Dear Readers,

It's hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner and 2011 is nearly over! This issue we are honored to be featuring Gustare's Ginny de Guzman on the cover. Read her sweetly inspiring story and get your mitts on her book Bake Me A Cake, a Fully Booked publication.

Members of the staff write about their favorite 2011 reads. Check it out in our INSIDER section.

For something refreshing, read and view images of the marine life found in Anilao -- proof of the richness of the biodiversity of Philippine seas in our POSTCARD section.

Read about one of the world's most important postmodernist authors Haruki Murakami, in our EPILOGUE section. Also in this issue is the fictional yet inimitable detective Sherlock Holmes.

Finally, we present you with our 2011 Gift Guide in hopes that we can alleviate some of the stress of the season's shopping.

We'll keep this note short and sweet, and let the issue do the talking.
Have a happy Christmas and a great New Year!

The Fully Booked Zine Staff

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Dear Readers,

Next to Christmas, don't you just love Halloween?

This issue, join us as we celebrate the weird and wonderful, highlighting the "darker" genres of literature: crime, fantasy, horror, and science-fiction.

On the cover is Jim Lee, a name that is synonymous with DC Comics. Fully Booked's managing director, Jaime Daez, had the opportunity to interview him during the recent Comic-Con International in San Diego this July. In an article by Wincy Aquini Ong, discover how this iconic figure from the comics universe successfully juggles his numerous acts: publisher, artist, editor, and writer.

Read up on the latest offerings from the fiction and young adult sections, as well as the tastiest in crime fiction, according to Lori Baltazar. Take a sneak peek into the film adaptation of The Rum Diary, another edgy and wild read from the deranged genius that was Hunter S. Thompson.

Last but not least, meet the swashbuckling buccaneers of the Black Pearl Philippines as they plunder and pillage the High Seas of Fully Booked in an article by Jamila Nedjadi -- all this and more in this issue of the Fully Booked Zine!

Have a spine-tingling Halloween, ye landlubbers!

The Fully Booked Zine Staff

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Dear Readers,

Welcome to the 20th issue of the Fully Booked Zine. Read up on a variety of interesting -- delectable -- topics that all share one thing in common: a dedication to satisfy your appetite, be it for food, luxury, and even your darker desires.

On the cover is food writer and one of Manila's pioneer bloggers Lori Baltazar. Yvette Tan writes on just how passionate this fascinating and intelligent woman is about food, photography, writing and blogging, and literature. Readers will also be treated to Lori's Top 10, a list which includes five food purveyors and five home bakers. To complete our food journey, foodie Miles Versoza interviews epicure and cheese master Juan Lanuza on his venerable profession and also lists some of her favorite cheeses.

Read up on the latest non fiction, young adult, and lifestyle reads, as reviewed by Philip Cu Unjieng, among other gifted writers. Also, in our EPILOGUE section, is Paolo Jose Cruz's tribute to the incomparable Anais Nin, whose undisputed talent allowed her to wield her pen regardless of the steamy nature of her writing and her personal life. All this and more in this issue of the Fully Booked Zine.

As always, we would like to invite interested contributors to send a sample of their writing to fullybookedzine@fullybookedonline.com.

Pleasant reading!

The Editorial Staff

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Dear Readers,

This issue is dedicated to music and the arts.

On the cover is a scene out of Elmer, the Eisner-nominated graphic novel penned and illustrated by Mr. Gerry Alanguilan, a true-blooded Pinoy who has captivated comics fans with his gift for images and words. Luis Katigbak interviews this talented individual in this issue’s FB COVERS.

The local art scene has diversified considerably over the years yielding many fresh talents and mediums. Read about silversmiths 13 Lucky Monkey, poster designer JP Cuison, and graffiti artists Pilipinas Street Plan in an article by Michaela Lola Abrera in our FEATURE section.

Erwin T. Romulo writes about the tragedy and the burning genius of late Rolling Stones guitarist and co-founder Brian Jones for our EPILOGUE section.

Last but not least, we feature OPM icon Ely Buendia, whose contribution to the local music scene has not only left an indelible impression on many aspiring musicians, but has also evolved with his continuing forays in music.

Enjoy the read!

The Fully Booked Zine Staff

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Dear Readers,

In the words of Janis Joplin: "Summertime, time, time, child, the living's easy." She forgot to mention the heat, the constant twiddling of thumbs (and toes if you're extra dexterous) while searching for something to wile away those long hours of daylight -- if you're one of the lucky ones with a summer vacation, and the frustration of going on holiday only to find out that the entire metropolis had the very same idea. Sounds like a real bummer, huh? Well, this issue was conceived for the very purpose of proving Miss Joplin right.

Laughter is the best medicine for anything, and this issue's cover story is your prescription. We feature Hilary Winston, best known for her work on the TV shows My Name is Earl and Community. Yvette Tan interviews Winston on the ups, downs, and sidewinders of her dating life, in her tell-all book entitled, My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About Me. Guess what. He really did.

Our INSIDER section dishes up reviews from discriminating contributors on current and upcoming books from a variety of genres, which will definitely make you forget the heat and take you places -- even if only in your mind, and not aboard a cruise ship on its way to the Caribbean.

An article on post-apocalyptic literature sheds some light on why tales of bleak landscapes and children forced into premature adulthood have dominated bestseller lists for quite some time now. Hunger Games anyone?

In our EPILOGUE section, we feature author and blogger Hector Garcia, a gaijin whose successful assimilation into Japanese culture has produced a wonderful book and blog on the wonders of the Land of the Rising Sun.

As promised, take a look at our BULLETIN section where you will find a variety of events to keep you satisfied and occupied this summer -- no matter what age you are!

Last but certainly not least, we'd like to greet all the moms out there a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Have a great summer, and happy reading!

The Fully Booked Zine Staff

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