When you start out in traditional publishing, you are very eager. You’ve heard rumors about this other Big Name Author who is “difficult” and is “a bitch” and you don’t want to be difficult. Then you gain experience and realize that bringing a story from the manuscript to the book isn’t the smooth road you thought it would be.
On one hand, being creative on schedule is difficult. Writing isn’t like making widgets. Sometimes it just doesn’t go, but deadlines wait for no one. I have a deadline dream that reoccurs when I am in danger of missing one. I stand on the beach. The ocean is dark, and massive waves, huge, tsunami sized waves, are coming toward me. Sometimes I have to run so they don’t get me. But mostly I just stare at the manifestation of my anxiety in a kind of despair. I never drown, but it isn’t a nice dream.
Most writers are stressed when they are on a deadline, and most of the working writers are always on a deadline. So you are stressed and anxious, you’ve done your best, and then you finally turn the manuscript in. The relationship between a writer and their editor is very personal and requires a great deal of trust. You are turning over your work to your editor and hope that it will be better by the end of the process. People get emotional about it.
The relationship between a writer and their publisher is impersonal. From the corporate point of view, you are a number. They know how much you earn for the company. No matter how much you sell, you are usually locked out of the decisions like the cover art or publicity direction. You are not a member of the team.
I know it sounds harsh and other people may have had a different experiences, but I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve said things like, “I fundamentally hate this cover” and the art department came back with “We photoshoped a chunk of hair on her forehead. Problem solved.” When you don’t sell enough, your concerns are mostly ignored. When you sell enough, you are appeased but not really included.
Little by little, small professional grievances accumulate until you do become difficult, because you worked hard and you feel an urge to advocate for your work. Mod R recently got the front seat to how difficult the process of making the manuscript into a book could be and at some point she sent me an email asking me if I was screaming into a pillow. It can be very frustrating.
Self-publishing has given us a chance to step off that moving sidewalk. Which isn’t to say that if tomorrow someone shows up with a truck of money and dumps it in our driveway, we won’t consider jumping back into the traditional publishing again. We may. But right now we are going to focus on our self-published efforts.
Which brings me to the true reason for this post.
A lot of you want to know what’s next, when is it coming out, when when when when…
::insert smiley face::
The entire point of stepping back from the traditional publishing is to take a break from the deadlines and the constant pressure. We are not going to trade 1 publisher for 25,000 of you who daily access this site.
We will not be telling you what we are working on. We will not be announcing it. You will hear about it when it’s ready to go up for preorder.
In the past, we always shared with you what we were working on. That’s not working so well anymore, because no matter what we choose to work on, someone is always unhappy that we are not working on the thing they like the most. From now on, we will be like Beyonce dropping her surprise album. We will quietly work and then go, “Here it is, all done!”
We both want to work at our own pace and take our time. We don’t want the stress of not meeting a deadline. If we don’t meet one, nobody has to know. When things are ready to be published, they will be up on the Release Schedule. We will announce them on the blog and in the newsletter. The retailers will also notify you of availability. We got this.
We appreciate all of you. We are glad you enjoy our work.
We hope whatever we choose to do in the future will be fun for you and us both.
Whatever you do, I hope it makes you happy 🙂 And when you publish something I’ll buy it.
Good for y’all! Well done! Magnificent!
Hope this decision is a stress reducer.
Waiting eagerly for whatever comes next.
Sheila
I’m glad you’re doing for you guys. EVERYONE deserves to have a less stressful life. I am just happy that you are going to continue to publish in whatever format works for you. Your books provide a wonderful escape from everyday life. Thank you for your awesome efforts to entertain us.
Love it!!!! Love knowing happy surprises are on the way. Love that the creativity will be unconstrained! Thanks for what you do!
Go you! I don’t care what you write or when it will be released I will read it. That’s not to say I don’t frequent your upcoming release page but that is just so I don’t miss any new awesome books ????. Do what you need to do to stay fresh and avoid burnout so we can continue to enjoy your AWESOMENESS!
I think this is a good move for you both. Keep on at your own pace, I will still be here waiting for notification you are ready to release a new work.
I think it is wonderful that you will be doing this, and removing the constant strain and stress of having a deadline hanging over your head!! I am just as eager as any other member of the BDH to get my hands on your next available work. I also have to admit that I have my favorites, and enjoy one series a bit more than another. However, I would not presume to nag at you to write something in one series instead of whatever else you planned on writing. I am glad that you put this out there, so no one can do that in the future (at least I sincerely hope no one even tries to!). I am also glad that you won’t have anyone nagging at you and asking when you will be finished with your next book. Even though most of that comes from the positive of someone being anxious to buy your next work, it would still drive me crazy!! ????
I think you are very patient and kind toward your readers, and I am very glad that you are putting some things in place that will save you both the stress of deadlines and unnecessary (and definitely unwelcome) nagging!! Creativity doesn’t happen on demand, so I don’t know why anyone would think that they could or should try to influence what you are going to write next.
I thank you for how kind and giving you are to your readers! I am glad that you will not be constrained by contracts, and will now have the freedom to work on what you want, at what pace you want. I think a lot of people don’t (or didn’t) realize that you didn’t already have that freedom, or without malice didn’t even think about it.
I hope that this takes a lot of stress away for both of you! And I hope that you can now give your creativity free reign, and that you get more joy than ever from your creations! I will be as delighted as ever to purchase whatever you write, whenever it is available. ????
I think that it is a great decision, your (mental / physical) health should be first. Besides, it’s YOUR work and you should have some power over it. Honestly, at this moment, I’m not interested in all of your books and I don’t have an urge to tell you so because you don’t care (I’m one in thousands) and I have plenty of other books to read, fortunately. But I can tell you that I enjoyed several of your sagas a lot and I understand that to create them it takes a lot of time. I suppose we are really spoiled nowadays with all this instant and massive content everywhere. Sometimes, it’s good to slow down and savour things 🙂
First: whatever you work on is going to be fun for us to read. Never worry about that.
Second: Being like Beyoncé is cool, but being yourself is better.
Third: We appreciate how much you do write on this blog & share. If you feel like surprises, that’s cool too. It’s not like it takes forever to get a sequel out, I’m looking at you George R.R. Martin!
This should be a no stress zone, but I truly appreciate how much you care.
Seems reasonable to me. Writing is an art. Good writing means the final editing will be as close to your vision as you can get. Give us whatever you think is ready, when you think it’s ready. We’ll be happy. You won’t be as exhausted. Fair trade. If I could bring you a truck of $$$$$, I’d take a little off the top to build more bookcases and fling the rest at you.
I love your books. But, whatever you need to do, to preserve yourselves, your relationship, your family, you do that. If you never publish another word and and are fulfilled writing for pleasure, then do that.
Your fabulous stories are out there, to be discovered and loved, rediscovered and loved all over again.
Big business can take the joy out of the best of work and the most decent people. Even when it’s trying to be supportive.
For everything you’ve written, a heartfelt ‘thank you’.
Sounds like a great plan to take care of yourselves! Can’t wait to be happily surprised as to what book is next!
Woof! I read lots of stress in your post and I’m sorry y’all are going through that. Sounds like you’ve found a reasonable solution. I grew up with parents who never told my grandparents when we were going out of town until the last minute to avoid those “I’m SO sick and you have to stay home” conversations. So I get it. It is a given we all want you to write faster, but we also don’t want y’all to burn out. So take that as a badge of honor for a job well done and carry on.
Yes! Seize the day! We will continue to buy your stories in whatever form they are made available. I love your work. As evidenced by this real-time blog, AI’s writing is amazingly polished right out of the gate, needing only quick proofing for typos and grammar/punctuation errors and earnest editorial efforts to reign in the occasional cliché. Despite my dislike of romantic angst and high-maintenance alpha males, IA’s ability to consistently deliver great world building, compelling stories, outstanding supporting characters and familial interaction in tales where warmth, humor, courage, and competence prevail puts them at the top of my list of favorite authors. The Innkeeper series is my favorite comfort read. Full disclosure: I was able to read only one of the Edge books. Having lived near a swamp in the ’80s (cottonmouths snoozing on the front door mat! a nest of black widows behind the toilet tank!), I was too creeped out to read to read any of the others, thus illustrating the effectiveness of IA narrative ability.
My goodness, that sounds like a completely sane way forward. You are also setting a good example. Wishing House Andrews the happiest, most fulfilling and interesting ongoing writing and creative endeavors. We’ll be here.
Absolutely fair. Balance in life is important and I can imagine that your work and output will only improve when you’re happy, rested and minimising unnecessary stress.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has the tsumani dream
Thumbs up! I love or really, really love everything you write and am happy to have any of it anytime.
I totally support this stance. When House Andrews is happy they give us lots of gifts – we of the BDH love the literary gifts from HA. ❤
Thank you! You GO guys.
Good for both of you. I, among so many of your fans will await your next creative work. Good luck!!
On another note, I’m thinking about taking up knitting again just so I can make myself one of these (because apparently I’m just not busy enough yet) So many patterns I haven’t picked one yet. Google “pocket shawl”
Ugh!!! Both.
Good for you!
Bravo and thank you for having a vagina and not giving in to pressure. I support and encourage y’all even more. Enter the Betty White saying re being able to take a pounding an keep going.
Your work is my comfort, and I consider your characters friends. I like it when my friends stand up for themselves, even to me.
Respect.
MEGA congratulations and MASSIVE good luck wishes on fully entering self-publishing. I hope working on your own schedule without formal deadlines will ease your stress and anxiety as well as help you more routinely enjoy the writing process again.
Whatever you choose to do in the future, we will LOVE.
I hope you enjoy creating it.
Good on you both. It shouldn’t be a chore or cause you nightmares. Hopefully your health will also improve with you having more control. I doubt you’ll have any problems selling your self published books. I’m hopeful of a return to wonderfully imaginative narrative without it being bogged down in long series.
This is an excellent plan. You should be able to do everything in your power to destress your writing and publishing process. I appreciate all that you’ve shared with us and look forward to your future “drops”. Thanks, truly for all you do.
Love the image of you guys being the Beyonce of publishing, dropping books without notice, lol. You go Slay!
I for one have never had a problem with your work. It’s all great to me! That said, I hope self-publishing works out for you. I look forward to the future surprise goodies and thank you for always bringing a bright spot into my life with your stories. Good luck!????????????????
I’m so excited that you’re working on something and it’s not on a terrible anxiety-causing deadline. I trust you and love what you write, so when it’s finally available for preorder, that will be cause for celebration. ❤️
Love to read all your stuff, including your blog ????????. (Not to say I don’t WISH for certain books ????.)
I don’t blame you. Do what is right for you and family. You can’t please all the people all the time. Happy thoughts and well wishes to you ❤.
Sounds like a solid plan. I look forward to all the things.
I look forward to whatever you write! I have no doubt that the reduction in pressure will result in something wonderful and look forward to seeing what it is. Can’t wait to be surprised and intrigued. Write on! (Pun definitely intended)
This is a slightly late comment on the shawl problem. I wasn’t able to get to my computer until today, sorry.
Have you considered checking out some of the vintage and antique knitting patterns? The shawls from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s are beautiful. I think your local library would probably be able to get you copies of the magazines. You’d have to Xerox the patterns, but that wouldn’t be a problem, I don’t think. I have a couple of vintage pattern magazines (Grandmama was a packrat, bless her heart, and I got all of the knitting, crocheting and quilting magazines she still had.) And I’ve made 2 of the shawls and they were really beautiful with some of the modern threads.
That sounds splendid, House Andrews. Wishing a breath for you and for us all.
Good for you. Love your work. Having worked at various times as writer, editor & small trade publisher—you nailed the descriptions! If you can make a living writing & reduce stress & deadline, rock on!!! I’ll appreciate whatever pops up when it pops up, like a delightful but unanticipated present.
whatever works best for house andrews , hope this works better for you 🙂
You go girl
Kick some publishing booty
Thank you for being such excellent role models of self-care and boundary setting. Stay well.
As your coffee mug says: You got this.
Thank you for the years of writing and learning and sharing. I think if the last 2 years have taught us anything… it is we all need to take a step back. I don’t want to get off track … oh boy… stop those thoughts and just say THANK YOU.
I will still be a lifetime reader of your wonderful stories and will go back and re-read them because they take away the troubles of the day for me.
I will buy what you write when you write it. You folks are terrifically talented and no matter what world it happens in, or what or how it is published, always brings a smile to my face. I have been reading your pages for over a decade and remember my first Kate books and was like…more please.
I would say to the publishing world it is about the writers and stories they tell silly.
Nuff said..
Thank you for the update. I still look forward to posts with preorder or order infomation. I love the way you and Gordon write and I am looking forward to WHATEVER you release.
The Author insights, trials and tribulations will be missed but it is understandable and probably the reason it is quite rare to see in my experience. Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) had the same feeling about writing under contractual deadlines. Not sure how that worked but and it may of been more a philosophical issue with him.
None of that will be missed, because it won’t stop ???? https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/on-follow-up-questions-unexpected-nature-of/
Nothing is changing, other than the announcements for the new projects. There will still be a blog, snippets, serials etc
While I love the anticipation and build up for when I know your next book is coming. (I never care which one I love them all.) I fully support your need to protect your mental well being and creative process. I would much rather see changes to how you publish and interact with us, the BDH, than take the risk of getting so burnt out on the process that you stop publishing altogether. And thank you for giving us the gift of your stories.
Good for you.
It feels like a proper retirement. Retirement from all accumulated grievances into a life that you can relax into and supported by the BDH (ever faithful and expanding may we be).
This is an life-changing excellent idea. You must take very good care of yourselves (and because we are shamelessly selfish) for us!
🙂
If the military taught me anything it was to impatiently wait. So yes, *taping fingers together* I shall wait for the glory of your house to appease my reader gluttony.
Good for you, I love suprises and if it destresses your life then, you go guys!!
Thanks for all the lovely evenings reading you have provided.