Mae Govannen!
Hi there, welcome and thank you for visiting my corner of the internet. I’m so happy you’re here! (PS: bonus points if you got the reference!)
My name is Gaby, and I’m obsessed with books.
I’m passionate about helping indie authors get their voices heard and stories told. My personal background and lifelong experience as a reader give me the tools to help transform you and your book into the best version they can be (find out more about how I can serve you here).
My Story
I have been reading for as long as I can remember – maybe even longer. I was reading before I could actually read: I would memorize the Miffy stories my parents and grandparents read to me, and then I would pretend to be “reading” the books myself. I’ve always been drawn to books and stories.
At the age of six I moved to New Zealand. Because the seasons and school years are different there, I missed out on learning how to read and write in school. So I pretty much just taught myself – in English and Dutch at the same time. What can I say? Language is my superpower!
Once I mastered the actual skill, I started reading for real. And I never stopped. I have read hundreds of books by now, perhaps even thousands. I love disappearing into a different place for a while. I have a very busy mind, and reading is the only thing that will make it shut up for a while. But more than that, I love exploring these amazing realms that authors have created. The people, the places, the magic, the creatures. It is my absolute favorite thing in the world.
My Background
Even though I’m good with words and numbers, the words always made it to the forefront. They come so naturally to me; I don’t even have to think about it. Somehow, language is very intuitive to me; it’s like I know, without knowing how I know.
After high school I went to university and eventually got my MA. I took many classes on Dutch and English grammar, linguistics, writing. My favorite (and best) subject? Creative writing in English. The academic world wasn’t for me, but I absolutely loved that class.
The above is all about my more “mundane” life. A few years ago, I unexpectedly found myself on the path of spirituality and it took things to a whole new level. I love a system called Human Design and suddenly, so many things made sense! As a Projector I’m here to master systems and, well, language is a system! It’s the first one I mastered. I’m also literally designed to see things that other people don’t, and to spot what needs to be corrected.
Finally, last year I started writing my very first novel. I’d always dreamed about writing a book, but never thought I would get to do it. I would always joke that I could write a book – I’m great at writing – but someone else would have to hand me the plot. Then last summer an idea suddenly dropped into my head… and here we are! As I’m learning more about and through the writing process, I find it makes me look at books from a whole new perspective as a reader.
All of these aspects combined make me a kick-ass beta reader and copy editor!
How I Work
My strength lies in pointing out what needs to be corrected. I am especially good with details and continuity issues. I seriously can’t help it – my eyes will always find the mistakes!
I offer different services – from alpha reading to proofreading to support for writers. You can learn more about those here. I have to be very mindful of how and where I spend my energy, and of the kind of energy I take in, so I do work with a selection process for editorial services. My favorite genres are YA and NA – especially fantasy and contemporary. This is what I know best. Lately I’ve been reading more adult, especially romance, and I really enjoy those too! The genre is not so important (it’s just a label after all!), however I do not accept books that are filled with violence and anxiety (a little bit is okay). My favorite stories are about coming of age, healing, empowerment; where the MC learns about themselves, finds their voice, looks at their shadows, steps into their power. (A touch of romance is always a nice bonus!) Below you’ll find a list of some of my favorite books, series and authors, to give you an idea of the kind of books I’m interested in working on:
- The “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and “Crescent City” series by Sarah J Maas
(her “Throne of Glass” series is also really good, story-wise, but it has a bit too much violence and torture for my taste) - Everything from Morgan Matson and Jenn Bennett
(favorites: “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Take Me Home Tonight”, “Night Owls”, “Alex, Approximately”) - The “Sevenwaters” series by Juliet Marillier
- “Anna and the French Kiss” by Stephanie Perkins
- “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- “It Happened One Summer” by Tessa Bailey
- “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli
- “Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell
- “Lord of the Rings” by JRR Tolkien
- “Harry Potter” by JK Rowling
For proofreading I also accept non-fiction books about spirituality, self-development etc.
You can also check out my Goodreads account, or an overview of the books I’ve worked on.
