heylauragao

10/09/2024

The first of the “Bread Lover’s Fanclub” where I feature bakeries submitted to me from readers around the world! This one’s from Benjamin who recommended ’s morning bun and cream puffs. Art shows their Yuzu Lychee Puff and Rhubarb Danish 🤤

Stay tuned for more fan-favs! You can always send bakery recs to lauragao.com/hey ✌️

05/09/2024

04/09/2024

Only for the next 48 hours, pre-orders of KIRBY will be 25% off on Barnes & Noble!! That’s, like, three bags of Cheezos! Order via bit.ly/Kirby25Sale or my link in bio.

Hold onto your preorder receipts. Will be doing some special giveaways and treats in the coming months 👀

Thanks to and for the promotion!

23/08/2024

So you’ve seen the DNC, what’s this Project 2025 shebang they keep talking about? If this isn’t fascism idk what is. Get all your friends (especially at swing states) to VOTE!!!

Ty for the info. If you’re an author who wants to join us in the fight, DM me!

19/08/2024

Feeling the love in Thailand ☺️ Thank you to the wonderful librarians and kids who put Messy Roots on the Siam Book Awards shortlist! Honored to be amongst such talented creators.

Be sure to vote for your favs at siambookawards.com/vote

04/08/2024

She's brat, he's just weird
if you need a campaign illustrator 👀

03/08/2024

some of my fav fanmail this year!!

Thank you to , , , , , , , , , and so many more educators and schools for the beautiful art, cards, shirts, and swag! It’s a joy to connect with your students ❤️

10/06/2024

Oy, I'm traveling again! This time, I'm making stops in Australia, China, and Korea, and have a few openings left for school visits and author talks. If you're interested in booking me, email through the link or QR code!

Swipe for some of the most popular workshops I've given internationally 🖌️🌏

Artists & writers: DM me to meet up!

20/05/2024

For AAPI Month, I’m excited to share snippets of a webcomic I made for ’s Adventures in Asia series about the Gees, one of the founding families of Houston’s Chinatown! They were instrumental in developing some of Houston’s first Chinese restaurants and helped desegregate them during the Civil Rights movement.

Check it out at bit.ly/gee-family or my link in bio! There’s also a downloadable family chart activity and other cool webcomics!

02/05/2024

it’s Ta**us szn bby 🎉🎈🎁
To celebrate my 28th, I’m partnering up with my fav local comic store to offer FREE STICKERS & PINS for folks that order Messy Roots! Order at bit.ly/LG28

Also keep an 👀 out for a sneak peek of my newest gayest book coming out soon 🌈

24/03/2024

To celebrate the TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of Messy Roots, I’m excited to share the official Educators & Book Clubs Guide!!

Been cooking this up 🍳 for the past month after a lot of interest from educators and lit circles. The guide features:

🌎 History & culture of Wuhan
🗯️ How to teach graphic novels
📚 Chapter-by-chapter lesson plan with discussion Q’s
🎉 Fun activities for all ages of readers!

Download the full PDF at lauragao.com/messyroots or my link in bio.

13/03/2024

If you ever question if your q***r stories are worth it, know that 1600+ people came out to support 100 q***r artists at our inaugural PRIDE IN PANELS festival!!

What started out as a cursory thought by Avi as we passed on Valencia became a five-person effort to cultivate a weekend of q***r joy into the halls of society's greatest resource: our public libraries.

As a creator of teen books, I was thrilled to moderate the All-Ages Comics panel to a packed auditorium of families. Q***r youth books are under attack across the country, and this event is only one of countless little ways we can fight back.

Search up 's banned books guide to get more involved! Donate q***r books. Visit the LGBTQ Hormel Center at . Ask your kid's schools what they're doing to combat influences like Moms for Liberty. And vote for better school boards if the answer is "nothing".

Until next year! Be gay, do comics 🌈✌️

18/09/2023

We're jetsettin' again ✈️☁️🌈
Can't wait to share the magic of graphic novels with students all around the world. Hit me up with your favorite bakery recs for when I'm in town 🍞

12/09/2023

Stoked to host one more COMIX REMIX for 2023! This one features 8 amazing artists, including 6 new faces, 1 returning, and 1 flying all the way in from Vancouver! Come laugh, cry, and melt with every story. We'll mingle before and after the event with snacks provided by ! *Masks are required*

04/09/2023

Wrote (and drew!) about my amazing 83-yo grandmother who kicked COVID's *ss twice in Wuhan. So excited to see her again in a few months. Read the full thing on my link in bio or NPR.org!

Thank you to Marc Silver and for the opportunity to write this followup.

23/08/2023

I’m donating a signed copy of Messy Roots and a portfolio and query critique for graphic novel artists and writers! Bid by Friday and help support Maui relief

11/08/2023

We’re looking for comic artists and writers to share their work at our next COMIX REMIX open mic! Join us at Silver Sprocket (1018 Valencia St, San Francisco) on Sept 16. This event will be headlining ’s new book, MATCHMAKER! Email or DM me if you’re interested. All participants can sell their work on premise and we’ll have a mingle w/ refreshments after!

07/08/2023

WIP of my mind state these days

01/08/2023

Excited to host this virtual workshop with this Friday! We’ll be thinking outside the “box” (🥁tss) to explore what else can be a panel. Register using the link in the image or in my bio!

23/07/2023

My newest illustrations for were inspired by 90s pop art and woodblock prints! Thank you and the amazing folks at NPR for this fun collab. Read the article here (which convinced me to start drawing standing up haha): https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/07/22/1189303227/neat-fitness-non-exercise-activity-thermogenesis

11/07/2023

Join me and my comic & art inspirations (first book with an Asian kid I've ever read!) and for a virtual discussion this Wednesday! Thank you to for featuring MESSY ROOTS in their Stories Beyond Borders list for Chinese American lit!

10/07/2023

One of my fav school events of the year at Millenium High School. Every student bravely shared their own stories of being q***r, Asian, or othered in any way and made their own comics about it after! Infinitely cooler than I was in high school haha. Thank you for having me! If you’re a teacher or school and am interested in a school visit for any budget, please email me via my link in bio for details.

09/07/2023

Sharing some anonymous Pride fanmail! Thank you to all the amazing readers who gave MESSY ROOTS a chance. Please keep sharing your story ❤️

06/07/2023

It’s Existential Girl Summer 💀
Been dealing with one lately and I made myself sit down and draw out all the ways my brain spirals. Realized half the time I just need food, water, or sleep. But when it’s deeper than that, I enjoy walks/bike rides, late night McD’s and anime, and just a reminder to be a better friend to myself.

24/06/2023

New unwrapped Pride zongzi! Added Pride labels on request. Happy Pride x Dragon Boat Festival crossover!

24/06/2023

Reposting with labels for each of the flags! Happy Pride x Dragon Boat Festvial crossover!

22/06/2023

TIL the poet this entire festival’s based off wrote love poems to the King but threw himself into a river when the King exiled him?? Gayest thing I’ve ever read 👀
Happy Duanwu Jie / Dragon Boat Festival! Unfold your zongzi for a gay surprise!

22/06/2023

Pride Q&A #3: What was your first Pride like?
***r