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2017 - WE MADE IT!!

Well we made it to another year! Thank God! The amount of natural disasters, terror attacks, we really need to be thankful that we made it. This has been an awesome year. I truly feel like 2017 set the foundations for my life. Existing things were brought up to another level and for 2018, it's just going to flourish. I have the best feeling about next year. I can't explain it but I know it's going to be one to remember (in a good way) It's so funny because at the beginning of the year I said I wanted to be single and I have dated more guys this year than I ever have! A lot of frogs (no surprise) but I did meet a special American who has set the bar moving forward. I couldn't even go back to these waste boys even if I tried. So for 2018, ladies don't drop your crown especially for no frog. Here's my highlights of this year  - My favourite authors following or commenting on my posts on social media. Jodi Picoult, CL Taylor, Jennifer Niven, Malori

We really wanted to laugh but didn't want to bring too much Hackney and Peckham vibes

Merry Christmas!!!!!!! I seriously can't believe we are here already. I remember last Christmas like it happened a few months ago. I have already changed my food mentality. Had pizza for breakfast and cake for lunch and I worked out all week for the privilege. So this is my second to last post of the year. I know guys, sad times but I think my 2018 posts are going to be even better than this year. God willing great and hilarious things continue to happen that I can share with you all. I had my mini's do a dance performance to  O Holy Night  for Christmas and I had one of the best ideas I've had all year! I wanted Shiloh, who is about 10 months, to be dressed as an angel and to be sitting in the middle, while the little ones dance around her. See her mum got my vision but some people (Anneliese) didn't and guess what? It worked perfectly! My mini's were super cute and then you had Shi sitting on this little white seat swinging her fat little legs with wings on.

'You want a bubble butt and you don't want to work hard?'

I know my weekly posts aren't exactly going to plan but I think you guys should allow me. I am doing better than once a month right? The Author School Day was incredible! It's such a weird process because Helen and I are always stressed out and then the day runs smoothly. The speakers were fantastic! The authors were chatty and asked loads of questions. I finally got to meet Katherine Webber author of Wing Jones. She gave me such a great quote for my Emily book and is so sweet in person. We saw each other and was like 'Selfie!'  Honestly, I just love The Author School and now we are planning our London Book Fair one and tickets are already on sale. Now we are doing a different ticketing scheme from tickets selling from £50 all the way to £70, so if you book quick you can get some really cheap tickets but if you leave it to the last minute, you will grab an expensive one. So chuffed that Lit agent Clare Wallace will be back to do a full class and do one-to-ones!! Book

You think I'm bougie because I drink soya milk?

I am literally up to my eyeballs with The Author School. We are running our full day of classes on Saturday and you know when everything is calm and going to plan, then suddenly a few days beforehand, there is so much to do including my presentation! Our line up is truly epic. I'm so excited! Check out this interview we did for Virgin StartUp We have published all the books for Hashtag Press this year!!!!!! I am so proud of me and Helen for doing them and they all have done so well. So excited to get a new batch of manuscripts and re-create the magic. Submit to us at submisisons@hashtagpress.co.uk if you have a book. Looking for great stories to publish mid/end of next year. Finally Zarah got to redeem her J Cole birthday present from February. I'm not the biggest J Cole fan, I was even thinking about selling my ticket. I only have one album of his which is live but I know the words to like 3 songs but thank God I didn't. The concert was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! I even br

One of the Mac girls comes over to ask if I'm okay and I'm like this is awkward but I want Fenty

September 28th. One of the best days of my life. I launched my second book in bloody Waterstones! It was such an amazing night. It was packed, the vibes were great, the food was on point, the homemade bubble tea was actually good, press was there. I was so nervous all day but I felt really pampered because I got my nails, hair and make up done. My outfit turned out really nice, even though my stupid Uber tried to drive me some next way, I got there in time for set up and I honestly could not have asked for a better launch party. It's so strange how different this one was from my first one back in 2012 and I realised the difference is I feel like an author. I'm owning it like I know this is where I'm meant to be. These kids were asking when the third book was out and I said, “Err...” They were not happy! I don't think book 3 will be ready till 2019 - hopefully. I have never been given so many flowers in my life lol and I swear I was buzzing.  Even when my family came

I spent an hour explaining to my mum about Gangsta Rap

My book is out in on Thursday!! Can you believe it? The book tour has officially begun so I've been seeing the book pop up all over the place and the review copies have gone out. I'm anxiously waiting that I get good reviews. I can't lie, my book looks AMAZING! Like seriously gorgeous and so thick (who knew I could write that many words?) And the cover doesn't look dark! Went to Waterstones to double check the space for the launch and believe the man who was my contact there had left and Waterstones are looking at me like are you sure you're at this branch? Took forever for them to figure it out cause they thought maybe I was launching at Piccadilly! Thankfully all was in hand and it's going to be a great night. Nervous for Thursday though. It's so cool seeing the gamer box from SpearCraft Book Box. I've been getting loads of Instagram tags of people getting the battle cards and really liking it. It is so weird hearing people sound so excited ov

I was like calm down, he wasn't checking for you!

I have done it. I have officially written a short story! Let me take you back. I was asked by Sarah Odedina to write a short story for her magazine. Now Sarah edited Harry Potter (remember I said all roads lead to Harry?) so it was a big deal to be asked. The problem was guys, I legit couldn't write a short story! I re-wrote it FOUR TIMES because it kept sounding like an opening to a novel. Ahhh I was getting so frustrated so I asked an amazing lady called Eden, who writes shorts stories to have a look and FINALLY it's done. Okay, not done done but it's a short story. I can breathe. The joke is I run a short story comp for kids and teens. Ironic right? My books come on Friday :) I got sent a proof of my cover and sometimes when covers are printed it can look darker and my cover looks darker than it does in the below pic. I was looking at it for time like is this too dark? Can you see anything? Just getting real dramatic. Then I thought let me get it lightened but then th

Jon Snow's bum is everything great in the world

Check me out with my weekly post :) Let me not get cocky before I go back to blogging monthly So I get Emily Knight I am...Awakened NEXT WEEK!!! I cannot wait to hold it. I can't lie I'm a bit nervous to give it to reviewers. I feel like the first book got so many good reviews and it was such a blessing, so I hope they don't read book 2 and think what is this?? Men. I don't get them. I swear at 29 I still don't understand them. I still don't know who are the ones you should invest your time in, who are playing games. I legit get a headache when I think about them. The experiences that I have had, my friends have had could fill a billion page novel. I do wonder what was God thinking with this man/woman thing. I get pregnancy and all that but man, they are so exhausting. Even as I write this, I have a headache and I'm tired. Then I was talking to my friend about relationships and to be fair, my mindset can be quite masculine, so we were talking about a s

The Birthday Blog: I couldn't remember how to say stop in French so I said 'Stopa' and Zarah almost pissed herself

Have you noticed something different? Those who have followed my blog will see that we have had a make over! Don't we look pretty? Thought it was time to switch it up, especially now that I will be posting weekly. See I say this but let's see if I actually do it ;) I am now 29 years old and do you know what? I don't even feel like my birthday even came. Even on my actual bday, it didn't feel like it. I went to Paris with Zarah for a week and honestly it was one of my best holidays. I had so much fun, we were legit depressed having to come back to London and it was 30 degrees out there. I've been to Paris a few times but this is the first time, I actually walked around (all day) and took my time exploring.  - We saw the Eiffel Tower at night where it sparkled  - Saw the Mona Lisa in the Louvre and she is legit the size of an A4 piece of paper, with glass and ropes surrounding her. We were very much like 'oh, that's Lisa?'  - Went to Cafe Oz an

I just really want Cersei to die. I want the dragons to light her ass up

It's my birthday next week! 29 years old. Seriously how did this happen? I think I blinked and it's my birthday again. One kid said to me, “I feel like you just turned 25.” I'll be on holiday so I can party away my sorrows. I'm only half-joking. I'm running a birthday giveaway on Instagram from the 1st August to win a signed copy of my second book and some battle cards. Speaking off holidays, Zarah and I went to book and we had fraud done! As we went to book our holiday, someone used the money to book themselves a holiday! The bloody cheek. We got the money back but they tried to book twice. The the original deal we found was gone. Typical. Emily Knight I am...Awakened is officially with the typesetters! All glory to God because after I did book 1 I was like how am I going to do this again? It is so stressful! But this time round seems a lot more calm and I just can't wait to hold it. I got a book review for I am yesterday from Pop the butterfly. She said &

I'm like darling I'm at the palace, I can't talk to you.”

I did it guys. I spoke to 200 kids at The Stoke Newington Literary Festival!!! My first lit fest. I was so nervous. I honestly felt like I couldn't do it and then Kate was talking about a mic and a stage and I was like what??!! But it was in their assembly hall and then I realised they're kids! I am with kids every single day. This is nothing and do you know what? I had so much fun that I wished I could have done it again. The kids were so imaginative and engaged and even knew about Dragon Ball Z (can you believe it?) and it was so cool seeing them buy copies of my book. I tried to go a group selfie, which was an epic fail because the camera didn't take the pic and all the kids just rushed forward, so in the end I did a video shot but then we found out the parents hadn't signed permission for it to be posted! Kate kept complementing me on my crowd control. All them dance classes have paid off. I also met this lovely author called Gareth P. Jones and I was telling him ab

Then this silly boy joins in: So you're coloured in?

Guys. Take a deep breath with me. Next week I will be talking to 200 kids. 200. As part of the Stoke Newington Literary Festival 2017 Kids Festival. I've made my presentation which I think is good. I mean if I was in Yr 5 and 6, I would have a fab time hanging out with me. Pray for me guys. But on a serious note, I'm so excited to be part of the festival. I've wanted to be part of it for 4 years so I'm buzzing (but a bit nervous). It's funny when I tell everyone 200 kids, they're all like, “Oh, you'll be fine.” It's like no-one is listening. Can you believe Emily comes out in a few weeks!!! I can't believe how fast it's gone. Technically my advanced copies are being printed out this Friday cause I need them in time for the festival.  I'm still shocked I've published two books! And between my next one and Hashtag Press, I have four more to go this year! Again, pray for me guys. I don't know what smart person told me to publish two b

"It's you. You don't produce s***.” Nicest thing I have heard this year.

Spring is officially here and it is sunny days in London! Hopefully it lasts because it is London I have officially released my book covers for I am and I am Awakened!! Illustration by Alexandra Artigas and cover design by Jem Butcher - aren't they gorgeous?? I am (second edition) will be released June 1st and I am Awakened September 28th AND I am doing a pre-order deal only via my website so you can get both books for £12!! SAY WHAT!!!   www.a-bello.com I am excited but I am also nervous. I forgot how much work it is releasing a book, which is kind of stupid seeing as I run The Author School and we tell authors how to publish a book. I was telling Ebru before we went to see Logan and I was saying, 'What if people think it's s***?' She said the best line I have heard this year and I now say to myself everyday. She said, "It's you. You don't produce s***.” Nicest thing I have heard this year. The London Book Fair was amazing this year. First o