Category Archives: Hot Off the Press

[email_link]

‘GALADRIA,’ the First Release in a New Fantasy Trilogy by Miguel Lopez De

Leon, Reaches Amazon’s Best Seller List in its First Week of Publication

This new book is being touted by some to be the next Harry Potter.

“GALADRIA: Peter Huddleston and the Rites of Passage” has soared in its first week of publication to become a best seller on Amazon.

Miguel Lopez De Leon, an accomplished short story writer, is thrilled to debut his premiere novel with the first book in a series of the fantastical story of Galadria. Peter Huddleston lived a dull life in a quiet town with his decidedly normal father and stepmother; he awoke each morning with the intention to fit in and be like everyone else. But something always seemed to get in the way of those best intentions.

Peter, the book’s main character, has been touted by journalists as the next Harry Potter. The book is written for young adults but people of all ages are buying and enjoying it. De Leon is making appearances at schools in the Los Angeles area and speaking to students about GALADRIA. He wants students to recognize their worth and understand that seemingly ordinary people all have extra-ordinary gifts if they are open to the possibilities.

In GALADRIA, Peter blunders from one misunderstanding to another until his exasperated father bundles him off for the summer to visit his Aunt Gillian at her home, Hillside Manor.

Peter quickly learns that Hillside Manor is no ordinary summer retreat, and that his aunt is anything but an ordinary woman. Within its vast walls, and 3,000 rooms, the wondrous manor houses many secrets, including the fact that it serves as a gateway between our world and the mysterious Galadria, where Peter’s family currently rules. Peter has been summoned to Hillside to learn that he is the only heir to the royal family, and to determine if he is prepared to face the Rites of Passage.

The rites are not the only challenges Peter will face during his summer of tutelage at the hands of his aunt and her strange and fascinating entourage. Peter is embroiled in the dynastic challenge as his aunt’s heir, inheriting the enmity of Knor of the House of Shadowray, who covets the crown of Galadria. With his trusty boomerang and armed with magical trinkets, Peter gamely faces the challenges to prove himself in this eccentric and privileged world. Aid comes from strange and unexpected places, but inexorably Peter is pushed and tested to his breaking point. His successes put him in evermore peril and catapult him closer to a confrontation with Knor, and to a grizzly realization that he might not survive the summer!

Miguel Lopez de Leon, who lives in Los Angeles, is grateful to all the kooky characters he’s met in his life, who have been a true and constant inspiration to his imagination. He is currently working on the second installment of the GALADRIA series, “Peter Huddleston and the Mists of the Three Lakes.”

For more information on the GALADRIA series go to www.wakestonepress.com. Available through Ingram Book Group. Publisher is based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. For more information about the author and GALADRIA visit www.miguellopezdeleon.com

In the Philippines, GALADRIA will be exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Alabang.

Miguel Lopez de Leon

Miguel Lopez de Leon is a novelist who lives in Los Angeles and is the author of the “GALADRIA” fantasy book series. Book 1, “GALADRIA: Peter Huddleston & The Rites of Passage” (Published by Moonshadow Press, an imprint of Wakestone Press) is the first book of the series, followed by Book 2, “GALADRIA: Peter Huddleston & The Mists of the Three Lakes” (Coming out in 2012). Successive books of the series will come out each year.

Prior to his novels, Miguel was an accomplished short story writer, even winning first place in Writer’s Digest Magazine’s “Your Story # 24” writing contest. His short story, “A Working Professional,” beat out over 550 other competitors in the international contest.

 Miguel’s  various short stories were published in The Shine Journal, The Oddville Press Magazine, The Cynic Magazine, Fantastic Horror Magazine, The Absent Willow Review, Hungur Magazine, Illumen Digest, Sounds of the Night Magazine, Niteblade Magazine,The Solid Gold Anthology- UK (Published by Gold Dust Magazine), The Cover of Darkness Anthology, as well as seven separate paperback anthologies by Pill Hill Press.

Aside from writing, Miguel’s other interests include the real estate business, financial investing, and philanthropic work with several international organizations.

Miguel has also modeled for various international brands, such as Diesel, and was chosen as the main face for a print ad campaign for the Italian brand “Bergamo.”

[email_link]

Please buy Manila Bulletin today (nov 18) for your free copy of style weekend! on the cover: Michael and Kathy Huang are home for the holidays!

photographed by Kai Hang

styled by Donna Cuna-Pita

makeup by Byron Velasquez

hair by Eddiemar Caniltes

Also in this issue: Sarah meier-albano’s mon-sun style, gift guide features things for the home, interview with Nicholas Sparks, what to do in Bacolod City, a lust-worthy handmade wooden chair, and more!

[email_link]