Skip to main content

Regina won't she do it King!


So my friends are trying to get me to join a dating app. There are several reasons why I don't want to do it.
1. I don't have any issues meeting guys but I haven't met the right guy and will they be on Tinder? Meh
2. I feel like I would get caught up talking to different people and will lose track of who's who
3. I don't have space for another app on my phone
I am a little bit intrigued about Bumble as I like the fact that the ladies are in charge but everyone I know that has used a dating app, I don't feel like great things have happened for them. Maybe one day when I'm drunk or bored I'll try it and see. Actually maybe not when I'm bored cause that's when I do dumb things.

I got to film for Egmont Publishing! How cool right? Hilary who runs their publicity reached out to me and wanted me to do a short video about tips for their authors. Very cool.

I feel like every author is part of a members club. I didn't even know there were so many members clubs in London! I met Emma from Cassava Republic at the Conduit Club. I have no idea why Google Maps told me to walk from Green Park. It was the most twisted up journey! I told Emma and she was like, “Err Oxford St is round the corner!” It's really cool there though. We were in the roof top section and it was a really gorgeous day. That's the way to work really isn't it? Just running a business from the roof top in London.

I'm on tour! Well kinda lol. This lovely blogger called Silver Dagger emailed me I think last year and said she wanted to host the Emily Knight books for a blog tour. I figured because of the Carnegie nomination and London's Big Read, it makes sense to do something. She has out done herself. I'm on over 40 blogs! Trying to retweet them and share all the stops but it's hard to keep up.




Speaking of Carnegie, I didn't get long listed. I don't know why I never know specific details. For example with Trailblazers I didn't know who was shortlisted until a few days before. This time I didn't know that 254 books were going to be cut down to 20 books! WTF?! So I was just like this can go either way. I was surprised that Children of Blood and Bone and Turtles All The Way Down didn't make the long list either. I thought I would be sad but actually I felt so damn proud of myself. To be in that calibre of writers is sick and it has given me that drive to keep pushing.

How good was the Oscars? Was so beautiful seeing
so many diverse winners and Regina won't she do it King! I was watching her and thinking you're 48 years old and only now getting recognised on this platform and winning. It reminded me that I have my whole life to write books and make history and it's okay if not everything I want to happen doesn't happen right now or if people younger or the same age as me seem to have a bigger platform. Who cares?! God is always good and when it's your time, it's your time.

How funny was Olivia Colman's speech at the Oscars? She is everything.

Girls Can Do Anything has taken a life of it's own and their all pretty much sold out!! The first one went so well but I injured myself a few hours before I had to leave so I was in so much pain and then as I was doing my make up, I think there was a piece of fluff or something on my forehead and I scratched my forehead and started to bleed like crazy! Hence why I'm wearing the hat as it's disguising the plaster on my head. The next one is March 20th at Library 7-9pm Info below

Do I need to shout? with guest speaker Siobhan Curham (award winning author of Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow) and Kate Manning (co-founder of Stoke Newington Literary Festival & publishing sales and marketing director)

Getting your voice heard in the publishing industry.

Discussion and Q&A. The publishing industry is a male-dominated industry and at times it can feel like you're banging your head against the wall as you try to make a difference. It's commonly known that getting a job in publishing is hard, but we know how to get our voices heard and so can you! Learn about the different opportunities in publishing and how you can find your rightful place. 

I'm really excited about this one because I had to really shout to get my voice heard in publishing so it's going to be fun sharing that and hearing more about everyone else's journeys. I need to stop inviting speakers!!! I have so many now it's out of control. Book here and grab a free ticket. Use code: girlscandoanything2019

Angela Bassett at the Oscars looked AMAZNG!!!! Damn girl! I knew Black Panther would win best costume because come on but it is a shame that the highest grossest film of 2018 didn't win best film. I guess it will take the Oscars a minute to give a comic book film that award.

The Author School Day is coming on April 5th! This time it's after LBF because they moved it forward but it's good because then we can share what we learnt there. We have a mega line up - Patrice Lawrence, Catherine Johnson, Kim Curran, The Literally Agency, Book to Film, PR & Social Media and loads more! Tickets from £50-£70/ students £35 and can buy here  or via Eventbrite. Msg me for a 10% discount code!

Sky Q has changed my life! It has Netflix, YouTube, Spotify and more bloody storage! I have no idea why I didn't upgrade earlier.

My aim is to finish book 3 of Emily Knight by end of March so I have put together a daily writing plan. It's so hard getting other people's books finished and still trying to work on your own but I am determined to do it all - you know me! It's coming together really well and I can see the end in sight...it's just not the end yet. I'm just so glad we have hired a publishing assistant at Hashtag Press. It literally has made me feel less stressed like I can breathe.

Look how gorgeous this pic of the forest at Osaki is! Illustrated by the very talented Chocolate City Comics.


I saw this girl at a restaurant in the toilets and she looked just like this girl I know called Naomi. So I go Naomi? The girl looks up and I realise it's not her and the girl says, “Oh my gosh what a compliment!” I was so baffled and only as I went back to my seat did I realise she thought I meant she looked like NAOMI CAMPBELL. Girl!

Connect with me on Instagram @abiolabello
Twitter @EmilyKnightIam
Buy the Emily Knight series here  London's Big Read opens on World Book Day so I need everyone to #VoteEmilyKnight
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I have a new book out!

That's right book 4 is out! This is my first anthology and it's absolutely gorgeous. I was asked to be part of The Very Merry Murder Club maybe a few weeks after my dad and I remember just thinking why is this opportunity coming now?! And it's with Farshore and imprint of HarperCollins. There's no way I can do it. I literally couldn't write. My agent Gemma spoke to me and the editors knew what had happened to me so it was really up to me. I prayed on it and God said to me you're not going to feel this way in October so I said yes. I won't lie I was worried that I really couldn't write this book but thank God for his strength and amazing agent and now it's here!  I've been ill all week but I saw loads of pic on social and my copy hasn't come yet so I dragged myself to Waterstones Islington to take pics of the book on the shelves. The booksellers were looking at me like are you going to buy this book. HA!  The amazing thing is I have even more ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
5 comments
Read more