JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

Must finish novel by August. Lockdown very helpful, but having to stop periodically to meet deadlines halts my momentum, and writing a novel is all about momentum. So I have decided to take a month off from professional commitments and allow myself the luxury of doing only one thing.

I am on vacation from InterAksyon, BusinessWorld and the Philippine Star, but will continue blogging for my own amusement. The freedom of being able to watch a tv show without reviewing it in my head! Life as life and not as research! You can reach me in Comments.

Me and Pepe Diokno (With our advertising team Crizza and Mick at the back). Yes, it’s an odd combination, but in a good way or a bad way?

Human, cat, Roni, book.

Thanks for coming to my personal appearance at the human’s book-signing last Saturday. You can see all the pictures at

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Meanwhile, we must check our Minister of Propaganda Allan into Camera360 rehab for abusing what Deo calls “beauty by filtration”.

Also, thanks to Evan for figuring out that the reason I was listless and refused to come out of my carrier was because I was wearing a harness. I hate harnesses! A Drogon is not a slave.

And thanks to Cibo for letting us have the book-signings at their cafes. Catch the book-signings later this year at Cibo in Gateway, Greenhills, and Robinson’s Magnolia. I will be present if the malls allow cats.

Tickets are now available at the Ayala Museum reception counter. Reservations are available through online payment at their BPI account 0011-1490-14; email the deposit slip to pena.jd@ayalafoundation.org.

Schedule:

Saturday, 2 August, 3-5pm: Don’t Be A Writer. The horrors, terrors, aggravations, anxieties, pleasures and eventual rewards of the writing life.

Saturday, 6 September, 3-5pm: Game of Thrones, Fantasy Epics and Geek Civilization. The hottest show on television, based on the books by “the American Tolkien” George R.R. Martin, is much more than kings, swords, wars, traitors, dragons, sorcerers, and direwolves. It draws on real history, myth and the classics of fantasy fiction. Look under the dragon’s scales with other science-fiction and fantasy nerds.

Saturday, 4 October, 3-5pm: The World Domination Report. Exactly 20 years ago, we unveiled the Filipino campaign to take over the world via Yaya. Listen to the progress report on our global colonization plan.

Fees:
Adult Pass: Php350/lecture, Php950 for the three lectures
Discounted Pass: Pho250/lecture, Php650 for the three. The discounted rate applies to students, teachers, senior citizens and Ayala Museum members.

The fee includes an Ayala Museum Full-Day Pass and an exclusive e-book by Jessica Zafra (a different e-book per lecture).

For inquiries contact pena.jd@ayalafoundation.org or visit the Ayala Museum on Facebook.

Buy your copies of The Stories So Far (fiction, hardcover, Php399) and Geeks Vs Jocks (essays, hardcover, Php399) at the Library of Babel online store, or right at the venue, Cibo on the third floor of Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, Makati. We’ll be signing books from 2pm to 4pm.

Get the special price of Php699 if you buy both books.

* * * * *

Drogon Q&A

Q. You’re an all-white cat with blue eyes. Are you deaf?
A. Ask me again and I’ll bite your face off.
Q. Can we have our picture taken with you?
A. Yes, but don’t attempt to touch me because if I take a sudden dislike to you I may bite your face off. My designated yayas will be there to hold me for photos.
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. Grooming and chasing my toys.
Q. Do you have any messages from your human?
A. Don’t ask her how she is. She knows that you are concerned and mean well and thanks you for it, but she is tired of answering questions about her health. It has been a month since she left the hospital. If she weren’t feeling all right, she would not be having a book-signing.
Q. Where are you from?
A. Duh, Old Valyria.
Q. Shouldn’t you be named Viserion since you are creamy white?
A. Who wants to be named after that wuss?
Q. Will your human be doing other book-signings?
A. Maybe, maybe not. To be sure, attend her talks at the Ayala Museum.

Behind Saffy: A handwoven rectangular bag in a banig weave from Antique. Rene is having some book bags (smaller than this) made in this design; they will be available in a few weeks.

Saffy reminds you that we’re having another pop-up book sale and signing at Cibo on the second floor of Shangri-La Mall at Mandaluyong on Saturday, 28 June 2014 at 2-4pm.

You can buy your books there at Php399 for one and Php699 for both, or order them at The Library of Babel online store.