Saturday, 22 May 2010

BEA, Writing and Birthdays

I very rarely write anything outside of reviews, discussion posts and the occasional list but I thought I would share some of my thoughts.

I have now been in Japan a little over four months and seen quite a lot of the country. To your left is me in front of the fifteen metre tall Buddha in Kamakura.

I have bought quite a few books since arriving in Japan - it was a necessity if I were to continue review blogging. The problem is that I won't be able to take them back home at the end of the year due to the cost. So my solution is to share. If someone expresses interest in reading a book that I have reviewed then I will contact them privately about sending it their way. There's no method to it, just sharing the joy and making the end of the year less stressful.

BEA is this week and I am both envious and thrilled. I might not be there but I can live vicariously through tweets and posts and that's just freaking brilliant. I love photos, seeing my friends meet their author idols is spine tingling good. I was talking to Sarah on Skype earlier and I find myself more jealous that the bloggers get to meet each other and hang out than sometimes meeting the authors. The books haven't really factored into my jealousy...I am weird and I own that.

I am travelling to NYC in August (July 31-August 11). It will be my first time in the States and I am beyond words excited. I have always wanted to go to the MoMA and they have three exhibitions that I am dying to see - Picasso: Themes and Variations, The Modern Myth: Drawing Mythologies in Modern Times and Pictures by Women. I am also determined to see a musical, visit The Strand with Sharon and a whole host of other things. The Empire State Building might be a must but I am terrified of heights so we shall see what becomes of that. More than anything I am truly excited to meet the people I've become friends with via blogging. There will be bone crushing Adele hugs given out a-plenty so beware. If you have any suggestions for what I should do just leave them in the comments section and I will be grateful. If you want to catch up, I am totally in for that too!

My birthday was last week and the lovely Adiba gathered up a group of bloggers and authors to vlog their birthday wishes for me. I was completely surprised, she's a crafty one and it brought tears to my eyes more than a couple of times. My birthday was hard...I was pretty sick and away from my family but you all managed to make me feel loved so THANK YOU. It meant the world and even now it's making me get a little choked up. I am very lucky to have so many friends in this little pocket of the internet. Karen Mahoney posted the videos and they are pretty fantastic from her own awesome British accent, to Kristi singing, to Adiba's Australian accent (oh how I miss it) and a whole host of others. I got a few private ones too which were heart warming thanks B, G, Khy (my blog lil sis and 'I heart Adele' gallery curator) and Capillya. Mwah to you all.

Lastly, I have been taking part in Jennifer Echols' Endless Writing May Writing Challenge. It involves setting a month word target and a daily writing target. My goal was to write 20,000 words in May and I am doing quite well. It's been the motivation I need to write daily and exert some self-discipline. My year goal was to complete a ms that I could be proud of and have to the point where I might consider submitting it should it be edited to an inch of its life. We'll see... What has surprised me is that I have taken to writing longhand in a notepad. This is something I never thought I would do being such a fan of my laptop but there you go.

I am already getting stressed about work for next year. I can't help it but it is always in the back of my mind but at least I have great people in my life who give yummy gifts.

Here's me with my beloved Mac and Cheese. A kindly YA author sent me some and I was overjoyed...seriously. I am a simple gal with simple (but yummy) tastes.

5 comments:

Marg said...

I would love to go to something like BEA too. It would be awesome to hang out with other bloggers in a book fair environment. Instead I am participating in Armchair BEA at home by blogging on BEA related topics. Not quite the same, but still.

Karen Mahoney said...

That photo of you at the end is priceless. :)

Big hugs to you, my friend. Can't wait to see you finish that ms!

Kaz
<3

p.s. I am hoping to go to BEA next year. It is my goal. Let's see if I can make it happen.

Helen's Book Blog said...

Happy late Birthday! Being away from home is so awesome and so tough at the same time. As a junior in college I lived in Europe (home is California), which was an amazing experience. But, I definitely got homesick at times. I hope you are enjoying Japan and all it has to offer.

I'll join you in experiencing BEA through the other bloggers since I can't go

Alex Bennett from Electrifying Reviews said...

I totally agree! And I shot you an email.

Rhiannon said...

I was recently in New York (bummer missing BEA but I can only afford to go so often!!)
and I have a couple posts about my fun there. This one here: http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/2010/04/i-heart-nyc-bookstores.html
talks about all my fav book experiences while there. Make sure you don't miss the Strand, it was deadly awesome!