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Leslie Stephens's avatar

Already emailed you to say this, but it bears repeating: this was such a beautiful issue, Thao! This line in particular, “But I want to see clearly again. I want to feel more fully, with less fear, less self-preservation. To connect more with myself. And on some level, I understand that no amount of “healthy” eating resolutions or perfectly composed capsule wardrobes will get me there.”

What a beautiful goal and reminder for the new year! Thank you! ♥️

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Thao Thai's avatar

Thank you, sweet Leslie! I see you living your life to such heights, and with truth and vulnerability, and can’t help but be inspired. So looking forward to the trip recap!

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Liz (Greene) Burdett's avatar

Oh my goodness Thao. I loved this issue. I slowly devoured it over a cup of coffee last weekend and then forget to leave a little response but I must. It was so good. I found myself nodding, saying yes, yes over and over again. I feel you on all these touch points. Please do read that just-for-fun book as a breeze blows through an open window and as you slurp a delicious shake. Pure pleasure, zero guilt. As for me, I'm not 100% sure on what this sort of "living a little more for myself" means exactly, but I'm thinking it has to do with more sweatpants after 6PM, more tea with a bit of cream, and splurging on beauty products because they make me downright giddy.

And I have a question! How do you organize all your writing STUFF!? All the info for your freelance writing career, the newsletter, and your book? My itty bitty writing career is a mess of Google Docs, spreadsheets, endlessly random emails to myself and more. Any tips/tricks/advice!?

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Thao Thai's avatar

Ooh Liz, I love your idea of living for yourself! Sweatpants and tea, always! I moved my tea collection to my office for just a little more indulgence.

And yes!! I definitely have organization tips, though I have scaled way back this year in assignments. More soon on that!

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Jami's avatar

McRib & Polly Pocket, amazing. I’m about to go get both.

AMA:

-More thoughts on you being an enneagram 3 (and enneagram overall. What’s your husband’s #?)

-Any non-fiction book recs?

-Go to cookbooks?

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Jami's avatar

Oh and any thoughts on “Harry & Meghan”? (and the royal family)

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Thao Thai's avatar

Ooh, now I need to watch the documentary!! Thank you for reminding me!

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Thao Thai's avatar

Tell me if that McRib still hits!! Love those questions — Enneagrams are so fascinating! What kind of nonfiction do you like? Memoirs/essays, science writing?

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Jami's avatar

All of the above! Except that I have zero understanding of Neil Degrasse

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Thao Thai's avatar

Same! :)

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Katie Russell's avatar

A few amas- what are you most nervous about for book launch? Do you feel like chatting your career against a particular author? (Ie id love a career like Anne patchett etc) what is a word/phrase/idiom that bugs you? Are you a bookmarker, find a piece of scrap paper or page folder? Who are you most excited for to read your book? Ok ok I could go on and on 😘😘

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Thao Thai's avatar

I love love love these questions! You are the best! My agent just asked me the first question and I truly revealed my neuroses to her 🤣 as I will to you!

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