2019. Well where do I start?

Happy New Year! I felt like the heatwave went on forever and then suddenly we're at New Years Eve. This year has been full of surprises - good and bad but God is so good that all the bad ended up working in my favour. I feel like last year taught me loads about myself but this year taught me about business. I have hired and fired, I have a lawsuit against someone, Hashtag Press turned two but with that came lots of bumps that had me and Helen like WTF?! But we overcame it all. Emily Knight I am...Awakened literally blew my mind with the awards - Carnegie, London's Big Read, The People's Book Prize. I got nominated for a Black British Business Award. I didn't end up signing Beats with any of the publishing houses. If it's not a big house it makes no sense for me to sign as I have my own one. I started on a new fantasy series that I am obsessed with and Emily Knight I am...Becoming is out in 2020. I spoke to producers and I finally understand this whole film adaption world. Helen and I started up three new ventures -our imprint Hashtag BLAK, our self-publishing company ink! and The Diverse Book Awards. The Author School turns 5 next year. Isn't that wild? 2020 BRING IT ON! This whole year has been incredible growth. I said 2019 would be a game changer and it really was. Here are my highlights for the year - are you ready?

- Hashtag Press 2020 competition. Yousra S Imaran debut book is out in 2020!
- All the Girls Can Do Anything panels and my incredible female guests
- Egmont publicity video I got to film
- Ironically dating apps which I was so against has actually worked out
- Carnegie nominated
- Finishing Emily Knight I am...Becoming and my editor telling me 'Don't dread the notes. This manuscript is so strong.' GET IN!
- Beyonce. Homecoming. For the culture!
- Seeing Michelle Obama at the O2
- Game of Thrones - Arya freaking Stark was a highlight for sure
- Distribution in South Africa
- I got to tick of a bucket list and was invited by Arvon to lead a session
- The launch of our diverse imprint Hashtag BLAK and having Luisa on board
- Avengers Endgame was everything. I have never held my pee for so long
- The Spice Girls at Wembley. Geri apologised. My life was made
- Stormzy at Glastonbury showed how you use a platform
- Winner of London's Big Read
- Stranger Things 3
- First time watching Love Island and I can't believe I never watched it before - Ovie!!
- Getting back into dance has been more rewarding that I ever thought it could be
- Performing at the Myself 10 yr anniversary show at Stratford Circus
- My birthday - Lille, Hamilton and Magic Mike
- My knight rider car that I didn't want and now it's winter I'm appreciating the heated seats
- The Youth Takeover Show
- Thorpe Park - stuck with the boys ALL DAY
- Releasing Gen Alpha-Z
- Leading the SYP event at Hachette
- Hashtag Press bestseller Ticking off Breast Cancer by Sara Liyanage
- Going to the Graham Norton Show and seeing Regina King, Emilia Clarke and Jason Mamoa
- Fly for Jack show
-Launching ink!
-Launching The Diverse Book Awards 2020
- A Quick Ting On launch party - how all book parties should be!
- Meeting the Merky Book team and discussing all things diversity
- Missy freaking Elliot liking my dance video. AAAAHHHH!!

It's been a fabulous year but they're have been downsides. The terrorist attack at London Bridge, dealing with an idiot con artist, having someone trying to ride the coat tails of my company, going on dates with the dumbest boys in life, feeling so overworked that I legit had an eye twitch for two days - I can laugh now but it really wasn't funny. The Tories winning again for fucks sake. Don't ask us about Brexit as none of us know what the hell is going on.

I have felt since the summer that 2020 is going to be an epic year. I can just feel in it my bones :) So thankful to God for keeping me here and blessing me. Let's keep elevating and pushing ourselves. If I can start of this decade working in retail, teaching dance and performing and not knowing a soul in publishing and ending it with owning six different publishing ventures and an award winning books series - trust me you can do it too!

I'm excited!!! Thanks for reading my rants all year :)

Happy New Year peeps! xxx

21 X 31

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...

2012 = A Legendary Year!!!

So today is the last day of the best year I have ever had. Honestly, I was told by my Pastor that this year would be like Days of Heaven on Earth and it really was. Just a few of my highlights - Releasing my first ever book, Emily Knight I AM - Going to the Brit Writers Awards 2012 - All the amazing interviews I got to do for my book with BBC 1XTRA, Brit Writers etc and the recommended reads my book got as well as the free advertising! Cheers! - Having a launch party - Passing my driving test and getting a car for Christmas - Being promoted at work - Becoming a blogger for Brit Writers - Going to the Olympics - Booking Stratford Circus to host Myself's show Icon in March 2013 - Performing at Breakin' Convention for the 2nd time - Filming Street Dance All Stars The Movie and filming BBC 1's The Apprentice Woo it has been a great year for me and for the people I care about and I am so ready to see 2013!!! ...

2012 is the year where you'll know my NAME!

I know, I know. Saying I've been busy is no excuse for not writing in this blog but trust me I have been. So the good news. I went to New York which was fun for Chelsea (fellow bloggers) bday. We were so lucky that we had missed the snow and got loads of sun in November. Got to see the Statue of Liberty, up close, Times Square, 5th Avenue, went up the Empire State Building and of course the International House of Pancakes! I thought it would resemble the Hard Rock Cafe but the look is very laid back, the portions are not. The shopping side wasn't brill because their tax is so high it's not worth it and don't even let me get started on the street numbers and avenues. Confused! Me and Chels walked everywhere just because it was so confusing. I had a six pack when I got home. One of the highlights of the hol was definitely the musicians on the subway who were so lost in their music they kept forgetting that they weren't in Madison Square Gardens (We went there, I brief...

life of a street dancer

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