Hello Hive Friends! I have some wonderful news to share with this community that has been such a support to me. The day I have been dreaming of is finally coming: my book, "The Journey of Life", will be published on December 20, 2025! Initially as an e-book, but I plan to follow up with a conventional version very soon.
I chose to publish it myself, without a publisher (only a good friend is thoroughly proofreading it - thank you so much!), because that gives me full control over the content and I retain all rights.
After doing some research, I chose the Draft2Digital platform to publish the book.
At first, it all seemed pretty complicated to a newbie like me. I had to provide quite some personal data and payment information and then complete a written tax interview. But in the end, everything seems to have worked out somehow, hehe.
What I really like is that Draft2Digital handles placement in numerous other bookstores, such as Kobo, Apple Books, and Smashwords. With a bit of luck, my book could also be listed on Amazon in future.
If you would like to support my journey and are interested in pre-ordering my e-book, you might check it out here. It would mean a lot to me to count some Hivians among my buyers! But even if you can't, sharing this post or simply leaving an encouraging comment would be a huge boost!
The book originated from diary entries written on paper, which I eventually typed into my laptop. The memoirs recount my childhood spent in poverty, my sometimes painful but valuable experiences as a domestic helper in Singapore and Hong Kong, and the necessity of using my salary to provide for my son, who remained in the Philippines, and to support my family.
I will now show you the cover of the book, a description of the book and the author, and a short excerpt.
Please wish me luck on this exciting adventure of publishing an own book for the first time!
About the Book
The Journey of Life: A Story of Love, Loss, and Unbreakable Hope is the poignant memoir of
Gen Quimba. It began as occasional diary entries on paper, later molded into the book you hold
today. It traces her journey from a childhood of poverty in the Philippines to her life as a domestic
helper in Hong Kong, a path she chose with a single goal: to be able to provide a good life for her
beloved son.
With raw honesty, Gen shares her struggles with sacrifice, loneliness, and the devastating loss of her child's father, while celebrating the resilience, faith, and love that carried her through. Born from her own experience, her story carries a powerful message of encouragement for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) around the globe, while speaking universally to the heart of every parent, dreamer, and anyone who has ever had to rebuild their life from the ground up.
About the Author
Gen Quimba is a single mother, an Overseas Filipino Worker, and now, an author. For more than a
decade, she lived and worked in Singapore and Hong Kong, dedicating her life to her son's future.
Her experiences—from the joys and challenges of motherhood from a distance to navigating life in
a foreign land—fuel her writing. The Journey of Life is her powerful debut, a memoir penned during
quiet hours, transforming personal hardship into a universal message of hope.
She believes that every story has the power to inspire others to never give up on their dreams. After many years in Hong Kong, she has now returned to her homeland, the Philippines, ready to face new, exciting adventures.
Here is a short excerpt from pages 68 and 69 (the final page numbers may still change before release). I chose this part because it's where I talk about how Hive and blogging became a part of my life!
From 2022 onward, I lived alone in their big house, thus having more solitude, which is also why I had lots of time to write these memoirs you are reading now: it began as occasional diary entries on paper, which finally I decided to mold into the form of this book.
Being the caretaker of the house was not that easy either! Oh, sure, it was comparatively easy because I didn't have that much to do. I had a lot of free time and could do whatever I liked. But the reality was different. Yes, I was free from the burden of a heavy workload, but a profound loneliness often settled in, which was detrimental to my mental health.
Fortunately, my books and the internet provided some variety. I started blogging on the blockchain-based social media platform Hive and launched my YouTube channel, enjoying filming myself while doing sports, cooking or even selling food outside!
Despite the loneliness, I learned to actively build my own happiness: by seeking contentment, eating well, loving myself more, and focusing on my health. I can say I have grown a lot.
Solitude offers a rare opportunity we often miss in the busyness of daily life: the chance to learn to know ourselves, the leisure to pause, to simply breathe and listen to our deepest needs. However, this self-awareness is essential. We require time for ourselves—time that isn't consumed by stress or the relentless pursuit of an aim.
It's true we need to work for our dreams, but if we are exhausted and stressed, we may never achieve them. On the path to success, you must learn to give time to yourself. Practice self-talk. Give yourself at least ten minutes in the morning and before bedtime. Always reset.
We walk different paths and dream different dreams, yet we share one common ground by living on this same earth. We should try to be happy, even when it seems impossible under the heavy weight of our feelings. Reflect on the beautiful experiences you have shared with loved ones or friends, and you can start to smile. It doesn't have to be a struggle. This is a skill we should practice, like a muscle we must strengthen.
I learned this quote: "Life is not a problem to be solved; it is a mystery to be experienced." Day by day, we should be grateful that we are alive and have the opportunity to explore more about life. We have a purpose on this earth.
I share this in the hope it offers encouragement.
Now, back to my work in Hong Kong! What was my big why? Why did I go to that thriving, big city as a Domestic Helper? The answer is my son! I wanted to give him a good life. I grew up poor, and I won't let my child experience the same. The story of my life in childhood was always being hungry for food, and I don't want to see my past reflected in my child's life.
It is true: if you care for and love your children, you want the best for them. My mistake as a mother was to be away from home since he was six months old; now he is already 15. Imagine how his life has been without a mother by his side. It makes me sad, but I always try to be optimistic about the future! I keep telling myself that life is getting better. This is just an experience, and nothing is permanent. What matters is giving him the best: sending him to school and securing our daily bread.
Most people ask: Why did you choose to work abroad when you could also work in the Philippines? Well, that's the answer, based on my own experience: when I was working in the Philippines, I had to pay rent, bills, daily transportation to work, my own food, electric and water bills. I have a son. Eventually, my salary was not enough for a living. The thought of my son reliving my childhood drove me to apply to work abroad.