Best-selling writer Nicholas Sparks happy to be in Manila

Nicholas Sparks (photo from hollywood.com)

Acclaimed American novelist Nicholas Sparks, who has touched the hearts of millions across the globe with his heartrending tales of love, loss and unwavering faith, finally gets to meet his Filipino fans for the first time.

Sparks arrived in Manila late Wednesday night to promote his 17th and latest novel, entitled “The Best of Me.” The Philippine leg of his book tour is hosted by National Book Store and Powerbooks, and serves as his only stop in Asia. “I wanted the chance to say hello and to thank the Filipino fans for reading my books,” he said.  He will be going to New Zealand and Australia after his Manila tour.

Tagalog tweet

“Mabuhay,” he greeted members of the press with a hearty smile during the media conference Thursday at C3 Events Place in Greenhills, San Juan City.

The Filipino Twitter community has been all abuzz since Sparks announced his plans to visit the Philippines two months ago, especially when he had tweeted in Tagalog. “Aking tiyahin ay mula sa Maynila. Siya itinuro sa akin (sic),” he had tweeted, owing his knowledge of the language to a Filipino aunt.

A first-time visitor to the Philippines, he said he was very happy with the warm welcome he received from the moment he arrived in Manila.

“Having a fantastic time in Manila! What a wonderful place! And the people are great!” Sparks had posted on his Twitter account Thursday morning.

Book signing

Sparks will be having a book-signing session Friday at 5 p.m. at the Podium in Ortigas, Pasig City. A second session has been added for Saturday at 11 a.m. in Powerbooks Greenbelt 4 Makati, where he will be signing 200 hardbound copies of “The Best of Me.”

“Having someone like Nicholas Sparks here in Manila is an amazing chance for Filipino readers to actually meet him,” said Xandra Ramos-Padilla, National Book Store’s Merchandising Director for Books. “Authors don’t come much bigger than Nicholas Sparks”

Choices

“The Best of Me” follows the story of former high school sweethearts who are reunited after 25 years when tragic circumstances prompt them to return to their hometown. “It’s a story about the choices we make and the consequences of those choices,” Sparks explained.

Asked why he writes love stories, he replied, “Every genre has a purpose. I write a love story, and the purpose of that genre is… to move the reader through all of the emotions of life. Because when you turn that final page, you’ve lived a mini-life between the covers.”

Film adaptations

Sparks wrote his first bestseller, “The Notebook,” at age 28, followed by a string of similarly successful novels. To date, his books have generated almost $80 million in worldwide sales, and have been translated into more than 45 languages. Film adaptations include “Message In A Bottle,” “A Walk To Remember,” “The Notebook,” “Nights In Rodanthe,” “Dear John,” and “The Last Song.” “The Lucky One,” which stars Zac Efron, is slated for tentative release in April next year.

Sparks also has two more movies lined up. “Safe Haven,” will start filming in March, while production of “The Best of Me” will begin sometime in August.