Looking back at 2013

Wow. What a year. I realised the other day I hadn't posted in nearly a month, and although I meant to write a Christmas post, it seems to have passed me by and so instead I'll write a looking back post. When I first started to look back on the year, I thought, in many ways, well that sucked. But then, after reading the lovely Laura's post, and really thinking about this year, I began to think, well actually, a hell of a lot happened and SO much of it was good. I've had a wonderful year really.

In the more immediate past though, Christmas was certainly different this year. We woke up on Christmas Eve morning to find we had no power, and remained this way until Boxing Day evening. Luckily we have the wonderful AGA and we had a small generator so we weren't completely in the dark, but it certainly created tensions. I've never been more grateful for power.

But now heading back to the beginning of this year, there have been many wonderful things:

In Februrary, I met John and Hank Green, and my lovely wonderful CP Laura in London (FINALLY!!).

In March, I met JK Rowling (!) and joined SCBWI, which has been an awesome experience. There was another wonderful trip to Fowey too.

May, I saw Mcfly, ventured down to Fowey by myself for a camping trip and visit to the Fowey Festival, and tried Windsurfing. I also met Emilya Hall and other lovely authors at the festival. I also started Treading Water.

June, I saw Neil Gaiman talk about his new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

July, Murray won Wimbledon, and I found out that one of my short stories, Tide, was going to be published in an ebook by Mardibooks and IdeasTap. It was also a wonderfully hot, perfect summer. Did a windsurfing course.

September, I spent a week in Fowey, which was perfect. I also went to Mcfly's 10th Anniversary Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

October, I joined the MuggleNet team as a News Intern.

December, I was promoted to a full staff member and News Writer (!), which has been one of the best and most awesome experiences I've ever had. I love it and am so grateful to be there! I also had a lovely day trip to Fowey.

I have also been very lucky to read lots of wonderful drafts by my amazing writer friends, and I've managed to write plenty of drafts and words myself.

I'm sure I've missed something out, but it's been an amazing year!

I never really like New Year - it always makes me nostalgic and strange, but this year I think I have plenty of good things to look back on! Bring on 2014.

TFIOS Live!

This weekend I went to London. I stayed with one of my best friends, and we had a great time, visiting Borough Market and walking all over London, somehow seeing all the main sights without intending to!

The main thing that prompted the trip however was John Green's The Fault in Our Stars UK tour, or '#TFIOSlive'. We were going to the first show, at 12, so we got there a little early, and headed into Cadogen Hall. I'm not going to go into details of the show here and all the lovely people we were chatting to, but the whole atmosphere was just incredible. Everyone was so friendly. And I met the wonderful and lovely Laura, who gave me lots of critiquing comments -which was amazing!

IT WAS AMAZING.

The whole thing.

I'm trying to contain myself here, because I've been fangirling so much the last few days. Oh my goodness, it was so awesome. John talked about TFIOS, and Hank played some songs, and they answered questions and they were just THERE. Really on stage. These amazing people I watch online, read John's books, and there they just are.

And then after they did a signing. The ticket had included an already signed paperback copy of TFIOS and we were warned the signing would take a while, but quite a few people left, and it was one of those opportunities I felt you couldn't really pass up.

I MET JOHN AND HANK GREEN. 

Eeeeek. It was so nerve wracking, but so awesome. They signed my copy of Looking For Alaska and my notebook (which yesterday I just kept flipping open and grinning). And they were so friendly and lovely and just wow. Amazing day. Have I said that enough?

They just inspire me so much, and John makes me want to work even harder at my writing and just be the best writer I can be.

I was still on such a high yesterday <3 Although it already felt like such a long time ago. We went to a 'Fruni' lecture last night by one of our favourite professors, who I swear is an older John Green. So that was bizarre.

Anyway, I'm going to go start working on some edits. Excited!

Home For Christmas!

Home again for Christmas - and I can't believe how quickly the last few days have already gone. So much to do before Christmas, although I think we're getting there, the tree is all decorated, things are more sorted out and organised. I can't believe Christmas is on Tuesday! TUESDAY!

Oh man.

So soon.

I'm excited to see all my friends who are just getting back, although the novelty of being home is definitely wearing off. Oh, family politics. So frustrating.

Trying to settle down to write my essay and get on with some work and some poetry, but it's hard. Trying to make lots of time to do edits too, but that's hard around this time of year with so much other stuff to do!

Very exciting news though - yesterday they announced John Green's UK book tour... and guess who's going?! I am UNBELIEVABLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS!! And Hank Green will be there too... I never thought I would be able to see these two, EVER! It was all rather sudden really, so I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet. But oh man, I cannot WAIT!!

Eeek!