330 bookplates signed and sent.
250 additional bookplates received and signed.
Email with Pam (the publicist).
Email with Pam.
Email with Pam.
Additional 200 bookplates with our own logo signed.
Just how many print books did you order, people?
Newsletter to publishing list sent.
Potential editor for BLOOD HEIR contacted, fingers crossed.
Map artist found – still looking.
Plot discussed with Gordon.
Plot discussed with Jeanine Frost. Things like “do you think killing him is too disturbing?” and “But we have to have it connect to something” were said.
Promotional plans discussed and confirmed with agent.
Merits of cover quotes discussed with agent.
Person named Heather emailed politely and asked if we could link to her ice cream from scratch site. We don’t do this typically, but it’s very hot in Texas, and I want ice cream in the worst way, and I can’t have any, because sugar is not my friend, and her website seems well thought out so here is a link to her homemade ice cream recipes. May you have ice cream. I am so tired of counting calories and points. You know it’s bad when cottage cheese is a treat Oy.
Talked to neighbor. Three people at his house had COVID. We were 150 feet away and had no idea. Responsible social interaction achieved.
Writing done – NOPE
Extensive conversation with Kid 2 about book tour scheduling and various technical support. Apparently you can show your screen on zoom. That’s great. That also means I need to do a power point…
Yarn is still not here.
If you can do dairy, FACE Greek yogurt is the best. You can even get the unsweetened, and the texture makes it lovable all alone. Or add a little juice (I get the cans of frozen and just spoon in some icy juice and mix). Another treat is a smoothie I make with half an avocado, frozen blueberries, SOLGAR vanilla whey powder (no sugar), and water. It’s tasty. A little oatmilk or ricemilk can be added to taste for more sweetness. And it’s icy ;p.
My biggest excitement around here is the squash plant I’m growing in the backyard. How did it go from the size of my hand to a huge octopus? It’s seriously reminding me of some of the vegetation in Bayou Moon. But luckily I’m eating from it and not the other way around.
THE SQUASH THAT TRIED TO EAT VONNIE!!!
Sorry, I just got a picture in my head of you valiantly fighting off the Squash Monster!
Here is a link to an apartment in Moscow sold in the city center for a sum just shy of 2 million dollars.
Even if you can’t have sugar, this will totaly hurt your teeth)))
https://m.realty.yandex.ru/offer/4805508911742645086/?nosplash=1&from=m_web_block&utm_campaign=vtorichniy-rynok&utm_content=offer&utm_source=m_web_block&utm_medium=cpc
6 room apartment? Damn, moskvichi.
wow. That’s quite the place.
Surreal!
Holy Hannibal, Batman!!
The floors, the walls, the purple art deco wallpaper in the kitchen, it’s got a sauna!!, most excellent floor tile in the bathroom, did I mention the walls?!
(Yeah, I’m a house tour geek, used to go to all the tours of new subdivisions in the far west suburbs of Chicago, twelve or thirteen showcase houses on a cul-de-sac, usually down the road from farm fields. Big builder promos, some houses actually sold during the shows. The ’90’s were a different time!!)
Also, check out the outside of the fourth listing down from the main one – all of the carvings on the lower floors of the building!!
The floors in there are gorgeous! I have floor envy now. 😉
Bread is not my friend. I have a 3 to 4 day cycle because of having no will power. Eat too much bread…pain…remember the pain…remember but with less determination…eat bread and start the cycle again. I could eat a very small amount of it and get no pain but I can’t do that it seems.
I’ve no self control, so my addiction to ice cream and yarn had flourished over the pandemic and my weight and bank balance have gone up and down corresponding to said addictions ????.
Just had the newsletter though and was happy to spend my lie in reading the first two chapters squeeeeeeeeeeeee and chhhhhhiiiiiiiii
Thank you????
Wow ????????????
Courage ! You can do it ! ????????
Oh, I feeling really sorry for you right now. Sending you a warm hug.
*makes sympathetic there there noises*
Have you tried using diet soda to make your own popsicles? Also works with yoghurt if you want the creaminess, and you can choose your own adventure with the calorie/sugar content.
I draw maps using GIS software if that helps.
Mostly data based but I can create feature layers based on imaginary locations and you can use different styles, there’s a great one based on the tolkein Lord of the rings maps, so cool!
Don’t know if he has done this type of work but Rich Powell who draws “Wide Open” might be worth contacting.
https://richpowell.com/contact/
Ice cream addict here.
Two years ago I bought a simple ice cream maker and it was the best investment ever. I can deal with my food issues, control sugar content and still enjoy eating ice cream ????????????
Strawberries are in season so
500 grams Fresh strawberries
360 gr plain yoghurt
250 ml cream
100 gr caster sugar (original recipe says 120gr)
1/2 lemon – juice of
Mix so that strawberries are mashed up in the mixture
Gives about a litre of ice cream base and can be frozen as ice lollies or with a machine.
The less fat content in the dairy ingredients the less creamy the ice cream. You can alleviate this by adding 2 tbsp of booze to the mix (e.g. Kirsch with the strawberries).
Enjoy
Yummy recipe! Allergic to strawberries, but I betcha blueberries would work!
Caster sugar is hard to find in US and when you do, it’s silly expensive. My suggestion: take regular US granulated sugar and grind in coffee/spice grinder to fine powder. Do NOT substitute US powdered/confectioner’s sugar – it has cornstarch (or something) to prevent clumping, so doesn’t work properly in recipes like this.
I was making Scottish shortbread the other day and needed caster sugar, so …
MAY THE YARN BE WITH YOU!
Granulated sugar and any fruit works fine, just play around with it. ????????
For my ice cream craving I’ve been putting frozen strawberries, half a frozen banana, and some whipping cream into the blender–no added sugar but sometimes a bit of frozen OJ. It makes a nice eat-it-right-now soft serve.
I hope you get a chance to take a breath.
I can’t have ice cream anymore either. 🙁
I can still breathe though. So far. Wishing your neighbors well.
Sorry about ur yarn order. I wonder if U could have ordered faster shipping.
????????????
“Just how many print copies did you people buy?” lol.
Well…I guess we went all in.
Ice cream sounds good!! I get the cottage cheese comment! I’m trying to eat better, following recipes in “Whole New You” book. It seems legit. Eat more veggies. I actually have enjoyed it, but my daughter is like OH NO not cauliflour pizza crust. I tried reading to her, “It says it’s suprisingly amazing and delicious.” She wasn’t buying what I was selling.
Lots of good vibes for your to-do list!!
I love making ice cream, it’s so easy with an electric ice cream maker and anyone could start with the basic recipe and go on to concoct any number of great ice cream. I’m rather fond of apricot truffle. But you can mix good fruit with cream and milk and skip the sugar altogether. My sister in law claimed to have made an acceptable ice cream with peaches and skim milk. To each her own. I had planned to have a little ice cream social to get to know my moreorless immediate neighbors. I’ve done it before and it was fun, but Covid put a end to that plan. Fortunately it was before I got all the ice cream made. I’ve got enough trouble baking to relax without having 12 quarts of home made ice cram already made and calling to me. Ilona, you have my most heartfelt sympathies. Summer with no ice cream is torture.
The “How many copies did you buy?” statement really hits home. I pre-bought it on amazon the day it was for sale. I just got an email moving the delivery date! Only 2 days but still…so sad.
You can also play music and video through zoom. Hug! I normally wait to find your books in paperbacks at the booksale, but I caved in to support local bookstores so i’m one of the bookplate hordes. Honestly we would probably just enjoy seeing you and gordon on screen so i would not worry too much about powerpoint. I’m pretty sure, I was not able to sign up for any of the events but its ok. I will buy anything you publish even a grocery list.
Tamora Pierce recently published a tortall map drawn by a Emily Miller, a field geologist. Maybe she could be contacted? Here is the link to the map that she did: https://dualwieldstudio.com/products/tamora-pierce-tortall-map
Pretty map!
Instead of ice cream, your choice of mixed nuts (I like pistachio, almond and pecan) mixed with local honey and melted dark chocolate.
I turn to a vampire any time i want to. i become a vampire because of how people treat me, this world is a wicked world and not fair to any body. at the snack of my finger things are made happened. am now a powerful woman and no one step on me without an apology goes free. i turn to human being also at any time i want to. and am one of the most dreaded woman in my country. i become a vampire through the help of my friend who introduce me into a vampire kingdom by given me their number. if you want to become a powerful vampire kindly contact the vampire kingdom whatsApp at +1 431 804 7964 on their email worldofvampir@hotmail.com
“at the snack of my finger” ????????????????
Could there be a better vampire spam typo than that? ????????
Love the ice cream site, thank you. And everything else will get done. Two months ago, I couldn’t spell zoom – now I have held conferences for 50+ people, done powerpoint presentations with voiceover and shared photobooks online with friends. The world we live in…..
I’ve seen so many people having yarn shipping problems! I’ve been doing Casapinka’s The Sharon Show knitalong and so many people are still waiting on their yarn from various sources (I switched one of my colors last minute and ordered a skein from Jimmy Beans Wool – it came in less than 3 business days, they are ON IT, wow).
Also – I happened on Casapinka’s IG posts totally randomly at the time she happened to be plugging this knitalong. I did a KAL once before and swore never again, but her posts were so hilarious (the pattern was designed by her cat, Sharon From Security, who gets in grudge matches with Jean from IT) that I just had to try it. We’re on week 2 and so far both clues that have been released are (a) hilarious, (b) well-written, and (c) include drink recipes (options for cocktail and mocktail). I cannot recommend this enough. Life is SO STRESSFUL and this has brought much-needed hilarity and anticipation into my life. I would literally pay the $7 pattern price for the sheer enjoyment of this experience.
I don’t know if you’ll get a chance to read this, but your statement of “I am so tired of counting calories and points” really struck a chord with me because SAAAAME.
I joined a healthy habit based group (NOT an MLM, I swear) that focuses on building sustainable habits, repairing our relationship with food, and healing from diet culture.
I am not affiliated with it in any way, except for the fact that it literally changed my life and my relationship with food. Feel free to peruse if you’re at all interested. balance365 dot com
Wishing you luck and efficiency with the list. It looks a tad daunting.
If you plan to do a powerpoint presentation over Zoom, there’s a fancypants way to turn your slides into your Zoom virtual background. This Tweet shows how:
https://twitter.com/zoom_us/status/1293587674956144641 (sharing in case that was something you wanted to do).
Can you do small amounts of sugar? Like 1 gram? If you can there are low carb “keto” ice creams out there. Some are zero sugar. They are not perfect but if you let them sit for 15 mins before eating them they are tasty and creamy. If you don’t let them sit they are chalky but still taste good. Rebel, Enlighten Keto, Halo Top Keto, Breyers low carb (but it has higher sugar content) to name a few. Costco has a Keto brand chocolate covered caramel ice cream bar that is outstanding and has 1 gram of sugar.
There are also tons of low carb ice cream recipes on the web if you can do sugar alcohol. Low carb and Keto recipes have no actual sugar but they do have natural sugar substitutes like sugar alcohols, or stevia, monk fruit, eryhtrotol etc.
Apparently a LOT of people ordered signed print books. I’m hoping that House Andrews views this as a good thing in spite of the mechanics of signing and mailing all those bookplates. Here, have some butterflies.
Hmmm… butterflies didn’t upload…
There they are!
I miss ice cream too. While not as hot as Texas, southern Cali is feeling the heat (our version of it) and I’m counting calories and points as well.
Sounds like you need a vacay from the stress. May you get it soon!
@Ilona & @Gordon – I used to be a brand manager of entertainment properties (tv and film). I can so sympathize with the last push leading into and through the release. And with the plan probably changing up because of the pandemic from what was pinned down originally, I’m sure it’s extra challenging.
As to a map artist, I was watching the travel show Samantha Brown Places to Love, season one has an episode spotlighting Huntsville, Alabama, and there’s an artist–David Nuttall– who creates fantasy maps. His website is here: https://www.artimaps.com/index.html He takes commissions, I have no skin in this game, besides giving you a suggestion. I hope you don’t mind. Not trying to tell you how to do your work. -_-
I love her show! ????
Sounds like a heck of a to do list! You totally got it. It’s all going to work out. Ice cream rules.
PowerPoint definitely not required. Death by PowerPoint. Winning the war one PowerPoint slide at a time. PowerPoint rangers. PowerPoint 1000 hour patches. PowerPoint teleprompter. It can be a useful tool, but please, don’t feel obligated just because the “share screen” function *happens* to exist in Zoom. If you *really* want to show us something (and anything you wanted to show us would likely be super cool), OK, but otherwise, PPT is, IMO, *strictly optional*. Others’ mileage may vary, but that’s my $.02 on slides.
The only thing I got out of this is “oh my God, who are you gonna kill?”
As you are planing your slides for sharing in Zoom, you might consider presenting in Google Slides so that you can turn on live captioning: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/9109474?hl=en
Whew!
That said – I am so looking forward to a map. I love maps in books.
I have some leftover coffee in the fridge (I get distracted and we buy beans so I don’t want to waste it). I’m thinking of making Italian ice instead of iced coffee this time. Basically just coffee, cream and honey or maple syrup, maybe some vanilla, frozen. It is supposed to be over 100° tomorrow.
I hope you can get a little frozen treat Ilona, even if it is just frozen berries in cream. ????
Sugar free chocolate recipe: Ricotta cheese + small amount of unsweetened cocoa + sugar substitute of your choice. It’ll come out grey and weird but it’s yummy and really not that bad for you.
I am glad you are so productive in this run up. I am so so sorry the yarn has not arrived. I have a similar fabric addiction. I do understand and hope it is on your porch today.
Wow! Great ice cream site – thanks
Sorry about your yarn not arriving –
Forget the calories and focus on enjoying small indulgences – you’re worth it
Dope.
When frustrated with a delivery, I resort to contrary folk magic:
“I’ve decided I’m never using _____delivery service again.” Then I kick the last box or package from that vendor. To my continued surprise, it works 8 times out of 10. The package arrives that day or the next.
It also entertains any pets you might have. Win win.
Be sure to factor in some rest here and there. Sorry life is such a crush right now. Keep going one day at a time if you can.
I’ve been getting Instagram ads for lordofmaps.com, I bought one for Colorado, because I’m a sucker for ads, it will look good in my bathroom though. Good luck!
So sorry to hear that cottage cheese is a treat. Oy, for real! Thanks for all y’alls hard work. Praying for your safety amidst this Covid. Also, sending motivational thoughts to the yarn to help it on its way. LOL
Hugz. And sighs. It’s 108 degrees here know power outages annnny minute. But ICE CREAM! Got deep dish sale on ice cream maker from Wm Sonoma and have PLANS! BEE well.
But…you do it all so well!! It may not seem like it, but there IS an end to all this.
Author Jennifer Armentrout just had a map commissioned for a book, and it looks really good. Maybe hit her up for a recommendation for a map maker? She is on Facebook as well.
You are so busy! Thank you for working so hard.
Sweet young woman Ilona, if I may paraphrase Grandma Frida, “It’s not the things you do that you regret, it’s the things you didn’t do.” Eat some fucking ice cream.
In fact, eat whatever you want. Just don’t eat as MUCH as you want. Unless you are diabetic, sugar isn’t your enemy. Your enemy is your stomach wanting to be full. Keep it happy by eating everything you want to eat, never empty, but never stuffed. Eat small meals 6 times a day. Forget counting points. Have a bite here and there and don’t get so hungry at once that you can’t seem to stop eating whatever is in the house. I always keep a one-pound bag of the best potato chips on earth, made here in Ohio by “Conn’s”, and I open and close it twice a day so I can have 6 or 8 chips and be happy to have potato chips. My mother had a trillion ways to lose weight, none of which worked. Every diet plan, every group plan that shamed its members by forcing them to weigh in at meetings, you name it — she went with it. I watched her, and I always wondered why she bothered. What worked was having to cook for only herself when she was left alone there at her house, because portion control is the key to any weight loss or gain you seek. No more making one potato for each person and “one for the pot”, which was the rule of how many to cook for dinner for the family.
Since stress forces your body to store fat for times to come, take a mental health break every day. Whatever you do, do it. I used to get up and take a walk around the outside of the building where I worked, looking at the flowers, the grasses, the weeds, the sky, the snow piled up — whatever was out there — breathing deeply, and thinking about something pleasant instead of work.
And consider just why you think you need to lose weight. I had to do it when I developed arthritis in my spine. It helped. But over the years, many health issues have arisen, and my weight has varied between 185 and the current 109, and I was most comfortable at 135, although the doctor’s office said I was overweight. I figured they could go do what they wanted and I’d be comfortable with myself. My husband never varied with my weight. No matter what, he has been at my side. If your husband can still hug you, you’re not too fat. That’s my rule of thumb!
Your neighbors had covid, and two days ago, an ambulance came and got someone from the house next to ours. I have no clue who or why. Staying apart is still more important than knowing the details of their lives, to me.
Once the book is out and delivered, things will slow down a bit. It’s only a few more days. When you reach the end of your rope, just tie a knot and hang on. This, too, shall pass.
The map artist I know about is Devon Rue. Not sure if that helps.
Deven Rue.
I sympathize with the stress of being under deadline and freelancers falling out of contact. If you’re still looking for a map artist, I’m an art director/designer and do a bit of everything. I wasn’t sure how to email you directly and please delete if this is inappropriate.
So if I’ve ordered, received (and read!) Emerald Blaze from The Book Depository, how do I get to see the snippet about the birth?
Or is it only for those who buy from the specified book stores? I read it through overnight, so my daughter could have it first thing this morning 🙂 I’ll get it back for a re-read tomorrow or the next day!
I did a first and ordered a physical book, from one of the recommended small booksellers…so one of those hundreds that is likely cramping your hand is mine. Whee!!
I understand the no sugar thing. I’m in day 5 of the hell of sugar withdrawal so we can find out if it improves my fibromyalgia symptoms. And all I want is cookies or ice cream or frosting, and so on.
I’ve already lost corn, eggs, and chocolate, please don’t take my sugar too.
((Hugs))
Oh no!! Those are not good withdraws!! I had to do that last summer but they were trying to get my hormones in control it was bad I just wanted desserts and cola which I’m not that big of a fan of but I could only have water for the first 6 weeks. Thankfully they said that I could have stevia and I found stevia candy that were like sour patch kids and Swedish fish and then I found Zevia which is a stevia flavored sparkling water and that helped a lot.
Hopefully they let you have stuff back but that you also feel better!