Chloe Neill's Blog, page 113
March 18, 2011
HARD BITTEN Writing Song List
Currently playing as I draft DRINK DEEP . . .
Diamond Eyes, Deftones Possibility, Lykke Li The Crow & the Butterfly, Shinedown Heads Will Roll, Yeah Yeah YeahsMad World, Gary Jules with Michael Andrews Poker Face (Live), Lady GaGaJust Dance (Live), Lady GaGa Set Fire to the Rain, AdeleLove Lockdown, Kanye WestHappiness Is a Warm Gun, Joe Anderson (Across the Universe Soundtrack)Radioactive, Kings of Leon Dog Days Are Over, Florence + The MachineUndisclosed Desires, MuseTeeth, Lady GaGaLetters from the Sky, Civil Twilight Disturbia, The CabCreep (Live), Ingrid Michaelson Poker Face / Speechless / Your Song, Lady GaGa Set the Fire to the Third Bar, Snow Patrol & Martha WainwrightOpen Your Eyes, Snow Patrol Chasing Pavements, ADELE
Diamond Eyes, Deftones Possibility, Lykke Li The Crow & the Butterfly, Shinedown Heads Will Roll, Yeah Yeah YeahsMad World, Gary Jules with Michael Andrews Poker Face (Live), Lady GaGaJust Dance (Live), Lady GaGa Set Fire to the Rain, AdeleLove Lockdown, Kanye WestHappiness Is a Warm Gun, Joe Anderson (Across the Universe Soundtrack)Radioactive, Kings of Leon Dog Days Are Over, Florence + The MachineUndisclosed Desires, MuseTeeth, Lady GaGaLetters from the Sky, Civil Twilight Disturbia, The CabCreep (Live), Ingrid Michaelson Poker Face / Speechless / Your Song, Lady GaGa Set the Fire to the Third Bar, Snow Patrol & Martha WainwrightOpen Your Eyes, Snow Patrol Chasing Pavements, ADELE
March 17, 2011
Shelterbox ARC Contest Update
Based upon the comments so far, the Shelterbox donations are up to (at least) $610. Thanks to everyone who's made a donation so far.
If you haven't yet donated--and any amount counts!--get in your donation today to Shelterbox for your chance to win a signed HARD BITTEN ARC.
How about this--I'll also throw in a signed audiobook of TWICE BITTEN to the winner!
Details on the contest below! (And make sure to include your comment in the blog post below, not this one.)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY, AND LET'S KEEP IT COMING!
If you haven't yet donated--and any amount counts!--get in your donation today to Shelterbox for your chance to win a signed HARD BITTEN ARC.
How about this--I'll also throw in a signed audiobook of TWICE BITTEN to the winner!
Details on the contest below! (And make sure to include your comment in the blog post below, not this one.)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY, AND LET'S KEEP IT COMING!
March 15, 2011
SHELTERBOX Fundraiser & HARD BITTEN ARC Giveaway!
Folks - LET'S SPONSOR A SHELTERBOX!!
By now, you've all seen images and video of the devastation in Japan from the recent earthquake. You guys are seriously the greatest, most generous fans out there, and I'm going to offer you a chance to send some of that generosity around the world.
Between today and 9:00 PM CST on Friday, March 18, I'm asking you to make a donation in ANY amount--$1, $5, $10, $15, or whatever you can afford--to SHELTERBOX, the international organization that provides basic necessities (in a box!) to folks in crisis around the world.
Each Shelterbox contains items like a tent, a stove, cooking supplies, blankets, and children's items, and can make surviving a crisis a bit easier to bear. [Read more.]
Each Shelterbox costs $1,000 US (including goods and distribution). Our goal: Raising enough funds between now and Friday to purchase 1 Shelterbox!
If we reach $1,000 in total donations, I'll give away a SIGNED HARD BITTEN ARC to one lucky giver.* If we reach $2,000 in total donations, I'll give away TWO signed HARD BITTEN ARCs.
You can make a Shelterbox donation using one of the links below (or for your country's appropriate website).
Shelterbox USA DonationsShelterbox UK DonationsShelterbox France DonationsShelterbox Canada DonationsShelterbox Germany Donations
When you make a donation, identify your name and, if you'd like, the amount you donated in the comments on this blog post.
If we make it to $1,000 in donations, I'll announce the ARC winner on Saturday, March 19.
Thanks, everyone! I'll get the ball rolling, and will start with a donation of $100. (I'll also update the blog to reflect donations to date.) Only $900 to go!!
* - Please save your Shelterbox donation receipt for verification purposes if you're selected as the winner.
By now, you've all seen images and video of the devastation in Japan from the recent earthquake. You guys are seriously the greatest, most generous fans out there, and I'm going to offer you a chance to send some of that generosity around the world.
Between today and 9:00 PM CST on Friday, March 18, I'm asking you to make a donation in ANY amount--$1, $5, $10, $15, or whatever you can afford--to SHELTERBOX, the international organization that provides basic necessities (in a box!) to folks in crisis around the world.
Each Shelterbox contains items like a tent, a stove, cooking supplies, blankets, and children's items, and can make surviving a crisis a bit easier to bear. [Read more.]
Each Shelterbox costs $1,000 US (including goods and distribution). Our goal: Raising enough funds between now and Friday to purchase 1 Shelterbox!
If we reach $1,000 in total donations, I'll give away a SIGNED HARD BITTEN ARC to one lucky giver.* If we reach $2,000 in total donations, I'll give away TWO signed HARD BITTEN ARCs.
You can make a Shelterbox donation using one of the links below (or for your country's appropriate website).
Shelterbox USA DonationsShelterbox UK DonationsShelterbox France DonationsShelterbox Canada DonationsShelterbox Germany Donations
When you make a donation, identify your name and, if you'd like, the amount you donated in the comments on this blog post.
If we make it to $1,000 in donations, I'll announce the ARC winner on Saturday, March 19.
Thanks, everyone! I'll get the ball rolling, and will start with a donation of $100. (I'll also update the blog to reflect donations to date.) Only $900 to go!!
* - Please save your Shelterbox donation receipt for verification purposes if you're selected as the winner.
March 11, 2011
J.W. Waterhouse
J.W. Waterhouse is one of my favorite painters, and I've been reviewing his works quite a bit this week as I draft DRINK DEEP.
In DD, Merit works her way through many of Chicago's supernatural communities, and Waterhouse's paintings include representations of many supernatural creatures (particularly water-related) and myths. Interesting stuff!
Learn more about J.W. Waterhouse here.
In DD, Merit works her way through many of Chicago's supernatural communities, and Waterhouse's paintings include representations of many supernatural creatures (particularly water-related) and myths. Interesting stuff!
Learn more about J.W. Waterhouse here.
Various Questions
Responses to various comment questions:
- There are no restrictions on hosting a spot in the blog tour if you're an international blogger. I just can't send contest prizes outside US/Canada. So you should either limit your contest to US/Canada or skip the contest. But you CAN still participate.
- I will advise if you were one of the fifteen folks to receive the bookmarks when I respond to your blog tour email (hopefully next week).
- I've gotten a number of questions about international e-book sales. The books are published in each country by a different publisher. (That's just the way the system works.) Each publisher makes its own decision about the sale of ebooks.
Thus, if you're in a country other than the US and you it doesn't appear that ebooks are available, that may be because the publisher in that country has decided not to produce the books in ebook format (for whatever reason). But feel free to contact the publisher and request ebooks, or if you have the option, request Kindle format on your country's version of Amazon.
Thanks and xoxo.
- There are no restrictions on hosting a spot in the blog tour if you're an international blogger. I just can't send contest prizes outside US/Canada. So you should either limit your contest to US/Canada or skip the contest. But you CAN still participate.
- I will advise if you were one of the fifteen folks to receive the bookmarks when I respond to your blog tour email (hopefully next week).
- I've gotten a number of questions about international e-book sales. The books are published in each country by a different publisher. (That's just the way the system works.) Each publisher makes its own decision about the sale of ebooks.
Thus, if you're in a country other than the US and you it doesn't appear that ebooks are available, that may be because the publisher in that country has decided not to produce the books in ebook format (for whatever reason). But feel free to contact the publisher and request ebooks, or if you have the option, request Kindle format on your country's version of Amazon.
Thanks and xoxo.
March 9, 2011
Merit on Bravery
A new quote from HARD BITTEN to whet your blog tour appetites:
"You give me thirty-two inches of folded steel and I'll take on anyone you want." -- Merit
"You give me thirty-two inches of folded steel and I'll take on anyone you want." -- Merit
HARD BITTEN BLOG TOUR
It's time, ladies and gents, to sign up for the HARD BITTEN BLOG TOUR.
The HBBT will take place from April 17 through May 8.
If you're interested in joining the HBBT, PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW:
1. HOW TO JOIN: To join the blog tour, send an e-mail to calendar [at] chloeneill [dot] com. In that e-mail, suggest a SPECIFIC date on which you'd like to host the HBBT.
You must request a specific date in order to be included on the calendar.
Don't worry if it takes me a few days to respond to your email and confirm your date. You only need to email back if you haven't heard from me before April 17.
The first fifteen people who sign up for the HBBT will receive a free bundle of HEXBOUND and TWICE BITTEN bookmarks for your own swag giveaways. Just include your mailing address in your email request.
2. WHAT'S INCLUDED: Your spot on the blog tour can include one or more of the following: (1) an interview with me (no spoilers, please!); (2) an interview with a CV character; and (3) a swag pack of CV goodies (US/Canada only, please).
If you'd like to interview me or a character, please send no more than 10 interview questions to calendar [at] chloeneill [dot] com in an email (no attachments, please). I try to respond to all interview requests at least three days prior to the scheduled interview. You are welcome to send a reminder.
3. CONTESTS: It takes 2-4 weeks to send contest prizes once I receive the winner's name. You are, of course, more than welcome to send a reminder e-mail.
4. TOUR BUGS: Feel free to use one of the images below to advertise your spot on the blog tour!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP IN GETTING OUT THE WORD ABOUT THE CV BOOKS!
The HBBT will take place from April 17 through May 8.
If you're interested in joining the HBBT, PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW:
1. HOW TO JOIN: To join the blog tour, send an e-mail to calendar [at] chloeneill [dot] com. In that e-mail, suggest a SPECIFIC date on which you'd like to host the HBBT.
You must request a specific date in order to be included on the calendar.
Don't worry if it takes me a few days to respond to your email and confirm your date. You only need to email back if you haven't heard from me before April 17.
The first fifteen people who sign up for the HBBT will receive a free bundle of HEXBOUND and TWICE BITTEN bookmarks for your own swag giveaways. Just include your mailing address in your email request.
2. WHAT'S INCLUDED: Your spot on the blog tour can include one or more of the following: (1) an interview with me (no spoilers, please!); (2) an interview with a CV character; and (3) a swag pack of CV goodies (US/Canada only, please).
If you'd like to interview me or a character, please send no more than 10 interview questions to calendar [at] chloeneill [dot] com in an email (no attachments, please). I try to respond to all interview requests at least three days prior to the scheduled interview. You are welcome to send a reminder.
3. CONTESTS: It takes 2-4 weeks to send contest prizes once I receive the winner's name. You are, of course, more than welcome to send a reminder e-mail.
4. TOUR BUGS: Feel free to use one of the images below to advertise your spot on the blog tour!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP IN GETTING OUT THE WORD ABOUT THE CV BOOKS!
March 8, 2011
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose . . .
As I noted below, one of the main reasons I've been absent from the blog of late is my tight deadline for DRINK DEEP(CV 5), which is scheduled for publication in November 2011.
Although I hope this book will has lots to offer in the end, it's been a struggle to draft thus far.
Perhaps I say this about every book I write (Jeremy?), but this one feels like I'm dragging the word count total up the side of a mountain. I'm on schedule to finish on time--if I maintain a pretty high level of productivity until my deadline--but the slowness of the drafting so far scares me in a bone-deep way.
I can't imagine I'm the only writer who's felt this way. There's definitely a roller coaster aspect to writing. You can get great news about a publication offer one day, only to learn that the money is stomachpunch low. You can get a royalty check for one book, only to learn that returns exceeded sales on another. A five-star Amazon review might follow (or be proceeded by) a two-star review that insults your writing, your characters, your morals and your intelligence.
I don't offer these observations to elicit sympathy--I know I also have dedicated and loving fans out there, and I usually remember how fortunate I am to be in this position. But as in any hobby or career or sport, some days are just harder than others.
As in life, there are wins and losses. There are days when the words come, and easily, and there are days when sitting still long enough to draft a paragraph feels like a monumental achievement.
If only there were some guaranteed potion--some elixir--that would transmute the latter into the former.
Now *that* would be unstoppable. :)
Although I hope this book will has lots to offer in the end, it's been a struggle to draft thus far.
Perhaps I say this about every book I write (Jeremy?), but this one feels like I'm dragging the word count total up the side of a mountain. I'm on schedule to finish on time--if I maintain a pretty high level of productivity until my deadline--but the slowness of the drafting so far scares me in a bone-deep way.
I can't imagine I'm the only writer who's felt this way. There's definitely a roller coaster aspect to writing. You can get great news about a publication offer one day, only to learn that the money is stomachpunch low. You can get a royalty check for one book, only to learn that returns exceeded sales on another. A five-star Amazon review might follow (or be proceeded by) a two-star review that insults your writing, your characters, your morals and your intelligence.
I don't offer these observations to elicit sympathy--I know I also have dedicated and loving fans out there, and I usually remember how fortunate I am to be in this position. But as in any hobby or career or sport, some days are just harder than others.
As in life, there are wins and losses. There are days when the words come, and easily, and there are days when sitting still long enough to draft a paragraph feels like a monumental achievement.
If only there were some guaranteed potion--some elixir--that would transmute the latter into the former.
Now *that* would be unstoppable. :)
March 7, 2011
Seth Tate?
I think Julian McMahon is a pretty good approximation. You?
March 5, 2011
Mark your calendars...
... for March 24, for a live chat with me, sponsored by the lovely folks at LITERARY ESCAPISM! More details soon.
