Well, I have been a terrible blogger this year!! Since working on tours, my free time has gone, poof just like that. I have everything planned out and to try and be strict but as we come into the last month of the year I realise I haven’t done a wrap since Jan! And the only time I’ve blogged since April was for tours. I have 38 reviews, the last time I looked, of books I have read but not published my reviews. 38!!!! I know some of them don’t have reviews typed up…wish me luck -doh!
This year has been an odd year. I started the year, slowly but surely going back into the office, my tour business was picking up, I was doing the final read-throughs for a publisher, and on top of that, I was having physio for my arthritis. I was struck down with COVID 2 days after my birthday. I was bed-bound, lost taste, hearing, and smell, and I couldn’t get up and down the stairs without stopping…I only have 14 stairs!!! I know I didn’t have it as bad as some but it was bad enough when I had a mini-me on the Easter holiday and 2 jobs wanting my attention.
It took time but got my health back and battled the tiredness and arthritis. Then in July, I went to Harrogate for the first time… Spoiler I LOVED IT! I got to meet so many amazing authors that I hadn’t already, catch up with friends, and just had a fabulous time. Roll on next year! The following Monday I was playing in my netball team and I jumped for the ball and instead of landing on two feet, I clattered to the floor. That was July, roll to now. I still can’t walk properly or unaided and I am still not 100% sure what I have done. The docs are saying ACL and MCL ligaments and cartilage, plus extremely bruised bones – which I saw! I can’t bend my knee nor can I straighten and in 3 weeks we fly for our ski holiday!! Well, I will be aprés skiing!
The damage to my knee really affected my mental health. I have had a lot of anger and worry which has affected my day-to-day life. On top of this, work has been extremely stressful, I have been working until 1 am on tours. But more shockingly, I was rocked by some revelations in this wonderful book world. A couple of people definitely were not who they say are, and have behind my back decided to tarnish me and my name, both as a blogger and my business. This is obviously not on, and to be honest, the good thing is people have begun to see the light about them all. Moving on……
But this isn’t a pity party, despite all the crap this year, although I appreciate that it sounds like it or that maybe I am oversharing. But to be honest, I have found this quite cathartic, even if no one reads it. I still have a lot of positives. I know I have the most amazing friends who have done nothing but support me through my injury and continue to do so while 5 months on I am waiting for my diagnosis. The boy and mini-me have been absolutely amazing to me. My friends have helped out with driving and keeping my mood up and dragging me out as I have become a hermit. And those bookish friends I have, god getting me through despite retreating, they haven’t given up on me. I can’t thank them enough. ❤️❤️
In the book world, I republished my book and I am excited to share with you a snippet from the upcoming audiobook *a lot of internal screaming* I would love to know what you think. So please do comment below! Luke already has a small fan club, where I won’t name the author but she has said she would happily listen to Luke read a shopping list, and to be honest I happen to agree!
There may be even more HUGE news in the new year so please keep everything crossed.
Shameless plug, I mean it is my blog and all, but if you wanted to buy the paperback or ebook, you here, or let me know if you want a signed one – https://geni.us/3vA33F
But I realised that in spite of this, I need things to change. I miss the simple days of blogging and blog hopping. I miss reading for me or tours but not in a rush. I still love my business and organising tours and will continue to do that. I have got some epic tours lined up next year already (and if you wanted to sign up please do let me know). I am going to be starting my diploma soon and I have even started designing book covers – which has gone down a storm. But I know things have got to give. I have been rethinking my business model and my day job and well I know which one needs to go. Oh and come Christmas day when I should be on the mountain I will be cracking on with book 2 which I have nearly finished writing!! 😱😱😱
And well, that has been my year. I have started to dip my toe back into blog hopping. I am loving it. I just do not want to let another year go by without checking in on bloggers and rebuilding my friendship in the blogosphere. I have missed you all!
Ok, so I guess we should talk books 😜😜 I still have issues with NetGalley (But unless it’s for a tour, I didn’t click that button too many times!) but I have a few reviews to get posted so that should bring up my ratio, but I still have a loooooooonnnnnngggggg way to go *shakes her head in her hands*
I won’t recap my entire year as I still have reviews etc but here are my reads for November. Not as many as I wanted… a very bad month for me! But one of these books will be in my top book for the year, can you guess which one?
Here is what I added in November alone…🙈 – I still have issues……. and some don’t have a cover yet…..In my defense, if I have any, a lot were gifted, some are tours and some are because I have zero willpower and I have issues, did I say that? (Side note, I didn’t include all the books eek)
I have a fancy spreadsheet which I love which logs all my books so I can bore, I mean share all those facts and figures at the end of December. (I bought it in November and decided to go back over the entire year, say OCD much!) Next year, I and the mini one have wrapped up some books, 12 books for her and 24 for me, and we will open them each month and read them. She has kindly chosen some tomes for me and then laughed about it! I am going to need luck!!!
Right I best be off, as I type this I am taking the mini one out for a birthday Kaspars…. send me more help!! LOL But I just like to say thanks for stopping by and for still stopping by despite me going AWOL. And if you haven’t noticed…I’ve had a facelift 😂 – the blog that is….not me!!
Until next time xxx
Kelly says
That does sound like an exhausting work schedule and one you can’t keep up 😱 So sorry you’ve been struggling with your health, I hope you get a firm diagnosis and especially an effective treatment soon and in the meantime enjoy the après-ski 😄
Zoé says
It has been tiring 😂😂 I have a break soon though. Thank you lovely me too! I shall be in Austria, shame its not closer you could’ve joined me 😂😂
Kelly says
And I might have got a sneak peek at book 2 too, talk about a missed opportunity 🙄😂
Zoé says
Book 2? What did I miss? LOL
likeherdingcatsblog says
A very mixed tear for you.
I hope the crappy things go away and the good stuff just keeps getting better because you deserve the world my lively friend ❤️
Zoé says
Thank you missus <3 It has been but I am so glad to see it out :) It means a lot to me x
(Kitty) Cat Strawberry - Meow! says
Oh wow, i didn’t know you’ve been going through so much. I’m sorry you’ve had such a tough time and hope you get a proper diagnosis soon❤️. I have an equally abysmal netgalley ratio, my problem being that I’m offered some free widgets sometimes and just take them all without really trying not to 😂🙈
I hope you have a lovely holiday and Christmas and that next year will be a better year❤️☺️
Zoé says
Aw thank you! That’s lovely of you to say, I am trying to get my ratio down, I have plans for next year for reading….but when do plans ever work LOL.
I know the feeling, I get offered free ones and I am like yes I will read them and then I always have tours to read for. Although I have read all tours for 2022 but feel like I should get ahead of them! It’s just a neverending delightful circle! <3
Ah merry christmas to you too! I do hope you have a fabulous time xx
(Kitty) Cat Strawberry - Meow! says
Thank you <3 <3