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.
Pink is the color that is most calming. I heard that at one point pro football teams were painting the opposition’s locker rooms pink.
Love the blanket!
Carrie
Love the blanket, bad kitties get no more catnip, and all bow to the Archmage who brings the BDH all the precious! Thanks for all your hard work. We appreciate it!
For people wanting merch but despairing over shipping and tariffs, see this ad in the latest Innkeeper listing:
Resourceful Ku with invisible motorcycle and Earth delivery and messenger experience, willing to deliver packages. Prefer payment in plants or chance to fulfill epic quest and return home a hero. Contact Wing at (redacted contact info).
Nice!
lol, nice mug! go BDH and “Archmage”! Getting older really isn’t for the faint-hearted (in solidarity!)…. it’s amazing what can suddenly break us, for unexplainable reasons…. hang in there….*hugs*
beautiful blanket and yes, it is hella pink! Not my color but still beautiful…
Unrepentant cats, or as we call them: cats. Sigh. Good thing they’re cute.
I wonder what stitch you crocheted the (yes, very pink) border? It looks lovely. I have a blanket I’m making for my nephew and it will have a relatively simple border, but I haven’t actually done a border before. Any advice much appreciated!
Also, I broke the news to my husband that we will b getting a mug that we don’t really need. He asked if I planned to use the mug or if it was going to b part of a collection. I was excited to learn that the latter was an option! Possibly it became an option because after reading This Kingdom and seeing the awesome video, he realized he needs a mental construct to deal with the inevitable mug purchase. Also, he is slowly becoming one of us-he said once he finishes his current book he will start his second read of This Kingdom. Ha!
We appreciate the current word count so much! W*iting is hard but knowing that we will b rewarded helps the BDH stay fluffy during our long vigil. Also, I think it would b good if whoever picks the new BDH email password does NOT write it on a sticky note stuck to the bottom of the keyboard, aka the first place Steve looks.
For the Horde!
Oh, and for the record, I’m almost sure the sadly broken vase is NOT because a breathing artifact and/or certain members of the BDH were attempting a sneak peek at the work in progress. With the cats’ innocent look being easily mistaken for their unrepentant look. Nearly certain. Ok, it’s possible, but really, who can say?
(Doing my best to look innocent.)😺
Dear Archmage Ilona, I hope you feel better today about the broken pot and unrepentant kitties *hugs*
The wordcount and mug are pure awesomeness – the BDH appreciates all you do. We can’t help getting a little enthusiastic, no? *grins at 6 managing to pre-order the pre-orders* It means we love it 🤗
I am making grabby hands at whatever version of the mug you could send in my direction, along with vellum, stickers, map and other merch – even the pretty pink blankie if it needs a new home 🥰😁 (Also I am currently torturing myself by p*tiently w*iting for your store to open now it’s Monday, just to look at all the things I want but can’t have yet until you ship internationally😅).
So, I know you are very on top of your health and don’t want to overstep but I feel like you guys are just a couple years older than me and peri is sending me into the weirdest spirals. I lost it over a blanket that was knocked on the floor and people (who will remain nameless) walked by it and didn’t pick it up. I don’t know if they even had a free hand to pick it up but I suddenly wanted to kick everyone out and go live alone in the woods. This is not like me. I am very easy going and have never felt rage like I have in the last year or so.
All I am saying is to give yourself grace. Sometimes the smallest thing just isn’t small in the moment and it tips us over the edge. Getting old is definitely hard.
You’re not alone. That insta-rage is its own new experience. You’re not losing your mind, it just feels like it at random, unpredictable moments. All I can say is that it will (eventually) get better. And don’t hesitate to see the doctor if u need relief, they really can help. Yep, it’s good to find some alone time when needed. As Robert Frost says, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep…”, much like the Sleepless Duke.😺
HAs are magic. Knew it! bummer about the pot. Kitties have no regrets. thanks for sharing! Might need a new mug.
augh right into the water fountain too.
archmage, you got this!
Kintsugi your cherished pot, don’t chuck it, please! I understand that it might be outside of your wheelhouse, but the recrafting can make for a rewarding item. First saw of this procedure on NHK Core Kyoto.
If you think it beyond what you could do, certainly someone you know probably could remake your pot.
Our household KNOWS that fragile and cats don’t mix. The first year we were in our current home, my husband tried to Surprise me with a Christmas tree, all decorated with little pretty glass ornaments, that he put up when he got home from night work, before going to bed; Cue the cat MI team!
What I found in the morning was part of the tree still bearing a few ornaments, some displaced branches (fake tree) and the scads of remaining ornaments scattered throughout the living room, a few in the kitchen, a couple in the bathroom.
I had to explain to hubby, that with cats, Christmas trees are open invites to a playground of temptation, which is why I stopped putting one up. This was before the internet videos demonstrating just that, some 20 plus years ago.
I believe the ringleader was the youngest, the black cat Raven, who was less than a year old, though I wouldn’t have put it past the dogs ‘helping’ the cats with the distribution of the ornaments. Thankfully they were compact enough to not break, but as one or more have resurfaced over the years, we might not have found very last one, yet, still.
It still bears reminding to my husband, that if he sees/wants a trinket, he’s the one who has to figure Where to keep it secure, though I like the idea of using the Museum-Quake putty, and will mention it to him.
Saw that I was of the same mind as an earlier posting person, to Save your pot! Hope the trash hasn’t been taken yet!
Holy amazing archmage that mug is so awesome. Can’t wait to order one.
I feel for you havig your beautiful pot broken. My last cat, a tabby, was not interested in catnip but he loved to sleep in my lavender bush and if he got a chance he would break into my kitchen cupboard, steal any packets of herbs, spill them on the floor and roll in them blissfully. The blanket is pretty. Some one will love it.
The mug made me laugh hard at an ungodly hour of night.
I know *exactly* what you mean – can’t have nice things due to having cats that cand/will go everywhere, regardless of being told that they can’t!
Two potential ways to outwit the feline menaces:
1. I got a pack of two cutting mats from the Dollar Tree and placed two wide swaths of double sided tape on them; placed the sticky mats on my back kitchen countertop and stovetop – the two areas I absolutely do NOT want them to go, for fear of them hurting themselves or my having to hover over a still-hot electric stove.
2. There’s sticky/but removable stuff you can use to keep fragile things in place on a shelf – one is called Museum Putty/Wax.
We can’t *make* cats do anything. We’ve got to think of ways to make *them* not want to do it! XD
BTW, loved loved loved the snippet – tyvm, author overlords! 🙂
Send me a photo of the pot. How big is it? Does it need drainage?
Pot Head (as in Pottery)
LOL, I’ve noticed from all the comment just how much the BDH is like cats. Incorrigible but you’ve still got to love us!
That mug is glorious!
oh my gosh that mug!!!!
yes mage Andrews…. I will buy your mugs. No, I don’t have space and I was saving my non open space for an inheritance mug… maybe I need to look for something else with the inheritance artwork.
Unusually, I’ve also been making pink things lately … is that a stress response?
Late but, virtual hugs Ilona. I know the ‘this random thing got broken and now my feelings have tied me to a rollercoaster by the ankles’ thing far too well for an apparently sane and emotionally mature woman.
I would say I hope the cats learn some respect but, you know, cats.
years ago my husband and i decided we’d been adults for a while now and we could have glassware. we had two cats. we went back to plastic after they destroyed the last glass and haven’t tried again
Ahhhh totally want a mug that says “So Kair Toren.” Favorite line in the book. So good.