“We both want to work at our own pace and take our time. We don’t want the stress of not meeting a deadline. If we don’t meet one, nobody has to know. When things are ready to be published, they will be up on the Release Schedule. We will announce them on the blog and in the newsletter. “
Will the snippets stop?
No.
Does this mean you are retiring?
No.
I will miss this blog.
The blog isn’t stopping.
Does this mean no more Artha pictures?
There will be Artha pictures.
Is Sweep of the Heart cancelled?
No.
::laughs:: I know you guys can read. The only thing that’s changing is that we will not announce our projects until they are complete and ready for production. This way we hope to avoid endless emails asking if whatever we are working on is done yet. A little less transparency, a little more peace of mind.
Because you’re not contracted for anything, would you ever consider writing an entire short series and then publishing them on a schedule?
That is an interesting idea. For us to do this, we would have to meet three conditions.
One, we would have to be absolutely sure that the duology or the trilogy is strong enough to find its audience. Two books is double the investment of time and labor. If it comes out and flops, then we’ve wasted twice as much time.
Two, the idea would have to be engaging enough for us not to hate working on it continuously. We tend to switch between projects.
Three, financially we would have to be able to commit enough time to it and resign ourselves to not earning anything from new releases meanwhile. We can side step that one with a novella or two. Novellas take less time, so we could work on book 1, write and release an unrelated novella, and then work on Book 2.
There are advantages to doing more than one book in that manner. First, you can keep continuity intact vs trying to remember how tall someone is 18 months after you’ve written it. Second, if the book is good and you release them with like a month in between, it can really jump-start the sales. At the same time, when released like that, the series doesn’t have the time to really accumulate the audience, so it could go either way.
Anyway, it is a cool idea and we may consider it in the future if the right project comes along.
Will you still be working with the same editor when self published, or do you have to find another editor? It sounds like that’s the most important relationship and the hardest to find?
Our Hidden Legacy editor, Erika Tsang, is a fantastic editor, but she works for the publishing house. We will be looking for a content editor, a copyeditor, and proofreader for our upcoming projects. Ideally we can put this team together and continue working with them going forward.
Does any publisher own any new work in x universe? Or are you free and clear?
No publisher owns copyright to any of our work. If Gordon and I decided to write a Connor and Nevada novel tomorrow, we can. We are out of contract for the first time in our writing career. ::insert smiley face::
Kickstarter?
For some reason, you guys really seem to want the Kickstarter thing. We will think about it. The problem is, the only way we would ever do a Kickstarter is if everything was already written and then why not just put it up for sale? Unless you are after some cute loot boxes.
We finished our first book and weighed the pros and cons to find an agent and go for traditional publishing.… and our favourite author goes for self-publishing. What you wrote hit too close to what we fear, so it is time to rethink the approach.
Olga, we are established authors with an audience we’ve built over 15 years. You are just starting out. The ebooks are selfpublished in staggering numbers, and for a new author, there is a real danger of getting lost in the crowd. Mod R has linked some useful stuff in her reply to your comment. Try the agent first. It doesn’t hurt.
What was in the brewing pot in the picture? What is that teapot?
It is Vahdam Imperial Tea Maker with Milky Oolong from Harney and Sons brewed at 177 degrees. Gordon bought this pot for me out of the blue, and I love it more than I can explain. I will not use anything else now. I prefer clear teapots because I forget to set the timer, and I want to see how strong the tea is. The problem with clear teapots I used in the past, like the one below, is the infuser.
When you put the tea into the infuser, it expands as you see in my picture above. Digging it out of the diffuser is an exercise in frustration and if you have loose leaf chamomile, forget it. Chamomile goes to dust easily. The little holes get clogged, the pieces of chamomile get stuck, bleah.
The new pot has no such problem. The leaves free float in it, and then you set it over your cup or on the edge, and the tea drains down. Even if it doesn’t fit completely over wider mugs, as long as you can get it over one edge, it works like a charm. Clean up is a snap. Nothing gets stuck. Nothing gets clogged. The lid is attached and it doesn’t get lost. It’s BPA-free plastic, and I’m a glass snob, and I don’t even care. I am a convert.
I think I’ve answered everything. Okay onto the taxes and then Innkeeper.
The BDH reminds me of my students sometimes and their end-of-semester reflections:
“Dr. X said blah blah blah.”
No I didn’t. I said nothing that vaguely resembled “blah blah blah.” What on earth did I say that that your brain translated as “blah blah blah?”
HA is sooooo patient. Glad y’all will continue with the wording and are able to set better conditions for that.
I am super excited for this new chapter in your professional lives – it will be interesting to see what comes of the new freedom and I look forward to buying the results!
I’m also very excited about the mention of novellas – novellas that check in on characters whose main stories are done make me so happy, I love to see the “where they are now” even though that is almost never territory for an actual new book.
Gotta agree with both paragraphs! Looking forward to whatever comes down the pike.
I was trying to cut back on material possessions. Nevermind. I’m on #teamlootboxes Give us a 10 little ones and 2 big ones a year. ModR has the time – right? Tea one month, a plushy next month… If you sign up for a year, you are matched with someone in your country to trade Festivus presents (so you only have to mail us 11 presents, we send each other the 12th!).
I like all the books. I buy all the books. Please concentrate on writing all the books. I’m making work for ModR and the rest of the team here.
With regards to writing a short series and concerns about it finding an audience. You two have a built in audience that will read anything you release and have been – the BDH! I know it’s difficult to trust that, to think that a new project or way of doing things will be the exception. We really do love everything! I certainly do and I would bet that a lot of others here do to. A good test would be to put out an unconnected novella and see what happens. See how quickly we snap up those advanced sales (like we did with Fated Blades – from an old long dormant series.)
I am not being either facetious or a suck up, but seriously: Is it even possible that you guys could write a flop? I just can’t picture it. I do have my favorites among your series, but I’d buy anything with your “name” on it.
I have a similar teapot – they are wonderful indeed!
My question though (because who doesn’t love more questions!) is what is your teapot sitting on?
Love your work guys. Always happy to sit back and wait for what we magic your throw our way. No pressure at all. You do you 🙂
Me reading the “out of contract” part means we, the BDH, could in theory some day far in the future get a Conlan book, or George being arbitrator book, or some unknown but equally awesome book from completely new world. I am okay with not knowing what is currently being worked on because I love it all. It also means since I do not know what is being worked on that anything is possible, i.e. far in the future (after Julie’s and Hugh’s stories being done) maybe, just maybe a Conlan book. Julie is awesome and any other child of Kate and Curran would be also amazing. Ohhh…future Helen book would be cool. A girl can dream.
As the kickstarter idea it would probably be too much work but maybe BDH can get awesome official merch mugs/shirts etc with “put down that cow” from Hugh and other amazing one liners like that.
After reading today’s Innkeeper I want to exchange George’s arbitrator book for a Gaston book, that would be awesome.
I was hooked on the tea pot right up to the point of . . . where would I put it? I’m trying to cut down on kitchen counter clutter. Whoever designed the kitchen in our home apparently never spent any time cooking. I’ve seen bigger kitchens in RVs. Ditto with the linen closet. The house is a 3BR but the “linen” closet suffers the same malady as the kitchen. So we surmised that whoever the architect was, they neither cooked or did the laundry.
Interesting as always. I did wonder about snippets since we wouldn’t know the project, but just decided you’d probably want to whet the bdh appetite at some point. Thanks! Another post is always welcome to break the humdrum of daily living.
I like the idea of not announcing a new work until it is actually finished. In my years as a reader and a bookseller, I have read too many books that were totally messed up because the author was working against a deadline and had to come up with something or forfeit a goodly chunk of advance money to the publisher for missing the deadline.
“Are you done yet?”must be like “Are we there yet?” When you are on a cross country road trip.
Since you’re self publishing now, I wonder if you’d ever consider reprinting the Kate Daniels series but in hard cover. I collect my favorites and would dearly love to see these books get some fantastic new book covers and come out as a collector’s set. I have a signed copy of your first hardcover and it’s so beautiful. And lonely ????
Tracy, you are speaking my language! This would be amazing.
Very cool teapot, thank you for the video. I love my tea and have a cupboard and half full of teas. I might have to surprise myself on my next birthday. I am very happy to hear that you have total control of your writing and sales. Congratulations!
I’m only going to comment about the tea and teapot because the rest of the stuff is kinda laughable to me…when did readers come to think that they could dictate anything to writers? You either love and trust the writers (like I do you two) or you don’t and you move on…Nuff said.
I have a bottom dispensing teapot that I’ve used for at least 9 years. I love it…except when I accidentally set it kitty wampus on the base and it leaks all over the counter. As you can see from the photo, my tea setup includes a 20 oz mug, smokey lapsang souchong, and a well-loved teapot. It’s been my morning ritual since I gave up coffee 3 years ago. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine.
I wish we were friends. I get such a kick out of you.
You had me at:
“Will the snippets stop?
No.”
Smart lead.
What a clever time waste removal.
Good luck!
I’m so glad someone asked about the teapot! I had no idea Vahdam had this. I’ve tried multiple solutions to the sticky loose tea residue and this one looks like it might be the better answer. Plus it just looks nice. Also, love milky oolong. It became my travel tea choice – just pour and go – no sweetener or dairy necessary.
All the best on the new direction.
As a self confessed loose leaf tea snob I fully support your endorsement of the brewer! I have a similar one and adore it. I will not use anything else at this point!
Thank you for taking the time to answer questions. I didn’t have any but found it an interesting read:)
Boy, would I love to be part of your self-publishing team!!! Not least because I ADORE your books…the Innkeeper series, the first Aurelia Ryder book, and the entire Kate Daniels series are among my favorites.
As a full-time freelancer, I mostly do copy and line editing in various combinations, but occasionally have extra fun doing developmental editing when it’s requested and my expertise can be helpful.
When you’ve issued a call for editors or proofreaders in the past, I studied your requirements, especially about what you DON’T want done, and, while I sometimes make suggestions regarding writing and storytelling, I see myself as being there to support the author’s goals, not to play a fiction-writing Pygmalion.
I’ve been editing for decades, but fiction editing for about 10 years. I also read 3-5 books a week for both pleasure and professional development.
So far I’ve edited more than 400 novels and, as you’ll see if you check out my web site, a lot of them have won awards, and one series, the Celtic Brooch Series, is in frequent competition with Diana Gabaldon’s *Outlander* books for top-selling/Kindle Unlimited time travel series.
My web site manager is working with me on a site overhaul, but all the info on the site is up to date (except the covers at the bottom), so here’s my calling card:
http://www.demonfordetails.com
Thanks for considering me, Ilona and Gordon and your valued sidekicks! And congratulations. I bet you’re gonna LOVE being your own boss(es). I sure do!
Cheers,
Faith Freewoman
Hello,
I’m not sure that you have received this notice (or even care), but the Facebook Group Discover SciFi Has listed the five SFF Novellas and Standalone Books. FATED BLADES is listed as one of the five. The writeup mentions “incredible worldbuilding, intense action, and sizzling romance”. The writeup also has a mention about The Kinsmen Universe as a collection of two novellas and a short story being set in the same world. Links to Amazon, audiobook and paperback sources are provided. BRAVO!
– Jo Ann
Thank you so much for letting us know, Jo Ann! 🙂
Re: Kickstarter, from what I can tell, they are a lot of work but can be rewarding. A few authors have mentioned the ease of social sharing results in far more initial Kickstarter sales than they usually receive through pre-orders.
I’ve contributed to a few fiction Kickstarters, and they basically act as an additional ebook pre-order where backers receive the ebook a couple of weeks to a month earlier than publication date. And for the authors, they are using funds to help pay for paper copies, audio, stuff like that. They set a lower initial goal that’s easy to meet but will pay for the minimum fees and hassle involved. Backers can pledge for other formats with the understanding that they won’t receive them at the same time as ebooks.
But I would never back something that hadn’t been written! I also think most readers, especially if they aren’t already fans, really just want the books, not the swag. Brandon Sanderson’s campaign has the majority of backers only getting the books in one format or another, and he has a ton of super-fans.
Honestly, it’s just really cool how you are licensing your stories into cool forms I wasn’t familiar with, like games and graphic audio!
Love it. Team Andrews all the way!
I am always up for a little swag. How about
a “Special Snow Flake” teacup for winter mornings?
Sending a little light and a prayer.
Oh! It’s like a Clever Dripper coffee brewer! Neat!
I tend to brew a pot of tea using the drip coffee maker. 3 heaping tablespoons of loose leaf tea per “12” cup pot. The permanent filter catches most of the dust so you don’t get rafts of tea dust floating on top of the tea.
I hereby commit to buying anything and everything you write whenever you write it in whatever order you write it whatever length it is. I promise I will and I will likely love it. At least I will think it interesting.
Hi,
Just so that you know. I live in Australia, and apparently a lot of libraries have a policy of not buying self-published books. I understand the reasoning, as there is a lot of crap that I wouldn’t even accept for submission to a publishing company to be worked on, but it may affect your bottom line.
Just thought you should know. I do not know if libraries outside of Australia also have this rule.
This is actually an intresting question. I’m from Germany, and I think libraries don’t exactly have this rule here, but they will definitly buy a lot less self-published books. We can request books though, so self-published books from well-known authors shouldn’t be a problem.
However, now that I’m thinking about it, I’m a bit concerned that self published books may not get translated, or maybe only after a long period of time or not very well. I’ve seen it often enough. I would read it in English anyway then, but I do have to admit that I mostly prefer my mother tongue. And the books will definitly not be in libraries in English. But that won’t cut House Andrews profit, tough, I guess.
Foreign publishing houses will continue to buy the rights from House Andrews, as it has been until now ????.
This is not a new venture, House Andrews have been self publishing since 2013, in tandem with their traditional contracts.
Innkeeper Chronicles, Iron Covenant, Blood Heir, Kinsmen- they are all self published and have been bought and translated in other countries ????. If you want to help speed up the process, please email a local publisher who publishes fiction similar to IA and let them know you would like to read their books on your terms. House Andrews are very happy to sell foreign rights to other countries.
I have to remember who told me about it, but I just heard there is an electronic version that will lower the diffuser in water at whatever temp you’ve chosen, then raise the diffuser so your tea leaves never over-brew. Must find it!
But now I have shared the good news that such a magical thing exists.
So glad someone asked about the teapot and you answered it … I really wanted to know that one, too! 😀
The kickstarters I’ve bought for books that had already been published (Mother of Learning, Cradle) had different options like hardcover, fancy “leather” hardcover, regular paperback, and some swag. Plus there’s a lot of people out there that go gaga over “true” first editions. I saw someone sell an ARC for $500 because it was the “real” first edition (ridiculous). And some of them have stretch goals that include things like more artwork (Mother of Learning) or added extra snippets (Cradle will have more bloopers and some extra scenes for the first books)
And loot is always welcome. I didn’t go for the Brandon Sanderson loot because $600 is a lot of money for not knowing exactly what you are getting, but would throw money at Kinsmen, Hidden Legacy, or Innkeeper trinkets without hesitation. An Order badge from Kate’s world (wink wink) would be awesome too
As soon as I saw that teapot I ordered it. Got it last night and I LOVE IT!!!! Thanks so much for sharing it.
I’ve never thought about the Kickstarter, but I’d be absolutely thrilled if there was an option for a loot box where you could get a signed sticker/bookplate. I tried to get one when you made the offer that if you bought the Emerald book (I might have the book confused) from specific small bookstores you’d get a signed sticker, but they sold more books than they had signed stickers, and I didn’t order fast enough. So I didn’t get a signed sticker. And I’m disabled, so even if a signing event is close enough to drive to (some of them have been), I’m not capable of standing in line to get one.
I would 100% be down for cute loot boxes on Kickstarter if you do decide to do that.
For a while now I was surprised by readers . In their reviews they take star for clifhangers.How is this possible I thought?Trying to demand how and what an author shoud write.Some things should be nipped in the bud.
Just my thoughts…
Oooh, you should just do a kickstarter for Andrew’s family animal plushies. They’d be super cute and don’t require any big promises in any specific timeframe for publishing.
I’ve been all ebook for years now because I have no room for another physical book. Even the “throne room”in our master bath has bookshelves on every wall, and they’re all filled.
I carry my Kindle Signature Edition everywhere, so I have instant access to thousands of books in my library, and the KSE is easier to fit in my jeans pocket than a single paperback ever was.
Unfortunately, this means that, for me, hardcovers and first editions are a thing of the past, as are signed copies:-( and I won’t get into the stupidity of NFTs, except to make a fervent plea that HA never goes there.
So I’m good if there’s never any merchandise or loot so long as HA keeps creating incredible stories.
I just started a re-read of Hidden Legacy. I’d forgotten so much (it’s been years). I love your writing, it’s so evocative when I can see everything in my head!
I’m so glad you have found your happy place in your way of dealing with publishing your work, less stress means a possibly longer career writing great stories! 🙂
Kickstarters are all about the loot 🙂
…I love those teapots … kids gave me one for Mother’s Day from Teavana. It prepares a generous amount of tea & the water flows freely through all those lovely herbs & tea leaves!
Congratulations on reaching the point in your careers that you can make these choices and perhaps gain back some more of the joy of writing with less of the stress of business end!
Thank you for sharing through the years!
I would be very interested in proofreading for you. I currently work as a proofreader, and have done so for the past three years. Please tell me how I can pursue this?
I also did a beta read for you in the past, for Sweep of the Blade, if that helps.
Hi Alex,
Thank you for writing in ????.
House Andrews are receiving a high number of similar offers at the moment. All applications will be considered and then I will email everyone who was selected ????
From reading your blog, I realize Ruby Fever has been a chore to write. With your new freedom, do you feel you will continue the Hidden Legacy series? If someone has already asks this, I apologize.