One of the best parts of writing Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is meeting readers and sharing stories. I’ve had several lovely interviews about the book, but none more fun than meeting 8-year-old zine creator Victoria.
Victoria loves to draw comics involving animals and dessert, and her mom, Cathy, helped her turn her drawings into a zine called Animals Love Cupcakes. The zine includes original comics and drawings by Victoria, plus interviews with inspiring women from Chicago and beyond, and dispatches from their everyday adventures.
I met up with Cathy and Victoria at the Printers Row Lit Fest for an interview. We had a fun time sharing our favorite hidden spots and places to hang out in Chicago. Thank you to Victoria and Cathy for taking the time to meet with me and for including Secret Chicago in Animals Love Cupcakes!
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
