Kuwentong Musmos Interviews: Authors of Team Lampara Books Share Their Room To Read Workshop Experiences

Team Lampara at the press launch of Kuwentong Musmos 

My participation in the Kuwentong Musmos Workshop in Bohol last October is a running post in the blog. A developing story.

I had written about my insights and the wonderful time I had with friends in the children's book industry during the workshop. What followed was an illustrator workshop in Baguio City for artists who were chosen to illustrate our stories. My story, Masaya Maging Ako was given to Jamie Bauza to render and illustrate. Read more about the twenty books published by the four leading publisher of children's books in the country today. The Kuwentong Musmos Book Project is under the auspices of Room to Read in partnership with Adarna House.

And now, here is a round up of the blog interviews with authors of Team Lampara Books.   

Lauren Macaraeg author of Kiko Kitikiti, a book about ADHD

Mark Norman Boquiren author of Ang Batang Papet, a book about juvenile justice and detention

Reina Peralta author of Ang Nanay Kong Drayber, a book about gender roles and equality

Genaro Gojo Cruz author of Ang Alaga Kong Lolo, a book about a compassion and kindness to old people

Up next is the blog round up of the interview with illustrators of Team Lampara Books.

Kuwentong Musmos Illustrator Interview: Luis "Ito" Chua

Luis "Ito" Chua, the illustrator of Kiko Kitikit (Macaraeg, Lampara Books 2019) shares what he learned from the Kuwentong Musmos Illustrators Workshop in this interview. Kiko Kitikiti is one of the five books published by Lampara Books under Room to Read's book project.

1.    What is your creative process for Kiko Kitikiti?
Creative process ko syempre gawa muna nang character studies. Explore, para may pagpipilian kung ano yung pinaka the best na babagay dun sa kwento. Iniba ko rin yung background nung kwento. Instead na sa classroom dapat ang scene, ginawang kong galaxy/sky ang background. Feeling kasi ni Kiko, lagi siyang lumilipad kagaya ng idolo nyang super hero.

2.    What is the picture book/children’s book you wish you had created or illustrated?
Sa RTR din ba ito? Gusto ko yung kwento na napunta kay Ara Villena. Yung tungkol sa talakitok na sira ang buntot. Mahilig kasi ako sa isda at dagat. 

3.  What are your 5 tips to aspiring illustrators?
Based yung iba dito sa mga natutunan ko sa workshop.

a. Sumali sa  Ang Ilustrador Ng Kabataan (Ang INK)!

b. Find your own style, sabi ko nga " kung gusto mong magkaroon ng sariling istilo, gumuhit ka nang walang kinokopyang litrato." I-appreciate mo kung ano yung outcome ng puso at isip mo. Yan ang magiging sarili mong istilo.

c. Make thumbnails para may pagpipilian ka kung ano yung pinaka magandang composition ng bawat spreads. 

d. Kapag gagawa ka ng characters,specially sa mga sensitive na topic dapat maging aware tayo sa mararamdaman nung magbabasa ng libro.

e. Matutong mag explore. Hindi kailangan lahat literal na kung anong nasa kwento, yun narin ang illustrations. Explore para maging malawak at makulay pa lalo yung kwento.

 4. What are your 5 recommended books for young artists or anyone who wishes to break out into picture book illustration?
1. Naku! naku! Naku!
2. Sandosenang Sapatos
3. Namimingwit sa Langit
4. Si Nina sa Bayan ng Daldalina
5. Berting Uling

 5. What part of Kiko Kitikiti did you enjoy drawing the most or proved challenging to draw?

Halos lahat e. Kasi yung kwento na napunta sa akin, kailangan paulit-ulit ang characters. Malikot kasi si Kiko. So kailangan talaga magkakamukha.

Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview: Lauren Macaraeg

In the succeeding days and weeks, the blog will have interviews of authors and illustrators of Room to Read's Kuwentong Musmos Book Project. Get to know them! Be inspired! I hope that by reading their stories and their creative journeys, you will be moved to create something beautiful and wonderful for children of all ages.

I have asked all four of the authors published by Lampara Books to this interview, as well as the four illustrators. To start the ball rolling, as they say, here is Lauren Macaraeg's interview. Her book in the Kuwentong Musmos project is Kiko Kitikiti illustrated by Luis "ito" Chua.

1. Why are you writing for children?

I love writing stories for children for three main reasons: a love for children's books, a desire for creative expression, and a wish to give kids hope.

First, I've been an enthusiastic reader of kid's books myself, since I was a child up to now that I'm an adult (but still a kid-at-heart!). It was only a natural outcome that I wished to create children's books myself.

Second, children's literature is the perfect outlet for a creative person like me. I'm free to make flights of fantasy when writing stories for young readers because there is no limit to the genre in terms of imagination.

Last but not least, I wish to give hope to kids by writing children's books in the same way that reading books gave me hope when I was a kid. The books I've read have been instrumental to my mental health recovery and healing, especially when I was an adolescent struggling with depression. Now, all the books I write, even if they have different topics, have one thing in common: they are all about hope and creativity in the midst of challenging situations.

For instance, my latest book, KIKO KITIKITI (Author: Lauren V. Macaraeg. Illustrator: Ito/Luis Chua), is about an energetic young boy who proves to the world that he is a superhero even if he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). KIKO KITIKITI, is one of the 20 children's books recently published by Room to Read, an international NGO that promotes reading among young readers, in partnership with our publisher Lampara Books, and other local publishers, Adarna House, Anvil Publishing and OMF Literature/Hiyas.

2. How did you break out into the children's book industry?

While I've been creating my own books for fun since I was a kid, I was able to officially break out into the children's book industry after I joined and won the grand prize award at the 1st Annual Lampara Books Children’s Story Writing Contest in 2011. SINEMADYIKA, my story entry for that contest, got published as my first book by Lampara Books in 2013. And last February 2020, my fourth book, KIKO KITIKITI, was also published by Lampara Books, along with four other amazing books by Lampara writers and illustrators, under Room to Read's Kuwentong Musmos book project.

3. Give three words or phrase to describe your Kuwentong Musmos Workshop experience?

Big Honor. “Kasali ba talaga ako diyan?!” I wondered when I first saw the powerhouse list of the authors from Adarna House, Anvil Publishing, OMF Literature and Lampara Books who would be participating in Room to Read's writers' workshop in Bohol last September 29-October 4, 2019. Na-starstruck ako! It's a big honor to be able to work and collaborate with brilliant and talented people from the Philippine children's publishing industry: all the writers, illustrators, publishers, editors, designers, mentors and organizers with a heart for Filipino children. Special mention to our Team Lampara who played a huge role in shaping my story, to Ito Chua whose beautiful illustrations brought KIKO KITIKITI to life, and to Sir Segundo “Jun” Matias and Ms. Aiko Salazar for inviting me to participate in the project. And of course, it's a great honor to partner with Room to Read, whose vision and generosity made this book project possible in the first place.

Big Challenge. “Pupunta kaya ako?” I asked myself as I decided if I should go to the workshop or not. My grandmother went home to be with the Lord a day before I received the invitation to the writer's workshop so I was still grieving at that time. While I finally chose to go in the end, I continued to face my own personal challenges at the Bohol workshop, including grief and health struggles, so I had to make an extra effort to act and work like my usual bubbly self. And of course, there were also general challenges that most of us writers faced, such as the tight writing deadlines, nerve-wracking selection process and word count limits (at dahil wordy ang karamihan sa amin, hirap na hirap kaming magbawas ng salita sa kuwento lol). Still, the unexpected miracle of being able to complete and publish a book in spite of all the challenges of 2019 and 2020 made the fruit of our labor so much sweeter.

Big Blessing. “Some of the kids who will receive your books will be holding and owning a book for the very first time,” shared Sir Al Santos, Room to Read's Book Publishing Manager for Southeast Asia, during our writers' workshop. I got goosebumps! Like most of my fellow authors and illustrators, I also wish to be able to encourage Pinoy kids to read books. Yet there is only so much I can do as an individual person, given my limited resources and energy. That's why it was a heaven-sent opportunity to be part of Room to Read's Kuwentong Musmos book project, which aims to promote literacy among less privileged Filipino children all over the country. It's a big blessing from the Lord Jesus to be able to be part of this book project!

4. What is the book you wish you had written and why?

I really wish I wrote the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan! Aside from creating witty, relatable young characters, Riordan was able to write captivating stories that seamlessly combine ancient Greek mythology and modern-day fun. I hope I could also write similar YA books someday that will help Filipino children appreciate and enjoy Philippine mythology.

5. Your 5 tips for aspiring children's book writers.

1) Read! Read! Read! The best inspiration to write children's books is to read children's books.

2) Just write. Don't wait for the perfect time, mood or circumstances before you start writing. Just do it.

3) Be a storyteller, not a preacher. Don't preach moral lessons. Just write a good story. Your kiddie readers will get your message. They're smarter than we give them credit for.

4) Be your own editor. Proofread your own work again and again.

5) Write about the things that are close to your heart. The only way to inflame young readers with your passion is if you yourself are passionate about what you write.

Lauren loves to dance and is currently enjoying Zumba sessions. Visit her blog and website http://laurenmacaraeg.com.

Author of the Month: Lauren Macaraeg (2 of 2)

Here is part 2 of Lauren Macaraeg's interview where she shares her favorite books and her plans for the next writing adventure!

What is your top five children's book?

1. The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis – I've always wished to discover a magical wardrobe that would transport me to Narnia!
 
2. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – What an incredibly detailed world Tolkien built! I can almost imagine that hobbits are real... and that I have a hobbit ancestor from way back. Hahaha.
 
3. Bible storybooks for kids – I liked to pore over colorful illustrated Bible story collections while I was growing up. That's why Bible story characters are just like childhood friends of mine!
 
4. Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang by Severino Reyes – Lola Basyang's stories were a big part of my childhood, thanks to one of my favorite kiddie TV shows! That's why it was a treat for me to discover this collection of Lola Basyang tales in college.
 5. The Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence – This vibrant book series combines some of my favorite things to read about: ancient Roman history (yes, I'm geeky that way!), mysteries, likable characters, and references to gross things (yes, I am isip bata that way! Lol).

Lauren with peers and friends in Lampara Books during the Aklat Awards 2016

What is the book you wish you have written?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Actually, I wish I had written the entire The Chronicles of Narnia book series!

It has all of the elements I love about children's fantasy literature: Magic, talking animals, an imaginative story, unexpected plot twists (it was the first fantasy series I read as a kid so it was a huge surprise for me that the wardrobe was a portal to Narnia), lovable characters, a worthy villain (or in this case, villainess!), exotic food (I've wished for so long to taste Turkish Delight). And one awesome Lion!

If it was possible to be transported to a fantasy world, Narnia is the first place I would choose to visit.

Quo vadis, Lauren?

My wish is that I may make other people smile as many, many people have also made me smile. I hope to accomplish that in my lifetime, both as a writer and as an individual.

I want to make a difference, whether it be a big or small one, as long as it is a positive one. Our country is going through dark and difficult times. Many people are experiencing darkness in their own personal lives. Even if I am an imperfect person with an imperfect life, I wish to be even just a small light for the Lord in the middle of that darkness. I would like to be a beacon of hope to others in the same way that others have been a beacon of hope to me when I experienced my own dark times.

I only have one life and I want to make it count. I have no guarantee that I will succeed in my life goals, but I want the chance to at least try. And to have a lot of fun while trying!

Lauren Macaraeg can be reached and read online through these sites:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurenvmacaraegauthor
Website: www.laurenvmacaraeg.com
Blog: www.laurenvmacaraeg.com/blog 

Author of the Month: Lauren Macaraeg ( 1 of 2 )

Wacky Lauren having fun by the pool side.

The blog's Author of the Month is Ms. Lauren Macaraeg. Lauren recently won in the Aklat Awards 2016 as Most Favorite Writer for Children. In this interview, Lauren tells us of her goals and dreams as a children's book writer, the journey she took to become one and the euphoria of being voted as Most Favorite Writer for Children in the Aklat Awards 2016.

Why write for kids?

I write for kids simply because I love children's books. My fascination with kids' stories was born when I was a little girl and is still very much alive now that I am a kid pretending to be an adult.

There is magic and beauty in children's books. I am amazed at the ability of whimsical stories to whisk us away to new worlds and transform our view of the seemingly ordinary world.

There is also a form of truth and raw honesty in kids' literature that draws me to it. I rarely see pretentious writing in books for children. Perhaps it's because it's useless to try to impress young readers by using big, fancy words or gimmicky writing techniques. You need to tell children an interesting story, create characters they can relate to, and make them laugh or cry. Kids will simply like a book or they won't.

I also like how good children's literature manages to acknowledge that problems, pain and challenges exist in the world, while giving hope to us readers at the same time. Books were an important part of my childhood because they gave me happiness and hope. That's why I want to create books that will also bring new generations of kids hope and joy.

How did you come to be a writer for children?

I started practicing to be a children's writer when I was just a little girl. I used to sew and staple pieces of paper together to make my own books. It wasn't surprising that I became a bookworm because my parents encouraged me to love books. My mom Uni literally surrounded me with books since I was a baby. My dad Boy used to ship me boxes of poetry books while I was growing up.

However, I started to seriously consider becoming a writer for kids only when I was in college. I took up a children's literature class with my college barkada and I enjoyed it so much that I also enrolled in a children's writing class the next semester. Both classes, which were taught by Ms. Cyan Abad-Jugo, developed my writing skills and my appreciation for kids' literature. The epic brainstorming sessions with my creative, funny college friends – the Totaleclipsers and the Manangs - sharpened my wit and imagination.

Kindred spirits: Aspire to be to inspire others!

My involvement with the Special Education Society of Ateneo (SPEED) is another major factor that led me to become a children's writer. I was a volunteer teacher for children with special needs for most of my college life. (In case you're wondering, I don't have any formal training in special education. It was just something I loved to do). My time with the kids developed my creativity and deepened my wish to make a difference in the lives of children. My special needs students are actually my main inspiration in writing my book Sinemadyika.

I first started to write professionally when I worked for an educational publishing company. Practical matters led me to set aside writing, at least on a professional level, and work in a different field for several years. However, while I was recovering from a tonsillectomy years ago, one of my closest college friends, Pow, encouraged me to try freelance writing. With the guidance and help of my best friends and fellow writers, Pow and Jo, I started to write again on a freelance basis.

One writing attempt led to another until I eventually joined the 1st Annual Lampara Books Children’s Story Writing Contest in 2011. One of the perks of winning the said contest was having my story Sinemadyika published by Mr. Segundo “Jun” Matias and Lampara Books as an illustrated storybook in 2013. So you can say that a throat problem and a tonsillectomy led me to become a children's book author. Haha! God really works in weird, mysterious ways.

What does winning in the Aklat Awards 2016 mean to you?

It's an answered prayer in two major ways.

It's an answer to an important question! I asked the Lord earlier this 2016 if I should continue to focus on writing or to focus on something else in 2017. I know I may seem confident, but there are times when I get discouraged as a writer too. I totally didn't expect God to answer my question in this wonderful, unexpected way! For me, my surprise blessing of winning at the Aklat Awards 2016 is an encouragement for me to keep writing. 

Congratulations, Lauren!

It's also God's way to grant my wish of bringing joy to people through writing. I used to struggle with depression, although it may not be obvious to people who know me as a cheerful, outgoing adult. Books played a crucial role in my healing during my battle with depression. That's why I wish to write many books and articles and blog posts that will give hope to other people. Or simply to make them smile or laugh! Learning that I was voted as “Most Favorite Writer” in the Lampara Books category made me happy knowing that I brought others joy through writing. This blessing also makes me feel hopeful that I will have more opportunities of spreading happiness to others as an author in the future.

I am thankful to the Lord for this surprise. I am also thankful for all my family, friends, colleagues, and of course, readers for encouraging a newbie writer like me to follow my dreams.

Lauren Macaraeg can be reached online through these sites:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurenvmacaraegauthor
Website: www.laurenvmacaraeg.com
Blog: www.laurenvmacaraeg.com/blog