Monday

The Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2014 shortlist was announced in style at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in Kensington Gardens. The party was buzzing with creative and passionate women including Kate Mosse, Mary Beard, Helen Fraser and Sarah Walters. It was a beautiful event to celebrate excellent writing from the following female novelists:

• Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
• Burial Rights – Hannah Kent
• The Lowland – Jhumpa Lahiri
• A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing – Eimear McBride
• The Undertaking – Audrey Magee
• The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt

The winner will be announced on 4 June 2014.

Tuesday

The first day of the fair saw a giant choccywoccydoodah cake, the SYP seminars How to get into publishing & How to get ahead in publishing and the announcement of another shortlist.

I announced the Kim Scott Walwyn shortlist at the beginning of our second seminar. This is an award that celebrates exceptional female publishers:

• Melissa Cox – Children’s New Titles Buyer at Waterstones
• Lindsey Dalladay – Community Manager at Penguin Random House
• Sarah Hesketh – Freelance Project Manager at The Poetry Translation Centre
• Hellie Ogden – Literary Agent at Janklow & Nesbit
• Anne Perry- Editor at Hodder & Stoughton

The winner will be announced on 13 May 2014.

Wednesday

The place to be was BookMachine pre-drinks at the fair and then the rockin Kobo party at Underbelly in Hoxton Square.

Thursday

A few of us from the SYP went along to The Bookseller drinks — I had a Q&A in Tuesday’s LBF Daily and wanted to celebrate my newfound fame.

Friday

After a fabulous week, I was well and truly ready for bed! Instead I went out in Soho with a friend I met interning a couple of years ago. #TGIF