Vanessa Gao
 
So, guys, I know I've been MIA for a while, but I'm back, and I'm here to announce that my blog has moved! The new blog is here. The new blog, called Just Sitting Thar, is co-founded by my writing buddy Sara (check out her website!) and together we talk about books, films, writing, and just life in general. Check it out! If you like what you're seeing, make sure to follow us, so you don't miss the goodies :)

Thanks a bunch!
Vanessa
 
Oh I scream! I scream, and awkward dance a little, and make faces that cannot be seen by other people... 

So, the "good news," or rather, the potential of it, is Thaw being closer to published! A week ago, I met an agent who used to work for Harper Collins, and after some talking, she offered to read Thaw. Although I told her the manuscript still needed a ton of editing, she asked for it nonetheless. I don't think the chance of her offering representation is that big, but at least it's a step forward!

In the meantime (waiting for an agent's response is something only slightly less scary than Paranormal Activities, or the Ring, which are, by the way, pee-your-pants scary), I am editing Thaw, and starting a new story. The new story will be a mystery/crime genre! So get excited. I will be posting about it soon.

Okay, so that's that. Has there been any good news in your life? What was your reaction? I hope you didn't scream like I do, because I think my neighbor thought something was going on in my house...
 
Hi!

Thank you. We’ve made it. The story of Thaw is finally finished, with the help and support from each and every one of you. The time and energy you’ve devoted for the story moves me time and again, and I appreciate every minute you spent reading my story. Writing Thaw has been a great journey for me, both in terms of the craft of writing and becoming a better author. I put up the website for Thaw (vanessagao.weebly.com) late May, and ever since then I’ve gained 40+ readers from all over the world. I have never before understood why all authors claim their readers are the best readers, but now I do. You guys are truly the best, ever. It is my honor to have you in my big reader family.

Right now, as the story draws to an end, I will be starting the editing process soon. It won’t be as fun as creating a story, but just as crucial. While editing, I will also draft a query letter, which I will send to literary agents in a few months. Publishing is a highly competitive business, and I will need the strongest possible query letter. I will send you a draft of my query when I finish it, if you have time, feel free to tell me what’s wrong with it, so I can revise and revise and revise!

In the meantime, I’m going to take a short break from Thaw so I can come back to the manuscript with a fresh pair of eyes. As all of you know, Thaw is the first installment in a trilogy; I will start writing the second book in the fall. You will probably get to read the first few chapters by early winter, that is, if you’re interested. It is totally fine, though, to tell me otherwise.

On that note, I want to take a paragraph (:P) to introduce you my new project. It’s not related to Thaw in any sense, and will probably be a wildly different kind of story. So far, the genre is mystery/crime, and it will be a non-YA book. The story will have darker themes than those in Thaw. If any of you are interested in picking up this story, give me a holler! I will put up more information about this story on my website soon.

Lastly (I realize this email is getting long), I think it’s time to tell everyone about my age. Most readers haven’t asked, and I haven’t really talked about it either, but I’m eighteen. One of the reasons why I didn’t put this on my website is because some people won’t take me seriously that way. But now that you’ve all become my readers and friends, I think you guys deserve to know. My apology for not having told you earlier.

Thank you again, for all that you’ve done, for your immense patience and support. Without you, Thaw wouldn’t be the same today.

Love,
Vanessa

 
A lot of readers have been asking, and I've always wanted to make this clear, so, without further ado,
today I am announcing the correct pronunciation of Ignia's name!

Drumroll, please...

ig-NYE-uh.

There. I said it. I'm not going to list some readers' wrong guesses, because that might mislead other people :p

Besides the pronunciation of her name, Ignia has been involved in a lot of other heated discussions (which I'm thrilled about), one of which includes which actress should play her if it was made into a movie (I will weep if that day actually comes).

Up till now, the two most popular options are: 

1. Jacqueline Emerson
Picture
I own no copyright to the image.
and

2. Molly C. Quinn
Picture
I own no copyright to the image.
Who do you think would play Ignia better? Or do you have other actresses in mind? Do tell me!

Of course, this is all just for fun, nothing too serious. But that doesn't mean I can't get excited over it and act like a little girl :p
 
I've been discussing my characters in Thaw with some readers recently, and as a joke, one of them said, "I worry sometimes about writers developing multiple personality disorder", after our heated debate on Summit's personality (if you've been keeping up with the chapters, you should know who Summit is!).

I laughed at the statement for about a minute. Then I started to worry a little--what if I am developing multiple personality disorder? Joking. But here's how I spend an usual day; tell me whether or not you think I'm crazy.

8:00am get up *yawn*
8:30am fully dressed and made-up. sit in front of my desk and check my email meticulously. Get too excited when I see a reader's feedback/a new reader requesting more chapters (do a little happy dance). Sit back down. Eat my breakfast and click the refresh button on my email--several times.

9:00am-5:00pm work. 'nuff said.

5:30pm running time. Most of the weeks I run a weekly total of 20 miles (plus or minus a few, depending my "slacker scale").

6:30pm dinnertime! Eat my food while checking more emails and talking to readers. Edit manuscript if need be (this sentence can be interpreted in two ways: a)I'm getting one of those very random but very powerful inspiration slap-in-the-face moments--tend to happen after I run, for some reason; b) my lovely beta readers have gotten back to me with feedback and some with line edits--revision time!

7:00pm prep talk to myself: write, Vanessa, write! why are you sitting there doing nothing?!?! ahhh

8:00pm finally! Writing time! first thing I read aloud (sounds crazy, I know, considering I'm in an empty room talking to myself incessantly) whatever I wrote last night. that always helps me capture Ignia(the MC)'s voice better. I revise. After that, I start writing new stuff!

2:00am *yawn* gotta get up at 8 tomorrow...bed bed bed where are you I need you right now goodnight Ignia and Calo and Fray and Summit and Teal and 601 and everyone...
 
...more time to read and write for most of you guys!


I was taking an after-dinner stroll in Barnes & Noble the other day (I know, what a nerd), and picked up some pretty awesome books. They are mostly YA books, but a lot of them have the potential to be so much more.

In case you're wondering what they are, here's the booklist:

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I wolfed down Divergent and Insurgent in two days-that's how good they are. I'm not saying they're perfect, what I'm saying is they're exciting reads that are somewhat similar to roller coaster rides! That and I'm a total sucker for intense romance...so yeah.

I wrote some reviews on these books on my Goodreads account, go check them out!

Once again, I would like to end this post with big thanks to my awesome beta readers and friends. You guys are making Thaw come true.

Love,
Vanessa
 
This website has only been up for about half a month, but I've been hearing so many wonderful things from y'all out there. Now I have readers from England, China, and quite a few states in America. So here's the shout-out to you guys--thanks so much for the support, you're amazing!
 
A song to put you in the mood, if you happen to be reading Thaw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-IabfCL_T8

    Author

    Writer/editor/reviewer

    I can ride a unicycle.
    I can speak three languages. Two and a half, maybe...
    I get the best inspirations for writing when I'm running...or showering.
    I can't cook.
                                                                  I can also be found on the Internet under the name ness428.

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