The 28th Manila Book Fair

Visit the Manila Book Fair at the World Trade Center from Aug. 29 - Sep. 2, 2007. Heartbreak is displayed in the Asean Book Publishers Association (ABPA) booth. Special discount given just for the fair!

First Love News

Cozy Reads Publishing is proud to announce that the following stories have been selected for our First Love collection:

Project Uno - Elyss Punsalan
That Familiar Hand - Celestine Marie G. Trinidad
Room 101 - Belen Morabella
Summer Interlude - Chona Suner-Narvadez
A Certain Quality - I. P. Goze
A Kiss Is a Kiss Is a Kiss - Karen Manalastas
Whatever Happened To? - Sally Magdiwang
Meeting at San Agustin - Ana Maria S. Villanueva
Love Digitally - Jason Paul C. Laxamana
The Seatmate - Raymund P. Reyes
Note to Self - Isabel Reoja

If your story wasn't chosen, don't be disappointed. It's not you. It's us. Really. So keep on writing and try your luck for our next anthology, Match Made.
Check previous posts in this blog or email us at cozyreads@gmail.com for more details.

Hit Us Until July 15, 2007! Match Made Deadline Extended

When our first book, Heartbreak, was launched at the Singapore World Book Fair, a lot of people teasingly asked us if we were masochists. We're starting to get a sneaking suspicion we might be. It is difficult enough selecting which wonderful stories to include in our third collection without extending the deadline and adding stories to choose from. But we want to torture ourselves further. Hit us with your Match Made stories until July 15, 2007. Bring on the pain!

On a saner note, this is our way of thanking everyone who has shared our company's vision. We want to keep our Match Made anthology open just a tad bit longer for authors who might not have heard of our call for submission until recently.

New, established writers compile heartbreak stories in one cozy read

It all began with a bag of chips, a box of Kleenex, an album of woeful music and much wailing. What began as a support session for the broken-hearted – me, in this case -- turned into a full-blown discussion of how come most romance book heroines almost always managed to jump into the sack with the next guy to get over their currently failed love lives. Maybe it had something to do with them being fair-skinned, blonde or brunette or red-haired. One thing’s for sure -- none of them could speak pidgin Ilocana like me.

And so we started Cozy Reads Publishing. Our ever-dependable and accomplished editor, Cel Coscolluela (a four-time Palanca awardee, no less!) helped us as and we searched the archipelago for stories that will echo the Filipino experience of dealing with the comedy and tragedy of a broken heart in contemporary times. We gave as much credence to new voices as to established prizewinners. In the end, we chose ten writers originating from Cebu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga and Metro Manila whose works were fresh and multi-faceted.

The end-result of this project is Heartbreak, a book that is sized specifically to fit in a girl’s bag to help her in killing time (or the pains of a broken heart). Some of the stories like Leave-taking from Zamboanga’s Jonathan Jimena Siason, Resurfacing from Cebu’s Ryan Ben Gabby Taborada, and In Bits and Pieces from Cagayan de Oro’s Faye Ilogon are so subtle that your don’t realize just how much your heart wells up with emotion. Then there are the stories that are cathartic in their ability to amuse you like Carljoe Javier’s Sometimes the Ears Don’t Fit, Chinggay Labrador’s Waxing Poetic, Sally Magdiwang’s Highly Confidential: The Electronic Journal of Ana Banana, and I.P. Goze’s Adios Con Leche!. And then we have Ana Maria Villanueva’s Buried Treasure on Casiana Street, E.C. De Los Reyes’ Letters to Joaquin, and Sharleen Banzon’s No Girlfriend Since Birth -- more stories that will leave you feeling poignant as you analyze the affairs of the heart.

Just recently (from May 25-June 3), we proudly exhibited the talents of our ten writers at the Singapore World Book Fair at the Suntec International Convention Center under the booth of the ASEAN Book Publisher’s Association (ABPA). Although we were first time publishers, we had no doubts that our company’s Filipino writers are world-class but it was wonderful to get our colleagues’ recognition when they chose Heartbreak along with Rex Publishing’s Speak Up to represent the Philippines in a book launch that featured the other Asian countries’ two entries.

After the launch, we met other publishers, distributors and booksellers from the Asia Pacific region (including Australia and New Zealand). We were bursting with Pinoy pride as we told them about our authors’ talents. We were more than happy to deconstruct some of their notions. For example, some of them did not realize that Filipinos wrote in English; or that we have professional OFWs who are doctors, engineers, nurses and teachers who are avid book readers. We also glowed in the praise we received for our book’s special paper and emboss-laminated, vibrant, purple cover that makes it a wonderful gift.

We often share our goal – especially with our writers -- of seeing Filipino books receive equal shelf-space and recognition abroad that their foreign counterparts enjoy in our local bookstores. As we negotiated the possibility of exporting our books, we feel overjoyed that our dreams and hard work are finally paying off. Who knew Heartbreak could be this successful?

But watch out. Next time, we’ll be talking about First Love.

Visit http://www.cozyreads.com/ and http://www.cozyreads.multiply.com/. Heartbreak is available at Booktopia, Fully Booked, National Bookstore, http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph/ and Powerbooks.

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This article was published in The Freeman (Cebu) under the Entertainment Section on June 11, 2007.

Philippine’s “Heartbreak” Launched in Singapore

Heartbreak, a collection of romantic short stories edited by Palanca awardee Cel Coscolluela, was exhibited at the Singapore World Book Fair from May 25-June 3, 2007 at the Suntec International Convention Center. Along with Rex Publishing’s Speak Up, Heartbreak was chosen to represent the Philippines in a book launching hosted by the ASEAN Book Publisher’s Association (ABPA). Cozy Reads Publishing gave copies of Heartbreak to ABPA President, Mr. Thanachai, and Singapore’s Minister of Education Mr. Gan Kim Yong.

Heartbreak showcases some new literary voices alongside prizewinning authors in a unique mix of funny and tragic stories on matters of the heart. With writers originating from Cebu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga and Metro Manila, each narrative embodies a distinctly Filipino experience in contemporary times. Well-written and brimming with wit and wisdom, the collection proves itself a fine and enjoyable read. Heartbreak is available at Booktopia, Fully Booked, National Bookstore and Powerbooks.

Cozy Reads at World Book Fair 2007

Cozy Reads will be joining the World Book Fair at Singapore from May 25 - May 29. Please tell your friends to visit us at the Philippine Booth. Venue will be at Suntec International Convention Center, Level 4.

Match Made Date Set: June 1, 2007

At last! After months of teasers, we have finally set a date for “Match Made”. We invite you to share with us your original short works of fiction on what happens when you finally find yourself on the relationship wagon. Is the road bumpy? Is the travel smooth? Or – heaven forbid – are you on the wrong trip? Send in your submissions to cozyreads@gmail.com by June 1, 2007. We’ll be waiting with bated breaths!

Submission guidelines reminder: All contributions must be encoded in 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced on an 8 1/2 x 11 inches page with one-inch margins on all sides. Minimum no. of pages is 6, maximum is 10. Don't forget to come up with a catchy title. Authors of the selected stories will be duly compensated. Check out www.cozyreads.blogspot.com for more information.

Cozy Conversations on “Heartbreak”

What to do this Valentine’s? Join us this Friday, February 9, from 6-9 pm at Booktopia near Eastwood, Libis for Cozy Conversations – an engaging evening chatting about “Heartbreak”, our new book featuring short stories from ten of the country’s promising and prolific writers. Get a chance to meet some of the authors and have your book signed. Mingle and get into intimate discussions with other book lovers. Who knew “Heartbreak” could be this cozy?

CHECK LOCATION MAP at: http://booktopia.com.ph/about/

HEARTBREAK NEWS

Cozy Reads Publishing is proud to announce that the following stories have been selected for our Heartbreak collection:

Sometimes the Ears Don't Fit - Carljoe Javier
Waxing Poetic - Chinggay Labrador
Leave-taking - Jonathan Jimena Siason
Letters to Joaquin - E.C. De Los Reyes
No Girlfriend Since Birth - Sharleen Banzon
Highly Confidential: The Electronic Journal of Ana Banana - Sally Magdiwang
Adios Con Leche! - I.P. Goze
Buried Treasure on Casiana Street - Ana Maria S. Villanueva
Resurfacing - Ryan Ben Gabby Taborada
In Bits and Pieces - Faye Ilogon


If your story wasn't chosen, don't be disappointed. It's not you. It's us. Really. So keep on writing and try your luck for our next two anthologies: First Love and Match Made. Visit www.cozyreads.blogspot.com or email us at cozyreads@gmail.com for more details.

First Love, Second Deadline

They say that love is sweeter the second time around. The same is true for deadlines. Due to insistent public demand, we will be accepting First Love stories until January 15, 2007.

For those who were lucky enough to have been inspired by the muses, thank you for your submissions. You might want to start working on stories regarding the ups, downs and roundabouts of relationships for our "Match Made" collection.

Submission guidelines reminder: All contributions must be encoded in 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced on an 8 1/2 x 11 inches page with one-inch margins on all sides. Minimum no. of pages is 6, maximum is 10. Don't forget to come up with a catchy title. Authors of the selected stories will be duly compensated.

Please email us at cozyreads@gmail.com for more info.

Deadline for 'First Love' Extended!

Due to insistent public demand we are extending our deadline for 'First Love' stories to January 15, 2007.

Deadlines Alert

The end is near! Deadline for submissions of “Heartbreak” stories is on September 30, 2006. That’s less than 48 hours so crank up on the coffee. But if you think you can rest after, you’ve got another think coming. You have roughly a month left to work on “First Love” stories for our second collection. So lock your door and don’t come out until you have successfully written a caffeine induced, cupid-inspired story from deep within your sleep-deprived soul. Deadline is on October 31, 2006. You can reach us at cozyreads@gmail.com or visit us at http://cozyreads.blogspot.com. Good luck!

Looking for "First Love"

We want to hear all about your first love! But only if it's imagined…or at least fictionalized to protect the innocent (i.e. you). Send us your original short stories on that initial (bitter?) sweet encounter with cupid's arrow at cozyreads@gmail.com.

Submission guidelines:
All contributions must be encoded in 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced on an 8 ½” x 11” page with one-inch margins on all sides. Minimum number of pages is 6, maximum is 10.

Authors of the selected stories will be duly compensated. Check previous posts for additional info or email us at cozyreads@gmail.com.

The deadline for submission of "First Love" stories is October 31, 2006.

Heartbreak Extended until September 30

Many thanks to everyone who submitted their "Heartbreak" stories and those who helped spread the word. We received quite a number of emails requesting an extension of our deadline. If you're one of those writers, take heart! We are now accepting contributions until September 30, 2006.

If you have already sent in a story, we still have two more collections waiting in the wings so keep on writing. Put a fresh spin on "First Love" or captivate us with what goes on when you finally find yourself in a relationship for "Match Made". The same rules for "Heartbreak" apply. Check out our previous posts for more info. You may email us at cozyreads@gmail.com.

Spread the word!

We're still looking for more heartbreak stories. Please help spread the word by posting this image in your blogs or websites:



Right click > Save Picture As... > Then upload in your own sites!

Or, you can simply post the link to our blog: http://cozyreads.blogspot.com.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are you open to poetry submissions?
As of now, no. Our priority is short fiction, with our sights set on eventually coming out with full-length novels. Publishing poetry may be a direction we can take, but not in the near future.

2. How about essays?
That's also not in our immediate plans, but you're welcome to submit creative non-fiction in case your works can change our minds.

3. So what kind of stories are you looking for?
First and foremost, they should be original and unpublished, and have not yet been submitted for publication elsewhere.

Secondly, they should fit the theme, which is "heartbreak" for the anthology we are currently working on. The treatment is up to you (it can be comic, tragic, sarcastic or however; the fresher the better), but we will prioritize realistic stories that make for light reading.

As for audience ratings, our target market is women aged 18-35, so we're open to "R-18" pieces--just not too graphic, please. We will likewise prioritize stories that ultimately reflect modern Filipino values.

4. In what language should the stories be written?
English, please.

5. Will you attribute the stories to their authors?
Yes! We will use your byline. We might put in your short bio too, and maybe a picture.

6. In what format should I submit my manuscript? And how?
Submit your manuscript via email by sending it to cozyreads@gmail.com. All manuscripts should be encoded in MS Word, double-spaced and in 12pt Times New Roman. There should be one-inch margins on all sides.

On your email message, please give us your full name and contact number, and a little background information in the format below:

Name:
Age:
School/Company:
Degree/Field:
Hobbies and interests:
Quirks:
Pet Peeves:
The worst break-up line you've ever heard:

7. How much do you pay per piece? And when do authors get paid?
As a start-up, our current rate is P3,000 per story. We'll have your cheques signed and ready upon printing, before distribution.

8. Can I start sending stories for the other themes as well?
Why not? Our next two anthologies will have the following themes: "First Love" and "Match Made" (stories about the trials, tribulations, and joys of couplehood).

9. Will you be kind enough to inform me if you've accepted my story? Or *sniff* rejected it?
We'll try our best to keep you updated via email. You can also check with this blog for additional updates.

We need your "Heartbreak" stories!

We're a new publishing company on the lookout for original short works of fiction in English that are light, straightforward, and make for enjoyable reading.

For our first short story collection, the theme is "Heartbreak." Send your contributions to cozyreads[at]gmail[dot]com, or email us for more information.

(And yes, we know getting your heart broken can be hilarious too--at least at one point, and maybe if you're the morbid sort--so we're also open to stories that deal with heartbreak, uh, differently.)

Heads up for the next book collections! We also need stories on the following: (1) the joys and woes of "First Love" and (2) finally getting into that much-coveted relationship--and maybe finding out that it's a "Match Made" in heaven, or in hell, or, even worse, in relationship limbo.

Submission guidelines: All contributions must be encoded in 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced on an 8 1/2 x 11 inches page with one-inch margins on all sides. Minimum no. of pages is 6, maximum is 10. Authors of the selected stories will be duly compensated.

The deadline for submission of "Heartbreak" stories is July 12, 2006.