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ILONA ANDREWS

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Magic Claims Arcs

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All the edits for Magic Claims are officially done and we are going into production. We are going to try to get print preorders again, so please keep an eye for the announcement regarding their potential availability in the next couple of weeks.

The ARCs should be available shortly. I think we will be doing Netgalley. The number of ARCs will be limited.

We have heard your wish for the virtual signing and are exploring our options. Ideally we will finagle it so the print books are available through the merch store, and we will sign them for you in a way that allows for some one-on-one digital time, so you will be able to talk to us. The idea is to imitate a signing environment as closely as we can. More on this later.

The merch store will be open for the release of Magic Claims. We are still working on international options. We will feature content from Magic Claims.

The excerpt has been updated with edits.

Here is an unrelated snippet for you because it’s Friday. This is a fragment of a possible short story. No promises.

“Behold my doings!”

I stood in a round room deep within my inn.  The room was tall and round, with smooth wooden walls flowing into crisscrossing branches that supported plush green pillows.  Soft light filtered through small round windows, strategically placed to imitate sunlight spilling through the canopy of an old forest.

The creature in front of me triggered every cuddle instinct a human being was capable of. Three and a half feet tall, he had the body of a lemur sheathed in fluffy teal fur.  His face was somewhere on the crossroads of a Pomeranian and a red panda. The fur around his cute purple nose and round golden eyes was also teal, transitioning into purple and then into fluffy magenta.  The inside of his upright ears was a soft cream.

His tail was insane.  Squirrel, Norwegian Forest Cat, red fox, nothing even came close. Long and ridiculously fluffy, it was a riot of magenta and vivid scarlet, and the creature draped it over his chest and left shoulder like a fur boa. It was a was a custom of Raquikon species.

The urge to pet him was almost overwhelming.  Fortunately, I was a woman of iron will.  Also, he was holding what looked like his own severed head, shockingly lifelike, with exposed trachea and a long string of vertebrae dangling from it. It ruined the cuteness a bit.

Kul’ka thrust the head at me. 

“Your doings are beautiful,” I told him.  An innkeeper had to be always courteous to their guests, even when they presented us with sculpted body parts and entrails.

“I have made it myself from kasmig.”

Kasmig was a unique substance. It wasn’t fabric, plastic, metal, or mineral. In its inert form, kasmig had the consistency of sand and could be stimulated with an appropriate electric charge to become liquid enough to splash, pliable like clay, or so solid, it was nearly unbreakable. An innkeeper who used to visit my parents’ inn once told me that the closest Earth equivalent was glass, which had broken my then teenage brain.

If the existence of kasmig somehow became public, it would send the world scientific community into a collective seizure. And it was my job to make sure it never happened.

“It looks just like your brother,” I told Kul’ka.

The Raquikon preened.  “You say the nicest things, innkeeper. When the family chooses me as the First Claw, I will rip my brother’s head off his body.  It will be the first thing I will do! Look, see, here is his spine.”

“What’s the second thing?”

He blinked.  “The second?”

“If the family chooses you as the heir, they will expect you to have a plan for their future.  All best leaders have a plan.”

Kul’ka looked at the head, then at me, then at the head again. “I will think about it. I will make a plan, and my plan will be better than my brother’s!”

“I will send up some snacks to fuel your planning.”

“Thank you, innkeeper!”

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Comments

  2. Wow thank you. From what you said in a previous comment I know you are not mentally in the Innkeeper world right now but I am happy whenever you visit, even if it is a snippet.

  3. I hope you find a way to do the virtual signing on Zoom. I can’t learn another app, it’s too much. I’ve told them at work too, stick to one.

    We will feature content from Magic Claims.

    Does that mean Clam merchandise?????

    • There will be *new* merch since the last time the store was open 🙂 , but we’ll just have to flex our w*iting mussels and see if any of it is clammy!

      • Every time you change your avatar, I’m like “Who dis?”. 😄 I love it though!

        Also, MEEERRRRRRRRCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHH! 😱

        • Yay merch!

          Hehe, profile picture people vs name people, always the social media struggle 😂
          Don’t get used to this, it was a May the Fourth thing and it’s not May 4 anymore lol.

            • Revenge of the 5th or tomorrow, Revenge of the Sixth? Some people prefer the latter so as to leave today as Cinco de Mayo.

              • Cinqo de Mayo makes me think of the song Tequila! Which immediately takes my brain into the country song ‘Tequila makes her clothes fall off’. Weird connections music makes with words…And then I get the cat memes coming in from above… Gato Malo makes some mean cat memes (ooh, I got them to rhyme!) Anyway, swear there is no alcohol aboard my ship today! NO sips here. None. But I wish the rest of you a very merry evening of entertainment and South of the Boarder foods … and Tequila.

          • The Jedi Master Mod R will go back to the Force until next year. 😁

          • I don’t generally notice the profile pics but now I’m wondering what we’ll get on the Glorious 25th? A lilac coloured towel with a hard boiled egg on it? The number 42? A swimming turtle? I will now be disappointed if there is nothing. . .

            • I am preparing a book themed one next 😅, as it happens, but I won’t be honouring Reasonably Priced Love.
              There may be magic and there may be clams, that’s all I’ll say 😂

            • There are several renditions of “All The Little Angels Rise Up” on line. The Glorious 25th will be here before we know it!

  7. Ah so love this visit to the Innkeeper world. The photo is so cute. Thanks so much!

    Would love a virtual signing!

    Yea to Magic Claims print edition possible pre order! (I don’t know if I can ever not see it as Magic Clams!)

  8. Ewww! Severed head and spine as a keepsake. And Ooooh interesting Innkeeper snippet. Great Friday snippet. Thank you. Have a great weekend. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

  9. I suppose the fact that Kul’ka is holding a replica of his brother’s severed head would certainly help me suppress my petting instinct.

  10. oooohhhh… I’m loving the fluffy but dangerous Kul’ka already…

    Happy FrInnday everyone

    • A racoon in party dress, I do so swear it, lol. I have a small herd (?) group of young coons in my yard, nightly. I feed dog food chow (better than than the cat food) and grapes, canteloups and carrots, with apples covered in peanut butter. Sometimes watermelon with the rind. I also feed my gopher tortoise (she likes kale and pineapple) and then the cats. But that Kul’ka.. its a space racoon I tell you! And yes, the coon babies are funny as hell, and have no fear whatsoever.. BUT the destructo level of coons is awesome. Almost as bad as gremlins you feed after midnight….

  11. So exciting! A virtual signing for Magic Claims plus a snippet from a possibly potential Inkeeper story – so exciting indeed!

  15. Virtual signing would be a dream, but I am way too shy for it. I would stutter and be incoherent even in french, so in english it is inthinkable. The snippet is wonderful as always, and I am so eager for magic claims !! We are blessed as readers, thank you.

  16. Ah, sibling rivalry. I remember my brother beating the crud out of me when we were kids while I laughed because I had made him lose it! Our Mom would come in and make him stop it. The dreaded words in the 1950’s and 60’s. Wait until your Father comes home. Nowadays we would probably both be put in time out or something. Thank-you for the wonderful snippet!

  18. it’s verry well written.. thank you for the snippet and it is as usual exceptional writing. 💖.
    I want me some kasmig and the magic and skill to use it please🤓

  20. Mod R, I humbly request a Kul’ka stuffed animal for the store! Even if it never makes it into a full story, that is just too cute! 🥰😍🥰

    Thank you for the snippet! 🤗

    • When I saw the photo, I immediately thought it would make an awesome squishmallow. He’s just so fluffy!

  21. So dang cute, so dang violent! And violet, too. Lovely little bloodthirsty beastie!

  22. thank you for the snippet! 🥰 also the lesson that cute things are deadly in one way or the other 🤣

  23. hooray for a finished booked. hopefully you can have a vacation or even a relaxing staycation before release.

    Did Sebastian North or Beast have any cuddle instincts triggered by this interesting creature?

    • Oh, you’re smooooooth 🤣.

      We’ll just have to read and see, won’t we?

      • oh, thank you. you made my day by saying “read and see” and not “w**t and see.”

        ps could you please inform my family I am smooth?😉

  24. Yay! Snippet and snacks, with a virtual book signing on the horizon! The promise of the next Kate book is helping me cope with my baby’s HS graduation, and all the stuff and verklempt emotions that entails.

  25. omg … more of the cutest fluffies OO how are we to survive it! I must have the fluffy _ _

  28. Thank you for the snippet! Hurray for the ARCs of Magic Claims (better known as Magic Clams)! That means not much longer for the rest of us. Yay! 🗡🥳

  29. cutely vicious! I love it! ❤️❤️❤️ tyvm for the snippet. I short story would be awesome

  30. So cute and so – gruesome. Fluffiness mixed with entrails- eeeewwww!

    Thank you for the snippet 🙂 I hope it cheers you as well as us.

  31. Excellent prospect, this alien.

    Since ebooks can’t be resold, “e-signature” doesn’t affect value and seems off target. Perhaps a IRL collectible bookplate with a real signature? I do like the prospect of personal interaction though, good plan.

    • Hi Normandy,

      To clarify, as the post says, the books that will be signed during the virtual signing will be print books, not ebooks.

      Fans will be able to order them through the merch store and then get virtual time with Ilona and Gordon where they see their book get signed in real time ☺️

  32. Oh, so fun! I love how Dina is always respectful and supportive, and also manages to subtly guide her guests toward their better selves.

    I am happy to hear about new (clam) merch and also wondering, will any of the first-round merch ever come back? I have a friend who is an actual Dr. Cannon, and I have been kicking myself for dithering over the “Dr. Loose Cannon” mug or notebook for too long…hoping I haven’t lost my chance for ever.

  33. I am currently dead, it was cuteness overload.

    Thanks for the new adorable creature I will now try to have my tattoo artist recreate on the new sleeve I’m planning.

    • If that happens, could you please share a picture? I love seeing what an artist’s interpretation of something is versus what’s in my head. And that creature is just too adorable! 😊

  34. now I wonder how it looks like when that family gathers!
    love it!
    looking forward to my clams! I mean magic claims. oh course.
    ❤️

    • Oh! You just made me wonder if his coloring is specific to the species or if they come in different color variations? While I love his colors, can you imagine a whole group of various rainbow colored creatures? 😮🤩

  39. This picture is so cute!

    Also reminds me of that hilarious post with pink chicks when one of the readers accused you of promoting animal cruelty be using a photo of chicks with dyed feathers. And then you had to post a lengthy tutorial of Photoshop😂

    Now this but worse! Its rainbow colored!!!

  42. Thank you for the snippet! I’ve been looking mournfully at Tapas because there’s no new episode this week, so this helps. 🙂

  45. If I could have a book arc from anyone it would be y’all and Jeaniene Frost. Not sure how a virtual book signing would work, but signed me up!

  47. There needs to be Magic Clams neck pillows to go with the Ripper cushions. I will never adjust to Claims

  48. You suck your readers into your scenes with very few works. It is a refreshing skill. Congratulations.

  49. Three letters and I still mess my own name up. You write, I will buy and read. Sound good?

  51. So adorable and vicious. Certainly hopes he makes it into the story. ❤️

  52. squiii! fun! sounds like a conference at Gertrude Hunt! and since I am rereading Innkeeper this week, that’s even better!

  53. Also, he was holding what looked like his own severed head, shockingly lifelike, with exposed trachea and a long string of vertebrae dangling from it. It ruined the cuteness a bit.

    LOL

  54. Mod R will you announce when Magic Claims is available to recommend to libraries?

    pls and ty

  56. The Universe is so full of adorably fluffy yet dangerous beings… 💗 thank you for the snippet and excitement for Magic Claims!

  57. Loved your Friday snippet, and just hoping that the International Merch store will open sometime soon, after Magic Clams obviously. I just got to drool over all the stuff then had to slink away ……………………

  58. Such a cute little ferocious creature, sounds like Dina will have her hands full again!

  59. Omg. Something cuter than Nuan Couki? Can’t be! Hehehehe. That was fun! Thanks!!

  61. I read this as “we have heard your wish for the virtual singing” and I thought “Wow! They are going to sing for us! Best authors ever!” and then sanity returned.

  62. Oh my !!!!!!!!!!
    Innkeeper…….
    Innkeeper…….
    Innkeeper…….
    Oh yeah and Magic Claims too !

    Thank You 😊

    P.S. The future is suddenly brighter.

  64. Love this snippet and wouldn’t be disappointed at all if it turned into more!!

  65. Hey, ModR, the Read More link next to the Sandra free fiction came back 404 page not found.

  68. I was selfishly wishing for a Frinnday and thought to myself – they are busy with edits! Be p*tient! And then I get home and find such a cutie!!! Thank you!!!!

  72. Groovy news, and foretaste of what is possible. Thank you!
    Sigh. I find that once again I have had to prove to myself that one does not post on this format by hitting ‘Enter’. Alas, I do tend to forget minor details every now and again. Another such that I occasionally remind myself of is to plug in electrical equipment before expecting it to work. (It was about two days ago that I failed to look at the tangle of power cords sufficiently and then could not figure out why the belt sander wasn’t working.)

  73. Ah, so reminiscent of past kings of England, I must say. Very homicidal. The ripping off of heads. Was this in honor of today’s events? Or a happy coincidence?

    Thank you for the snippet. Very enjoyable. And intriguing

  74. I don’t know why, but when I first read this I thought we were being introduced to a different innkeeper and perhaps a spin-off series.

  77. Ooh really nice, a truly enjoyable hint of future possibilities. Innkeeper rules.

  80. DAMN BRO!
    why you gotta kill!!

    Also, super excited for the next release!

  82. Oh, I love Kul’ka being taken aback at thought of a second step.
    Nailed the way s/he thinks.

  83. Uhh fun tiny fluffy killers always make an enjoyable weekend.
    Lol

    Currently wondering if I need to own everything in print as we 🤓

    Decisions decisions..

  84. “Behold my doings! That’s my new go-to saying. Thanks, it’s got the perfect inflection, heh. I came across another hysterically funny quote this week that immediately went on my all time fave list, all fisherpersons will understand this one. With permission https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQv6PyoeUdk Go to around 1 minute about 10 seconds for the hook up and get the reaction. Priceless! I love the snippet and can’t wait for the book. You guys are stars, thanks for sharing in your wonderful imaginations.

  85. I have now finished listening to two graphic adaptatitons of the Innkeeper series. They are fantastic. I walk every day and listen to all kinds of podcasts and these “books” are so entertaining, I find myself walking further just to keep listening. I’ll be buying all the Kate Daniels series as they come out for a long flight late this summer. Keep them coming – so worth it!!!

  86. Thoughts of decapitating be damned, that thing is so cute: IT’S SO FLUFFY!!!!!!!!!!! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

    Thank you for the snippet…I hope you decide in favor of the short story!

  87. I have spent 32.1 hours since Monday noon playing the Age of Wonders 4. The character and environment creations goes way beyond anything I have seen. I was rolling up a new Leaders’ names when I spotted that I had rolled “Elara.” I locked the first name in and rolled again. The next random last name was “Shinara” and a random Race name “Human Highborns.” At this point I looked at the “Title that I had picked earlier in the building process it was “Lady Divine.” The long description is ” …take great pride in their traditions and wish for others to reach (same)…they are pioneers and settlers founding cities wherever they go. They believe it is their calling to unite all societies.” I have a screen shot but no way to attach.

    • I could put screen shot on a facebook post, but didn’t want to advertise game, and I guess some could see it as something other than a fan in the game designers.

  88. Squeeeeeeeeeeee! I love this series. I listen to the Innkeeper audio productions when I’m commuting to work. The performance of the story is brilliant. And the actress who plays Dina’s is magical – her performance and narration for Sweep of the Heart help keep me happy and calm, even when L.A. traffic is horrible. I would very much like to see more of this story when House Andrews has the time to write it.

  89. Absolutely riveting – how will Dana get this little guy to change his perspective? Novella material, not a short story!!!!!!! Please?

    Between the roof, signings and the current bout of cruddy weather in central Texas, you have your hands truly full. We love everything you give us.

    Be careful and keep an eye on the sky!

  90. squee!

    for the edits
    for the ARCs
    and especially for Kul’ka.

    Of course we don’t expect anything to come of it. whipping out a perfect story snippet is just what you do. We know it means nothing.
    But I would pay vast sums to see this book. Just saying.

  92. I know it is no promise of more Innkeeper, but, if all the BDH ferventlywish, it shall come into being!

  93. Please, please include Kul’ka in an Innkeeper series! I can’t wait to see how Dina would handle him, although her beginning foray promises a wonderful journey! I literally cackled when I read this, especially her response!

    You’re the Best!

  96. I LOVE you guys, but…..sometimes I have NO idea what the random letters stand for!! ARC?

    • Advance Reader Copies ☺️. It’s an electronic and/or print copy of a finalised manuscript that is made available before the official publication of the book.

    • Yes, please make it so!!!

      Would love to have merch – especially ripper cushions!!!

  101. I hope a virtual signing is possible I would love to just say hello to you guys and have you say “Hello Melisa”…..haha. Or even just a personalized bookplate!

    But whatever works for you guys! I know that stuff can be tough.

    And big yay for the merch store and the amazing snippet!!!! You guys are the best!

  102. Ilona and all – love the “snippet” and the Innkeeper series is my favorite aside from Kate and Daughter. Keep up the great work.

  103. The snippet is wonderful. It’s perfect for a college graduation weekend full of “1st things,”

  104. Possible signed Magic Claims?! Yesss please!! Love the whole virtual signing idea.

  106. Oh, boy! So much cuteness… And so much viciousness! And such great deflecting on the innkeeper’s part (Dina, presumably?).

    I love both the snippet and the accompanying picture. And it was nicely chosen to actually be a complete micro-story all on its own… I would love to read more, but I don’t feel like I’ve been left with a cliffhanger or the need to bug House Andrews to write this story. I feel like I’ve gotten a lovely little peek into the inn and am simply left delighted.

  107. My world is so much more fun since you’ve been populating it with these exquisite, amazing, interesting beings!

  108. Absolutely adores the snippet! Can not wait to order Merch!

    Can we preorder hardback Magic Clams books? Lol.

    I have four hardbacks of Ruby Fever, a few paperback copies, ebook and audible copies. You can never have too many Ilona Andrews books…

    • Not at the moment, but I know House Andrews are interested in hardback special editions 🙂, so it will likely happen.

  109. Would HA consider adding audio release dates to the release schedule page when available?
    I know it got mentioned in a blog, but I can’t remember which one.

    • Usually and ideally, the audios are released at the same time as the other formats.

      The only recent delay has been Magic Tides, which will be released at the same time as Magic Claims, June 13th, because it was easier on the narrator schedule to record 2 short works at the same time 🙂

  110. I keep reading this snippet again and again. Just this little bit is so entertaining–I hope you have time & creative energy to grace us with more. And I don’t know why but when Kul’ka speaks I hear a certain female author in my head.

  111. I have been a reader of the Innkeeper books for a long time. I finally broke down and tried the first Kate Daniels book over the weekend…and yesterday, after finishing it, I bought all the rest that were available on Barnes and Noble as ebooks (my preferred format). They’re so good, the writing is compelling and the detailes and history are doled out just often enough to keep me wanting more.

    • I did the same thing once upon a time lol. I adore innkeeper and can’t get enough!
      I’m a big fan of Jeanine Frost, Kim Harrison & Daryanda Jones so Inn keeper was naturally next & then Kate I couldn’t help myself.
      I love them.

  113. whoa, had a hard weekend so I saved reading this fragment for today, when I could enjoy it and wow!

    A peek into a shadowy corner of House Andrews….love.it!

  114. hey, one time a brain fart between my dad, my brother and I had us all calling them sparklers for a few years.

  115. Thank you so much for this wonderful snippet that put a big smile on my face just when I most needed cheering up after a truly wretched weekend.

  117. NetGallery is like Lucy with the football. I never get one even when I ask nicely. Would really love to CLAIM an ARC.

    • Hi K,
      ARCs, or Advanced Reader Copies, are copies of unpublished books offered free of charge in exchange for honest reviews. They are not for sale.
      The publisher or, in this case, House Andrews’ agent, can distribute the ARC on websites like NetGalley or Edelweiss, and either work from a confirmed list of reviewers or open it up for “Wish”- where it’s first come first served, within an previously agreed number of copies.
      I hope this helps 🙂

  120. So…we have Kuk’la! Will we get a “Fran” or “Ollie”?

    Just enjoying the Innkeeper vibe – thanks for the snippet!

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