Most years have literary meaning to me – be it the year I started my blog, the year I finished the BBC Top 100, or the year this blog was renamed The Literary Edit . And this year was one of the most memorable in terms of the books I’ve read and this very blog. And since the clock was due to strike midnight in a few hours, I wanted to pay homage to all the literal things that have happened that year.
I won the Inaugural Book Blogger of the Year Award at the London Book Fair
Without a doubt the highlight of my blogging career, I was fortunate enough to win the London Book Fair’s first book blogger of the year award – which meant a last minute flight from my home in Sydney to London. As part of my win, I was also interviewed by Mariella Frostrup on BBC Open Book about the rise of book blogging – and being a huge Mariella fan, an absolute dream came true.
I attended the Byron Bay Writer’s Festival
As a fan of both literary festivals and the beautiful beach town of Byron Bay, my favorite week was combining my love for both. I spent a blissful weekend at the festival with my friend Emily watching Matt Haig, Trent Dalton and Sarah Wilson discuss their latest literary offerings and I can’t wait to return in the new year.
I spoke about my love for books on a podcast
While I * hate * the sound of my own voice, I was thrilled when Caitlin and Michelle from the Better Words Podcast invited me to their podcast to talk about my victory at the London Book Fair and the books that both London and Sydney are on best represent. It was a real pleasure to talk to two other bookworms about my love for books, and I’ve been an avid listener to their podcast ever since.
I started a book club in Bondi
When I was on vacation in Sydney almost four years ago, I first came across the Bondi bookstore Gertrude & Alice, and the second time I set foot in this beautiful cafe and bookstore I felt immediately at home. I spent many hours browsing their shelves and enjoying one of their famous chai teas on the pages of a newly purchased book. When Jane, the bookstore owner, asked me if I would be interested in running a monthly book club, I couldn’t believe my luck. I hosted two book clubs prior to my trip to the UK late this year and we have a fantastic range of exciting readings for the year ahead. It’s an absolute honor to be part of such an important part of the Bondi community and I can’t wait to meet up in 2019. If you’re Syndey based and so inclined, you can get tickets to our first book club of the year where I’ll be interviewing Bri Lee, the author of the scorching memoir, Eggshell Skull.
I judged the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award to be a shadow
After running social media for the Women’s Fiction Award before moving Down Under, I was always excited about the idea of hosting a literary award, so I was thrilled to be asked, Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year to assist with the shadow assessment Award. The shortlist was impressive and I loved meeting all the writers. Adam Weymouth was a very valuable winner and was kind enough to participate in my Desert Island Books series.
I’ve read a lot of great books
2018 was a great year for books. In the middle of the year I seemed to be reading book by book, which kept blowing my mind. Fixed favorites of the year were places I stopped on the way home by Meg Fee, I Love You Too Much by Alicia Drake, Putney by Sofka Zenovieff and The Party by Elizabeth Day.
Thank you to everyone who participated in my 2018. Every comment, every email and every retweet brings immeasurable joy into my life. To a brilliant book 2019 for all of us!
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