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.

We proudly exhibited the talents of our ten writers at the Singapore World Book Fair at the Suntec International Convention Center. Truly, our Filipino writers are first-class as Heartbreak was launched along with the books of other Asian countries. Who knew Heartbreak could be this successful?

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

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.

The writer’s area was bustling with activity as a writing game captured everyone’s imagination. Business was brisk as booksellers assisted their customers. (Our book, Heartbreak, was also selling at the National Book Development Board [NBDB] booth.) Lectures conducted by well-known authors and illustrators were jam-packed with participants. The publisher’s corner, however, was empty. We asked the coordinators if there was a single publisher in charge of the booth. If not, we said, we would be more than happy to man it for them. They fortunately agreed to our proposal.

We were wise to have brought additional copies to replenish NBDB’s stocks. We arranged the extra books and our calling cards to dress up the publisher’s corner. Our sign completed the booth and all we had to do was smile. Aspiring writers dropped by to inquire about our company. Some of them were a bit disappointed upon learning that we concentrated on romantic fiction at the moment, but they also perked up when we challenged them to marry romance and other genres (horror, mystery, speculative fiction) to create something that we could publish. We were likewise saddened that we could not yet publish other forms, but we also dared ourselves to make our business grow enough to be able to support a variety of other writings in the future.

Literature enthusiasts also showed interest, and they gushed over the quality of our book – from the authors whose works they’ve seen in other publications to the cover design and special paper that made up the pages. We also met the managers of Booktopia, a quaint bookstore in Libis. They not only offered to carry Heartbreak but they also said that we could hold a proper launch in their store.

Hotel waiters, drawn by the title, stopped to chat and check out the book. They said it was not what they usually read, but we seized the opportunity to urge them to try something new. We also shared our passionate belief in Philippine literature and our vision to see it grow. We must have sounded pretty convincing because one of the hotel security personnel listening in said he would tell his sisters about our book -- and just borrow their copy. That worked for us. We were delighted that we managed to pique the interest of an audience different from what we had originally envisioned.

By the end of the night, we had gathered more signatures than what we expected. We’d also had the good fortune to meet more like-minded individuals. We are thankful that RODCON provided a venue for us, and we look forward to next year’s convention.