Victor Manibo
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victormanibo.com
Victor Manibo
@victormanibo.com
3.1K followers 1.3K following 740 posts
Author of THE SLEEPLESS (2022), ESCAPE VELOCITY (2024), DEAD NOTE (5/15/2025), and THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED (11/25/2025) • Lambda Literary Fellow • NYC via MNL • he/him 🏳️‍🌈

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Here are some snaps from Monday’s delightful launch event—my deepest thanks to @claymcleod.bsky.social for being such an insightful and generous interlocutor, and to Strand Bookstore for always supporting my work. Thank you too to everyone who came out and celebrated with us! … ⬇️
Victor signing the title page of THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED Clay Mcleod Chapman and Victor seated on brown leather stage on a stage, holding mics. Backdrop is wall shelves of old leatherbound books; between the authors is a Strand banner and a table with copies of The Villa, Once Beloved on it Victor and Clay standing in front of a seated audience in Strand’s Rare Book Room, all smiling, Clay holding a copy of The Villa, Once Beloved
November 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
victormanibo.com
After a long journey, we have finally arrived at THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED. I’m so grateful for getting to tell this complex and horrifying Gothic tale, and especially proud as I think this is my best work to date. I hope you all fall in love with it as much as I have. … ⬇️
Victor Manibo wearing a black turtleneck with a sparkly beetle shaped brooch on his chest, seated behind a table holding upright a copy of THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED. To his right are stacked copies of the same book, and to his left are his three novels, THE VILLA, THE SLEEPLESS, and ESCAPE VELOCITY. Background is a red step-and-repeat backdrop of Strand Bookstore logos.
November 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
victormanibo.com
BROOKLYN! Join me and bestselling author @ryanlasala.bsky.social in celebrating the launch of THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED on 12/9, 6 PM at The Twisted Spine! More info ⬇️
Graphic, black background, ornate gold border. Text up top in white reads “the Twisted Spine presents” then below, covers of THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED and THE DEAD OF SUMMER, and below each, headshots of the respective authors, Victor Manibo and Ryan La Sala. Between the photos, text reads “Victor Manibo in conversation with Ryan La Sala”. Below the photos, text reads “Tues Dec 9 6 PM 306 Grand St Brooklyn, NY”
November 19, 2025 at 6:56 PM
victormanibo.com
Stopped by the stationers and got a new pen and inks for Fountain Pen Day
Green steel fountain pen (Faber Castell neo slim), cap off, black steel nib, on top of white box; next to rectangular bottle of brown ink (Pilot iroshizuku yama-guri), silver box behind it; next to pear shaped bottle of dark green ink (Dominant Industry forest), brown box behind it; all items on top of wooden desk
November 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
victormanibo.com
Based on true events, THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED is a contemporary gothic horror set in a cursed manor on a coconut plantation—it’s got ghosts and witches and creepy crawlies and demons, all coming for you in three weeks!

Thank you,
@cadwellturnbull.bsky.social, for the kind words!

More info ⬇️
Reddish brown background showing detail of an ornate wood carving. Foreground is text that reads: "A gothic family saga about the price of privilege...And beneath this very real, immaculately-rendered drama, a simmering dread: dark secrets threatening to emerge, along with something much worse. The Villa, Once Beloved is a magnificent terror." - Cadwell Turnbull Award-winning author of The Lesson and The Convergence Saga Below the text is an image of the hardcover for THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED by Victor Manibo On the lower left and lower right hand corners are the logos of Erewhon Books and Kensington Publishing respectively
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
victormanibo.com
…it just doesn’t get more noir than this. #Halloween
Full body shot of Victor dressed as Jamie Mardox/Multiple Man from the Peter David era—long brown coat, hunter green shirt with light green MM logo, X-belt, M brand over the right eye—standing in middle of hallway Close up of Victor dressed as Jamie Mardox/Multiple Man from the Peter David era—long brown coat, hunter green shirt with light green MM logo, M brand over the right eye—standing in doorway
November 1, 2025 at 5:40 PM
victormanibo.com
My tropical Gothic horror novel THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED is almost here and now you can get a chance at a finished copy before pub date, thanks to this Goodreads giveaway! Entry details below
Graphic: peach and yellow background, text up top reads “goodreads giveaways” below that, the cover of The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo. Below that, text reads “Enter for a chance to win one of 100 finished copies!” Lower left hand corner has Erewhon Books logo, lower right hand text reads “Ends 11/13/25. Terms apply”
October 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
victormanibo.com
Based on true events, THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED is a contemporary gothic horror set in a cursed manor on a coconut plantation—it’s got ghosts and witches and creepy crawlies and demons, all coming for you this fall.

Thank you, @megelison.bsky.social for the kind words!

More info below
Reddish brown background showing detail of an ornate wood carving. Foreground is text that reads: "Manibo is the kind of writer who knows what's forever: the gothic, the triumph of queers, the family fable. He puts all that up against what cannot stand: colonialism, small-mindedness, the lies that keep us from ourselves. The Villa, Once Beloved is a now and forever banger." Meg Elison, author of The Pill Below the text is an image of the hardcover for THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED by Victor Manibo On the lower left and lower right hand corners are the logos of Erewhon Books and Kensington Publishing respectively
October 15, 2025 at 3:54 PM
victormanibo.com
THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED advance copies are up for grabs in this goodreads giveaway! Be one of the first to get a hold of my upcoming gothic horror, perfect for spooky season. Details below
Graphic: peach and yellow background, text up top reads “goodreads giveaways” below that, the cover of The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo. Below that, text reads “Enter for a chance to win a free advance copy!” Lower left hand corner has Erewhon Books logo, lower right hand text reads “Ends 10/17/25. Terms apply”
October 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
victormanibo.com
I’ll be at Twisted Spine Books in a few weeks for a spooky season reading to celebrate SIGNOS: A Fiction Anthology of Filipino Supernatural from Radix! Stoked to be in this stellar lineup with my faves, and if you’re in or near BK, I hope you can join us. More info ⬇️
Three-panel graphic with black background. Left side has white text that reads: “the twisted spine PRESENTS A celebration of the new anthology Signos: A Fiction Anthology of Filipino Supernatural Co-Sponsors AAWW RADIX” And their respective logos Center panel has book cover for SIGNOS: A Fiction Anthology of Filipino Supernatural And below that, text that reads: “TUES OCT 28 7:00 PM 306 Grand St BROOKLYN, NY” Right panel has white text that reads: “With Ghost Story Readings by: Gina Apostol Victor Manibo Lara Stapleton Patrick Rosal Rohan Zhou-Lee FREE ADMISSION” And above each name is the respective author’s headshot
October 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
victormanibo.com
October is #FAHM. There’s tons to say about being Filipino, America, and the countries’ shared history than could fit here, so I wrote about it for my newsletter dropping later this week

Sign up now if you haven’t yet. And till 10/13, new subscribers get a chance to win THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED 🔗⬇️
Graphic with cream bkgd and black text that reads on top “SUBSCRIBE AND GET A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THREE SIGNED COPIES” Under that, the cover for THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED superimposed over a wall of red text that reads GIVEAWAY Under that, black text that reads VICTORMANIBO.COM/NEWSLETTER Closes 10/13/25 at 11:59 PM EDT Open globally
October 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
victormanibo.com
LAUNCH EVENT! Join me at the Strand as we usher into the world my gothic horror child, with one of my horror idols @claymcleod.bsky.social (Jsyk, his delicious new book Acquired Taste pairs well with mine, so go pick it up).

More book tour stops coming soon but if you’re in NY, grab your tix now ⬇️
Graphic with Victor Manibo’s headshot, and book cover for The Villa, Once Beloved on red and white background. Text reads: NOV 24 7 PM BOOK LAUNCH FOR VICTOR MANIBO Victor Manibo + Clay McLeod Chapman: The Villa, Once Beloved Strand Book Store • New York, NY Nov 24 at 19:00 Strand Book Store logo in upper right corner
October 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
victormanibo.com
Date night at the opera. Kavalier & Clay is a top-tier all-time fave of mine, and seeing it reimagined in this new form got me all emotional
Foreground: my hand holding the playbill for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay at the Metropolitan Opera, depicting a masked blond comic book superhero bearing a key emblem in on his costume’s chest, holding chains in his hand. Background: Met Opera stage backdrop with the show title projected on black, orchestra pit Foreground: two men standing against a railing and holding hands; background: Met Opera sputnik chandeliers, Grand Tier restaurant, entrance lobby
September 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
victormanibo.com
Based on true events, THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED is a contemporary gothic horror set in a cursed manor on a coconut plantation—and it’s coming this fall.

Thank you, @aijiang.bsky.social, for the kind words!

More info in 🧵

#TheVillaOnceBeloved
#VictorManibo
Reddish brown background showing detail of an ornate wood carving. Foreground is text that reads: "A gothic, haunting tale of estrangement, dissecting the complexities of identity and diaspora, intergenerational trauma, and the helplessness of vicious cycles in a slow burn narrative bound together by chains of secrets buried and unearthed." — Ai Jiang, Stoker Award-winning author of A Palace Near the Wind Below the text is an image of the hardcover for THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED by Victor Manibo On the lower left and lower right hand corners are the logos of Erewhon Books and Kensington books respectively
September 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
victormanibo.com
Always running late in the morning because sean leaves me chess puzzles overnight and i can’t leave without solving them
Chessboard and chess pieces on a credenza
September 15, 2025 at 6:20 PM
victormanibo.com
OUT 11/25/25

🔗⬇️
Reddish brown background showing detail of an ornate wood carving. Foreground is text that reads: "Lush, richly imagined, and utterly entrancing as it builds a deeply unsettling dread, The Villa, Once Beloved is set within a historical context that gives the horror the heft it deserves. Step through the doors of this Filipino villa and you won't even dream of escaping." - Emily Carpenter Author of Gothictown and Burying the Honeysuckle Girls Below the text is an image of the hardcover for THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED by Victor Manibo On the lower left and lower right hand corners are the logos of Erewhon Books and Kensington books respectively
September 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
victormanibo.com
NOW TILL FRIDAY! @barnesandnoble.com is running a huge sale on preorders, including my upcoming gothic THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED. Y’all know the drill. Stock up, and get my book while you’re at it. Preorders are a great way to tell the powers that be to publish more of my books
Graphic with green background and gold line drawings of leaves on the top left and bottom right edges; text reads “BARNES & NOBLE 25% OFF FOR PREMIUM & REWARDS MEMBER PREORDERS WITH CODE: PREORDER25” In the center, a hardcover of THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED by Victor Manibo next to an e-reader showing the same cover
September 3, 2025 at 1:01 PM
victormanibo.com
Three years ago this week, I debuted with The Sleepless, and now here I am, four books in. Most of you might not know, but I wrote these in publication order, so not only is this is a snapshot of my range of interests, it also shows my coming-of-age as a writer. …
White textured background; foreground is a two by two array of Victor Manibo’s book covers: The Sleepless (mostly black and purple with yellow text showing title and author, graphic of three sets of eyes), Escape Velocity (an astronaut in front of an Earthrise holding a cocktail tray), Dead Note (mostly sunset colors, a woman facing the Manila cityscape), and The Villa, Once Beloved (a colonial Philippine manor on the top half and its negative image flipped in the bottom half)
August 28, 2025 at 1:17 PM
victormanibo.com
Thank you so much, @daviddemchuk.com!

OUT 11/25/25, more info below
Reddish brown background showing detail of an ornate wood carving. Foreground is text that reads: "A classic Gothic thriller set in the Philippines in the wake of the Marcos dictatorship, The Villa, Once Beloved holds you tightly in its clutches and refuses to let go. This chilling tale seamlessly blends supernatural shocks and suspense with powerful political and social drama, and builds to a hair-raising climax. Sleepless nights await!" - David Demchuk Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of The Bone Mother Below the text is an image of the hardcover for THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED by Victor Manibo On the lower left and lower right hand corners are the logos of Erewhon Books and Kensington books respectively
August 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
victormanibo.com
Selfie, restaurant interior, day: Victor Manibo, Lia Holland Photo, exhibit hall interior: AW Prihandita, Salinee Goldenberg, Van Hoang Photo, bar interior, day: Victor Manibo, Kat Hillis, Cate Baumer Photo, bar interior, day: Elijah Kinch Spector, Fran Wilde, Cassandra Farrin, Diana Pho, Mia Tsai, Victor Manibo
August 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
victormanibo.com
Selfie, hotel lobby interior: Victor Manibo, Jenna Hanchey, Erin Roberts Photo, bar interior, night: Ashley Rogers, Diana Pho with her Hugo Award(!), Victor Manibo Selfie, sidewalk, daytime: Cecilia Tan, Victor Manibo Photo, exhibit hall interior, daytime: Izzy Wasserstein, Victor Manibo, both holding their books, These Fragile Graces This Fugitive Heart and The Villa Once Beloved respectively
August 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
victormanibo.com
Worldcon photo dump—thanks so much to everyone who spent some time with me and made it a blast
Selfie, bar interior, late aft: Victor Manibo, Micaiah Johnson, Elijah Kinch Spector, Cassandra Farrin Selfie, bar interior: Victor Manibo, Arley Sorg, Ian Muneshwar Selfie, bar interior, night: Victor Manibo, Yume Kitasei, Katie Wu, Corry Lee Photo, exhibit hall interior: Jason Sanford, Nino Cipri, Victor Manibo
August 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
victormanibo.com
Physical ARCs for THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED dropped this past weekend at #Worldcon, and now 50 advance copies are up for grabs in this goodreads giveaway! Be one of the first to get a hold of my upcoming gothic horror, and enter via the link in thread:
Graphic: peach and yellow background, text up top reads “goodreads giveaways” below that, the cover ot The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo. Below that, text reads “Enter for a chance to win a free advance copy!” Lower left hand corner has Erewhon Books logo, lower right hand text reads “Ends 09/01/25. Terms apply” Victor Manibo, Asian male with short cropped hair and a beard sitting behind a white table on which are copies of his books, The Sleepless, Escape Velocity, and The Villa, Once Beloved (ARC version) next to a place card bearing his name, and some brown bookmarks
August 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
victormanibo.com
authors as brands as speculative worlds as brands as books as brands and on and on til the meteor takes us all
Screenshot of Print mag online article with subhead that reads “Brand as Speculative World”
August 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
victormanibo.com
Based on true events, THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED is a contemporary gothic horror set in a cursed manor on a coconut plantation—and it’s coming this fall.

Thank you, @premeemohamed.com, for the kind words!
Reddish brown background showing detail of an ornate wood carving. Foreground is text that reads: For all its beauty, no saints, no heroes, no angels inhabit this villa—only ghosts and secrets. Manibo has crafted a pitch-perfect modern gothic, in which the personal is political and there is no such thing as the past: only facets of a dangerous and suffocating present. - Premee Mohamed Nebula, World Fantasy, and Aurora Award-winning author Below the text is an image of the hardcover for THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED by Victor Manibo On the lower left and lower right hand corners are the logos of Erewhon Books and Kensington books respectively
August 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM