I love these little glass pots, filled with scented candles.

I light them to fill the room an hour before I start writing. They set the scene for me.

Looking back, candles have played an essential part in my adult life.

There are candles that when lit, sets the mood for love, intimacy.

Candles that help to celebrate another year of life.

Candles to meditate by.

Candles that I now light daily, to keep the love light shining & the good energy flowing. It’s a vibe.

#itsavibe #writingbycandles #meditate
#writers #authors #candles #writings #writerslife #dowhatittakes #justwrite

My Friday evening after work led me to two Author led writing events, a perfect start to my busy weekend ahead.

Black Ink hosted an awesome evening with …..

@desriethomsongeorge @kadijageorge @agardsandra

And of course Black Ballard gave us a selection of female authors of colour, hosted by @jendella giving a platform to @candicebrathwaite @oreawilliams @lizziedamiblackburn @darkmattermktg

And of course we know a persistent & consistent platform to shine the creative spotlight on female authors of colour & indie authors of any colour is heading this way, 8th July, The WILDE Foundation H&F Writers’ Festival. Checkout @hfwritersfest for more info & updates.

#writersfestival #fridaynightout #authors #writers #thewildefoundation @wildeint #writerslifestyle #writerslife

Sunday evening ended with me going along to the Merky Books Festival 📚

The place was abuzz with Millennial creative energy - the next generation of writers & authors. I had some great conversations.

Great linking with Micaller Walker, @darkmattermktg & @selinajulien & the awesome editor that is @cheriselbaker

Big thanks to Literary Activist, Kadija George & Crime Author, @stellaonithewriter @hfwritersfest

My week ahead is filled with planning & meetings - working towards making the Hammersmith & Fulham Writers’ Festival happen.

#merkybooks #merkyfestival #writers #authors #writingfestival
#writerslifestyle #planning #meetings

Day 3 at the London Book Fair.

Met up with, hung out with . . . the legend that is Dr Margaret Busby, writers, authors, editors, directors, agents, editorial staff . . .

Great catching up with my publisher @jacarandabooks @valbrandes & the Dream Team

@caineprize @abirfellows @kamapala_c @stellaonithewriter @olaawonubi @cheriselbaker

Swipe & enjoy my photo dump.

#londonbookfair #writers #authors #readers #novelists #jacarandabooks #bookminxsjv

Day 2 at the London Book Fair & it was another great day hanging out with my author buddies.

@annidom4 was there for a while, @sareetadomingoauthor was heading of for drinks when I saw her & even saw a few of my past writing students.

Who grabbed my attention but the winner of last year’s short story competition that’s associated with the writer’s festival. Emma Lindsey. Emma is over the moon about winning & is currently working on completing her first novel.

She is grateful & happy for the prize, which was a series of online fiction writing master class classes by Curtis Brown.

I’ll share Emma’s feedback in the near future.

Eaves dropped on author chat with @irenosenokojie & @leone.ross - talking speculative fiction & magic realism.

It was a day filled with creative benefits & I look forward to catching up with the writers & publisher we met from the US.

@stellaonithewriter @annidom4 @olaawonubi @sareetadomingoauthor

#writerslifestyle #writers #authors #indieauthors #femaleauthors #readers #betareaders #poets

Day 1 of3 at the London Book Fair.

Linked up with crime author @stellaonithewriter along with poet & literary activist, Dr Kadija George, @olaawonubi romance author & self published author, @helenpgarlick among many others.

Dined on Persian cuisine to end the day 😋😋😋

I’m holding Lessons In Chemistry by the winner of the Paul Torday Prize, @bonnie_garmus_author - congrats to her. I was one of the judges & throughly enjoyed delving between the pages, experiencing life in 1955 for an articulate & intelligent female scientist. No spoilers, go read the book.

Tomorrow is another day.

#lbf #londonbookfair #writerslife #booklovers #authors #writers #poets

I have friends who are all big on self care - so I’m in great company whenever I get a call to ‘meet & eat’ accompanied by plenty of jokes & great conversations.

My friend won’t take any photos without full makeup 😔 I keep telling her she’s already made 😅

#writerslifestyle #timeout #selfcare #nomakeupneeded #gratitude

Took a break from writing my non-fiction to galivant 😂 that word stirs laughter in me bc my Jamaican mother would associate it with me whenever I asked to go to a disco, party, or friends house. @daleelliottjr should do a parody on that 🤭

My galivanting was all about my Author signing day - out & about in London West End.

Enjoy my photo dump.

Big thanks goes out to the author & Bookseller from @promotingourheritage - Garfield Robinson for organising & giving Corporate London a taste of, & an introduction to authors of colour & indie authors.

#authorsofcolour #writers #indieauthors #indiepublishing
#writerlife #workinprogress
#galivanting #nonfiction #authorsigning #booksellers