::rolls up metaphorical sleeves::
The preview episodes of Clean Sweep will be available on Tapas tomorrow, 08/19. They will be putting a couple of episodes up for you to take a look. Then on 08/23 they will drop 10 episodes at once, so you can get the story started.
Tapas staff wrote a guide especially for us. You can find it here: How to Use Tapas. Remember, the episodes drop tomorrow, on Friday, not today. I’m stressing this because Mod R was bombarded with I can’t find it emails when we announced the webcomic. Tomorrow? Phah! BDH doesn’t wait for no stinking tomorrow, it storms the castle today, and that’s all there is to it. Hehe.
And now for some explanations.
Why Tapas? Why not Webtoon?
Our agent approached several companies, and Tapas jumped on the chance to produce Clean Sweep. It’s fun and different, and they thought their audience would like it. Webtoons didn’t seem interested.
How long was this in the works?
The initial offer terms were communicated to us on November 12, 2020. This project was in development for awhile.
How many issues will there be in a season?
I believe 52, but let me check on that. It’s one every week, so definitely at least 50.
How many issues are already done?
This is being asked by people who worry that this project might be abandoned for whatever reason. Right now we are on Episode 36 for colors and Episode 43 for script. So no worries about it being unexpectedly discontinued. I feel you, I was upset when I Belong to House Castielo was abruptly over on another app without explanation, but I don’t think this is something we need to worry about.
Can European Tapas users access it?
Yes. It is being released globally. Also, ta-da!
Spanish adaptation. How cool is that?
How much does Ink cost?
It depends on how much you are buying. You can get a lot of ink via promotions, etc, but here is what it shows me when I buy mine.
Price range table for those who can’t see the image. The second ink number after + is a bonus. The more you spend, the higher is the discount.
1,600 ink = $1.99
4,000+1,000 ink = $4.99
8,000+2,500 ink = $9.99
16,000+6,500 ink = $19.99
40,000+20,000 ink = $49.99
80,000+50,000 ink = $99.99
I read a lot, so I usually buy it in chunks of $10 or $20 and it lasts me for quite a bit.
How much each issue costs?
Short answer: 30 cents.
Long answer: This is a Tapas original, produced in-house, which works a little differently than when someone uploads their comic to Tapas. First 3 episodes will be free. You will not see a price on those. Starting with the Episode 4, the episodes will cost ink, Tapas internal currency. The cost of episodes typically ranges somewhere around 350-375 ink. I have never seen more then 375. You receive discount if you allow automatic unlocks, and that can drop it down to 300 or so.
So if you bought $4.99 worth of ink, you could likely read 16 issues, assuming 300 ink price after unlock.
Let me explain automatic unlocks: Tapas asks you if you want to purchase every episode. When they say “Subscribe,” they mean that when a new issue is posted, you will be notified, but you still have to manually purchase it. It’s not like a magazine subscription or a Netflix where money is automatically withdrawn every month.
Subscription means only that when you log into the app, Tapas will show you that a new issue is up. You still have to manually pay for it to read it.
Automatic unlock basically means that as you are going from issue to issue of the comic title you are reading, Tapas will stop asking you every time if you want to spend the money. It withdraws ink when you click Next Issue link, which allows for more seamless experience. I’ve attempted to demonstrate this in this little video and it was an epic fail.
To sum up: not a Netflix type of subscription, there is nothing to cancel, you buy ink in chunks and pay as you go.
How much of that 30 cents do you get?
So it’s a little bit complicated because Tapas needs to recoup production costs and we are getting percentage of the profit, etc., but I would estimate about 5 cents.
You did it for the money!
Absolutely. You found us out.
Why did you do it?
We did it because it’s cool. It’s a visual adaptation of our work. How awesome is this? It was a chance to return to Clean Sweep, expand the world and the storyline, and maybe get new readers who might pick up the novels after looking at the comic.
The money is important. We have bills and kids and kids and bills and all that, but we want to be read. We want our work to reach people, and this is a chance for Innkeeper Chronicles to reach a whole new audience. They might not like it, but we hope they will and we won’t know until we try.
Should we buy this to support you?
No. You should only join Tapas and buy the comics if you want to actually read them.
While I understand that some authors insist on a hard sell, we never demand anything from you. Right now promotion is heavy because we are juggling two releases and still writing, and we are trying to reach everyone. Some of you access the blog constantly and others once a week. We want to make sure we catch your attention. But you will never see a post that says, “My pet goat is dying and I need you to buy all the books right now, omg, or I will stop writing forever and ever.”
We are grateful for your support. We know that without you purchasing our work we will not be able to write full time. We appreciate you, but we do not write for you. We write for ourselves. If nobody would read us at all, we would still write for us, for our ideals, for our amusement. We have been incredibly lucky that stuff we write for ourselves also resonates with so many people.
Thank you for reading our work. You are the best. Please don’t feel obligated to pay for something you don’t want.
Will you stop writing books?
No. See 5 cents. Heh.
Will the book version of Clean Sweep be expanded to reflect the extra stuff in the comic book version? Will there be printed versions of the comic?
No. Or maybe better: not at this time. For this to happen, the comic would have to be outrageously popular, enough for fans to want to have a hard copy. You are seeing this with Solo Leveling, because that comic exploded. There is even an anime adaptation coming up. I don’t think Clean Sweep will get that popular.
This is not a challenge, BDH. Seriously. Even if each of you went and made 10 accounts and bought an issue, we would not reach the Solo Leveling numbers. Clean Sweep will either do well organically or it won’t. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, let’s enjoy it.
I don’t like it, I have a problem with Tapas, I don’t like the character design, etc.
None of this is compulsory. You don’t have to read it. You don’t have to buy it. You don’t even have to let us know that this is not for you. We still appreciate you reading us in other ways. :insert smiley:
We have done our due diligence. This is not a scam. It’s an opportunity to experience a fictional world in a new way. A lot of readers here enjoy Tapas and webcomics, me included. It is fun for us, it provides us with much needed relief from stress. Please respect that. Please don’t be the person who tries to smother other people’s excitement simply because they are enjoying something you personally don’t like.
And now, so we don’t end on this note, I bring you a little teaser of tomorrow’s Innkeeper, if Gordon and I can get ourselves in gear and finish it.
As the delegates filed out of the arena, taking the tunnels to their respective quarters, Kosandion leaned toward me and said, “I heard my aunt takes frequent walks.” I confirmed that indeed, Her Grace took frequent walks, to which he said “I should like to walk as well. It’s good to stretch your legs after so much sitting.” I nodded, stepped away, and let Caldenia know that Kosandion also liked walking.
Now Kosandion pondered our pond while Caldenia was moving through the inn toward us.
The backstory. It is coming.
Oh you bought a goat! How nice! They are great lawn mowers–if you put a poop bag on them and don’t let them spread the weeds around. In Texas they climb trees because they eat fresh leaves!
Just kidding. My takeaway from that was not that you bought a goat. Hehe.
I think I’m going to have to dig out my tablet so I can properly appreciate the Tapas Clean Sweep. Trying to read comics on my phone is an exercise in squinting. I’m eager to see how the series goes!
Oh noes, save the pet goat!!! ????
On a more serious note, yay for trying fun new things.
Ooooh, Spanish! Thank you!
I’m so excited for both releases! I’ve really gotten into webcomics the past few years. I usually use webtoons, but I’m kind of excited to try a new platform as well and see other comics.
I love all of your books, but Inkeeper is something really special!
I’m honestly really glad to have learned about Tapas because of this. I found the app confusing at first, but as I tried out the freebie ink, it made more and more sense. I really like some of the manga I found and even if Clean Sweep doesn’t work for me in this format, I’m happy to read the ones that do. (I’m pretty sure that I’ll enjoy the adaptation though!) Thank you!
Tapas is great timing considering I have no chill as a BDH member and consumed Ruby fever cover to cover days ago and am not thrown into the void of despair awaiting another House Andrews release to devour.
Very good timing indeed
You have a pet goat?????hehehe
Thank you for the “How to Use” guide! I started in Tapas last week to get used to how it worked with a “free to read” comic (getting prepared for the release – yes I’m a planner). .
It’s really cool and I’m going to have trouble picking between my TBR list and reading comics!
Just one? LOL.
I think I’m currently reading at least 7 stories simultaneously on tapas, in addition to my usual pile of books.
Can you recommend other goodTapas stories to try for us newbies to Tapas?
Here is a blog post specifically on that ???? https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/what-to-read-on-tapas/
The comments have recommendations too.
> You did it for the money!
> Absolutely. You found us out.
haha who doesn’t do things for money?? Authors sadly cannot live on a diet of moonlight and magic can they
Can Ilona share a referral code for herself for Tapas? I wouldn’t think it would cause problems, but ????♀️. That way even if your nickels add up slowly, you still get ink? ????
Wait, is your baby goat dying?
Squeeee, Caldenia’s backstory!!!
I think I might try Tapas out after my family holiday. Things have been hectic past few weeks so haven’t even done my Mercy and Hidden Legacy rereads yet. But heck, you can never have too much reading fodder right?
Help please 🙂
I can’t find the comic on tapas.. I tried to search using “innkeeper” and “clean sweep”. The banner didn’t work for me in either Firefox or Chrome.. What should be my next move?
The same issue here. I’m on my phone, android, and using Chrome and when I click the banner it’s just a .jpg picture, not a link. Couldn’t find the story using tapas Search function. Please help!
Me too, I’m guessing that it releases on US time ?
me neither and it’s 9 am 19 August (aka FRIDAY)! Didn’t tapas put it up at midnight or haven’t they been expecting the BDH?
It is not live yet ????, we do need to be patient just a little bit longer.
When I didn’t see it up at 7am EDT, I thought to myself “Mod R is about to be bombarded by the Eastern Frenzy division of the Horde.”
Good luck encouraging patience!
Them’s dirty words around here 😉 . “Wait”, “patience”, “a few hours”. I’m going to get my mouth washed with soap by the Horde.
Do you know the exact time? Announcing that might help. I’m in Europe, it’s already 5 pm on Friday here!
The only surprise is that the post about it being missing was not 12:01am GMT. The Horde has been pretty astoundingly patient for what it is.
On release days, we are not a cute and fluffy Horde, but a sea of open mouths filled with fangs and drool waiting to devour the words.
I’m not currently a user of tapas but I’m sure my daughter will be all over it and will check it out. I must commend you for being willing to “expand your horizons and try new things.” We’ve been avid readers of your works and are eager for anything you put out. Thanks so very much for the joy you bring!
Thx for the info.
I have downloaded Tapas just to read the Inkeeper serie and now, I await.
I’ve been opening the app every 15 mins ????
It’s gotten down to every two mins for me! I’m being obsessive at this point!????
Maybe if we all look away and pretend not to care, they will give us the innkeeper?
It’s Friday—I still can’t find it on tapas anyone else?? I even bought ink first…
Hi Niki,
The content is not live yet :). Just a tiny bit more patience!
Mod R, when it does drop, what genre(s) will it be listed under?
It is listed in Action ????
But I need it now. 😉 Do you know what time it is going to be released so we can stop bugging you?
I came here to say this haha. It’s still not up!! Will check the app again soon!
What is this thing you call “patience”? We are the BDH – RAWRRR! ????
Umm. Feeling really stupid but can’t find the preview on Tapas today (Friday, 8:30 am Pacific time). Just not posted? Wrong website?
I searched for Innkeeper and Clean Sweep at https://m.tapas.io/
D’oh! Should have read the other comments first. Sorry to pile it on.
Wonder how Tapas is enjoying their introduction to the Horde.????
That is the correct website 🙂
The content is not live yet. I have asked for an approximation of the time, I do not know yet what it will be, but will report back ASAP to the Horde when I do 🙂
Thank you, Mod R.
Thank you. I hope they get back to you with a time 🙂
Can anyone tell me How to find a particular series without scrolling page after page on TAPAS? I tried going to the help but there is nothing about drilling down to a certain series.
Hey Charmaine,
You can use the search function and input the desired title. With a caution that Innkeeper content is not live, so will not appear just yet.
On the Tapas app, the search magnifying glass symbol can be found in the bottom right corner ???? – see image, circled in red.
On the Tapas website, it is in the top right corner.
I’m sure Ilona had to warn Tapas about the BDH too-Reasons be damned.
BDH, its clear our challenge is to beat Solo Leveling.
I think that will be especially challenging since it seems that quite a few BDH (including myself) checked out SL while waiting for Innkeeper to drop 🙂 lol
We will triumph as did the Turan Adin on Nexus! ⚔️????
It’s here! It’s on Tapas!
YES 🙂
The early content is Live on Tapas!
Innkeeper is up in Tapas!
Yes, yes the first 2 chapters are amazing.
I am not a huge comic reader, not my preferred medium, but I figured I would try it. Since I am familiar with the story I can fill in everything I feel like I am usually missing, right? But OMG the artist is brilliant. I outright lol’d several times over the art choices. And the magic use?!?!? Soooooo amazing. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Bought ink so I can keep going.
Love it and so excited to continue reading it!
HA, you picked a great team to bring Innkeeper to the comics world – thanks!!
This is not a challenge, BDH.
Erm…. okay fine…..
Love the adaption, it looks wonderful!
As said above clean sweep is live ????. I found it by searchingInnkeeper. Devoured the first two episodes. All I will say is nom nom nom, more please:
Got it! It’s beautiful! Woot!
New to tapas. I seem to have managed to get signed up and find Innkeeper, but I have a white column on the right with “information” type stuff that is on top of half the actual page, and I can’t find a way to get rid of it. I am subscribed. I don’t have any ink yet, but I thought the first three were free (plus I don’t know how to buy ink yet). I’d like to try it out, but need to get the full page. Help, someone? Thanks.
Hi Nancy,
I’ll try to help ????.
Are you on the Tapas app or website?
Have you tried refreshing the page/ closing the app and opening again?
That usually takes care of 90% of issues related to computers.
Hi! You’re so quick and helpful! Actually, I just came back here to say I managed to punch the right button—full screen! I think I’m on the app, on my iPad. Although I wouldn’t swear to it. What can I say? I’m pretty smart, but I’m also pretty old. And yes—I do know. If your windshield wipers don’t work, you turn off the car, run around it, and turn it on again and see if they do. (That’s part of a pretty good joke, actually.) Okay. Off to try out tapas! Thanks again.
Hehehe! So glad it works!
Extremely disappointed that you chose to use a platform not available on my Kindle, where I have read so many of your books. Nobody even knows how many millions of Kindles are in use worldwide, yet we are shut out over and over. Will there be a Kindle version of Clean Sweep, so I can enjoy rereading it as I do your other series?
Hi Victoria,
I think there’s a little bit of confusion here.
First, Clean Sweep is already available on Kindle- here is the link ???? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KZM2J9M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i16
The article is not about the book, but the webcomic adaptation- which is to say panels of images, with or without text bubbles. This illustration adaptation has been created by the Tapas team themselves, so they are offering it on their platform.
The Tapas content can be accessed through the browser on a Kindle however – https://m.tapas.io/series/the-innkeeper-chronicles/info . Of course, depending on your type of Kindle, you may be missing out on the beautiful colours of the images.
The comic version is so beautiful and I keep scrolling the comments on the episodes. Most are from us innkeeper veterans but I did see a newbie comment worrying about being spoiled by novel fans in the comments so I think we should be a good responsible BDH and be mindful of newbies and promise not to spoil things so that this can grow so popular we can get adaptations of all the books!
Love this so much
I don’t normally use tapas because there are other apps/ websites I use,but it has been on my phone for awhile. It looks like a will be using it. I am a binge reader when it comes to wedtoons so I will probably start to around ep 4p
FYI Tapas is very addictive. I keep wanting to switch to the episodes where I left off.
More please, like right now…… but have to wait for more inkeeter chronicles on 23rd
Anybody know if House Castielo story was ever in print before it was animated, please and thank you? Looks interesting.
I hope I can scrape the pennies for Tapas and Clean Sweep. Dunno if there is a time limit to watch it yet. One of the pooches committed multiple after hours emergency veterinary visits these last several weeks. (How did you do -this-? the freaked dog companions are still asking?)
Are you referring to the aka
I’m getting to blog the Tapas release and the Ruby release–is there are particularly good link for Tapas? Should I link to the How to? or a more direct link to Innkeepers? Or would you prefer I link to this post explaining it all?
Thanks, Maria
Hi Maria, Thank you for blogging about it, the direct link to Tapas is here https://m.tapas.io/series/the-innkeeper-chronicles/info probably the best one for clarity ????
Yikes. I mean, I’m getting ready to blog and… is there a particularly…sigh.
I was reading this webtoon awhile back (which I found out later on, is a comic adaptation of a novel). Back then, I thought I would really love it if any Ilona Andrews’ novel would be serialized as a webtoon and the universe answered. I’m so happy, thank you!