PENGUIN Random House Southeast Asia published 'The Heart of Summer: Stories and Tales,' my book of short fiction, in August 2023. I am now writing a new book of short stories, culled from memories in my long life of people I have met and places I have been to.

For memory, as National Artist for Literature Dr. Jimmy Abad said, is the 'mother of all writing.' We embellish our memories, combine the qualities of several people, change scenarios and settings when we write our stories. One of the stories I have finished writing is about a resort hotel on a tropical island in the Philippines where strange events happen. There is also a gallery of characters.