yo had a fab time. Bet it was hard coming home! You lined up for author events in the US and Canada, too?
Thanks so much for stopping by, guys! It was a whirlwind trip – and I hope to do it again next year. 🙂
Next year, girl! For sure!
Aw, I hate that we didn't get to meet up! Next year, okay? Don't make me hunt you down. 🙂
He is a textbook alpha male, fo sho.
Aw, thanks, David! And I wonder what your adobo tastes like? Bet it's just as yummy!
Hey DUO – nothing planned at the moment but I would to have a launch party at some point here for FREAK. Any chance you can make it? 😉
They do! I was treated SO WELL. It was hard to come home. 🙂
Haha, right? I might have missed it otherwise!
One of these days we need to meet! Let's figure something out!
Aw, thank you! That dress is from Banana Republic, my favorite store.
It was great, natural, unspoiled beach. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Want to come with? 🙂
YAY! You rock!
Thanks, Moni! It was an amazing trip. 🙂
It WAS an epic 5 days! I'm still recovering…
Thanks, girl!
Thank you! And we can go to that beach ANYTIME. Just say the word… 🙂
Thanks, Ian! It was a life-changing trip, that's for sure.
It was a great beach! I could live there, easy. 🙂
Thanks, Alex! First thing Nancy said was, "We gotta tweet a pic to Alex!" We'd love to meet you one of these days.
I had a great time, and Bouchercon was a blast, too. One of these days we need to meet at a conference!
Thanks, Gina! Yes, my chocolate disappeared. TWICE. So NOT cool. I got over it… barely. 😉
I'll send you a message through FB now…
Thanks, Charlie! Had a wonderful time, but it is good to be home.
Ha! Not quite, but I did enjoy my fifteen minutes!
Thanks, Mood! It was so much fun.
Thanks RaShelle! It was an amazing time!