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Now, in this final part, Ms. Roxas shares her top tips for aspiring writers, a sneak peek into her upcoming projects, and her personal reading habits—because even the best storytellers are lifelong readers. Whether you’re an aspiring author, a book lover, or simply curious about the mind behind Pretty Peach, this interview is packed with wisdom and inspiration.
Let’s dive in one last time with Reni Roxas as she talks about the power of storytelling, the books she cherishes, and what’s next on her literary horizon!
7. Advice: What advice would you give aspiring
authors who want to write meaningful children’s literature?
If there is a story you are burning to tell, COMMIT it to
paper (or a keyboard). And practice, PRACTICE the art of telling a story. The
best way to do this is to READ, read lots of children’s books. Immerse yourself
in the genre that you wish to write—whether that is science fiction or graphic
comics…
…And EAVESDROP!
Listen to how children talk to each other. How do they talk to grown-ups? This
will help keep your dialogue sounding genuine.
READ
YOUR STORY OUT LOUD. Children’s books are meant to be heard as well as read.
Your ear will pick up superfluous language or errant words that are best weeded
out of the story.
Understand
that CONFLICT is at the heart of a good story. Even in children’s books. The
main character must want something. Why can’t she have it? What is standing in
her way? If she falls into a hole, how will she climb out of it?
And here’s an insider tip from someone working in the business: Know that as the writer, you are engaged in a collaboration with the artist. If there’s something in the text that can easily be illustrated (i.e. he was wearing a green T-shirt), you don’t need to put that in the text. The illustrator will work it in.
8. Future Projects: Are there any upcoming books
or stories you’re working on? What can your readers look forward to?
I am a slow writer. I’ve
been working a number of years on a collection of animal tales inspired by
Zen-like fables. It wants so much to be a book someday.
And there’s a children’s book I’m co-writing with a
friend about a feisty young girl who goes out into the world to rescue her lolo
from the forces of evil. It’s quintessentially the Hero’s Quest in a picture
book.
Abangan!
9. Reading Habits: What books or authors have inspired your writing journey, particularly in children’s literature?
When I was young my
father gave me a copy of A.A. Milne’s When We Were Six, a collection of
poems about Christopher Robin and his bear Winnie-the-Pooh. I adored that book.
My mother also gifted me with a collection of Greek myths. I do not recall
having many books in our house growing up, which is why these two books stand
out in my memory. In my tweens and teens I inhaled Nancy Drew and Agatha
Christie books and later on, after falling under the spell of the
ground-breaking novel A Hundred Years of Solitude, I tried to read
everything Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote.
During the 1980s I worked for a number of children’s book
publishing houses in New York City. At Dial Books for Young Readers, I loved
the Frog & Toad series, and the work of Rosemary Wells, Mildred Taylor,
Tony Ross, and James Marshall. I just loved John D. Fitzgerald’s The Great
Brain series, something my son would later love and enjoy as well. I also
edited a lot of nonfiction children’s books—books ranging from the animal
kingdom to the American Civil War to teen suicide.
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| Reni with the Women Writing Team |
However, when my former husband and I started Tahanan Books, our focus naturally pivoted from Western to Asian lit. We set our sights on producing Filipiniana folk tales that Filipinos would be proud to call their own, as well as science books on Philippine flowers, fruits, trees, birds, butterflies, and fishes. We published biographies of Filipino heroes with our Great Lives series; and we reissued José Rizal’s The Monkey and the Turtle, which is actually a retelling of a Southeast Asian folk tale. Everything we did and still do at Tahanan is linked to Philippine culture. In that regard, Pretty Peach is a departure from the norm. It is the story of a butterfly of no particular ethnicity or gender, and yet whose desire to find true love is a universal quest.
Now go get your copy of Pretty Peach Today! 🍑✨
Retailing for only P295, Pretty Peach is available at Fully Booked and selected National Bookstore branches.
📍 Special Feature! This February, visit Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street and check out our dedicated Pretty Peach table—the perfect Valentine’s month treat! 💕
Prefer to shop online? Order now through Tahanan’s official website:
🔗 https://tahananbooks.ph/products/pretty-peach
Grab your copy and fall in love with Pretty Peach! 🍑💖
#PrettyPeach #TahananBooks #ValentineReads
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