On the ash-dusted shores of Lake Taal, a young widow takes one final favor from the water that drowned her husband—only to learn the lake keeps ledgers. When a silver-scaled fish drops into her pail and a soaked page clings to her hand, Mara Dacuycuy discovers that every catch is counted, every life recorded, and her brother’s name is marked due. As the moonless night approaches, she must decide what the lake truly deserves in payment—her guilt, her blood, or something far more ancient.

A haunting Filipino folk horror tale about grief, debt, and the price of survival.

My trip to the Philippines inspired my horror-romance novel The Heart of the Sea, weaving Filipino folklore, coastal landscapes, and love in the shadows.

My Philippine Airlines economy review: nonstop from LAX to Manila with friendly staff, Filipino meals, and comfort that exceeded expectations.