With the success of “Paghilom,” I’m now back to the literary scene with my latest work, “Pagsibol.”
Before talking about my new book, I want to express my gratitude to my friends and readers who have supported Paghilom. It all began in 2021, and within a year, “Paghilom” found its way onto the shelves of many readers nationwide. It has become a bestseller both in National Book Store and Lifebooks’ Shopee Store online. The overwhelming support, with over 5,000 copies sold, has truly been humbling and inspiring.
So, what is “Pagsibol”?
“Pagsibol” is a collection of poetry and prose that has themes of self-growth and the process of embracing one’s season. At its core lies the metaphor of blossoming flowers. In Filipino, “Pagsibol” draws the imagery of a seed evolving into a flourishing plant, symbolizing growth and transformation.
My inspiration for “Pagsibol” came from a period of feeling lost and disconnected post-pandemic. That time, I wasn’t quite sure of my next steps in life. There were moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. I feel like everything around me seemed so unfamiliar.
Yet, through some reflections and lots of alone time, I came to realize that every phase of life serves a purpose—that even in darkness, there exists the promise of light and growth. This realization forms the essence of “Pagsibol.”
The Process
Looking into the creation process of “Pagsibol,” I aimed to craft a collection that not only motivates but also instills hope and resilience in its readers. It is a reminder to embrace the ever-changing seasons of life with courage and grace.
Regarding the cover design, I entrusted the talented Kuya Dar (@darmurilloart) to capture the essence of the book. He came up with vibrant illustrations of indigenous Philippine flowers such as sampaguita, waling-waling, and rafflesia. Fun fact: not all rafflesia variants are stinky!
Realizations After Self-Publishing Again
Reflecting on my experience of self-publishing for the third time, I believe that I’ve focused on essential aspects of the process. I focused on selling the book instead of other merch. While I still offer freebies like bookmarks and postcards, I opted for more cost-effective solutions for items like stickers. Additionally, I’ve embraced a better approach to marketing, adapting to changes in social media algorithms to reach a more audience.
I have so many challenges in choosing what platform to use to sell my books. Despite these challenges, I remain committed to delivering my work to readers through other channels instead of the orange app. Now, I am using my Facebook page to sell Pagsibol. I collect orders via private messages and collect some orders via Google Forms. Though this takes more time, this approach is the best option for me.
I hope Pagsibol will be a source of inspiration to my readers just like Paghilom. 🙂 Thank you for your continued support in my craft. I hope you pre-order my book, too!
Congratulations!