It's Black History Month and it is freezing cold. I ordered my fur coat ASAP. I was so lucky that my cousin hooked me up with a weekend packed with The Hate U Give. I read THUG last year. I remember seeing it in Waterstones and picking it up because I saw a picture of a black girl on the cover. When I read the title I was like, didn't Tupac say this? I then read the blurb and literally was in shock that this Black Lives Matter book was in Waterstones ( as it should be but it's not something you see every day). I sat down and read it up to Khalil and the policeman. I couldn't get over the fact that this book had been published by a big publishing house. I brought it straight away and finished reading it the next day. It is one of my favourite books so when Toyin told me she was working the BFI London Fim Festival and THUG was going to be shown and did I want to see an exclusive screening, all I could say was Girl!!!!!! Then she upped it by getting me tickets to hear Angie Thomas and George Tillman Jr talk about the book to film adaption. She also got me tickets to give away to the young people at The Lil' Author Skool. I tweeted it and it Twitter went mad! It helped that Angie retweeted as well. I couldn't believe when she told me that Devante wasn't in the film. He is one of my favs! That afternoon Toyin said, “Do you want to go to the premiere tonight?” Err do I? The only issue was it wasn't confirmed but we had to go down that evening in black tie.
Toyin: Yeah
Me: Nah allow it
I'm so tried so I fall asleep for a nap. The next day when I see Toyin to go watch THUG.
Toyin: Oh, we had tickets for the premiere by the way.
AHHHHHHHH!!! The Hate U Give is AMAZING!! It made me laugh and cry and it got me mad. I think at one point everyone in the audience was in tears and I was hoping that people remember that this is real life. My issue is black culture is so popular but when it comes to these injustices, there's always excuses of why it's okay for the police to treat an innocent person like that. Go and watch it/read the book. It's the most important thing out there right now.
It also made me realise how much I want my movie! Trust me it's coming!
I posted this pic for Black History Month on my Instagram and was so surprised how much attention it got from the authors that wrote the books and the public. It's a bit crap that this is all I have on my bookshelf of black lead characters from a black author but I'm sure it will grow by next year! Read the 1% people!
I then went to the Michael Jackson Off The Wall exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Wasn't Michael just the best? It was such a beautiful presentation of his life and there was a projector showing one of his concerts. The way people were fainting because he took of his sunglasses and crying. Imagine having such an impact on people like that. I so wish I had seen him perform in real life. He truly is the G.O.A.T.
I am swamped with work! I don't even have time to just chill. Last night I stayed up till 3am just so I could watch an hour and a half of TV. This is life for me guys. There's some very cool things happening book wise, which I should be able to share in the next week or so.
I can't believe it's been a year since winning the Trailblazer Award. I swear winning literally opened so many doors for me but most of all it gave me confidence in what we're doing. Wishing good luck to everyone that has entered the 2019 one.
October is birthday month. I had Leanne's bday, my mama turned 60 and she was partying in Dubai on a yacht (I know right!) and it was also Anneliese's bday. Plus Jordan's surprise 16th bday party. I took Anneliese to see MISTY and do you know what? Seeing it the 2nd time is actually even better. I just don't understand how Arinze Kene is so beautiful. I fell in love again. Annelise fell in love. It was just a love fest.
How funny was the Nicki Minaj/ Cardi B beef? When Cardi said, “Are you a fighter or a victim? Miss Chun-Li Street fighter.” I was done!
Helen went to Frankfurt Book Fair this year and it was a slam dunk. We got offers for books with foreign rights and we got a US sales and distribution team. Was just so epic. I got offers for my book Beats, Love and high top trainers - eek!! Then I went to Foyles in Charing Cross and saw Hashtag Press books on the shelves and our first picture book Goodbye Daisy by Stephanie Nimmo arrived and looks beautiful!! I wish I could bottle that feeling when things start to pay off.
The Author School is almost sold out!! We have I think maybe 5 tickets left. So if you want to write a book or have written one and need help - you have to come! We have some serious heavy weight speakers. You can learn more here www.theauthorschool.com/classes/
Use the code:NOV702018 to get 10% off
I was watching this programme called Black Hollywood: They Gotta Have Us on BBC2. It was so interesting seeing the development of inclusion and diversity in film and I can't wait till publishing catches up with that. And then John Boyega being in it was a plus. I love John Boyega! I think it's what he symbolises. Young, Nigerian from Peckham who is in the creative arts and is now an A-Lister. It's just so inspiring and makes me want to work harder because if he can get there, I for sure can. I do feel like I am slightly obsessed with him though lol. I used to have this obsession with Drake where for 6 months straight, I would have a dream about him and I don't even fancy Drake!
I met up with Zarah and she took me to a Filipino dessert place called Mamason's. I tried this dessert called Bilog. It's sweet bread with Ube ice-cream in the middle. There was me asking, “Do you have Vanilla?” Because Ube is a purple sweet yam and I feel like I had it once and didn't like but I ordered it. OMG! It is so so so so good. My new favourite thing.
Books I'm reading at the moment. Was reading War Storm but I just can't get into it, which is annoying cause I want to know how it ends for Mare!! I've actually read Girl Boss before, but it's so good I have to read it again.
Follow me @abiolabello
Twitter: @emilyknightiam
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