Oh no, two posts in a row. This is what happens when we are not furiously writing.
It is a very blustery day in Texas. The world is soaking in the downpour, and the thick rain hangs like a pale haze. The fat raindrops bubble up as they strike the ground and drum a steady, comforting hum on the metal roof. It is cozy. The two dogs of Andrews household are sacked out, the cats are sleeping, and the outside critters are hiding from the rain.
We need the rain. I have to say that, or they might kick me out of Texas.
1,000 sets of borderless vellum arrived yesterday, thankfully packaged in plastic and safe from the rain. I am going to finish the customer queries today, the sticker sheets have been printed, and I am excited to get our dining room back.
I also have to mail several packages. And I hope to do little mundane things like cleaning the house.
For those of you who asked what I was knitting – it’s a shawl. I did so much crochet that I needed a palate cleanser. I scored this gorgeous Volcanic Eruption Estrelitta colorway from Miss Babs, and I paired it with S’mores Yummy 2 ply. I thought it might tone down the sparkle.
The joke is on me, because the pattern I picked calls for distinct stripes, and these two yarns blend flawlessly.
I had to frog it, because the narrow stripes the pattern needed faded completely. This is not the right pattern for this yarn, but I started and I am going to keep going. Often wrong but never in doubt!
I decided to call this mess Fireside Ember project.
Some of you noticed that the book linked in the previous post, This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara, has been dropped by her publisher. When that happens, sometimes people decide to boycott the publisher. Just in case anyone is considering it, please don’t. Shalini is entitled to royalties, so the best revenge here would be to buy this book, so she can get all the moneys.
Publishing is not for the faint of heart.
We’ve been writing for almost a year, non-stop. Vacation is not in the cards this year, so we will end up doing a staycation, and right now it honestly feels so soothing to just not have the enormous pressure of a past due deadline. People have been asking what’s next, and we don’t know yet. Right now we are going to decompress by filling all these orders, and then we will see.
A small request: please stop making threads and commenting about all of the books we have not written and demanding to know when they will get here. It doesn’t help. It makes more pressure, and more pressure will not make books happen. It will just give me a massive writer’s block, and since it takes two of us to write the books, the HA machine will grind to a halt. To create, we need room to breathe.
Well, it’s almost 10:00 am, and I have a list of things to take care of.
Oh, and ARRA has a cool announcement.
Ooooh, rainy days! Curl up with your knitting and a cup of tea.
You deserve it.
Have a First! You deserve it🥇
So pretty!
i hope you both have a very restful break!!
Enjoy your well deserved staycation! Sometimes they are better than a vacation. Just don’t let the chores grind you down.
This is the earliest I have ever commented!
Have a good staycation and time away from writing! We all need a break and you certainly deserve it!
The pups are so cute all crashed out.
Have a great relaxing day!
The every day routine is soothing.
I frequently buy material in Civil War themed colors. It is so hard to find the right shades of red and black. Lately I have been getting cheddar and various shades of purple. I love the new colors of yarn in your shawl! I may do a mini quilt next. Enjoy the rain, we have heat index here over 100 and I’m staying in too!
Bless you both. Thank you for all the words. Have a great break and downtime.❤️🙏🏽
Special thank you to Mod R for keeping us out of mischief while you were busy.😍
So happy you’re getting rain and a well deserved break
So glad that you (and my Texas sisters) are getting rain! Sounds like a soothing way to come down from all the stress and travel.
Sorry that Steve has been organizing stress inducing threads. You should be pampered like royalty and all housework and drudgery taken care of so that your creative spirits can flourish! We will w@-@-@it . (sigh)
I clicked the link for the Australian Romance Reader newsletter, but it requires a $15 membership to access the newsletter. I hope you can give us the news soon!
Try again – mine went straight through!
Ah – to relax on a rainy day! I don’t miss driving in Houston when it rains – but staying inside when it rains is soothing. Here’s to new projects and some breathing space.
Now – get off-line and ignore us! You’ll feel better:-)
Happy staycation!
I am loving this rain, except when I need to go out with my dog, apartment living. Oh well, just got a new raincoat that looks like it is actually waterproof. No time like the present to get it tried out.
I love the shawl! Knitting is not for the faint of heart. Have another cup of tea and watch the dogs dream.
Hope you have the most wonderful staycation! You deserve all the good things after all the hard work. Thanks for all of it.
Ilona you should be relaxing, not writing! Please go relax with the adorable cats and dogs, listen to the soothing rain and think of staycations not the next books *hugs*
I love the sparkle yarn BTW – it works beautifully mixed with the other one you chose. Hope you share the finished project with us ^_^
Adding Shalini’s book (ooh it’s dualogy with book 2 out now as well! yay!) to my basket. Her books sound good, plus I want her to get all the monies and prove her publisher wrong.
Take care of yourselves 🤗🤗🤗
Please do take some time away from work, no matter how much the Horde whines – and not just doing “life admin” but actually unwinding and replenishing your reserves. Even if, to start, it is just a cup of tea to the sound of falling rain.
We very much appreciate you and all you do!
Have a peaceful day!! You definitely deserve it!!
Hi there, non native speaker here. May anyone explain “the droped by publisher” issue? I am not sure I understood it correctly. I liked the introduction and was considering buying but without a publisher the book ist not available, right?
And – I can’t wait for rain. Pls enjoy the soothing effects and no stress, enough stories for rereads 😉
Hi Petra 🙂
Being dropped by the publisher means the publisher decided not to continue with the author or publish further books in the series.
It does not mean this particular book is unavailable. This Monster Of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara has already been published and can still be bought. The author is entitled to royalties from those sales, so please do buy it if the introduction appealed to you!
Shalini’s first book was very interesting. I have read it twice and didn’t realize there was a sequel! That is super exciting. Also, Shalini is part of the Horde.
Good grief. Sorry on behalf of the crazy. Hoping you get nice relaxing down time. My part of Texas is just mocking me with clouds that look like rain . . . but no rain right now.
As for “This Monster of Mine,” I originally read the description as a DORK romantasy and thought, “Huh, that’s new . . . I wonder . . . OHHHH. Dark dark romantasy, not dork.
However, if someone wants to write dork romantasy (while HA recuperates and writes other things), I think the BDH speculation titles for Hidden Legacy titles are still available: Turquoise Twinkles, A Dork Romantasy.
Yes!! With dorky lead characters. Drop dead gorgeous can get a little tiring after awhile.
my friend got me a tshirt that said “welcome to the dark side, we have cookies”. i was holding it up on me and looking down, reading upside down and i read it as *dork* side. we had a good laugh, because i’d happily wear the tshirt if it said either/or.
That sounds like a Roman quote. Even with the “dork” side, I think he felt that when coming up against young Roman memories of school. 😁
I love that volcano yarn. I can’t do anything crafty but I did help my faith grader make soap once so if I’m sucked into my new favorite fantasy series I can at least help out with the cover story. Please rest rejuvenate and bask in the glow of the bdh love.
Fifth grader apparently I can’t type either
That yarn is *gorgeous*. I hope that you find satisfaction in both the process and the result (I personally like the subtle stripes ).
Dear Ilona,
Your second word in this post was erroneously autocorrected to “no” but no worries I corrected it in my mind to “yay!” 😉☺️😊
Rainy days are lovely, especially when they help us to slow down, enjoy some tea, and a cozy hobby.
Enjoy your down time!
You two need some lovely time off. I suggest your list of to dos be things like:
Drink tea
Look at pretty yarn
Watch a mindless show like Bake off or Escape to the Country
Play a beloved video game
If you have to do housework, do it gently 🙂
The beginning of this sounded like a passage from Innkeeper 😊
I, too, shall be staycationing this year, and sometimes that’s a better prospect than the bustle of travel. I hope you enjoy your R&R.
I’m sure it’s mostly new horde members asking about timelines. In their excitement they haven’t yet discovered that everything that comes next will become their new favorites. And they have not been coached in chalantness. They will learn and adapt as all good horders do 😜
Enjoy your space and breathe for a while.
I am in awe of your stamina. I would be napping with animals. Rain does that to me. Also, your books are amazing and I love reading every one of them when or if we get them. Please enjoy your staycation and ignore the ones doing their level best to stop your creative flow. Y’all are so prolific in your writing and I love the variations. Thanks for all you both do for us.
Enjoy your staycation! I hope it lets you recharge a bit. By the way, I adore your furry backdrop for the shawl project. 🙂
I’m glad your area is getting the rain and not the tornado that hit San Antonio this morning. I have a friend who live in New Braunfels. I reached out to her to see if she was ok. She contacted me back, told me that the tornado was 15 minutes from her house, the rain was crazy, and she’s ok.
Anyone living in San Antonio and the surrounding areas, please stay safe. There is a lot of flooding going on down there. 🙂
Enjoy the down time and ignore the Horde.
decompress by filling orders?😢
cleaning?
I know my mom used to say a change is as good as a rest but sometimes work is just more work.
I’m sorry you don’t have a vacation to decompress. The word count of maggie 2 is equal to multiple books. You deserve ALL the vacations.
In the meantime you’ve give us over 30 books (not counting novellas) to re-read, all of which stand up to multiple re-reads.
I’m a little envious of the new fans that have just discovered the treasure trove of your blacklist. what riches!
hope the only that is next is lots of rest and recovery.
All of the above. The nerve of some people’s children…Please recharge at your leisure. And the yarn is beautiful. The beasts are adorable. You should probably hang out and adore them for a while.
The shawl may not be what you intended but it is soooo pretty!
I am glad you guys are getting a break. Gotta let the brain rest and rejuvenate. If your mana gets too low we don’t get goodies lol.
Thank you for the pics of the sleepy fur babies. It has been a rough week here and that jolt of oxytocin helped lol
Mmmm rainy cozy days. May the biggest dilemma of the day be what tea to choose.
Seriously – we got Maggie THIS year. We got Pancakes! It’s JULY.
We get Maggie next year! And we’ve already gotten snippets!
We get vellum and stickers and maps!!!
We get quizzes and blog posts and STEVE!
We get all the Graphic Audio! (which I realize is not House Andrews – but the BDH lives up to the name)
IA are my comfort re-reads and every year the list gets longer. It will get longer next year too. With a book that is YUGE.
I don’t even care what’s next. I’m just so dang excited and so grateful for it all.
Y’all are the best.
+1 and thanks for listing ALL we receive and enjoy from House Andrews. The BDH is warm and caring even when it wants MORE.
Both of Shalini’s books are on Audible.
I live in TX too, but am from CO originally. Still have family there and I wish I could send 1/2 the rain we’ve been getting in the Houston area to CO. and further west to help combat the fires. 🙁
I am happy House Andrews is getting some downtime!
I read Maggie and just finished listening to it. I am so glad I did that, because there were all kinds of things I missed. Will be doing a reread to probably catch more.
I love rainy days with my animals. Just missing a cup of tea. I am currently listening to This Kingdom and the audio is flawless so far.
Rest!!!
Question for clarity: the book has been dropped, meaning 1) it was supposed to be a series and 2) there will be no further books in the series via that publisher? Or meaning that there will be no further paper publications of that book? Or both?
I’m sorry if this should be super obvious, but I am on super fuzzy brain tonight.
Yes to 1 and 2.
Thank you.
It is a very blustery day in Texas. The world is soaking in the downpour, and the thick rain hangs like a pale haze. The fat raindrops bubble up as they strike the ground and drum a steady, comforting hum on the metal roof. It is cozy. The two dogs of Andrews household are sacked out, the cats are sleeping, and the outside critters are hiding from the rain.
Wow. This is why you get paid to write and I don’t.
+1000
Right?!? I think it would’ve taken me 150 drafts at minimum. What talent! 💕😍🥰
That’s some very yummy yarn. Enjoy!
Oi! Get a cuppa, sit down on your favorite chair and let the demands of your loyal but demanding fans roll off the roof with the rain. You’ve earned our gratitude and a bit of breathing room. If I lived in your area, I’d come cook you dinner so you could have a moment of rest. Considering #1 I’m a terrible, awful cook and #2 I live in middle Ga., you’re safe from eating unappetizing food and an unwelcome guest, heh. Thank you both for all the astounding journeys you taken us on.
Enjoy your rest!
Augh, it’s pouring down here in Houston, too. I feel like it’s been raining for months. Of course, the other option is 95° and 95% humidity, so rain is definitely better than that, but my back yard is actually saturated and is turning into a little swamp. The frogs and dragonflies think that’s pretty neat. My dogs don’t seem to mind, either. My floor, however, is getting awfully gross and the promise of mosquito swarms is giving me anxiety.
Texas weather remains the actual worst.
It’s gray but not raining in DFW. Maybe a little drizzle but low percentages for real rain according to my phone. I like the small drop in temperature.
Me too. It’s better than the 100 degrees being forecasted for next week with the heat index of 105. Ugh.
Which did you learn first, knitting or crochet? I learned crochet during the pandemic and really want to try my hand at knitting but I’m afraid learning another craft will bury me even further in the “patterns I want to make” backlog.🙃 And thanks so much for your books, I thoroughly enjoy them whether it’s the first read or the 15th!
Not a rainy day here in London, UK (we’ve been uncharacteristically hot for far too long now) but it is practically a rest day because everyone has lost their ever loving minds that we’re in the semis. So much footie chat, work finishing early (kickoff isn’t until 8pm!), shops shutting to watch it, and now with ten minutes to kickoff all I can hear is an almost continuous chant of Come on England. And they call us book fans crazy! 😜 That said, if Messi has eaten some bad sushi in the hotel I won’t cry for Argentina 😆
I’m spending the evening answering phones at the domestic-abuse shelter I used to work at, because it’s all available hands on deck. Sadly, major England matches are not a rest day for everyone: services prepare for an increase in violence against women and children – and this is no matter whether England win OR lose, because some people don’t have any sense.
Tonight’s footie fun times will look rather different for a lot of women.
My older consis(more like a sister than a cousin) is a social worker that has very few good days, when it comes to her work. I am very sympathetic with your work Modr, sending calm thoughts and positive vibes.
Thank you for helping. This is an all too true fact, alcohol is an especially potent trigger, and high emotions still have to fall. We spent time in a refuge during my childhood in the late 1980s and even now in the 2020s there are nowhere near enough accomodation shelters out there despite how easy TV sometimes makes it seem to get a place. For those looking for charities and services they want to donate money and time to this is a much needed area that is chronically underfunded and that’s not just a UK issue but global.
Thank you for this valuable work. Some people don’t have any sense: Truer words were never spoken.
Thank you,ModR, for giving of your time in such a valuable and meaningful way! You are making a difference in the world!
The Horde is now aware of the “Monster” book so I predict sales going up… I know I just bought it lol.
Would asking for a list of video games being played by House Andrews on the upcoming… current? staycation be too much? I like playing cozy games on mute while listening to audio books. Currently I’m playing Disney Dreamlight Valley on PC.
i broke down this weekend and created a spreadsheet for my yarn. i started obsessing with the closure of Joannes and now search for yarn in second hand stores. my spreadsheets have locations listed as “pink and white fabric box on bookshelf in craft room. or sterlite container under Missy’s bed… Also after reading the book on my ereader, i purchased the audio book with my CHIRP app and it told me the other day i had a 57 day streak in listening to TKWNKM. I have a 52 mile roundtrip commute to work. it’s very good company i’ve started repeating the dialog in certain places…….
Enjoy your staycation and the rain!
I love all days, especially rainy days 😊
Tea and cinnamon buns, thats what I am relaxing with right now. I definitely deserve a cinnamon bun, babysitting for my grandkids (9months and 3yr old) this past week. My daughter and sonny ( in law) are on vacation. I want to go back to work, guys I work outdoors and still would prefer that to babysitting 😂
Love my kiddos but this is WORK! And I do crossfit! 🥹
The Columbus Festival looked like fun! If they have you guys as guests next year, I think I’ll finagle a visit. The pictures were appreciated, and I’m sure everyone was pleased to see you all.
I started a crochet project, its an oven mitt. Hopefully I’ll get to a shawl oneday😂
I hear texas is going to be getting LOTS of rain – good luck. Don’t float away, and by all means, please take a break from us. You just finished a bunch of book signings et al and we are so grateful for both of you (all of you! Props to Mod R!)
Staycations in the rain can be peaceful and lovely. Go have some tea.
Definitely please take time for some self-care in whatever form you can!
yay for some nice down time!! hope you two are able to rest and recharge your batteries.
love the picture of the kitty (tuna?) checking out the stickers.
Everyone needs to rest and reset after a long period under pressure.
I’m glad you both get to do that, don’t let anyone pressure you and don’t feel guilty for talking care of yourselves.
Happy summer 🙂
Will we have a chance to have the Vellum and/or special edition for this Kingdom will not kill me in Canada?
I know we will need shipping fee, that what a did for ma arcane society, hidden legacy book.
We had a tornado touch down here in San Antonio, and released from work early because of the rain and flooding. Hopefully the rain takes a chill pill after this, because we don’t need THIS much rain.
Super excited for the Australian visit announcement (presumably in the newsletter) but if that isn’t the worst website I have ever encountered. There is no way I can find do access that newsletter to download and I can’t even seem to figure out how to sign up for the newsletter from their WordPress announcement. Like there are no links (on mob) or anything. Googling didn’t help. Omg can someone put me out of my misery and just screenshot the damn thing. I know it’s in March but need to know locations so can plan travel 😑
Ok I think it might be the Romantic Rendezvous event in March as it’s the only one that covers that period and I’ve managed to sign up for that at least but would you be there for all 4 cities or just one? Or am I wildly off?
That website is a bit confusing 🙂.
The monthly Romancing the Tome newsletter is for ARRA members only – they receive a download code by email. There is an application to join form on their website for membership https://australianromancereaders.com.au/members/how-to-join/
Although I cannot screenshot the announcement for you, I have found public information about the dates and locations https://australianromancereaders.wordpress.com/2026/05/05/arr2027-save-the-date/
I haven’t made a thread, but I have responded to a few, so I may be guilty of unintendedly adding to your stress. But I have always tried to be either lighthearted about it or respond in a way that I am not expecting the authors to stick to any order or timeline. I am just pleased that y’all have been more consistent than the average author putting out product even when I would expect you to be seeking downtime.
Ooh, so pretty yarn! I like!
I got my college bestie into the Horde by way of Maggie. Very proud of myself. Then I sent her Innkeeper. 🥳
I think people forget you guys are human sometimes.
Please take all the time you need to recover.
Do the stayaction. How about a Lake Austin Spa Resort vacation?
((HUGS)) thank you for Maggie 2.
I am sorry for the pressure. You guys are the best.
Those colors blend…amazingly well. They were made for each other!
Also, take all the time you need and want. And please do so guilt free. Be nice to YOU.
That knitting looks great.
I can see the stripes (but it is arguably NOT distinct).
Regardless the blending is great.
I believe you said you are going to sally forth and complete it.
I 100% agree with this I like where you are going!
I have zero knowledge regarding any of “that” (yarning,knitting,sewing clothing arts) but I 1000% believe that the final finished product will be one that will be fought over and no mater how hard you try to replicate the “magic” serendipity of the creation will be unique. (Unless you do exactly the same) but any attempt for a shade/color shift won’t be as good as this one!
Fantastic news!!!!!!!!
I’ll be seeing you in Sydney, for sure!!!!
Glad you’ll be spreading the BDH love around to lots of Aussie cities.
I am definitely guilty of adding to your stress, so I apologize. Sorry for the crazy! Having pressure to perform and create does not usually induce creativity- true. I would invite you to do what other authors might do which includes not posting any new blogs or news or anything on book releases. We the BDH are blessed by the very rare pleasure of interacting in real time with you our favorite authors about our favorite works and engaging with you- much appreciated to be invited into your personal/professional work life. It really is a lot for authors to do. I am very grateful to read your books and I know we (bDH) are in no ways mistreated. If I saw a closed for business sign at my favorite sushi restaurant with message “back end of August” I would have no choice but to accept the circumstances, even while yanking on the locked door handle in futility, all the while tormenting myself thinking of favorite sushi. 😂 I like to just suffer that way. By the way, my favorite sushi restaurant does do this every summer or fall for significant time off because it’s a family business run by a few people/just mom dad and siblings and their extended family lives in Japan. So…if you posted sign back in 2 months-this is probably well deserved and the minimum amount of time you should take. You have been constantly delivering. Hmm let’s see: free read-along for an innkeeper novel (yes); free read along inheritance novel (yes); I’m sure I’m missing something; all while writing books for Wilmington (Kate); Roman; Augustine; Catalina; Maggie novels. In past 5 years??? I’d have to take a look. Rabid fan for sure!!!
“I am definitely guilty of adding to your stress, so I apologize.”
Hi Shafi, I am not sure what you are talking about, but I accept the apology anyway.
“I would invite you to do what other authors might do which includes not posting any new blogs or news or anything on book releases.”
That is not an option for active authors in our position right now. 🙂 Maybe if we get a TV series. 😀 But thank you for caring about my wellbeing. It is appreciated.
Dear Ilona,
I can only speak for my own reading purchasing habits, but trust me, a dedicated fan will hang in there forever for the next book, or next post! Soooo, you can do less to respond to us. Just ask Maggie!!! I don’t think her author had a website or blog like you guys do 🤪. I keep wondering whether Maggie will meet the author and find out why the next book never came…maybe he disappeared down the magic rabbit hole too? Now I’ll have to reread the book to check how many years it was since she was introduced to her novels and dropping into this different world (that will be interesting to discover how this happened in future novels).
Please do look after yourselves! I hope the rain keeps you cool while you enjoy tea and yarn and family and furry friends and of course new reads of your own!
You two deserve a staycation, and the peace of a rainy day. Relax and enjoy.
PS: Love the colors in the shawl!
Everyone needs a break from the job ( even if they love it)before it becomes so overwelming its no longer enjoyable. I would be greatfulmfor whatever comes next you’ve proven that everything you write is enjoyable. I wish yall were able to get even a weekend away even if its just to float a river or a pool for a few days. Tennessee is a great place to visit when you do get vacation time. Your shaw is beautiful.
next up: much deserved R&R 🥰
OMG I will be there in Brisbane, organising my accommodation and fingers crossed I win the Gold Ticket. Any particular yarn you want me to bring from New Zealand?
Literally gasped out loud at the volcanic eruption yarn; it’s so gorgeous. Hope you get to enjoy the (relative) calm of the storm! I kicked myself out of Texas already so I can say that 😀
Awww cozy days are the best days!! Especially with pets and cozy hobbies. Hope you will have many more. Love the pictures ❤️
Ohhhhh-kaaaayyyy, I may have to resume buying lottery tickets ……
OMG you are coming to the bottom of the world! I’m a very excited kiwi who can’t wait 🥳
I think it’s wonderful that you are going to Australia! I hope that you will get to do touristy things as well. And I’m glad you are having a staycation and resting. Right now Texas’ weather looks pretty awful, Boerne and Uvalde especially. I hope your rain stays reasonable!
Write anything; I will read it.
Huge congratulations on finishing Maggie 2!!! You deserve to bask in that victory for a long while.
I love the colors for your shawl, and I like the way the two yarns blend. I have no doubt it will be gorgeous!
Our rainy Texas days are a message from the universe to sit and breathe. Knitting, watching pups doze and knowing the floors can wait to be mopped until after the rain stops are small joys that we wish for you. Rest and be de-stressed!! Thank you for everything you do for the Horde.
Australia is so cool! My sister lives in Adelaide, and I’ve lucky enough to have visited twice!
I adore Sydney!
Enjoy!!
Enjoy your staycation and the rain (would love some here in CO)!
I hope you know that the vast majority of us in the BDH want you to take of yourselves first!🥰 We love everything you write and are happy whenever you choose to share it.
Sending many hugs and wishing some peaceful days for you.
“please stop making threads and commenting about all of the books we have not written”
I read this without the word “not” and went “huh?”
Am I not allowed to swoon over all the books anymore?
Most likely because I have been posting the “start here” link from the webshop https://ilona-andrews.com/start-here/ everywhere anyone says they read This Kingdom and are now looking for recommendations.
Question for the webmaster of the store.
Is there a reason the Kinsmen books are not listed there?
I love those stories. All of them. Possibly Fated Blades a tiny bit more than the others.
I think it’s just the main “bread and butter” series, but more will be added 🙂.
To clarify though – that is not a webshop link or under the store’s design in any way. It’s a link from the homepage of the official website 🙂
Ilona Andrews website – https://ilona-andrews.com/
Ilona Andrews store – https://ilonaandrewsstore.com/
I realised that after I posted the link.
The reason I thought the “start here” was a store link, is because I can only find that link on the Store.
Browsing on the official website I can’t find it.
It’s on the homepage 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/
This sentence
“The world is soaking in the downpour, and the thick rain hangs like a pale haze. The fat raindrops bubble up as they strike the ground and drum a steady, comforting hum on the metal roof. ”
shows in a nutshell why I love your books!!!
+1
+1
Have a wonderful, relaxing and rejuvenating staycation 🤗😁
Wishing you some rest, joy, and well being today!
OMG OMG OMG!!!
I’m going to get to meet my favourite authors IN PERSON!!!
Now I just have to set myself a million reminders to get tickets in October 😂
Finally some quiet days! enjoy the staycation. The yarn looks fantastic, hope you find another cool project for it 🤞
You just wrote a massive book. I think you deserve a good long time to refill your creative well. People are always going to want more of your stories because they are awesome, but you need to take care of yourself. Take some time to wallow in doing f*ck all. At the end of the school year I always feel like a raisin, all my energy and creativity has been sucked out of me. If you need “permission” to power slack, you have it. Refill the well, feed the muse, and give your brain a break. We’re not going anywhere…
Love the shawl!
Thank you both for everything you do for the BDH. It’s very much appreciated!
You’re going to Australia!!!
I am so excited for you because it is so lovely there!
(My sister went on a vacation there and returned to live there for 10 years. Now she has an Australian dual citizenship.)
Please take all the time you need to decompress, enjoy your staycation and think about yourself for a little (maybe even stay away from the blog for a week or two 😉) You have done so much for us and given already so incredibly much! We love and appreciate you and wish you all the best! Love from Germany
The stars have aligned and I will be in Melbourne on that weekend. I have already googled the location and found what tram I need to catch.
So excited.
Now to wait until October for tickets.
ICYMI, several years ago there was post which read (in summary), we must wait chalantly for our next feeding. For to not do so, makes Ilona unhappy. And when Ilona is unhappy, Gordon is unhappy.
We DO NOT WANT to make Gordon unhappy.
Have a wonderful staycation.
We do not want to make either of our lovely authors unhappy 🙂
I agree. A fluffy Horde makes for happy authors.
Remember Horde, a fluffy Horde makes Ilona and Gordon happy. When they’re happy, we are happy, and Mod R can breathe a sigh of relief (plus she’s happy too). 😊
You just wrote Maggie 2, that’s enough for s while. We can be patient for a small treat, perhaps in early 2027. Note that I say SMALL. Please rest your hands before you develop carpal or cubital tunnel; the recovery after surgery sucks. Enjoy the rain.
I just want to say thank you for all you do for the BDH (chalant and otherwise). I love your work (evidenced my my third re-read of the complete Kate Daniels series!) and I, too, wait with bated breath for more. That said, you give us so much of yourselves through your writing — you have my deep appreciation! I hope that we can accept your gifts graciously as they are given. Please enjoy some down time. You deserve it!
What a cool opportunity to see the land down under!
Wishing you a lovely staycation. Take the time, slow down, sleep. We are so grateful for everything you give us. Hugs from Atlanta!
when I jumped on an Ysolda mkal train a few years ago (I think it was called Gloaming?) the pattern called for a fade of three yarns, so that’s what I chose, with inspiration from the kits she had commissioned. I wish I hadn’t jumped on the mkal but instead waited for other people to knit at least part of it first, because there were a lot of narrow stripes and also a fun elongated stitch motif that is virtually invisible with the colors I chose 🙁 I love the shawl – big and snuggly garter – but I do wish I had made other choices.
Please write what you want to write. I will buy it and read it, because I like it all.
Love the gorgeous knitting! Please enjoy your staycation. Sometimes, those are the absolute best. Thanks for the book recommendations.
You’re coming to Australia!!!!!
Yay. can’t wait. Absolutely thrilled.
I wish they had Horde assistant applications; I would carry Ilona’s yarn, Gordon’s drink preferences, throw around relevant IA book quotes and hone up on #TeamFactsbeDamned conspiracies. Australia is on my bucket list, beautiful people, beautiful country.
Enjoy your well deserved break! I will devour any book you give us regardless of how long it takes you to write it- I can wait in anticipation for years here in Norway! Thanks for already creating the wonderful universes, worlds and characters you have shared with us, returning to one of your books feels like home to me and I re-read them frequently!
I love the colors you picked for the shawl! Together, they remind me of a cozy banked fire. It’s a lovely, subtle blend. And I’m thrilled for our Australian Horde members-it will be an exciting time for you and for them! Please, take advantage of the break, and rest, relax, and recharge. Sending restful thoughts and hugs your way.
Why would people boycott a book because they were dropped by the publisher? And why does a publisher drop a book?
A publisher can drop a signed author or their series for various commercial or contractual reasons, in this case the matter seems to have been poor preorder numbers.
The publisher can decide the series is not viable if there aren’t enough sales of one of the first books.
The reader boycott is more on the publisher than the book itself- people deciding that was unfair and not purchasing from the publisher any longer. However that would hurt the author herself, as her first published book is still with them 🙂
I hope this clears matters.
I know of a number of authors who started series I liked, and then were dropped by their publishers. I think in it was in the 1980s, when a lot of women mystery writers got started. It’s very annoying and was all about the money.
The publishing industry used to carry more mid-list authors, whose books sold but did not make the BIG money publishers wanted (with a few exceptions). Publishers decided they only wanted superstars, so many authors were cut off.
love the shawl! thanks for all the books. I’ll go back and reread them while waiting for Maggie the Redacted. Your books are always worth the wait
Yay! I hope this downtime is super relaxing and refills your cup! ‘Often wrong but never in doubt’ is my life motto 😀
So excited that you guys will be coming to Sydney next March and I hope you enjoy your travels down under!
The weather should be nicer than the current intermittent rain…
Have fun in Australia! That sounds lovely.
Also, I think those colors go pretty well together, and the muted stripe look is kind of cool.
it’s wonderful that y’all are getting to move at a slower more relaxing pace. I hope you find joy in the mundane day to day tasks as you do in your wild adventures.
Also on a different note, Shalini Abeysekara caused my first book hangover of the year and is now an automatic buy for me. This Monster it is enthralling and intense.
PLEASE take all the time you need to rest and recover. I’d rather have fewer, better books from you than more books you’ve cranked out but not been at your best for. Thank you for your work.
+1000
That yarn! I’m in love! As a fellow crocheter I think these two would still be perfect as a shawl or cowl even if it doesn’t follow the color pattern you were aiming for.
We are also enjoying a “cold” front here in Dallas, TX but will be back to our regularly scheduled program next week with triple digits. Ugh.
Enjoy the slowdown – every person needs it in their life.
We are doing a staycation this year too and honestly it’s been so nice! Planning new recipes we want to try, a couple movies we want to watch, going to the pool, plenty of time to read, etc. I think everyone should do it at least once
How lovely you’ll be in Australia for ARR2027 — what an honor, and so thrilling!
Please take even more time than you think you need to just decompress and to relax — and to take care of all of those mundane home projects you’ve had on the back burner.
Try to get to the point where you are so bored of doing nothing/fun/housey things, and stubborn little stories are piling up in your head asking oh so politely for you to kindly make note of them — then and only then start up with writing.
Just a thought.
Be good to yourselves and your whole human & animal clan.🌼
P.S. I love the rain. This? “It is a very blustery day in Texas. The world is soaking in the downpour, and the thick rain hangs like a pale haze. The fat raindrops bubble up as they strike the ground and drum a steady, comforting hum on the metal roof. It is cozy.” Book-worthy.
+1
It’s great you’re getting a break. Everyone needs time to decompress and relax. Do something you enjoy.
I love the colors in your new project!
Are there people pressuring you about your productivity? How???
I’m kind of amazed by how much you both write while keeping top quality!
The draft of TKWNKM 2 got ready insanely fast, it was such a happy surprise. I honestly thought it would be like 3 years or more before I would see book 2 (and I was being optimistic in my estimates, writing something complex and rich and clever like that is a ton of work).
Also, I don’t mind rereading my favourites while I wait, I always find new cool details when I do it.
Please keep in mind that work is a marathon and not a sprint, it needs to be both sustainable and rewarding.
I prefer reading books that were a source of joy for the authors too, and I bet a lot of other fans feel the same. Sending all my support and best wishes that every new project (including the yarn ones!) brings you even more delight and fulfillment.
I bought This Monster of Mine; it looks good! Thanks for the recommendation 🥰
Congratulations on the invite to AUS! I bet that will be fun. Hopefully you two are able to book in time just for traveling and sightseeing while you are there 🙂 it is an awfully long flight to not stay for at least 10 days :p
And I am sorry people have been commenting on what has not been done versus appreciating what has been. That type of stress isn’t good for anyone 🫂
Yay rain! My state has been having a serious drought, so every time it comes I thank my lucky atmospheric currents. There’s also something restorative about having a cozy summer day indoors while all the plants suck up the water. I wish you guys all the rest and recovery, and continued confidence in setting your own creative pace.
Take care and enjoy a well deserved rest.
Also, if you feel like writing a publishing post, I would be very interested to learn more about what it means for a publisher to drop a book.
+1
How exciting for you! I see there is a whole week where you might be able to have an actual vacation! Gees, BDH give them time to decompress after this marathon stretch of writing, everyone deserves a break! Congratulations on finally getting some rain in your area. It’s been 95 to 104 here lately, way hotter than we are used to for such a long stretch of time. I haven’t even opened the windows at night, reminds me of Virginia Beach minus the humidity. Oh well, this too shall pass so enjoy your down time!
I don’t know any artists personally but I do follow some on Instagram if you’reinterested! You could also do those really cool pet portraits to show how regal Tuna is (don’t have any cats but personally looove long haired ones and Tuna is IT!)
Also just want to say how happy I am for you and Gordon, with the extremely long lines at conventions,finishing up your book, and handling merch among so many other things, you both have done so much this year and people are recognizing what wonderful writers you both are. I hope you can continue to do what you love and have many days off too.
Thank you for creating worlds we can get lost in no matter which reread we are on.
Yeah!! March in Australia!! I hope you take time to tour the country and have so much fun!!
If you can, visit New Zealand too, it’s my favorite 😍
I loved living and working in Australia. The people are the best and life is just amazing. Here I have city turkeys that walk down the sidewalk. There I had kangaroos on the golf course! I hope you all have the best time and can take some time to explore! Safe Travels.
One of my very favorite things to do is sit inside (dry, thankyouverymuch!) when it’s raining hard outside. I like hearing the rain on the roof, I like watching the rain hit the puddles, I like watching the rain ‘flow’ down my slightly slanted gravel driveway. If it’s not sideways rain, I have the windows up so I can hear it better. If it’s sideways rain, everything is closed up tight because I don’t need that, thank you SO much, and I take crap videos through a less than clean window.
I love the rain!!!
That photo of Tuna investigating the sticker sheet is giving me serious sticker cravings! (Also kitty cravings, which must stay unmet because my husband is allergic.)
I’m glad to see the store will reopen in August! Must buy stickers… 🤤
The shawl looks lovely. I love both sets of yarn. I’m glad you are getting your dining room back. I like to think of HA enjoying that beautiful mural and the good food you always put together.
Wonderful that you are taking a well-deserved break. As someone mentioned above, I’m having fun rereading and learning and noticing new things I have missed. it is like reading a new book!
My brother visited Australia for four weeks and loved the people and places he saw. He says he won’t go back because the long fight was so hard, though. So plan carefully.
Sorry Ilona.
This hordling does not wish to apply undue pressure. Just want to be sure you know we love Team Andrews writing and the way it fills a piece of our hearts. 💕
While we want All The Words and find w@it to be a difficult command, love your worlds and characters and remain secure that our (tiny) p@tience will be richly rewarded.
Much appreciation for all the extras from blogs and appearances to stickers and vellum.
Now take a mental break, have a cup of tea, pet a cat and relax to the sound of rain.
Beautiful shawl.
I think I have enough paw squares to start joining my first (and last) blanket. I have verified that I do not like projects of that size. Now I am turning to knockers. Before I send some off, I am going to make a couple with leftover brightly colored yarns, stuff a squeaker in them, and have dog toys. I am also experimenting with designing a sweater for Cecelia much to her disgust.
I am reading Shalini A.’s book and really enjoying it.
Thank you for the recommendation, the publisher truly dropped a good one. After I finish this book I will check out the rest of her books.
I’m also in Texas, just up the road from you and it is very wet and humid, a great day for cleaning the house around sleeping pets.
I sincerely hope you and Gordon have time to rest and pick back up normal life routines.
As members of the horde we will wait for you to recharge, we know that waiting brings the good things we have grown to love best.
I love the knitting with the muted colors and subtle stripes.
As I am. Long time fan of GRRM. I am appreciative of authors respecting their art enough to ignore the whiners. HA has gotten me through some stressful and sad times. So you take as much time as your art needs. The BDH will always want more no matter how much you give.
That’s so nice you have rain. Here in Oregon we could use some so feel free to send any residue our way! And I love both your yarns but am enamored of the Volcanic Eruption. I think a shawl of just that would be awesome, but that’s just me. I love how yours is turning out. The colors mesh well together. I am one of those who have just mentioned books I’d love you to write but I was not trying to push or pressure you. And I apologize if that is exactly what I did. I do some watercolor painting so I know that people can suggest – ‘oh, you should paint this’ but I have to paint what I feel like painting. I’m imagining it is the same for you. Please just know when we ask for books, we aren’t trying to pressure you, we are just letting you know how much we adore your books and your characters. As a proud Horde member, we want more – always – but are always ecstatic at whatever we get. I am so glad you are getting some time to relax and decompress. Enjoy listening to the rain and watching your pets snooze.
I cannot describe to you how excited I am for the Australia trip! I have been a fan as a 20 something South African in Johannesburg many moons ago..then ordering all your books from Amazon USA. Now I am a expat living in Sydney and finally…..finally I get a chance to meet you!! You will love Australia. See you soon! XXXX
Happy for Australian BDH…
That is going to be one beautiful shaw!
Book purchased. Looking forward to the read! And happy to support a fellow Canadian.
Tuna is looking FABULOUS, best model ever and is probably holding out for elebenty billion churus as per standard cat model contract.
Thank you for the book rec, I am liking it a lot and wishing you peace and coziness!
Thanks for sharing your cozy pup-snooze pictures! They will be so happy to have you around the house during your break, without your writing deadlines to distract you from the important business of tummy rubs, treats, toy games and sofa snuggles!!!
My comment/my opinion:
Anticipation of the next book after finishing an amazing experience as a reader is truly a gift. I have been appalled by the intense, relentless demands and “performance punishment” inflicted on awesome authors from some demanding readers. It shows an absence of sensitivity to the creative process and utter lack of understanding of the intense amount of work and personal investment that goes into your creations. I hope you know that you have so many new fans (like myself, started with TKWNKM, followed by Kate Daniels and friends, then Hidden Legacy…) and longer-term lovers of your literature that do appreciate you, and don’t consider your work on the level of on-demand fast food! (More proof: All those fans in Columbus were willing to travel there and wait in those impressive lines for the opportunity to meet you and show appreciation, none expecting a drive-thru experience)
Off my soap box…
I hope you are able to truly and deeply decompress and relax. But you said” Right now we are going to decompress by filling all these orders.” I don’t think that word means what you think it means 🙂 Filling the orders (and better yet, having them be finished being fulfilled) may very much make you feel less stressed, but I hope you also get to do things that sound less like… work.
I just looked for the date I first got one of your books – it looks like it was February 2015 – so I have seen so very many protestations from the Horde (and proto-Horde) about how hard it is to w**t, and when will the next book come, when will you turn the snippet you gave us last January into a trilogy, when will you get back to the event you foreshadowed in the life of a favorite character and on and on. I hope every time you read one of those questions, what you hear is “We love you and your work.” Looking back on all those years, I don’t remember the waiting at all. I remember all the joy and solace that your books have brought me. Wishing you a restorative post-deadline recuperation!
👏 Well said!
So many ways to say this, need to get it just right…
Being an author in essence is to be an artist, and to be self-employed. Artists create more when inspiration strikes (supposedly), and being self-employed means you can pick your working hours (supposedly).
But, dear Reader… BUT. Our dear IA are actually a POWERHOUSE writing couple and they always come through for us. I could give examples but then I might set the Horde slavering, so I will instead just say: BDH, stand down, chill. I am almost certain that our appetites will be wetted with snippets and other goodies.
Meanwhile, good work on the shawl, Ilona. Also good work on all the non-writing stuff that you do, such as the book plates and stickers (wish I could get my greedy ZAR paws on some…).
Your knitting project is NOT a disaster! It’s lovely and subtle. I don’t knit, but my (German ancestry) grandmother did…she knitted me a couple of lovely Irish Báinin fisherman’s sweaters and enjoyed the projects immensely.
That yarn is so pretty! I’m sure the shawl will turn out amazing, even if it doesn’t match the pattern entirely.
It’s great that you are going to Australia. Sadly I won’t be able to make any of the events cause I already have plans for one of the NZ great walks at that time. I’m already sad that I will be missing it.
Enjoy your well earned rest.
Yay. Australia. No west coast alas 🙁 , but getting HOA to Australia at all is a treat.
Staycations are my favourite! I met a couple once who told everyone they were going away in order to be left alone for their staycation, then bought in enough groceries and whatever else they needed for a week or two and – hid at home. Perhaps a little excessive – but I get it – it was a fairly small community so whenever one went out one met someone who wanted to ‘engage’. I’ve never deliberately gone that far – but a staycation tends to be my default mode. Also may I +1 everyone who is telling you to rest, relax, do nothing – my new favourite motto is ‘Time you have enjoyed wasting was not wasted’ (I regret I don’t know who I should attribute that to – I only know I didn’t think of it first).
Rhyn, the original was written by Marthe Trory Curtin in her book Phynette Married in 1912. It has been attributed to others. You did not complete it add the word “time” to the end.
The rain looks lovely- please send some north so we can finally leave our houses (I know it doesn’t actually work that way but a girl can dream)! We’ve been smothered by smoke and my children are (sometimes literally) climbing the walls and since we’ve actually reached the highest possible point on the air quality index scale today, it looks like we won’t be headed outside in the near future. I have been singing the summertime blues and let me tell you, children do not appreciate the time and effort that I put into entertaining them 😂.
I love seeing what you are knitting/crocheting and every time I read or reread your books and come across a fiber reference I pretty much scream internally like a young girl at a Taylor swift concert. Thanks for the updates, I hope you both have a chance to enjoy the peace and quiet. Finally got (read forced) my husband to listen to Maggie and now he understands my excitement when I’ve been telling him random updates about your progress on Maggie 2- I think he’s more excited than me for the second one! Best wishes on decompressing!
Take a well earned break, and hope you love visiting us. Plus I think that colour combo is deadly 😀
holy crap have fun in Australia!! you will enjoy it so much! I studied aboard there (and met my husband there) and it is a fabulous country!
Creativity under pressure… don’t have it, never will. Even trying to clear the email inbox feels overwhelming – why does it keep filling up again.
Pls do take all the vacation, ever and enjoy the rain. We need some here as well, if nothing else to clear the smoke from Canada. The sky earlier this week reminded me of New York City in the 1970s – mustard/grey.
My dogs sacked out as well… not breathing right.
You’re coming to Brisbane (Queensland,Australia) !! Wonderful news. Those strange sounds you hear are my squells of excitement. I look forward to meeting you both there, with the side benefit of meeting fellow members of the BDH.
I am excited to get whatever your writing muse decides wants to be written. I will hope for certain things, but will be deliriously happy with whatever comes out next. But you need and deserve a vacation now and we have Maggie 2 to look forward to.
I’m sorry to see that there is catastrophic flooding in Texas right now. Home sounds like the place to be as highways and roads are flooded. 🛋️📚
Oooo-beautiful project! Is it wrong to like the reverse side best? 🙂 Such a flow of colors…Thank you, HA, for putting up with the voracious BDH. Enjoy the Land Down Under!
ooohhh,I hadn’t seen this blog, the double release fooled me.
ooohhh pretty re the stickers as well as the super model cat that is Tuna- surely Tuna must be winning the ginger cat war?
oh, so it was this post that then resulted in the post about dropped authors.
I’m off to check if I can buy the e-book from the author mentioned directly, so that she gets all of the money.
we need the train in the UK desperately too, light misty non cloud burst rain for 3-4 days to help replenish the surface layers of the soil to help species like hedgehogs be about to grub easily for natural food and we just need to stop people cutting lawns to yellow drough coloured buzz cuts which completely exposed the soil and makes the impacts of the drought worse 🙁
Happy for our fellow Horde members down under ☺
Speaking for myself alone: I want all the books, all the time. You’d have to clone yourself at least twice to keep me happy, and everyone knows clones are evil. They’d probably switch from book writing to world conquest.
Please don’t clone yourself. Please do rest.
I’ll buy your books when they come out.
As always, thanks for the picture descriptions.
Signed,
A Resident Blindy (because I’m sure I’m not the only one)
You’re coming to Australia!!! Woohoo!! Best news in the morning 🙂
I live in Perth so will have to choose to visit Sydney/ Melbourne….
My calendar countdown begins 🩷
I just need to buy a paperback/ hardcover — all i have are ebooks!!
Which one should I buy? Any suggestions??
Congratulations and I’m happy the BDH can love on you globally. I can not describe to you the ways in which Kate, Arabella, Nevada, Catalina, and all the found families get me through stress. I think because of their stories (well your creativity would building AND character development) might make it through my PhD program! Going back in my 40s has been rough….but that goes to say, House Andrews, Kid 1 & 2 with all their fur babies deserve all the love, peace, and rest. Thank you for your courage to share your imaginings. We are the luckiest BDH.
October 2026 to book. Waiting now.