I am a city girl through and through (cue Yung Miami and JT rapping)

I write this blog and I am sweating. I am sweating everywhere. It's I think 32 degrees outside and I can't find any form of breeze. Even my fan feels like it's blowing out hot air and I am not ok!
Now don't get annoyed with me but I'm going to change the way I do this blog. I'm going to blog weekly instead of monthly. Honestly, too much happens in one month so then to cram all into one blog is just so long. I'm going to stick to my weekly goal. If I don't do it, don't be too surprised.

The most exciting thing in my life happened to me. I SAW THE SPICE GIRLS AT WEMBLEY!!!!!! God knows how bad I've wanted to see them since I was a kid so to go with my sister and sing our hearts out was the best thing ever. I was surprised on how modern the concert felt. The dancing, the lighting was so on point. Victoria really should have just sent a video saying high. It truly was better than Beyonce, Drake, everyone! Best night of my life. Then Geri apologised for leaving and who knew that I'd been waiting for that apology forever! Her and Mel B were always my favs. At one point Lola and I looked at each other and looked so emotional. I wish I could see it again and again. It did take us 3 hours to get home! The line for the station was so long that you couldn't even see the station so we had to walk half an hour to another station to get the train then a bus to my car. But we were still on a high so who cares.

I did my Arvon trip the other day. 3 and a bit hours there and a 3 and a bit hours back. The journey alone was tiring but the views from Hebden Bridge were just breathtaking. I am a city girl through and through (cue Yung Miami and JT rapping) and definitely not a country girl. I have never stayed in a cottage before but it was a cool experience. The kids were really nice and I spoke to them about diversity where they gasped at the statistics and did a reading from Emily. All in all I literally worked for an hour! I didn't get any sleep. All them owls man. I got home and I was knocked out.

You know how you never realise that you need something until it's gone? So my Mac decided to delete my iTunes music. Thousands upon thousands of songs all there but not playing. I spoke to Apple about 6 times and they are so useless that no one could help me. They all said the songs are there but we don't know where. Seriously. I was so angry. I have mixes I've done, podcasts I've been interviewed on and the amount of downloads is a joke. All bloody gone. Then I was on my iPad and I saw the iTunes. I thought let's just see what's on here. Everything is on there!!!! I don't know how as I never put any music on it but voila. I am saved.

My last Girls Can Do Anything was a few weeks ago. I can't believe that it's actually over. Considering I didn't even want to do it, I am so amazed and thankful for the ladies that gave up their time for me and for the audience. I am talking with a venue now so I can run it again. Like I always say if no one wants to give you a platform - make your own one!

Speaking of platforms Hashtag BLAK submissions open tomorrow!!!!!!! EEK!! Can't believe how fast it's come around. If you're a Black British author that writes fiction books then we want to hear from you. Submit to us at info@hashtagblak.co.uk
And we were in The Bookseller and BookBrunch Yay!!
So crazy how many racist people have tweeted us so offended about this imprint. I'm so confused what they're offended by. Then they're trying to educate me about how we're being racist for doing this imprint. Err what? I swear I have dealt with the most egotistic, narcissistic men this week and my block game has never been so good.

Can we take a second for Stormzy at Glastonbury!! I mean talk about educating people on how to use your platform.
1. Praise God
2. Give your mates an opportunity to shine
3. Uplift others
4. Spread positive vibes
5. REP THE BLACK BRITISH CULTURE

Follow me @abiolabello on Instagram and @emilyknightiam on Twitter

www.a-bello.com

Buy my books - Emily Knight I am and Emily Knight I am...Awakened

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

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

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

life of a street dancer

Search This Blog