Author Interview: G.M. Coronel

We are lucky enough to interview one of the horror writers in the Philippines. Tragic Theater which caught the attention not only the readers but also the writers of different news paper. The success of the book is at its talented author who spent more than 1 year to write the nerve cracking book.

1. Can you please tell us something about you?

I’m a first-time writer without any formal training in creative writing.  My regular job is with an office in Makati.  But when I get home, the writer in me takes over as I work some more over my manuscript.

2. How the idea of this novel first got into your mind?

I’m quite familiar with the history of the Manila Film Center and the numerous supernatural occurrences that have happened inside.  A simple question of “what if” gave me an idea of a plot for a novel.

3. Can you tell what the book is all about?

It’s about a group of spirit communicators who attempted to exorcise the Film Center of its resident ghosts.  During their quest, something terribly wrong happens and…

4. Who or what are your inspirations while writing this novel?

My family is my inspiration.

5. The book has a second book, does it also have a third one?

The second book is the sequel to Tragic Theater. The third book that I plan to write will be a different story altogether and set in another location.

6. Did you really planned that the novel will have second book and so on?

The story of Tragic Theater is actually in two parts.  The second book will answer all the questions you may have with the first.

7. Many newspaper articles are featuring your book, as an author, how does it feels like?

The experience is totally new to me and it’s thrilling to see the fruits of your labor get this kind of attention.

8. What is your main goal in writing this novel?

I like horror and there are stories I imagine that I’d like to share through my writing.

9. How long does it takes you to finish your novel?

I began to write Tragic Theater in March 2003 and finished the first draft in January 2004.  As for book 2, I started right after Tragic Theater came out in October 2009 and I aim to finish it before 2010 ends.

10. Lastly, are you planning to write future book? book of different genre? or will remain in horror novels?

Yes, I plan to write as much books as I can.  For now, I’d like to stick to the horror genre.

Thank you to G Coronel for entertaining my questions.

In My Mailbox -4-

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It features books that you bought, borrowed or received from somebody in a week. To join the meme, visit her blog.

Finally I got it! Tragic Theater by G.M Coronel is a Philippine published book. It was a horror novel. Of course it was named Tragic :) I stumbled upon the fan page of this novel in facebook. First I thought I won't read it because it is a horror novel. And if I read this, this is my first horror novel ever read in  my reading history. I saw the comments of different readers on facebook. They say it was totally scary. Some said that they cannot sleep because images of ghost from the book roam in their minds. From that day, I become curious. What kind of writing this book have? How it is?

Using my only left P500. I bought from National Bookstore for 200. Now I'm very poor and need to build up my wallet again.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

The Alchemyst is the first book in the series of ''The Secrets of Immortal Nicholas Flamel'' by Michael Scott, a very successful author which originated from Ireland.

I borrowed this from my classmate without knowing what really it is all about. She sometimes irritate me because everyday, when she meet me "read the Alchemyst, I'm sure you will like it". Just for her to stop and I accept her favor and read it. It took me about two weeks to read because of hectic school schedule. But two days ago, after I reached the middle of the book, my hands, eyes and mind are glued to it.

The Alchemyst is a contemporary fantasy which opens in modern day San Francisco when brother and sister, Josh and Sophie discover that the owner of the bookstore where Josh works is the immortal French alchemist, Nicholas Flamel. Flamel and his wife, Perenelle, are the guardians of the Book of Abraham which they have protected for centuries. This is a collection of the most powerful spells in the world. When Dr John Dee discovers the Flamels' whereabouts, he attacks and snatches the book. Josh and Sophie intervene to help Flamel, but now they too are being hunted by Dee and creatures that predate humanity.

First of all, I want to tell you that the book is not narrated by Nicholas Flamel or any characters in the book. It is the author, Micheal Scott or maybe a Persona. The book is written in a movie like sequence. You know, when you are watching from a scene it suddenly turn to another scene. For example you are watching lovers on a bay then suddenly the scene change to a store. The book is like that. It is one of the benefits of having a non-character narrator. The story is not only focus to one person. And what the best advantage of this, is that you understand the details you should know. Chapters in the book may also focus on one person then another in the next chapter. But it doesn't mess the book, it just made it fantastic!

The story is about Nicholas Flamel and the Codex, also known as The Book of Abraham the Mage. The codex contain spells beyond imagination. It can change the whole world. Dr. John Dee is the antagonist here. He wants to get the Codex to return the Dark Elders. He get the book on an attack to Flamel but his worker, Josh, a teenage which is the twin of Sophie, grab some pages from the book. Dee flee triumphantly but soon noticed that the book is incomplete. The most needed spell is missing. He then chase Flamel, Sophie and Josh who ally with The Goddess with Three faces, Scathach, and The Witch of Endor. With Flamel knowing a prophecy in the book about the Twins that will save the world, he then focuses on Awakening the Twin's magical powers and let them learn the Five Elements.

The characters in this book are drawn from real people and mythological figures. Most of the details about them in the book are real. Except for the twins Sophie and Josh which is fictional. This idea of getting real figures as the characters make a very fantastic influence in the book.

Nicholas Flamel and Perenelle Flamel are real people and real husband and wife. They lived in Paris. In stories, it said that Nicholas bought a book, a 21 page book known as the Codex. It is written in unknown language so He and Perenelle made a journey to translate the book. When they came back to Paris, they are very rich. Rumors said that the Flamels discovered how to turn ordinary metal to gold and Immortality. When they died, robbers went to their tombs but they didn't find they body. Did they died? That is the question that circled Europe. There are some accounts of sightings of Nicholas in Europe.

About the book, it was a master piece. Full of excitement and magical settings. Scott beautifully mixed the old times with the modern era. He blended the two to create a modern world but still the ancient lives in it. It has mythological features. Most books contain the Greek Gods and Goddesses but this book contained the least known and probably the oldest characters in myths and legends. It brings new discoveries. When I'm reading it, I'm in front of my computer because I search some of the characters. I simple don't know them. The involvement of these figures means the involvement of magic. Both good and evil magic. Alchemy, Sorcery and Necromancy. The reason why fantasy is my favorite is because it enable my imagination a lot and create new ideas.

If you read this book, you will want for more. The ending is sooooo Hanging! You will really want to read the second book to know what will happen next. The ending is not actually an ending. It is the start of the second book that is why it is hanging.

I simply love this book. I'm guilty for refusing my classmate's offer in the first place.

My rating: 5 Outstanding

Article a Week! -- Why I don't lend my books?

Yes, I'm one of the massive number of lend-haters. Well, not totally. There are many reason why I don't lend my book. I love my books and I want to preserve them as long as I could. I don't want to see them like those old dictionaries in libraries which are full of stress marks, and some are worn out. I still lend my books to my friends but very few of them can. . .

They don't take care of it >:)

---I spend at least 30 minutes or more to cover my books with plastics covers. I really cut the plastic as straight as possible, tape them as neat and possible and cover the book as tight as possible that you will not notice it has cover on it. Well, I successful to do that with not more than 10 of my books. I really don't want to see the covers with folding marks. They ruin the good image of the cover. I also keep away drinks or food that might spill by accident and stain the pages. And here comes the borrowers and give back my book with full of folding marks and chocolate stains in the pages. He is my friend and I cannot just simply say to him "How dare you make my books look like this?" Yes I'm very friendly :) hehe!

I see them store my books like a trash >:)

I have a friend which ask me if she can borrow my Lightning Thief book and I said yes, she can. So I'm very happy that we enjoy same passion for greek mythology since I read the book. Then one day, we, barkada, decided to watch a horror movie in there house. So we watch, got scared and eat a lot. Then I said if I can see her laptop so I can go online and she said it's upstairs in her bedroom. I climb the stairs and see my LYING ON THE FOOT STEPS! And it is at the center of the stairs. Anyone can step on it. Worse if her/his feet or slippers have something underneath that can stain the cover. I got the book and place it together with her other books and say to her to never do that again. Especially if it is only a borrowed thing.

Bookmarks shouldn't be a tons of paper >:)

We as students have a lot of paperworks. And we are very fond of putting a lot of papers in the pages of a books. But I saw one of my friends to place almost 50 pages of short bond paper at the middle of my book. That cannot be a book mark of course. It can destroy the binding. Unfortunately that the book he borrowed has a very weak binding. He can do that to all school books but please not in my books.

Now, when someone ask me to borrow a book. I recall all memories I can recall about him/her borrowing my book and how he/she treated it. If I can't remember something bad, then I say YES but if something bad happened in the past, my best reason is "I'm Sorry but I will reread it for my blog"

Teaser Tuesdays: The Alchemyst

Yes it is not Tuesday. Recently I found Should be Reading Blog and found out about this meme. I can't wait for tuesday. So I'm sharing to you some lines in my current read, The Alchemyst by Michael Scott.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

When saw Hekate's lips twitch in what might have been a smile and the Morrigan stagger and then step back, he began to realize that here, in her own Shadowrealm, the Goddess with Three Faces was simple too strong for them

The book was really amazing. Full of history and myths and legends. Powers that beyond human imagination. Fortunately I already bought the second book and looking forward to read it this day.