Ron Does Stuff

Irene Sarmiento’s Stray Cats, a Hansel and Gretel audiobook, a Judy Blume biography, and pre-orders for Don Jaucian’s book in this week’s edition.

Irene Sarmiento’s ‘Stray Cats’ at the White Ravens Festival

Filipino author Irene Sarmiento’s Stray Cats is nominated at the White Ravens Festival, which celebrates international children’s and youth literature. Check out Irene talking about her work in the video above!

Stepehen King to voice ‘Hansel and Gretel’ audiobook

Back in February, it was announced that Stephen King and Maurice Sendak would put out an illustrated Hansel and Gretel on September 2. Now Publishers Weekly reports that Stephen King will also be voicing the audiobook, also coming out on September 2.

‘The Singing Detainee and the Librarian with One Book: Essays on Exile’ German translation

Regiospectra Verlag Berlin has translated Michael Beltran’s The Singing Detainee and the Librarian with One Book: Essays on Exile into German. Translated as Der singende Gefangene und die Bibliothekarin mit nur einem Buch: Essays über philippinisches Leben im Exil — say that three times fast — the book is about Jose Maria Sison and his wife Julie de Lima’s life in exile.

Regiospectra Verlag Berlin is a publishing house focused on issues concerning Asia and Africa.

Judy Blume biography cover reveal

People has dibs on the cover reveal for Mark Oppenheimer’s Judy Blume: A Life, a biography of the celebrated author. Described as the “definitive, all-access biography of one of the world’s most beloved literary voices, showcasing a life as triumphant and inspiring as the stories she crafted,” it promises an exploration of Blume’s relationships and sexual experiences aside from the influential young adult books that she has written.

The book is set to come out on March 10, 2026

‘Are You Still Watching? Dispatches and Essays on Filipino Cinema and TV’ pre-order discount

Pre-orders for Don Jaucian’s Are You Still Watching? Dispatches and Essays on Filipino Cinema and TV are now open, with a 15 percent discount attached. Pre-orders close on July 25. The book is from Don Jaucian’s film journalism from the 2010s, and features celebrities like Nora Aunor, Ricky Lee, Erik Matti, James Reid and Nadine Lustre, Jaclyn Jose, and Antoinette Jadaone.