ILONA ANDREWS

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Maggie, Maggie, Maggie

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The rain drenched the city, cold and relentless.  It soaked through the filthy rag in which I swaddled myself, and the sour stench rising from the folds was truly epic. I brushed the water out of my eyes and peered at the stone arch of Torpen Bridge spanning the width of the rain-swollen river. Today I, Maggie Day, a college graduate and a law-abiding citizen without so much as a parking ticket on my record, would rob a man of his money or die trying.

To say that this was not the way I envisioned spending my Saturday would be a criminal understatement.

###

“You were kind to me, Adelei,” I said.

The widow startled. “How do you know that name?”

Only one person called Adelaina by that nickname, and he was dead.

“It’s my job to know things,” I told her. “In three months, a young noble will ride through the Bull Gate and come to you seeking lodging.  He’ll have a raven feather in his hat and a black and gold crest with a green thread woven through it on his belt, and when he smiles at you, he’ll remind you of Simoyen. He’ll get involved with bad people, and his stupidity and arrogance will bring fire and blood to this house. None of you will survive. If you value Elina’s life, tell him that you have no vacancy. That is all the warning I can give you.”

I took my bread and fish from her hand and went out the door.

###

It was well after dinner.  I sat in my office again and watched the three moons rise softly in the night sky in the open window. I had unlocked the shutters and slid the glass aside.  Reinald warned me that it was a safety issue, but we were on the third floor, and my brain kept tripping up and thinking I smelled blood. The brisk night air was so refreshing.

The house was quiet, the room filled with soft comfortable light from a lantern.  Clover had brewed tea and served it to me without being asked, as if I was some sort of princess. I picked up a cup and drank from it.

Tomorrow we would go to war.  It would be long and terrible, and there would be casualties along the way.  I wasn’t sure I was smart enough to pull it off.  In fact, I was sure I wasn’t.  But what choice did I have?

Solentine slipped into the window and landed soundlessly on my floor. He was dressed in grey and black from head to toe.  A soft doublet hugged his body, leaving the sleeves of a black shirt bare. Black gloves, black boots, black sash, black belt with an assortment of knives, and a grey hood.

“Hello there, Ezio,” I said. “Imagine meeting you here. Killed any Templars lately?”

“I understood none of that.”  Sol perched on the windowsill.

Of course not.  References to 21st century video games were solely for my own amusement.

He tilted his head and studied the room. This whole thing with him framed in the window in that sinister getup with the moons above was unbelievably cool.  If I didn’t know he was a horrible bastard who could murder me in less than a second, I would have melted in my chair.

“Love what you’re doing with the place.”

“Thanks.” If I screamed, Reinald would come running but it would be too late.

Sol looked at me. “You’re a mystery, Maggie.”

I smiled.  It seemed better than some half-baked witty comeback.

“I gather you decided to stay?” he said.

“For a while.”

“Good. I enjoy mysteries.” 

He tossed me a small purse.  I caught it. It was light.  Cheapskate.

“Your payment. We’re even.”

“Then our business is concluded.”

Sol smiled.  The hair on the back of my neck stood right up.

“Oh no.  I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of each other in the future.  Close the window after I leave, Maggie.  You never know who could come into the room at night.”

He leaped into the darkness.

#

That’s it, that’s all you get. ::insert smiley face:: You cannot have it on account of it’s not marketable.

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Comments

  1. It is marketable to the BDH. We will buy it. We will push it to #1 on the Amazon listings. Give, give, give.

    Anne in Virginia

  3. THAAAAAAANK YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU.

    If we look really cute and purr and behave, could we get more snippets in the future?

        • Your not calm, foaming at the mouth, ravening Book Devouring Horde readers also want to know why it’s ‘not marketable’…..

          I love it soooo much… the snippets just make me want the next bit, and the next bit…. (you get the picture).

      • IIRC there was a post a while ago where it was mentioned the publishers thought it was unmarketable. It may be true from a commercial perspective but the BDH are unlikely to agree, I know I don’t.

    • Exactly my question! Cuz I think you just “marketed” it to BDH and you have a bunch of auto buys!!

  9. Ohmygod. Anyone noticed the 21st century reference being Maggie’s own amusement?

    Is this an isekai alert??

    Or maybe transmigration slash I-remembered-my-past-life alert? *sparkling eyes*

  10. I will (won’t) do all of the things – I will not hire hitmen, I will not devise evil curses against evil (or just incompetent) painters, I will be nice to everyone in the comments and everywhere else, I will be “fluffy” I think the word was. I will do all the things the Authorlo- nope, I will do all the things HA ask me to do – just please let me pay all my money for the book, the unmarketable book. Please?

    • I don’t know how to do fluffy but I can definitely do frizzy. Does that count? The rest I can do. In fact, I’m not hiring hitmen even as we speak! Nor having anything to do with evil curses, devising of.

      Is it working yet?

    • +1

      I am a good and fluffy BDH hordeling! I am, I am. I will sit here and look cute in an encouraging and non-stressful way with my money ready.

      • ????
        Y’all are just too much….

        +1 to what they all said

        BDH Hordeling on Equizol 🙂

  11. You may think it is bad, or unmarketable. But we BDH don’t think so, from the snippets you give us.

  13. I don’t know the Unknown project seems pretty awesome so far. I’d read it. This sounds like a portal fantasy to me. I know those are marketable. To quote Oliver Twist ” Please Sir, Can I have more?” 🙂

  14. I literally just finished reading the comments from yesterday to get any news and then did a refresh to see this post. L O L

  15. I liked the last post that just so casually mentioned a “Maggie” and us hoarde members collectively flipped out. Then this post!! Yay and thank you! We will gobble it up. Typically if I hear so much as mention of the word time-travel (assuming that is what this is or alternate dimensions), I walk away. But I will buy it knowing it’s an IA book and I will enjoy it, I’m sure.

    • That’s me. I hate time travel…but I would definitely read a HA time travel story.

    • Ally, Maggie mentions “moons,” not “moon” so maybe it is a different dimension or world? Time-travel could still be involved.

    • my money is on alternative dimensions / portal fantasy, it can’t be time-travel unless Earth ever had three moons within human history 😉

  19. This looks like it will be serious fun!! Thanks for the snippet and for putting the bdh out of their misery, too!

    • And after reading the comments above, I must have missed or forgotten a comment somewhere that you were told it wouldn’t be marketable. I have really enjoyed every snippet so far, so I call foul. It’s not your usual, so far, but why do you have to stick to the same thing? I think the bdh will happily buy this and enjoy the heck out of making the naysayers look a little ….. blue. heh

  22. I don’t know about the rest of the BDH, but the fact that I’m buying two versions of audible books of the SAME book should say it all. You linked GA books. We followed the link and repurchased the same that we had in the single voice version. Just put the link out there. We’ll click buy. I’ve already used my audible credit for Ruby Fever. My finger is posed over the “buy” button…

    • This! ????????Just link it and I will buy it. I just keep buying all the versions. I think I have now listened to all the inn keeper audio versions 20 times and Blood Heir a zillion. They are an absolute go to!

  26. We saw her previously chatting with a swordsman, but I can’t find the link… Please can someone post the link?

    • That snippet was only up for a short period ( a week or so) & BDH was informed that it would be pulled as it is part of a new story/series. Similar to when they have pulled snippets they have gifted us in the process of writing a new book.

      • aaaahhhh! my blood covers my keyboard… but at least I am hopeful that it will see the light of my display at some future point.

        • A suggestion: sign up for the emails and don’t throw away that particular email. I have saved a handful of snippets this way.

  29. Who says it’s not marketable? Is it the same people who said Harry Potter was not a good book. JK Roeling sent to many many publishers before one said yes but only 500 copies initially.

  30. I loved the snippet. I laughed at your last line! I am imagining a day in the future when the book market catches up to you, and we finally get to read it.

  31. Yes, I would buy it.

    Wheels within wheels with a side of square pegs within wheels. It’s a mix of mystery with competently dangerous quasi villains, the enigmatic information brokers, the brave leaders, the wary innocents, and who knows what secrets and power pushing it all around. What more could we ask for?

    47th post?

  32. It’s marketable!!! You’ve put it on the blog, we’ve said we’ll buy it, thus has it been marketed, voila! Now take our money!!!

  35. Oooo…a mystery story. You have done it now, Ilona. The Horde won’t rest until the entire story is out there for everyone to read. 😀

    So now we know the teaser of Maggie. So, what else should we know…hmmm?

  38. Imagine mildly некультурный expression of rueful disbelief, followed by:

    “я на крючке как рыба.”

      • It’s been over 50 years since I studied it in college, and you’d call me an indifferent student only if you felt generous that day. But I can still read some Cyrillic and I still remember what it means to be uncultured.

        Also I know to run like Hell if I see a cottage walk into my back yard on oversized chicken legs.

        • LOL, I remember that from Jack and Jill or Highlights; can’t remember which, but I loved those stories (highly sanitized as they were).

  39. What? Why isn’t it marketable? I’m confused, it’s marketable, if you sell it, we will buy it.

  41. Oh please, marketing faces should have learnt by now BDH will buy anything you write and get it to the best seller list! Just give it to is…they need not know ????

  43. You give us the story. We give you the money.

    Except the person who told you this story is not marketable.

    They get nothing.

    Tell the BDH who this person is, and there will be ripper-cushions

  45. Do I want to assume I know better than a successful author with many books released what will be successful because the snippet amuses me?

    No, I don’t think so.

    Thank you for sharing the creative things you’re exploring!

  47. Its not marketable yet…yet.
    If you write it I will buy it. I own multiple copies in different formats and special editions. I dont ask for much so my family gives me in the b&n and amazon gifts cards for all occasions.
    When you guys say it ready I will be ready to buy.

  48. Like hell it isn’t!! Who said that? What’s their number, address and SSN? I just wanna talk!
    But no really, this seems really cool and I’m excited. Most of us will follow anywhere you write.

  52. I’d love to hear the conversation of how it isn’t marketable? I was hooked right off.

  54. “You cannot have it on account of it’s not marketable.”

    I feel like Maggie just responded to that with
    “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.”

    ????????????

  56. Not marketable?!?! You are crazy. I have money. Take my money and give me the previous words. I want to know more.

  58. Well, there’s a market of one right here!! I’m just relieved I’m not the only one who didn’t know who she was.

    I gather Maggie is jumping back and forth between time or worlds or a fictional world, hence knowing what will happen? Surely that idea isn’t unmarketable.

    If you’ve got 2/3 of the plot for Maggie’s story, I’m dying to know how much plot you have for blood heir 2 but I won’t ask that bc I support no-pressure projects! I imagine it’s reassuring to know there’s a market for that.

  59. I have spent my almost 50 years reading the good, the bad ,the ugly and the oh my god what the heck was I thinking but your books in all the differing worlds are by far my favorites of all time. You build worlds filled with characters that draw you in and make you want to know more. I can solemnly swear that no matter what this story falls under genre wise I will buy it.

    • What she said. x1000. Just let it simmer on that burner, it will present itself in due time, and we will buy it. Reading is my joy and my one vice.

  60. What an intriguing snippet, I got totally immersed! I think you might be underestimating the BDH!!

  65. What do you mean “not marketable” ? I’m hooked. That’s all it took. I am a greedy (bleeeeep) and I want more now!

    Insert tantrum here

  66. Thank you for the tantalizing tidbit.
    One one hand I’m giddy thinking, “This is mysterious and wonderful!”
    While on the other hand I’m like, “Meanwhile back at the Inn…”
    In both cases I’m grateful for your generosity and talent.

  69. NEED!!

    Related, I’d buy a copy of your grocery list if you self published it so in my world anything you write and sell is an auto-buy. ????

  70. Aaauughhhhhh!!! What?? Why on the green earth is this not deemed marketable?? Are your multitudes of minions of The Book-Devouring Horde not the most devout market? Look what we did when we got our paws on Blood Heir… Hee, hee, hee! More! More! More! We will be there market you only dreamt of! And thank you, Ilona and Gordon!????????????

  71. How is it not marketable? Do we need a petition or a crowd funding movement to move this forward?

  73. Even though that’s all I get, it’s not all I want. To say that I am intrigued is an understatement. Can we at least get an estimated release?

  79. And low and behold Maggie appears! You are such a tease! You just mentioned Kid 1 is editing something and you mentioned that a big surprise is coming in August. You also mentioned you were not going to talk about new projects until they were done to avoid undue pressure. Sooo, it may not be marketable YET but it will be soon??? We’ll be waiting!

  80. Looks like the fans all agree to buy the “unmarketable” story. You’ve been outvoted so please reconsider and self publish it. Thank you for the snippet.

  82. Not sure but, these snippets of Maggie, fit right in with the book/series I loved but can’t find very often, because someone said no market for it, doesn’t really fit in a genre… but didn’t Kate Daniels get hit with that too? Oh well, all I can say is I’m intrigued and I would buy it. Even more likely to get it cause it has your name on it so I could find it. Unless I get them from here, most book recommendations don’t hit I want to read level… I can’t wander through a book store to find ones that intrigue me anymore homebound and book store is 110 miles away.

    Regardless thank you for your writing and I hope some day I can read more on Maggie, and more of everyone else too. Lol not picky love all your stories and worlds.

  83. We buy everything. If you can make money self publishing than we would like to give it to you

  86. “Not-marketable” does not mean “not-Sellable”. Just because it doesn’t fit into the genre-boxes of the major publishers means nothing to the BDH. We have crossed many genre- ravines with you and will
    Gladly do so in the future!
    Just tell us where / how / when to buy!
    Thank you for the snippet-gift!!

  88. Thank you for the Maggie snippet. I appreciate your generosity, feeding the BDH such delicious things! Even if this continues to go nowhere, it will stick in our fevered brains, stirring out curiosity. The pain is exquisite.

  89. I don’t know who makes decisions on marketability, but shame on them.
    I realize that I am very biased toward your work, I am also an avid reader of a wide variety of genres and authors.
    This work is good, solid and viable.
    It is on the level of Iron Covenant, maybe better.

  93. I thought I had missed something when you mentioned Maggie. Then I thought she might be Catalina’s dog and may play a role in the next book. But this Maggie Day is so much more intriguing. I think you’ve proven that publishers are stupid. Gives us more. MORE!

  95. Thank you very much for the snippet; as always, I enjoy reading your work. If I may ask… are there particular reasons you would not publish this (or at least the first part of it) in installments, a la Innkeeper? Would that allow an opportunity to build readership, determine marketability (in fact rather than in theory), revise approach, etc.? Again, I appreciate your time.

    • “If I may ask… are there particular reasons you would not publish this (or at least the first part of it) in installments, a la Innkeeper?”

      There is no way to answer your question without making the readership feel guilty. Oy. Let me put to you this way: if we put it on the blog, it will never sell to a traditional publisher and it will earn half of what it would if we released it ourselves. We don’t need to build readership or test drive the concept. We like that story just the way it is.

      We post innkeeper in trying times, so people will have something to look forward to. If you notice, there is a fun post every day this week, because the world is kind of on fire.

      To date, we’ve given our awesome readers 5 free novels on the blog. It is an unprecedented amount of free fiction. It would mean a lot to me if you guys stopped pressuring us for more.

      • I’m now wondering if Catalina’s magic and how people could love her insatiably to death, is based somewhat on the BDH and our desperate love of all that you write.

        Thank you for the wonderful snippet and your posts all this week. It has been a lovely balm in a dreadful week.

      • I don’t want it free (I think many of us agree on that) we just want it and will throw money at you to get it.

        So if I understand is not marketable to give more snippets, but it is publishable? 😀 that alone makes me happy. Looking forward to it whenever possible

      • Speaking for myself, the escape from the dumpster fires have been amazing and so terribly appreciated. I can’t even imagine how overwhelming it can get for you as an author in today’s world with all the pressure and feedback (good and bad). It’d be great to know how we can best show our appreciation without adding to the dumpster fires of life you’re dealing with.

      • Thank you very much for the joy you have & will in the future share with us, both free & for a fee. I very much appreciate it in both bad & good times.

  96. Well that shows them. Limiting my choices and thinking they know exactly what I like and don’t. Love this and can’t wait to buy and read more!

  97. If I recall right – it was the publishers who didn’t think it was marketable. I think HA knows we will buy it! We believe in eating whatever is provided for dinner.

    And I’m working on growing the Horde, so the market gets even bigger. My friend is now deep into the Sweep series and loving it. And I’ve assigned her all the HA series to finish after that.

  98. I want someone to make me a cuppa. I can’t wait to see where this goes! This is connected to the chapter about the terrace meeting, right?

    • And the swordsman in the catacombs?? Maggie is the mystery project then? Squee!!!

  99. Lol we’re like hungry kids banging on table with forks. Great snippet. ????????

  102. I am intrigued by the story already. Considering that and looking at the responses here, I am pretty sure it is marketable….

  103. Gis it to us, my precious. Haha.

    Thank you so much.
    Can’t wait to hear Mod R’s reaction to you riling up the BDH. We love it!!!!

  105. I.can’t.even.

    +100 to every member of the BDH who would like to reassure that you do have a market….
    +100 to every member of the BDH who understands that House Andrews is the final arbiter of when the writing has met their standards (quality, marketability, etc)….

    These snippets are….bibliocrack tidbits (like feeding one perfect M&M to a chocolate addict!)

  106. Ohhhh, Maggie!!!! Now I remember… and it’s marketable to me! Just saying…

    Sooo…Is Sol the guy that rode into town with two other people the night she met Adelaina? Is Adelaina going to take her advice? And will it help?

    Great, now I’ll be wondering forever… thank you for the tease, I mean snippet! 🙂

  107. I lost it at the Ezio comment, omg.

    Thank you for the snippet. Does not marketable mean we’re not going to see more of it? 🙁

  109. I would buy it ! A good chunk of the BDH would as well. Sadly I doubt that is a sufficient market. Boo! Wah! #$&”#%! Thanks for sharing though I quite enjoyed it!

  110. That sounds like a Portal Fantasy, which is totally marketable – in the indie field.

    TradPubs haven’t caught on to things like LitRPG, Gamelit, and Portal Fantasy.

    Either way you know damn well that if y’all self-pub it, we’ll buy it. 🙂

    • What’s Portal Fantasy? Is like Time Traveling but going to a different dimension instead? Lots of kids books and manga do this. I love that genre!

      • Yes exactly–this very much seems to be a Portal Fantasy, and I want it! Also, like the Touchstone series was a very successful indie Portal Fantasy.

        • Thanks for the info! I really hope HA releases this. the last portal series i read was Chris Colfer’s YA series The Land of Stories. I really enjoyed it.

  114. Not… marketable???????????

    Shut up and take my money!

    I can hear the Horde moaning and salivating „More! We need mooooore!“

  115. Self publish it please please please. . . I will buy it so will the rest of the BDH.

  117. You write.
    We buy.
    That is our relationship. No marketing needed or wanted. Those things just get in our way… though I do understand their purpose.

  118. Oooh!! Snippet of cool story!! Thank you!!

    (Hot today here in Chicagoland….
    Blerg, blerg, blerg….)

  120. Aaaaahhh I have been fed delicious new food, and I hunger for more! Thank you very much for sharing this tidbit and I cannot wait to through money your way if and when it is available 🙂

  121. BDH decides if it is marketable or not!!!! bahahaha Write it, we will buy it!
    ….need more books……… here kitty kitty…….

  122. What? I’ll buy it. See, I don’t care about ‘genre’. You are incredible authors. You build interesting but understandable and accessible worlds; you have incredible characters; and your plots are never a bore. I’ll buy it no matter how far away from your other books it may wander.
    Now, it may turn out to not be my fave book. But I won’t care. It’s money well-spent IMO.

  123. Ooh it’s definitely marketable. I can’t wait!!

    But maybe the title is “the unmarketable story”. I’d still buy it with that title.

  124. Anything y’all want to write I will purchase. I will also likely take the release day off work so I can devour like a good hoard member.

  125. I will buy it, then I will buy copies for all of my friends. I am setting up the saving budget for this expenditure now.

    Thank you!

  126. All I want to know is, are you feeling Catalina-ish yet? You sang your “song” with a little too much power this time and I think I saw just a glimmer of wings! Do you need rescuing?????

    Thank you for the snippet. Hopefully its status will change to marketable in the near future…please.

  130. Clearly there is an audience here- it may be worthwhile to take a chance on us 🙂 But you know what is right for you all! We are here when you are ready! Thank you for the snippet!

  132. I literally buy any and everything with your name on it. I’m an addict and I need more!!!

  133. What?? Umm ..thanks for the snippet and please take my money. You do know how to punch the BDH’s buttons.

  134. Love all your snippets, to bad it’s not marketable, I would have bought it. But you have enough balls juggling in the air, wouldn’t want to add more to your plate . Thanks for all your hard work with all the books you two graciously let us drool and devor over time.

  135. I think it would be marketable 🙂 It might need some work but I would be happy to buy it

  138. Very entertaining and fun to read all the comments from the BDH convincing you to publish this book. Notice I did not say trying to convince 🙂

  139. You wicked, wicked woman!

    “That’s it, that’s all you get. ::insert smiley face:: You cannot have it on account of it’s not marketable.”

    As all of the previous (and future) comments demonstrate – that statement is in error. Trust us on that.

    Your fans are like ATMs – your words are the Debit Card, just insert a story and Viola! – money sent to you.

  143. I understand your stance. That will not stop the wanting it. Please give will pay.

    Also it’s super cool the finally read an interesting Maggie. It’s best thing ever. But it may be that I am partial.

  148. All I will say is that this set of characters is much more interesting that those in a several “best-sellers” I have wasted money on. (Which is why I seldom buy best-sellers…)

    I’d much rather you had the money, after all.

  150. Who says it is not marketable? I would buy it, i like what i see…dont listen to them,they dont know the Horde…

    Please? Oh! This is the unnamed project?

    Yes! Awesome!

  151. Me – I don’t care for time travel/portal fiction

    HA – Meet Maggie

    Me – I love time travel/portal fiction. Please take my money.

    • I do care for time travel fiction …..and sci fi …. And fantasy……welcome to the club ! yay!!!!

  153. You keep saying this is not marketable. We keep saying We’ll Crowdfund it!! Pleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaase….
    Take the money!!

    So how many people pledging $15 would it take to make this happen.

  154. You’re so mean!

    I love it! Even if this story never becomes anything beyond these snippets here and there, I will enjoy them. Thanks.

  159. … not marketable. I want to cry. Am I allowed? I know I’m pushing the wrong side of 30 but a toddler temper tantrum seems so appealing right now lolz. Tanks for clearing up who Maggie is, you were trying to drive us insane on purpose weren’t you?

    • There’s no such thing as wrong side of any age! ???? Tantrums for all hehe, especially book tantrums for the Horde!

  160. OmG is she trapped in a book she loves? Even if this is not the case I neeeeeeed it! It sounds amazing!

  163. Thank you very much for this delicious snippet! And along with all the other members of the BDH – I would buy the book ????
    So maybe Maggies book could be recategorized as not yet marketable… pretty please

  164. The more I read about this project, the more I love it. The characters seem absolutely wonderful !! I think I like this Sol !!

  167. Glad that the future-knowing Maggie warned her landlady even if that might not change anything.
    Have to confess I liked all three Maggies here and sincerly hope one of them is part of the mystery project.

  173. What they all said. Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Time Travel and love interest … Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  174. You guys are such teases. OMG. It’s just evil to keep that tasty story to yourself.

  175. I most certainly would buy it!!!! Since I have purchased everything you have ever published (most in print AND ebook form), it’s a certainty that I would purchase this, too. I hope you rethink this decision. Please and Thank You!

  176. Well…maybe not marketable to certain undescerning segments of the population….

    Okay. Can’t have everything…where would I put it.

    Thank you for sharing, though. Love the bits you do share!!!

  177. Thank you for the lovely snippet! I hope having a story in your head that you can work on, or not, at your own pace, with no deadlines or pressure, brings you joy.
    If it ever gets to marketable state I will immediately buy it. If it only ever appears in public as diconnected snippets that you share because a particular turn of phrase tickles your fancy, than I will happily devour them and be grateful for this look into your mental playground!

  178. You definitely woke up the BDH’s appetite! Write whatever you like, HA is one of the authors I would buy with even seeing the product because I know it’s gonna be good. Definitely marketable to us for sure!

  179. ???????????????? pease pease with a cherry on top can we have it we will be a good horde.

    It was great thank you so much for the snippet!

  180. it is very marketable to me and i sure to a few other people. oh maggie. whenst canth me read thou? ????????????

  183. Omg is it a “modern girl in X (cue source material title here)” kind of plot? So she knows the plot and all the players and given that she’s stranded in the book she’s trying to change the events/fix a sad ending? I love the idea, but I understand that certain references are likely copyrighted. Pithy! Thank you for sharing bits and pieces anyway, love it!

  184. I currently feel like a dragon throwing a temper tantrum, saying give me more whilst breathing fire for emphasis.
    But seriously thank for those snippets, it makes me curious and want to read more.

  185. I am enjoying the way Maggie takes initiative and manages herself in risky situations of her own devising. She’s not a match for Sol in a fight, but she seems to be very good at the game she’s playing. Maybe a bit of an adrenaline junkie? TBD. The first snippets were intriguing, but this was the one where I am now hooked on the story! (Joins in the general horde roaring)

  186. Thanks for the snippet and your explanation about not marketable (located half way through the thread, I think?).

    I think most of the BDH just want you to know how much we *love* your work, not really to pressure you / make it stressful but I can see that it can certainly do that (and maybe some are pressuring you ????).

    I will wait for whatever you can give us when you are ready.

    Your amazing talents and time do not belong to us. It’s yours to dispense at your will and when your health (including mental health) allows. *Absolutely nobody* would work at a job with a lot of customers (or boss or whoever) *constantly* demanding more work when you’re working hard already. Being an author doesn’t mean you are exempt from common decency.

    Just ask Mod R to post a gif with a rolled up newspaper with “NO! Bad BDH!” when we stray too far from excessive exuberance into stressful pressure to help us remember our manners. ???? (We just get so excited!)

    Thanks for everything. ????

    Take care of yourselves.

  187. you are SO evil! and i mean that in the best way possible.

    thank you for the snippet. you always leave us wanting more.

  188. Please, let me buy it. I am a devotee, I abase myself and my pocketbook and lay them at your feet….

  189. Thank you for the Innkeeper Books you have posted weekly. It has helped me get through some bad times and is still helping me. You have been very generous to the BDH!

    If you say it’s not marketable yet I believe you because you know your business better than I do.

    Please know whatever you write I will read it and buy it. Thanks again for being so good to us. ????

  190. You two produce these snippets and expect us to go along with whatever you proclaim! (whine, whine, whine) Sounds marketable to me. Andre Norton would write about far off worlds and her stories were very marketable. Sounds like Maggie and Kate would get along.

  191. I am curious…are there not enough of us to make this profitable? Whatever it is, I’m already so intrigued I’d gladly pre-order ????

  192. Depends on the market . . .

    I mean the BDH has gobbled up grocery lists.

    Face it HA — when you’re good, you’re good.

  193. I realize you didn’t want external deadlines, but if you put this up for release in 2030 we’d probably still pre-order.

  195. Is this a new book series??? Or something from The Edge? It sounds like it could be from the Edge?? Excited!

  196. Thank you for the snippet. I enjoyed it very much so I hope you will publish it one day so I can buy it ????????????

  198. I don’t know what criteria they were using, but it was the wrong criteria, because I really want unnamed “not marketable” project.

  199. That thing about video games makes it sound like _The Shinigami Detective_ and that series sold well enough for 7 books, IIRR.

  200. I am so ready for something that is not “marketable.” I will read it. The book-devouring horde will read it. I’m intrigued. Please don’t give up on it.

  202. Not marketable? Who says? I am intrigued. That’s what marketable is. Anyway I would buy it. Thx for the tease. That was fun.

  203. Whoever says “it’s not marketable” doesn’t know your readers very well…

      • Its like they don’t even know who we are; The Book Devouring Horde! Ilona Andrews and her Trusted Household are all that hold back the tides, and these publishers would dare deny her the content needed to keep the world safe?!

        In all seriousness I wonder who decides what’s “marketable” in literature? Didn’t the Harry Potter books get rejected a bunch because ‘kids wouldn’t read books that long’? Have we really not moved past authors being told their creations won’t sell? She is already a known author with a large fan base and fantastic stories, are they that blind?

  204. I am now very curious to see more of Maggie. If you get more you consider “marketable” I’ll be eager to read it. Thank you! 🙂

  205. I will automatically buy anything you publish, even a series about druglords or prisons (druglords in prisons?), which are both themes I despise.

    So, thank you for being such generous and amazing people and the awesomest of writers. Take care of yourselves!

  206. Please.
    Not marketable.
    What fools are they in that company?
    COME ON!
    As if you are starting from 0 fan base??
    Jeeeeeez.

    Let us have it. I am already invested and intrigued.
    Please please pretty please!

  207. NNNgggggggggHHHH What a brutal tease!!!!! AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT MARKETABLE!! You had to put it in my head that I won’t see more and thus introduced a *neeeed* for more of this! Deliciously evil and I doubt we of the Book Devouring Horde will let such a morsel slip past us hehehehe!

  208. I’ll tell you right now, myself and others will buy all three versions of this book. Ebook, audio book and physical copy. As I have for most of your works!

    Is it too dark? LET DARKNESS REIGN!

  209. If you did Patreon you wouldn’t even need to market it. Everyone one of your supporters would devour it almost as soon as it got uploaded.
    If you self-publish your horde will spread the word for you, and throw money at you to get more, more, MORE!

  214. I want more of the horse from the first snippet you gave us. As many of the rest of the BDH have mentioned, WE will buy it.

  215. I would be happy to purchase ebook and audible versions. Best wishes and happy writing for whatever you want to write today.

  220. It’s marketable! I want Maggie please. Why is your publisher punishing us? This makes me so sad.

  221. Patreon or some equivalent. Charge per thing so there is no preasure of ‘monthly’ deliveires. People only pay when you guys post some new fiction, poll what side stuff people are keen for next.

    This sounds interesting. A little time travel/Isekai action-romance? could be quite fun written by Ilona Andrews.

  222. I would definitely buy as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I Love everything you write, I also buy everything you write!
    Please gimme gimme gimme:)

  224. What do you MEAN this is not marketable?!?!?! J/K… enjoyed the sneaky tidbit! I hope there’s more later on, cuz you got my interest for sure!

    “FEED ME, SEYMOUR!”

  226. I would pay to read that. I think that could be an awesome start to a series.

  227. I have no idea what’s going on here, and that just makes me want to find out more. *pouts* Must. Solve. Mystery!

  228. TAKE MY MONEY!!! The BDH is hungry~
    Thank you so much for our treat!
    Pardon my yelling.

  229. Really enjoyed the snippet 🙂 The writing style seems a little different from what’s felt familiar in the past – just going out on a limb, but could there be a new contributing author(s) to the blog from the family? 😀

    • Ilona and Gordon are writing the Maggie project, but writing styles evolve and change. They are also exploring a new genre with it, which needs a different tone ????

  230. Well, huh. It’s readable and fun and I’d like to know more. Doesn’t that mean it’s marketable? I think Kate has a point.

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