5 tips for scoring good titles at book fair

MANILA -- One of the biggest book fairs in Manila is back for another run, and we've got a few tips for book lovers looking to snag good deals at the fair.

The annual Manila International Book Fair, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, opened Wednesday at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, where it will run until Sunday.

With all five days of the fair packed with different activities and a flock of fellow book lovers hovering for popular books, here are five quick tips to get the most out of the event:

1. Work out a battle plan

Whether you're after children's books, Filipiniana or the latest bestsellers, it's always to good have a list of must-buys and booths to go to. Plan the budget you are willing to spend before heading on to the fair to make sure you'll be getting the best out of every peso.

2. Be prepared

With over 100 booths to visit, it is better to wear comfortable clothes and a good pair of shoes. Don't forget to bring extra bags in case you'll be buying more than what you planned for. You'll never know if you find a gem in the piles of books in the fair.

3. Weigh your options and look out for deals

It's important to think long and hard before purchasing something. But not too long, as stocks might run out fast.

Ask exhibitors for the different deals they have. Compare a particular book's price from one seller to another to make sure that you're buying at the best price available. You might even snag freebies along the way!

4. See what others are buying

You might be missing on some special releases or upcoming bestsellers, so it's good to ask exhibitors and other shoppers what books they can recommend to you.

5. Check the activity list

Another good thing about the 35th MIBF is that there are a lot of other activities lined up for the whole five days of the fair. Watch out for book launches, author sightings, storytelling sessions, program specials, or even quick meet-ups with other fellow book enthusiasts.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

KathNiel draws fan fiction on Wattpad

MANILA -- ABS-CBN teen sensations Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla topped the list of love teams featured in fan-fiction on Wattpad, an online community for discovering and sharing stories.

"There's a huge fan base for KathNiel on Wattpad," Kristel Tan, country manager for Wattpad, revealed during the opening of the Manila International Book Fair on Wednesday. "There are 2,500 stories on them alone."

Tan also reported that the love tean of Nash Aguas and Sharlene San Pedro, or NashLene, "is also among the top-rating fanfic loveteams on the site."

Wattpad has 25 million unique monthly users, 20% of which are Filipinos.

"The Philippines is our No. 2 market, right after the US. There are between 300,000 to 400,000 works in Filipino uploaded on the site," reported Wattpad co-founder Allen Lau.

A number of Filipino users whose stories first appeared on Wattpad have also been picked up by publishers and are now selling well in bookstores, including "Diary ng Panget" by HaveYouSeenThisGirl (PSICOM) and "She's Dating the Gangster" by Bianca B. Bernardino (Summit).

Recognizing their growing Filipino market, the Wattpad team is in the Philippines to join the book fair at the SMX Convention Center and meet their readers for the first time.

Lau is scheduled to give a talk on "How we amassed 300,000 fans and 100 million reads" on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the stage area.

The event also features a meet and greet with Wattpad’s hottest young writers, including, Denny (HaveYouSeenThisGirL), Louisse (fallenbabybubu), Ciara (seeyara), Janelle (greenwriter) and Ate Casper (mercy_jhigz).

Over 900 Wattpad users have already registered to attend the event.

The Manila International Book Fair runs until Sunday.

The co-located event, Best of Anime convention, kicks off this weekend, September 14-15 at Function Rooms 3 and 4, showcasing J-rock singer Joe Inoue, J-pop girl group Starmarie, international cosplayers Karael, Jiaki Darkness and Yuki Godbless, and Filipino cosplay celebrities Myrtle Sarrosa and Alodia and Ashley Gosiengfiao.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com