Looking

Over a month ago, I started a book blog called Sultry, Steamy Reading. For all intents and purposes, I really did want the blog to grow in readership. I wanted to be a part of an online community whose members liked the same kinds of books I read.

 

For those who don’t know me too well, I love to read. I could stay up the whole night reading. I could finish one entire book in a night’s worth of reading. However, I consider reading my escape and stress reliever after all those hours of working hard and being in front of a computer. Therefore, I read mostly romance novels. I mean, I like all kinds of books, but the romance genre has given me what I  look for when I’m lying in bed and still awake way past my bedtime. It has given me a kind of satisfaction that I haven’t found in other genres.

 

That’s what I wanted for SSR. I wanted to find a group of book bloggers who read similar books as I do. I would say that I am halfway successful in getting the blog out. The twitter account I created for it has been getting messages and favorites from published authors. Its followers consist of authors, book tour companies, and other book bloggers. The blog stat is good. There’s still a long way to go, but it’s pretty good for me right now.

 

Which brings us to this moment. I realized that I may need another book blogger to share the blog with. There are just so many books to read out there and I won’t be able to keep up. At this rate, I’d be so behind that the books I put up won’t be new books anymore. I wish I had friends who were also into the romance genre as I am and also into blogging as I am. I also wish I’d meet a new friend online, and that we’d click, and we can set up SSR together.

 

Oh well, if you happen to come by this blog and read this and know of someone, please do refer them to me. I’d really like to expand my horizons, and I’m looking forward to meeting fellow book geeks.

Advertising

I’ve always wanted to own a book blog. I wanted to read books an blog about my reviews.

 

Well, I finally started one. It still barely has any readership, but I am patient. I will work on adding more content and promoting it, so it will eventually gain attention.

 

When I first started Chocolate High, my goal was just to have somewhere I can write my thoughts in. I did not plan for it to be successful at all. Well, it’s not really a huge success, but there are still people who come here regularly and I still have followers and gain new followers every now and then. When I was still part of a poetry community, Chocolate High was always featured an visited. Everything that happened on this blog is way beyond what I have initially imagined or aimed for it.

 

For me new book blog, I just hope that I get a few people to visit the blog and be loyal readers. I have goals and plans for it, and I hope I get to achieve even half of what I got for Chocolate High.

 

So, my beloved reader, I hope you find the time to drop by my book blog, Sultry Steamy Reading. It’s at http://sultrysteamyreading.url.ph. Follow the URL I wrote or click on this link as well. I hope to see you there.

Sunny Days

I’ve had a full day today, a really good day spent with the greatest friends any person can have.

People have often said that to have one friend for life is already a blessing. Well, consider me super blessed because I don’t just have one really great friend, I have several.

I spent lunch until the late afternoon hours with my ACE team friends. They are the bestest (if there ever was a word) people in the world. Everytime I hang out with them, I always have the best time. And yes, everytime we come together, all we ever do is talk.

Still, there’s something that could be said about people you connect with in an unexplainable level. I won’t say we are of the same wavelength because, hello, we’re definitely not.

I could never belong to the same wavelength as Marie, whose knowledge and experience as a professional trainer is beyond words. I love how I learn so many things from all her stories. And even those things I already know about, I still appreciate it coming from her because it means that I, at least, know something that someone like her also knows. She is so fun to be around. Even her subtle jabs don’t feel like jabs at all.

And then there’s Tessa, whose fierce sweetness is simply adorable. This girl who’s very brilliant in mathematics and follows the logical side of things is possibly the best kind of support system anyone can have. I’m not sure how many personal things she’s witnessed from every one of us, but yeah, she’s always a witness, always present, always stable.

There’ also Coleen, that sporty chick who can probably outrun all of our partners. Well traveled and well-read, she can also sing the high notes effortlessly. When I was new to the ACE team, I remember people saying that she was strict, intimidating and difficult to please. Boy, am I glad I got to her good side. She’s this loyal little princess who knows a little of evey freaking thing there is.

And our resident nice guy, Jayjay, who we all hope will find the love of his life and live happily ever after. All nice guys always get that, after all. This nice guy was blind to all our monkey business when he was our boss. Thank God for that. But he has since made up for his naivete regarding our secrets and dark sides.

Let’s not forget Janice, the one person we all make fun of because, well, she likes to make fun of herself too. But we all love her that way. Easily the prettiest out of all of us. And yes, my man, Jeffrey, is completely besotted with her. Lol.

Lastly, there are the partners. Come to think of it, since we all met, I think I’m the only one who hasn’t changed partners at all. It’s amazing to realize we’ve already known each other for quite some time now, considering we’ve seen partners come and go, new partners replacing the old ones in our tight little circle.

These are the only people I’d trust to talk about me behind my back. I trust them because I know that even if they talk about me, they’re not doing it maliciously or with the intent of making me look bad to other people. It’s just that as friends, we all know our strengths and weaknesses, and we all accept each other in spite of all those.

The day I joined the ACE team was a really lucky day for me because it led me to this path of having them as friends. Even to this day, when we all have different work lives, we still manage to come together every now and then. I’m absolutely blessed to have these people in my life.

Sun-Kissed!!!

You Are Bright Orange

Your brightness is open, alluring, and generous. You are always ready to spread some happiness around. You love to connect with people, especially when you are in a good mood. You like to uplift and inspire. You bubble with enthusiasm, but you know that there is a place and time for your energy. More than anything, you put people at ease. You are warm and welcoming. You are confident enough to tell a good story but also assured enough to just sit back and listen.

What Bright Color Are You?

Blogthings: 100’s of Fun, Free Quizzes!

This is Why “10 Things I Hate About You” is One of My All-Time Favorites

You Are The Taming of the Shrew
You are fiery and feisty. You speak your mind, and you are proud of your dazzling wit. You can be a bit of a skeptic at times. It takes you a while to warm up to new ideas and new people. You are a challenge, and you like a challenge in return. Your soul mate is also your playmate. While you are quite sharp tongued, your bark is worse than your bite. Deep down, you are quite sweet and agreeable.

What Shakespearean Play Are You?

Blogthings: 100’s of Fun, Free Quizzes!

Pick

My father used to say that all I ever wrote were love stories and that it wasn’t going to get me anywhere. He always felt like if I really had the gift of writing, I should write socially relevant things. Yes, that’s because he is so good at things like that, the subversive, the socially challenging and eye-opening things.

That’s not me, though.

I’m good at emotions, at least I like to believe so. That means, I’d be much better off writing love stories and other emotional pieces.

Speaking of stories, I am currently writing something. I’ve been working on it on and off for about a year now. I just don’t find enough time to concentrate on it, so everytime the urge hits me, I write as much as I can before I find myself pressed for time again.

As far as I can tell, I like it. I think it’s going to end up great. However, I do need someone to read through the things and chapters I’ve written and let me know if they are getting the exact vibe that I meant for them to get.

Unfortunately, the people I know either have busy lives, aren’t really that much into reading, or won’t appreciate the artistry that I need from them.

Anyway, I’ll maybe just keep on writing until I find someone who can help me pick my brain apart, or the story for that matter.

Jeffrey…

Remembrance

On December 14, 2019, I created my WordPress hosted blog, and for a time, it became the center of my universe.

It’s not anymore.

But that does not mean I do not love it as much as I used to. I still do.

For a time, that blog was me. All me. Everything that I was all about.

I’ve said goodbye to that blog several times. However, every now and then, I keep going back. I go back because this was a huge time in my life, when I thrived as a poet.

Like a favorite toy that you put down when a new one comes but still pick up when you need a little comfort. That’s how I feel about that blog.

So I’ve decided, while Chocolate High Chapter 2 is who I am now, I will never let go of the first one, the one who made me believe I can weave magic and stories with words, if I took the time to do so.

New

When I was younger, all I’ve ever wanted to do was write.

I wanted to be a writer.

I’m good at it. Not to brag or anything. I just know, writing is what I’m good at.

And I pursued it. For a while.

Until life happened.

Before long, so many other things became more important.

Work. Money. Reality.

I lost track. I lost my gift. I lost my passion.

I slowly became a robot. All work. A little play. A little vacation every now and then. But never any passion.

I’ve always seen myself to be the one who lived recklessly, the one who did not care about the world, the one who defied expectations. Unfortunately, I became ordinary. I became just another person who loved work more than life.

Yes, life happened. But I never got to live it.

Instead, I watched it happening, fighting it, making sure I get to be the last one standing at the end.

But that’s not the point of life. Not at all.

In all my efforts of making sure I got out of it unscathed, I wasted precious time. Time I could have spent on things that really made me happy – words, ideas, romance, artistry, inspiration.

But no more. I am not going to watch from the sidelines anymore.

Today is a new day.

I am going to live again. I am going to write again. I am going to challenge everyone around me again.

And I will live. I will cry and laugh and scream and shut up. But most of all, I WILL WRITE.

The moment we tell ourselves that we are owed something for the things we’ve done is the moment we lose our true value and purpose.

Word!