2013 = Where To Start?

So another year has gone and it's healthy to reflect on the great stuff that has happened, so we don't get caught in this 'I didn't get etc' attitude, so here are my highlights of the year.

- Getting Beyonce, JT and Drake tickets for 2014
- Being a part of my first ever charity as an Author, the 'Think Christmas, Think Books' Campaign
- Starting a creative arts school for young people, Co-Star ARTS
- Filming my first ever dance video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTPmzehxBLQ
- Getting the best press for Emily Knight, interviews and awesome reviews
- Almost reaching 10,000 likes on Emily FB Page, I think I'm 400 likes away
- Getting in trouble with security for being too close to Buckingham Palace
- Signed to Raimondi and Campbell Literary Agency. Dream!
- Going to my first ever festival, Wireless and seeing Jay-Z, Iggy Azalea, Miguel, Kendrick Lamar, Calvin Harris and getting through the whole day only spending a tenner.
- London Book Fair
- The CBBC showing interest in adaption of Emily
- Getting screen time in 'Street Dance AllStars The Movie'
- Receiving a copyright certificate from Library of Congress, USA
- Meeting publishers from HarperCollins at work, who were amazing to me
- Meeting a Les Twin (Laurent, i think)
- Seeing one of the best musicals ever, The Bodyguard
- Royalty cheques
- More dance work
- Seeing The Rain Room at The Barbican

This year has been very cool and I'm excited to see what 2014 brings for me. One thing for sure, will be a traditional publishing contract so watch this space. Thank you so much for the support!

Have a great New Years Eve and see you next year!!

Comments

In the words of Carrie Bradshaw and just like that I was a YA author

It feels like the right time but this will be my last entry. I know! I've been writing in this blog for TEN YEARS but this year it just felt off. I couldn't pinpoint why that was but the other day I realised I started this blog because I was a dancer who was trying to understand the publishing world. I also was so scared of anyone reading my work hence why I started a blog. Ten years later I have fulfilled my goals! Back in May I had finished my first YA book, a love story based around a Black owned bookshop in Stoke Newington. How I wrote this book when I was heartbroken I have no idea. I vaguely remember sitting on the couch with headphones on playing O Holy Night on repeat at 3am writing. I made my deadline and I wasn't sure if the book was good. My first round of submission for another book had very conflicting feedback and honestly I didn't have it in me to experience that again. I just wanted a deal. Fast forward to September 21st and my book was sent on submissio...

My meal was £22 and it was so small I ate it in 3 mouthfuls.

Happy World Afro Day! I had no idea this was even a day so yes for us! How gorgeous is this? I can't remember what country it's in but I saw it some weeks ago on Twitter. Getting into the swing of writing these blogs is harder than I thought. I'm not sure why I'm finding it tricky to stay on top of it and I know I'll regret it especially when I read back over it at the end of the year. I turned another year older and despite it being a year that is turning out to be unpredictable I'm thankful that I'm here to see another birthday. It's always hard planning what to do, something that I know won't cost an arm and a leg. In the end I spent it eating lol. Helen and I went to this amazing Creole restaurant, literally a hidden gem that had the most amazing food and drinks that were even too strong for Helen! I have no idea why it rained on my birthday! In the middle of summer!! Honestly sometimes I can't deal with this country. Then I got changed for...

Phoebe screaming 'MY EYES' is the best way to describe how I felt seeing that picture.

Did anyone else blink and it's June? I can't even believe 6 months has gone and just so much has happened. Apart from my dad it's been a great year so far and for that I'm grateful. I'll honestly take any good news I can get at this point. I hit a career highlight. I got to chair a panel for The London Book Fair! Now to do this you usually have to pitch and I'm sure I've pitched before but this time the amazing Bec, who was organising it asked me to do it! It was so much fun and I wish it was longer but it made me look at my LBF journey and honestly wow. I went from no one talking to me, to winning Trailblazers to chairing LBF. What's so funny is I've always wanted to chair Waterstones events cause they look like loads of fun so hopefully now I'll get asked :). I was asked to do another LBF event - who am I even? Lol. I had to do a Q and A with Yomi Adegoke, co-author of Slay In Your Lane. So glad that I'm getting these fun opportunities. Ca...

life of a street dancer

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