#rachel becoming a bestie was brilliant

[fangirlintheattic]

THE BESTIES | Harlan Coben's Shelter 1x08

[sendme-2hell]

Rating the Books I read after Gideon the Ninth (in order) by how well they made me forget my Gideon the Ninth angst

I starred the ones that I actually recommend if you want something similar to gtn.

I was bored so I made this. Mostly just so I can look back at this and laugh at myself in a few months and remember what I’ve read. 

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**Harrow the Ninth -Tamsyn Muir 

Summary: A depressed girl has to navigate murder attempts by both the mom and the dad of her dead ex-girlfriend who she can’t remember. She tries to make soup and writes fanfic to cope. 

How well it helped me forget: -100/10 but also 10/10 

Rating explanation: This one gets a 10/10 because it did make me feel better about a *particular* GTN plotpoint which I was very angsty about, but tragically it did make me more feral. After reading it I reread both books so I don’t think it helped me forget my angst. 

Similar themes to GTN: all of it, plus more memes 

I Want to Be Where The Normal People Are - Rachel Bloom 

Summary: Rachel Bloom who wrote the world’s most relatable song: “You Stupid Bitch,” and starred/created in Crazy Ex Girlfriend, writes about having anxiety, feeling like she’s not normal, and Harry Potter fanfic.

How well it helped me forget: 8/10

Rating explanation: For a few minutes I actually did forget about my griddlehark angst while I learned more about Bloom’s life and laughed at the painful relatability of it all. 

Similar themes to TLT: ummm depression, feeling very out of place, memes

Fingersmith - Sarah Waters

Summary: The book The Handmaiden was based on. A girl is sent to become a Lady’s handmaiden to con her out of some money. She falls in love. Many plot twists. 

How well it helped me forget: 5/10

Rating explanation: I was sadly still thinking about TLT the whole time I read this. I liked it but I actually like the Handmaiden better because the women spend more time together. Like in this book, I wish that Harrow and Gideon could spend more time together. 

Similar themes: wlw enemies to lovers, at some point you realize the main character’s love interest understands what’s going on way more than the main character

Kindred - Octavia Butler 

Summary: Very dark book about slave narratives. I cannot make a joke here, but this book is excellent. 

How well it helped me forget: 10/10 

Rating explanation: Again, I can’t make a joke. But Octavia Butler is amazing. 

Ash - Malinda Lo 

Summary: A wlw retelling of Cinderella with fairies and an emphasis on stories 

How well it helped me forget:7/10

Rating explanation: This was really quick and fun and I definitely was rooting for the lesbians. Also it was nice it had a happy ending! If you liked Crier’s War (which I did), this was clearly an influence for Nina Varela. 

Similar themes: wlw, the magic one + the fighting one dynamic

Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel

Summary: A deadly pandemic wipes out so many people that the world spins into chaos and no one can figure out how to use electricity apparently? But the book is really about fame and wanting to be remembered. Go figure.

How well it helped me forget: -10/10 

Rating explanation: Ok that’s not fair. It helped me forget about Gideon and Harrow but it did NOT help me forget about Corona. It was technically good and a lot of people I respect love it, but either because I was still thinking about TLT or because it was about a pandemic, I couldn’t really enjoy it. 

Similar themes: post-apocalyptic 

Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston 

Summary: The Prince of England and The son of the president of the US are enemies. They are definitely enemies.

How well it helped me forget: 6/10

Rating explanation: This was such a fun read that it almost distracted me! Tragically I was in such TLT headspace that I kept pausing to read fanfics where Gideon and Harrow switch eyes. 

Similar themes: Enemies to lovers, queer

Troubling Love - Elena Ferrante 

Summary: In true Elena Ferrante fashion, an event spurs an Italian woman to do a lot of internal processing and have some flashbacks. 

How well it helped me forget: 7/10

Rating explanation: This book was a bit disturbing so it distracted me in that way. Plus I love Elena Ferrante’s writing so much that it felt like coming home to an old friend. Unfortunately for me, this is Elena Ferrante’s least queer book. I know because I have now read them all. Her most queer book, The Lying Life of Adults, would have distracted me better. Also just using this space to tell anyone who’s still reading this (probably no one) to go read My Brilliant Friend (and the corresponding Neopolitan Novels). They are not similar to TLT except they are vaguely queer and about competitive friendships where the girls are obsessed with each other in maybe an unhealthy way. Ok so a bit similar. Genuinely my favorite books ever. 

Similar themes: mommy issues, daddy issues, childhood trauma

On This Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous -Ocean Vuong

Summary: A Vietnamese immigrant reflects on his mother, grandmother, and his own life experience in the US. It is poetic and beautiful and will make you cry. 

How well it helped me forget: 10/10

Rating explanation: This book is beautiful. It really changes how you think about the US. Plus really interesting stuff about the western way of telling stories. Cannot recommend it enough, though very little to do with TLT. 

Similar themes: queer, stuff about language, childhood trauma, you will cry

**The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon 

Summary: OK sorry none of those were good suggestions for what to read after GTN. THIS is what you should read after GTN. It is an incredibly slow burn wlw enemies to lovers. There are dragons, there is magic, there are very cool female characters who I am in love with. This is like Game of Thrones but if it was good, queer, and only one 800 page book. 

How well it helped me forget: 10/10

Rating explanation: Enemies to lovers!!!! What more do I have to say? Also very cool world-building, interesting religious themes. 

Similar themes: wlw enemies to lovers, religious themes, magic, very old wizard milfs, also mlm

*The Traitor Baru Cormorant 

Summary: Baru is a very smart girl in a colonized island. She decides she will play the game of the colonizers, rise up in their society, and destroy them from within. How is that going, Baru? 

How well it helped me forget: 100/10

Rating explanation: This DID make me forget TLT. The only book to truly make me. It made me forget so badly that I wanted my Griddlehark angst BACK. GIVE ME IT BACK I don’t wanna feel sad about Baru anymore. I cannot recommend it more, it is so good, but it did make me ugly cry. It also made me majorly depressed about colonization and the state of the world. 

Similar themes: wlw enemies to lovers, ending will make you cry

*The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson 

Summary: Baru is depressed, has brain damage, throws up a lot, is sad about (redacted), does some things without remembering them because there’s something going on in her brain. Sound familiar? It’s kinda like Harrow the Ninth but more depressing. Oh also a lot of new characters are introduced, old characters come back, a lot of setup for the next book. Euler’s identity shows up out of nowhere?! 

How well it helped me forget: 10/10

Rating explanation: Again, it made me forget but only because I was so engrossed in this story. Also kinda depressed. This book is kinda depressing. But Baru is very fun to be around, and there are some other great characters. Marry me, Yawa. 

Similar themes: again, this is just harrow the ninth on steroids, I am in love with every single woman in this series

*The Tyrant Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson 

Summary: Baru makes a new bestie, reunites with an old bestie, and discovers a dead bestie in her brain!

How well it helped me forget: 1000/10

Rating explanation: I loved this book. There were a few scenes I reread >four times. This book makes the other books in the series worth it. 

Similar themes: please see my venn diagram comparing tlt, baru, and A memory called empire for more information

*The Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo 

Summary: A girl has seen ghosts her whole life and because of that, gets accepted at Yale even though she didn’t finish high school. Yale is like a hotspot for ghosts I guess. It’s dark academia, the girl has a secret, the narrator is pretty funny.

How well it helped me forget: 6/10

Rating explanation: I was trying to get distracted from TLT (and Baru at this point), but it’s hard to forget about Harrow and Gideon in a book called The Ninth House (hello?). It was enjoyable and there was some good humor. I’m curious about the next book in the series when it comes out. It is not wlw unless you squint (which I do). 

Similar themes: debatably wlw body posession, nine houses, the ninth one being important, nerd boy who reminds me of pal, woman is revealed to be MUCH older than I originally thought, soul eating, revenants, tombs, necromancy, character named Mercy

The Bone Season - Samantha Shannon 

Summary: It’s the future and London is a hotspot for clairvoyants. Paige is a woman who has a special gift and can jump into people’s bodies and possess them briefly (among other things, this is a terrible explanation). Because of this, she is sent to a secret part of the city where clairvoyants are trained to be monster fighters (but also like, kept there in captivity against their will). Unlike every other book on this list I honestly wouldn’t recommend. I know there are other books in the series. If you’ve read on and it gets better let me know. (I know no one has gotten this far reading this but still)

How well it helped me forget: 4/10

Rating explanation: This one was disappointing because I loved Priory of the Orange Tree so much. This book did not distract me from my griddlehark or barhu feels. There’s also a character named Warden so I thought about SexPal a lot. 

Similar themes: enemies to lovers, ghosts, possession, queer but only background characters 

****The Unspoken Name - A.K. Larkwood 

Summary: A girl is in an isolated cult that wants her to die as a sacrifice (sound familiar?). A definitely not evil wizard helps her escape. She meets a cute necromancer who’s also kinda from a cult. She goes on some gay adventures, gets the help of a morally grey older necromancer (who I’m in love with), and fights with her frenemy. 

How well it helped me forget: 10/10

Rating explanation: This is the most similar to TLT on this list. Gideon and Csorwe would be friends. Seriously I recommend this! And the second book comes out soon! And it’s not sad like TLT or Baru! 

Similar themes: sword lesbian + necromancer dynamic, wlw enemies to lovers, cults, tombs, necromancy, character named “the sleeper”, also mlm

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue - V. E. Schwab 

Summary: Adeline Larue made a deal with a demon in 1714 France, because she wanted to see the world and stuff. It backfires of course. She is immortal but no one remembers her. This causes all sorts of problems and makes her very angsty. The narrative flashes between her going through the years, and her falling in love with the only person who will remember her. 

How well it helped me forget: 2/10

Rating explanation: I know people loved this book but I did not. I liked the last 50 pages, I’ll give it that. I wish it was more queer (it was a little queer). 

Similar themes: as I said, a little wlw, immortality, demons, I guess falling in love with someone and them not remembering you now that I think about it 

Sula - Toni Morrison 

Summary: A story about two black women in the 1920’s-1960’s in an Ohio town. It is really great and interesting. It is a book about complicated female friendships (among so many other things that better writers not writing a list no one will read about their TLT feels have outlined) which I love. I was told I should read this after the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante and it did not disappoint. Same vibes. 

How well it helped me forget: 10/10

Rating explanation: This was just a great book. Has really nothing to do with TLT

Similar themes: debatably queer 

*Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, Network Effect,  - Martha Wells

Summary: Muderbot is an artificial construct who just wants to be left alone to watch tv, damnit! It doesn’t want to interact with humans, and it definitely does not want to talk about feelings. Too bad some humans want to become friends with it.

How well it helped me forget: 10/10

Rating explanation: These books were so good. They did help me forget! The books are really about having anxiety, making friends, and letting yourself have feelings. Also they are SO FUNNY. Highly recommend. In the way that I love Gideon’s POV, I love Murderbot’s POV

Similar themes: funny narrator, queer characters, space, people who don’t want to deal with their feelings being forced to deal with their feelings

*A Memory Called Empire - Arkady Martine 

Summary: Mahit is sent a dangerous, evil empire to be an ambassador. Lots of beautiful writing about colonialism, assimilation, language, and culture.There is gay angst and funny characters. I am once again in love with a morally grey older woman character. 

How well it helped me forget: 10/10

Rating explanation: Yes this book is great and did distract me from gtn (mostly. I did end up reading a great fanfic about wake, g1deon, and pyrrah in the middle but otherwise...). It is part of my holy trilogy of wlw books (this, baru, tlt) that I just read recently. The next book comes out on March 2nd so it will be a good distraction from waiting for Alecto. Like Baru, it made me feel like shit about colonialism but unlike the other two books in my trilogy (redacted but if you’ve read those books you know) didn’t happen. It had a not too sad ending. 

Similar themes: see my venn diagram, but seriously what is going on with brain surgery in these books...

*The Luminous Dead - Cailtin Starling 9/10

Summary: A woman needs money and to get the money she goes on a risky cave dive. It turns out the only contact she has with the rest of the world is a woman who’s kinda a dick. It’s 400 pages of creepy cave diving and these two women talking to each other. It’s creepy and uncomfortable and I loved it. I did spend the whole book thinking it would be such a good story podcast.

How well it helped me forget: 10/10

Rating explanation: It did make me forget about tlt! There are some kinda boring parts but it pays off. The relationship between the two main characters is very interesting (though a bit fucked up). 

Similar themes: wlw enemies to lovers, traumatised characters, shitty moms

[sscrambledmeggss]

blaine for the ask game >:^)

jkjk do sebastian and mercedes

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 🤚

Blaine Anderson:

Favorite thing about them: some of his songs are absolute bangers

Least favorite thing about them: his lack of accountability

Favorite line: “If he and I got married, the Gap would give me a 50% discount.” I love that he’s rich, and still looking for a discount, like okay go off <3

brOTP: the warblers <3

OTP: Blainofsky, I genuinely think they had some cute moments 😭😭

nOTP: Seblaine, I also dislike Klaine, but have/would read Klaine fanfiction, seblaine just upsets me, and that’s a me problem 😭

Random headcanon: he definitely has a Katy Perry stan account

Unpopular opinion: I don’t like him 😭

Song I associate with them: literally teenage dream by Katy Perry. Basic I know 🦧

Favorite picture of them:

I like how happy he looks :)

Sebastian Smythe:

Favorite thing about them: literal rat bastard, crime gremlin, but also I like how he chose to grow and change at the end of his time on the show. He genuinely tried becoming a better person and I really appreciate that (ignoring the warblers scandal in s4 LOL)

Least favorite thing about them: effeminophobia 🦧 but also his racist lines to Santana :/

Favorite line: “Fun, I don’t like you either”

Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it.

brOTP: I absolutely adore it when he a Nick are besties 🥰 but also hear me out...I can see him and Rachel as a very fun friends dynamic 😭 I also like it when he and Sam or puck are friends in fics :D

OTP: Kurtbastian, are we surprised

nOTP: Seblaine, again it’s just not something I enjoy but it’s completely valid of other people who do! :)

Random headcanon: there’s so many...but I feel like one time Jeff saw him in the hallway and he was just casually eating a pepper like an apple. He also wears crocs unironically

Unpopular opinion: I think his scandals outfit is fun. Not GOOD, but fun. It’s a mess and it perfectly sums up Sebastians character

Song I associate with them: The Archer and Peace by Taylor Swift also Beautiful, Dirty, Rich thanks to acitw

Favorite picture of them:

You can tell he knows he’s about to be a little shit, like he’s going there to ruin Kurt (and I think Rachel’s? If I remember the scene correctly) day 🦧 absolute chaos gremlin (affectionate)

Mercedes Jones:

Favorite thing about them: she’s nice, but she’s not a pushover. She values herself just as much as the values others, and I think that’s an amazing quality to have :)

Least favorite thing about them: idk if I have one 😭

Favorite line: “Okay, I'm gonna ask you to stop, because I'm starting to get embarrassed for you.” It basically just sums up all of glee

brOTP: Tincedes, Rachcedes, Quinncedes and Kurtcedes <3 though Puckcedes is also cute at times :)

OTP: Samcedes, Rachcedes, Quinncedes and Tincedes

nOTP: romantic!kurtcedes </3

Random headcanon: her and her older brother would put on concerts for their family when they were younger <3 she would sing and he’d do special effects in the background (lights, making sure the music is playing etc)

Unpopular opinion: I liked her and Sam’s breakup. Do I wish they got back together? Yes. But do I also think that it was super mature and well executed for a glee breakup? Yes. <3

Song I associate with them: Wildest Dreams. I honestly don’t really know why?? It just makes me think “this is a Mercedes song”

Favorite picture of them:

LOOK AT HERRRR 🥺🥺 Mercedes Jones deserves everything good in the world 🤚🤚

[enternecers]

❔

this is all aside from canon stuff, okay?

rachel berry for haley james: i have always wanted to see these two interact since they are both very smart and musically inclined people. would they kill each other? would they be friends? would they become besties because rachel dates finn and haley dates nathan? i wanna know.

veronica lodge for julien calloway: i have always loved the idea of crossing veronica over to gg, but the new gg seems even more interesting because... veronica and julien have similar energy, but i can see them being a lot more like serena and blair with julien being serena. so i’d love to explore that dynamic.

summer roberts for lydia martin: they were both the popular girls in school who fell for nerds and were actually brilliant, except summer was unaware of this. i think a plot where they are roommates in college could be so fun, especially since they both lost their best friends too. BONDING!!!!

vanessa baylor for rachel gatina: vanessa is my oc who works as a model and i can totally see her becoming friends with rachel so maybe we could explore rachel’s life while she was mia from the show? maybe an au where she doesn’t get super lost and actually is happy? i don’t know!

send me a ❔ to know which muses i’d like to throw at you / accepting.

[drink-n-watch]

I’m writing this on Thursday. This maters because I normally watch Tower of God when it airs and writ my review right after. But I was so exhausted yesterday, that watching anime was too much trouble. Yup, actually watching was more intellectual and emotional involvement than I could muster.

Had I known how happy episode 12 of Tower of God would make me, I probably would have watched it right then and there!

I feel like you can always tell when I’m excited about an episode because my screencaps double!

First of all let me assure you that despite having predicted half of what happens this episode I did not read ahead in the mangwa. This is pure coincidence! This said I’m particularly flattered that Tower of God decided to do everything in its power to make me very very happy. 

Of course,  the only thing it actually had to do was give me some sweet sweet Yuri. The second I recognize that silhouette in the shadows, a smile crept across my face and it didn’t die out for the entirety of the episode.

One dark tiny little fear I have had all this time and didn’t dare tell you all about, was that they would in fact bring Yuri into the main story and then she would be boring. It wasn’t a big fear, Tower of God has been pretty good with creating interesting characters and putting them in even more interesting situations. However, larger-than-life type characters are a little tough to pull off and they have been teasing Yuri since the beginning of the season elevating our expectations so much that it becomes difficult to sustain.

Oh but I am so pleased to report that my fears were completely in vain. Heck, Yuri may have even been cooler than I expected and I don’t even know how that’s possible. She was the best! Now admittedly Yuri is probably a character that is best used sparingly. Seeing her every episode would likely dilute some of the fun. But I still think they could have brought her back a few episodes sooner. Not that I’m complaining. I’ll take any Yuri I can get! Boy out of context this sounds like I’m just the biggest YoI fan!

This really turned into a Yuri appreciation post… Did you expect anything else?

I guess I got so fascinated by her presence I sort of didn’t notice whatever else was happening… Actually that’s not true. You know what was really cool, seeing Endrosi and Anak come together. It really gave m a hells yeah girl power! moment, in the best of way.

And although we didn’t actually get to see anything, I couldn’t help but notice that compared to how she was with everyone, Yuri seemed a little nicer to Leesoo, or at least a bit more trusting. She talked to him openly and trusted him with her gift and message for Bam. Maybe it’s just because I like Leesoo a lot and I would like to think Yuri also saw some of that in him!

Basically, just as I had predicted, or rather requested, Yuri cam in and saved the Anak and Endrosi who are also BFFs now and I can’t wait to see this dynamic!

Meanwhile, on the surface, Khun managed to pull of yet another rather brilliant plan using the resources available to him in the best possible way. It was a good little sequence to swiftly remind us of everyone’s skill and add some sunshine into the episode. It also cemented the fact that everyone really trusts Kuhn. To the point where, as soon as they realized something extraordinary was happening and the tides of war were shifting in their favour, they just naturally assumed it was all Khun’s plan. Not bad for a kid who started out completely and utterly alone in the whole wide world! Khun may have a hard time getting to trust anyone but somehow he has managed to earn the trust of others.

And also, he would look really good with a haircut…cough…

All the hotties came out to play this week and I am not complaining!

Now I have always thought that the concept of families in Tower of God is used a bit like in the mafia. Obviously the Jahad aren’t all related. Maybe none of them are related in any way. So wouldn’t the Khun’s be the same. They don’t seem to know each other. Maybe whoever the Khun leader is also just chooses people for their family but just don’t have that slightly creepy only virgin girls allowed rule. But f so, why do they look like they’re related.

I guess if they are not a biological family, it would make that really passionate relationship Khun seems to have with his sister make more sense. Not that it didn’t make sense to me before. In fact I didn’t even think about it not making sense until this very episode, because, as I have mentioned before, anime has completely destroyed my concept of appropriate sibling relationships!

This said if Khun was “chosen”, it would explain his relative power and knowledge compared to the others. Up to a certain point, I figured he got his intel by virtue of being a light bearer but he always seemed to know way more about the Tower than everyone else. Even before the positions test. But if he’s a “princess”, that would explain it.

Too much think, back to nonsense. Hak and Khun should be besties forever, just like Anak and Endrosie. This episode was the best, I tell ya!

As happy as I was to see Yuri, I do wish we had had a bit more time with her team…

Just when everything was falling into place, we found out that the Bull was sent to get Bam. And the Bull seems to be some type of giant stingray monster. (I really like stingrays, not sure why). Now I know that technically Bam is a Wave Controller but ar we absolutely sure he’s not a Fisherman? Cause he seems to be a real bane for sea monsters! I’ll admit it, I’m proud of that one, so there!

Seriously though, Anak and Endrosi together couldn’t make a dent in that thing and Bam just blew him up. We knew the kid was strong but is he like, Yuri strong? Why isn’t he in a family? Wait is there a Bam family? Oh gaw, can you imagine like a dozen wide eyed innocents with immense power just milling around the Tower aimlessly, smiling at people! It would certainly be a great subversion of the chosen one trope the series has been leaning into!

I had been spoiled by fans of the webtoon that Rachel’s character was more than meets the eye before the series started and me first and really only guess was that she would betray Bam specifically. That’s what has been foreshadowed all along and I was too lazy to go against the obvious. Still, I didn’t think it would be that soon. Bam will probably forgive her though. He just seems like the type.

I like that it came so quickly. An openly treacherous Rachel is bound to be more interesting than the sad sack Rachel we’ve been getting.

What I’m saying is that there is only one episode left and they’ve set up al the most interesting moments of the series so far….great….

Tower of God Ep.12 – Finally! I'm writing this on Thursday. This maters because I normally watch Tower of God when it airs and writ my review right after.

[char27martin]

16 Agents Share 34 Tips for Success: From Studying the Market to Proper Querying

When compiling the literary agent feature for the October 2017 issue of Writer’s Digest, I was overwhelmed with the amount of advice, tips, and thoughts agents were willing to share. We had so much extra content, in fact, that we decided to post it online—most of it couldn’t make it into the issue! (You can order your copy of the October issue, featuring 34 agents actively looking for new writers, today!)

Below, 16 of our agents share tips that didn’t make the issue. Continue reading for advice on doing agent research, working with beta readers, establishing yourself as part of a community, writing query letters, and more:

The Market:

Read, read, read! The best way to become a successful writer is to be a passionate reader. —Susan Hawk, Upstart Crow Literary

Study the market and submit your best story for that market. Read the type of books you want to write to get a feel for the type of voice, story, and tone those publishers want. Put together the best proposal you can, including a professional head shot with your author biography. Write the proposal in third person. —Tamela Hancock Murray, The Steve Laube Agency

Read as much as you can in your genre. —Jennifer Johnson-Blalock, Liza Dawson Associates

Be aware of the market, but don’t spend too much time worrying about it – write the story that only you can write. —Susan Hawk, Upstart Crow Literary

Walk into a bookstore. Go to the section you think your book would go in. If you have a hard time deciding what section your book belongs in, you probably have some editing to do. It’s always better from a marketing standpoint if you can concretely place your book in a genre, or in this case on a shelf. —Vanessa Robins, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Research:

Do all the research you can. There are so many brilliant sources out there for free on how to pick an agent, how to write a query, and how to stay positive in a business that can be stressful and (at times) discouraging. And there are a lot of very friendly people in the community who like to give back and offer advice. —Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Do your research. You want to learn as much as you can about publishing, from how to query agents to how to promote your debut. —Jennifer Johnson-Blalock, Liza Dawson Associates

Beta Readers and Critique Groups:

I think the best thing a writer can do when they finish their first or second draft is solicit the help of fellow writers, critique partners, and beta readers in revising the manuscript. Agents can always tell when a book has or has not been workshopped and polished with the help of other writers and editors, so this is not a step to be missed! —Hannah Fergesen, KT Literary

Join a writer’s group. Getting supportive feedback on your work is invaluable. And, writing can be lonely. Finding your writing family is key to a long-term writing career. —Susan Hawk, Upstart Crow Literary

Community:

A literary community is probably your strongest ally. Join writing groups, go to open mic nights, follow other authors online, and just be present. —Vanessa Robins, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Writers should get in the habit of giving back to other writers as often as possible. It’s good karma, and it makes you a part of a community that, when you do publish your book, will help you support it. Your end game isn’t just to be published; it’s about having a career and about being a good member of the community you’ve chosen. Writers are amazing people, and you don’t need an agent or a book deal to be a part of the writing community. —Jenny Herrera, David Black Agency

Platform:

Try to have an online platform. You don’t have to have ten thousand followers or know how to market inside and out, but just seeing that you have a workable start helps! —Kaitlyn Johnson, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Editing:

A clean query is the mark of an attentive writer. While a small typo probably won’t lead to an automatic “no,” getting the agent’s name wrong from the get-go might. —Amelia Appel, Triada US

Put your differences aside and become besties with editing. Even when you polish the thing shiny, your beta readers will have edits, then your agent, then more beta readers, then your agent again, then editors, and more editors. Basically, even when you think you’re done editing, you’re probably not. —Vanessa Robins, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Your manuscript is your resume. It should be as polished as possible and show exactly what your talent is as a writer. —Quressa Robinson, Nelson Literary Agency

Queries:

If you’re querying you should be making regular trips to bookstores. There’s so much to learn just by browsing displays. —Steven Salpeter, Curtis Brown

When it comes time to query, make sure your pitch is crystal clear and to the point. It’s said over and over again, but it’s true that agents won’t have the time or patience to read a long wind-up to the book’s description. —Rachel Vogel

Once you’re ready to query, try to remember you’re attempting a working relationship with someone. It’s no different than a job interview: practice respect, give your best work, and follow directions given. Agents notice when a writer proves they’d be great to work with, but they also take note when they see the opposite. —Kaitlyn Johnson, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Make sure you are ready to query and make sure you know what you’ve written. There’s nothing as disheartening for an agent as requesting a full manuscript only to be told it isn’t ready yet. —Joanna MacKenzie, Nelson Literary Agency

When mapping out your sections on marketing and promotion, think outside the box: Who is this book written for? Who will those readers recommend it to? Don’t limit your readership by believing only one type of reader would be interested in it such as “romance readers” or “history buffs.” Readers are hungry for new experiences and your book could be just what they’re looking for—but they need to find it first. The more options you add to your proposal, the better armed your editor will be to go in and fight for your book in the war room. —Stacey Graham, Red Sofa Literary

I don’t read queries that aren’t specifically addressed to me; that are written in the voice of a character; that admit the manuscript isn’t complete (for fiction only); that are intentionally disrespectful. Your goal is not to shock me with your query, but to get me to read your sample pages. And in those pages, novels that begin with a dead body, a sweeping panorama of an exotic locale, a first person introduction (“Hi reader, my name is…), a character waking up, commentary on the weather or a dump of expository information are not interesting to me. —Noah Ballard, Curtis Brown

Even if you’re not certain something would be of interest to me if it falls within my ranges of interests I would always rather see something and decide for myself. When in doubt, query me. —Steven Salpeter, Curtis Brown

Agents are notorious for having a wide variety of guidelines. Oftentimes they will be in correlation to the overall guidelines for their specific agency, but they can also be guidelines that the agent has specifically created to further help writers with their submissions. It’s important to remember that these guidelines are there to help you. I understand that it can sometimes feel like a lot of hoops to jump through, but having guidelines allows for you as the writer to be able to create stronger and more impactful queries. When you’re working on your queries, always remember to include the submission guidelines within your overall research. The lack of effort when following submission guidelines is one of my biggest pet peeves as an agent, and if I can tell that a writer blatantly disregarded my guidelines, it results in an automatic dismissal of the query. —Justin Wells, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Agent-Author Relationship:

Whether you receive one offer of representation or ten, ask questions of the offering agent to make sure you are a good fit. Speak to them via video call in you’re not in the same city and don’t be afraid to ask for references. An author-agent relationship is a lot like a marriage and you want to make sure you’re partnering with someone who can sell your book and who you trust to advocate for you. —Joanna MacKenzie, Nelson Literary Agency

The Call is when you and the agent assess each other. Do you fit? Are they really offering what you’re looking for? They are wondering the same things. This is a business partnership and like after any interview either party can decide that they aren’t a good match. But when the stars align, you both know it’s a good match, and now you have an agent! —Quressa Robinson, Nelson Literary Agency

Be polite and professional. When an agent takes on a client, they do so knowing that there is going to be a lot more to that relationship than just the written work. If an agent wants to work with you, it’s because they believe in your writing, but also in you. Agents want to take on clients they can see themselves successfully working with throughout their career. Given that, keep in mind that your query letter is your first impression, so it’s to your benefit to make it a good one. —Amelia Appel, Triada US

Be prepared to be a partner in your success. Your work as an author isn’t finished when you type, “the end.” It’s not over when you sign a publishing contract, either. Publishers love authors who are willing to learn how to be on social media, who will bring promotional ideas and opportunities to the table, and who can network. Don’t worry, if this sounds daunting, your agent will be there to walk you through it all. —Joanna MacKenzie, Nelson Literary Agency

Perseverance:

Patience is by far the most important thing, for agents and authors. Even if you finally snag your dream agent, the process can be like a sloth using crutches, slow and painful (okay, only slightly painful). —Vanessa Robins, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Just like with finding a job it can be a long road before you get an offer and find the right spot, but it happens. Perseverance, dedication to your craft, adaptation, and a bit of gumption will lead you to success. —Quressa Robinson, Nelson Literary Agency

Hang in there! We completely understand that querying can be a nerve-wracking process and that rejection can be extremely disheartening. But, this is a super subjective business—what’s not right for one agent might be perfect for the next. Be open to feedback and don’t give up! —Amelia Appel, Triada US

Prepare for rejection. It happens to everyone, authors and agents alike (editors tell us no, too) and is part of the process of being published. As clichéd as it sounds, this is a marathon, not a sprint—this is especially true if you want to be a career novelist. —Joanna MacKenzie, Nelson Literary Agency

Rejections are opportunities. They teach us about the marketplace, and sometimes reveal insights about a manuscript that can be used to make a book better and bring an author to another level in her or his career. —Steven Salpeter, Curtis Brown

As with any job, an agent may read your query letter and decide from there that they are not interested in moving forward to your manuscript (typically a partial). This could be subjective. It doesn’t speak to them. Or you may not have conveyed your knowledge and story in the best light. If an agent does move onto the manuscript and still decide to pass, again this is the subjective part of the job. Your writing could be solid, the story well plotted, but if the agent doesn’t connect to it, if they don’t have passion for it, if they don’t love it, then they know they need to move on. And you should want them to! If they pass on your manuscript this means that you don’t get to move on to the interview stage of the process, which is the call. —Quressa Robinson, Nelson Literary Agency

As cliché as it might sound, I will always encourage writers to never give up. I discuss the subjectivity of publishing, and the agent world a lot with other agents. Once you get your manuscript to the point where you start seeking an agent you really need to remain determined throughout the entire process. The idea that all agents look at manuscripts differently can never be stated enough. Don’t let an agent passing on your manuscript keep you from pursing your goal. I’ve heard of quite a few cases where agents have passed on manuscripts because it personally wasn’t a good fit for them, and another agent felt it was a great fit and was able to land a deal for the author. It all comes down to finding that one agent who falls in love with your manuscript, and will work to get it out there to editors. —Justin Wells, Corvisiero Literary Agency

The biggest literary agent database anywhere is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the most recent updated edition online at a discount.

If you’re an agent looking to update your information or an author interested in contributing to the GLA blog or the next edition of the book, contact Writer’s Digest Books Managing Editor Cris Freese at cris.freese@fwmedia.com.

    The post 16 Agents Share 34 Tips for Success: From Studying the Market to Proper Querying appeared first on WritersDigest.com.

from Writing Editor Blogs – WritersDigest.com http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/16-agents-share-34-tips-success-studying-market-proper-querying

[yawednesdays-blog]

April showers bring May…..BOOKS! We’re got SOOOO many #YA releases in May, so let’s get reading!

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  May 2nd

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas, May 2nd, Bloomsbury Childrens Books, 648 pages

Maas-heads rejoice! Book 3 in this action packed Fae saga continues.

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Dreamfall (Dreamfall #1) by Amy Plum, May 2nd, HarperTeen, 288 pages

When a sleep study goes wrong, 7 teens find themselves trapped in a shared nightmare with no way to get out.

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Kill All Happies by Rachel Cohen, May 2, Disney-Hyperion, 288 pages

It’s graduation and Vic wants to say good-bye to high school and her soon to be closed favorite restaurant Happies. But in true Ferris Bueller fashion, a simple party gets blown to epic proportion.

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Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman, May 2nd, Sourcebooks Fire, 320 pages

When Anise’s aunt gets into a car accident, Anise’s summer plans of beach weekends and bonfires are washed away. Instead she’s caring for her 3 cousins in Nebraska which is a world away from California.  But family bonding and a cute skater named Lincoln help Anise acclimate. Will Anise find her land-legs and put roots down in Nebraska? Or will she go back to her “real life” after summer ends?

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Noteworthy by Riley Redgate, May 2nd, Amulet Books, 400 pages

In order to get into her school’s elite a cappella group, female Jordan will have to transform into male Jordan. Deception never sounded so good!

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And We’re Off by Diana Schwartz, May 2nd, Razorbill, 288 pages

Nora’s grandfather is giving her the gift of a summer in Europe, with the condition she create a work of art at each stop. With her love of art, this is the trip of a lifetime for Nora. But her mother is strongly against the idea. That is until mom decides to go with her.

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Cold Summer by Gwen Cole, May 2nd, Sky Pony Press, 256 pages

“Today, he’s a high school dropout with no future. Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.”- Goodreads

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Always and Forever, Lara Jean, by Jenny Han, May 2nd, Simon & Schuster for Young Readers, 336 pages

The Lara Jean series ends (again) with this surprise follow-up.

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Just Dreaming (The Silver Trilogy) by Kerstin Grier, May 2, Henry Holt & Co., 320 page

“A dream traveler faces the greatest challenge she’s yet encountered in this gripping third and final book of the Silver trilogy.” Goodreads

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Count All Her Bones by April Henry, May 2, Henry Holt & Co, 240 pages

“Cheyenne sets out to save her former captor in this much-anticipated sequel to Girl, Stolen.”- Goodreads

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Avenged by Amy Tintera, May 2nd, HarperTeen, Page 416

“In the sequel to Ruined, the romance of The Selection and the epic stakes of Red Queen come together in a story of revenge, adventure, and unexpected love.”- Goodreads

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How To Make A Wish by Ashley Herring Blake, HMH Books For Young Readers, 336 Pages

Grace just wants to normal life and to get through her last year of high school. But everything changes when Grave meets Eva, a girl with her own past, but who lets Grace imagine a different future.

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Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith, May 2nd, Delacorte Press, 432 Pages

Giving your bestie a winning lottery ticket is a HUGE blessing…until it turns into a curse.

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May 4th

Release by Patrick Ness, May 4th, Walker Books, 287 Pages

Ness’s latest comes out May 4th in the UK, but US audiences will have to wait until September. Thank goodness for international shipping!

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The Island At The End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, May 4th, Chicken House, 288 pages

From the author of the bestselling tale The Girl of Ink & Stars comes a beautiful new adventure about finding your way home.

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The Fallen Children by David Owen, May 4th, Atom, Page 240

Keisha has lived at Midwich Estate all her life.  Unlike some of the Midwich children, Keisha plan on escaping. But when everyone has a group blackout during which some of the girls become pregnant, things for Keisha go from desperate to dire.

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May 9th

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy, May 9th, Balzer + Bray, 432 Pages

The next anticipated release from the author of Dumplin’, brings us Ramona, a girls from  small town Mississippi who learns that love, like water, can be fluid.

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The Traitor’s Kiss ( Traitors Trilogy #1) by Erin Beatty, May 9th, Imprint, 352 pages

“An obstinate girl who will not be married. A soldier desperate to prove himself. A kingdom on the brink of war.”- Goodreads

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It Started With Goodbye by Christina June, May 9th, Blink/HarperCollins, 305 pages

“Sixteen-year-old Tatum Elsea is bracing for the worst summer of her life. After being falsely accused of a crime, she’s stuck under stepmother-imposed house arrest and her BFF’s gone ghost. Tatum fills her newfound free time with community service by day and working at her covert graphic design business at night (which includes trading emails with a cute cello-playing client). When Tatum discovers she’s not the only one in the house keeping secrets, she finds she has the chance to make amends with her family and friends. Equipped with a new perspective, and assisted by her feisty step-abuela-slash-fairy-godmother, Tatum is ready to start fresh and maybe even get her happy ending along the way.”- Goodreads

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It’s Not Like It’s A Secret by Misa Sugiura, May 9th, HarperTeen 400 Pages

“Telling the truth is easy… what comes after it, though, is a whole lot more complicated.”-Goddreads

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Umberland (Everland #2) by Wendy Spinale, May 9th, Scholastic Press, 288 Pages

“What began with a reimagining of Peter Pan and Wendy now twists into a stunning version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass!” Goodreads

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The Duke of Bannerman Prep by Katie A. Nelson, May 9th, Sky Pony Press, 352 Pages

“Words are weapons. Facts can be manipulated. And nothing is absolute—especially right and wrong.

A contemporary retelling of The Great Gatsby, Katie Nelson’s taut debut is perfect for fans of John Green’s Looking for Alaska, Kate Brian’s Private series, and anyone who’s encountered the cut-throat world of competitive high school.” –Goodreads

We’re super excited for this release, especially since we’re on the blog tour!

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Brave New Girl by Rachel Vincent, May 9th, Delacorte Press, 272 Pages

“In a world where everyone is the same, one girl is the unthinkable: unique. A high-stakes fast-paced series launch from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent.” Goodreads

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May 16th

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich, May 16th, Feiwel & Friends, 384 Pages

Caden is nice. Dylan is not. One of these boys will break your heart…or die trying.

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Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord, Bloomsbury USA Children, 400 Pages

Lucy’s world is up-ended when her mother’s cancer returns, her summer job at bible camp turns into working with troubled teens instead, and her boyfriend puts their relationship on “pause”. Can Lucy rediscover herself and her faith before summer ends?

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The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo, May 16th, Swoon Reads, 320 pages

“A theme park princess must put her life back together after her happily ever after falls apart in this contemporary YA romance from Karole Cozzo, author of How to Keep Rolling After a Fall and How to Say I Love You Out Loud.” -Goodreads

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A Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh, May 16th, G.P. Putman’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 368 pages

From the brilliant mind behind The Wrath and the Dawn, Ahdieh’s newest series mixes samurai, poltical marriage and hidden identity.

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Violet Grenade by Victoria Scott, May 16th, Entangled Teen, 300 pages

Domino is resuced from a life on the streets by Madam Karina. But the madam is not the savior she appears to be. But then again, Domino isn’t the helpless girl the madam thinks she is.

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The Crown’s Fate (The Crown’s Game #2) by Evelyn Skye, May 16th, Blazer + Bray, 400 Pages

We pick up where we left off in this intriguing continuation of The Crown’s Game.

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A Millions Junes by Emily Henry, Razorbill, 350 Pages

“Romeo and Juliet meets One Hundred Years of Solitude in Emily Henry’s brilliant follow-up to The Love That Split the World, about the daughter and son of two long-feuding families who fall in love while trying to uncover the truth about the strange magic and harrowing curse that has plagued their bloodlines for generations.” -Goodreads

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Seeking Mansfield by Kate Watson, May 16th, Flux, 300 Pages

Finley has many talents, but her greatest one might be her ability to go unnoticed. She’s content with working behind the scenes on school productions and with her bestie, Oliver. But when teen movies stars movie next door, Finley will have to take center stage if she wants to keep from losing Oliver.

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Grit by Gillian French, May 16th, HarperTeen, 300 Pages

“Raw and moving, this contemporary realistic debut novel will leave readers of E. Lockhart and Gayle Forman breathless as it unflinchingly unfolds the tragic secrets being kept in a small, deceptively idyllic Maine town.” -Goodreads

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Antisocial by Jillian Blake, May 16, Delacorte Press, 256 Pages

“Alexandria Prep is hacked in this whodunit set in the age of social media and the cloud.” Goodreads

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Seeker (Riders #2) by Veronica Rossi, May 16th, Tor Teen, 352 Pages

“New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Veronica Rossi’s new fantasy adventure in the Rider series—Seeker .” -Goodreads

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May 30th

I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maureen Goo, May 30th, Farra, Straus & Giroux, 336 pages

Desi excels at everything….except dating. When a super hot guy walks into her life, she decides it’s time to study up on love. What does she use as her guide? The “K Drama Rules for True Love”, of course! Armed with the advice from Korean soap opera. Desi is determined to conquer love at last.

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Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts, Disney-Hyperion, 352 Pages

Being bastard born means knowing you will always be second best. But it just may take this band of bastards to save the kingdom from rebellion.

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Romancing The Throne by Nadine Jolie Courtney, May 30th, Katherine Tegen Books, 400 Pages

“Scandal, secrets, and heartbreak abound in this juicy, modern girl-meets-prince story—perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Jennifer E. Smith.” -Goodreads

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When It’s Real by Erin Watt, Harlequin Teen, 384 Pages

“From #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Erin Watt comes the addictive contemporary tale of a teen rock star in need of an image makeover and the teen girl hired to be his fake girlfriend.” -Goodreads

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Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index by Julie Israel, May 30th, Kathy Dawson Books, 320 Pages

Juniper’s sister Camilla died in a car accident 65 days ago. When Juniper finds a love letter written by her sister to a mystery person just before she died, Juniper sets out to find who the letter was intended for. But is Juniper prepared for what she may find (and loses) along with way?

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One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, May 30th, Delacorte Press, 368 Pages

“One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.” -Goordreads

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When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, May 30th, Simon Pulse, 320 Pages

We had LOTS to say about why you should read this book in our First Reads Friday post.

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Eliza and her Monsters by Francesca Zappia, May 30, Greenwillow Books, 400 Pages

Eliza Mirk may be weird and quiet in the real world, but what her classmates don’t know is that she has an online presence of epic proportion. She’s the anonymous creator of the webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza likes her double life and has no intention of telling people in or her secret. But when her double identity is found out, things start to slip out of control.

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This concludes our May One to Watch Books. Of course we can’t include everything so if there’s something you’re excited about that we missed, let us know in the comments. See you next month and Happy Reading!

Ann-Eliza

Have you read all the April OTWB?

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One To Watch Books: Your Guide to May YA Releases April showers bring May.....BOOKS! We're got SOOOO many #YA releases in May, so let's get reading!

[missflyingsolo-blog]

Challenge Accepted...

So its bank holiday Monday and I’m at Doncaster train station waiting for a train to Newcastle with the bestie. It may not surprise you to find out (especially knowing I was responsible for booking) that we nearly didn’t make it to Newcastle…

Don’t get me wrong, I booked the hotel (quite a nice one at that) and I booked the trains. The issue I had was that the trains got us to Newcastle on the Tuesday and our hotel was booked for Monday night! So a slightly awkward phone call to the train company and £63 later we were back on track. As it turned out, Katie got engaged a few days before the planned trip to Newcastle so it seemed the perfect opportunity to celebrate the engagement. We boarded the train with bridal magazines in hand and a bottle of bubbles in the bag all set to start the weekend in style!

Now the first awkward moment of the weekend (I have quite a lot of awkward moments in case you hadn’t realised) came when we were in our seats and wanted to make a start on the bubbles. Normally I can pop the cork from the bubbles without problems (that makes it sound like I’ve had far too much practice) but when you attempt to do it in a nice calm train coach without drawing too much attention to yourself it becomes a challenge. I was conscious that the bottle had been in my bag all the way to the train station so there was the potential for an eruption of bubbles, as well as the possibility that the cork might be a little too keen to pop and cause injury to one of the innocent bystanders. Feeling like all the pressure was on me, I set to work and thankfully managed quite well (even if one of the passengers did jump like a shot had been fired).

With bubbles poured into our plastic beakers (because we are classy like that…) we set to work devouring the first of what I’m sure will be many bridal magazines. I feel like I should warn you in advance; Katie and Chris’ wedding may feature quite heavily in this blog over the next year or so (I’m quite excited in case you hadn’t noticed). So as we start to plan and get more involved with hen do’s and cake tasting all that jazz, this may become more like the diary of a bridesmaid (fingers crossed!) than my “Get a Life” blog.

We arrived in the city and set to work admiring our hotel for the evening! Now I’m not one to brag (okay maybe just a little bit) but I did a pretty amazing job at booking this hotel! We stopped at the Crowne Plaza Newcastle Stephenson Quarter, if anybody fancies a trip.

 I suppose most of the time when you need a hotel it is just to sleep in, so it only really needs to be clean and well maintained, which this one definitely was. But sometimes it doesn’t hurt to have a little luxury and I felt like this was one of those occasions (it’s almost like I knew there'd be an engagement to celebrate). The hotel was beautiful! It had great reviews on Trip Advisor and as we saw more of the hotel I could see why. It was in a great location and the staff were brilliant, doing everything they could to ensure we were happy! Plus like I say it didn’t hurt that it was easy on the eye and the Gin bar was definitely an added bonus! Not only did we fall in love with the hotel but we loved that it was great value for money as well. It left me thinking that if this is what all Crowne Plazas are like then perhaps I should visit a few more! So don’t be surprised if this hotel features in my Get a Life blog in the future!

All checked in and a visit to the Gin Bar later, we set to work on a little shopping trip! Now if you’ve read this blog before you’ll know that I’ve been on a few shopping trips and still can’t seem to find what I’m after. I’d like a nice dress to wear on my cruise and to my friend’s wedding, not a lot to ask for in my opinion. Each time I go shopping I come back with disappointed hopes and with some treat from Hotel Chocolat to help ease my frustration. So how well do you think this little shopping trip went? Yep that’s right! I came back with a Hotel Chocolat Easter egg (half price!) and an increasingly great fear that the guests at Jade’s wedding will be getting quite the shock from my “outfit”.

So with aching feet and arms disappointingly empty of bags we decided it was time for cocktails! Now our main reason for choosing Newcastle was because Rachel, a really great friend of ours calls it home. So it was a great opportunity for us girls to get together and have a catch up! I love the fact that sometimes you have those friends who are so good (especially if you’ve known them for a long time like in this case) that even though you don’t see them very often; when you do see each other it still feels like no time has passed. This quality time spent with my friends is just what I needed.

We tried out a few local places which I must admit were pretty good for cocktails but I’m not going to bore you with all the details of each and every bar we went to and what we all ordered (I bore you enough without all the added detail!) but I did particularly enjoy my trip to The Botanist so that deserves a mention!

I’d never been to the Botanist and it didn’t disappoint! Not only were the cocktails pretty spectacular but the food was gorgeous! This is definitely worth a mention because (as some of you may know) I have a chronic illness which means I have A LOT of dietary requirements. I try and cope with it as well as I can but I must admit that I often find myself staring at a restaurant menu knowing there is very little I can eat. So I end up being the person who eats the same thing each time. But this was not the case at the Botanist, I was spoilt for choice! With full stomachs (I mean really full! We’ve been eating all bank holiday) we had our first Uber experience and headed back to the hotel.

So after a great night’s sleep on the comfiest hotel bed I’ve known (thank you Crowne Plaza!) we headed down for our breakfast. I’m normally quite happy with the buffet selection available but it seems we could also order from the menu free of charge! Those little touches that make all the difference. After breakfast was a visit to the hotel spa (the Mineral House I think it was called). The spa was beautiful, quiet, calm and just what we needed. We headed to the pool and I even managed to do some swimming (check me out doing exercise!) before testing out all the usual spa facilities, all of which were definitely worth recommending!

Some of you may remember that as part of my mission to “Get a Life”, I suggested that you guys might want to challenge me to go out of my comfort zone and try new things! This was mostly forgotten about until in a haze of cocktails at the Botanist my lovely friends decided to bring it up! Their challenge was that I go on one date a month and I stupidly found myself accepting! So it seems Katie is taking charge and has set me up an account for online dating…She even got to work swiping on my behalf as we laid in our hotel room that night. It looks as though this blog is going to become more like Bridget Jones than I realised!