It is the weekend so Mod R is off. You are in my moderating hands. – Ilona
Important merch news first: we will be opening for the vellum preorders on Monday.
Availability
Right now it is US only.
Canada: The cheapest shipping is $20, takes 4 weeks, and there is no guarantee it gets there or in what shape it will arrive. We are hoping to figure out some sort of cost effective option here because the vellum retails for $30 and you would be paying $20 on top of it. Ideally I would love to print vellum, ship it to a Canadian fulfillment center and have them distribute it.
UK/EU: We have the printer in UK, but we are having a difficulty finding the fulfillment center. Most of them want a steady flow of orders instead of a large drop. We are looking into it. Right now my plan is to check with various book box representatives to see if any one them would handle the fulfillment for a fee.
Why the preorder, cousin?
We don’t know what the demand will be. Our printer stocks vellum specifically for us and we need to tell them how much to order. We will not run out. If you want vellum, you will have the opportunity to order.
A funny aside: the preorder wasn’t activating, so I had to enable the site for one hour for the customer support to diagnose the issue. In that time, 6 BDH members managed to sneak in vellum orders. We will honor those orders, and they will go out next week. You guys are not getting the map, though, so if you want the map, email me or comment here, and I will hold your order until the map happens.
How long?
Officially, the preorder will run for 4 weeks and we will mail everything out at the end of that. Unofficially, if we get a lot of orders, we will start filling them as they come in.
What will be in the box?
Everything that was included in the previous trial run and Becka’s map. We have come to an agreement on the fee. The map will be printed on 80# cover gloss. Some of you might remember buying collector editions of computer games and getting a stiff glossy map inside. That’s exactly what we will be using. The advantage of 80# cover is its durability. It can be creased, folded, unfolded, folded again, and it will be fine.
Here is a video explaining the nature of the paper. It is basically soft cover grade.
We will have a sample for you as soon as the contracts are signed and the art file is finalized.
I don’t want the whole pack. I just want one.
Whether it is 1 or 6, the shipping is still $10. You would be better off with an art print from one of the artists. But once we get through this run, we will see about individual item envelopes.
Other merch?
Coming. We are working on stickers, mugs, and placemats.
Hold My Beer Coffee
A little while ago we ran this promo on Instagram
If you give BDH a hand, they will bite your arm off at the elbow. In that fine tradition, we immediately got this response on Facebook.
Behold the ridiculous video. Sound on, please.
::clears throat:: Call me Archmage.
This mug will be available in 11oz only. That is the only size they have,
Personal Things.
Rough couple of weeks for various reasons. Getting older isn’t for the faint-hearted. And this morning, I woke up to a broken pot.
One of the resident catnip addicts must’ve really wanted the catnip growing in it. I don’t know why but that pot did me in. It was pricy. I informed the cats that they are the reason we can’t have anything nice. They are unrepentant.
You can tell the stress is getting to me, because this is my latest blanket.
Like what is even happening here. It is hella pink.
The book is at 213K.
First
Saturday Certified 🙂
Cats are always unrepented. And especially in search of catnip. The mug looks amazing though.
Archmage, that mug is sooo cool (and the blanket is very pink — so cheery)!
I’m so sorry about the pot! I feel you. My cat killed a lovely handblown art glass vase that I was silly enough to leave unsecured near tile. 🙁
I now secure anything fragile with museum putty, and so far there have been no more catastrophes. I’m still bitter about the vase. Good thing the cats are adorable.
But you ARE the Archmage! You joke about something, we give you all the ‘pretty please’ chalantness with huge, pleading ferret eyes, and then with a sigh you say ‘…ok, fine’ and deliver!
So much magic! Your personal internal pile of wood must be sky high. : )
are you sure, her stack is still so high?
I rather think she has to meditate constantly to get enough for the magic she performs for us
Dearest Archmage,
So glad you wrote (everything, really). I have looked up your mug spell in the grimoire library. Yes, I had to go into that room that is locked, the one where Granny Ruth uses spiders to guard not only the door, but the grimoires themselves. I used up my twenty minutes, but did find the answer. Yes, Pink is a side effect of the mug spell. Weirdly enough, by expressing the Pink you will enhance your spell casting talents. It is also a beautiful color that imparts that beauty on the user. Congratulations! You can expect great things to come your way.
Sincerely yours,
(redacted)
I have watched the mug video a few times now, and hyperventilate from the excitement each time… 😂
Alas I live in Canada. I shall w*it with hope!
Many hugs about the pot! I have the majority of my plants hanging from the ceiling because of my kitties.
You know that a percentage of FB users will see the video of the magical mug and not read a thing about it. Then they will decide that you PROMISED them it would be color-changing and they are now disappointed and heartbroken and feel lied to because they could “only” get the (gorgeous) non-magical version in the store.
As a proud card-carrying (not really, but you know we SHOULD have cards) member of the BDH, I just want to say that I know we are … kind of a lot sometimes. Sorry. It’s a good thing you love us! 🙂
By the way, when is the audio version of Beast Business getting here— we were promised this and have been waiting for YEARS. I feel some kind of way about this! (Too soon?)
Please keep in mind the BDH loves you, too!
Please remember that we also love you for yourselves, not just your word output. Treat yourselves to something stress relaxing.
The ONLY way I can have a catnip plant is to make it a hanging plant. And watch my cats sit under it and sniff.
Let me guess, it was probably Tuna. I had an indoor/outdoor cat – she wrecked everything if she wanted out & I said no.
I hope you can convince Tor to keep everything you wrote.
That mug is fabulous, I don’t think I’ve seen a better use of colour changing on heating!
And gentle supportive hugs, cups of tea, skeins of scrummy yarn etc
Ok that was a funny Facebook response! I might have to buy the mug tho I’ve put a moratorium on mug buying. Cats are never repentant, sorry for the pretty pot loss and the mess. Pink…….yeah that’s not a favorite, but it’s still lovely work. Hang in there!
Dear Damaes,
you can reach the 250k words, you are soooo close!
For a challenge however, nothing less then 300k would be acceptable ( and me and the whole bdh would be very very thrilled !).
I would even encourage you to hit the 500k ( and now I will hide before you can murder me too #NotATorch)
Definitely a +1000!
Thank you, Ilona, for the post! Your slice of life posts are always interesting… Sorry about your flower pot incident. The mug is truly amazing! YOU are truly amazing! The blanket is beautiful! Are the flowers your design like the sunflowers? We will take all the words because you and Gordon don’t do bloat. Every word always matters to progress your stories… We will read them all. Del Ray put ‘Alchemised’ out there with 1000 pages. We will take Maggie 2 whatever the length.
Sending peace and healing energy to you and yours! Being chronologically advantaged should come with a warning label.
May everyone’s weekend be filled with safety and peace!
I’m sorry you’re stressed and that your pot broke. I’m… not sorry about the length of the book. I look forward to the day I can give you my money for it.
Darn cats.
also, the blanket is lovely. The pink will mellow with washing.
Tell the kitties that there will be rippercushions!!! Alarm set for Monday to order. I am chalant.
Just another pushy customer, I really want the vellum art, but it would be great if there was a picture of Maggie included. The other artist’s drawings were wonderful but the shipping from overseas got too rich for my blood. I suppose it’s fair as shipping from the US overseas is also ridiculous but I really wish a complete character set was available, it just loses something without the main character being illustrated also. Maybe there could be an add on, pretty please? Okay, whining over, thank you for all you do, your books have gotten me through some really hard times and I really appreciate it.
Luisa’s vellum is in the works. 🙂
Yay!!!
I love this blanket. I too am not a fan of pink, but I currently only have light colored kitties, so it’s light colored blankets for now (to better hide the fur). It also reminds me of my last remaining blanket that my mom made. Its from the 70’s, so it is bright, eye hurting orange, with lime green leaves on a black background. It’s a lot. I love it.
squeeee the mug looks so cool!!! can’t wait for the store to open.
Yeah, those mugs will totally sell out. Just saying.
Pink is supposed to be calming. I once read an article referencing how a police station had great success in soothing violent and over-wrought suspects by placing them in a pink room for 15 minutes. HOWEVER, they found that if they left them in the same room for an hour, they became suicidal. Soooo……take a lot of tea breaks. okay?
OMG this is hilarious!
A chock full blog! Vellum, informational (card stock, who knew), sadly funny (catnip burglars), beautiful 🌸 blanket and amazing merch (duke’s mug). Thank you!
So sorry about the pot. Everything smashes on my tile floors. The mug gives me goose bumps, and sometimes we all need some pink in our lives.
I love the color change mug. I had forgotten those even existed. I had one years ago.
Archmage, your powers are unparalleled 😉
I have to admit, it’s a very cool mug.
I’m sorry you have unrepentant cats- which is pretty much just cats normally- but I do like the blanket!
When I saw the first mock pic of this mug and read “The Sleepless Duke wants to take care of you WITH COFFEE” . I was all . YES> YES HE DOES. I was then a little disappointed the cup didn’t actually say that lol
Hahahaha, I love the mug video! Now, if it were real, please just make the green parts glow – I need to be able to admire that handsome mug even when there isn’t hot stuff boiling over!🤣 While we’re asking for the impossible, can we switch in a different quote to go with it? I love the first time he commits himself to her, tho she doesn’t quite recognize it for what it is: “You have me, Maggie… I’ve decided to walk this path with you. As long as you will have me by your side, I won’t allow anyone to harm you.”
Seriously, I love the things you do for us. All the vellum, all the merch, all the SNIPPETS, and of course, ALL THE PAGES! I don’t even have a hardback and I want the vellum – I’m hoping for an Owlcrate copy at some point. (Anybody want to sell theirs? Or let me come and read it one afternoon? I’m in the Tucson area, and willing to drive to Phoenix!)
Anywho, please know that your physical and mental health comes First, the book writing is second and all the other stuff is just frosting on the cake! We deeply appreciate all that you do for us Horde-ers, don’t let us drive you crazy. We love you and all that you do. (Bigger is Better, Tor!)
OMG, I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for the merch. It is so pretty. And I need new laptop stickers because my ferret heist stickers peeled off. BUT…….i live in Australia. Any hints on when Aussie BDH members can get their hands on vellum and other pretties?