//halu-halo dot net//

New year, new cover

Now that it's a little more than four months to publication, there has been more action behind the scenes. I'm working diligently on SUNSET IN MANILA BAY (out spring 2020), and I'm feeling the crunch of its deadline looming. There's a lot to be done with this book, quite a bit of research even if only a small part of it is in the past (that is a teaser!). But mostly, it's the pressure of getting all of it right--the history, the feeling, the intentions of these characters. 

But something else was brewing!

My publisher has graciously given me a new cover for THE KEY TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER (out 4/23/2019)! It's a different direction, but I think you'll agree that it is utterly beautiful, and lovely, and cheerful, and sassy, and fabulous, and exactly like my de la Rosa sisters.

And the sense of place...sighs. 

Are you ready?

Because my hope is that this beautiful book will grace your shelves and e-readers. That it will be taken to the beach with you, that it will be found in the library, and wrapped up in a gorgeous little bow for birthdays and under the Christmas tree. <3 

takes deep breath 

Ta-daaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! 

Have you preordered?

http://www.tifmarcelo.com/the-key-to-happily-ever-after.html

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend everyone!

 

2019 here we come

I'm sitting in my pajamas, feeling the hangover of a late night. As an early riser, New Years Eve is always a little bit of a struggle, with my internal clock reminding me at 9, then 10, and then 11 pm that my body had reached its limits. But I held on somehow last night, and welcomed the year with my family all in the master bedroom, camped out on our queen bed. 

It was exactly the way I wanted to usher the new year, and to say goodbye to the hectic perspective-making 2018.

Was 2018 a long year for you? It was for me, in that while the year in hindsight felt short, every day was long and protracted. As a military family, our path eschewed significantly in the spring, when we didn't move when we thought we would, changing the course of the last part of the year. We sold one house, are in the process of selling another, and bought and moved into a new home. (writing all that kind of made me gulp) Each child hit some kind of major growth spurt or change, and it challenged me to come back to basics, for lack of a better term. I've always said that if there was anything that kept my humility in check, it was my children, and this year proved it. I also started a super part time job, a very very fun and rewarding one, but required a family weekly schedule change. The acceptance of the lack of control, in the garnering of Faith, and in the deepening of hope was never more true than this year. 

2018 was also the year of straight-up writing. Coming from 2017 with three published books to one year of none was a bit of a transition. My self-discipline was challenged during my everyday practice of getting words on paper. Since writing is a singular sport (whereas authoring is truly a team effort), self-doubt crept in more often than I care to admit, reminding me much like the time before I published my first book. 

But it wasn't all as dower as I make it seem to be, because with the challenges of this year came immeasurable joy: Our beautiful home that has good vibes felt by all of us in it. Stability in a world that is not. A family unit that is becoming stronger as it grows, with now three headstrong and very different teenagers and a very cute and opinionated third grader. A book deal for 2020, with a manuscript (almost done!) that has required for me to examine history I realized I knew so little about. And the deepening of friendships with other authors and readers that I might not have been able to experience had I been under too many deadlines.

Looking back, in all the hubbub, in my daily endeavor to acknowledge gratitude (my word for 2018)--which, I feel I did a good job with, writing great things down most nights--one thing I didn't do quite as well was to celebrate. So focused was I to get through each new milestone or event that I didn't take the time to pat myself on the back. That's right--when I say celebration I don't mean the outward show of making a party or creating noise. Or even other people celebrating me. I'm talking about giving myself the credit. Of being a little boastful to myself. Raising my chin a bit.

Sometimes, as a mama, I forget to do this, so mired in responsibility in the knowledge that the buck stops with me. As a writer, in all my exposition, I can forget to remember that yes, I am the author of this dammit and it's good! As a human, I forget that while the world has gone one before and will continue to do so without me, my contributions are so damn awesome! (See, I've already started). Sometimes, I let humility become a crutch. 

So here's my statement for 2019:

Celebrate the little milestones of my manuscript. Honor my mothering. Create this home exactly how I want it to be, despite knowing there is change on the horizon. Accept compliments; compliment myself. Put myself closer to the front of the line more days this year than last. (Mamas know the struggle.) Say prayers for myself.

How are you approaching the new year? Resolutions? Word of the year? 

I'm wishing you a wonderful day and the start of new beginnings! BUT--know that you can begin anytime, any day of the year. 

-tif

THE KEY TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER - Cover Reveal!

And here it is!! Long awaited but definitely worth it! It's the cover to THE KEY TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER, which will be out in paperback and in e-reader April 23, 2019 from Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster. 

~~~

The synopsis:

A charming romantic comedy about three sisters who are struggling to keep the family wedding planning business afloat—all the while trying to write their own happily-ever-afters in the process.

All’s fair in love and business.

The de la Rosa family and their wedding planning business have been creating happily ever afters in the Washington, DC area for years, making even the most difficult bride’s day a fairytale. But when their parents announce their retirement, the sisters—Marisol, Janelyn, and Pearl—are determined to take over the business themselves.

But the sisters quickly discover that the wedding business isn’t all rings and roses. There are brides whose moods can change at the drop of a hat; grooms who want to control every part of the process; and couples who argue until their big day. As emotions run high, the de la Rosa sisters quickly realize one thing: even when disaster strikes—whether it’s a wardrobe malfunction or a snowmageddon in the middle of a spring wedding—they’ll always have each other.

Perfect for fans of the witty and engaging novels of Amy E. Reichert and Susan Mallery, The Key to Happily Ever After is a fresh romantic comedy that celebrates the crucial and profound power of sisterhood.

Are you ready?

Hmmmmm?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Eeeeeep!

Please add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40539141-the-key-to-happily-ever-after

Preorder links: 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CEVlAa

B&N: http://bit.ly/Key2HEABN

iBooks: http://bit.ly/Key2HEAApple

 ~~~

I can't wait for you to read it!

 

A second, a drop, a thought later

Summer means more time on Rig, our 26-foot motorhome. We have her de-winterized, we stock her cupboards with food and clothing, firewood and charcoal, and we hit the road. We looooove to road trip. Every aspect of it: the pack up, the drive, the coffee and junk food stops, the settling in in a new place. Hubby and I traveled Europe as 20-somethings this way, covering ground in our first car, a Honda Civic, using an atlas and when we could, a local map. Back then, we didn't have GPS.

Last week, on our way back from an RV vacation, we came upon an accident. Actually, it occurred a few cars ahead of us. We stopped, of course. Hubby helped a women out of an overturned SUV; I helped with first aid. We weren't alone--we had about a dozen Good Samaritans converge on the scene, a few before us. One was a trauma nurse--I was glad to have a fellow health care worker by me.  The ambulance didn't arrive for many long minutes and the entire time, I thought of the worst case scenario for these women, and was grateful all at once that it was not.

No one can account for when an accident is going to happen. But these ladies were helped immensely by the fact they were wearing seat belts. This was the one thing they did that day to take care of themselves.

But what do you do everyday to take care of yourself? How do you fill your well? What does it mean?

Because I truly believe that filling your well is as important as wearing your seat belt.

Okay, so I'm not a health coach. This isn't an ad for a workout regimen or a diet plan. I'm not even the greatest at taking care of me--I'm a mother of four who puts my family first. I run on adrenaline and coffee and solid hope. But something happens like this, eyeopeners, that give me pause. It gives me pause for days. 

Filling your well isn't just an external action. It isn't just about spa pedicures, and retail therapy (though it could be! No judgement. I love gifting myself new books). Filling your well is also about reflection; it's also about acknowledgement.

Because how lucky we have been to have these days. But have you taken them in? Have you laughed/cried/talked about it? Have you decided what you would take from it, learn from it? And then have you taken the totality of your world and somehow made it so others can feel joy/hope/love, too? 

When I left the accident site, I said a prayer for every soul present on that side of the road. I thanked God for the miracle of those women's safety. But I believe the greatest gift for all of us that day was that we all walked away with our wells full. With gratitude, with renewed faith in strangers, with appreciation for air bags, and for me, with the superhero's determination that I have more work to do in this world.

Let's keep our wells full.

Take care, my friends. 

First Year Anniversary Celebration

Excuse this bad word but DAYUMMMMM. 

It's been a year, friends! One year since the publication of my debut, NORTH TO YOU! It's been one year with three published books, a fourth in edits, and a next novel in the drafting phase. One year since I became a published author in a dream career that had been 42 years in the making.

Life has changed dramatically in a year. Each day is a writer's work day. Not one passes that I'm not writing, editing, scribbling, marketing, or publicizing. My mind has switched fully to accept that my work is no longer mine once its left my hands--it is yours, the reader. I no longer introduce myself as a nurse--I introduce myself as an author, head held high. This is big for me. 

Life has also remained the same. I am still humbled everyday by my children. We are still in the ever-pervasive state of change as a military family. I'm still dreaming up more stories, still catching bits of inspiration wherever we travel. And I am still wearing my favorite doggie pajamas to bed. 

But if you know me at all in person, or have read any part of this blog/social media, then you know I love to celebrate everything. 

It's quite simple, really! If you made it to this point, you have already done the first two things on this list. Next, click here to follow me on BookBub . Then, comment on the post below, and that's it! I'll pick a winner on 6/7.

You want to know the prize pack?

• digital download of NORTH TO YOU (book 1 of Journey to the Heart)
• NORTH TO YOU magnet
• post card of San Francisco
• zippered pouch of California
• 2 Ghirardelli chocolates
• a packet of blank notecards
• a checklist pad
• 2 pens

Thank you for supporting me this last year! You welcomed me and the Journey to the Heart series with open arms and I'm so lucky to have the best readers, ever!

I can't wait to share more about THE KEY TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER soon! 

In affirmation

My goodness, it's May!

The D.C. area went from snowmageddon to hot, soupy, and rainy weather, and I have been on a rollercoaster of edits and periods of rest. Yes! I turned in THE KEY TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER, my book coming out in 2019 in late March and since then have done another two rounds of revisions. Currently, I'm writing something new (and exciting!) while I wait for copyedits to make it to me.

Spring is also a time that's mega-hectic for my growing family! This blog has seen the gamut of how it's been parenting 3 young children to, now, four children whose ages range from 2nd grade to the 11th grade. And the spring season, I believe, is more hectic than fall. With summer less than a month away, it's not just the kids who are yearning for a break. Mama is, too.

But I've been trying to take my time to smell the roses a bit. Remember by three great things post? It's helped me keep it real and simple after each and every day. Sometimes I have way more than three great things to annotate, and other times, I have to dig deep--ha! But that is the truth of life: the good and the not so, the triumph and the challenges, the wins and the losses. And in addition, I've done something else: in examining my day (in addition to prayer), I also make it a point to affirm my efforts. I tell myself:

You're exactly where you should be.

You've done your best.

You are enough.

God loves you.

Affirmations may seem small, but small things make big changes. Also, what may be the smallest things are actually the biggest things in life. And in a busy life, affirming oneself might be the one small thing you will do for yourself through out the entire day that is truly a self-care measure, from the inside out. If you already do this practice, share yours!

I hope you have a wonderful day and week! See you in this space soon!  

Making it work

I named this blog Halu-Halo, which means "mix." It's a mix of my everyday, of what's inspired me, what's taught me, and what's humbled me. From mothering, to crafting, to writing, it encompasses an imperfect life filled with joy and laughter, lessons and dreams. Proudly imperfect, actually!

Because yes, sometimes, you have to make it work:

I took this picture about a week ago. At the time, I lamented the fact that I had two unusable can openers, but as I pried into the can like a surgeon, one of my sons walked in and we had a good laugh about it. The situation became part of our morning conversation, few these days as I get my teens off to school. I look at this picture now, and it brings a smile to my face.

***

This morning, when I passed this picture in my photo gallery, it was a reminder well placed by God. In a state of transition, the road is concealed by fog. Faith must be placed on every step, confidence must replace doubt, else you trip on your own feet. 

But I'm also reminded that I'm not a rookie to transition. None of us are. We are always in the state of transition, in some state of the unknown, but we learn to adapt. We come to expect. We become resilient. 

Struggle will always exist. And so, there will be reasons to put down the pen, to stash that dream away, to put aside what you think you can contribute to the world. The deployment down the road, the move this summer, the child preparing for college.  Two unusable can openers. All of these things can stop us in our tracks. It can tell us we don't have the time, that our work isn't important, that other priorities come first. And sure, that's true. Life isn't about balance more than it is about priorities. But you have your passion, your goal. You have that pair of scissors that you can (carefully!) carve that can open. You have your brain, and your will, and your fingers and your proverbial voice.

***

Sometimes, I feel like I'm prying a can open with scissors. I fight against it, I curse it. And I realize the less I push, the less I stab, the more I ease, cajole, and work the tool, it gives. The can snaps up, and I'm given exactly what I need at the moment. And then I look back just as I did with this picture, and I smile. Because the effort has been worth it. I have words on a page. I have memories I've made with new friends. I have the fruit I was craving.

I haven't wasted time or steps. And neither will you. 

AUTHOR-ISH :: MAIDA MALBY

Welcome to a Halu-Halo series: Author-ish. Halu-halo, as a blog, has always focused on inspiration, and our interviews will ask authors about theirs. Author-ish is named as such because these interviews won't be about the craft of writing, but more about their intention behind their processes.

----

Featured Author: MAIDA MALBY

With a poet for a grandfather, a short-story writer/teacher for a mother, and a voracious reader for a father, Maida's new career as a writer is a natural fit.

Spouse to a USAF Veteran and mother to a kid who loves Texas and Super Mario, Maida writes multicultural contemporary romances set all over the world. At some point in her life, Maida has lived and worked in the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States so it's not surprising those are favorite locations for her novels.

Maida studied several languages and can speak English, Filipino, Indonesian, French, and Thai in various degrees of fluency. Her Spanish and Japanese are great for counting numbers and ordering food.

When not writing or reading, Maida cooks the dishes she features in her books, photographs other people's front yards during her morning walk, and watches Food Network, Golf Channel, and Game of Thrones on TV.

Connect with Maida! : - FACEBOOK AUTHOR  - TWITTER - WEBSITE

-----

Recent Release - BORACAY VOWS (Book 1, Carpe Diem Chronicles) - OUT NOW! (11.21.17) - Published by EOT Publications

PURCHASE FROM AMAZON HERE

They plan to seize the day

Demure and career-driven, Krista Lopez is almost thirty, yet she has never been kissed. Her friends conspire to help fulfill her Turning-Thirty Vow—the promise to do something life-changing in celebration of this milestone birthday—with the help of a sexy makeover and a one-week stay in Perlas, a posh resort in the island paradise of Boracay, Philippines.

Not-so-coincidentally, Blake Ryan, Krista’s Irish-American hunk of a boss is vacationing in the same resort at the same time. The CEO has seen through her armor of conservative simplicity to the sensual woman underneath. Setting aside his rule not to become personally involved with his employees, Blake plans a seduction to make Krista his, but only while they are in Boracay.

But what about a lifetime?

Krista and Blake seize the opportunity to have a scorching affair away from the prying eyes of their colleagues. Far away from family’s judgement and disapproval. All too soon their week is over, and they must decide whether they will end their fling, or say Carpe diem to the love of a lifetime.

BORACAY VOWS is the first book in the fun and sexy multicultural contemporary romance series Carpe Diem Chronicles.

----- 

The Interview

Welcome to Halu-Halo, Maida! I'm so tickled to meet another author who writes Filipino characters. What was your inspiration for Boracay Vows?

Mainly me and my husband and the tens of thousands of pairings like us: Asian wife/American husband, particularly the Filipina and American couples. I’ve been reading romance novels since I was ten or so, but until my friend Rainne Mendoza wrote Fobolous and you came out with East in Paradise I haven’t read a story like my own. As the oft-quoted Toni Morrison said, “If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” That’s what I did with Boracay Vows and what I’m still doing with the rest of the Carpe Diem Chronicles series.

How do you keep this inspiration forefront while you work?

It’s easy because I’m practically writing MY story. The characters are based on real people, the settings are places I love, and the scenes are situations that happen in everyday life.

I belong to several book clubs and I always see the requests for books such as the ones I write - diverse characters and set outside of the usual locations.

I love that you're writing what you know. Also, I too, am a book club aficionado! When do you do your best work? Do you have a routine?

I write best in the evening, after my guys go to bed. Everything is quiet, I’m offline, just writing for at least an hour. My mornings are mostly spent on social media, research, plotting, reading craft books or other romance novels, monitoring my book’s performance, and networking with other authors.

What fuels your spirit? What fills your tank?

Love and friendship. Food and exercise. Books. I write for the sheer love of it, not to earn millions or to gain popularity. I’m never empty because I have a deep well from which I could draw support and encouragement should I need them.

What are your biggest distractions and how do you stay focused?

Facebook. Food. Family. With Facebook and other social media, I incorporate them into the work to maximize my time. Food is a necessity and I use cooking to make my food descriptions more authentic. My boys are my life and I drop everything if they need me. That kind of flexibility is one of the advantages of indie publishing, which I very much appreciate.

Social media also gets me. It's tough to balance what we have to get done with keeping in touch with our readers and friends! Give me five words that describe your book.

Kilig, Mouthwatering, International, Present, and Life-changing

I love all of those. Especially life-changing, as books should be! What do you love most about this book?

That it’s my first baby. It’s set in one of my favorite places in the world. It’s a goal achieved, and dream fulfilled.

Thank you so much, Maida, for coming by Halu-Halo! I wish you well in your author journey! And for everyone else, don't forget to pick up Boracay Vows! 

 

 

Three great things, and my word for 2018

Happy New Year dearest friends! This is the twelfth new year we're celebrating on this blog! I just counted it out on my fingers and gasped at how much time has passed, and how Typepad has kept me as a customer all this time -- ha! Seriously, though, I'm very much a nostalgic person, and probably won't leave this space for a while because of so much history that's been played out here.

I'm also very much into resolutions, but quickly transcribe them into goals. I am but, if anything, a wisher, a dreamer, but over the years have realized, for me, that they can be better achieved by setting some concrete milestones within a certain timeframe. I can't write a book without words on a page. I can't run a race without regular running days. Not to say the trajectory of success is straight up. But without my goals, I would truly be aimless. 

In 2017, you've seen a lot of my wishes come true.  I was talking to one of my critique partners the other day about how I was "on fire" last year! HA! Either on fire with the pace, chasing a fire to put it out, or running from it. I wouldn't have it any other way, but I did learn a ton about my priority setting and stress level. I love work stress (vs. personal stress, which is something else entirely), always claimed to thrive on it since I was in high school--but I think I have some sharper tools in my tool box, which I hope to address with my word of 2018.

I think the first thing to go when we're busy is the feeling of gratitude. Sometimes, even the greatest of gifts become a fly-by-day event; more so, the tiniest of gifts never get acknowledged. The fire that we are, that we're chasing, or is chasing us, prevents us from taking stock of both the responsibilities and joys of life.  

You might think--yeah, so I'll be more thankful. That's great! But in working with this word, this year, I'm staring my "three great things" list. When my kids were little, we'd go around the table if the conversation was running thin. I'd ask them about their "three great things" of the day. Toddlers and young children are so good at this game, because they see the smallest things as the greatest gifts. 

This year, I want to tap into this practiced gratitude. It just so happens that my newest daily planner inserts for my Filofax A5 has a spot just for this intention. Everyday since the new year, I've practiced writing down "three great things." Three, tangible items that really brought joy to my day. 

While this year will prove to be just as busy, I hope that I can reclaim the gratitude that my soul needs, and the people around me deserves!

How about you? Do you have a word of the year? Do you believe in and what are your resolutions?  

Run your race.

There's so much swirling around these days--so much devastation, so much news. It's unrelenting. It's overwhelming, but it forces each of us to refocus. If we took everything into ourselves, we would not be able to get up in the morning, we wouldn't be able to be productive.

We wouldn't be able to do good in the world. Which is what we need to do, in our families, in our communities. In ourselves. 

----

I ran the Army ten-miler last Sunday. It was my third ATM, my first long race in about a year. I've been training since June; I thought I was ready. I went into it really confident that I would do at least as good as last year--which seems to be my consistent time--if not better, despite the rumors of the thick humidity in the air and the high temps. I'd survived Airborne School and Basic Training in summer humidity. Been there, done that.

Boy, I was wrong.

I barely made it through the ATM. At mile 6, I almost vomited, literally. I think I was on the verge of becoming a heat casualty. So I walk/jogged the last four miles. At the following water stops, I took 3 cups with me: drank one immediately, drank a second slow, and then carried the third through to the next water stop. My goal: not be one of those people hooked to an IV on the side of the road (there were a few I passed). Completion became the key.  

----

Here's the honest truth about long runs, about publishing, about life, and the thing that keeps getting drilled into my thick skull: you are running your own race. Others are around you to cheer you on, and by golly, take the love. God is with you with all his blessings, and pray your hardest. You can pace off of someone, but you will find out soon enough that they will speed up and crawl, they'll dart around to get where they need to be. You'll also (and should) help others. I didn't realize I had a soldier (a woman out of uniform--she was in her unit t-shirt) pacing off of me, and when I slowed down in mile 8, a time when I really wanted to quit, she looked at me straight in the eyes and said, "Don't stop now. I've been following you this whole time."

Ultimately, they can't run your race, and you can't run theirs. Neither can success be interchangeable, because your definition of success may not be the same as theirs. At times, breaking one's personal record is the measure. Times like last Sunday, getting to the finish line on my own feet and not in the injury-wagon was the week's prize.

 ----

Will I schedule another long race? Yes. Pending no injuries (I'm recovering from what I think is a foot sprain), I'd love to do another race in the spring. Because that's what we have to do as well. Get back up. Head back to train. Practice. Race.