life of a street dancer

It's officially winter time! Hello fur coat and scarves. I actually like this weather when it's crisp and the sky is clear and I was those annoying people moaning about the heat so I figured I should just enjoy the cold! This month was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and of course Black History Month! I did my annual post of the books that I have at home with a black main character written by a black author for children/YA and it has grown! There is way more to get but my to read pile is actually a joke right now. Actually my submission pile is a myth right now. I am literally whizzing through to make sure I don't miss any gems and I am reading a manuscript now for Hashtag BLAK and am really into it. Fingers crossed Helen feels the same! Our book Ticking off Breast Cancer by Sara Liyanage became a bestseller on Amazon and Waterstones!!!!!! I am so so happy for her and I think this is our 4th bestseller so I am well chuffed for our little pub house. We took part in #...

                      Well kinda. I'm 30 years old!!! Hot damn. I am grown like a proper grown up. It's the oddest feeling. I knew I was an adult before (obvs)  but now I'm 30! This decade I'll get married, have kids, become a millionaire (God willing)—I mean, that's a lot going on. But it also makes me feel powerful. I don't need to put up with any weird behaviour or negative vibes. I don't need to be anywhere or do anything that I don't want to do because I am 30! Can I get an Amen? As a pre-birthday warm up, Aleta took me to this Thai place called Crazy Bear. OMG the food was one of the best things I have ever tasted. We had a chocolate creme brûlée. I have never had a normal one let alone a chocolate one and it was smooth but had a crunchy sugary top. Divine. But the toilets were so weird. The door was part of the wall like some Harry Potter vibes and then inside it was dark. Really dark. I have no idea how Aleta managed...

January is over!!! Feels like we were in it for years right? Whoever decided that self employed people should pay tax and NI on 31st Jan clearly isn't self employed. I hate January. It's cold, dark, no one has any money and there are so many birthdays (I still owe my brother his one) At least Feb brings Valentines Day, Black Panther and warmer weather—well I do live in London so maybe forget the warmer part. Do you know what I spent the whole of January doing? Finding Wireless tickets. As you may have seen, they released their line up and it sold out 24 hours later. Now I have been to Wirelesss for years and took a few years off as the line up was rubbish. It has never sold out like that. EVER.  So I'm thinking I'll book in May and obvs that's out of the question. But whoever works at Wireless and  thought it was a good idea to post the line up BEFORE pay day is an idiot.  No joke, the day it sold out, I was thinking should I buy my tickets? How I wish I did. So ...

I have done it. I have officially written a short story! Let me take you back. I was asked by Sarah Odedina to write a short story for her magazine. Now Sarah edited Harry Potter (remember I said all roads lead to Harry?) so it was a big deal to be asked. The problem was guys, I legit couldn't write a short story! I re-wrote it FOUR TIMES because it kept sounding like an opening to a novel. Ahhh I was getting so frustrated so I asked an amazing lady called Eden, who writes shorts stories to have a look and FINALLY it's done. Okay, not done done but it's a short story. I can breathe. The joke is I run a short story comp for kids and teens. Ironic right? My books come on Friday :) I got sent a proof of my cover and sometimes when covers are printed it can look darker and my cover looks darker than it does in the below pic. I was looking at it for time like is this too dark? Can you see anything? Just getting real dramatic. Then I thought let me get it lightened but then th...

Have you noticed something different? Those who have followed my blog will see that we have had a make over! Don't we look pretty? Thought it was time to switch it up, especially now that I will be posting weekly. See I say this but let's see if I actually do it ;) I am now 29 years old and do you know what? I don't even feel like my birthday even came. Even on my actual bday, it didn't feel like it. I went to Paris with Zarah for a week and honestly it was one of my best holidays. I had so much fun, we were legit depressed having to come back to London and it was 30 degrees out there. I've been to Paris a few times but this is the first time, I actually walked around (all day) and took my time exploring.  - We saw the Eiffel Tower at night where it sparkled  - Saw the Mona Lisa in the Louvre and she is legit the size of an A4 piece of paper, with glass and ropes surrounding her. We were very much like 'oh, that's Lisa?'  - Went to Cafe Oz an...

Guys. Take a deep breath with me. Next week I will be talking to 200 kids. 200. As part of the Stoke Newington Literary Festival 2017 Kids Festival. I've made my presentation which I think is good. I mean if I was in Yr 5 and 6, I would have a fab time hanging out with me. Pray for me guys. But on a serious note, I'm so excited to be part of the festival. I've wanted to be part of it for 4 years so I'm buzzing (but a bit nervous). It's funny when I tell everyone 200 kids, they're all like, “Oh, you'll be fine.” It's like no-one is listening. Can you believe Emily comes out in a few weeks!!! I can't believe how fast it's gone. Technically my advanced copies are being printed out this Friday cause I need them in time for the festival.  I'm still shocked I've published two books! And between my next one and Hashtag Press, I have four more to go this year! Again, pray for me guys. I don't know what smart person told me to publish two b...

Spring is officially here and it is sunny days in London! Hopefully it lasts because it is London I have officially released my book covers for I am and I am Awakened!! Illustration by Alexandra Artigas and cover design by Jem Butcher - aren't they gorgeous?? I am (second edition) will be released June 1st and I am Awakened September 28th AND I am doing a pre-order deal only via my website so you can get both books for £12!! SAY WHAT!!!   www.a-bello.com I am excited but I am also nervous. I forgot how much work it is releasing a book, which is kind of stupid seeing as I run The Author School and we tell authors how to publish a book. I was telling Ebru before we went to see Logan and I was saying, 'What if people think it's s***?' She said the best line I have heard this year and I now say to myself everyday. She said, "It's you. You don't produce s***.” Nicest thing I have heard this year. The London Book Fair was amazing this year. First o...

We did it! Another Author School Day accomplished! This one was actually a one year anniversary from our first class. You would think it would be easier, but it isn't, there was so much to do, but it was fantastic. We are so blessed that we book the best speakers who are lovely and welcoming and Helen and I had some well deserved Vapiano's afterwards. Where did Autumn go? Honestly, I was wearing a bomber jacket, which was going to be my transition coat and I was freezing my arse off. I was so confused because just last week it was really warm. So I had to dig out my winter coat and then I realised it's bloody October. I legit can't keep up with the days. Then I had this cold and an annoying tickle cough, you know the ones that give you a coughing fit and a sore throat. I tried everything and then I found that Vix on the chest, back and feet and Pholcodine from Boots would do the trick. I swear down, after two days, I was cured. The entries for The little BIG Book Co...

Summer is finally here!! Literally, it's only just come now lool and it is amazing. I think there was a Tuesday that was 31 degrees. The worst thing is teaching dance in the weather, cause I legit have nothing to wear. I also had a taster session on Tuesday for this new teaching job and this kid comes up to me and says, “Are you the dance teacher?” I said, “Yes,” and then he goes, “Well I bet I'm a better football player and dancer than you.” You know when it's just too hot and no-one has time for silly people? So I just stared at him for ages until he got so uncomfortable. In my head I was thinking, is he okay? He kind of backed away from me, I'm not sure why and I called him over. He grabbed the nearest boy to come over to me with him – like I was going to swing for him or something looool and then I told him what a rude little fool he was. I think because I said it in one tone, it freaked him out. Then he ran away. I told one of the teachers who said, “Good! I can...

First blog of 2015!! Hope everyone has had a great start to the year and over the January blues. The weather was so awful so glad it's warming up a bit. Got lots to tell you lot! One of my new years resolutions was to do less dance and more writing. I really want to get to a point where the publishing community see my name so much they are sick of it! So I have two brand new ideas that's all to help YOU amazing story tellers The first one is called The Author School, which is for three different types of people. 1 - dream of writing a book but  have no idea how to even start their story. 2 - people who have written their book and now their thinking should I self publish? Get an agent? How do I do either of those? 3 - the published authors but what to do once the book is out? There's still so much to do once you're published That's why me and my PR Helen Lewis, want to educate everyone. I'm soooo excited!!! And the best thing is you're getting a truck...

I am so close to a book deal that it's painful. Happy New Year my lovelies. I'm so excited to see what fab stuff happens this year. I actually got to a party on NYE - shocking. No Project X party but it was still a fun house party but driving home at 4am, with my eyes barely open ain't fun. I have been working in a theatre bar for the past 6 months. I don't like or dislike it but it pays so who cares. Anyway, first day of 2014, positive energy and the boss lady tries to ruin my new year. Cutting my hours, giving attitude and as I was attempting to talk to her and diffuse an argument, which she was aiming for, I just thought, who cares? Like I said, it's a job I don't like or dislike, I was always planning to leave in New Year and this lady is actually trying to piss me off on the first day of the year. So I walked out. It felt amazing! Do you remember the times when being skinny and lean was the 'look' and now it's all about big bums and boobs ...