Magic Claims is one week old today, and I think that was the busiest release I ever remember. We’ve tried ads, we redid our office set up, we opened the store, and now I’m deliriously happy that everything has ran its course and we can get back to writing.
Frank Norris once said, “Don’t like to write, but like having written. Hate the effort of driving pen from line to line, work only three hours a day, but work every day.” This quote is often attributed to Dorothy Parker for some reason. I’m the opposite. I like to write. Being the “Author” is a side gig.
I can stop being the author after tomorrow. Tomorrow – and I am very excited about this – Ashland Library is hosting an event with us and Nalini Singh. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen each other and this will be a lovely chance to catch up.
I have some self-publishing questions to answer, which I will do in the next post to keep things organized. But first, some housekeeping.
The Store
The store will close tonight at 10:00 pm CT. We aim to process all of your orders by Monday. (It was Friday, but you bought more things, and we wait at least 24 hours before we process the order in case you need to adjust something.)
A word about refunds: 10% of the mugs arrived broken during the holiday season. If your mug is broken, our supplier will replace your mug at no cost to us. Please do not hesitate to contact us through the store contact form.
No Heroes
No Heroes is permanently available to you. It’s been added under Free Fiction and is on the Release Schedule page. It will not be taken away. Some people just start drama for attention.
Availability of the short stories
We’ve had numerous requests for collecting the new short stories in a volume so they can be available off-line. The problem is that there isn’t enough content yet to do an anthology. It would be very short, the size of a novella. We will figure out how to do this. It will either be available as bonus material in one of the subsequent books or we will write more to fatten it up.
And now I am going to turn the blog over to Mod R. Because “You are bad, no worries they’re paying. The door very big.” What does that mean? Read the next post!
can you also insert the image that you made to the book also, i really enjoy the image as a complementary in your book, love the hero snippet, beautiful as always.
I cant wait for tomorrow I love Nalini Singh as well!
Me, too. Both House Andrews and Nalini books are my comfort reads.
“Some people just start drama for attention.”
Aaaaargh….I hate that anyone would give you grief of any sort, especially over such a lovely (and free!!) gift to the BDH!
Please ignore such negativity and remember: the rest of the BDH loves and appreciates HA and Mod R! 💕💕💕
“we will write more to fatten it up.”
heart melts, yes please!, I would pre-order in an instant!
You could always add some recipes to fill out the anthology. You get asked for them often enough on the blog. I’m surprised someone hasn’t asked for a permanent recipes page on the website.
Oh, interest in recipes have been mentioned and noticed! I keep waiting for Orro to find Pinterest and go amok 😉
I love it – you are masters of “Tune in Tomorrow … 😂
Until then, PUT DOWN THAT COW!!
In one of the interviews after blood heir you guys said the maybe you
guys will write short story of Derek reporting himself in keep to meet Jim after Robert take both Derek and Ascanio please please do this
Oh my gosh, yes! I would love to read about Ascanio’s answers to Jim’s very pointed questions with Derek standing there with his arms folded. 😀
The beta of Ice Fury took his cues from his former Beast Lord and using it to his advantage. He-he-he!
okay, you mentioned Nalini Singh ( who we both adore!). What does Ilona think of the Russian Bear changelings in Nalini’s Psy-Changeling books as characters in terms of their personality? There is one of the books that features Russian wolf changelings, who roll their eyes at the antics of the bears *lol*.
I love to write as well ( for my own pleasure, no one would want to read it, it is likely dreck), so I understand that. it likely is why no one would want to read it, I love coming up with the story line but I live the actual writing, a bit too much,so I have the ‘scope creep’ with word count Janine Frost chuckles at with your stories of writing a short story that turns into a novelette *smile*.
“ It will either be available as bonus material in one of the subsequent books or we will write more to fatten it up.”
I vote for door #2. Lots more!
I also vote for door #2. More stories even if it takes longer.
You are the best Author to have ever Authored. Tomorrow, you can stop Authoring and just enjoy yourself!
today is tuesday I thought the store closes wednesday. i dont get paud until tomorrow 🙁
Somehow I missed “No Heroes”. Where did it first appear?
(Now I have frantic paranoia that I missed some *other* story. 🙂 )
It was first shared in a blog post last Wednesday 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/a-small-thank-you-and-other-things/
I feel your pain.
I use voice dictation when I write my books, and I’ve gotten god-awful transcripts like that too. You’d do better to listen to the tape and type by hand. Mod R will have to pause it and work that way.
To get a good transcription — in the event you try again — you need a good wired mic you attach to your collar. You can get a lavalier mic for about $20 at Amazon. (Though I realize you may have had good mics, since I wasn’t at the zoom.)
You really need to speak punctuation too, which is basically a non-starter on a Zoom call. The fact that you have multiple speakers is also an issue. It’s easy to overwhelm a transcription program if you speak quickly.
For all the type over AI, it ain’t there yet. I just bought Dragon 16 pro — it was an upgrade and still cost $360. It’s AI, but I found I can still overwhelm it if I talk too fast. On the other hand, it’s really good if I speak in single sentences and pause between while I think. It saves my hands from carpal tunnel, as well as my back.
For this, though? Nah. It’ll give you a dog’s breakfast every time.
Ilona, if you hadn’t become an author, what would your career path have been?
I got my merch today. I’m so glad I got one of the Keelan t-shirts. I got “The Consort Knows Everything” saying. It’s gorgeous! I also got the ice blue BDH t-shirt as a backup for the one I already have from the first store. 😁
Now the question is which Consort? If it’s Keelan, then it’s Kate. If it’s Jushur and Rimush, then it’s Curran. 🤪😎🗡🦁
So glad you like them!
It’s down to wearer interpretation hehe. I think it’s a Keelanism, so it must be Kate!
Hi, a question that haunted me from the first book. How do you pronounce Curran?
I’m reading Magic Claims now and I just gave to know 🙂
Russian is my 1st language
Thank you,
Julia
You can watch one of the Q&A sessions on YouTube and hear the authors say it: like [KURR] + [UHN] 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQbg9U7HtX0&t=4s
Кёрран 🙂
LOL at your shock at Canadian ship prices – FYI I did a test cart, and the $17 ship for a mug is actually not bad! Retail ship price from our postal system could easily be $25-35.
Would love to see stickers on the Canadian store if possible for next time.
Is “the Wolf” in No Heroes Derek? Curious I thought I noticed it was wolf with a capital W 😀
It’s Keelan 🙂
A tiny part of me figured that but a girl can dream :’)
Cool. And I confess to being eager to learn what the excerpted quote means.
Huh, missed this one. I will miss the Ashland session, so I’m doubly glad I was able to attend the others. Enjoy! Always a plus to catch up with friends.
Thanks for adding the last little story to your free fiction. It will be nice to occasionally revisit it!
Just saw the weather forecast for Texas(yes, the whole state) Yikes!Stay safe and cool down there.
I appreciate all of the hard author work you’ve done addressing all of the orders and emails personally.
I’m guessing there will be “put down that cow” merch available next time since so many people are bringing it up. Wondering if you’ll consider taking some kind of poll or have a post open for suggestions before opening the store next time.
There are so many b/c HA is so gifted but my current vote is from Blood Heir:
Welcome to Atlanta
We’re Glad You Have Georgia on Your Mind
Praise the Lord and get the fireballs ready.
Would be such a great gift for my relatives in Atlanta…heh.
Good luck wrapping up all the author work and getting back to what you love most.
How long is the trip from Penderton to Atlanta? I am estimating 10 hours.
“[…]or we will write more to fatten it up.”
….do you really need to ask which we would love best 😀
I got 90% of my order today and I am THRILLED!!! Everything looks great! Just waiting on my “Here Kitty Kitty Kitty: Hoodie and that should be here next week.
Hi! I’m not sure where to place this comment, but I’ve gotta “say” it.
Firstly, I absolutely adore Ilona Andrews … I know you already realize this, but you make a fabulous team! My hubby and I both enjoy your books. We do the audio: my husband is dyslexic and find it difficult to read, and I have ADHD and it takes me forever to read. I’m also a RN, so I listen to and from work and your books help me de-stress and literally laugh out loud, which is very important medicine!
My question is: will you ever have novels about George (and Lark/Sophie), Jack, and Gaston? We’ve seen sneak-peeks of them in the Innkeepers series, but I’d love to read/ hear more about their adventures and loves/ romances.
Thank you so much for all that you do to entertain. Lots of these to you both xoxo,
Cindy SJ
Thank you for your lovely message. We are very glad that our books are able to brighten your day.
We will not be returning to the Edge series. We are done with that world.