It’s Saturday, and I’ve had my tea (Harney & Sons Vanilla) and my breakfast shake. Sookie, the old bulldog, is snoring on the pillow behind me. Tuna is asleep next to her, Tubby is sacked out on the floor with his ball, and Nykie is having a cat moment. Perhaps because she is part dachshund or perhaps because she was raised with Tuna as a puppy, she occasionally decides that she is a kitty.
Waking up in the morning is hard work. Everyone had to take a restorative nap, heh.
The last couple of weeks were kind of odd schedule-wise. The surgery, the recovery, then we had an event on Wednesday. We met Jasmine Mas and her husband, who were both gracious and charming. We also managed to have a dinner with Jessie Mihalik and her husband. And I was gifted a gorgeous ARC of SILVER & BLOOD.
Luisa Preissler painted the cover. I love it so much, because it has that hint of a slightly retro feel but in a very current, cool way. It matches the book. If you want one, Jessie is running a giveaway on her blog.
Most writers have a routine. Mine is very straight forward. Get up, drink a cup of tea, work out, make a shake, catch up on emails, figure out the dinner and thaw the meat out, work with Gordon until 4:00 pm or so, make dinner, then eat and have off time. In a way, it’s life on rails, but when we are deep into the first draft, the less distractions the better. The next week we’ll lose at least a day of work for sure, so today I need to be productive.
I play this game, Grounded 2, where you are shrunk to a small size and end up in a park, fighting bugs. You can ride ants and spiders, and when your mount runs out of energy, my little avatar says, “Let’s reestablish homeostasis.” This is me right now, reestablishing a little bit.
We had a nice, relaxed Halloween. My one week eye appointment went well. The doctor is happy, and my right eye is scheduled for surgery this Tuesday. I’m looking forward to the surgery because my brain is so confused by different focus right now that it thinks there is an obstruction in my right eye.
My multifocal lens finally kicked in, and I can now read the text on my phone. I still bought a pair of reader glasses on Amazon and they work great for very close up stuff. I can probably cross-stitch again with these. Not that I have time.
By the way, I purchased 5 pairs of reader glasses. For $15. The frames are not only prettier than my very expensive prescription frames but they have the flexible joints and all the bells and whistles. ::side eyes the optometrist store:: Why did I pay 10 times as much for a pair of frames that rips out my hair?
I’m in a weird place, emotionally and creatively. It’s probably just the uncertainty of the upcoming release nipping at me. There is a point in every book’s journey when you have to let go. You’ve written the manuscript, you’ve edited it, and it is now out of your hands. It will do what it will do. But no matter how many books you’ve published, this feeling is always disconcerting. It’s this vague, anxious limbo, and you are floating in it not knowing if you’ve achieved what you’ve set out to do or if your work will fall flat on its face.
Tor has been an amazing publishing partner, and there is an entire team working very hard to bring this book to publication. This Kingdom is in excellent hands. But the self-imposed pressure and doubt are still there. I’ve made peace with it. It is just part of the process now.
My mission for today is to tweak the dialogue in a few pivotal scenes. We met our 10K for the week, but when this is a complex book, both politically and romantically, and we are getting it down in broad strokes, which then have to be fine-tuned. I imagine that’s how artists must feel when they go back to their painting to enhance contrast, deepening shadows and adding highlights. I’d snippet, but Tor asked us not to, so you will just have to w*it.
I will share more news when time comes. I wish you a happy, calm weekend.
first?
Thank you for the fur kid pictures! I personally think these posts of life are fun to read.
I hope your next eye surgery goes well. I’m right there with you on the cost of annoying prescription frames. I now buy mine from Costco so they don’t break the bank as mach, but the frame options are still so disappointing.
The cover of the book is so beautiful. I’ve really enjoyed Jessie’s books since I found out about her from your blog.
Wishing you all a happy and productive weekend. The horde will try to wait for Maggie patiently. 😜
I started using Zenni Optical (dot com) years ago, and I will never go back to store prices. I feel like they should be paying me for all the proselytizing I do on their behalf, but literally no one matches them on price, and they do excellent lenses. Take a look. It’s amazing.
We all know the baby book is going to fly up into the bestseller trees. You can rely on the horde 😉
Hoping you have a calm weekend, and that the second surgery is even better than the first!
I too love the furry pictures. My best friend had a Parson Jack Russel type who also shared a house with bigger dogs and who chose the back of sofas to nap on. Preferably who one of her chosen humans in front, so I have a lovely picture of my husband with her chin on his shoulder, he also has one of our dogs on either side, chins on his legs, plus a spaniel dog on top of our Shepherd (!); to top that all off he is wearing a t-shirt with a large picture of a wolf on it. It looks like he is covered in dogs and I love it because he looks so happy.
1st November is the start of Winter for us Irish. I hope you get the time to hibernate a little bit.
Best of luck with your surgery.
Fur babies!! All hanging out with their Mom, glad that things are back to regular life rhythms.
And yeah, what’s with reading glasses being cute, and regular old lived-with-them-for-fifty-years glasses were only sturdy and not cute?!
Here’s to happy, calm weekends!!
I’m glad to hear the multi focal lens is working!
I was discouraged by my doctor to get them but that was many years ago and I’m sure they have improved.
You are spot on about readers – so many pretty and cheaper ones than those at the optometrist!
Man I feel that on the expensive glasses thing… I have a pair of frames that I really like and they’ve held up really well, but my prescription has changed. Went to LensCrafters to see about getting new lenses in them. $575. Uhhhhhh no thanks, I’ll stick with the $160 dollar ones I got online.
I go for my left cataract removal in a couple of weeks and choose the multi-focal. I was at my grandson’s baseball game today and even with glasses couldn’t tell who was who on the field. I’m really hopeful that next season I’ll be able to recognize him! Glad things are going well. Homeostasis is the best.
Happy and calm is the best wish right now!!!
Do you have a different routine for Sundays? I am asking because you work from home,do you have more elaborate plans for dinner? do you meet with friends or family?
Or is it just another day??
As for the upcoming release, I am so excited!!! I have zero doubts of the huge success!!!
It sounds like a nice calm day. I hope the surgery goes well. You know what to expect, so hopefully it helps with any worries. Your writing skills-story, world building is a proven skill. Your books just get better and better. March can’t come soon enough!
Waiting,mostly chalant,but also anxious because I am old.
I had lasik on both eyes years ago w/different prescriptions in each eye and had cataract surgery in only one eye! I find my depth perception is a little wonky but overall I didn’t even need readers for a long time. Best of luck on the surgery.
Such a nice post for a Saturday! The fur babies are so precious.
That cover IS beautiful!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
I moved states recently, and just before I sold my house I had my annual eye exam. The doctor said I need to find a doctor in my new state and have him run some tests for glaucoma because he was worried about one of my eyes. So I’ve had low level anxiety the last 2 months that ramped up when I tried to schedule an appointment and the local doctors were all booked until next year. Then one of them suggested I try another practice that had more doctors. They’re 40 minutes away but had an opening this week. Luckily, he said my eyes were fine.
There are times I envy animals because they don’t worry about the future. But boy can we humans scare ourselves.
Glad your surgery turned out ok.
I buy my glasses online these days with the information the eye doctor gives me. So many more choices for less money. I have reading glasses from Amazon too and they are very pretty.
I just know you’re going to love having both eyes seeing full color unobstructed!
I’m so glad your surgery went well. Another week and you will have balanced vision! Gerardo bought ‘light readers’ on Amazon. They’re working well for him. I’m still coming to terms with being able to buy glasses online for such a low price. I think he paid $17-18 for two pair. I think the optical stores are in trouble. I hope you enjoy your rest. 🙂
I had my multifocal implants done one day apart. I was a bit blurry for a few days but my sister is an amazing ophthalmologist and I’m so glad I didn’t have to go through the weird vision mismatch. You will be so happy when they’re both firing on all cylinders! You will still have halos on bright lights but otherwise mine are perfect 👌
Today on my walk I saw that the Saturday Sword Club (my name for them, I don’t know who they really are) is back practicing in the park. I have seen rapiers in the past but today it was broadswords. They had the rack all set up and were paired up to practice. I’ve decided the rack can be raised and lowered like at Dina’s inn and one of them is not like the others. This actually makes me get out of bed to walk while they are there. Working up the nerve to go talk to them. I’m scared one of them will be Lady Ilemina.
Miss B2U, let us hope Gordon and Ilona have a scene in a future Innkeeper book where the Krahrs visit the Inn and Lady Ilemina, Karat, Maud etc decide to have a Ladies’ Communal using the practice weapons. I can see Gertrude Hunt becoming a destination vacation Inn for vampires who want to use the practice weapons gifted to an Earth Inn by the granddaughter of Olasard, Ripper of Souls!
You’ve inspired me to go back and listen to Sweep of the Heart. I’ve finished listening to The Inheritance which is fast becoming a favourite reread/ relisten.
Ilona, I understand your concerns re Kingdom as you have put so much thought and effort into creating a new world but I’m confident you will have another best selling winner on your hands. All the hard work you have done over the last several years to practice and refine your craft is paying off because even when you decide to write a fun project for your faithful readers ( eg Fated Blades, The Inheritance) it becomes a best seller. Let’s all hope Tor are able to help you reach an even wider audience whom we will welcome into the BDH membership.
Probably SCA. If not just a fencing club. I’ve lived where I am for 21 years now – about 7 years in, there were a couple of guys living here who would use their end of the courtyard for sword practice. I remember one of them sitting down with my roughly 4-year-old granddaughter and explaining how it worked. She tried, but the sword was too heavy for her, and they moved away before she was big enough.
Hugs….
yay!!!
Any recommendations on the online store for reading glasses? Pweez? I’ve been doing research but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
Good luck with your eye surgery. I had both my eyes done last June. My doctor gave me a check off sheet for eye drops. It’s a chart that you put days of week at the top and in the empty box under each day are check off squares for the drops needed that day. First week has 3 squares each day, second week 2 squares per day, etc. I had my eye surgery 2 weeks apart so needed second chart for second eye. It really helped especially when each eye had different amounts of drops each day. I kept my bottle of drops on top of the paper chart. I marked off the drops right afterwards. I hope my suggestion helps you keep on track for your drops. I usually did it after a meal.
I had that chart too. It was quite helpful for just the reason you stated. I’m kinda old so l was glad to be able to see “why, yes, I did put my 2:00 drops in.”
All the best for the surgery Tuesday.
I’m with all the fur babies today. Naps are really nice.
I didn’t realize Luisa Preissler did the cover for Silver and Blood. One more reason to try to wait patiently for the book to come out. 😊
As far as I’m concerned you haven’t written a bad book yet. It might have taken me a while to move on from KD, but I’ve never regretted it when I did. I’m all caught up now and waiting with bated breath for the next whatever book.
Love reading about your fur babies!
Listened to The Inheritance audio, brava!! Going to listen again with intention of finding any clues that may have passed me by.
While out in the wild, as the Horde must, I met a distant relation of Tuna’s. Tuna has the white line down the nose and this relation had a white blaze across his throat that ran all the way down to his belly! Other wise it could’ve been Tuna’s triple😊 Waved to the cat’s boy but didn’t take a pic bcse that would have been weird with the boy sitting with his cat🙃 lol.
Surprises are nice, but a bit of routine has always calmed my mind, body, and spirit. Before I open my eyes in the morning I do a mental check list with my body to see if we are ready for lift off; lift off the bed and to go workout. 😂
So glad you are doing well, wishing the best to all of HA.
Eyes are a funny thing eh…
I finally set up the VR gaming system in my bedroom since I am stuck on bedrest. I have been playing excessively and my eyesight improved somehow. I had to find my old prescription glasses since my newer one was so strong and giving me headaches.
Very glad to hear your surgery was a success though.
Trying to re-establish homeostasis here too. I left an upper kitchen cabinet door open briefly Wednesday morning. DestructoKitty, who has been photographed atop doors, curtains, and overhead cabinets, apparently got into it while I was distracted.
Six hours later, I found a 24 tablet bottle of ibuprofen chewed open, with six tablets remaining. Tiny cat teeth can’t accomplish that. Texas heeler teeth can, and that dog frequently poops out plastic. The younger, better mannered dog couldn’t be ruled out either.
And it was an old bottle, previously opened but unused for over two years, so the number of missing tablets was…somewhere between zero and 17. No way to tell when, within those six hours, they got into it because I’d been out running errands and working in another room. These uncertainties produced an expensive level of entirely warranted anxiety.
Everyone is home as of last night, on a home-cooked bland diet and a highly-involved medication regimen, and very happy to be sleeping on their own beds and couches. 72 hour post-exposure values look good. Happy birthday to me!
Hi Horde! Rereading HL, and I can’t find something in the blog. Anyone know what happened to the Frinnterview with Arabella?
They are archived at the moment 🙂
Thanks for the life and book update, it had a soothing effect on me
Our dachshund liked to climb on top of the sofa to sun-bathe. No cat influence there, she never met a cat she didn’t want to kill after a bad incident as a puppy.
Best of luck with the eyes; vision problems are miserable.
Congradulations on the success of your eye surgery!!! 🥳 I am not to the point I need cataract surgery, but I am VERY nearsighted. To the point that anything further away than 9″ from my nose gets extremly fuzzy. I too would like to pay less money for my glasses. Would you be willing to share the web sight where you got your wonderful deal? Please.
Reestablishing homeostasis is such a clever way to state needing to recharge your batteries. I might have to introduce the concept to my grandchildren. Enjoy!
I like Warby Parker. I go in person to a local store, and have been happy with the results. I think they have an online presence also.
I’m re-reading The Inheritance and have been going through my own issues since the first read. This time it hit me full on: Ada is experiencing what I can also experience, every survived battle makes you stronger. Thank you for writing strong women who inspire me!
Grounded is an awesome game (1&2). Also re: eye glasses, you can always have frames that you already own re-glassed at the eye dr’s office. For me, it costs the same if I use insurance or not – eye insurance is a joke. But I have favorite frames and rotate them out every couple of years (I like funky frames and you can’t find them in the dr’s office nowadays – everything there is so boring). I can’t use store readers because my eyes are 2 different prescriptions, so eye dr it is. But I save a ton by re-glassing my existing frames. Plus I know that they feel & look good. If anyone knows a good place online to get cool funky crazy frames, let me know. I wish you good juju and healing for your upcoming surgery Ilona!!
Simply thank you both for sharing your lives and your imagination with all of the horde. The second surgery is much easier I agree with most. Enjoy the coziness of winter and let it wrap around you!
I just have to say(like I’ve commented before after I finished the ARC)—you have nothing to worry about with This Kingdom, genuinely. It’s going to do amazing! I’ve read it FOUR times now, and I love it more each time. I just know everyone is going to be talking about this book come release day, and I’m so excited for y’all❤️
Isn’t it amazing? I’ve read it 8x and still find things I missed! It’s on the Can’t Wait Books for 2026 on Goodreads. It will not disappoint! I’ve purchased the ebook and physical copy for myself and my library. ❤️
I’m re-reading it now – I think it’s their best book yet and that’s saying something.
I’ve got it on preorder from BN and audible, and plan to order for my library as well!
Did you know it’s gonna have some
Special editions in book boxes? 😆
Something to look forward to at the end of March 2026.
If you hear the thundering footsteps, it’s just the rest of the Horde trying to read what all of you posted here. 😂
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for sharing this to remind me that there is still good ‘normal’ (non-dumpster fire) aspects to our existence! Not that I consider you accountable for my experience – just that you continue to hold space here on the interweb! (Haven’t read the comments yet – so apologies if a dupe of someone above).
So happy for you that your eye continues to recover to allow the second surgery to proceed! Sleeping fur baby pictures are always a bonus! Thank you for supporting fellow creative souls!
Sending peace, health and safety to all!
Dirty word glasses… My prescriptive pair works just FINE, dammit. Tri-focals, ugh. But there’s a teeny little ‘decorative’ part on the side of the front at the hinge that snags about 5 strands of hair. Only on my left, because that’s the side of my head where the hair grows forward. Not my right where it grows pointing backward. Juuuust the left. And my hair is fine, so it frequently rips from this snagging. Which is STUPIDLY annoying, and I can see it over the edge of the lense and it iss aNNOYing as HELL.
Reesetablishing homeostasis is a good way to put this past week for me as well.
The PNW rains have come and Fall is finally settling in. After a very dry summer, the change is welcome, but also disconcerting. I feel like your fur babies and just want to snuggle under a blanket.
We did have a bit of sun yesterday and we were able to get outside and do some fall cleanup. Which felt good and was refreshing.
I hope this next surgery goes smoothly and your vision is clear.
Enjoy the weekend and have a wonderful week!
So glad you are doing better! Enjoy your return to routine and the love of your furbabies. Give yourself lots of tender loving care and relax as much as you can! Sending love and healing thoughts your way.
I hope your surgery on Tuesday goes smoothly. I had cataract surgery in 2020 or 2021 (the years of COVID just kind of meld together), and I am so glad I did. I too got the multi focus lenses and only need a magnifying glass to read very small print. Oh, and to work on 1:48 scale miniatures (that stuff can be TINY).
I’m currently listening to your Innkeeper series on Graphic Audio after having read the books as they were released. It’s my first Graphic Audio series and I’m so glad I started listening to them. Talk about a movie in your mind! They’re wonderful!
Hugs from SE La.
Yes, I have multiple pairs of readers because I by them in bulk. Of course most of them evaporate over time. Glad your eyes are getting improved.
Question – Kingdom is a trilogy, so how long until you need to produce book 3? The first comes next year, and second is in the pipeling, when will you start on the third?
Will Hugh 2 ever be finished and Hugh 3 plotted????
Will Orro bake Maud’s wedding cake?
All these questions, but with your bionic eyes I’m sure HA will accomplish everything.
“in the pipeline”
Oooops.
I suggested Grounded to my partner when you first mentioned it. He loved it. I asked if he knew their was a sequel and he just turned and logged into Steam. Thanks for the update.
Happy cozy and restful days (trying to manifest it for us all).
I downloaded the Audible of “Inheritance” yesterday and sat up ’til after midnight finishing it and leaving my 5 stars. Fabulous!!!!
I read the serial and loved it, but the narrators were amazing in bringing it to life. The ending was so much fuller and more satisfying than I would have imagined. The authors are masters at giving us a full and complete story while whetting our appetite for the next. I can’t wait for the next one! I hope that this series will go on to be a several book series. That can only happen if we all support our authors by getting a copy in whatever form and spread the word to everyone in our sphere. Congratulations Ilona Andrews on one of the very best books of the year!
Makes sense regarding how you feel about an upcoming release. But as a long time fan who has read all of your books, and was blessed with an ARC of This Kingdom, I’ll say this –
As much as I’m a die hard fan of Kate (easily a dozen rereads) and HL (at least half a dozen re reads) and the rest, I think This Kingdom is your best book yet. I’m so excited to see the reaction it gets 🥰
Thank you for this post (and all your posts). I don’t know why I found it a comforting slice of real life – but I did. House Andrews has so much on their plates but they still find time to share with us.
I recently finished reading my ARC of TKWNKM (it’s my first book of yours!) and discovered your blog and I just wanted to say I ADORED it so so much!!! Like beyond obsessed (I’m in a huge book hangover now🤣), it’s in my top 3 favourite books this year!! I will be recommending it to everyone I know for their 2026 tbrs, thank you for creating such a masterpiece I’m so excited for book 2!!
Hope you have a well-rested weekend!
Lucky you can now enter the world of Kate, Dina, the Edge and Kindred also!!!
I’m beyond excited to read their other books!!!
They can’t write a bad one. Satisfaction guaranteed!
Welcome to the Book Devouring Horde (BDH)! Mod R is our wrangler when we get too much. That’s more times than I care to admit for my fellow members. 😜🤣
Routine is so comforting. It’s a little organization amidst constant chaos. Did you get the 5 readers from Amazon?
I enjoy these slice-of-life blog posts, thanks Ilona!
All the fur family members are so adorable, snoozing away their morning efforts. Such a cosy scene.
Best of luck with the surgery. Glad the first went well!
I have prescription readers for computer work, but I keep drugstore readers in nearly every room of my home – it makes life so much easier!
Glad ur surgery was successful. I’m supposed to have the same at some point, so it’s good to read about it from someone I trust. Take good care. You two are my favorite authors, along with Anne Bishop. I reread your books often. I prefer the Innkeeper series. Thank you for all your hard work. It is gratefully appreciated.
While you may be anxious, I am very excited.
Do you know, and can you share, any details of a book tour? I’m hoping for a westerly visit *cough* Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, CA *cough*.
Wishing you a happy homeostasis!
Take care of yourself.wishing you & Gordon happy writing and good health. Everything else will come to pass, your health & well being is more important.
So nice to have your fur babies all around you. I wish we were allowed more pups per household but 2 is the limit in my area (Nth Brisbane, Australia).
Hope your eye surgery goes well and that recovery is quick for you 🙂
Thank you all for your work in putting wonderful stories together. I read, re-read and listen to your series/realities. Each one gives joy.
Kay from Texas.
“Why did I pay 10 times as much for a pair of frames that rips out my hair?”
Luxottica.
An interesting read. But essentially all conventional optometrist stores are either part of the network owned and operated by a single company or have vastly inflated prices because that company signals to other companies what the price points should be. There are several deep dives (on shows like Last Week Tonight, Adam Ruins Everything, or various YT vids/articles). It really demonstrates how overpriced glasses are due to one company (even if they don’t actually own everything).
“I’d snippet, but Tor asked us not to, so you will just have to w*it.” Oooh, them thar’s fightin’ words, lady! ROFL
I will w*it and so will others. You both are such phenomenal writers and I,for one, would read your grocery list and give it 5 stars ⭐️
hi guys, hope you rest well! ive just finished the audio book for The Inheritance and absokuteky loved it! it was worth the wait!!
just wondering when the zoom stream will be posted? thanks and have a chill start to the festive seasonnn
Hi Lilly,
What Zoom are you referring to? 🙂
I continue good thoughts and prayers for your eye operations. My Mom had to have the same thing done, they would not do it until she had cataracts. She has the best vision of her life now. Good luck with the book edits.
Re: $15 Readers
Yes, the look great, come in all sorts of colors, frame shapes, etc.
Their ear piece joints are flimsy. The lens are soft plastc and scratch easily.
BUT they come in packs of six for $15. I can litter them in rooms all over the house and *still forget where I put them*. I can buy more 😁
Interesting, I thought edits were basically done on Maggie 1. Given how much we all loved the snippets, I don’t think you’ve anything to worry about, tho. My pre orders are in, my calendar alerts are set, not that I need them. The date is engraved in my noggin! I think there will be tons of excitement for this book, not just from the BDH.
Best wishes for tomorrow! And thanks for the cutie pie pics!
Ilona, I don’t know if you will notice this late response(I was offline for a couple of days), but I wanted to thank you for the adorable fur baby pics (one of my two kitties is supervising me as I type this!)
Also, glad to hear your eye is healing well…good luck with the other surgery. I am sure it will also go smoothly and am sending hugs and good wishes your way! 🥰💕💕
Part of the reason why store bought glasses are so expensive is because 1 brand sells 80% of them. It’s been like that for at around 20 years.