Hi, It’s Me, I’m Not Dead!

After realising it’s been a whole three months since my last post, I figured it was about time I finally crawled out from under my rock and put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and made myself get something down. I’d normally be writing my monthly wrap-up post about now, so I guess I’ll try to do a bit of a quarterly one instead!

I’ve sat here several times attempting to put together a post, but somehow come up short. I guess for starters, I’m not even entirely sure why I haven’t been writing in the first place. I have been busy, incredibly so, but it’s something a bit more that.

I seemed to somehow rediscover my writing spark around October, and bashed out a new first draft surprisingly easily in November, but some point after that I seemed to lose my mojo a bit again. I guess the feeling encompassed most aspects of my life really; work, friendships, love, health.

Some old, familiar problems started to rear their ugly head again, which had me at a worrying precipice for a while, but I’ve spent the last month to six weeks regaining some control and getting things back in order again, focussing on the healthy, positive person I want to be, and I’m pleased to say I’m in a much better place for it.

So for now, I’m using my days to focus on making the best of me. Taking care of my health, spending time with friends and family, and working towards the goals I somewhat neglected last year.

As for the bookish side of things, I’ve done some reading and some writing, though not nearly enough of either! But my heads in a better place, and – despite a sincere lack of free time – I’m ready to try and nail down on this again. I’d wanted to have a finish draft of my first book by now, and instead I’ve put off editing and am sat in the same place I was a year a go, but now with two barely revisited first drafts instead of one! So, I have rescheduled my deadline till the end of this year, and now need to work my little butt off to make sure I actually get it done – wish me luck!

Now… how the hell have you all been??

Monthly Wrap Up: July 2015

Unofficial Hiatus

Firstly, I have to put my hands up and say sorry for the fact that I have been absolutely rubbish this last month. There was no conscious decision to do so, but I did kind of take a step back from everything; tweeting, reviewing, writing – heck, even reading! So, secondly to saying sorry, I want to say thanks for all your wonderful support and for standing by me through my rather absent and unresponsive time. I am definitely feeling ready to get back on top of things this month!

Single Life

The response I got to my June Wrap Up was completely overwhelming, I was so deeply touched by the love and support I received from you all; whether on my blog, on twitter, on Facebook or via email – I was truly inundated with kindness and support, and it took my breath away. You guys are truly AMAZING, and I am so, so grateful to the entire blogging community every single day.

It’s been pretty strange adapting to single life, but actually – though I can’t quite believe it myself – I’m kind of loving it. I miss the companionship and the friendship we had, and I miss having someone there at the end of the day, but I am also loving the freedom and time to spend on myself and the things I want.

I’ve treated myself to some gorgeous new bedding, cushions and bits for the house – all fantastically bright and girly! – and am making it much more of a ‘me’ home. I’ve been having so much fun with my friends, and catching up with all the ones I’ve been meaning to for months, but somehow never quite got round to.

I’ve been out dancing more than I had for months, I’ve drunk wine, eaten cheese, been to France, gone shopping, done Zumba, watched films, binged on The Vampire Diaries, had pizza and ice-cream, seen my family, planned holidays, been to a mini-festival and generally just enjoyed myself and my life the way I want to. I actually feel more myself, and more alive than I have done in a long time…possibly ever!

And it’s strange as we didn’t have a bad relationship by any means, and we certainly loved each other, but when I made the decision to end things in June, I did so thinking of the future. But, actually, what I hadn’t realised, was how much I was already missing out on in the present.

Ultimately, I’m 24 years old, and for the first time feel like I’m actually living my life, and you know what? I LOVE IT.

Blogoversary

July saw my first Blogoversary! I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I started, when I still feel like such a newbie! However, I do know i’ve come a long way from where I was.

Blogging has been the best – and craziest/most surreal/most stressful-but-amazing – experience I have ever had, and has totally changed my world around. For the first time I’m ‘surrounded’ by like-minded people, who I feel totally at ease gushing over the things I love with, and who have helped me build my confidence no end. Heck, I get to interview, and chat with and befriend freaking authors I love, how amazing is that?!

Just want to give another big thank you to everyone’s support throughout the past year, and also to the gorgeous bloggers and authors who so very kindly donated prizes for my blogoversary celebrations. You are absolutely wonderful human beings and I love you all.

July in Books

As previously mentioned, I really didn’t get much reading done this month. I think I was just struggling to get my head truly into anything and I have been very busy. I did opt for a nice few novellas which have been on the TBR for a while, which I really enjoyed.

       

Books Releases to Get Excited About in August

  

Stirred With Love – August 3rd

#PleaseRetweet – August 4th

Who Do You Love – August 11th

Books I Plan to Read in August 

I have bought so many gorge paperbacks lately that I am dying to get through, especially with  #paperbacksummer, and I also plan to participate in the #HIreadathon, so hopefully these will all get me out of my reading slump!

      

What are you looking forward to this month?