“A Single Bead of Water”

Who has the cure, when a god falls ill?

The Gintuan Islands are famous for their magical veterinarians. Tattoos called batoks appear on the most talented and symbolize the kind of enchantments they have on flora and fauna. In a world where each country’s flourishing is at the mercy of the animal gods, every student’s career is sealed. But when three childhood friends and star-graduates of Araw Academy are thrust into the most tumultuous war of the century, what choices do they make to ferry their stories to the other side?

Doctor Daniri and the twins, Doctor Habagat and Doctor Amihan, face each other in this re-imagined world of Southeast and East Asia where fantastical creatures freely roam the ground, sea, and sky. From the dog-sized koi swimming in the hushed ponds of Ninemu, the fire-breathing ember-scaled dragon skulking the mountain range of Xie San, the pink-toed spider languishing within the jungles of Mheung Khiao, to the Bakunawa—the great celestial-eating sea serpent of the Gintuan Islands.

Grant Awardee (Individual - Writers, Toronto Arts Council - 2023)

Grant Awardee (Recommender Grants for Writers, Ontario Arts Council - 2022)

Longlisted (First Chapters Contest, Voyage - 2021)

Get to know the gang…

DANIRI

*“Decaspermum fruticosum (‘Patalsik’) plant”*
**Araw Academy Program**: : Veterinary Medicine - Surgery Specialist
**Occupation**: General Practitioner - Nomadic
**Batok**: (Visual: ripples, rapids) Allows user to exchange life force and emotions to stabilize and calm patients, magical anesthesia.
**2 Truths and 1 Lie:**
1) Almost graduated top of class at Araw Academy, was narrowly beat by her rival.
2) Ampon, her dwarf dragon, was a gift from Habagat.
3) Stayed home in the Gintuan Islands to help rebuild the country during the Great Ilog war.

HABAGAT

*“The southern monsoon”*
**Araw Academy Program:** Veterinary Medicine - Megafauna Husbandry
**Occupation**: Bakunawa Temple - Head Caretaker
**Batok**: (Visual: caribou horns - not pictured) Allows user to assume complete control of a creature’s mobility for a limited period of time. // (Visual: bakunawa swallowing the moon) User’s life force is linked to the Bakunawa’s, cannot be a certain radius away from the god without suffering harm.

**2 Truths and 1 Lie:**
1) Has a twin brother he doesn’t particularly like.
2) Despite graduating top of class at Araw Academy, decided to become the Bakunawa’s caretaker.
3) Kept his promise to Daniri and traveled the Great Ilog with her so they would achieve their dream of becoming an infallible veterinarian duo.

AMIHAN

*“The northern monsoon”*
**Araw Academy Specialization**: Pathology - Medicinal Botany
**Occupation**: King’s Court - Head Researcher
**Batok**: (Visual: malunggay leaves) Allows user to enhance and speed up the effects of plant-based medicines
**2 Truths and 1 Lie:**
1) Has a twin brother he doesn’t particularly like.
2) Despite proclivity to remain in his lab, became one of the leading field medics during the Great Ilog war.
3) After the Great Ilog war, insisted on preserving his title at the King’s Court by refusing to join Daniri on her travels.

Bonus material…

FAQs…

The draft is completed and currently going through the revision process. I am most likely pacing the room not working on it. Hopefully, a physical book can be placed in your hands before 2027.
YES. I love editors. I’m tired of working. Please absolutely rip my book to shreds. I’ll pay you to do it.
As of now, I don’t! I’d love to have a chat with an agent or publisher. Here, take it, take my baby.
Hmmm, you don’t say?

…And a sneak peek!

[Bonus Chapter. This was originally the first chapter of the book but now it lives in the “Special Features” of a DVD menu somewhere.]

Five years after peace.

Like a slowing heartbeat, the ocean-blue light in the room softened. The tattoos that curled around Daniri’s elbows and wrists faded to black as her magic fell back asleep.

She glanced below at her cupped hands. A newborn otter was wriggling in her palms, its fur still wet and matted. Its eyes were tightly shut. Its tiny chirps were shrill and weak, searching for milk, for warmth, for its mother, for some reassurance that even though no one asks to be born, fate would be kind to it now that its life was set furiously into motion without so much of a choice. One of those was a broad assumption.

Daniri cleared her throat. Maybe it didn’t want milk.