Hello, remember me?
After the marathon of 60-hour weeks, Ruby Fever has been rewritten. I do not remember when was the last time we worked so hard. Mod R read a little bit of it and she sent me an emoticon of a kitty with hearts in the eyes, so it must not totally suck.
First things first, Amazon Australia is charging $25.99 for the ebook of Ruby Fever. Do not buy this, please. I emailed to complain about it to our publisher. The price should go down, and theoretically, according to Amazon’s policies, when the price is adjusted before the release, you end up charged the latest price, but let’s not take chances. Let me see if the publisher can get it fixed, and then we will let you know when it’s safe.
Ruby Fever is now available at Barnes and Noble in ebook form. This was not a publisher issue. Harper Collins tried to get them to list it for 4 weeks. Many emails were sent. Apparently there was some sort of computer issue. But it is available for preorder.
Now that that’s out of the way, we are so tired.
Look at the beautiful flowers Jeaniene Frost sent us. They smell divine. There was a card that suggested that what was best in life is to crush the edits and see them driven before us. I saved it to show you, but unfortunately, the nice cleaning service came through yesterday because we haven’t properly deep-cleaned the house since the marathon editing session started. They threw it away. But it was glorious.
I am also the worst friend in the world. I badgered Jeaniene into sending me the advanced copy of the Other Half Of The Grave and then the edits ate my brain. But now I shall treat myself to it. Muhahaha!
Working this hard comes at a cost, so I have an awesome plan for this week. I am going to do fun things. Sometime in the haze of the edits, I received an email from Miss Babs, a yarn company, letting me know that an MKAL was happening. MKAL stands for Mystery Knit Along. You buy yarn, join a knitting group or forum online, and then you are given the pattern in small bits. You don’t know exactly what the finished project will look like until you’re done. It is supposed to be social and fun, and I have never done one.
I kind of stopped buying yarn. I was trying to do more writing, and the only craft project I finished since Kid 1’s cross stitch – ended up not outlining it, looked weird – is a little sweater for Charlie the French Bulldog, because we had a cold front come through and I had acrylic yarn I wasn’t sure what to do with. He liked it.
I’ve been trying to make a sweater for humans, but it is one of those knit in the round in one piece, and the shaping was too much for my very tired brain. I am typically good with it but it is all k2, m1L, [k to next m, sm, m1L, k to next m, m1R, sm] x 2, k to last 2 sts, m1R, k2. [k to next m, sm, m1L, k to next m, m1R, sm] x 2, k to end. And at some point I am like, “Wait, did I m1L this row or did I not, and how many stitches am I supposed to have at this time on sleeve caps?” I know this is blasphemy, but I think I like separate pieces sweaters better. Is that wrong?
Anyway, this MKAL is another shawl, which I probably don’t need. But there is one super important factor: it is Princess Bride based. It’s called As You Wish: an Inconceivable MKAL. Here are all of the quarters from Miss Babs.
My favorite Princess Bride character is Inigo Montoya. So this happened.
I broke down and bought it. It was my carrot – finish the edits, look forward to the shawl. The lighting wasn’t the best, but you can see it here on Miss Babs.
The yarn arrived a couple of days ago. I squished it, and oohed and awwed, and then Gordon who was out on an errand came home. He knew I bought yarn, but didn’t know what I bought, what it looked like, or that it was PB based.
He saw an action figure at Target and bought it for me.
It matches.
This is fate. I am so making this shawl. I might even wear it.
My precious.
I am in awe of your writing marathons and the entrancing stories that come forth!
Leigh from Perth Western Australia here! I complained about the price on Twitter and HarperCollins AU got back to me and investigated the matter. They told me that the price is being reset to $9.99 on 22 Feb. xx
Hi Leigh-Ayn,
If you check now, it has already been adjusted to $9,99 AUD 🙂
I really enjoyed this fight analysis by Jill Bearup – of the swordfight between Inigo Montoya and Dread Pirate Roberts.
https://youtu.be/j0rkUbrPo3k
And the My Name Is fight analysis by the same person…
https://youtu.be/SdBzuph0VCg
Both delightful. I shall go rewatch now.
I also enjoyed the analysis she does of a Captain Marvel fight. This has opened a new world to me, and I now wish it had been included in my Eng Lit degree, along with modernism, post-colonialism, gaps…and then, fight analysis. Ohh, this means they would have to include books that have fights in them, but which ones…? Are there any fights in canon-y books?
Congratulations! I ordered the paper back as soon as it was available. I just checked my order on Amazon, and I see they’re showing the cover. It looks awesome!!!
I love when things like this happen. Hope you all enjoy a bit of down time after all the hard rewrites!
Yes I’ve done those kind of knits. I had to use a M3 note an d move it each row.
Depending on the sweater I will swap the designer’s m1l and m1r for kfb. I prefer knitting one piece instead of pieces, IF I otherwise have to match up stripes or other colorwork or cables or lace. Pieces get done faster and seaming isn’t that difficult. Sleeves make great swatches.
Uhm, that being said…. I’m making Filcolana’s https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diana-28 in one piece but not in the round (not because I’m afraid of steeking but because I might want to take it apart and reuse the yarn. )
Haha, this is so cool!
Mawwiage literally wants me to sin (= buy more yarn to stuff into my cupboard where all the yarns sleep)
Have fun with the MKAL!
I was looking at the blues and thinking “inconceivable…” but then the action figure and it’s packaging?! How could I have doubted.
Perfection. Enjoy the fun things!!!
Just stumbled across this – the Graphic Audio version of Clean Sweep is already on Audible!
https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Sweep-Dramatized-Adaptation-Chronicles/
Gah sorry here’s link that works
https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Sweep-Dramatized-Adaptation-Chronicles/dp/B09QH9235K/ref=pd_aw_sbs_5/
Bask in being done with the horrid edits.
Have fun reading and knitting–the shawl colors look glorious!
Dear Ilona and Gordon, please take some time for yourselves. I say this as a greedy reader of your books. I am addicted to your stories, so I must encourage you both to take care of yourselves so that you have good health and happiness. I will happily re-read your books so that you both get some quality time off! So take the time you need-social media and your dedicated readers can cope with your away time. We know you will return with other amazing stories for us! All my best wishes to you both and your family.
I dislike shawls. I don’t have the patience for them, and I don’t think I would ever wear one. I am also much better at crochet than knit, so that might also be part of the problem. I could crochet you an entire outfit in less than a month, but one little beginner-friendly knit sweater takes me half a year! And knitting in the round? Forget it. I am still learning how to climb that particular mountain.????????♀️ But I am a HUGE PB fan. And I love buying yarn. So maybe I’ll forget how much I dislike making shawls and how bad I am at knitting and try that MKAL!
Yay for completed edits! Have a nice quiet and relaxing week, both of you!
Wow. I have been crocheting my brains out, and crafting an Amber pair of healing Rods for my wrists, and brain. Are we having fun Now??? Life is good. This is my Mantra.
So looking forward to Ruby Fever. Love the yarn — and Inigo Montoya. Congrats on knowing your own name after a grueling round of edits! Glad you have plans for a fun weekend!
I much prefer making sweaters in pieces myself. I think they just fit better. And I love the name of the MKAL and all those yarn quartets. Hilarious!
I’m a little late, but you will loooove it! I love Miss Babs Yarn so much. I also bought the MKAL pattern, but I don’t have time to knit it right now. (Also, I have a stupid wrist injury that’s causing me problems, so I really don’t want to knit right now and aggravate it more.)
Yay – congrats on the edits!
I don’t think I can resist Mary’s MKAL either – it should be very fun (and silly). Co-incidentally I have book edits to finish by early March – perhaps I can use the KAL as a bribe-along.
I love Sr. Montoya. What I like even better is to hear the actor who plays him SING! Mr. P has quite a voice.
Congrats! ???? You deserve time to yourself! That’s AMAZING about the Princess Bride MKAL! And synchronicity and all with the action figure!- you guys are on the same yarnlength… ????Yarn, story, omg so many good analogies to unravel and words to bat around????⬛! Looking forward to seeing your Inigo Montoya ????shawl
Is there a Miss Babs for crochet?
So loving this! Gordon came through and you’re going to have a blast????
ModR your heart sandwich is a riot!
Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post. Congratulations on getting edits done.
Good job, Gordon. I love Indigo Montoya too. But my like is “prepare to die.” Bwah ha ha ha.
Knitting project sounds interesting. Have fun with it.
I lost my water hose “wye”to barn corral (it froze then bovine stepped on and it’s a goner. Sigh) so I will stop by Barnes & noble bookstore while I am in town. Thanks for heads up.
I don’t typically talk to writers, but I felt the urge today. (Probably not the best post reply for it, tbh.) I went to a book convention once, and everyone was really nice, but then I grew up and realized that must be pretty hard for them. Fans can be difficult. I just want to say that I adore your books. Whenever I’m feeling especially down, I reread them for a pick-me-up. This past year has been especially heart-wrenching and I’ve reread them twice.
Thank you for continuing to write and bringing joy to me in my darkest hours. I look forward to everything you put out. I hope whatever kind words I can give you will offset any unkind words you may get from someone else. Your work is amazing and I am always recommending it to anyone who will listen.
Also, thankfully, ERCOT has not failed us again. Whew.