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.
Just like any author I read, I’m always excited to see a new book. Whenever it shows up.
Great! I will obviously read whatever you publish whenever it’s available.
I can’t even comprehend the stress involved in being a successful author.
Congratulations on the masters of your fate. Hugs
You go girl!
Love the sentiment, but also secretly hope that you will still share snippets with us from time to time…
Yes, no worries, it was all clarified in the next post https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/on-follow-up-questions-unexpected-nature-of/
The snippets, serials, treats, blog posts and pet pictures will continue, House Andrews aren’t going anywhere 🙂
You should do what is best for you! I’m a dedicated fan, I’ll wait 😉
Good for you! Less stress and I always believe the best of work. I think that is what has kept me back from submitting anything because I know me. The minute someone tries to make me into something I’m not and control me I balk and will become the proverbial B!atch. Self publishing sounds better and better I just need to get off my arse. Thank you, I for one appreciate what you do and it’s brought me many happy evenings reading or listening my stress away. Look forward to seeing you guys again, miss your book tours
Love you guys and wholly support you doing this. Thanks for writing things we love.
Works for me and I truly enjoy the snippets and I think you will find most of us, super supportive. Love your ✍️ ????????
I admittedly didn’t read the 490+ comments so forgive me if this has already been said.
that ::insert smiley face:: kind of put me in the mind of Kate’s smile, thinking about visiting that realtor…
Good for you! The customer is not always right, the customer is always whiny.
i will happily read anything you publish whenever you publish it. i don’t need to know months in advance of a release date. and i’m all for reducing stress!!!
Everything I’ve read that you have written, I have enjoyed. It seems fair that you enjoy it as well. So thanks. Have at it. I’ll still be here when it’s ready.
Congratulations on getting to this point in the journey. The BDH supports you.
You go House Andrews!! I don’t care what you write I love everything!!
I’m unhappy because I don’t have a new book to read. Don’t care which series just new. But I will live and go reread the KD series. ????
I’m so happy you’re in a position where you can take a break from some of the pressure, work at your own pace, and not have to deal with deadlines.
And I personally think it will be so much fun to be surprised by what story you’re releasing ????????♀️ I had a ton of fun wondering what the secret project was. A little mystery made me happy. While I do have favorite series, I’ve loved all of them.
And I love how you drop hints from one story/series in others – like how you mentioned the Alphas in one of the Edge books, and now that the Edge series is finished some of its characters are in the Innkeeper series.
And honestly, the only reason I know when your books are releasing is because I read your blog ???? I preorder books from my favorite authors as soon as Amazon says the preorder links are up (I get emails telling me there are upcoming releases from the authors I follow) and am happily surprised when books appear.
I just want to say I completely support this decision. I hope it makes the process more enjoyable for you both. Whenever you have something you’re ready to show us I’m confident I will be there to buy it.
You are wonderful, lovely, amazing writers, and I hope switching to this method gives you the rest and space you need to shut out all the noise and the deadlines and the demanding people! Thank you for sharing such wonderful creative efforts with us. 🙂
????
Y’all you’d do whatever y’all need to do to be happy and fulfilled in your lives and your career. Ima be over here quietly rereading your books until y’all release something else wonderful and I will add that book to my favorites list along with everything else y’all have written. Seriously, I’m so glad you choose to share so much of yourselves with the world.
Good for you.
I have no doubt you appreciate your audience; the fact that you treat us so well makes it obvious. However, we would be absolute pains in the butts as bosses.
I firmly believe that all of us are best served by happy authors. ❤️
Good luck!
100% got your back, just grateful you write your books. No pressure from me. I re-read and quietly wait. Love your work.
I love all of the projects you work on, so I’m never disappointed by one thing or another being worked on. That said, it’s probably best to not reveal release dates partially so people won’t harass you to work on something else but also so that you guys have wiggle room if life interrupts your deadlines.
My new “Ilona’s teapot” has just become my favourite thing.
Thanks a million for a truly brilliant recommendation!
I’m not sure if anyone has asked before, because reading 513 comments is a bit much.
What about your publications in foreign languages? Will they still be available through traditional publishers, or will you do it yourself, or maybe not at all?
Translating the books myself is a bit tedious, even if I do it partially, because some are unfortunately not yet announced in German.
If you look on Amazon, you will see German Innkeeper. 🙂 So self published books can definitely be translated. Our French publisher purchased rights to Iron and Magic and did a great job with it.
Thank you, good to know. I have the first 3. But 4 and 5 are missing. I translated them by myself, but i really would love to have a printed book in my shelf. 😉
Hey Swampcow ????,
Whether self or traditionally published, House Andrews and their U.S. publishers do not control the availability of the books in other countries.
Only your local publishers and retailers control that ????.
If you would like to continue to read the books in your language/your country, please email the local publisher who published the previous works, or one who deals with fiction similar to IA and let them know you would like to read on your terms. House Andrews are very happy to sell foreign rights to other countries and have the books be available as widely as possible.
Thx a lot. I will write them! 🙂
Go House Andrews! That sounds perfect. As long as I get books, I’m good. This way, I will not be tempted to lift the lid on the pot and interfere with your work. You know where to find us if you perhaps decide an outside opinion will be of use. I don’t recommend it, but you do you and we will try to be helpful while not stepping on toes. It is a relief to know what to expect, and that you are taking good care of yourself. I wish more of my favorite authors could do the same.
Our big project has morphed into a textbook series (60 chapters and counting), so the cachet of a name publisher may help (though we will self-publish it too if we have to). The math textbook / UFO kids story along with the various and sundry fictions are open to self-publishing or other publishing. As part of our motivation is avoiding other people bossing us around, we have (I think) a deep understanding of why House Andrews has chosen their current path. So more power to you, and we will happily devour whatever books you choose to deliver whenever you choose to.
I am glad you both are taking care of yourselves.
That’s a great idea, I really hope it brings the enjoyment of writing back to you. ????
While I would love to see my favorite side character get their own book RSN, I recognize that some of my favorite books came completely out of left field. I fully support your new approach, especially if it makes writing more fun. When work is fun, and you set the pace, life is much more fulfilling. I’m glad you can make this work. And I love Gertrude Hunt, at whatever pace her story moves.
I check your blog because I enjoy your insight into the writing process and the ways that you engage with the community! I love seeing the amount of thought and dedication you put into the work. Honestly in a lot of ways it makes the stories mean that much to me reading them. I am excited for when the next things come, but I can wait patiently until they are ready. Thanks for all the stories so far and I look forward to seeing what comes next especially without a publisher breathing down your neck.
I will read whatever you decide is next. I enjoy the journey. I have my favorites of yours, of course, but I like everything and always look forward to something new to read.
It sounds like you have finally found a way to enjoy what you do more. Who can fault that?
Good luck!