All Posts By

Jay E. Tria

Writing Now

#WriteBreakupSongsAbout ‘That Thing Called Closure’ on Buqo!

It all began when One Direction released Perfect. I’m not kidding.

A writing prompt and lots of fangirl moments later, I discovered Fool’s Gold, and Nino and Suze‘s story went from there. If you’ve read Songs of Our Breakup, the first book in my Playlist series, you would have met/liked/loved (?)/wanted to punch Nino already, the band’s drummer and resident flirt.

In this #TalesfromtheMetro #WriteBreakupSongsAbout story, Nino and Suze go on a walking tour along Singapore river, to try and say the things that you just couldn’t say on the phone.

Nino isn’t built for long distance relationships.

He should have told Suze that when she decided to leave Manila to take that work assignment in Canada. Being a drummer for popular rock band Trainman meant Nino was surrounded by fan girls all the time, and sure enough, he was the idiot who made the mistake of kissing one of them. The least he could do was admit this to Suze, and deal with their phone call breakup.

Weeks later, the band is in Singapore for a music festival, and Nino finds out that Suze is there too. Is this his chance to see her again for that thing called ‘closure’? Or is this the part where he tries to win her back? Either way, what the hell, he’s going to find out.

Head on over to Buqo.ph and get the story for only P15 🙂

Use the hashtags #TalesfromtheMetro and #WriteBreakupSongsAbout to find more short reads!

Writing Now

#romanceclass Podcast Episode 8: Finding X by Miles Tan

Rain scenes are great. Rain scenes read by Gio and Rachel are even more awesome.

Episode 8 of the #romanceclass podcast is another live recording from Filipino Readercon! YAY! In this excerpt from Miles Tan‘s Finding X, Rachel Coates is Carlisle, and Gio Gahol is Matteo, two awkward geeks stuck inside a dark car that was being pelted by rain. Shirts get wet, shirts get changed, blushes spread on cheeks. Lots of awesome. Continue Reading

Writing Now

#romanceclass Podcast Episode 7: The Boyfriend Backtrack by Dawn Lanuza

You really had to be there. But if you weren’t, well too bad. Hehe. But the #romanceclass podcast gives you the next best thing.

Episode 7 of the #romanceclass podcast features a scene from The Boyfriend Backtrack by Dawn Lanuza. Gio Gahol (as Chase) and Rachel Coates (as Regina) performed this scene at Filipino Readercon last year. And it got us swooning so bad, we had to stuff our fists into our mouths to keep from erupting into a mess of feels. It really is a different kind of experience seeing Gio and Rachel perform live. Listen to the recording below, and hopefully you’d want to join us on the next live reading? Okay? Yay, GREAT!

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Writing Now

#romanceclass Podcast Episode 6: Just for the Record by Six de los Reyes

This is one of those things you don’t consume before breakfast. Fair warning.

Episode 6 of the #romanceclass podcast features feels like you’ve never heard it before. It’s whimsical, it’s bittersweet, and it’s concise in how it delivers that lightning punch to your gut. So, so good. Gio Gahol reads as Isaiah, and Rachel Coates reads as Rhys. So yeah, happy Valentine’s day! Hehe. Continue Reading

Writing Now

#romanceclass Podcast Extra: Interview with Mina V. Esguerra, Author of Never Just Friends

The #romanceclass podcast comes with a few extras! Listen to an interview below with Mina V. Esguerra, the Queen of Feels and author of Never Just Friends.  Listen to her talk about her thoughts and feelings (there were many) about the podcast season that started as a dream and an experiment. Get the latest scoop too about her upcoming books 🙂 Continue Reading

Writing Now

#romanceclass Podcast Episode 5: Cover (Story) Girl by Chris Mariano

I’m late, I know! But if you’re subscribed to the #romanceclass podcast, then you would have already listened to the episode featuring Cover (Story) Girl by Chris MarianoIf you haven’t subscribed OR listened to the podcast yet, then both are just a couple of clicks away. So, go click!

In this episode, Rachel Coates plays Min Hee, while Gio Gahol plays Gio (hehe). And also a waiter. If that doesn’t get you curious, then check out the blurb below: Continue Reading