Looking Back on 2009, even if it is the 5th already.

I’ve been debating whether or not I wanted to write a cheesy, sappy, nostalgic behemoth of a blog post looking back on this past year. In the end, I decided to do it, even though it’s painful to go through the photos and see all of the people and places I had to leave behind. 2009 has been a lifetime of a year, the happiest of my life, and everything was so perfect that I suppose it had to come to an end. But at least I’ll always have the memories–and 4548596579732 photos. Don’t worry, though–I cut it down to about 30.

In 2009:

I moved to London, England, in search of a great perhaps. I arrived in England with two suitcases and no friends.

But sitting and writing novels in the coffee shops of Brick Lane quickly changed that.

I visited an old schoolmate who was working in Parliament and got to see all of the official, secret government-y places. This is the view from inside of Parliament looking out.

I wrote about 400 pages of Knightley Academy sitting in Cafe 1001, ChaLounge, and, during the final stretch, Primrose Bakery.

In March I moved from my artist’s studio into a moldering, five story mansion full of girls. This was my room.

And this was our neighborhood–Primrose Hill. We walked up the canal on most days to have silly adventures in the grocery store or explore the vintage stalls in Camden Market.

I photographed Fashion Week, and got photographed by Vogue.

And became so close with my housemate, Mary, that we were like sisters. This is Alex. Even though it was ridiculous because I’m American, I wore an “I support the Welsh Guards in Afghanistan” bracelet for him every day when he went off to war.

Ellie and Sasha, my other dear housemates.

Clearly, we hated each other. ;)

A modeling agency rented the 4th floor of our house, so we had a lot of models from all over the world staying with us temporarily.

The last housemate, Michelle (left) and our promotional photo for the house girlpop band. Kidding. This was just a random photo shoot I insisted upon whilst having a barbecue on our balcony.

The view from the top of Primrose Hill, where we had picnics with pink wine and paperbacks from the used book stall on Camden Lock.

Clearly, I got up to no good when I fell in with a party crew and spent my evenings trying not to freak out that I was out dancing with Emma Watson, Prince William and Paris Hilton.

Met some interesting people at the parties. These boys were as ridiculous as they look, and just as hilarious.

I turned 23.

Attended the Cannes film festival

Dressed inappropriately for red carpet premieres…

Got chased by paparazzi

Quite literally crashed some after parties

and borrowed a yacht from a friend.

I traveled back to New York City for BookExpo America and spoke from a very high platform whilst wearing a tank top and tights. Seriously, ask Maureen Johnson whether I remembered to wear pants to BEA.

I signed with a new literary agent, Editor McSteamy!

And met some other young writers with whom I became friends.

I traveled the world

And saw gorgeous old cities

crumbling fortresses

and medieval castles. I even spent a weekend writing in JK Rowling’s favorite cafe’s in Edinburgh

And hung out with gypsies in Copenhagen.

I finished writing Knightley Academy and sent it off to my publisher

Moved back to America

And became a graduate student specializing in genital theft and Edward Cullen’s sexual psychoses, much to my parents’ joy.