A call for all the sci-fi, fantasy and horror writers out there, you are not alone.

For the budding writer who has spent his days dreaming of worlds that are light-years away, and mentally blueprinting technologies that would only shock our current society, it’s time for you to come out of your shadows.

“We are readers who write, and writers who read. “ This is the no-fuss explanation that Dean Alfar gave of the Lit critters. Dean and Nikki Alfar along with Kate and Alex Osias have been at the forefront of Genre stories in the recent years. Through their collective efforts combined with individual literary accomplishments, they are slowly opening up a new world where comic book lovers, sci-fi enthusiasts, fantasy junkies and horror devotees will feel at home.

More than being good friends, together they are also writers in the purest form of the word. As they constantly try to refine their craft, they relate how they have been each other’s biggest fans and worst critics.

Being all lively, clever and talented individuals, it is no surprise that they each hold different tastes that could end up being in stark contrast to each other. That being said, they are an example of how differences can be a helpful tool in lifting fellow writers up.

Despite having their unique quirks, they are bound together not only by their love and friendship for each other, but also by their pure, unwavering and infectious love for literature. Together they fight to give speculative fiction a more widespread audience here in the Philippines.

With their latest work culminating in the launch of the 6^th volume of Philippine Speculative Fiction, their inclination towards these genre stories can also be seen with a survey of their past works.

Being voracious readers themselves, they want to give people the chance to feel the same enjoyment and passion that reading has given them. In a generation where status updates will be the pinnacle of most people’s writing and reading repertoire, their ideal of rekindling a person’s love for literature is both a noble and necessary goal.

Their plan is simple: to get people to read.

“Speculative Fiction, gives insight through a different lens. “ As a self-professed speculative fiction fan, Dean Alfar reiterates the importance of having this genre available to the people. The stereotypical idea of literature being constantly realistic is understandable because most bookstands are overflowing with fiction of domestic and social realism. However, the other side to it is literature that is meant to entertain, to spark not just one’s intellect but also the imagination for things that was never thought to be possible and along with that have a story that can still be related to, a story that still matters.

They hope to bring the readers back to that feeling of astonishment that we have all once had when we heard a story that stayed in our hearts and played with our imagination. It is that interest and that curiosity that they wish to see through the readership that they are trying to gain.

“ There is physical proof of people who read and write,” says Kate Osias in noting the effects of Philippine Speculative Fiction on its readers. Kate Osias, along with Nikki Alfar, was the editor of the current Philippine speculative fiction and Kate will be editing the 7^th anthology with Alexander Osias. As the history of Philippine Speculative fiction goes, it was created by Dean Alfar in his earnest desire to see an anthology of speculative fiction from local writers.

Being experienced in the genre, Dean Alfar has been internationally recognized rubbing shoulders with Neil Gaiman and Stephen king, however a point he would like to emphasize is the need to cultivate the speculative fiction writers here. And with the first call for submission for Philippine speculative fiction 6 years ago, the rest, as they say is history.

Despite their accomplishments, they remain down to earth individuals simply hoping to get people to be as they are, readers who write and writers who read.

In line with their personal advocacy, they open their circle by inviting all writers to be part of Lit critters as well, as it continues to provide a safe environment for writers to explore their creativity and engage in a healthy dialogue.

For more information, visit:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_125744304148693&ap=1

Don’t forget to drop by the nearest Fully Booked and grab a copy of the latest Philippine Speculative Fiction.

There isn't enough chamomile tea in the world to quell the rage in your heart. Or the poetry in your veins.

Send in your most wazak poem for possible inclusion in WAZAK!: An Anthology Of Contemporary Philippine Poetry (Edited by Khavn De La Cruz & Joel M. Toledo) that will be launched this September 2, 2011 during the 4th .MOV International Film, Music, & Literature Festival.

There are no hard and fast rules on what's wazak or what's a poem. Send in your left foot if you think that qualifies

(your right foot's already included).

Please provide the English translation of any poem that is written in Filipino or other Philippine language. Open to all Filipinos in the archipelago and beyond.

Email your works (maximum of three poems per author) to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , subject heading "ANTHOLOGY" on or before June 12, 2011.

In the name of the revolution.

4th .MOV International Film, Music, & Literature Festival

September 1 to 3, 2011

www.facebook.com/movfest

www.movfest.org

Germinate. Word!

Thanks for the early bird submissions: Gemino Abad, Ricky Torre, Karl De Mesa, Ricardo de Ungria, Bienvenido Lumbera, German Gervacio, Easy Fagela, Joseph Saguid, Vim Nadera,  Pete Lacaba, et al.

Source:

http://www.facebook.com/MovFest#!/notes/mov-international-film-music-literature-festival/call-for-entries-wazak-an-anthology-of-contemporary-philippine-poetry/205466842824672

Philippine Speculative Fiction volume 6 is now available in Fully Booked. Published by Dean Alfar and edited by Nikki Alfar and Kate Osias, the anthology continues to be a literary treat to Sci-fi, Horror and Fantasy readers alike.

For more information check out:

http://www.rocketkapre.com/2011/nikki-alfar-and-kate-aton-osias-talk-psf6/

Launched in Fully Booked last May 18, they also announced their call for submission for the 7th volume. Details included below:

Editors Alex and Kate Osias invite you to submit short fiction for consideration for Philippine Speculative Fiction volume 7.

Philippine Speculative Fiction is a yearly anthology series, which collects a wide range of stories that define, explore, and sometimes blur the boundaries of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and all things in between. The anthology has been shortlisted for the Manila Critics’ Circle National Book Award, and multiple stories from each volume have been cited in roundups of the year’s best speculative fiction across the globe.

First-time authors are more than welcome to submit; good stories trump literary credentials any time.

Submissions must be:

1. speculative fiction—i.e., they must contain strong elements or sensibilities of science fiction, fantasy, horror, magic realism, alternate history, folklore, superheroes, and/or related ‘nonrealist’ genres and subgenres

2. written in English

3. authored by persons of Philippine ethnicity and/or nationality

Submissions are preferred to be:

1. original and unpublished

2. no shorter than 1,000 words and no longer than 7,500

3. written for an adult audience

In all cases, these preferences can be easily overturned by exceptionally well-written pieces. In the case of previously-published work—if accepted, the author will be expected to secure permission to reprint, if necessary, from the original publishing entity, and to provide relevant publication information.

Submission details:

1. No multiple or simultaneous submissions—i.e., submit only one story, and do not submit that story to any other publishing market until you have received a letter of regret from us. We don’t mind if you submit to contests.

2. All submissions should be in Rich Text Format (saved under the file extension ‘.rtf’), and emailed to kate.osias at gmail.com, with the subject line ‘PSF7 submission’.

3. The deadline for submissions is midnight, Manila time, September 30, 2011. Letters of acceptance or regret will be sent out no later than one month after the deadline.

Editors’ notes:

1. Please don’t forget to indicate your real name in the submission email! If you want to write under a pseudonym, that’s fine, but this can be discussed upon story acceptance. Initially, we just need to know who we’re talking to.

2. If you’d like to write a cover letter with your brief bio and publishing history (if applicable), do feel free to introduce yourself—but not your story, please. If it needs to be explained, it’s probably not ready to be published.

3. We advise authors to avoid fancy formatting—this will just be a waste of your time and ours, since we will, eventually, standardize fonts and everything else to fit our established house style.

There will be compensation for selected stories, but we’ve yet to determine exactly what. In previous years, we’ve provided contributor copies of the book, as well as small royalty shares, but we are considering shifting Philippine Speculative Fiction to digital format, so we may be shifting to outright financial payment as well.

Please help spread the word!

Thanks,

Alex and Kate Osias, co-editors

Dean Alfar, publisher

Philippine Genre Stories has recently launched its 7th volume, the last issue in print before going on to continue their publication online. Philippine Genre Stories is a labor of love to the fullest extent; having its humble beginnings in 2006 it was started by Kenneth Yu, a writer himself and an avid reader, in hopes of getting people to read.

“Genre,” a term that emerged in the literary world in the 50’s and 60’s refers to a class of literary works that gear towards science fiction, horror, fantasy and crime.

An aspect of literature that does not always get its due attention, Philippine Genre Stories presents itself as a venue for writers who are drawn to these topics and encourages them to unleash their imaginations on the pages of the digest for people to read.

With the goal of sparking the fire of curiosity with its unique and exciting stories, Kenneth attempts to bring back the love of reading to this new generation.

The current issue explores the intricacies of crime. Edited by F.H. Batacan, the writer of Smaller and Smaller Circles, the crime issue contains 5 stories from various writers exploring their own aspect of the subject.

To know more, grab a copy of the latest issue available in Comic Quest and Avalon.ph.

Despite being their last issue in print Philippine Genre Stories will continue their publication online through : www.philippinegenrestories.com

Also visit their blog: philippinegenrestories.blogspot.com

pgenrestories.multiply.com