Dear Reader,
I figure you’re receiving enough Christmas emails from corporations and random subscriptions, so here’s a Happy Solstice message. I send you light and love for longer days ahead.
What a year it’s been. I watched Mary Earps win BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award last night (Mary Earps Earps Earps!) and she told Gabby Logan and Alex Scott that she’s not had a chance to reflect yet on winning the Euros and reaching the final of the World Cup, but that she plans to carve out some time for reflection over Christmas.
Now, I realise I’m not a Lioness, I didn’t win the Golden Glove, but I do feel like I won a golden pen and the dream of a lifetime, and I couldn’t be more grateful. It can be hard to pause and reflect when things are so busy, but watching Mary Earps win made me do just that, and consider all the places my books have taken me this year, from Barcelona to Leipzig, Segovia to Pinewood, and all the people I’ve been lucky to meet, from authors I admire like Stephen Fry and Kate Mosse, to readers who’ve become close friends. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating because it’s repeatedly proven true: the Bond community is the most collaborative and creative bunch of people out there, and I am so grateful for all your support. Thank you for inviting me to share our joy and passion. Thank you for lifting up my books. Thank you for lifting up my heart. I can’t wait to share A Spy Like Me with you.
A year with so much to be grateful for has ended with a few more gems. Celebrating my amazing husband Nick’s 35th birthday had me thinking back to his 21st birthday, the first we shared together. Meeting Nick is the best thing that ever happened to me, and it’s been the adventure of a lifetime, almost literally now, after 14 years together.
Just one of the many things that’s so wonderful about Nick is his support of my fanatical love for women’s football. So much so that on his birthday we went to see England vs Scotland in the Nation’s League at Hampden Park in Glasgow. It was my first ever in-person women’s game and The Lionesses won a massive 6-0! It was a huge, courageous display, trying to beat the Netherlands on goal difference for Olympic qualification. Despite a last-minute heroic header from Lucy Bronze we fell just short, as the Netherlands got another goal in extra time. But as you can see from my grin, that didn’t stop me cheering.
It was a wonderful way to end Nick’s birthday celebrations, which began in the Highlands, included our first party in our new home, and concluded with art, food and football in Glasgow – it doesn’t get better than that, and neither does a partner. Happy 35th birthday my love.
The football festivities continued in London, where my sister Rosie made good on an I.O.U from my 25th birthday, and treated me to tickets to see Arsenal Women vs Chelsea at the Emirates. The Gunners smashed the league-leaders a thumping 4-1 and it was 90+ mins of pure joy, as you can see.
The birthday ebullience wasn’t over just yet. My gift to Rosie this year was a ticket to see Hamilton (also a sneaky gift to myself), which was genius incarnate from start to finish. As you’ll know if you’ve read girl with the golden pen for a while, I listen to the Hamilton soundtrack when I’m up against deadlines, so the renditions of ‘Non-Stop’ and 'Hurricane’ felt positively Pavlovian. I was ready to write day and night like I’m running out of time and to write my way out, write down everything as far as I can see…
I feel incredibly lucky to share such special moments with my loved ones, and luckier still to be together at the end of the year. We’ve decorated the tree (with the help of Joey) and the mince pies are at the ready. I wish you a joyful, gentle and caring festive season surrounded by love and laughter.
And for paying subscribers, a little update on my writing process below. Thank you so much for all your support!
Looking forward to seeing you all in-person or online in 2024.
From Kim, With Love x
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to girl with the golden pen to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.