Reading time: 2.10

512 words

Hey Reader,

I choose joy for 2026.

You know that thing where people choose a word for the year? I don’t usually do that.

Not sure why; something to do with how literal and binary my brain can be, I think. It’s like I believe the entire year must then only feature that word, and how can that possibly be? Because I, like you, contain multitudes.

But this year, I said balls to all that and chose JOY.

Because lawd knows we all need a little more of that. So my one and only resolution this year is to seek out joy every single day (even if only a tiny drop) and spread a little joy to someone else too (even if only a tiny drop).

That way, I believe, lies deeper connection and much less likelihood that we’ll want to punch each other in the face.

Part of my seeking and spreading joy involves attending more live events and speaking at as many as I possibly can.

Including Sophie Lee’s Self Expression Sessions in Bristol on January 29, 6-9.30pm. This event is going to be crammed with joy and I know that for sure because I’ve been to Sophie’s Self Expression Sessions before and I’ve loved each of them. Especially the one in March last year in Brighton, which I also spoke at.

Sophie is the author of Beyond Palatable, which I have had the privilege and pleasure of supporting her to write.

And now the Self Expression Sessions is coming to Bristol as part of the pre-book-launch Reclamation tour. It’s “an evening of bold conversation, lived experience, spoken word, and creative courage, exploring what it really means to take up space, tell the truth, and turn mission into words that move people.”

The event will be a conversation with me and three authors, exploring:

• How lived experience can create the best non-fiction
• Why words don’t just describe worlds, they build them
• The role of non-fiction in social change, cultural reckoning, and collective healing
• What it takes to write (and share) work that refuses to be palatable

There’ll also be spoken word poetry from Rosina Buck, which will be a real treat.

And your speakers for the evening are the brilliant Yinka Ewuola, the shining Samantha Harman, and the hostess with the mostess, the spectacular Sophie Lee.

I’m really excited to be there spreading the word about the wonders of words, storytelling, and non-fiction books.

If you’d like to be part of this, you’ll be so very welcome. Sophie’s events are a real delight: not overwhelming, warm, friendly, calm, and wise.

​Tickets are just £16.50 — yep, you read that right — less than 20 notes. And all profits go to The Fearless Girl’s Club, an award-winning non-profit sparking adventure and curiosity in girls aged 8 to 12.

Details:

• Thursday January 29, 2026
• 6 - 9.30pm
• The Watershed 1 Canons Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5TX
• £16.50 per ticket

Choose joy at the end of January: book your spot here and I’ll see you there!

TTFN,

Vicky 🫡

p.s. Know someone who might enjoy this email? Please forward it to them and get them to sign up here.