Chloe Neill's Blog, page 147

Chicago Review & To-Do

UPDATE - You can also check the Images of Chicago portion of my website, where I've organized some of my Chicago photos by book. I'll be adding additional photos soon!

There's one more deadline behind me and so, as promised, here's a run-through of some of our images from our recent Chicago trip, as well as some of our favorite activities.

1. One of my favorite buildings--Lake Pointe Towers near Navy Pier




2. The Wrigley Building (just post-July 4th)




3. One of the lions that guards the Art Institute

Sweet home Chicago

Boy and I are back from our Chicago research excursion. I'm on a tight editing deadline right now, but check back this weekend for photos, a list of some of my favorite things to do in Chicago (in case you're planning a big city getaway), and my new FAQ.
Oh--one more thing. I'm thinking about starting an online book club, where we'd read classics that deal with witchcraft, the paranormal, or traditionally "Gothic" topics. (Think Edgar Allen Poe, The Scarlet Letter, etc.). 
We'd read one book a mon

Happy Fourth of July!

I hope everyone is having a fun, safe Independence Day. Happy Fourth!
Best,Chloe

TGI . . . T?

It's a short (day job) work-week for a lot of us in the States. We celebrate Independence Day on Saturday, so many offices are closed tomorrow (Friday) for the holiday. To celebrate that looming mini-vacation, I made one of my favorite desserts (by Southern food maven Paula Deen.) Her Gooey Butter Cake is incredibly easy to make, and absolutely fabulous. (And why wouldn't it be, with two sticks of butter in the recipe?)

Yes, you read that correctly.

Two sticks of butter in a single, one-layer cake

Ali Edwards posted a bit of writing by author Paul Coehlo...

Ali Edwards posted a bit of writing by author Paul Coehlo today. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I found it to be incredibly moving. I think it has something to say about taking risks, whether with respect to writing or other challenges that we face in our day to day life.

* * *

We have to take risks. We can only truly understand the miracle of life when we let the unexpected manifest itself.

. . . . Every day we try to pretend that we don't realize that moment, that it doesn't exist, tha

Abstract Editing

I once read a blog entry (I think from Laurel K. Hamilton?), who suggested that instead of fact-checking as you draft a manuscript, you should leave spaces as you write, then confirm the things you had questions about later on.  The idea, of course, is to allow yourself uninterrupted time to write without constant fact-checking.
It's a nice idea, but I'm generally too distracted by potentially incorrect facts to leave them be.  (And that's partly the price, I think, of having wireless internet ac

Happy Monday!

Don't forget, you have until midnight tonight to post a comment on Jia's guest blog (immediately below) and win a chance to get a signed Chicagoland Vampires bookplate for your copy of Some Girls Bite or Friday Night Bites (when it arrives). Go forth and comment!

Chicago Magazine has a nice feature on Hyde Park today (President Obama's former home), including a printable tourist map if you're interested in doing any perusing. Weirdly, Cadogan House does not appear on the map. :)