To give you an idea of what it’s like to write after the release week. For reasons of COVID and other factors, we have to finish Ryder as fast as possible, so I am not getting the few days off I needed. Here is how bad things are.
Nick worried me. Years ago, before Nick became Knight-Protector, he was a Crusader and his last assignment before his promotion was to infiltrate Roland’s organization. Grandfather had done something to him, something awful neither of them ever talked about. Nick Feldman had been volatile to begin with,
Wait a minute, wasn’t Kate’s guardian named Feldman? Did I confuse the names again? Why does this keep happening? This is so annoying…
… trying to remember’s the “right” last name for 15 seconds…
Nick is Greg’s kid. They have the same last name. Oh my God.
And this concludes the fried brain segment of your entertainment today. 😀
Okay, it is really weird seeing the process from author’s end. Coz in my head, all of the characters from Kate Daniels’ world are my immediate neighbors (so you tend to remember the big highlights of their lives) and innkeeper characters are family (i think of dina et al as cousins). And yeah, stuck & ingrained in gossip-like fashion. So, jarring to see them plotted out. Funny. But jarring, these are real people you know 😛
this hit a lil bit too close to home for me lmao
You know!!!!
+1
This also hit a little close to home for me- good articulation about it being jarring to see the plotted out process but good to read!
Ha! This hit very close to home for me, too. Their writing is just that good.
+1
+1
Yes! And this is why, I think, the BDH is always clamoring for more. Because waiting months or a year to find out if your friends’ and cousins’ Big Issues are working out, if they figured it out with their newfound powers or true love….it’s excruciating. The curse of being a compelling writer is that it compels your fans to be ever more demanding.
So…thank you, House Andrews, and think of our demands as love ????.
Ditto!
+1
+10,000
plus 1
I hope you guys have a beautiful and restful day today even though you’re feeling a lot of pressure. Hang in there!
+1
I just watched the Author talk on Youtube by Carey Memorial Library. First – thank you Ilona and Gordon participating in the talk! Second – does anyone remember the book site Ilona mentioned that she had been reading lately? Not sure if it was short stories but it sounded interesting.
Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.
Yeah, I would like to find mine too.
My motto!
When I was in college it was the night before a term paper was due so like normal I began typing it up. As I was typing it I had to use a two letter word in the sentence. But I forgot how to spell that two letter word. I can’t remember if it was “is, if, of, so, etc.” but every time I typed it, it looked wrong. I felt like a complete idiot and I did not want to go to the next dorm room over and ask someone how do you spell what ever the two letter word was. I stared at my computer for like 15 minutes. So I know all to well how your brain can get fried.
I feel your pain, similar situation but for the life of me I couldn’t remember how to spell “a”.
I laughed so hard at this. (I have done this, too.)
Midway through my thesis write-up, realised that I’d written the wrong organisation acronym in. I was writing about two orgs whose acronyms were one letter different (ie ABCDE vs ACBE) & as I’d previously worked for one, I kept writing it in. So much pain to rectify….
For me it was “the”. I was in the third or fourth grade. It was very embarrassing.
It was “of” for me, same circumstances. I KNEW it wasn’t “ov” but just couldn’t get to “of”, because that said “off”, right? Nope.
Pack it in, go to bed.
second grade – spelling test – any? eny? iny? I just couldn’t remember – but I still remember the feeling of panic at not knowing almost 60 years later.
I read that wrong. Post release Brian. I was, “Who is this Brian? Maybe he has recipes or knitting projects. Maybe he has a new hobby like pottery or under demolition.” Then I read it again —I think maybe naps are called for..
I think it is the picture that thows you. You see a knight, and now his name is Brian. Post release Brian. He comes to visit, eats all your cake, hogs the hot water leaves a bloddy mess in the back yard.. but, on the plus side he does get rid of the chubby black and white squirrels. 😉
Hahaha This is awesome! His name is totally Brian now!
LOL. Perfect.
I did the same thing. Saw Brian, only I just got back from lunch which includes a nap, so there is no excuse, except my brian (er brain) is just now waking up.
Yes, but your fried brain got it right!
🙂
But fried Brian is so tasty!
Braaaaaaaaaaa-ins (said in my best zombie voice)
Take a deep breath and a nap ????,
Sometimes, the hurrier you go, the behinder you gets. Take a day, go swim if there are no black and white squirrels, and get some sleep. Pushing too hard doesn’t work. Now I’m going to go obsess over why Jim has let Atlanta go to hell, what Ascanio thinks he can do to fix it, and did Mahon ever learn to make decent honey muffins. There, I have done your worrying for you. Go relax.
???? that’s really funny.
Relax brain, breath in, breath out
Brain good to go ????
When I’m really fried, I have trouble to spell “the” don’t know why this world in particular.
I get this too. With. It’s always with. Sounds wrong, looks wrong. Surely it’s not spelled that way?
Then I just sit there saying with, over and over, like a moron having a brain aneurysm.
Hang in there Ilona & Gordon! You’ve done such amazing work with Emerald Blaze, we all couldn’t be happier. I’m also so thankful for your virtual tour and the joy of reading your blog posts everyday. It gives me a moment away from all the awful things happening and it feels wonderful.
I wish you could have some time to relax though. Our hype and fandom is putting pressure on your deadlines, your schedule must be bursting with activity!
What she said!
Take care of yourselves!
Plus 1000000
We call that “COVID Brain” at our house. I just have to veg out when I get it and try to take a walk,
Thank you both for writing Julie’s story. The story and your blog have been a great help against COVID Brain. Sending good thoughts your way.
I’d forgotten Nick was Greg’s son… I picture them so differently. In my head, Nick is Ian McKellen-ish. Tall, slim but muscular, a younger Gandalf. Greg is more Nathan Lane-ish in American Crime Story. Not in character, but in looks…
A small confession: I read really fast. Lot’s of authors put a lot of effort into naming their characters Mohalikana’swanson’anon. When I’m reading my brain calls them “The MO guy.” Then there are 4 other characters whose names start with “Mo.” So I might add the 3rd letter. So all the work they put into ethnically diverse names comes down to “Moh, Mom and Mon” in my brain. I love that urban fantasy writers usually use names like “Jane” and “Kate” and “Nick” because those names don’t get truncated in my head.
Back before ebooks, I whined that I really wanted an electronic copy of The Simarillion so I could go thru and replace all of Tolkien’s lovely names with George and Lily and .. well, Aragorn wasn’t hard, but boy, some of them…
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I about had a brain aneurysm when I read that, like… “Nick is Greg’s son? What? When? How?” and then… “Oh. Yeah. Nvm.” Covid man, I tell ya. xD
Wait, but Uncle Stupidhead is back! Yay!
Also, coffee is good.
Sometimes you just can’t even brain. You have more than earned a break, but pressure and timelines be what they be so take your little tiny rests where you can – microbreaks! Close your eyes, picture yourself on a beach, take a deep breath and power through. We all believe in you! 🙂
I’m sorry, were you saying something?? I was trying to remember why I came into the den…
I actually love that you forget details, too.
I’m rereading the entire series in prep for more Ryder, and smacking myself for the stuff I’ve forgotten.
I remember my brother coming downstairs after pounding on his term paper for English Lit. He sat down at the kitchen table and just stared at his empty mug for five minutes.
“Hey Jer, what you need?”
“I can’t remember how to spell a word, and I can’t finish my paper without it.”
More staring. I took his mug and made him his favorite hot chocolate. He took one sip and blinked twice.
“Okay. Can you tell me the word you need spelled?”
He gave me this puppy eyed, despair filled face. “The word I need–is WHEN.”
It took everything I had not to bray like a donkey.
I grabbed a post it note from the kitchen, wrote out the word for him, and he ran back upstairs.
Words that lock up my brain: Florescent, gamble, piquant, and morose.
So sorry about the brain lag. I have it all the time! Lol. Thank you for your wonderful efforts!
it definitely happens, I once went blank, like completely blank on my cousins name!!- I was sitting opposite her in my uncles place (diff uncle, really big extended family) and went completely blank, is only known her since I was born for about (at that time) 15 yrs.
So i figure is not so bad when I forgot non family names when that’s my bar????
Always remember my mom calling me in a panic, saying “ what the hell is OF !!OF can’t be a word. What does it mean.”She was a 25 year executive law secretary. She knew everything. She remembered everything .
Everyone came to her for help.
She knew the complete history of the law firm, all the partners, cases and outcomes.
But 12 memos of law in one day was too much.
It was just so human.
Whenever we were stressed, we would call each other say OF, and laugh. It broke the stress.
So, you need small , tiny, breaks, have tea. Pet a dog. Text your kid. Or Jeanine.
Thank you for Emerald blaze and cool aunt.
And all the interviews, they were awesome .
This is me – OF, THE, AT, – simple words that look foreign when your brain takes a vacation without telling you.
I totally do that, too. I’ve looked at my own name and had the overwhelming feeling that I spelled it wrong or put the wrong name down. Exhaustion does weird things to your brain.
That was going to be my story. I completely blanked out once on “of” and stared for a minute to see if I had spelled it correctly. I think I changed it to “ov” at one point before changing it back.
One thing that happened to me just this weekend. I was arranging sheet music into two different binders. The sets were the same except one had English lyrics and the other had Tagalog (Filipino). I was totally confused at one point because I was looking at a Tagalog sheet and my brain said, “I understand these words! This is in English, file over here.”
Then, after reviewing the arrangement, my brain would turn on me and say, “Dummy, these don’t match. File over there!”
I always have that moment when I spell a word and it just looks so wrong lol. Happens to the best of us.
Hope uncle stupidhead is hanging in there though 🙂
Its really too bad you can’t take a break though 🙁
I think this happens a lot more than we, the readers, know about. During a q/a Jim Butcher related a time he had written out a third of a novel, an unnamed Dresden, with the main antagonist being a character he had killed off a couple books ago. Worse still his alphas missed it, so it was his betas that told he had to stop writing and go tweak his plotting.
I just realized this may not be as comforting as I intended. Still, you’re amazing, Jim’s amazing, and I’m going to get back to my second read through of EB. Any luck I did more good than harm.
Please hang in there. Ryder is going to be awesome. Emerald Blaze was incredible. to slow myself down (I tend to treat your books like a bag of chocolates – too fast, too fast) I re-read sapphire flames. Thank you for all the knots tied and mysteries waiting for the next book. You guys are awesome.
I tend to read the physical book, then listen to the entire series again, so I have all the books and voices in my head. It’s like having friends and family drop by for a lovely visit, and the brought cake and ice cream.
Irony: I was just thinking the other day during a reread – most series have about 6 strong side characters that appear intermittently in their work. House Andrews has like 60 in the KD series alone. (Decided I wanted to do a count but haven’t gotten there yet.)
How do they keep all of them straight in their head? Do they have cheat sheets, charts, etc… As a reader, I have to go back and double check sections of previous books just to remember “Who’s this person? What group are they with? What’s their magic power and fighting style? Issues with the mc’s or with one of the mc’s friends? Etc…”
Really hit home in EB with Xavier’s reappearance. (Had to scramble around to find out the when, where, how and who he was connected with when he appeared before.)
As a reader, I decided I need cheat sheets for all your characters (for all the on-going series) as you never know when they’re going to pop-up again. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you guys to keep it all straight. (And let’s not get started on all the subplots, intrigues, relationships, etc… you always have in your books.)
So “fried brain” – no surprise.
If you didn’t make all of it so complex and interesting it would be easier for you but for me it would be losing so much of the richness and awesomeness (yes, it’s really a word) you bring to your stories.
A little surprised if it didn’t happen more often.
I’m rereading the whole cannon now to bring myself up to date again. It’s like my 4th time or so, but there are always parts missed. Interesting nuggets from Derek and Erra and others that may or may not be relevant now with Ryder.
I’ve hesitated to put in notes got refer back to, however. Have to draw a line somewhere to put myself in the character’s place. They don’t have transcribed convos, after all.
Ilona, you’re OK. Your brain is no more fried than anyone else’s. It’s just that your thoughts are on display for all to see. Had you used the wrong name there, your husband would have caught it. Or your proof-readers or test readers or whatever you call them would have caught it. Deep breath. Take a nap. Take a walk. Watch a cat sleep. You’ll be fine.
Have you considered setting up (or having a friend set up) your own, not shared, wiki with characters and places and whatever else you need (weapons? spells? tribes?) so you can check your world’s consistency? It would take weeks or months away from your writing (and please don’t stop writing Ryder!) but in the long run should save you time.
This sounds like me during years of teaching, trying to proofread students’ papers before they “published” them for their parents. After seeing the same words misspelled over and over, I would have trouble remembering the correct way to spell them and would have to look them up.
I hope you are not so rushed after BLOOD HEIR.
Thank you for writing Ryder! I hope you all get an extended vacation as soon as the book is done.
Awww…bless your heart.
And that’s meant to be read in the southern, sweet and “sincere” way….NOT the southern, sassy and sarcastic way. ????
Oh I thought since Ryder is self published you could push back the release and not need to rush it
Maybe it’s been picked up?
I think they said that it has to do with the printers. Like, there’s only a few and if you miss your spot you have to wait a long time to get back in line. I could be mistaken, but that’s what I think they said. ????♀️????
I don’t like the Feldmans.
The father kept having these get-togethers with the unsavory Russian types. Now the son has this huge rabid dog/wolf thing which keeps coming around and making weird noises.
I miss the Lennarts. Nice quiet neighbors, nothing much happened when they were living in the cul-de-sac.
That comment about the rabid dog/wolf thing almost caused a spit-take! ???????????? Thanks for the laugh.
????
I ROFLOL. You forgot to tie in the glow in dark monster. I don’t see Desandra only using that once even though Derek busted her for.
Hmmm…
Glow in the dark, rabid dog/wolf thing. It’s kind of a stretch, don’t you think? ????
Well now I’m thinking of Nick and Desandra and glow-in-the-dark paint and my brain just down a totally different off-ramp.
Loved your remarks. Rabid dog/wolf thing. She’ll get you for that. You might see a great glow in the dark rabid dog/wolf thing. Nice quiet neighbors the Lennarts. And Deimos on his off days.HA!
It’s not just you. At work, we had a rough week too, and it wasn’t just us, people in we came in contact with said they thought it was the week of a full moon. It was a rough one.
Emerald Blaze was awesome. I loved that we were able to see Nevada and Conner, Catalina and Alessandro have grown so much and that Linus and Victoria are getting this wonderful family that they gave up on having. Although Victoria isn’t getting it as well as Linus because she’s being the evil step grandmother. Thank you.
Love you ! Lol
Hah! I have the same thing happening (I do a lot of technical writing). 2020, horrible horrible horrible. This awful very bad no good year is clogging my brain. Obsessing on the death toll and all the awful ways Coronavirus can mess a person up does not help. Compound that with a book release and skunkings? The only thing that helps me is chocolate. Lots of chocolate.
Yes, chocolate is good for stress. Even Jack knows that 🙂
Ilona-andrews, you guys are such a good part of my life. You make me feel good. You help me get through the bad times. Thank you so much. I truly love your work. I have all your published books. You even made me care for Hugh. I wish for you and your family love and many blessings.
Hi, while I appreciate the desire to finish Ryder I am confused about the need to rush. I thought that it was to be published in January 2021 and was not a book that was being produced for a contract but something you did for your personal creative inclinations like the Innkeeper series. I love the book so far but would not want it to stress you out during this time. Loved the book tour, I saw most of your talks and loved them.
COVID shut down a lot of the printers and publishers, they need to finish ASAP to get a place in a companies printing/publishing queue if readers expect to see the book in Jan 2021.
Apparently the two large printing companies in the US are in dire straights, one of them has gone into receivership.
You’re not alone in the brain fog world. I get that too, especially when I stare at federal program reports too long. I’ll also get it if I read a document for more than 3 hours without a break.
Walk away from the writing for a little while. It’s amazing that the brain will reset. ????
I somehow missed or totally forgot Nick was Greg’s son. I can’t even blame COVID on that miss.
I once failed a french test in my teens, because after a night of no sleep, I couldn’t remember how to spell bicycle in english. Then I tried using the dictionary, and couldn’t figure out how to find it. I despaired over that bit of the test until the bell rang, and my test sat there unfinished. Boy, did I feel stupid.
Please find some time to just rest some and relax. Ryder is great, and EB was amazing. I have read it twice and will read it a third time as soon as Mom finishes reading it. All of your writing is amazing and we thank you for it.
Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post. I was so stressed when I went for my Masters degree Orals I could not even remember my name much less my Masters thesis project. Fortunately my professors knew that I knew just had stressed out so they called my husband to come get me and rescheduled for next day. They were afraid to let me drive myself home. So my husband took me out for a good dinner and put me To sleep with a back massage. The next day I aced oral exam. No explanation Why other than I was so stressed / anxious my brain just turned off. So take a 5 minute Me break for a cup of tea outside in the shade avoiding black and white squirrels then return to whatever inside.
Hello, if you need a little pause, here is a 6 seconds video (article in french, sorry) with an original way to bring a bull home after he escaped.
Note: the farmer explains that the bull was abandoned by his mother and bottle-fed, and that he’s domesticated. Hope you enjoy!
https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/gard/nimes/insolite-camargue-taureau-banquette-arriere-cabriolet-fait-buzz-internet-1850846.html
That was awesome, thanks!!
????????????
I didnt publish a book, but i did just release a 4K work 20 page essay into tje wild so I can relate on the fried brain front!
word* the** lol and it shows
???? (Hugs)
“COVID Brain” is the worst. I think there was even a study on what it’s doing to memory! On ScienceNews.org the version was titled “How Coronavirus Stress may Scramble Our Brains.” ….I know for myself, I hit the “wall” much sooner than before all this. My brain just comes to a hard stop. Blank screen of doom. All I can do is watch something soothing and go to bed. Nature shows. Shows on black holes. As long as there isn’t predation, that’s right out.
“OH NOO!! THE BABY TURTLES! WHY DO THEY SHOW THIS?!!!” hahaha… you know how it goes.
All the best to you. I hope you can rest soon, and rely on the good things like tea in beautiful cups.
Ah yes. Can you imagine how great and strong we will all be on the other side of this mess? At grocery store needed to enter 4 digit code which I’ve done BAJILLION times. Groceries ready to go. Totally blanked out. Absolutely no idea. Started to cry. Just turned walked away never went back to store. You got this. We got you.
If that was your debit card PIN (in case this happens again or maybe somebody else needs it), you can choose credit and sign your name instead. It will still come out of your checking account just like you used your PIN and won’t be like a credit card where you get a bill. The only difference between using your debit card with the PIN or signing is how you authorize it. That being said, if you can, it’s better to use the PIN, but it’s ok if you have to sign instead. ????
While I love Ryder I would rather have healthy authors who can write more at a later date, please take a rest!
I once forgot the alphabet! I was doing voluntary work for a charity putting paper direct debits in alphabetical order of the donors name, and I was only doing it for a few hours not working writing day in day out as you do.
Might I suggest getting a fan to do a genaolgy type chart for the Kate Daniels world for you that you could keep updated … Just an idea. I am terrible with names in real life. Can’t imagine trying to keep track of different book series too!
Sorry you aren’t getting time off which I think you both really really deserve.
There’s times to push and there’s time to acknowledge you’re on the verge of burning out or past that point already. Please take care of yourselves. I know I can wait for Ryder and greatly prefer you take care. You’ve already done an excellent job with book release, virtual signings, and existing Ryder installments.
Again, thank you all for writing Ryder. I am so thrilled to have Julie’s book.
Emerald Blaze is amazing. I’ve read it twice and am ready to start another read-through of the whole series.
I can’t remember who recommended this, but as a break from Hidden Legacy I’m reading “The Vanished Queen” by Lisbeth Campbell. Highly, highly recommended.
the day I got married there was a receiving line. My husband and I were introducing each other to various sundry guests. I turned to my husband said this is my husband and nothing came out. There was no name. Total blank. Never happened before and hasn’t happened since. Perhaps I was a bit stressed. I hope that you are able to get on a more normal writing schedule that doesn’t stress you to the max. I don’t want you to get so stressed that you quit writing.
Maybe index cards for each character would help? Like little cheat sheets pinned up, listing appearance, bio, relationships to other characters, and resume of key appearances.
Sometimes I think I need to do this to keep track of friends I haven’t seen since lockdown, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other!
Take a break. Watch Black Panther on ABC at 8, commercial free. I’m in the middle of a book, so my husband is DVRing it for us to watch tomorrow.
In my case…I knew I was fried when my brain wouldn’t accept that two 4s make an eight. I had to draw 8 lines to convince myself and then count it a few more times just to make sure. Also my brain didn’t trust the calculator as well. IF I remember correctly it wasn’t even relevant to the mathI was doing back then (diff.calc) it just was a random thought that stopped me for a few minutes. LOL.
lol! Cup of tea, deep breaths, repeat as needed.
I have to say this is one of my favorite pictures and its Nick. I thought he was a cool character when he showed up at the every beginning, and I hope he has his HEA – I mean if Hugh gets redeemed – Nick has to be redeemed too, right? Roland gets to spend eternity in his magic realm – Nick should have immortality too – Kate likes him, he is like a brother – that crazy older brother that keeps messing with you.
In my mind, Nick, the Knight Crusader, was like that cop in Hill Street Blues, the crazy one doing deep undercover – Belker.
Thank you for writing Ryder. I’m sad circumstances have conspired to make it a burden. I was hoping you were getting as much joy out of writing it as we were reading it.
I too wish you could take the break you need and deserve. Sometimes breaks make us more productive but I trust you to know best for yourself!
Best wishes!
Your fried brain is still tons better than my regular brain. Thank you for sharing.
Do your best! We have faith in you! You’re the best and a few brain farts are par for the course.
Soooo… if you do *this* deadline thing, you must make yourselves a deal of *not* allowing *another one* to get plussed on immediately after. It sounds like you need a break. Gotta let the well refill!
If I can get myself to sit down on the floor with my back against a wall (pillows as required) and close my eyes, 12 minutes of thinking of nothing seems to give me fresh brain. 10 minutes doesn’t feel like enough and 15 often feels too ambitious. I don’t sweat special breathing, position, or anything like that. I choose floor because chairs don’t seem as restful with my legs hanging down, and bed or couch might suck me down into a nap. Naps are good, too! But sometimes you have to just press, so can’t go for the nap thing.
Whatever your personal tricks for more brain, I hope you do at least a few cycles of those while you are getting through generation of this latest excellent collection of words.
Then, reeest and reset at earliest opportunity. The regeneration requirement *is* real! Seriously. Must re-create so as to be able to keep doing your cool creation stuff.
In the mean time, good luck with the words! May they flow with ease and perfect energy.
When I write, I can NEVER keep all the names straight. Sometimes I can’t even remember the first name of an important character if they haven’t appeared for a while….
That’s why I always make a list of all the characters as they appear, and their relationships (including maiden names when appropriate). Otherwise, I’d have to re-read everything from the start every time I get confused (which is often).
Same thing with dates/ages. Trying to keep it in my head would be like trying to stop the tide, hopeless.
Excel spreadsheet or database with character names, books thy appear on, physical description, if it changes at a certain point, key plot things that happen to them, any iconic items, quotes, sayings, all sortable and searchable.
^_^
I used to do that when tackling licensing style guides to make sure character and plot info was right on things. c
Someone once said that if you like sausage and respect the law, you shouldn’t watch either being made. This also seems to include books. ????????
I’m a novice writer who’s writing for fun. I discovered world building last year and honestly, I’m surprised this type of problem doesn’t happen more often because I have to keep a cheat sheet with me at all times for information like that. Thank you both for all you do.
I thought Nick and Greg were brothers?
Nawh. The info is in Magic Binds, I believe. Kate originally thought brother, but then found out more. Jim’s research, I believe.
I love Nick (and Hugh and Erra and Roland!) Thank you for giving us Ryder, its amazing to revisit that world through Julie’s eyes.
Here is something to help you with the fried brain syndrome. If you visit http://www.thestoryteller.blog , you will find a curtain raiser for a book called “The house that Dhathri built”. It is set in the 1800s onwards, and is the story(ies) of a palace in South India, in the Malabar region. It is very well researched and the stories are true, even if they have been fictionalised. I suggest it mainly as it is something that is culturally completely different to anything you may be used to and therefore interesting to read! The book is available on Amazon (Kindle and paperback).
Its just a suggestion for a book to relax with!
Hahaha, courage ! ????????
I understand totally to this fried-brain-thing ????
So post release brain is kind of like baby brain?
You’ll be okay. Just send Gordon out for ice cream and yummy coffees.
Or, better yet, send the kids out for it.
I’m sorry you didn’t get the rest you deserved. But thank you for sharing ????
I hope your brain regenerates soon ????
I can’t even remember my own kids/spouse’s name on a good day. I can’t even image keeping up with an entire universe and all the relationships, etc. contained in it. Good luck!
Sorry you don’t get the much needed break you both deserve right now. As a fan I’m always demanding more, but as someone who has experienced burn out please take care of yourselves!
*hug* It will be ok. A good thing you caught it now.
My print copy of EB cane today from Bank Square Books. They wrapped it nicely in brown paper like a present. The book plate and a bookmark mark tucked inside. It was so nice…. I’ve been doing kindle version for fiction for so long…kinda forgot the experience of a sweet paperback. Thanks again for all those signatures you did!! It’s very cool and special to have …hope brain rest comes soon …
Dear baker at the Andrews home,
I’ve been looking at Pithivier recipes trying to find one the uses apples. I finally came across one from Epicurious that uses an apple butter in addition to frangipane. Is this close enough?
Thanks!
Hi Brenda, there was a recipe posted on this site; https://ilona-andrews.com/2019/a-pithivier/
Have fun baking
Thank you for taking the time to make blog posts. I hope they somehow help with the fried brain. The posts brighten our days.
Thank you, and everyone who helped, for making Emerald Blaze. It’s amazing. Worth reading and re-reading and re-re-reading. Have to go re-read all stories, especially Of Swine and Roses.
Thank you for the Cool Aunt bribe. I wouldn’t have bought a paperback copy otherwise, these days. Need adjustable type… The paperback just fits in one’s hands, though. My Precious! Whenever Cool Aunt shows up for public re-reading, it will be great.
Knowing House Andrews contains accomplished cooks, I thought of you today. Was reworking leftovers into a kinda, sorta love child of a Burmese curry. Wondered what you all might have done with quinoa, cooked chicken, beans, cilantro, lime juice, cucumber and carrots.
May the rest of your year be Boring.
I was over on Amazon reading reviews for Emerald Blaze. I like to read the one, two, and three start reviews. People’s brains are like fart muffins. One two star reviewer said she didn’t like Emerald Blaze because Catalina and Alesandro were not Kate and Curran. My brain went blank for a second. Then I am thinking different characters, different worlds, different circumstances but you are upset because the characters are not the same? Some people shouldn’t be allowed to read books much less post.
I feel for you
Checking your blog has become a vital part of my week. Thank you, from all your fans in South Africa.
I can relate. For what it’s worth, you aren’t alone. It seems the BDH suffers along with you.
If I remember correctly, Nick Feldman was the son of Kate’s guardian who’s last name was Feldman who is killed before Book 1 starts.
OK, this may be a question that has already been asked and answered, but I haven’t been able to figure out where Kate got her last name from. Is this addressed in the books?
mmmm…..good question which leads to “what was Kate’s mom’s last name”?
Happy ????. My dead tree books, got paperback and hardcover came today fromBlueWillow. Called bookshop to tell them they had arrived. The colors on the covers are so bright .
Thank you so much for another chapter in Hidden legacy.
Hope you are getting enough sleep, food and time to relax a little bit.
Miss the innkeeper. Will have to read sweep in peace again. Glad I bought all the innkeeper books and Iron and Magic.
May you never run out of words.
Thank you.
I could not remember how to spell “three.”
I was writing a check for half payment of a shared fence, leaning against the fence with the person waiting on the other side to take the check from me. Ended up writing it out on the wood of my side of the fence until my daughter came to see what was holding me up. The look on her face when I whispered the problem will never be forgotten. I assured her that her turn was coming!
I’ve forgotten names, how to spell, and in one particularly stressful time..my phone number! I needed to give it at the hospital and had to ask my friend to look it up on his phone! Spelling is always difficult. I want to spell things with British English spelling even though I live in Texas, and am from Texas. Years of living in other countries exposed me, and now I just struggle. Is it titre or titer. I don’t need CovidBrain to make me crazy. I got there by myself!
I am re-reading Emerald Blaze for the Nth time and I just want to congratulate you for your excellent Italian. Also, your consultant on the language. Auguri!!!!
I am re-reading Emerald Blaze for the Nth time and I just want to congratulate you for your excellent Italian. Also, your consultant on the language. Auguri!!!!
Am I the only one who checks this site first think in the morning? Love you guys I’m really grateful for your work. A huge hug from Puerto Ordaz Venezuela.
+1 I also check in the morning, and throughout the day. I find this community and IA to be soothing. Helpful. Like checking in with friends. Even if none of you would ever help me change my flat tire, I feel like…I could ask how to do it, and would get some great advice, answers and entertainment … 🙂
:sigh: we’ve all been there.
It’s a crazy schedule. <3
You know, just the other day I was wondering, do authors reread the series before writing the new instalment? This episode validates the question, I think! 😀
Any chance of a Nick Feldman POV? I would certainly enjoy reading about Nick meeting Kate for the first time and about subsequent events viewed through his eyes.
That is so familiar, but for me it is after grading final lab reports, final exams and submitting finals grades (receiving many emails from students concerning grades) and someone will ask me a question. I stare, which student are you? Which class? Which lab? Blank brain. Then I realize it is my kid. Makes me feel better knowing others get that way too. But, then I read one of y’all’s books to get my brain back.
May I recommend printing things and making a visual board in the writing area? It always helped me, but my thesis probably wasn’t nearly as detailed as your books, so you’ll have several pages of notes.
E-notes? You can save them.
Please get sleep. It’ll suck if there’s Dorking and grammatical errors in the published version after all the work you’re putting in.
Also, sick authors write no books. Please take care.
alert(“:)”)
Hugs and love ..yesterday I couldn’t remember my computer sign in. It’s my work one and I’ve had the same one for ohhhhhh TWENTY SEVEN YEARS.