Photo from Sam
In case you haven't heard, this book is by a Filipina author, and it was published by Random House, one of the biggest publishers in the US. *clap clap* I first heard about Sam over the summer, and decided to include her in the main feature in the July issue of Good Housekeeping. I had so much fun during the interview, and was sad that I had to cut it down due to space constraints.
By now, her story has come out everywhere--magazines (she says we were the first to "discover" her), newspapers, blogs. But if you're unfamiliar with it, allow me to walk you through it:
Sam worked in marketing for years, and was quite successful in her field. During the interview, her husband proudly told us that she was a senior manager by the time she was 23 or 24, so she really had what it took to rise all the way to the top. But after having her first child and realizing that she didn't get to know him during his first year of life because she was just so busy, she decided to leave it all behind. At 30 years old, she retired.
She then plunged into the business that she and her husband started. They established Cold Rock here, after discovering it in Australia. When things were settled, she was pretty much a full-time mom to her two kids--a son and a daughter. (And P.S. I met her daughter at the book launch and she was ADORABLE!) She would drop her son off at Ateneo every day, and wait at Starbucks because it just didn't make sense to drive all the way back to their home in Paranaque and back again. She had a few hours of free time, just sipping her coffee. And so she decided to write a book.
She knew nothing about book publishing, but she did know that she wanted to reach as many people as possible. "Dreaming is free, and if you're going to dream, dream big na rin," she told us, explaining her decision to try to get the book published in the US. To learn how to do it, she bought a book: Publishing for Dummies! It's a complex process which involves finding an agent, querying, and finally, the nail-biting experience of waiting to find out if the book will be picked up. She was in Hong Kong when her agent called her to tell her that Random House wanted to buy the book.
Sam's editor says Before Ever After "has commercial fun with literary heartache." The main character is Shelley, and the book starts with the death of her husband, the love of her life. This video better explains what the story is all about...
By now, her story has come out everywhere--magazines (she says we were the first to "discover" her), newspapers, blogs. But if you're unfamiliar with it, allow me to walk you through it:
Sam worked in marketing for years, and was quite successful in her field. During the interview, her husband proudly told us that she was a senior manager by the time she was 23 or 24, so she really had what it took to rise all the way to the top. But after having her first child and realizing that she didn't get to know him during his first year of life because she was just so busy, she decided to leave it all behind. At 30 years old, she retired.
She then plunged into the business that she and her husband started. They established Cold Rock here, after discovering it in Australia. When things were settled, she was pretty much a full-time mom to her two kids--a son and a daughter. (And P.S. I met her daughter at the book launch and she was ADORABLE!) She would drop her son off at Ateneo every day, and wait at Starbucks because it just didn't make sense to drive all the way back to their home in Paranaque and back again. She had a few hours of free time, just sipping her coffee. And so she decided to write a book.
She knew nothing about book publishing, but she did know that she wanted to reach as many people as possible. "Dreaming is free, and if you're going to dream, dream big na rin," she told us, explaining her decision to try to get the book published in the US. To learn how to do it, she bought a book: Publishing for Dummies! It's a complex process which involves finding an agent, querying, and finally, the nail-biting experience of waiting to find out if the book will be picked up. She was in Hong Kong when her agent called her to tell her that Random House wanted to buy the book.
Sam's editor says Before Ever After "has commercial fun with literary heartache." The main character is Shelley, and the book starts with the death of her husband, the love of her life. This video better explains what the story is all about...
I think the paperback edition is available exclusively at National Book Store. Do grab a copy and tell me what you think.:)
I've wanted to buy this one but the kuripot in me (and in my husband!) is holding me back... Maybe I can buy a copy na since kumi-Kindle na si husband ko. I'll now have the entire monthly book budget to myself. *evil laugh*
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the book budget go to e-books then? *confused* Sorry, I'm old-school so I know nothing about e-books! Haha
ReplyDeleteI'm an e-book virgin too so I think he'll have the Kindle to himself. I still prefer "real" books... If I'm not mistaken, Kindle e-books are cheaper than the printed ones. And Amazon gives you around a thousand e-books for free upon purchase ng Kindle.Hehe
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