Welcome

At Balboa Park, San Diego

Welcome to my author’s page.   This is where you’ll find updates on the book tour for The Mango Bride, articles and photos of my recent shenanigans, links to my blog and whatever else I can come up with to entertain you. Please feel free to leave comments, suggestions and the odd family recipe – I am as fascinated by food as I am by words and am at least as good a cook as I am a writer.

I hope we can meet in person at one of my book events.  Thanks for stopping in!

83 responses »

  1. Howdy! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your blog posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same topics? Thank you so much!

    Reply ↓

  2. Hi there I am so thrilled I found your web site, I really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Bing for something else,
    Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I
    don’t have time to look over it all at the minute but I have saved it and
    also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal
    more, Please do keep up the great jo.

    Reply ↓

  3. Browsing digg.com I noticed your site bookmarked as:
    Marivi Soliven. Now i’m assuming you bookmarked it yourself and wanted to ask if social bookmarking gets you a good deal of site visitors? I’ve been
    contemplating doing some book-marking for a few of my websites but wasn’t certain if it would produce any positive results. Thanks.

    Reply ↓

  5. Hi! I recently purchased a copy of The Mango Bride. I’m from Toronto, ON, Canada. Would you have specially signed bookplates for this novel? I wish to have my copy signed, if not inscribed. If you have no such plates, would it be possible for me to send one for an autographed?
    Thank you for your time.

    Reply ↓

  6. I came to the book review at The Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle last night with friends and enjoyed the passages you read so much that I bought your book. It was a pleasure to listen to you talk about your culture and how you got started as a writer. Talking to the people I came with, all were encouraged by the details of how to get a book published. True, it is not easy, but not impossible.

    I wrote a short blog about your book Thursday and will add another post today. For more information, please go to my website, monalisaestherlash5.com and look under Book Review Time.

    Reply ↓

      • It was such a pleasure to be in such a lively audience last night, Marivi. I look forward to reading your other books in the future. I started reading “The Mango Bride” this morning and love it already. Oh, and thank you for signing my book and liking my name. Monalisa is definitely a conversation starter. : )

    • By the way, if you’d like to read the nonfiction precursor of The Mango Bride, check out Suddenly Stateside – a collection of autobiographical essays on the immigrant experience. It’s available in Nook editions at Barnes and Noble and Kindle, at Amazon 🙂

      Reply ↓

  7. Very nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I hope you write once more very soon!

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  8. I don’t even understand how I stopped up right here, however I assumed this submit was great. I don’t know who you are however definitely you are going to a famous blogger in the event you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

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  9. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after going through many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I stumbled upon it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!

    Reply ↓

  12. Hi, Marivi! I love your book, The Mango Bride. I enjoyed reading it. It actually made me experience mixed emotions. Each character is just so real to me. Probably because I was born and raised in the Philippines and that I am also married to an American. It is just so sad that the American husband your character Beverly got is a very bad one! Just like in any nationality, there is always that bad or damaged one. This Josiah character is so scary. I hope there will be at least one Beverly who reads your book and learn from it. But I have to say this, not everyone is like Josiah! I am looking forward to reading more of your books. Congratulations!

    Reply ↓

  16. Hey there! It appears as though we both have a passion for the same thing.
    Your blog, “Marivi Soliven” and mine are very similar.
    Have you ever thought about writing a guest article
    for a similar website? It will certainly help gain publicity to
    your blog (my site recieves a lot of traffic). If you happen
    to be interested, contact me at: vickysaucier@inbox.
    com. Thanks for your time

    Reply ↓

  19. Good Day to you Ms Soliven!

    I’ve been rereading your books for lots of times now, and I really love the plot of it. Which is why I can’t wait for Tuesday, sorry for not attending your book signing this afternoon but I swear I will be on your lecture and book launch here on UST =)
    I’m a Thomasian student and I don’t have a class that time so I will definitely be there! Wishing you a fun and memorable day here in Philippines and WELCOME BACK! our country is blessed to have authors like you =) Continue to create great stories like The Mango Bride! Historical Fictions or even other genres.

    With All Due Respect,
    Apollo Martinez Patron
    A Bookworm =)

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  20. How was the book signing Ms. Soliven? Too bad I can’t come, but I won’t have to wait for long, see you this Tuesday! =)

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  21. Continue to create great stories like The Mango Bride Ms. Soliven! reading the novel is illuminating and entertaining at the same time, discussing issues such immigration, gender inequality, Filipino family culture and such is totally a great, it is not just for one group of individuals but for everyone. Historical Fictions do sometimes come as boring for most of the literary market, but in The Mango Bride, in covers both the history and the casual situation of families and lives of Filipinos. Lots of morals embedded in the story. Kudos for your great work Ms. Soliven =) See you on Tuesday here in UST and Mabuhay! Welcome Back to Philippines!

    Reply ↓

  22. Hello Ms Soliven – I discovered your books at Amazon…Just finished reading Suddenly Stateside – and enjoyed it very much..I also migrated to California and your book really captured the life of Pinoy immigrants here in the US of A..Great book!!!! So – now – I starting to read The Mango Bride. The only downside of buying the Kindle format? I will not be able to have your autograph:(
    Please keep on writing!!!Hope to meet you in person some day!

    Reply ↓

    • Thanks so much for reading my novel and Suddenly Stateside, which contains the nonfiction prequel (“The $3 Cebuana Fiancee”) to The Mango Bride! If you attend the Filipino-American Book Festival on October 19-21 you’ll meet many other wonderful writers — and I will certainly be speaking at that event, so perhaps we will actually meet 🙂

      Reply ↓

  23. Hello Ms Soliven – I discovered your books at Amazon…Just finished reading Suddenly Stateside – and enjoyed it very much..I also migrated to California almost 10 years ago – and your book really captured the life of Pinoy immigrants here in the US of A..Great book!!!! So – now – I am starting to read The Mango Bride. The only downside of buying the Kindle format? I will not be able to have your autograph:(
    Please keep on writing!!! Hope to meet you in person someday.

    Reply ↓

    • Thanks so much for your kind words, and for buying both books. Perhaps our paths will cross sooner than you think, if you attend the Filipino American Book festival which is in San Francisco from October 19-21. Meanwhile, if you have the time, please consider writing a review of Suddenly Stateside on Amazon to help spread the word.

      Reply ↓

  24. Kamusta,
    I’ve been savouring your delicious book, ever so slowly. A few more pages to go, like the last few bites in a drawn out meal. In a few weeks, i will gift it to my daughtee who lives in Oakland, and soon to give birth to her first child. She wants to be a writer and has been bugging me to reveal “my secrets”. I too “escaped” to the US, then Canada. Keep on writing, pakiusap lang.
    Salamat,
    Jojo
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Keep on writing, paki usa

    Reply ↓

  25. First of all I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you don’t mind. I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to writing. I’ve had difficulty clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or hints? Thank you!

    Reply ↓

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    Reply ↓

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    Reply ↓

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    And he in fact bought me breakfast simply because I found it for him…
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    Reply ↓

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  32. Right here is the perfect blog for anybody who hopes to understand this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that’s been discussed for many years. Great stuff, just wonderful!

    Reply ↓

  35. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited your blog before but after browsing through many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely pleased I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

    Reply ↓

  36. I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but
    your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on.

    Many thanks

    Reply ↓

  37. This is the perfect webpage for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a fresh spin on a topic which has been discussed for ages. Wonderful stuff, just excellent!

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  41. Іt’s a shame you don’t haνe É‘ donate button! I’d certainly donÉ‘te to this outstanding blоg!
    I suppose for now i’ll settle for bÖ…ok-marking and addiÕ¸g your RSS feed to my Google accouÕ¸t.
    I look forward to fresh updatеs and will talk about this site with my FaceЬook group.
    Talk Ñ•oon!

    Reply ↓

    • Thank you so much for visiting my website and mentioning it to your FB friends. Please let me know if you would like to take up The Mango Bride in any book clubs you might belong to – I would be delighted to set up an E-chat via skype. The Book Tour Page can show you how to arrange it!

      Reply ↓

  43. Good day! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted
    to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading your posts.
    Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same
    subjects? Many thanks!

    Reply ↓

  44. Have you ever considered publishing an e-book or guest authoring
    on other websites? I have a blog based upon on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would value your work.
    If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me
    an e mail.

    Reply ↓

  45. Hello Marivi,

    The Boston Filipino Book Club is currently reading “The Mango Bride.” We are going to discuss your book on Saturday, September 20th. Would you be able to join us via phone around 8pm (EST)?

    Maraming salamat, we are truly enjoying reading your book.

    Bren

    P.S. Kindly let us know via email.

    Reply ↓

  46. Hi, Ms. Soliven! My “Kano” husband picked up a copy of “The Mango Bride,” when we were at our local Barnes and Noble bookstore a few days ago, and handed it to me beaming as if his favorite football team had just scored a touchdown. I started reading it and couldn’t put it down. In fact, I skipped working the whole afternoon today so I could finish reading your book to the very end! It stirred up all kinds of feelings within me: nostalgia, sadness, delight, anger, empathy, and hunger for more of these kind of stories (and Filipino comfort food: shrimp paste and green mangoes!!). But more than just the sheer enjoyment of a well-crafted story that I resonated with on many levels, your novel has challenged me to pay more attention to the plight of women and immigrants, especially those who are suffering from domestic violence and abuse. Madamo gid nga salamat (this is my Filipino-Ilonggo self saying, “thank you very much!”) If you visit Philadelphia in one of your book tours, I would love to see you in person and chat more about your writing and food! I love M.F.K. Fisher, too – especially her book, “Love in a Dish.” I hope a sequel is in the works — I’d love to know what happens to Dona/Mama Concha and Nanay Marcela. I might just start a book club and recommend “The Mango Bride,” as our first read. Cheers and more power to you!

    Reply ↓

    • Dear Calay,

      Your words warmed my heart! I am so glad you enjoyed the book, especially since I too am half Ilongga. I’ve never been to Philadelphia and would love to visit one day. Meantime, please know that if you ever get that book club started, I’d be happy to chat with you on Skype. I’ve had Skype sessions with book clubs in Long Island, NY, twice now in Manila and am looking forward to a fourth with the Filipino Book Club in Boston. Thank you for letting me know what you thought of the book. I hope our paths cross one day. Ingat!

      Reply ↓

      • Yes, I hope so, too. I may just take up the challenge of starting a book club. Until then, Good luck on your writing. Be well kasimanwa/kababayan! Let me know if you’re dropping by Philly or south Jersey. – Calay

  47. Nice blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustments would really make my blog stand out. Let me know where you got your theme. Cheers

    Reply ↓

  48. Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some
    help from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up your own blog?
    I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out
    pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any ideas or suggestions?

    Thank you

    Reply ↓

  49. Congratulations on your TOP HAT award and it was a pleasure meeting you in person. I have photos of you and others that I can share with you if you wish.

    Reply ↓

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