I really believe social networking has made the world smaller. I read about Samantha Sotto and her book Before Ever After in Cecile Zamora-Van Straten’s blog Chuvaness.com and posted a link (http://chuvaness.com/2011/07/25/meet-samantha-sotto/) on the story on my Facebook wall.
I also added a comment that I would be in New York around the same time she would be and that I’d like to attend her launch. I felt so proud that once again that a young Filipina has been picked up by a major publisher, in particular Crown Publishing for Random House. Well, in almost two seconds, someone comments about my wanting to meet Samantha and tagging her. Cecile herself tweeted an introduction of me to Sam on Twitter. So within the day literally Samantha and I became virtual friends on Facebook and Twitter.
In no time at all, we had set up a meeting time and place in New York City. I took newlyweds and new New York residents Carlos Santamaria and Rachel Alejandro to the meet and we spent a pleasant afternoon in a tiny pizzeria meeting Samantha and her husband Tembong Yambao.
Earlier that day, I had bought her book in Strand bookstore and so I brought it with me to get her autograph. I am a big fan of authors. For me, it is a major accomplishment to get your story published. And Sam did it — she wrote a story that got picked up and is distributed in bookstores in the US. It can also be purchased on Kindle and iPad books. In the Philippines, you can find her book at all National Book Store and Powerbooks branches.
While at the pizzeria, I asked Sam to share her favorite books:
1. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
This book taught me my guiding principle in life, a principle that I hope to pass on to my kids: Don’t be afraid to try new things!
2. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
I LOVE the idea of “London Below,” a parallel world beneath London. After I read the book, riding the Tube was never the same.
3. The Belgariad Series by David Eddings
I read this book during my “high fantasy” phase. It’s also why I married my husband, but that is another looooong story.
4. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Wizards. Wands. Butterbeer. What’s not to love?
5. Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice
Lestat, the vampire every self-respecting vampire should aspire to be.
6. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
To this day, I still cannot believe that Arthur Golden is not Japanese. Or a geisha.
7. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Charlie Gordon is my hero. I have never felt more deeply for a character. Sniff. Sniff.
8. Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus
This is the kind of book that grows up with you. It is also the second reason why I married my husband.
9. The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
This is the last book I read before I wrote Before Ever After. Henry De Tamble, I will love you forever.
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Heathcliff, the first man I loved and hated at the same time. I enjoy characters that you can’t put into a box.