Sometimes the best books are are impulse buys. That’s how I came across Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland vampire series … and I wasn’t halfway through the first book before I asked her to guest blog. The adventures of Merit and her friends are hugely entertaining, and the next instalment is right around the corner.
We’re very lucky that she’s willing to take time out from deadline season to drop by. Plus, she’ll give away a signed copy of FRIDAY NIGHT BITES to one commenter; USA & Canada shipment. Deadline for commenting is 8:00 a.m. CST on Monday, September 28.
***
Hello, everyone, and thanks!
First off, for those of you who don’t know me, let me take a sec to introduce myself. My name is Chloe Neill (okay, that might be obvs by now), and I’m the author of a new urban fantasy/paranormal romance series (Chicagoland Vampires) and a forthcoming young adult/paranormal series (Novels of the Dark Elite). The second book in my Chicagoland Vampires series, FRIDAY NIGHT BITES, will be released on October 6, 2009. I’m also giving away a signed copy of the book…just keep reading for details!
The S&S staff asked me to think about guilty pleasures…which wasn’t a terrible difficulty. I have a lot of them, things that are ridiculously enjoyable to me, but that other folks probably think are odd. These range from my deep and abiding love of fountain Diet Coke, to my love of Kit-Kats, to the fact that sometimes the most satisfying dinner I can have is a bean burrito in the car, while I sit in the parking lot of a Taco Bell and watch the traffic go by.
I know…it’s a little odd, isn’t it?
The heroines of my series, Lily and Merit, have their own guilty pleasures. Merit, a former English Lit grad student who’s inducted into the world of Chicago’s very strategic vampires, has a wicked lust for chocolate. She also loves books, fancy pens, Puma tennis shoes and smoked meats of any variety.
I’m actually a vegetarian; maybe I experience All Things Bacon vicariously through her?
Lily, a sixteen-year-old who’s sent to boarding school in Chicago, isn’t nearly as food-crazy as Merit. But she has a lust for thrift shop-shopping sprees, black licorice, and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Two characters; two guilty pleasures.
As a fan of urban fantasy, romance and paranormal romance, I tried to give some thought to the guilty pleasures of other characters. Anita Blake has a collection of penguins, although I’m not sure that’s a “guilty” pleasure (book title notwithstanding). Betsy (of Mary Janice Davison’s series) love shoes. Harry Potter loves candy. Eve Dallas (J.D. Robb) loves candy bars–and has her own secret stash.
What is it about the guilty pleasure that makes it attractive to authors as a literary device? A couple of things, I think.
First, the guilty pleasure is telling. It signals something to the reader about the character–who she is, what she loves, what drives her.
Second, the guilty pleasure is humanizing. We all have guilty pleasures–things we enjoy, occasionally with abandon, but are a little insecure about (see my burrito-in-the-car story above). Literary characters who have them seem, at least to me, that much more real. Would Eve Dallas be the infuriatingly complicated woman that she is without that crazy love of chocolate (which, admittedly, keeps disappearing from her office.) We know how it feels to crave something that we worry we shouldn’t crave. It’s nice to have a heroine, I think, who shares that very human emotion.
Alrighty…all that said, time for the contest. Simply leave a comment and tell us about another book character’s guilty pleasure, or tell us about one of your own. One random commenter will win a SIGNED copy of FRIDAY NIGHT BITES.
Thanks to Silk & Shadows for hosting me today, and good luck!
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Thanks so much Chloe for this great post! Loved the reference to Eve Dallas! I love her!
My guiltiest pleasure can be summed up in one word … Books!!!!! That and sweet iced tea in the summer and hot tea in the winter. I used to do coffee but it tears my stomach up.
by Leslee September 23rd, 2009 at 6:53 amGuilty pleasures - I have a few - 3 Musketeer bars, garage sales, and definitely books - If my husband knew how many books I really bought he would cut me off! (I hide them on shelves in the basement - eventually he is going to wonder why there are no more empty shelves!)
I have just started enjoying vampire/paranormal books - and live near Chicago! Would love to have a chance at this one!
by Kristi September 23rd, 2009 at 7:46 am
Hi Chloe,
My guilty pleasures are definitely Books of all kinds, chocolate covered cherries and Pepsi. The biggest is a great big Scottish Highlander of my own, some day.
by CCarol L. September 23rd, 2009 at 8:39 amI have to say that as soon as I saw the name Eve Dallas I immediately thought of Roarke and that always makes me think of guilty pleasures.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Oh guilty pleasures is everyones weakness that makes us the most happy. I always have cookie dough in the fridge so I can just go in with a spoon and have it whenever.
by Caitlin Usignol September 23rd, 2009 at 8:53 amMy guilty pleasure is reading and chocolate. Put the two together and it makes for a fantastic evening!
Another character’s guilty pleasure that I enjoy, is Harry Dresden’s love of donuts and his gaming habit. Jim Butcher is a favorite of mine.
I look forward to reading the next in your Chicagoland Vampire series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first.
by Jennifer September 23rd, 2009 at 8:55 amGuilty pleasures? Well, surely not books. (Unless it’s something “trashy”, and then, well… ;D) No, right now my “guiltiest of the guilties” would be the TV show Dancing with the Stars. It’s fluffy. It allows has-beens and B-stars to shamelessly promote themselves (for no particularly good reason). There’s enough spray-tan in use and on full display to give everyone in the state of Alaska a nice faux-glow. But the razzle-dazzle, the glamour, the spectacle… ahhh. So nice.
by Diana September 23rd, 2009 at 9:00 amBesides books another guilty pleasure would be chocolate. I especially crave bownies, the fudgier the better. Thanks for guestblogging. I agree with you that knowing a character’s guilty pleasures does make them seem more real.
by Cherie J September 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 amHi,
I really enjoyed Some Girls Bite and am looking forward to reading this book. One of my guilty pleasures is my love of the paranormal, starting with Dracula movies when I was seven (and needing to sleep with the covers over my head and a rosary in my hand) to my continued reading of paranormal books. However, like Diana, I too am a closet Dancing with the Stars fan. I can’t believe it, wouldn’t watch most of the first season, but it sucked me in. A co-worker and I had lunch together yesterday and we were talking about what we were watching of the new season and I couldn’t tell her I had seen the premiere of DWTS. (Kelly Osbourne…what a shocker!) Of course, she’s one of those people who “hardly ever watch tv”. Yeah, right.
by Anne September 23rd, 2009 at 9:14 amI would have to say my guilty pleasures are cream soda and movie theater popcorn with plain M & M’s in it. Yummy!!!
by Kim H. September 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 amI really like that authors give characters guilty pleasures. Like Chloe said, it humanizes them.
Can’t wait to for Friday Night Bites!!!
My guilty pleasue beside book would be chocolate, and going to the/renting movies.
by Van P. September 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 amMy guilty pleasures have to be chocolat and books!
kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com
by Marjana kaly September 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 amMy guilty pleasures are reading and baskin robbins ice cream. Can’t get enough of either, lol!
Another characters guilty pleasure is Glory St. Clair’s lover Blade. She can’t get enough of him.. come to think of it neither can I,
by Estefanie September 23rd, 2009 at 10:11 amHi there! My guilty pleasure would be chocolate and coffee. And when you put them together, much like chocolat and peanut butter, they are all more better
I even have a chocolate charm on my charm bracelet.
When I thought about guilty pleasures of other characters for some reason Tabitha from Sherilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series came to mind. She loves her oysters from Acme Oyster, if I remember correctly. And even though she describes them as the vacuum cleaners of the ocean, or something like that, she doesn’t care and can’t get enough.
by Stacey H. September 23rd, 2009 at 10:18 amMore worst guilty pleasure right now is reading blogs and articles about writing, when I should actually be writing.
by Rissa Watkins September 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 amI agree with you “impulse buys” are the best. Lately I can’t see to get enough books on to be read pile.
My guilt pleasure is researching for the next best book series. Example: I picked up Some Girls Bite one day while at B&N “researching.” I just liked the cover; I didn’t even read the back of the book. She just looked sassy and I could relate that day. WOW! Amazing! I love your work Chloe, keep up the great work.
by laurap September 23rd, 2009 at 10:30 am.
seven layer chocolate raspberry torte or a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake
everytime I eat a piece of one of those I know I’m being naughty but they are so decadent, delicious, and utterly delightful
by Wenona September 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 amMy guilty pleasure is ice cream! Eat in winter to, with chocolate cake, or bananas or rasberries. miam!
Thanks a lot for the great post and the awesome giveaway =)
by TYnga September 23rd, 2009 at 10:50 amWow, I have quite a few guilty pleasures. I’ll only mention a few here though……a cinnamon dolce latte from Starbucks, greasy yet crispy bacon, and cheesecake. To me, that actually sounds like the perfect meal.
by Jody F. September 23rd, 2009 at 11:30 amHi, everyone! Thanks for dropping by and commenting. I second all the various and sundry references to chocolate (especially brownies) as a guilty pleasure. My secret: Make a family size box of brownies (meant for 9 x 13 pan) in an 11 x 7 or 8 x 8 pan. Thicker, chewier, more deliciouser…
Best,
by Chloe Neill September 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pmChloe
Hey Chloe,
My guilty pleasures are books, homemade ice cream, ribeye steak and the internet.
I can’t wait to read Friday Night Bites
by Carmen R September 23rd, 2009 at 12:47 pmI’ve been looking forward to this one as I’ve read the first and enjoyed it! My guily pleasures are Dr. Pepper and watching Supernatural.
by Teresa W. September 23rd, 2009 at 12:50 pmOther than buying books, my guilty pleasure is the tv show Supernatural. Dean is my perfect match. The writers do a great job of using myth to suck me into the storylines and then to run out to do research on the myths used.
by Kimberly September 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 pmGreat post! Thanks for sharing. Cant wait to read Friday Night Bites.
My guilty pleasure is of course, books and cake. I am sure books are not much of a surprise and I love cake, its the hardest sweet thing for me to resist.
by Donna S September 23rd, 2009 at 1:11 pmI have to admit to a love of Ice Cream. I could eat it for lunch and dinner every day. Wish I could. I do exercise some control, can’t set too bad an example for my kids.
I also love cut flowers and reading. Have to have a book everywhere I go.
beth@bethcaudill.net
by Beth C. September 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 pmMy guilty pleasure is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, ever so delicious, ever so fattening! The pumpkin, xmas tree, heart and egg shaped ones are best because they’re FILLED with peanut butter! Making them more fattening, but more delicious as well!
Peanut butter–a fattening treat but is a good source of protein! Such controversies!
by Jessica S. September 23rd, 2009 at 2:22 pmMy not so guilty pleasure is chocolate. I have some everyday. The new dark Reese’s Butter Cups are awesome.
by vikki parman September 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 pmI enjoyed Chloe’s blog, looks like a book I would be interested in.
My guilty pleasure is VH1 dating shows. They’re all trainwrecks and I get sucked in so quickly. And ice cream. I have no self-control with ice cream.
I loved Some Girls Bite and am sooo excited for Friday Night Bites.
Sara M
by Sara M September 23rd, 2009 at 3:48 pmMy guilty pleasure is a strange one. When I have a carton of cottage cheese that is almost emptied, I like to fill up the container to the top with potato chips, mash it down, and eat it with a fork. Its a little like chips and dip but lower fat. Plus your hands don’t get greasy. Even my kids don’t know about this strange secret habit of mine. Don’t you all feel privileged?
by joni L. September 23rd, 2009 at 5:36 pmMy guilty pleasure is BOOKS BOOK BOOKS
I love to read, movies and tv cannot match the vivid details that reading release in my brain!
I loved the first of this series and cannot wait to read this book!
by Kimberley Coover September 23rd, 2009 at 5:58 pmHmmm…guilty pleasure? I would have to say Oreos with milk. No, not just one, but the WHOLE DAMN BAG!! I can’t seem to put the darn things down, plus, sharing can be a problem. I pretty much tell my friends to get their own bag! LOL My other guilty pleasure would be buying books…seriously can’t help in overindulging!
by Amber September 23rd, 2009 at 6:01 pmmy guilty pleasure is chocolate bars. I always have at least 6 in the house at one time.Reese peanut buttercups or Dairy milk bars.yum!!
by EJG September 23rd, 2009 at 6:51 pmI can’t wait for FNB I really enjoy this series.
Chloe,
What gorgeous covers you have! And I love the titles too.
And you hit the nail on the head — guilty pleasures are humanizing. Somehow it’s comforting for me to realize that someone else has a weakness/vulnerability too. I know I have plenty of my own.
Kim
by Kim Lenox September 23rd, 2009 at 6:54 pmMy guilty pleasure? Rond Noirs they are yummy chocolates that I spend entirely to much money on. LOL. My worst guilty pleasure? Well I collect stuffed tigers. I love them and have them scattered all over.
by Athena W. September 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pmMy guilty pleasure is cheese & crackers. For some reason I just love them and would eat them at every meal - but I try to limit myself because that’s not exactly a healthy diet
I loved the interview and I’m looking forward to checking out Chole’s books.
by Barbara Elness September 23rd, 2009 at 7:21 pmMy guilty pleasure? Gosh, certainly books ad chocolate ice cream.
Great post, Chloe!
by Wendy September 23rd, 2009 at 7:31 pmOne of my guilty pleasures is milk chocolate M&M’s. More specifically blue ones. I have to eat them first but the order of the rest don’t matter. My other guiltly pleasure is turkey sandwiches. If I could have one at every meal, I probably would.
by Shamein R. September 23rd, 2009 at 8:12 pmEasy, my guilty pleasure is reading in my bed after my kids are asleep and my honey is involved in his video game. Sounds simple,but let me tell you, it’s better than…chocolate (cause it doesn’t make my
large)hehe
by Elie N September 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 pmBesides books and chocolate I would have to say my guilty pleasure would be yarn! I can never have too much yarn but at the same time I do not know what I am going to do with half of what I have! I love to crochet different things for friends but never seem to have enough time to do all that I want to do.
by Elizabeth September 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 pmHi, Chloe!
Wonderful blog. It reminds me of the old TV detectives–they all had a habit or a “thing” that made them identifiable - Kojak had his lollipop, Baretta the cockatoo, Starsky the car, and Nero Wolf was just one big bundle of guilty pleasures …
by Sharon Ashwood September 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 pm[...] Chloe Neill, author of Friday Night Bites, at Silk & Shadows [...]
by I Promised Cookies… | Literary Escapism September 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 pmEasy one! Guilty Pleasure: Books.
I love this series. Great post and I think Chloe has one of the best websites! Easy to navigate and not bogged down with junk.
I look forward to reading Firespell.
by Amy Huber September 23rd, 2009 at 11:16 pmThanks, Chloe, for coming to visit. I need a tshirt that says All Things Bacon.
I’m shocked — shocked — at all the people who say books are a guilty pleasure. How can we feel guilty about something so necessary? I absolve me
by Jessa Slade September 24th, 2009 at 12:21 amMy guilty pleasure is chocolate and cheesecake. Yum!
by annalisa September 24th, 2009 at 12:41 amChoosing Some Girls Bite at Barnes and Noble is the last book that I will ever get from my grandma who would always take me shopping for books! Recently she passed away and Saturday is her service but I’m not sad because I know she is one extremely happy lady now. Thanks so much grandma! I love you!
by JessJ September 24th, 2009 at 1:08 ammy guilty pleasure is sneaking in time to read all my books! I have so many and so little time to read now a days but I just can’t help it!
by JessJ September 24th, 2009 at 1:11 amHi Chloe!!
Coke, chocolate and meat are my biggest guilty pleasures
by Gloria September 24th, 2009 at 1:33 amHmmmm……one of my favorite character’s guilty pleasures is Wyatt Bloodworth’s craving for Blair Mallory’s Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding. Linda Howard, the author of the Blair Mallory books, actually included the recipe for the bread pudding in the afterword. Wyat + Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding! Yum, Yum, Yum!!!
by Kari September 24th, 2009 at 5:23 amGreat interview! My guilty pleasures are chocolate and books.
by Tabitha Chedore September 24th, 2009 at 5:54 amHi Chloe,
by Kristianna Svetich September 24th, 2009 at 10:46 amGreat interview. I would have to say my guilty pleasure would have to be books and coffee. I cant live without either and I love them both.
I can’t wait for Friday Night Bites.
My guilty pleasure…it’s obvious and probably repetitive, but books. They are my guilty pleasure. I can never walk into a bookstore and not come out with something. Whether it’s a book for myself, my husband or my son, I have to have something. I avoid the book aisle at the grocery store just for this reason; but thankfully they hardly carry any PNR/UF novels.
Another character’s guilty pleasure? What about Riley Jensen’s obsession with coffee? I pretty sure that everyone scene, that takes place in the morning, she always has a cup of coffee or is wondering where it it or whatnot. I could be wrong though. It’s late.
by Jackie (Literary Escapism) September 24th, 2009 at 10:22 pmJust finished Some Girls Bite and I can’t wait for the next book! OK, so my “normal” guilty pleasure is wine, chocolate, coffee and books, but I also love the sensasion of clean 100% cotton sheets the first time I lay on them after they get out of the dryer (and they have to be well worn, not new and crispy). Yea, go figure ….
by Rini September 25th, 2009 at 12:58 amreeses
by blackroze37 September 25th, 2009 at 7:11 pmlol i felt like im stalking u, wit ur contests , following u and ur blogs
wine
by gypsywitch36@yahoo.com September 26th, 2009 at 6:54 pmMy guilty pleasure is definitely fountain diet coke - or as I refer to it - The Elixir of Life. Even though canned sodas are less expensive, I jump at any chance for a fountain diet coke!
by Patti September 27th, 2009 at 5:50 pmdefinalty paranormal romance I cant get enough I am always on the lookout for new books I will spend my last 20 bucks on books at times to get my hands on new reads .Some Girls Bite was awesome and I cant wait to read Friday Night Bites
by wanda flanagan September 30th, 2009 at 4:34 pmI have two at least..books and chocolate and maybe also computer games. Can I have three ? ha ha Susan L.
by susan leech October 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 amI love your book Chloe. I’ve gotten all my friends into reading them. I got the next Chicagoland Vampire novel on pre-order. I’m so excited! My guilty pleasures are Dr.Pepper and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! I wouldn’t be able to live without them. In fact I’m eating a Reese’s right now and sucking some Dr.Pepper through a straw while I am writing this.
by Chelsey October 4th, 2009 at 4:05 pmI have so many guilty pleasures! Where to start, to name a few…?
Coloring books! (So relaxing!)
BOOKS. BOOKS. BOOKS.
Fish!! (I have 3 aquariums, they’re also relaxing… I see a pattern starting here…)
Ink Pens.
Back Massages… hehe.
TRUE BLOOD.
America’s Funniest Home Videos.
I am going to stop before I write my own book on guilty pleasures =) I HOPE I WIN!!!
by Julia S. October 4th, 2009 at 7:42 pmMy biggest guilty pleasure is the number of books and amount of time I spend reading. Too bad life keeps trying to get in my way! Ice cream and chocolate aren’t too far behind.
Greatly enjoyed Some Girls Bite and I’m about to start Friday Night Bites.
by Cathy October 6th, 2009 at 5:26 amMy guilty pleasure….paranormal romance books. Guys aren’t supposed to like them..LO
by Scott Romanski October 6th, 2009 at 6:41 pmOf course books are my guilty pleasure. Maybe not so guilty? More like an obsession.
But if we’re going for guilty, I would say Cupcakes. Not just any cupcakes, but made at this local bakery called, who would guess, Cupcakes. (Btw, if you’re in Little Rock, try it out!)
by Katie S. October 6th, 2009 at 6:42 pmHi,
I really enjoyed Some Girls Bite and thought the references to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gilmore Girls (2 of my favorite TV shows) was hilarious. My guilty pleasures are books (that is a given), chocolate, and since I purchased a bike about a month ago…riding my bike with my red Dachshund, aptly named Willow, running along and when she tires putting her in the front basket.
Thanks for the contest!
by Rose S October 6th, 2009 at 7:05 pmLoved your first Chicagoland book and am looking forward to the second, even got my best friend to read it. My guilty pleasure? chips plain and simple.
by Diane Sadler October 6th, 2009 at 7:10 pmMy guilty pleasure would have to be curling up with a book, a hot cup of cappuchino, and something salty. That is my most favorite thing to do in this world. I loved the first book in this series, and would love to read the second.
by Desiree October 6th, 2009 at 9:24 pmIce Cream is my guilty pleasure
by bridget3420 October 6th, 2009 at 10:37 pm[...] Silk & Shadows » Blog Archive » Guest: Chloe Neill Share and Enjoy: [...]
by Palmer Cox The Bownies At Home Nicely Illust 1920 Book | Largestore Blog December 29th, 2009 at 2:01 pm