Guys I was like no not my type I was still trying to be nice. Why? Why am I doing that?

We are officially in July. That means summer, summer, summer time (but it's London sooo....) and it also means my birthday is next month and 31 is looming closer and closer. Going from the best Wakanda themed 30th birthday party to now turning 31, which is just a blah age, I honestly don't know what to do. I was thinking of a day trip to Paris but the tickets went from £80 to £150 pretty much overnight which is some next joke. So I don't know whether to try another city or just do some fun stuff in London. Oh Paris would have been the best. I wanted to go to that Cuban restaurant again!

This week has been a really good one. Hashtag BLAK officially launched on July 1st to do the best responses. I can't even believe that I have an inclusive publishing house! I just feel so damn proud that I'm actively making a differennce in publishing and will hopefully affect the shit statistics coming out. Merky Books (Stormzy's imprint) wished us congrats, which was really cool. I'm actually more impressed with his imprint than I was when it first was announced. He is publishing some really cool books. Hat's off to him. I'm hoping we get some good submissions from Black British authors. We're actually doing an open pitch day on July 22nd from 11-4 so if you write adult/YA fiction come and speak to us. More info here https://www.hashtagblak.co.uk/open-pitch-day

Emily Knight has been doing your girl so proud. We only just won London's Big Read 2019! Woo hoo! My parents sent me the nicest message and so did Leanne—which made me cry!
What's so funny is when the second book came out, I really wanted it to come out like POW! My media list for who wanted the book was out of the world and I remember thinking okay this is it. Did I even get anything from that media list? Maybe a few things and I was so pissed off. Now the book is consistently selling— even sold in Dubai! Nominated for the Carnegie 2019 and now winner of London's Big Read 2019. I hope book 3 does even better.

Look at this review What's Not At School book reviewer gave me for my books. I love this kid. She's a 10 year old book blogger and is just brilliant really.
https://whatsnotatschool.com/2019/07/07/emily-knight-by-the-night-light/

Really trying to get through my second read through off book 3 before it goes to editing. I feel like I'm moving so bloody slow. I made a timetable, so hopefully if I stick to that I should be able to balance my book, The Author School, The Lil'Author Skool, Hashtag Press, Hashtag BLAK and all the other stuff I seem to do, without having a breakdown of some kind.

Can we take a minute for Curtis from Love Island please? How can he say to the girl he has been kissing for weeks - I can't see myself having kids or marrying you. When Amy kept asking for feedback, I was like no baby stop! It's always the quiet guys that pretend to be what you want. This is my issue with guys. They are honestly my least favourite things on the planet at the moment. I watch Love Island and I think this is why girls are a) single and b) crazy because of them! I tried a dating app for a week. I'm not into dating apps but I thought let me open minded as I help out my mate do research on dating apps. It wasn't terrible. I got more responses than I knew what to do with and I'm too nice. Guys I was like no not my type I was still trying to be nice. Why? Why am I doing that? The stand outs were—I matched with a guy who was married with 2 kids but wanted to get to know me, I matched with a guy who asked me to send a video of me twerking, I matched with a guy who I know from college who doesn't remember me and who's best friend was obsessed with me. This isn't even including the weirdos's who have no game, no conversation and I sit here and think what the hell is the point? I deactivated my account on Friday. Just useless. THEN dealing with men in business has also been another level of dumb. One I won't get into yet cause I'm coming for his ass but the other tried to invoice me for re-sending me artwork that I had already paid for. He tried to justify it by saying he had to search through his archives for it. Is he actually okay?? Do I have mug or dumb mug written on me? Honestly the weirdest people.

Not My Ariel was trending on Twitter. Don't these racists get tired?

Helen finally got me to Kent lol. I went down to where she lives and it was so pretty. First of all the fact that she lives with all of these fields does kind of make me look at her sideways lol but she took me to this cool farm like cafe place. The food was incredible, then to some woodlands where her kids got stung by stinging nettles but we saw lots of sheep and randomly doves before going to another place for food. It was actually very relaxing and the best way to celebrate the launch of Hashtag BLAK. I might even go down again if she's lucky.

I got fomo missing out on Wireless this year. I really hope Cardi B does an O2 tour but did you see her wig come off?! And now J Hus has been added. So basically the people I paid to see last year (Cardi was pregnant, J Hus was in jail) are all here this year. Stupid festival.

My mum looked so proud watching me watch Wimbledon. You know how she wanted me to be a tennis player (rolls eyes) so I think any interest in the game makes me happy. I've been loving it! Serena is obviously the OG but that doubles with her and Andy Murray was such a good match. COCO!!!!!! I am in awe of that girl.

I went to Ebru's school to do their Mini WE day. Listen I had to get up at 6am! When I tell you my eyes were red and hurting for the longest time. I can't eat early so we pulled over at a service station and I brought a sausage roll and the meat tasted very suspicious although the crust was delicious. I felt so sick after that. Met an incredible guy who is a motivational speaker and he has died 12 times! I also learnt that Helen and I were charging way too little for our speaking events so that fee went all the way up. I'm not sure why I didn't send over my school presentation that I have. Everyone had a presentation! So I just winged it. I get nervous when I do that sometimes cause I get worried I'll say something inappropriate. I do remember asking who likes David Walliams books and everyone put their hands up and I responded, “Yeah, he's making a pretty penny out of you lot.” Which is just facts really.  After lunch provided with the school, I decided to shadow Ebz because the visit had overran and we were in the middle of nowhere. It was Hillingdon. Plus the kids were doing Lion King and I know all the words. When we left, we literally threw KFC in our faces and as soon as I got home, I took a lengthy nap. I was so mashed up. I did shudder thinking she was up again at 6am the next day.

Stranger Things 3 was sooooo worth the wait. Where have they been hiding Erica all these seasons??