Me: Hey, sorry to bother you.
Grace Draven: No problem. What’s up?
Me: Do you know what chevon is?
Grace: … No. Never heard that before. It sounds French. What is it?
Me: Goat meat.
Grace: Huh.
Me: Apparently, it’s chevon, except if you are in India or Pakistan where it is called mutton for cultural reasons. You are the foodiest person I know, so I figured if you didn’t know it, nobody else would.
Grace: It says here “Chevon is a coined culinary word created in 1922 by a trade association as a blend of the French word chèvre (goat) and the ending of mutton.”
Me: Yep.
Grace: How are you?
Me: grunt.
Grace: You can do it. It will be okay.
I am not quite sure I can do it, actually. We are crash editing Maggie 2 to get it under the deadline, so it doesn’t have to be bumped back. It’s been 12 hour days back to back for a month now. It’s a very long book. I broke out the Fortnum & Mason Christmas tea that Mod R sends me for Christmas. And I put honey in it, which I cannot do because prediabetes.
Parallel to that, we are finishing up the vellum orders. As of right now, we have 267 orders to go. The end is in sight. We had numerous printer-related delays, which will not happen again, because 3,000 orders is too many. From now on, we will do small merch drops of 1,000 sets at a time. When they sell out, they sell out.
Behind on everything otherwise. Hoping to get to some kind of place once the edit is done. Also I almost got the flu. It’s going around and I had a couple of miserable days with some fever, but I think I might have fought it off. Knock on wood, cannot get sick right now.
Thank you for your patience with us.
PS. The plural of beef is beeves.
PPS. ::Channeling Maggie from Maggie 2:: And one more thing: Guys, if your vellum arrived damaged, let us know. We will replace. Please email to the store address: store@ilona-andrews.com. Mod R cannot help you.
PPPS: Experts found, thank you!
Hahaha, beeves 🙂
You can do it! Sending all the love
I second and third this. Sending virtual tea and sympathy / support.
Hugs…..
anxiously waiting for Magie 2 so I can buy it! 🙂
You can do it!!! Love you guys !
Learned a new word today.
Pulling for you and sending all the virtual tea. And the Rocky theme song.
+2, especially with the original Eye of the Tiger
Oh dear… Hang in there!!!
We appreciate all you do – and we might even be capable of w@!ting if it saves you from overworking.🤗
Anlso, thanks for broadening my vocabulary!
Sending you fortitude through the intrawebs. It’s ok to break out the good stuff (tea and honey). What ever it takes to make it through…
Good luck and sending good vibes to you guys!
I did not know that tidbit about goat meat. And its funny that my lunch today was left over curry goat with basmati rice from my daughters b/day dinner last night.
😋 😋
lol, I have leftover palak with goat for today, from lunch with friends. I’ll be waving a fork for the BDH and HA!
Lemon juice shots – won’t stop the viruses going around, but will soothe your throat. Also hot lemon, if you need a change from tea. (My mother called it Irish farm medicine – her mother grew up on a farm in Eire.)
The germs are wicked this fall – they got a power boost from all the crazy heat and humidity!! Be careful out there!!
I have a degree in astrophysics and can review your magical treatise. However, the contact form says it’s only for technical difficulties? There’s no Subject line to put Electron Cloud in. Please let me know how I can help.
I’ve never wanted to be a quantum physicist before today. (I’m not) 😄
Also, if you raise beef (at least in Iowa, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say in the US Midwest), the plural form of beef is beef. I’m wondering if the only people who use beeves also have a butler named Jeeves? 🤷♀️
Thanks for the update! I hope you feel better and get as much done as you need to in the time that you need it done by! 🤗
Beeves is indeed British English.
American English deliberately simplified a great many of the French spellings that the rest of the British empire retained — all those -our endings for instance — thanks to Noah Webster’s dictionaries, first published in 1806, and the widespread use of the McGuffy Readers, graded from beginning reader through high school, first published in 1836.
I always thought beeves was used when referring to beef ‘on the hoof’, ie, while the animals were still alive but would eventually be turned into beef on the plate.
this was my understanding as well, from reading western historical romance novels. they were ‘beeves’ while being driven by the cowboys long distances to market.
That’s confusing… wouldn’t they just be called cows if they are still ‘on the hoof’?
IMO it really ought to be boeuf on the hoof. I realize this is a minority opinion.
Mutton is old lamb in both the UK and in the US Midwest. Never heard of chevon.
That’s because it’s French. They have a committee designated to maintain the purity of the language so they have to invent a french term anytime they’re in danger of borrowing a word. Le hot dog is pas très classe. (and that exhausts my French for the day.
Unlike Japanese where they simply *yoink* the words. Looking at you ‘bagu’ and ‘cardo’.
Beeves😂 I need that in a sentence!!
Surely one spoon of honey in your tea is ok when the occasion calls for it!! And the BDH wants you healthy and happy so you can keep writing our favourite things ❤️ Take care of yourself!
Hang in there! I feel your pain. It’s been crazy and stupid with a certain federal agency. It’s raining hospital reports lately. They were supposed to be available last month, but due to errors on the reports sent out to the hospitals by the agency, the agency pushed all the reports back to September. They have to be out before October 1. I had to validate what I can to make sure the results were correct. It’s been a marathon.
Beeves is the plural for beef? Uh, I always thought the plural form was beef. I was raised in rural Missouri, and that’s what was used no matter the form of English. Learn something new on that. 🧐🤷♀️
I can hear the beef commercial from the past updated to “Beeves, it’s what’s for dinner.” 🤣🤣🤣
This reminds me of the data/datum quandary I heard about in all the math/statistics classes I took in school. 😁
lol, dating ourselves!!!
Sorry about the crunch of Maggie 2 editing and vellum orders(I didn’t order any myself).
Hope things go better
guess that 54 people are super eager to get NDA’d
lolol
Stay strong! And take care of yourselves!
Chevon. Who knew? Hang in there, it will work out! I have confidence in your abilities, even tho that’s a horrible work regimen at current. Best wishes!
Huh!!! That’s really interesting – especially the bit about goat being called mutton in India. Am sending truckloads of sympathy for your suffering – I hate it when I underestimate the enormity of something until it’s too late – rock and a hard place doesn’t even begin to trace the outline of such events. Manageable batches in future sounds like an excellent solution. Be careful about the ‘I can’t afford to be sick right now ‘ ethic – it often gets me into trouble.
My new word of the day. Chevon, not to be confused with chiffon I take it? 😁
Maybe: “I was attacked by a swarm of chalant Beeves as I w**ted for the tarte aux Chiffon de Chevon!”
(My only French fluency is “Maison du Chocolat”in NYC, Madison and about 81st 🤣)
Are the cultural reasons in Pakistan and India the very long British occupation? I looked, mutton comes from Olde Englishe which came from Older Frenche which came from Vulgare Latine with a touch of Protoe-Celtice.
You both are amazing! My vellum arrived in perfect condition to my mother-in-laws house and then she shipped it to me in Canada because we had moved from the time I bought the vellum to when it was sent out. She is a saint and it arrived in perfect condition! My 12 year old read every entry out loud from the back of the map. Our favorite as a family it Sushi’s explanation of the Taryz Teahouse.
“Don’t drink the leaf water.”
But since your aren’t at the Teahouse I hope you can indulge in as much tea as you would like. You got this and are absolutely amazing!
Feel better soon! You are both extraordinary!
Hope you get to rest soon!
Sending positive vibes snd calm thoughts. You are amazing and can do this. 💪🏽❤️
Y’all are amazing! Thank you for all you do!
I hate that you are so worn out that you are risking your health. We need you. We love you. Tell the publisher that we can handle a month later on the release.
+1
+1, even if it’s more then one month because of publishing timelines
“PS. The plural of beef is beeves.” — Oddly, I knew that from long ago episodes of Rawhide.
I learned a new word with chevon and now understand why I would get weird looks when I asked about eating mutton in the States. I love mutton (goat)!!!
We don’t eat much sheep (mutton) in America, and only a little more lamb. I’ve only ever seen goat on the menu of Indian — including Pakistani — restaurants, where it is clearly labelled “goat”, differentiated from lamb.
Very likely those who looked at you funny assumed you didn’t know mutton is not generally available here, and weren’t thinking of goat at all. Mr. Wife, who worked in India years ago, was aware they group both sheep and goat under the “mutton” label over there (I just asked him), but today, at the beginning of my 65th year, is the first I heard it.
+1 Honestly, unless they read a lot of British fiction, or were studying for a spelling bee, many modern Americans might never encounter the word mutton. Lamb and mutton are traditional in some of our ancestral cultures, but if you’re not descended from people who ate meat labeled mutton, mutton mainly shows up in books (or possibly video games? I wouldn’t know about those, but maybe).
Now I’ll be looking for chevron in Maggie 2.
Hang in there! The end IS in sight and the BDH appreciates all you are doing!
The vellums are beautiful and I’m thankful you did sell more. The packing was perfect!
Thanks for working so hard-very appreciated! Translated: the BDH needs to know what happens next! 🤣
You have to admit, having too many fans wanting to buy too much merch is not the worst problem to have in the world…
Got an email from Arcane Society today, apparently they’re doing the second Hidden Legacy trilogy in the same style as the first 3 they did a while back. Unsigned, but still, can’t wait to get my hands on them.
I got one yesterday too.
My vellum arrived the other day. Love it. Thank you House Andrews for taking such care in packing it.
Best wishes on your editing. Take care of yourselves
good of you to beat the flu. I am in one right now…….
Please look after yourself! A timely vellum is not worth your health and wellbeing. The welfare of House Andrews is always the priority.
+1,000
hugs, tea is good.
but beeves only refers to live animals
My vellum order arrived today! I am so happy…it is everything I wanted and more. I danced in front of my husband with the package telling him that House Andrews had put it together just for me 🙂 Then I took pictures of everything and sent them to my daughter so that she could share in my joy! But I’m sorry it cost so much time and headache for all of you. Thank you.
Southeast Asia – we also say “mutton”!
it’s probably due to the British…
Maybe it’s time for an intervention? (Hopefully the BDH will not hunt me to my death for saying this…)
12 hour days for 4 weeks is not something the average person over 35 should attempt!
It will make me sad to have to wa*t longer for Maggie 2, but I am much sadder thinking you may be making yourself ill. The world will not end if Maggie 2 comes later. I’ll still be just as excited, whenever I get my hands on it! I’m staying fluffy😃 Hugs 💖
There is a plural for beef?? I’m going to buy some beeves for dinner? 😆
Hello !
In culinary french speaking terms, “cabri” (goat baby) is much more employed. We rarely eat the adult goat. Cabri is eaten for Christmas or New year, roast in the oven with potatoes. So yummy !
With a wood oven ( four à bois), it’s caramelized. :p
Thank you for your hard work.
Family remedy for flu or sore throat, a shot of good tequila. It’s something with the agave no idea but it works! Do recommend just one tho it’s tempting to go for two just to make sure to get all the germs. 🙂
Also quite thrilling to understand that somewhere out there is the ending of Maggie 2 and one day I will be squeeing while reading it! Then raving to friends and family about how amazing the book is and they must read so we can discuss and squee together. Sending prayers and positive vibes!
Elsewhere in the US, young goat meat (the goat equivalent of veal) is cabrito. And tasty.
beeves never heard of it, cows and cattle yes, beeves nope. learned something new. thanks. thought beef, was the meat, so didn’t have a plural, those are beef, that is beef and where is the beef. Wishing happy, healthy, energy
You can do it, Ilona and Gordon! We have faith in you. Please do stay healthy, not because of the deadline, but because being sock sucks donkey balls. ❤️🤗💪🏻
sending lots & lots of support! make some fire cider, garlic honey, wear cozy socks and take breaks! wishing people would be more understanding if there was a delay.
when is the next innkeeper book coming great series
The Innkeeper series is expecting at least one final full-sized novel, but a release date is not yet in the schedule.
Thank you for the update and for teaching me something else I didn’t know * sending extra big hugs, strength, positivity and lots of tea*
You’ve got this!!🤗✨🫖
My family’s traditional treatment for fighting off cold/flu is tea with honey and whiskey – only a bottle cap full /teaspoon or half teaspoon of the whiskey though ( not sure if you drink alcohol, sorries if you don’t. Tea with lemon and fresh ginger is also good alternative).
Keep fighting the germs off, please rest whenever you can, and take care of each other ❤️ We can and will be fluffy while we wait for Maggie 2 – you two are far more important!
Thanks for all that you do, and we know that you will nail it! To give you something positive, my vellum arrived undamaged and gorgeous. I was also delighted when I saw the stickers, map, personal note, etc – I obviously didn’t pay attention to the details of the order. My laptop now reminds me to “Survive – Get Paid” when I start work, and the map prompted me to re-read TKWNKM and note where I went wrong with my Rellas geography. (Just finished Monday). Again, appreciate the work that you both do.
I actually knew this one (chevon), thanks to Baldur’s Gate! Sending all the good vibes
Sending virtual chicken soup! Don’t overdo the work and be sure to get enough rest. We want you to be healthy and happy. If orders are too much work, why not outsource it? I would happily pay more to be able to buy your vellum, merch, etc.
Thank you for all your hard work! Sending support!
I agree with Grace – You can do it! I am so sorry you’re so stressed tho. If I could, I’d tell the publisher to wait a week or a month, whatever you need! The BDH can wait! You and Gordon’s health, mental anf physical, is the most important thing!
Please, please take care of yourself. I think your fans can survive the delay. You and your health are way more important.
+1 There’s being on a roll, and there’s being in a hole. Take what time and self-care you need to stay out of the hole.
Washington Post has an article today about a study on the differences between compassion for others, compassion for animals, and compassion for self. The group with high scores on all three also scored highest on mental health. Groups with low self-compassion had lower mental health scores. And the older you get, the more that translates to lower physical health.
So: Self compassion and self care pay off in mental and physical health. Then you can work more! And better. As long as you like your work, that’s a good thing.
Double check with your Doctor but most.pre diabetics can have Tupelo honey. If you can I will send you some. It grows close to me, and my neighbors bees produce it.
Stay healthy, that is what is the most important thing to accomplish. Your blogs are good reminders of excellant writing is a process that takes time. Thank you!
Ahh I LOVE the randomness!!! I adore how your brain works! And book two is very long OMG best news of the day by far! I am OBSESSED with Maggie and Rellas! On read #4!!
For reference 🤣
beef = meat → usually no plural
a beef = a grievance → beefs
a beef = a beef animal → beeves
It sounds like a fantasy creature. “Beware the beeves. They travel in herds.”
🤣🥰🤣🫶🏻✌🏼stay weird
Sorry things are so tense for you right now! Please remember, health first, work and BDH second 🙂 Sending good health vibes your way. Enjoy the tea and the good things.
I am also a prediabetes person; skinnygirl makes an excellent sugar free raspberry preserves. I don’t like fake sugar in my tea as you can really tell it’s fake-sugar flavor. I find the work around is to add another flavor to balance out the fake-sugar flavor so in tea it’s preserves of some kind. In coffee the fat of cream can balance out a sugar free syrup. One of my sweet tooth treats is sugar free torani strawberry syrup in whole fat milk. It tastes like strawberry nesquik which was my favorite.
You have an awful lot on your plate! Please take care! Sending you virtual hugs! 🤗🤗
I’m so excited to get my vellum it’s arriving today!! Thank you for all your hard work on the vellum and on Maggie 2!
Are you planning to write, edit and release another novel between Maggie 2 completion and release like you did with Maggie the First?
This should not be read as me saying, “When’s Maggie 2 going to be published.” It’s what I’m thinking, but I don’t want you to read it that way. 🙂
Maggie 2 release is expected in the second half of 2027, this has already been announced 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/release-schedule/
No other plans are currently official.
From a way too mixed family Brit person curry goat is curried goat or mutton depending on what meat was available, and the cost and look thereof, with goat being the preference but not having any impact on the dish still being called curry goat as averse to curry mutton. This could mostly be Carribbean. And if you go to certain butchers and ask for goat be clear you want goat and not mutton. Never used the term beeves in my life, but have heard chevon and assumed it was posh Masterchef goat dishes not everyday people food 😆
Beeves is correct. When cattle swarm en masse, does that make a beevehive?
Beeves only refers to animals on the hoof, not the meat in the market.
Won’t tea be lovely when it’s all done???
The Horde loves you. You can get to this light at the end of the tunnel…
I received my vellum order. Absolutely Spectacular! Thank you for everything you do! Please prioritize your health above deadlines. I know that is easier said than done. There is only one you. Well, two. Please take care of each other.