Skip to main content

HARPER FLIPPING COLLINS!!

Happy Monday guys!
Good day so far. I won £20 for creating the best collage of pictures from work AND my big plan to surprise someone worked out amazingly. A* to me!

A few blogs ago I mentioned meeting publishers but I didn't go into detail...well when I was working at a bar, it was closing time and there were 2 people left at a table. I was talking to one of the regulars about my book and the 2 people were listening. They asked me if I was a writer and I said yes. They said they worked in publishing. I asked for who and they said....wait for it....HARPER FLIPPING COLLINS! So obviously cleaning up wasn't important anymore and I spent about 30 min talking to them about my book and they were lovely. We swapped email addresses and they told me to get my agent to contact their head of children's department. I did think that they wouldn't remember me the next day but they did and my agent got in touch. Turns out the head of kids was leaving for a holiday before Christmas, caught my agents email in time and said she would take the book with her!!
Currently we haven't heard a yes or no from HarperCollins, which is a bit odd but if it's meant to be it will be. I'm grateful that one of their people went out of their way to help me so much.

Then

At church I was leading the 9-10's Sunday School lesson and I brought in my book to show the kids something that God helped me with. Turns out one of the adults helping me was only married to someone who works in publishing! And get this, they had about 16 years at HarperCollins and now work for Bloomsbury and the next day my agent told me that my book is being read by Bloomsbury. All I can say is something amazing is going to happen guys :D

Taught a class and had a new kid. I asked what his name was and he said, 'Michael Jackson.'  I laughed and asked again and he repeated Michael Jackson. By now the joke is kind of dead so I said, 'Tell me your name or you can't dance." When I tell you this boy went crazy. He kicked the snooker table, punched the wall and I'm standing there thinking, I just asked for your name. Meanwhile, all the other kids are staring at me waiting to deal with this crazy boy. So I grab him and tell him to go outside. He starts getting upset then and I told him, 'You are five years old, you can't have an attitude.'
So he goes outside and a few minutes later, one of the helpers brings him back in and he apologies. I said, 'What's your name?' He says, 'Kanye.' I start getting really mad at this point, then the helper goes, 'That's his name.' My mouth honestly drops open. I know it's silly but I thought the only Kanye was Kanye! So I say to Kanye, 'Do you know who Kanye West is?' He says, 'No.' So I told him, 'You have the same temper.'

Speaking of Mr West, I am going to see him and Pharrell at Wireless Festival!!!!!! And it's in Finsbury Park, close to me. I have no idea why the tickets have gone up from last year. At least last year was in the Olympic Park, this is only Finsbury Park.

I went to a dance class for the first time is ages. My goodness I felt rusty but it felt so good to be back in the studio. My body was in agony after though. There was a deaf boy in the class, which was pretty ironic seeing as the song was too Brandy 'Can you hear me now.'

Every good Chinese takeaway near me is closed down. Got one on the way home from class in Mare St and it was revolting. The meat hadn't even been seasoned. I literally had to take out all the meat and veg and re-season and cook it to make it edible. Yuck.

All my kids in my classes are starting to dance and freestyle so amazingly and they have no clue how fab they are. Proud.

Went to a 80's vs 90's night at Jazz Cafe, Camden. I thought 90's like Aaliyah, they thought 90's like Aqua. Was a fun bit of cheese though.

Writing Tip: Do your research. Find out how to write a query letter, synopsis and get that agent. Google should be your best friend.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

My meeting with an agent

Those of you who have been following this blog from the beginning will know that I've been trying for years to get an agent. Well I have the best news...I HAVE A LITERARY AGENT!!!!!!!! Omg I was in so much shock when they responded and it wasn't the rejection letter I was used too. You're probably wondering how did this happen right? Remember when I went to The London Book Fair? My PR told me to go through the exhibition directory and message all the literary agents for a meeting. Whilst I was doing that, most of them had links to their sites so I figured why not submit for the thousandth time, you never know. The directory is super long so I got bored doing it and Helen (PR) kept emailing 'Have you finished it?' All I can say is thank Jesus that she did that because that's when I submitted to Raimondi and Campbell. I got a response to read the whole of the novel. Now I've been at this position before and it usually ends there, so I sent the book in. Th...

2012 = A Legendary Year!!!

So today is the last day of the best year I have ever had. Honestly, I was told by my Pastor that this year would be like Days of Heaven on Earth and it really was. Just a few of my highlights  - Releasing my first ever book, Emily Knight I AM - Going to the Brit Writers Awards 2012 - All the amazing interviews I got to do for my book with BBC 1XTRA, Brit Writers etc and the recommended reads my book got as well as the free advertising! Cheers!  - Having a launch party  - Passing my driving test and getting a car for Christmas  - Being promoted at work  - Becoming a blogger for Brit Writers  - Going to the Olympics  - Booking Stratford Circus to host Myself's show Icon in March 2013  - Performing at Breakin' Convention for the 2nd time  - Filming Street Dance All Stars The Movie and filming BBC 1's The Apprentice Woo it has been a great year for me and for the people I care about and I am so ready to see 2013!!! ...

2012 is the year where you'll know my NAME!

I know, I know. Saying I've been busy is no excuse for not writing in this blog but trust me I have been. So the good news. I went to New York which was fun for Chelsea (fellow bloggers) bday. We were so lucky that we had missed the snow and got loads of sun in November. Got to see the Statue of Liberty, up close, Times Square, 5th Avenue, went up the Empire State Building and of course the International House of Pancakes! I thought it would resemble the Hard Rock Cafe but the look is very laid back, the portions are not. The shopping side wasn't brill because their tax is so high it's not worth it and don't even let me get started on the street numbers and avenues. Confused! Me and Chels walked everywhere just because it was so confusing. I had a six pack when I got home. One of the highlights of the hol was definitely the musicians on the subway who were so lost in their music they kept forgetting that they weren't in Madison Square Gardens (We went there, I brief...