Hello…it’s been a while. I found it hard to write in this blog because this is almost like an online diary. It’s way more personal to me than social media. As you may have heard my dad passed away in January very suddenly with no illness. Yes very random. It’s been almost like a rollercoaster of emotions and just all the stuff you have to do when someone passes on. No one tells you about that. Then burying someone in another faith was alot but it was beautiful and Dad would be proud. I don’t think I’ve had a moment to just sit down since it all happened and I’m still dealing with the admin work. I’m so private so sharing the news on social media was not my idea. My mum wanted me to because my dad knew so many people and she wanted to make sure they knew and also could get in touch about the Zoom.
My dad lived in amazing life and achieved everything he wanted to. It’s still weird like it will hit me sometimes and I’ll randomly say, “I can’t believe my dad is gone.” It’s the weirdest thing ever. I’m so thankful that my family is so close, my extended family have been brilliant as well as my dad’s friends. I have the best group of friends around me and without them I think I would have just stayed in my room and switched off. The outpouring of love was on another level and his Zoom remembrance was at 100 people capacity so quickly that we had loads of people complaining that they couldn’t get in. I knew Dad was popular but damn he was popular. I feel like I see life differently now but I mean that in a good way. I’m way more focused on the things that count and the people that actually mean something to me. Sometimes in life you keep relationships going just because but a death puts every single thing into perspective.
I’ve cut of people I’ve known for years. Some of them never reached out, sent a very standard here for you message but not actually being there like I’m really going to feel led to call them with that lack of effort or one of the worst is going around putting on a performance about how sorry they are this happened…but telling everyone but me. Yeah humans are the worst. Overall we’re doing okay, just taking it day by day and I’m allowing myself to feel however I want to feel. It’s a process.
What’s weird when someone passes on is the world still keeps going. Things still need to be done and in my case opportunities were rolling in. For a few weeks it was like I couldn’t even think and simple decisions were just so hard for me. I had to make a choice. I could say no to everything because of how I felt right now or I can take the opportunities and deal with them when they come. I chose the latter and I’m so glad I did. I won’t lie I can’t remember everything because some weeks are just a blur but here are a few things that have happened this year.
– I have a book deal with Farshore, an imprint of HarperCollins. 12 year old me is screaming! It’s a really fun anthology full of diverse middle-grade authors called The Very Merry Murder Club and it’s out this October. This such a dream but I almost said no to the deal because I just couldn’t think at that time. Thankfully I just went with it and I’m so glad that I did. Writing this story helped me get out of the fog that I was in.
I’m working on a few projects which is keeping me busy which I need and will share once everything is confirmed.
I’m nominated for We Are The City Rising Star 2021 and I’m part of their #ChooseToChallenge campaign alongside some AMAZING women
I was part of a World Book Day Campaign on YouTube.
Emily Knight I am…Becoming was chosen for Book Clubs In Schools.
We started up a book box! That Playlist Book Box will feature the best diverse book with a playlist to go with it www.thatplaylistbookbox.com
Work wise everything is going really well. More busy than ever but right now I need that distraction. It’s been a lot this year but just keeping my head down and making things happen. I want to try and get back to my monthly posting because I love reading over my blogs and seeing my journey but bare with me x