Renato Tranquilino on Monetizing Your Books and the Pinoy Sci-Fi Scene

It’s a known fact that romance and poetry are two of the most popular genres in the Philippine literature scene, but did you know that there’s a genre that has the potential to make it big in the next few years?
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi or SF) has gained traction in recent years with the release of dystopian-themed novels and shows about robots and aliens. In an article from The Statesman, Claire Gehlic stated that due to the renewed interest in cutting-edge technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and increased Internet access, “people’s desire for escapism has reached new heights, resulting in the increased production of books, television series, and films in the genre.”
If we were to look at the numbers, there is a steady rise in terms of profits for the genre. According to statistics from Wordsrated, Sci-Fi and Fantasy earned US$590 million in revenue in the United States alone in 2023. In the world of comic books, sci-fi sales grew by 8.3% in 2021 compared to 2020, and the genre ranks within the top 10 on Amazon’s most competitive categories list.
In the Philippines, the SF genre began in the 1940s with the release of novels such as “Doktor Satan” by Mateo Cruz Cornelio, which was an R. L. Stevenson-inspired story about a medical doctor searching for a cure for his mother’s terminal illness. Apart from a couple of novels from this time, the genre was only ever read in comic books with most being in the pulp variety.
We don’t know about you, but we’re seeing a lot of untapped potential for Pinoy Sci-Fi considering its global demand. And this is what Sci-Fi and urban fantasy author Renato Tranquilino intends to do as he spreads more awareness for the genre to revive Pinoy Sci-Fi to its former glory.
But what exactly is Pinoy Sci-Fi? We asked the author himself.
“Pinoy Sci-Fi is a genre that attempts to combine Philippine myths and creatures with advanced tech and weaponry. Think Riddick or the Dragonriders of Pern. Then when you think of the universe I created, think of Raymond E. Feist's ‘The Riftworld Saga.’ My recent book available on Amazon is ‘The Culling in Proxima,’ and this book shows how I see the Philippines, combining the world of mysticism and science.”
Renato embarked on his writing journey in 2019 when he wrote his first novel, “The Merovingian,” which also had a comic book version called “The Rise of the Filipino Merovingian.” Currently, the Filipino-Australian has four books under his belt, including “The Hong Kong Connection” and “Fate of a Distant Future,” which was featured at the Hong Kong Book Fair and Frankfurt Book Fair to represent Pinoy Sci-Fi.

There’s no doubt the genre provides escapism that audiences crave and has many thrilling subjects and premises that have yet to be explored. But the question still stands: Is Pinoy Sci-Fi a profitable genre to write in?
“Online-streaming studios are hungry for new content,” Renato explained. “That's why they started to do a lot more things like Netflix's ‘Black Mirror’ or Apple's ‘Severance.’ But they also started to get more Asian content, like the ones from Thailand, and of course, ‘Trese.’ Half the world’s population is in Asia!”
The SF author also added that there’s a global interest in diverse Sci-Fi stories, which encourages publishers to produce more books that feature stories beyond the West. In turn, production companies and streaming platforms are releasing more shows and movies in the genre, with books being one of their top source materials. This proves that financial opportunities go beyond book sales and can expand to film, TV, and eventually merchandise.
“It’s new and it has not been commercially available for over 20 years,” Renato told The Beat Asia as he explained that Pinoy Sci-Fi lacks recognition of being classed as literature in the Philippines. It was even removed as a genre from the Palanca Awards in 2006, the country’s most prestigious literary award for writers. The author also voiced that due to this, there is a lack of commercial support from most educational institutions except the NBDB (National Book Development Board).
“Apart from something new, I think the financial reward that this genre will bring to the country is what makes it an exciting genre to pursue.”
Monetizing Strategies for Authors
If you’re a budding writer looking to get your foot in the door, the first step is to have an actual book to sell. Renato gave a fascinating talk during the Philippine Book Festival last month about how to make money from Pinoy Sci-Fi, and how authors can profit from their writing careers.
Renato emphasized that a book is a product, and that for it to be able to sell well, authors must make sure it’s ready. Books usually undergo a long process of proofing, editing, and research. One must know their target audiences and prepare their online pages, such as a website or social media handles, to have a space to display their work.
When it comes to getting published, Renato explained that there are three paths one can take: Traditional, Self-Publishing, and the Literary Agent route.
Traditional Publishing
- Pro: You won’t have to pay anything.
- Pro: Marketing is handled by the publisher.
- Con: All rights belong to the publisher.
Self-Publishing
- Pro: All rights belong to the writer, including for film and merchandise.
- Con: You will have to pay for all costs and handle everything, including marketing, negotiations, and publicity.
Literary Agent
- Pro: They will negotiate terms with the publisher.
- Pro: They will market your work and get the publicity it deserves.
- Pro: Agents can get you published by bigger or international publishers, thus you’ll have a wider audience reach.
- Con: Agents get a 20% cut or more of your earnings.
- Con: Agents know best, so you must comply with all their plans for your book.
- Con: You will need to query and find an agent interested in representing your work.
All paths have their advantages and disadvantages, but when it comes to making the most out of your work, Renato suggested, “Get a literary agent. I have tried both, and getting an agent is best because they will connect you with the right publisher who will pay your story's worth.”

Renato also explained in his talk how a huge part of being a writer is marketing your work, which can be done in several ways, including:
- Maintaining and creating content on your social media pages. This also includes regularly posting purchase links for your books and setting up giveaways.
- Doing talks at schools and universities.
- Attending book events for exposure and networking opportunities.
- Entering competitions to gain recognition and awards.
- Working with a PR (Public Relations) person for guestings.
The author also mentioned the importance of getting connected with NBDB as the organization offers Philippine authors the chance to gain more exposure for their work such as sending writers to represent the country in international book fairs, providing grants for book translations, and getting you connected with all the right people in the global publishing industry.
If you’re planning to self-publish or don’t have a traditional publisher yet, Renato encourages you to sign up with the organization to utilize their services and opportunities. You can register here.
Currently, Renato is taking the agented route and has just released the sequel to “The Merovigian,” as well as two other books entitled "Eden” and “Proxima.” Advanced copies are now available on Amazon or via direct order from the author.
If you’re interested in checking out his other works, you can purchase them from Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing, Fully Booked, and Lazada.
You can also follow the author on Facebook for more updates on his latest releases and book events.
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