From Mod R:
If it’s Friday, it’s winner time!
The much-coveted prize of last week’s Secret Giveaway was a galley of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying 1), the new fantasy isekai series by Ilona Andrews. A galley is a plain-bound (no illustrated cover, sprayed edges, very likely pre copy-edits version of the Advanced Reader Copy). We do not have an exact ETA on when the galleys will arrive, but one lucky person today will have one heading for them as soon as they are ready!
Without further ado, the winner is:
Amanda says
March 25, 2025 at 4:00 pm
I absolutely love your books but don’t think I’m hardcore enough to be transported into most of them. Certainly not the Kate Daniel’s or Edge worlds, although I think I’d like living at Gertrude Hunt. One of my first sci fi reads was Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and I think as long as I had my towel, I could travel around that universe for a bit.
Congratulations!
I will contact Amanda privately with details and arrangements about the prize, from the modr@ilona-andrews.com address on the email provided with the comment. If we do not hear back from you by Wednesday, April 2nd at 12:00 pm Central, we will chose a different winner in your place, so please keep an eye on the blog and your inbox.
Happy weekend!
Harvest Day
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Hugh stood on the side passage on the first floor of Bailey. Elara was next to him. Three of the centurions, Stoyan, Lamar, and Sharif, waited a few feet away. Bale and his century were on duty today.
This spot gave him an excellent view of the great hall. The last time they’d used it, they’d hosted Rufus Fortner, the head of Lexington’s Red Guard.
The tables were gone. Most of the chairs were gone too, except for the single row against the two side walls for those who had trouble standing. Fall garlands draped the walls, with wreaths of wheat and oak branches encircling the decorative weapons he’d ordered hung on the walls for the Fortner’s visit. Young maples grew from big barrels, spreading red and orange leaves.
A long red carpet stretched from the doors all the way to the back of the room, where two long banners streamed from the high ceiling, one the black and silver banner depicting a dog bearing his fangs and the other the green and white banner with a cauldron filled with herbs, the symbol of the Departed. Beneath the banners, on a raised platform, stood two thrones carved from wood in painstaking detail. Apples, pumpkins, gourds, bunches of wheat and herbs, and baskets of fall flowers decorated the platform around the thrones, spilling to the main floor.
On the side, just below the right throne, a huge wooden barrel waited with a stack of paper cups by it. He remembered the barrel. They had filled it with beer for Fortner’s visit. He didn’t recall a white table on the side, bristling with skewers. Hugh squinted at it. Fruit dipped in chocolate.
Elara’s people flittered through it all, making last minute adjustments.
He had no problem with the maples, the pumpkins, or the wreaths. Even the barrel. That was fine. Nobody said anything about the thrones. Or the cornucopia that threw up around them.
“Walk me through this again,” he said.
“We are going to go and sit on the thrones,” Elara said. “The doors will open. People will enter, mostly families with small children. They will greet us with a small gift. Something the children picked themselves. We will wish them a happy Harvest Day and then they will get a cup of spiced Harvest cider. They will think of a wish, drink their cider, and then Nadia and Rue will give them a skewer with chocolate dipped fruit.”
“You want me to play Harvest Fest Santa Claus?”
She nodded.
He stared at her.
“You agreed to it,” Elara reminded him.
He had agreed to it. The night after he came back from Aberdine, she’d spent an hour trying to deal with Amelia’s curse. Finally, she touched her fingers to the young woman’s forehead, and he felt a pulse of magic from her. It washed over him, soothing and cool, and Amelia’s rigid body relaxed. The curse was still there, Elara told him. She had only slowed it to a crawl, but it was alive and growing, and if they didn’t find a cure soon, it would consume Amelia. His wife had just bought them time.
He was already grateful, and then she invited him back to her suite. They sat at a table on a secluded balcony off her bedroom and she’d served him the chicken she made.
Elara’s chicken tasted like childhood.
Hugh couldn’t recall eating it frequently when he was a child, but something about the combination of flavors and savory herbs threw him right back to that blissfully happy decade before he turned seventeen and began killing in Roland’s name. It tasted like summers in Occitanie, where winds had names, and the long sandy beaches flirted with the turquoise sea. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine sitting at the scarred table on the veranda of the old bastide that used to be his home. He would’ve spent the morning in sword practice, studied after that, then ridden a horse to the beach and swam until his body could no longer move. The house with its stone façade and pale blue shutters would be to his left, the pool and the view of the sea nestled between green hills to his right, and when he finished eating, his father would come to quiz him on things he’d learned that day.
It was bittersweet, and he savored every bite, while she promised that she would get her witches to look into the curse and talked about the Harvest Day preparations. If she had asked him to jump over the balcony rail at that moment, he might have done it. She’d asked him to be the Harvest King instead. The fool that he was, he said yes.
Now he was standing in the middle of the main hall, wearing an embroidered white tunic, brown pants, and a red Celtic cape cloak. And Elara was standing next to him. She wore a light green gown with ridiculous trumpet sleeves. It clung to her chest, flowing over her waist to her hips, where it flared into a wide skirt. Her hair was down and streamed down her back like a white waterfall. A flower crown made with purple asters, bright yellow goldenrod, and red maple leaves rode on her hair. She looked like she had walked out of Edmund Leighton’s Accolade. All she needed was a sword and some fool to kneel before her.
Nadia, one of the women close to Elara, approached, carrying a wooden box.
“I’m afraid to ask,” he said.
Elara opened the box and took out a flower crown twisted together from golden oak branches, red maple leaves, and clusters of small purple berries.
“No.”
“You promised.”
She was looking at him with her beautiful brown eyes. He looked at her face for a moment too long and surrendered to his fate. How bad could becoming a king for one day be?
He bowed his head, and she put the crown on his hair.
“You look lovely, Preceptor,” Lamar offered.
Hugh looked at him for a minute.
Lamar grinned back. Stoyan’s face was perfectly neutral. Sharif cracked a razor-thin smile.
“Hugh?” Elara asked.
He sighed.
She smiled at him. The magic was thick today and that smile was regal and witchy. His eldritch queen, the Ice Harpy, asking him for a favor.
Oh what the hell, why not? “Let’s get this over with.”
#
A three-year-old boy with round cheeks and dark hair clutched a yellow astra flower to his chest.
“Go ahead, Bao,” his mother murmured.
Bao looked at Hugh, looked at the sword by the throne, and made a beeline for Elara. She gave him a smile, and Bao offered her his flower.
“What a pretty astra!” Elara cooed.
They had seen at least two hundred people in the last couple of hours. Most of the ones under 5 went to her. He got older kids and a surprising number of adults. The Departed believed in Elara with all their heart. They brought flowers, fruit, and walnuts, deposited their gifts on the cornucopia pile, made their wishes, and drank their cider. And then they lingered, watching others do the same. The grand hall was full. People talked and mulled about, and he’d spotted more than a couple of his Iron Dogs in the crowd.
The pile of gifts by his side of the throne was growing unwieldy. Fruit, mushrooms, weird rocks from the children. One kid brought a grasshopper. A little girl brought a “pretty worm” which turned out to be a scarlet snake and caused a bit of commotion until Sharif grabbed it. The snake was safely released outside, and the culprit was rewarded with a chocolate strawberry.
He didn’t mind. He understood now why Elara wanted this. The smiling faces, the content conversation, the abundance of food, it swirled together into communal happiness, and it wrapped around them all like a warm blanket. They were together, secure, and happy. The Departed needed it, but Elara herself needed it more. He could see it on her face. In this moment, his wife was truly happy.
A hush fell onto the hall. He raised his head.
Vanessa stood on the red carpet.
She looked exactly the same: arrogant face framed by dark hair, a body that was almost too ripe, with big boobs, long legs, and tight ass wrapped in a red sweater dress. Back before the wedding, he’d used her as a distraction. He’d made the terms clear from the start, but it had gone to her head anyway, and eventually she tried to use it against Elara. They had words, as Bale would put it. To call it a fight would be giving Vanessa too much credit. Elara sliced her to pieces with ten sentences. Going back to her job as a paralegal after she imagined wielding power as his mistress proved too much for Vanessa. She fled in the morning.
She stood on the carpet now, and there was something not quite right about her face.
The two families behind her turned and walked off the carpet to the walls. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Bao’s mother pick him up and scurry to the side. The hall was silent now.
An ice-cold power flared to his left.
He glanced at Elara.
Her face was rigid with rage. Her magic burned around her, a glacial invisible flame, a seed of a hurricane threatening to burst. The edge of it seared him, and only his willpower kept him from recoiling. She was Death.
The Departed stood frozen.
“Take it off,” Elara ground out.
Vanessa grinned.
“Off!”
Vanessa’s scalp split. The skin sloughed off her, like a biohazard suit, curving to the sides.
A slender middle-aged woman bared her teeth at them. Thin, her features sharp, her light skin coated in a grease streaked with blood, she stared at Elara with triumphant disgust. Magic wrapped around her, a dark, violent miasma.
The last of Vanessa’s skin peeled off, falling to the ground in shreds. How the fuck…
Elara’s magic convulsed like a furious colossal viper.
In the hall, the faces that were happy just a moment ago turned into cold, grim masks. The Departed stared as one, and he felt it again, that collective power binding them. The cheer, the happiness, and warmth were gone, snatched away by the Departed. Everything Elara treasured, everything she looked forward to, ruined. It was the wedding all over again.
He felt something stir inside him and realized it was rage.
“Brooklyn.” Elara spat the name like it was poison.
The woman raised a bony hand and stabbed her finger at Elara. “The reckoning is here, niece—”
“Aarh sapawur eseran.”
The blinding flash of agony tore through him. He’d sank so much power into the words, the grand hall quaked.
Brooklyn froze like a statue. Unable to move, unable to speak.
The entire hall stared at him, shocked.
“Elara,” he said into the silence, keeping his voice casual. “Why don’t you ever bake me anything from those shows you like to watch.”
Elara’s eyes were big as saucers.
He gave her a pointed look.
She cleared her throat. “What would you like me to bake you?”
“I think I would like some rough puff pastry.” That was the only thing he could remember from his trip to the ledge.
“What?”
“I’m a rough man. I should have some rough puff pastry.” What the hell was coming out of his mouth…
The spell’s hold shattered. Brooklyn stumbled forward.
“Aarh sapawur eseran.”
The pain slashed through his gut like a sword. It took everything in his power not to wince.
“I’m having a conversation with my wife.” He hammered each word out like he was carving it into stone. “Will nobody rid me of this annoying thing?”
A dozen Iron Dogs congealed from the crowd. They swarmed the petrified woman. In seconds she was gagged and tied. They tipped her like a tree and carried her out of the hall.
Hugh turned to Elara. “When am I getting my desert?”
“I will make it tomorrow,” she said softly.
“Thank you, love.” He turned to the hall. “Now, who is next?”
For a moment nothing happened. And then a family with two children shouldered their way out of the crowd and approached, carrying some pears and a bundle of wheat.
Hugh smiled at them and waved for Irina to start pouring the cider.
The Last Hughday
From Ilona:
Hugh d’Ambray, living his best Henry II life, heh.
This week brought a lot of This Kingdom work. We pulled together a ton of material for the maps, drew the sketch of the world map, noted the major landmarks, then wrote everything out in text, moving from north to south on both sides of the map. Then we redid that same map with the political landmarks. We pulled together the city map, edited it to match the new manuscript and sent that in. Hopefully that is enough for the artist to get started. Then we worked on the cover copy for the publisher insider galleys.
I had forgotten how much work it takes to release a book through the traditional publisher. The fault is entirely mine. I’ve gotten used to self-dictated release schedule, where we determine the deadlines, the number of edits, and the cover copy. When the cover copy goes back and forth 7 times, with several people concentrating on making it the best it can be, it puts things in perspective.
Not that we cut corners when we self-publish, but usually it’s our agent and us and we are mostly on the same page. We don’t have the marketing department to guide us or the expertise of an editor who is very good at what she does.
This week, we have also gotten out first foreign rights offer. I can’t say anything about it except that it is a really good offer. We will need to review the documents today. We always read the contracts.
This is now two separate publishers who have chosen to place a big bet on Maggie.
It’s both exciting and nerve-wrecking. I really hope the book is strong enough to meet the expectations, but that’s not the biggest stress factor. We’ve written this book. It’s done. It’s too late to worry about it. It will do or it won’t.
The second book is due in November.
We’ve sent the “where are we going” summary to our editor yesterday. If it’s green lit, great. If not, we will need to adjust. The first book is almost 200K. This one will likely be of significant length as well. It’s a lot of story and there is still a lot of work left on Maggie #1. Copyedits, galley proofread, etc, etc.
All of this means that we cannot give Hugh 2 the attention it deserves. Especially not while serializing it. If this was a novella, it would be one thing, but this is a novel and it is complex. We will have to bump it back until Maggie #2 is done.
I thought we could knock it out, but apparently we can’t. This is humbling. In a way, it is a testament to the strength of the book – it requires undivided attention. But still, I really, really wanted to get it done before starting on the sequel. Not only we need to finish the story, but we need that extra release, because Maggie 1 won’t be published until March 31 of next year.
The problem is also the hands. A few months ago I developed this fun new nightmare where my hands and feet, and sometimes arms and legs, go numb. There was a lot of nerve pain with a dash of allodynia. I learned to sleep on my back with both hands in braces. There was a variety of possible diagnoses, none of them good, but right now the consensus is that this is a medication-induced side effect. I’m off the meds and getting better so we will see if this improves over the next few months.
It slowed me down quite a bit. At some point I couldn’t even sit in the chair for longer than an hour or everything went numb. You never plan for crap like to happen, but sometimes it does.
Anyway, for these reasons, we are pushing Hugh 2 to the backburner, so we can meet our contractual obligations. We may have a shorter project for you as a serial. We are not sure yet. Mod R has read it and she feels it would be a good serial.
No worries, we will figure out something fun in the meanwhile. Happy Friday!
first?
certified 🙂
Hughday!
Yay!
and congrats Amanda
+1 🥳
Thanks for doing all this! The giveaway and the snippet! 🤗
Thank you!
Honestly, I just want you to take care of yourselves, so that we can get the stories whenever you can manage them! Also, I know I’m not the only one eagerly awaiting Maggie, even as Hugh plays king quietly in the background.
In the meantime, there are plenty of your books to reread, and a number of graphic audio presentations of them to enjoy 😉
Well said, Rachel. House Andrews health is paramount! While we were all eagerly awaiting Hugh #2, we want the best for Ilona and Gordon. And now we have Maggie #2 to wait for. Hurrah!!
+1
Exactly! Take care of yourselves and the rest will fall into place.
You give us so much here. I’m sure whatever you have as a “filler” will be well received.
Congrats on the international rights!
May I humbly try a little subconscious persuasion here for the shorter project you’re considering?
puffles….. puffles….. puffles….. (imagine that whispered in an eerie voice) 😉
I’m sure that whatever it is will be great, but I couldn’t resist! 😁
+100 plus 🤣 I never would Jane right of the quiet subliminal, but that’s a keeper
What Rachel said! 💯
Ditto
+1
Please take care of your heath. That comes first. Eagerly awaiting Maggie is putting it mildly. Also eagerly awaiting Hugh but contracts with deadlines must understandably come first.
That said, Hugh freezing that… person… then discussing how he wants Elara to make him pastry from her cooking show and having people haul the frozen one away while they continue the party to make his wife happy… priceless!
In a weird way, that was a perfect ending point for a pause on Hugh. He is falling more every day, he is protecting her, he is working towards the good of the group, he has a redemption arc solidly going on.
I totally agree about Hugh (good pause point) and Maggie. And here’s to keeping our favorite authors healthy and sane!
Very well said. I am so excited for Maggie and new GraphicAudio releases!!! I have a huge emotional investment in Hugh and I want the best Hugh story I can get and I’m willing to wait even if I have some impatient chaotic horde moments in my brain. Thank you Ilona and Gordan for sharing your wonderful gifts with us.
Ditto! Please take care of yourselves first! ❤️
+1000 to everyone else’s positive comments about HA prioritising its own health and well being over the expectations/requests/desires of the BDH – thanks to HA the BDH already has LOTS of toys in our sandpit to keep us all happy.
Agreed!! we appreciate everything you guys provide. Despite being a ravenous horde, we want you all to be a happy, healthy and stress free as possible. Hoping for smooth planning and exciting times with Maggie 1 and 2.
+1
+100000000
+1
Everything said above
Ditto! Thank you for adding so much enjoyment to my life.
+1
+1
Congratulations Amanda. enjoy. Now back to read Hugh.
Best wishes to the authors! I’m grateful for any free fiction you feel up to sharing with us. I’m so excited to meet Maggie next year, and will apply re-listen to GAs until that lovely day comes!!
Hope you recover well !
Thank you
Aww, more waiting for Hugh?! He’s torturing us, isn’t he? Oh well!
So excited about Maggie and good luck on the next book! Hope you feel better!
The maps sound awesome and well worth it!
Sorry to hear about your health but thank you for a lovely instalment. Congrats on all the good things coming your way it is well deserved but don’t worry about getting additional stuff out, do what you need to and we can wait.
After all the fandom has waited 3 years for the final instalment in Gideon the ninths story and are no less ravenous!
+1 except I don’t get the Gideon ref. Anyway I’m glad for the good and sorry about the bad. Hope God will ease up on you.
We can wait for the serial but take care of yourself first!
Thank you 🤩
Yes, what NP said – those two simple words are not said enough for the joy and humor your written words bring, again Thank you!
Your books, your decision. Looking forward to Maggie 1&2 and Hugh 2 when you get to them. Thanks for letting us know.
Thank you for these glimpses into Hugh and Elara’s lives
We will wait.
We’re taking the long view: the happier and unstressed the authors are, the better for us as readers.
I had never heard of allodynia and long with the numbing – I imagine it’s been tough. It is no hardship to know that 2 Maggies are on the way and Hugh is slightly behind them. Please take care!
along with the numbing (typo)
I’ve never heard of it either. I legitimately thought I was losing my mind. 🙂 It is a very weird thing. For me it feels like random sunburn or cold water dripping but only on some random spot somewhere by your elbow or on your thigs.
I found that hanging from a ring ( inflatable rather than hard) in a pool was very good for me. I have no clue as to whether this was clinically significant, purely palliative, or just an opportunity to get away from the gadgets and demands, but it made a big difference. I started at 15 minutes and worked up to 45. If you have the opportunity I highly recommend the practice.
Many thanks for sharing your gifts of storytelling with us.
Robin, I too really like do this. It takes so much pressure/gravity off the body in addition to just being relaxing. What a great suggestion:)
I start my work day swimming laps for about 20 minutes (not strenuously) because the combination of weightlessness, gentle exercise, and just stretching everything makes a huge difference to my day. I really notice the difference on days when I can’t swim.
But I’m spoiled because my community center has an arthritis rated lap pool, which means that the water temperature hovers around 90 degrees and is soothing rather than brisk.
My Dr recommended adding a B complex vitamin to counteract a medicine that was causing a similar problem. It works astonishingly well. That is in addition to a multivitamin. YMMV. Hope you feel better soonest.
Just re-read Innkeeper as anti-stress reading. Thankyou for giving such a wonderful story to escape into.
I’m so sorry. I have a couple types of nerve pain from nerve damage plus mostly in remission nerve pain from CRPS after a severe nerve injury. The nerve injury healed, but the pain didn’t stop, and drs could immediately tell there was a problem because my hands were different colors and noticeably different temperatures.
If none of your drs have mentioned biofeedback, it might be an option – I did the skin temperature one for CRPS (essentially, meditate with deep breath patterns until my hands were the same temperature).
The problem with biofeedback providers is that a LOT of them fall, IMO, somewhere between a scam and snake oil. Mine is a neuropsychologist who specializes in complex medical patients. Biofeedback is a very small percentage of what he does.
For the other types of nerve pain, I do best with distraction for pain relief – a tens unit is the best distraction I’ve found. Gabapentin worked but I can’t think when I take it, so I can’t take it. Alpha lipoic acid helps me a little, but supplements aren’t regulated, so that’s a risk. Getting my inflammation markers down helped a bit – we think LDN is did that. Not positive, but it’s the only intervention with a correlation and I’ve been on and off it a few times because it’s expensive.
I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m recommending just alternative medicine. I’m a strong supporter of western medicine, but it sounds like your drs are already doing all the commonly known things. As always, talk to your Dr before considering trying anything – I consult with my PCP and relevant specialist/specialists before trying anything.
I’m glad going off meds is helping.
Thank you for the Hughday, as well as the updates on Hugh and Maggie. Completely understand about needing to focus on Maggie’s books until returning to Hugh – especially with publishers getting involved.
Also, I hope the numbness issues resolve themselves soon! I appreciate everything Ilona and Gordon write, so definitely take of yourselves! <3
…. hughh… cryy…..hick…cry….
Me too. Super bummer.
I know, right? As authors, you have the right to choose which books to work on. As readers, we have the right to be disappointed. You started talking about Hugh 2 during the pandemic in 2020, but said that book was too dark to write at that time. It’s been a long five years. I hope your health situation improves.
So sorry to hear about your pain issues. My late husband was injured years and years ago and developed pain that wasn’t necessarily related; it was life changing. He eventually got past it, but I know what he went through to get there. I hope the situation will continue to improve!
Thank you for today’s Hughday, but we can w@!t Thinking of a second massive Maggie will help.
Thinking of you!
wow.. Maggie must be amazing if 2 publishers want it at this stage! Must. Be. P*tient. Please be sure to take care of yourself. That is the most important thing to focus on!
While I am disappointed Hugh2 has to be delayed for a bit, I totally get when life just get jumbled up and you have no choice but to stop and set it right. Good luck working out all the kinks in your plans and best of luck with your health issues. The BDH will be right here when you need us.
When it rains it pours, but in your case it rains books! I’m so happy for you both. You’re so generous to share your decisions with us – I hope all of your fans realize how lucky we are that you take the time to connect with us. Congratulations and full steam ahead!
I’m sorry about your hands. It’s so hard when our bodies fail us, isn’t it?
Congratulations on the foreign book offer! SQUEEEEE! The BDH is apparently now going for world domination.
*sniffle* Bye, Hugh! I’ll miss you.
I am sad that Hugh (& Elara) are going on furlough; I was waiting for the continuation of the story since Hugh #1, and was really enjoying the snippets/serial.
That said, contractual obligations come first, and I applaud your discipline that has you carving out 6+ months to ensure you get the best book delivered in a timely manner. Hurrah to you … (raspberry) on having to wait for more Hugh & Elara, but it is what it is. I wish you smooth progress on Maggie #2.
Good luck with the numbness issues. I had an issue with numbness in left hand (fingers) and left side of my mouth that started about a year ago … boy, when you say “numb” and “left” in the same sentence, you get all the attention from the medicos. I’ve learned to say “tingling” instead. Have seen a couple doctors, but so far no clue as to what this is about (although I have ducked out of the scans that were ordered). I wish you good luck with your diagnoses and treatment. Glad to hear that slacking off one of your meds seems to be improving things.
Please get the scans! If only to rule out the worst possible outcome.
thank you for this lovely installment. It’s just so fun watching this relationship grow little by little.
And thank you for the explanation, why you’ll pause it for now – you don’t own us words, but it’s easier to wait when I know why.
I hope working on the other books (the ones with harder deadlines) is not only work but fun for you as well and that your body will behave itself again soon.
Congratulations Amanda!🎉🎉
Hope you feel better soon Ilona. Sending good vibes you way.
Imagining Hugh on his throne holding a piece of rough puff pastry, with his pinky out, just made my day. 😁
Which fruit preserves do you suppose Elara would serve with the puff pastry? Quince? Pawpaw? Ground Cherry? Maypop? It needs (I think, yes, I know I have no vote…) to be something native, and uncommon and experiencing a resurgence since things got magical….
Maybe she’ll ask Kate for some golden apples of immortality? Kate did say it made a good jam…… 😄
Maybe…dragonfruit?
fantastic
thank you
so very sorry for your personal situations, thank you for sharing snippets
I pray that Illona gets healed of her afflictions very soon & completely. Thanks for the connections of your materials, that hopefully will continue to come to us for a long time.
Thank you for the Hugh and the updates. I’m so sorry to hear of your health struggles, but thrilled to hear the encouraging news about This Kingdom and it’s successors. Carry on!
I am always very happy with whatever you can spare for us. Thank you.
Thank you for the last Hughday and congratulations to the winner!
While I’ll miss reading Elara and Hugh, I’m so excited for TKWNDM that I can be p*tient.
Thank you again for the last chapter and may your continued work go smooth or if not at least let any problems that come up be interesting.
What is this p*tient word. Do not speak blasphemy in front of the BDH 🙂
Don’t fret Hugh, we’ll hear from you soon. Waiting …
Hugs…..Wishing you all peace.
Thank you for the update…
Wooohoo!!! Another offer on the book. You both ROCK!! I’m thrilled for you. Your health is the TOP priority; please take care of yourselves!!
I hope you know the BDH adore you and want you to be in the best of health 🙂
congratulations again and we will wait….. lol without too much impatience hahaha
Congratulations Amanda! 🎉🥳🎇
Please, take care of your health. Hugh and Elara can wait. Hugh can be king of the Harvest for a while longer.
Maggie in all its books should be the focus, along with your health. Mod R can wrangle the Horde if we get too much.
I agree with the others, there’s plenty for the Horde to read and listen to while being chalant and fluffy. 😁😎😊
Hugs Ilona – I hope you feel better soon and take all the time in the world needed. We can be a patient horde.
As always, please take care of yourself first! I’ve been enjoying Hughday very much, but I totally get the priorities you guys have to make. I hope this doesn’t sound too whiny – but we’ve w*ited this long, we can keep w*iting. It will be worth it. And I have plenty of new Hugh to chew on just from this few chapters!
And…Maggie!! Will. Be. So. Good!!!
Happy Friday!
We may be the Book Devouring Horde, but we love our authors even more than we love their books. I’d rather you spend time on the new stuff and rest when you can than overload, be in pain, and give me more snippets.
Waiting is no fun, but I’d much rather wait than you be in pain.
Amen!
Hopefully this medical condition resolves soon. I’m 70 and it seems that for me one medical condition resolves and another one moves into the vacant space, like demons in the Bible. 🙄
So glad you’re taking the time you need. We will be p*tient and w*it. I’m just going to picture Hugh eating his “rough puff” dessert with delicious chicken and wandering in to sit on his throne from time to time. He’s so gone it’s hilarious!
Congratulations Amanda on winning the competition. I am sure you will enjoy the early access into Maggie’s world and her adventures.
Congratulations House Andrews on the foreign rights deal. I believe that your creativity and hard work deserve to reach the widest possible audience and if the traditional publishing route supports reaching even more readers then good. This member of the BDH enjoys all your books whether traditional or self published. ( Though Innkeeper will always have a special place in my heart and on my shelves because I discovered Ilona Andrews as an author via the weekly serialisation of Clean Sweep.)
I hope your health improves Ilona and the symptoms plaguing you disappear . That you’ve finished the Maggie book , done a huge edit of the story while battling health challenges is a credit to your determination.
Thank you for Hugh and Elara. That was a wonderful snippet. Makes me long for Fall even as Spring approaches. I hope we can see a bit of the Centurions lives beyond their duties like Bale hanging out with the Druidss, Sharif maybe playing ball with the kiddies and Stoyan romancing his way with ASL when the serial picks up again.
Congratulations on Book2 of Maggie even before Book1 is out the door. Looking forward to the series.
Take care of yourselves. Health is everything so be sure to but that before anything else. This makes me open up my reading horizons as I w@!& for your releases. There’s always the re-reads!
Love Hugh and Elara!!! Also love you guys! And you taking care of yourselves—BDH will still be here, fluffy as ever, when Hugh returns. Love this and can’t wait for all the good things you do! Thank you for working so hard!💜💜💜
Fell to my knees at Target!
But seriously, take all the time you need for the books. We would rather have good books later!
And Hugh can still use power words. Bet that freaked out so many people! 📚
Sending very gentle hugs!! Medication side effects are exhausting – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Tea for the win, hot or cold. 🫖
And more Maggie!! 📚📚
Wonderful chapter! Totally understand the need to prioritise. Take care. Don’t burn out.
No Hugh? Guess I’ll just have to wait it out. At least I’ll have Maggie to keep me occupied.
Health is first and foremost. All the best for your recovery.
But huuuuugh 😢
Thank you for the snippet, I’m very much looking forward to this story. I’m sorry for the health challenges. Please take care of yourselves, that is most important.
I’m sure Maggie will be very well received. As will her sequel.
We want you to be healthy and happy, so work when and on what makes you happy.
Thank you for Hugh today. I hope you hands are better soon. Yea for March next year and Maggie 1. Yea, Maggie 2 is starting. The best to both of you.
This installment of Hugh was FABULOUS! And I’m so excited to hear about the Maggie successes! I have faith the stories will pour out as they are meant to do. Taking care of yourself is the first priority. In the meantime, I’ll hold Hugh close in my heart and put Maggie on my calendar with lots of alerts!
Take care of yourself. Whatever you publish, whenever you publish – I’ll be there. Happy Friday!
You guys are always so generous with your fans and with your time and now we will wait excitedly for whatever you guys have time to do. If that means nothing until next March we will happily wait for the best possible version of Maggie. Happy Friday!
P*tience may be a bad word around here, but myself and BDH included can have as much p*tience as we need if it means you are healthy and comfortable! Take all the time you need. We will all be here ( after many re-reads) when it comes back.
Thank you for the snippet and all the fun stuff! have a good weekend!
Oh man, so sorry to hear about the meds side effects. They can indeed be disabling, as a number of friends have discovered. Glad it was identified and sincerely hope you continue to improve!
Completely understand that the contract requirements get first priority! Hugh and Elara can wait. We want you to enjoy your work on it first and foremost. That said, thank you for the new snippet! Enjoyed it so much! Hugh as king of the harvest is such a smile inducer.
And many congrats for the foreign publisher offer! And many congrats to Amanda! (Just a bit jealous tho.)
it takes as long as it takes! take care of yourselves so there can be more!!
I’m so grateful you share this much of yourselves with us all throughout the year. Take as long as you need, and I promise to be here when it’s ready.
Chronic disease stuff stinks. Take care of yourselves first and foremost as we want you around as long as possible.
+1!!
That’s a real shame, I was so looking forward to the second Hugh book for years, these weekly snippets were great. Oh well, good luck in your new endeavour with Maggie.
I was actually wondering how you hold two books at once in your head and write. Health and mental health are everything. Go be the awesome people you are and continue to create this new world. I love Hugh and I know he isn’t going away. And, not for nothing this installment was awesome!
Hugh can w*it. We’ve survived this long without Hugh 2; your health takes priority! And since Maggie 2 has a deadline, Hugh can pretend to be a gentleman? white knight? gracious lord of the manor? and step back, think deep thoughts and dream about rough puff pastry.
Get well soon!
(And I’m still giggling about Hugh playing harvest king.)
First, I am so sorry to hear about your health issues and I hope and pray you are well very soon.
Second, I love the second Hugh book, but knowing it will be a full novel and knowing that we WILL be getting it in the not-too-distant future is enough for me to be pseudo-patient and wait for it to come out. Everything by Ilona Andrews turns out to be more than worth the wait!
Thank you for the parts of Hugh 2 that we have so far, I am so invested in this story! You have to do the work on Maggie’s universe that you have contracts for, any grown up will understand that. Also, I can’t wait to read all the Maggie books, either, so this is really a win/win for the Horde!
God bless!
Thank you so much for posting the Hughday.
We understand completely and will be patient, promise!
Thank you for the Hugh Day and super large congratulations on Maggie 2! Woot! You guys are so kind and generous.
Hope you feel great asap.
I’m sad about Hugh, because I love the story, but it is blindingly obvious you are doing all you can to juggle your projects. I just want to say that so far, you have done such an excellent job of bringing out the good in Hugh and Elara both. It was a reminder that deep down people are basically good and just trying to survive , even if they do f’ed up things. You have turned a monster into someone I am rooting for, which cannot be easy. So, I am glad you are leaving them at a happy feast, and here’s hoping they get some of that chocolate. Heres wishing good health and hapiness for you both. And I mentioned this in another comment, but if you haven’t done so yet, check out the Bear Valley bald eagle cam. Those two baby chicks will make your day.
I giggled when the lady druid was named Fiona – equating the name with Fiona the San Bernardino squirrel that visits Jackie & Shadow & the eaglets. 😉
I didn’t know there was a squirrel visiting!!! brave squirrel..
It’s okies about Hugh. I’m sure everyone will understand that we want you at your best and to give all y’all stories the attention they deserve. medicines can cause so much chaos. I’m on plenty of medicines for different chronic illnesses. It can be scary at times.
Thank you for all y’all hard work!
Hang in there and get well soon! Hugh two was fun, but I hope the whole horde keeps in mind this is your livelihood and people depend on you so it isn’t just you and your hubby. Looking forward to Maggie!
Please take care of you! We, The Horde, can cope.
Pleeae take care of yourself and Gordon. We can wait abd practice being chalant!
peace and grace,
Marianne
I am so glad you are feeling better!! Hopefully the medication adjustment keeps you on the mend. Also, thank you for your literary creations. I will read absolutely anything House Andrews writes so if a short serial is next then I look forward to it!
What Rebecca said. Side effects are so tricky. I hope you get a course of treatment that works for you. Any book of yours works for me.
I’m having a tiny sulk because I love post Roland Hugh; he’s just so deliciously naughty. Curran, Sean and Rogan are great but Hugh, he’s tiramisu; and there’s nothing worse than an inferior tiramisu so I’m glad you are doing him justice. He’s worth the wait.
Get well soon and thanks for the update.
Congratulations (and pox on) Amanda!
Aww, Harvest Fest Santa and Mrs. Claus are adorable! And thank you, Iron Dogs, for ridding Hugh of that troublesome aunt. (Does this mean that Vanessa is no longer among the living?)
Congratulation HA for the foreign rights offer! Hope the contract is to your liking. And do you mean the second Maggie is slated to be out in November 2026? Or just the first draft?
Also, I am disappointed about Hugh, but I totally understand why!
Finally, I hope the numbness and nerve pain stops happening soon!
The first draft of Maggie 2 is due this November (2025) – as in 7 months from now!
Oh, wow! Yikes.
That’s fast. Tor won’t know what hit them when the Horde buys, buys, and buys.
Then word of mouth gets out, and it will be buy, buy, buy again (not using the Backstreet Boys song here. 😉)
Maggie 2 comes out, and we do it all over again.
Tor will be saying, “what just happened?”
The response? “The Horde!” 😂
Thank you for the snippet! I hope your numbness keeps getting better and good luck with Maggie 2 I hope the book cooperates with you.
Take care of yourself!!! That’s the most important thing! Thank you for what you have given us!
I had a nightmare some weeks ago and you were in it. Very weird, I know but in that nightmare I was going through hard moments and at some point found myself in a taxi with you Ilona and Gordon. For whatever reason I started crying and telling you all my current problems (the nightmare kind problems) while thinking at myself “what are you doing?? They don’t even know you!”. Then you, Ilona, reached out and held my hand and suddenly the dream changed to this peaceful feeling and then I woke up. So in short, thank you for hunting my nightmares :-D.
Seriously though, you, your books are always there when I need them. They are my safe place, my old trusted friends. We are your fans, we’ll be there for you just as your books are there for us. Best wishes for your health and we’ll wa*t then instantly buy, devour and demand more of whatever you publish, whenever it becomes available :-).
Thank you for one more Hugh!
+1
Oh. Almost all of this is lovely. Hugh is amazing. Elara makes me so happy. The story had me and I’m happy to w*it!
Maggie 2!!!!! And soon(ish) Maggie 1!!!
AND AND AND a potential project for a serial?!
And hopefully good news on the numbing front?
Amaze. So good. Many thanks to HA for the incredible scene, the wonderful news, and the background updates.
So much to look forward to!
Oh good heavens, it never rains but it pours. I hope the med change is enough to fix it. Speedy recovery!
Hugh is my baby and I love him. That said, he only exists because you guys made him up. I’ll state the obvious: you two have lives and obligations and don’t write for my individual amusement. Whenever y’all get around to writing Hugh 2 (II?), it will have been worth the wait.
I’m super excited about all the Maggies and can’t wait to read them. Also, a serial is great news!
Thanks for all you do!!
💕💖💗
Hi Ilona,
Sometimes numbing in the Hands can be caused by the T4 in your spine being misaligned. Sitting for hours writing can create zero impact injuries. It helped me to sit and move about like I’m taking a bikini pic with my chest popped up. Hunching forward made it unbearable and the numbness is kinda scary. Doing posture enhancing exercises was life changing. Thank you for the latest chapter and for all you choose to share, I wish you both the best.
Thank you for mentioning that! (Off to poke the rest of my desk job family to work on our posture. )
Please take care of my favorite writers. Wishing you the best. Tina from Berlin
Oh, I love this so much. Will wait as long as it takes.
Sending love and rough puff pastry 😅
You have NEVER ever produced anything which failed to exceed anybody’s’ expectations.
We understand completely and are happy to hear that the medication side-effects are going away.
Be well!
Congrats Amanda!!!
Thank you for this installment of Hugh. I hope things go well with your hands, medical stuff is so hard. The BDH will try very hard to be the horrible patient horde, right guys? Because we love HA and when HA is happy we get more to devour. Congratulations on the foreign language publication offer Maggie sounds Amazing and I know it will be worth the wait.
congratulations Amanda…..
I’m going to miss Hughday.
Looking forward to whatever comes in between Maggie’s story.
Have a great weekend.
It’s all good! “Loved the snippet & I know Maggie will blow our socks off. ❤️❤️❤️ congrats on the big offers. May all your books end up on HBO so that I can continue to live there.
Loved Hughday as I loved all your serials you kindly shared with us. There is something about reading the book together and speculating in the comments that makes this special and fun.
That said, please take care of yourself, especially where your health is concerned this is the most important and we can surely be fluffy a little longer.
Whatever comes our way will be appreciated and hopefully the contract is the first of many foreign rights – from the snippets I read Maggie will be a treasure indeed.
Love Hugh Day (or any serial day). Sorry their story is delayed because I love this series. It just means more books later.
One clarification – Didn’t Irina die on the cross at Nez’s hand? If not, can we get a clarification in this section why/how she is still alive? [Hugh says how much he hates that Irina’s life is over….right after Elara pisses Nez off for attacking early]
A different Irina to the one who died in Iron and Magic 🙂 . This is the first draft, names may be changed in the final edit to avoid these confusions.
I hope you don’t worry too much about Maggie. Your BDH will eat it up. You can count on us. I’m looking forward to Hugh 2 but I’ve waited a while and can wait a while more.
I have “side effects” from a cancer med that are painful and annoying especially because the side effects from the backup med are much worse so i have to put up with these as long as possible. I’m sending good thoughts and healing light for your side effects to go away and everything to go back to normal.
Well… if you needed a high note to break on, Hugh as Harvest Santa was great. And more good news- a small serial. I really enjoyed today and it was my 10 minute break in the middle of Moving Day- the Groundhog Day issue 20 something.
Glad you are feeling better . Pain is no one’s Best Friend. Try not to get too stressed getting 20K of words in six months. That’s a huge amount of work.
Best of luck to you, Gordon, & Mod R. Together the horde will weather another year.
Health first, always. I’m glad you seem to be improving and hope that continues.
Thank you for sharing everything you have of Hugh 2 so far. It’s been a pure treat and joy. And I know it will be worth waiting for the full book when you can dedicate the time you want to to it.
For now, wishing you lots of luck writing Maggie 2! And I’ve no doubt Mod R I’d correct and whatever else you plan to share on the blog will be excellent. I’ll miss the Hugh snippets, but still glad of whatever you choose to share.
That’s wonderful news about Maggie 1 and 2. I am sorry about the health issues and I hope they begin to resolve now that you are off the medication. I have always been one to plan and do my best, and then adjust because of course best laid plans of mice and men … But in the last three years I have seemed to have developed some type of anxiety with major changes in my life. I plan and do my best while awake and take the lumps when needed, but now I started the house buying process and I have the worst dreams. I often wake up in a cold sweat with difficulty breathing. (Side note- I sleep with a CPAP, and it is functionally perfectly.) It is the dreams. They are always awful. Loved ones lost and can’t find them. I’m forgetting to do something important, and its life life-threatening if I don’t get it done. This started 3 years ago when I sold my house and moved. Now that I am preparing to buy and move again, it’s back. Who knows what is going on in my head. I am on sleep medicine now and that does help. I am sorry about the numbness and hope it resolves soon so you can get back to your normal routine. The books you write are some of my very favorites. I have never set my alarm to wake up at midnight on a release day but I do for your books. Thank you for the wonderful books and best wishes for the foreign contracts.
You take such good care of us. thank you for the free readings and the fun stuff. Being healthy can be so much work, really nasty grueling work and you are both doing the work!
Get well, enjoy your work, enjoy your family, and thank you!
No worries, we can wait!
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this snippet. Maggie must come first, how exciting that the contracts etc are coming in, you deserve it after all your years of hard work. You have nothing to apologise for! God speed the work. Take the time you need to get yourself well and healthy. Lucky, lucky ModR for knowing the delights we have ahead of us! 💕
Happy Friday! The good news is that I’ll love it whenever I read Huge #2 and I will have forgotten the story I’ve already read. Silver linings! Take care of each other.
thanks for the last Hugh Day
Sad to see it go, but glad it ended (so far) on a happy note, Elara and Hugh in peace.
Also loved seeing that Hugh did have a happy childhood until he turned 17.
Question, ‘his father would come to quiz him on things he’d learned that day’ I think that is Roland, yes??
I think it would be Voron
I’ve been enjoying Hugh day and while it makes me sad that Hugh 2 will be delayed, contracts come first. Plus we have Maggie to look forward to. And the Graphic Audio releases. Take care of yourself. That’s the most important thing.
Chronic pain is exhausting- physically, mentally, and emotionally. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this and hope the diagnosis offers a path to relief.
The snippet was fantastic. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but poor Vanessa.
While w**ting for Hugh 2, I’ll just have to buy Maggie, and audio Maggie, and GA Maggie. Congrats on the new publisher. This book is gonna kill it!
Thank you House Andrews and Mod R for the ARC! I was so excited that I screamed and danced around for a bit when I saw the news. It’s my birthday this weekend and I can honestly say this might be my favorite birthday present ever. And thanks to the BDH for the nice congrats from several posts.
Happy birthday! Mine is tomorrow. 🎂🎇
Happy Belated birthday! Sorry saw this today, Saturday, 🤗
It would definitely be hard to top that as a birthday present, ever! Enjoy!
Congratulations! Definitely a wonderful present (even if you do have to wait a bit to get it)! May the rest of your year be just as lucky! 🥳
in things like this theres usually 3 options good, fast and cheap and you pick 2, but right now its fast or good, we can wait, some will whine but im sure theres more then a few other fans of dresden who survived the 5 years he had to stop for person things.and most of the rest are adults who understand. id rather have a great story and wait then rushed and questionable. im a fan of most of your series and already an isekai fan, so looking forward to the new series also. you guys build great worlds.
As always, your health takes first place! Hopefully you will be better soon. Have fun on Maggie 1 and 2! I’ll just reread all the Hugh day installments we’ve had so far. Sending much love!
Thank you!
Oh dear, it’s always something isn’t it? It will be great if it’s medication related. I am currently dealing with neuropathy in my feet (really hurts!) even though my A1C is 5.9.
You sound like you are pushing thru all this, bravo! Sending my prayers your way!
Awwww, thank you for the real talk update.
I’m so sorry to hear about the hands. But congratulations on all of the progress and exciting updates that keep happening with Maggie! As sad as I am to have to wait over a year for Maggie to be published, I CANNOT WAIT! A whole new HA world to look forward to! And 200k words! It will be like Christmas and a birthday present all rolled into one.
Please take care of your health! You only have one body, and we want you to be here for a good long time so you can keep entertaining the voracious BDH! Hugh can wait, especially because a full novel is always better than a novella.
I am sending all best wishes for your good health. I am looking forward to Maggie, but you being well is much more important.
I’ve said it before and will again- you and Gordon write it, then I will read it.
❤️💪🏼🙏🏼
Thank you! <3
I hope you feel better soon. I just got great news on my medical tribulations. No permanent vision damage. Ocular hypertension and NOT glaucoma or macular degeneration. I've been out of work for almost a whole month due to vision issues. 10 more days and I can return to work finally. I will now imagine you patting my head for some good luck in the health department 😉
I feel as if I’ve received a gift in the form of HughDay. I am grateful for the care that you are taking to write the story as it needs to be written. Now, I can look forward to that rough pastry dough dessert, when it is perfectly made.
Thank you isn’t sufficient, but I thank you all the same.
Thank you for providing such a wonderful distraction from the real world while you had the time. Please take care of yourselves, health is so important. I look forward to exploring the world of Maggie and congratulations on your book deals.
Dear Ilona, Nerve pain sucks. I hope it is medication induced so that as you back off the meds the pain will continue to diminish. Your books are wonderful. We love Hugh and can wait, because we’re getting Maggie! We know that y’all work hard to write the very best books you can and your craftsmanship and artistry shows that. Oh, and congratulations to Amanda!
This snippet will hold me until it’s done no matter how long it takes. Thank you. And a wonderful scene.
Thank you for this!!!!
As always, love what you are willing to share:) Hope your medical issues sort themselves out in a favorable to you way. There are pros & cons to living a longer life. The pro being you are not dead & presumably can enjoy life for many years to come. The con being that our bodies, marvels that they are, do tend to require much more upkeep/maintenance (like any antique!) the older we get. And our internal systems may decide to produce stuff that clogs up the smooth workings we prefer. Count the blessing & keep the liniment handy:)
love your work, whenever I get to read it – thank you always
I’ve loved having hugh snippets to read, but please don’t put too much pressure on yourselves! We will manage to wait (somehow) for whenever you’re ready.
Thank you and take care of yourselves!
That’s FANTASTIC news on Maggie, and we all know from the snippets it’s well deserved!!
Can’t (here’s that word) w@it to read it.
It seems to me we the BDH are extremely spoiled, with all the snippets, serials, and updates that you share with us, so thank you for being so generous.
I hope your medical issues resolve themselves soon, and Gordon’s recovery is going well. Take care.
We’re sad to wait longer for more Hugh and Elara adventures, but glad you are feeling less medication side effects and so happy for the growth of Maggie’s world. The BDH will be here when Hugh is ready and will rabidly devour all “life of the Andrews” updates in between. It will all work out! Be happy and well.
Oh no, Miss Ilona! Side effects are worse than the problem sometimes. I do hope you find something that works for you and that you recover fully very quickly. Take care.
I am sorry to hear you have not been feeling well. Hopefully it clears up sooner than later.
Nothing you write is filler. Don’t forget we’d read grocery lists and then go off on wild theories about what would be cooked.
you take your time and do it right and stay healthy!
It seems like you guys go through a fair share of unexpected crap. I really hope everything eases up for your health.
While I adore Hugh, and these chapters have been so well written, I’m super excited for This Kingdom. From someone who reads and re-reads, I think all those words should keep me busy for awhile! And congrats on the cool developments.
Take care!!
I honestly thought Vanessa was going to be the person who was sacrificed against the tree. I think she “left” before the plants started dying.
We were going to be cut off eventually. Farewell, Hugh! We’ll get you eventually.
Thank you, House Andrews, for creating wonderful worlds and letting us visit them
Thank you, and please take care of yourself!
I am very excited for the second offer. You all work so hard and it shows in everything you put out there for the BDH and public-at-large.
I will practice pat*ence and have visions of hefted cows dancing in my head, meanwhile. I am enjoying all the GA releases immensely as well.
Do not worry about us BDH members. We shall persevere and focus on sending you love, blessings, and healing energy to get well. Know that we love you and take care of yourself. Plus, thank you for putting Hugh in a flower crown!!!
Please take care of yourself, Hugh is worth the wait! Sending good wishes.
Be well. Be gentle with yourselves. That is of utmost importance.
Thank you for the wonderful snippet! My jaw about dropped when I read Nov for Maggie 2 draft, seems so soon. I’m impressed by your writing capability. Completely understandable about Hugh. We support House IA regardless of schedule constraints, sending a virtual hug.
Hugh is a ridiculous romantic. He literally puts his wife’s happiness above all. That is some power couple goals right there. It warms my soul.
Lovely Ilona, the hands not working and the braces are the stuff of my nightmares still. I lost the use of my hands for a long time and I know the agony of those dreaded braces all too well. I wish I coud take that pain from you, it pulled so hard on my mental reserves to remove my hands and ergo my independence, I cannot imagine how much it has ruined your writing schedule.
I have many tools in my toolbox now to help. I sincerely hope you have an excellent physiotherapist. It must be cramping your relaxation as well given your love of all things yarn.
Feel free to ignore the below, but it’s my list of things that helped:
Theraputty- think playdoh with more effort.
tens machine with glove attachments
icing
physio
strength work- very slowly small weights, lifting the weight through range with the palm facing down, to the side and upways.
thinking positive thoughts for the healing process.
Thank you for always being so honest about the progress (or lack thereof) for the books. Wishing quick healing.
Advice to HA from a Movie Villain – the Six-Fingered Man: “Get some rest. If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.”
And making sure the already-contracted-and-paid-for work is done on time and well obviously is more important than doing other stuff “for free”or even “on spec” that you might make money from it in the future. We in the BDH completely understand that Adult Fact of Life even if we occasionally want to throw toddler temper tantrums over it.
Meanwhile, the picture of Hugh sitting on a Harvest throne wearing a crown of flowers and probably nibbling on a stolen skewer of chocolate-dipped fruit while smiling at children is … mind-boggling, honestly.
I hate side effects from medicines. Every new one I take, I get a monster version of one of the side effects. Stuffy nose equals my sinuses feeling like they will explode.
Feel better soon!
Great chapter!
It’s not covered by health insurance, but I have become a believer. I understand if this post gets deleted. But I have listened to your health issues for a while, and I’m selfish. I want to read both of your stories for years to come. So consider something non traditional.
https://www.mindbodyelements.com/blog/what-is-muscle-testing
Thank you for the Hugh-days while they lasted. They were awesome and I’m sure the book whenever it comes out will be the same.
We are the BDH for a reason and will always want moar! but not at the cost of your health so please take care of yourself!
I’m doing a 2nd listen of the GA Magic Binds – soooo good!!!
To House Andrews: what I appreciate about you, and I’ve read A LOT of books over the past 61 years, is the level of communication and the intimacy of it. You allow your readers to share not just your created worlds but also your lived in world. In doing so you become valued friends who are cared about deeply. What you create and share with us is a valuable gift, making our lives so much richer. I will always, until the day I am no longer in this world, wait patiently for your wonderful gifts. Thank you.
Ditto a 1000%!!!!!
+1 1000% best books, blog, and reading community in my known universe. 😎
Looking forward to Maggie. Will Hugh 2 be next….pretty please??????
As sad as I am for no Hugh anywhere close to yet I am so excited about Maggie! Contracts must be honored! (I said that in my head like I was High Clan Liaden lol) I am pretty sure considering HA track record that I will want Maggie II at least as much as I do I & M II lol. The health stuffs sound scary! Positive thoughts and prayers for your recovery!
Hugh 2 will be percolating in the back of your heads while you’re working on your deadline for Maggie 2. Whatever comes, it will be worth waiting for.
And do take care of yourselves.
The statement “I want to grow old and gray with you” was never written by someone who has grown old and gray.
I wish you and Gordon all the best. The books will come in time, we just have to wait for them.
I am really looking forward to Maggie. 200k is my favorite size. It’s long enough to last a leisurely week reading, or devour in a few days. I will probably do both.
Hugh will just have to wait. His power words don’t work out here:)
Take care of yourselves
Great snippet. thanks for sharing.
Honey, as much as this Hugh 2 is getting really good, I understand you having to shift things around for your schedule. But know that ANYTHING you write is excellent! So whatever little serial you want to put out there will immediately grab the BDH’s attention and we will voraciously eat…I mean read it with enthusiasm! Y’all just know how to create a world that sucks us in!! 😍🤗
Thank you for Hugh Day! Please put your oxygen mask on before helping others!!! The BDH will continue to devour while we wait!
As a loyal part of the horde. I will say that I saw this dropped hours ago and tortured myself by waiting until I had a calm moment to read it. Thank you.
The important thing is that you take care of yourself. Again, as a member of the horde, we do not need the whole story if you can’t manage it. Snippets (from anything) lighten my Fridays. I would be happy with Hugh, Sookie, tea parties & chats, recipes, yarn, Olasard (and what, exactly, do he and the inn think about each other?) Shadow, squirrels, kids, Eeyore PJs, or anything you care to give us.
Again, thank you.
Whatever works for you best. We will read anything you write.
Everything could wait, except your health. Please, please take care of yourself. It sucks when our body fails us.
Thank you for the last Hugh day and stopping it. Hugh and Elara deserve your undivided attention. 🙂
Thank you for the snippet and all the exciting news! Sorry to hear about the health problems, those are never fun.
I’m enjoying all the GA releases while I w*it, so awesome.
Happy Friday!
This was wonderful and a joy to read on a rough day recovering from knee replacement surgery.
You will do what you can as you can, and the BDH will love everything we get.
I hope your health issues resolve swiftly and with minimal pain. It is rarely that easy, but I’ll keep hoping.
Puffles ?
Thank you so much for all the hard work, the Horde must simply be (or act convincingly) shalant.
Health and paid deadlines come first, and I for one am thankful for any post at a given time, be it Hugh or videos about Tuna refusing to move from the desk.
Congratulations and condolences in one. I actually gave out a bark of laughter at seeing your November deadline. It was nice knowing you both. LOL. I know how long your worked on the first Maggie and now to finish and have to do it all again? Oy vey. I can’t wait to read This Kingdom next year. So exciting.
Congrats to Amanda! I am incredibly jealous but happy for them!
I absolutely loved this snippet. The imagery of the hall and memories that the taste of the chicken brought back, the cozy feelings, the disgust/horror of Vanessa’s skin peeling off, then glee of Hugh defending Elara’s happiness. Lovedlovedloved.
And while I love Hugh and want Hugh Book 2 badly, I wholeheartedly am okay with it being delayed. Contracts come first and you guys already have a lot on your plate. They want Maggie 2 in 7 months???😱 That’s absolutely nuts to me, but then trying to write Hugh 2 too? That can’t be humanly possible.
7+ years ago, I developed chronic pain for the first time from overworking. It was very humbling, frustrating, expensive, and years of battle. After that, all my priorities and what I became willing to do for my job changed.
I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but please be kind to yourself. I’m sure delaying is disappointing, but your health comes first! You don’t owe us an explanation, but it’s appreciated. And as always, thank you!! ❤️
look after yourselves and, of course, your contract obligations! I’m looking forward to more Hugh when he gets here, but in the meantime I’ll continue with my reread of KD.
You have so much going on, and you are amazing writers. Thank you (from the bottom of my heart as someone who started reading when you released Magic Bites). Hugh two looks to be amazing – and the “pretty worm” made me literally snort with laughter and then continue to laugh hysterically. I am certain that Maggie and any future release will be awesome. My biggest wish is that you take care of yourself – and worry less about any complaining. Most of us (and I know you know how strong (and slightly crazy) the BDH are) will wa*t pat*ently, even if we occasionally whine and complain. But I, for one, would much rather you be ok, than anything else. Your life and well-being is way more important than our ridiculous expectations and obsessions lol. Sending love, grace, and joy to you. Heavens know you and your books have brought more to me than I can properly express.
Thank you for the wonderful Hugh snippet – with rough puff pastry 😉
All the best with finishing up Maggie 1 and with Maggie 2 – hopefully the foreign rights help with cashflow without another release this year.
Glad to hear the numbness is alleviating – all best wishes for a rapid recovery.
Sorry about your hands. I can sympathize. Years of being on 200mcg of thyroid seemed to cure my carpal tunnel but the Docs took me off and put me on 100mcg and it’s back with a vengeance. I hope the recovery is faster than mine. The Drs still can’t find an answer so it looks like Mayo for me
Ilona, I’m sorry you have to deal with health issues, but I’m glad that you’ve decided to prioritize self-care.
Also, if you had to pause on serializing Hugh 2, this is such a great stopping point because we have Hugh behaving all besotted while seemingly confused by his own actions! 😂 The bigger they are . . .
Sorry about the health problems. Will pray they continue to get better. Very disappointed to hear about the Hugh delay, but do understand. We wait for Maggie. Thanks
The most important thing is that you take care of yourselves and are still having fun! This may be your job but it is also a bit of a vocation, you should be able to enjoy the process!
We can wait, and will! I’ll keep y’all in my prayers 🙂
Thank You for giving us all those extras like Hugh day… but please take all the time you need for your health instead, plus the next submit date is way more important too, better be focused now as much as possible, and maybe add way later (like earliest in November) some little snippets, if you are sure to be on time, even have some time in reserve…., and only if the mood/energy/… even allows it.
Ooooo! Hugh used power words!
I will miss Hugh Day but I will survive.
HA, do what you need to do.
As long as I can get links to purchase your new books to feed my addiction, I’m good. 😁
I will miss Hughday. No question but knowing he & Elara will be back is a comfort & I am patient.
Please take care of your health, both of you. Consider if your health fails then there may be NO MORE Maggie, Hugh, Helen etc & then what will you do? Or us for that matter😂😂.
I know something about medication mixing😡. My partner was given medication which reacted badly with his epilepsy meds & he now has pseudo Parkinson’s – all the signs & symptoms of Parkinson’s but NOT Parkinson’s . He can’t be treated for Parkinson’s because he HASNT got Parkinson’s !!!!!
So please be careful!!! I await patiently for Hugh & Elara but in the meantime I’ll read anything else you have to offer lolololol.
Nerve pain/numbness is the worst! Hope it improves. Have loved the peek into Hugh but totally get it that he’ll have to wait….i am a patient soul on the fringe edges of the BDH. Looking forward to Maggie and so glad for you that it seems to be catching good attention from publishing world!
Your wellbeing always comes first. We will wait. Patiently.
But just for clarification – maybe I am a bit slow today: I got that you cannot continue Hugh as a serial, but did that mean you want to complete it „behind the curtain“ for this year anyway?
Just curious; first priority is your health, second is that we get your books when they are ready whenever that may be. Serials are always a nice bonus, but we will manage without one.
PS: Wearing Vanessa’s skin; quite literally I“m guessing. Yuk. What a nice person.
No, Hugh is going on the back burner for now and work will be on the Maggie sequel 🙂
Thanks for the clarification. So be it.
Thank you for what you have shared of Hugh 2. I’m enjoyed every bit of it. That said, please take care of yourself. Side effects can be no fun. I’m currently taking a weekly med for osteoporosis that leaves me in pain for two days. The benefits will be wonderful – if it works, but the pain is disheartening.
If waiting for a new book becomes unbearable, I can and will reread everything you’ve written. I’ve done it before and have become richer for it. I appreciate everything you share with us. You take care of you.
Sending healing thoughts and positive energy!
I respect your decisions. I am sad to see Hugh leave us awhile, but I can’t imagine the pressure of needing to get book 2 turned in before book 1 is even released. I’m cheering you on!
I hope your hands get better soon!
Congratulations, Amanda! I’m so jealous.
Your health matters the most. The horde will wait patiently, rereading all our treasures again. Work on yourself. You got this.
Dear Ilona, you don’t owe us any free stories. I really appreciate that you gave us something new each week, and I’ll miss the Hugh-Elara dynamic, but of course your priority has to be taking care of yourself and delivering the books you’re being paid to write (congrats on the foreign rights offer!). Actually, I don’t know of any other author willing to give away a serialized book on their site.
Have you looked into speech-to-text technology? I tried one years ago and it was accurate but slow. Maybe it’s better by now & might save you some typing.
Wonderful Hugh day! If this is the last for a while, it was a magnificent one. I hope your side-effects pass quickly.
In an indirectly related question, have you tried yoga? Hours at the computer put the body under a lot of unnatural stresses, pinch nerves, cut off circulation. Yoga is a gentle way to get things back in alignment. most physical therapy exercises are based on yoga.
Sauna is another way to help, as it helps you to sweat out the drug residuals. i have no sauna, so I substitute a very hot bath and settle in with a book and something to rehydrate with until it cools.
Best of luck and congratulations on Maggie!
The wait will be worth it. It always is with you.
I have to say, many authors have tried to redeem a villain and no one, not a single one, has come anywhere near to how beautifully you have brought Hugh (I know he’s been kicking and screaming) along to the “liked” and, dare I say, “loved” characters.
Well done!
Please do not make yourself sick, we can wait as long as needed to get the book! Take care of yourself.
Yay! Thanks! Excited for Maggie. Definitely take care of yourselves first.
Nerve pain can definitely make you feel insane. I have had neuropathy and numbness. Mostly, my neuropathy used to feel like I was being bitten by a bug but whenever I looked, there was nothing visible. It happened multiple times a day and was quite painful.
Now, I have *much* milder neuropathy and numbness only once in a while. I had a lot of success with taking Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg (3 times a day). I was fairly skeptical at first, but it worked. It took about 2 weeks to notice a moderate difference. 4 weeks for a significant difference. Eventually (after about 6 months), I lowered the dose to 2 times a day then stopped altogether after about 8 months. Haven’t taken it in a year and I rarely have issues.
Acetyl L Carnitine is also supposed to be helpful with nerve issues, but I haven’t tried it personally as the ALA alone worked for me.
Obviously, one should do their own research on reliable and responsible scientific sources and check with their pharmacist before adding anything to their meds.
Thank you, this was a great place to push the Pause button on Hugh2!
You need to put your health and contractual obligations first. You are always so generous to your readers, in terms of both content and interaction, and we know (at least we should by now) you need time to make each project the best it can be. I hope that for once, the BDH will gracefully back off on its incessant demands and allow you to concentrate on what’s important.
I’m so sorry to hear of your health struggles. I love your stories, but would rather wait for you to heal than imagine you hurting mentally and physically and still struggling to be productive. Please treat yourself with kindness and respect you deserve, and hold yourself to the same high standards you apply to every story you put in print. Your health deserves to be respected, protected, and prioritized.
Meanwhile, I’ll be rereading Kate Daniels from the beginning… or maybe the Innkeeper series? Or The Edge? 😘 I’m sure I can keep myself from going through Ilona withdrawal thanks to your library of books (which I have in ebook and audio).
Bless you!
Katt
Oh, I SO feel for you with the nerve pain in your hands, feet, arms, and legs! While not the same, I suffered from sciatica for nearly 2 years. Couldn’t sit comfortably for longer than 10-15 minutes, couldn’t stand or walk comfortably, and you can’t lie in bed all day without other issues. Heavy-duty meds didn’t do anything. Finally ended up taking 6 weeks of oral antibiotics for an unrelated illness – and the pain disappeared and never came back. Doctors are amazing, but they don’t know everything.
I hope your situation continues to improve while you are off the meds. Take care of yourself and know we are all behind you. If Hugh #2 takes longer, then take longer. The BDH is patient, even when we don’t like to be!
I am sad that Hugh will be backburnered but understand the constraints of health and publishers. So please take care of yourselves because we want you well and productive.
Congratulations on all the Maggie news! I’m so glad that your team is dedicated to see this as a rousing success when it debuts next year.
I’m sorry about your health challenges. Be sure to take care of yourself and your family first. While I’m sad that Hugh has to wait, it’s entirely understandable that you have to prioritize your work based on your obligations.
Take care, breathe joy, and bake something wonderful.
Oh so delightful. Please take care.
In The Princess Bride, Count Rugen tells Prince Humperdinck, “Get some rest. If you haven’t got your health, then you haven’t got anything”
Get well soon.
Please take care of yourself, we can wait for Hugh 2 but your health is so important and we want you to be healthy and pain free first and foremost. Nothing is more important than that and we will hit that preorder link whenever you post it. I’m so excited for all your new projects so don’t feel bad about anything!!
Thank you for this last Hughday! Sending good vibes for your health and the future, and looking forward to lots more marvelous stories, no matter which world you write in 🥰
Bummer!! Don’t usually read weekly stories but i have waited sooooo long for 2nd book I started reading the weekly posts about second book
O well such is the way of the universe Hope your health and happiness continues to be marry
Not gonna lie, this being the last HughDay is sad. BUT I completely understand. Sometimes it’s all I can do to keep the straw above water when I’m drowning at work and it feels like my body hates me. I too have nerve pain that I’ve been trying to deal with, especially coming from my neck. Thankfully I finally have a Doc that cares. 😁
You guys take the time you need to feel better personally. Focus on the required things. Then get back to Hugh. Not that you need my permission 🤣
It’s not like the BDH is going anywhere. We’ll be waiting ♥️
I have secondhand stress reading about you needing to produce a 200k word draft by November. Godspeed! I’ll miss the Hugh chapters, but it’s totally understandable that you need to push it back. Holy cow that’s a lot of writing you need to do!
Please get well soon! All the best to you!
Thank you for another Hughday.
We all agree. It’s more important that you take care of yourself. You do so much to take care of us. ♥️ And, we have lots to look forward to.
Please take care of yourself and don’t worry about us waiting. I know how bad constant pain can be, it is exhausting at the very least. Overwhelming at the very most. We can wait.
Quick question for Mod R, and this may have been addressed before, if so, I’m sorry – Will This Kingdom be released in hardcover as well as eBook? (I’m a US reader if that helps). I normally read Kindle but really want a hardcover of This Kingdom for a special spot on my shelf. Also, any thoughts to a special pretty hardcover release? I know it is very early yet and you may not know. Thanks so much!!
Hi Jessica,
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me will be released in print, a paperback with sprayed edges, as well as ebook and audio. All the formats!
Atm, we don’t know about special/fancy hardcover editions, but the likelihood is a very high one 🙂. More details here https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/all-the-questions/
You need to take care of yourself and your family. As much as I want the Hugh and Elara next chapter, I can wait.
I understand about the pain issues, and I definitely feel you. I typed 40+ hours a week for 35 years, and my hands are absolute toast. I’m so very sorry, and you absolutely should prioritize your mental and physical health!!! I just am very disappointed that Iron Covenant is really looking like a one-off.
They aren’t abandoning the series at all. They are just pushing it so that they can focus on This Kingdom and their contractual obligations. Not sure where you got that it is being abandoned? I’m surprised they have actually been able to give us any Hugh at all while working on This Kingdom, writing an epic fantasy that is that long and if you add to it health issues (which can be all consuming) is incredibly time consuming and hard. We just need patience, that’s all. It will come in time. 🙂
Ah, the joys of age,if the alternative (death) wasn’t so dire.
If you live long enough the weird stuff happens and you try to remember when you bounded up and rushed around and hiked the hills easily and slept like a log. You climbed a ladder to your roof, you dug up the turf for a new garden and you crept around on your knees to paint the trim. Sigh!
I am SO sorry to hear about your medical issues. The fear of waiting to find out wtf is wrong, the wondering if it’s fixable, it’s horrendous, and I don’t wish that on anybody. I hope very very much it goes away properly and your limbs are again entirely your own to dispose as you wish!
This installment is a nice stopping point until you can get back to it. Take care of yourself!!
You are my favorite authors, not because I love your stories (I do!) but because of how generous you are to your readers. There is no one like you. If we have world enough and time, there will be Maggie and all the Hughs and Julie and Derek will finally have their day. Take care of your nervous system and steward your creative energy. Thank you for everything you do.
Mod R, although I already have it marked on my calendar, I just wanted to put in a vote for a countdown to Maggie release. I really like the excitement index, and unlike my calendar which exists as a future reference, that I won’t even see until next March, the countdown is an exciting reminder that good things are coming. 0_0
Oh, yes, please. I would love a countdown. Please, Mod R?
Prayers for healing & continued good health – and appreciation for all you do for the BDH❣️
Sorry to hear about your health issues. I hope this isn’t chronic.
Try removing all sugar, even honey, maple syrup, the lot from your diet for 30 days. This may reduce pain and inflammation. It worked for my spouse.
What a bad ass chapter to end Hughdays on! Like Elara needing to give Baile Harvest Day to raise spirits in rough times, so has House Andrews given us Hugh Days. Thank you!
Congratulations on the excitement around Maggie! It’s going to prove well-deserved we all know. Take care of yourselves and your health! While there are many in the BDH there is only two of you. We can be p*tient!
Hope you feel better soon.
While we would adore a continuing Hughday, I feel that I speak for the BDH when I tell you that your health and wellbeing are infinitely more important than our weekly serial. We will happily wait if it means you can recover at your own pace. You have our support and well wishes!
Thanks for this Hughday.
I understand that it will pause for a while because it has to. Contract work is important to get done on time.
We are not owed a Friday snippet (or more!). It is a lovely bonus gift to your fans and we are grateful.
Quite frankly, I would rather have Hugh2 a *bit* later, rather than *much* later because you have overworked and become badly ill.
Please take care of yourselves. We worry.
As much as we love Hugh and Elara, we are more concerned about Ilona. Please take care.
We will wait. Semipatiently
Good health is number one. I am very happy to hear that the symptoms are related to a particular medication. Congratulations to Amanda and congratulations on completing Maggie 1. I am eagerly awaiting Hugh but the Hugh day treats are an enjoyable bonus. Which means that they are not expected and it was kind of you to do it when possible. Real world contracts have to be fulfilled. Hugh and Elara will be that much better with the additional time. Take care of yourselves, that should be the first thing on your to-do list.
Hugh is so good that it is worth waiting for until(for Me) the audiobook comes out. I just finished early read/editing on a book 5 that has been 5 years in the making and it is so good that it is worth the wait until it is finished. It is so good that it should be a tv series. I recently heard an actor/ director say that the movie coming out has been in the works for 16 years. Maybe Maggie will go to the big or small screen, also, someday, like “Outlander” eventually did. So it doesn’t really matter how long your books take, the BDH will support you.
Perhaps you can find a really good dictation program that will be easier for you use than for someone who is sightless. Then, perhaps you may be able to work lyin g down for part of the day. I really do wish you well.
Hope you feel better soon – as much as I’m looking forward to Hugh #2 (and would deeply appreciate any additional snippets!) I’d rather that you take care of yourself – it’s a marathon not a sprint. Looking forward to learning more about the serial!
“You look lovely, Preceptor.” OMG! I am still laughing whenever I think of these words. Only Lamar!
Whenever you get the Hugh book 2 done, it will be great! And I’m glad to hear you are starting to feel better. Hope the improvement continues!
Thank you for this wonderful installment on Hugh 2, such an intriguing read! I agree with the others, it’s a perfect place to pause the story. I adore Hugh and Elara’s developing relationship, his protectiveness and her kindness, and OMG, why is her aunt wearing a “body suit”? Eeek!
Also, I love how Hugh saved the festival!
Ilona, that health situation sounds super crappy, and I hope it vanishes soon. Your creative output is amazing, never mind dealing with that. I wish you excellent health and restful sleep, and I am ready to pounce on my copy of Maggie #1 when she arrives in bookstores.♡☆
Wah wah wah. I have to wait for books I want to read. Poor me. Wildfires are spreading all over the country, there’s unexpected flooding, horrible droughts, and the people of Ukraine just observed their third anniversary of invasion.
There are so many people and animals who are truly suffering in our world today, including both of you with shoulder pain and nerve pain. I just inexplicably lost the sight in my right eye. But I have another eye that works fine, and I know you will find solutions to your medical problems. We will all still be here when you get through what you need to get through. Please just take care of yourselves and accept the love and gratitude that thousands of people have for your gifts. We understand! You bring so much joy to us all. Don’t ever lose sight of that!
Man, I love Elara and Hugh. I love watching them come together. Everything you write is amazing.
As the author, you are more important, so please take care of yourself. Best wishes.
If I may make a suggestion, Dragon Professional 16 is an excellent dictation program. I’ve been using 16 for a couple of years now, and earlier versions for a total of a decade. You need a good mic with a noise canceling function, but those aren’t that expensive, and I know you have good mics you use in videos. The point is that you can dictate about three times as fast as you can write, and it spares your hands. I have dictated my books for ten years. If you want to experiment, Word has dictation built in, though Dragon is more flexible and accurate. Doctors, lawyers and even cops have used Dragon for years.)
No, Nuance isn’t paying me to talk it up. You do have to speak your punctuation, however, and you must train it on made-up words, which isn’t complicated. You basically say the word and type out how you want it spelled, and Dragon remembers it. The program also costs around $700, so it isn’t cheap. However, I don’t have carpal tunnel, or issues with my hands, though I’ve been a novelist for 30 years.
Best of luck, guys. I’m w*iting for Maggie and Hugh with as much patience as I can manage,
I thought about Dragon app, I remember testing one of the earliest versions back when it first hit the market. But I only tested it when working for a tech company. Having a practical use recommendation from an author carries more weight for sure!
BTW, Nice to “see” you Angela – I recall you from back in the early e-pub days when I was reviewing for various sites and free lance editing. Great stories! I loved the ones based on the Knights of the Round Table (I think, been awhile.) 🙂
Health comes first, and contractual obligations second. Hugh can wait, no matter how much the Horde love him. I hope your Symptoms get better, and that Maggie 2 goes well. Good luck 🙂
Oh my, so very sorry for the medical problems. Wish you healing. As a proud member of BDH, will happily reread Kate’s saga and all the others again and again, while awaiting new books as you are able to accomplish. Please do not overexert or hurt yourself to please us. We are forever patient!
Your health comes first. Always. My advice — Go to the best medical institution near you and get a full evaluation. I did and am now healed six months after spinal surgery. And yes I did the shots and acupuncture and everything non surgical for 2 years prior. Even if you think you don’t have the time you must make the time.
My mom passed after 3 years of dementia and my dad 3 years after a debilitating stroke too. The BDH will wait. Your books were and are my lifeline. Thank you.
thanks for the chapter! I hope your health improves. looking forward to reading the full book once you publish. it’s fun to get a serial, but most authors don’t do that, so blessed to read what we could
OMG thank you, I needed that!
““You want me to play Harvest Fest Santa Claus?””
I snort-laughed so hard it gave me a coughing fit and watery eyes. I must have needed it after a crap fest of a week waiting on city permit office to get off their red tape festooned chairs and let me get on with repairing my house. Six months after Hurricane Helene and I am still displaced and my house is still down to the studs. Ugh.
I love this story so much. And Hugh was one I never thought I’d care about, much less like! Thanks for sharing your gift of storytelling with us all. Best of luck and sending much light and healing vibes to you for your adventures with traditional publishing. I am desolate with waiting for more Hughday story. I will just have to reread Andrea and Julie and Kate with the Magic Clams. LOL xo
Thanks for what you’ve shared from Hugh 2 so far, and good luck with all the upcoming work you have and all the health things. I appreciate how generous you are with your time! The ways you craft communities in your work and here on the blog are amazing.
Hang in there!
Try some DMSO on the hands , diluted with some distilled water, so that it doesn’t itch much whilst absorbing. You can buy it on Amazon. It is amazing, comes from trees and is good for every living thing. A real game changer. Just be careful to only apply to clean skin- no nail polish, natural oils and meds are fine, and start out small, as it is a detox, and you don’t want to have a herksimer(sp?)reaction.
No worries, and no pressure. Please, please take care of yourself. Whatever you give, whenever you have it ready is wnough. I for one, will wait. Patiently. It is very difficult to create while dealing with pain. Speaking from a body riddled with RA, as a fibre artist. SO heal 1st, do what you need to do at y’alls pace. We will always be here, holding you in our loving hearts. ❤️ Hugs.
Thank you for HughDay. I will be fluffy and wait for the rest of he and Elara’s story.
Good luck with all the Maggie tasks and I hope you are feeling better soon!
I’m so sorry. I actually just had a med interaction w similar side effects and yes it absolutely kicked my trash. I’m so sorry you have experienced this. I love Hugh Day but I get that y’all are human beings. Thank you for all the lovely chapters this far. I look forward to it when it’s done. I know you’ll get there when you can.
Feel better. I’m excited for The Kingdom as well!
Nearly all the Bs deal with nerve function, try folic acid, sublingual B complex (both at Walmart), and see your doc about weekly B12 shots.
Unfortunately, injectable B complex is no longer made so it’s only B12 available. And yes, both sublingual and injectable forms of the Bs are needed, and any potentional excess is easily excreted since Bs are water soluble.
Get well soon and thank you both in advance for Maggie and Iron Magic 2. 🙂
Rhank you for this Hugh day and happy to wait for it so that you’re both writing a story that you’re happy with and have the head space to concentrate on after meeting the obligations that you have to. it was also a lovely positive scene to end on for now. I’m glad that you’re hands are starting to feel better. I hope it continues, there’s nothing quiet as sucky as feeling like you’re bodies breaking down on you, as I’m still on the everything is breaking stage, hope to that things may pick back up.
Sorry to read of your medical problems. Getting old sucks, eh? Loved the King Henry touch, and I’m left wondering if the Iron Dogs will use the same finale for Hugh.
Oops, my bad to forget, congratulations to the winner.
With graphic audio releasing Burn for me soon, is there a snippet the hoard can hear?
Not yet, it will be about a week before release 🙂
Love your books!!!! I so appreciate the entertaining plots and word play. They are really fun to read again and again. Lots of 😂 lol.
It’s also fun to hear your take on Texas life, especially after living California life. Thank you and your sweet fur babies.
Well, it seems like Hugh and Elara have things fairly under control (for now) and while I will miss them while they are gone, I’m glad that this will give HA a little more breathing room to take care of more immediate needs (Maggie, yes, but most importantly, YOUR HEALTH!!!)
I (no doubt like the rest of the BDH) worries about you! 🥰💕
Please take good care of yourself. The world needs you, and you can’t take care of everyone else unless you take care of yourself first. I am praying this is, indeed, a medication side effect and that you heal completely, soon.
If this has to be the last Hugh for a while, thank you for choosing such a delightful stopping point! This post is one that I will read and reread many times.
I know how the unexpected medical crap goes. I hope it works out soon.
Hugh is worth waiting for.
Congrats on the foreign rights deal!
Sorry for your troubles. My back just got into shape so I can walk pain free again after stem cell injections, back decompression and physical therapy visits. Have you talked to a chiropractor – I know you hate people giving you suggestions, but I feel SO MUCH better.
Your work is valuable, and you provide happiness to so many people. Take whatever time you need and don’t forget to go to the beach sometime before November.
awww. I’m so sorry things are not going how you wanted and sending you all the healing you need. 2025 this far has been a lowering of my expectations and each month something else happens in my life that no amount of preparation has helped. I started telling people I thought God was mad at me and so far everyone just thinks I’m joking. I’m not. I think adulting is really hard in 2025. peace and hope you all the best on a speedy recovery.
While I have greatly enjoyed this preview of Hugh #2, your health and contractual obligations are more important. Thank you for even this brief preview.
good luck with everything, I hope you see the improvements you need. I’m enjoying this hugh, the part above is so good, whenever it’s finished that’s awesome.
Best wishes for your health!
Take care of yourself. That is most important. Whatever you write, whenever you write it. I will happily devour.
as always please take care of yourselves, first, last, always.
Thank you for writing what you have of Hugh. I’ve really enjoyed it, and most of your other books – they get reread every 12-18 months.
you also have my empathy, the side effects from drugs really do suck. while i may diligently look at your blog every weekend hoping for another short vinegarette, please look after yourselves.
Having had a repetitive strain injury in my wrist, I wondered how your work would be effective. I’m looking forward to This Kingdom, sad about the wait for Hugh 2, and hoping for an occasional snippet of random writing funness.
In the mean time, I can reread everything several times.
Please take care of yourself first. No hurry, your readers will be here.
I love this excerpt.
Have you thought about dictating the story until your hands get better?
There are several commercial programs that let you talk and it automatically transcribes it onto your screen.
I would hate to loose the genius of the writing produced by you both.
Oh wow, no more Hugh for a while huh? Well it is what it is. Congratulations on your many contractual arrangements. Thanks for what we had so far. I still look forward to your future endeavors. Best of luck to you.
House Andrews health is most important!
Congratulations Amanda! 🎉🎊
Thank you for the Hughday snippet. Thank you also for explaining everything. It helps to get the explanation. I will wait patiently for Hugh 2.
Congratulations for all of your good news regarding Maggie 1 and 2. I am so looking forward to reading Maggie!
I am sorry you are in pain and I hope you get well soon. I have chronic migraines and pain is not fun. It wears you down. Please take care of yourself first and don’t worry about the BDH. We will still be here.
any Hugh is great.
look after yourself first
I use this quote in my life, “do what you can, when you can”. I hope you find it as useful as I do. Best wishes and all my love to House Andrews
I’ve lived with a rare chronic illness for almost 11 years. Key lesson: take care of yourself first. (I’m still not always good at that, though.) Blessings to you.
Don’t worry too much about us, dear Ilona.
I love Hugh and Elara just like everyone else, but we can wait.
Maggie is your dream project and you deserve to be able to give it your all without concentrating on other books at the same time.
Hugh’s time will come.
Your books are amazing. I have been following you and your husband from the beginning. I mean not to step on toes here but I was concerned to read about your hands and feet going numb. You could research this but I had the same issue. I discovered I was depleted in b1. After taking a good quality b1 for 6 weeks my numbness went completely away. Our bodies are amazing things. So many connections in so many ways. Anyway, many Blessings to you and hopefully many years of sharing your story’s with us all.
i don’t need free serial stories on your blog. they are certainly a nice wonderful bonus! but i don’t need them. occasional teaser snippets are nice, but also are bonus.
you take care of yourself and we’ll be fine. we may not like waiting, but we are fully capable of doing it.
Just take care of your health. Waiting for your books is totally worth it. Thank you for all the amazing stories.
Thank you for the kindnesses! I hope the health stuff sorts out manageable, and that Maggie navigation goes in your favor!
I’m still giggling over the line “All she needed was a sword and some fool to kneel before her.” Hugh is that fool! <3
Oh noooo! Waking up in the middle of the night and not feeling one or two of your limbs—being unable to move them—is terrifying! I still remember the first few times it happened to me. I panicked so much, thinking my low blood pressure was damaging my limbs or something… It was worse than any nightmare!
Back then, I went to see my doctor and described my problem. Without running any diagnostics, she just told me to buy Milgamma N (a B-complex vitamin supplement). I was shocked. Here I was, describing this terrifying experience, scared of losing my limbs, and she just told me to buy vitamins?!
But it worked. Apparently, I’m so skinny (not by choice) that my nerves aren’t properly protected or something. So when it happens again, I take my vitamins, and it stops. Needless to say, I’ve treasured my doctor ever since.
I hope you will feel better soon! <3
Thank you, that was lovely! I’m sorry to hear about your health problems, life certainly isn’t easy at times. Hope you are feeling back to full health soon!
So happy for your great news on the professional front, and hope things improve on the medical front. Hugh and Elara are my favorite, and I’ve really enjoyed what we’ve seen so far, so thank you!
I was really moved by your description of the Occitanie region. My family is from there, and ‘a place where winds have names’ resonated really with me. Thank you !
Oh gosh! So sorry to hear you have been struggling with one of life’s unexpected challenges. Your health and happiness are most important. Stay strong and take care of yourself and each other.
Where did Vanessa come in? I remembered there were aunts, but didn’t remember names.
House Andrew, take care of your health, first and foremost. We can wa*t and reread. Get well.
Please take care of yourself! And, congratulations on the foreign rights offer!
I hope your plans to adjust your meds helps you feel better. just ran through the hidden legacy again, might go back to small magics and catch up to whats doing with Hugh.
So damn envious of you Amanda, would love a comment on your thoughts after the read! You don’t need to give anything away.
Health first, everything else second. Ilona, you’ve given so much to us, wishing you well soon. Loved that you’ve left us in a happy place with Hugh 2 and I’m off to check out rough puff pastry? The Cocotte was devine.
The wait will only make it better. #TeamMetalRose
I had friends visiting and am late to the Hughday party.
This bit!
“She was looking at him with her beautiful brown eyes. He looked at her face for a moment too long and surrendered to his fate. How bad could becoming a king for one day be?”
My brain: SPOILER SHOOTSHOOTSHOOT SPOILER!!!!!!!
I’m sad Hugh 2 is pushed back but it sounds like a very smart plan. Don’t work yourselves to death. I hope the numb and nerve pain issue gets fixed. I fully understand and have dealt with some similar issues, nerve pain SUCKS!
Sending all the love and positive vibes and feelings your way.
Thank you, for Hugh Day.
Thank you, for a Hugh who wants his wife to enjoy her Harvest Day.
Thank you for bringing us up to speed, regarding This Kingdom and your own situation.
Please take care of yourselves, first and foremost. That is the most important thing.
Heal up, work on Maggie 2! The wait for Hugh 2 will make the experience reading the next chapter, when you can get it out, all the better.
Hoping you feel better soon. Is it crazy to hope it IS a side effect of medication? Who wants side effects ?
Loving Hugh 2. Will miss him on Fridays.
Health is paramount, so please prioritise yourself and give yourselves the self care you need. Have you tried dictating your books , so someone else can type down the words?
thats ok. life happens and also health issues?? thats a lot. thank you for posting the serials as much as you did, that I think fed the hugh addiction for me, it was almost like getting a little novella to bridge the gap. Plus ended the snippets on a really good note 🙂
Congratulations on all the Maggie success and wish you all the health!!
” “I’m a rough man. I should have some rough puff pastry.” What the hell was coming out of his mouth…”
also that was cute hehe
Thanks for Hughday and please take care of yourself 😄
Since Maggie was sold as a 3-book deal, if the schedule holds to pattern, it sounds like Maggie #2 will probably be published late March 2026 and Maggie #3 published late March 2027.
…should we prepare our hearts for Hugh #2 to release at the end of 2027 or perhaps 2028?
I’ll admit that “Iron and Magic” is my most re-read book in the entirety of House Andrews work. It’s my favorite.
I’m sad but I’ll adjust my expectations.
As long as Ilona and Gordon are in a good place and happy to be writing Hugh #2, I know it will be an awesome book and totally worth the wa*t.
I’m happy to wait 10 years for Iron Covenant #2. Hugh and Elara’s book deserves however much attention and time it needs to be the best book it can be.
I think your schedule is a bit off, since Maggie 1 is the one being published in late March 2026 🙂
That is the only official date we know. It’s worth not trying to assume schedules. House Andrews are being as transparent with us as possible and will let us know as soon as a plan exists 🙂
Good luck with your health, I wish you the best.
What a splendid snippet Thank you
good luck with your help, and the book
Dear House Andrews, I’m so sorry to hear that Iron & Magic 2 has been postponed, I have really enjoyed the updates so far! But I understand the logic, for both deadlines & health issues, and I hope you are both feeling better soon. I have a question from Chapter 2 Part 1 posted on February 7. The quote: ‘“Is the twine lubed with fat?” Hugh asked. “It is. I’m so sorry,” Aidan confirmed.’ What difference does it make that the twine is lubed with fat? It does not seem like something I could research on the internet without stumbling on many unwanted surprises. If this is somehow a spoiler, I apologize, and I will w*it. Thank you!!!
I will be p*tient… I will be fluffy… I am a woolly mouse in all its fluffy glory… ommmmm 🧘♀️🙏
Thank you, Ilona, for all the updates! Please take care of you – the BDH will be here rereading and relistening whilst we w*it. (W*aiting, I hear, is a way to build character……)
Congratulations on the additional book deals!
Thank you for the Hugh received thus far!
Congratulations, Amanda, on your win!
Sending peace, health and safety!
Thank you for the chapter. While I really looked forward to these over my weekend, I’m glad you are taking care of you. Overwork helps no one. To my mind, taking the step back on Hugh 2 because it needs more attention than a side project is very exciting.
Thanks for all you do for us. I am so sorry you are going numb. I, too suffer from nerve issues and numbness goes with it. I have found Acupuncture really works to help re engage the nerves, so of course my insurance won’t cover it. It’s definitely worth looking into as other than the costs it has no downside.
I hope you feel better soon and Congratulations to the winner Amanda.
Grateful for what we’ve seen/received so far. Grateful you are taking care of yourself, too! Do what you’ve got to do. We’ll still be here.
From Iron and Magic, didn’t Voron find Hugh on the streets when he was six or seven? The last sentence in the paragraph below, says his father would quiz him: is that Roland? Because I didn’t think that Hugh thought of Roland as his father in this series.
Hugh Day 28 March: “Hugh couldn’t recall eating it frequently when he was a child, but something about the combination of flavors and savory herbs threw him right back to that blissfully happy decade before he turned seventeen and began killing in Roland’s name. It tasted like summers in Occitanie, where winds had names, and the long sandy beaches flirted with the turquoise sea. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine sitting at the scarred table on the veranda of the old bastide that used to be his home. He would’ve spent the morning in sword practice, studied after that, then ridden a horse to the beach and swam until his body could no longer move. The house with its stone façade and pale blue shutters would be to his left, the pool and the view of the sea nestled between green hills to his right, and when he finished eating, his father would come to quiz him on things he’d learned that day.”
hello,happy to ear that all is not worse than it seems. I can’t wait for hught 2, adeus.
Please get better. What you described sounds awful. Just get better.
Glad you are improving with regard to your hands and the rest of it. How frustrating it must be. Thinking of you and hoping it keeps getting better.
thank you for all you do. I appreciate your gift to me which is several worlds to escape in! when they come out I’m happy and you have to live and joy your life too!
I’m happy, sad, excited and most of all, impatient.
Happy Maggie is doing so well, sad no more Hugh day, excited Hugh 2 is going to be even better.
Impatient because well, I have none to start with, but I do try to not be annoying about it.
B w Breakfast, D with Dinner. That’s a comprehensive B Complex and the D3 must have K2 or don’t waste the time and $. Get the add’l supps you need thru ACV or lemon water drinks. Best starting point, ever.
Very sorry to hear of your health issues. Take care of yourselves and let the magic roll on when it can^~^
I will wait patiently 🙂
Thank you all the same for these Thursdays. I needed something to look forward to and this was great.
Happy writing, healing, and life!
House Andrews, while I’m absolutely loving each Hughday and these snippets of the book that will be, your health definitely comes first. Please take care of yourselves!
Also, congratulations on your foreign rights offer! 👏🏻
I’m a little sad that Hugh is getting delayed again, but it will be worth the wait.
A girlfriend of mine began to develop neuropathy in her hands from carple tunnel issues post surgery. Her son set her up with a new computer using voice to print software similar to the software his visually impaired wife uses. Teaching the voice recognition was a hilarious P.I.T.A. since she has a solid polish accent to her speech. But she now uses it daily, she mouse clicks to where she wants to start and speaks into her headset mic.
Its not a perfect system but the software is out there, you will have to search for the best one for you. We are all getting older and each of us will have disabilities come up to challenge us. There are organizations which work with the disabled on adaptive technology, see what they can offer or advise you on. Any help easing the struggle is good help.
Your health comes first!!! Take care of yourself. We will wait
I’m very excited for the rest of Hugh 2 when it can get the attention it deserves. I big heart eyes love it so far. I’m also very excited for Maggie and will probably big heart eyes love it too! And everything in between. <3
Hugh, Maggie, Dina, Roman, Kate, heck Dushegubs. We don’t care! We’ll take what you give WHEN you can give it to us. As many others here have said, your health comes first. I just ❤️❤️ that we got to spend some time with Hugh and Elara and the crew from Iron and Magic. Definitely whetted the appetite! And Maggie – I’m talking it up to every fantasy reader I know!
You take care of you – the Horde will be here. 🥰🥰(hmmm. That sounded more reassuring in my head 🤣.
CBN for nerve pain and sleep. It’s not THC so it might be available even where marijuana isn’t.
Please take your time with Hugh. He and Elara are too important to not get your full attention. Also, I’m glad you are going back to a traditional publisher. For me, I feel that the self published works don’t have the richness and polish of your other work.
Although I hear what you’re saying, and deeply empathize with all of it, I’m sad there won’t be more Hugh.
Yea! and Congratulations on the foreign rights offer!! That is awesome!
As for the rest: REST. Do what you need to do. We are the BDH, we love you, and your health (physical, mental, emotional) comes first. Period.
Thank you for sharing with us what you are going through — it is personal. I wish I could cast a spell and make it better, if not entirely go away. I understand much of that pain and frustration personally.
We may whimper a bit with impatience, but we will wait — no matter how long it takes.
Please take care of yourself / selves. (That goes for G’s shoulder as well.)
Thoughts and prayers be with you
Hope you feel better soon! In Fredericksburg there is an integrated medical office, “Hill Country Integrated Medicine” with nutritionalists and doctor. They changed my health and my life. Wishing you success on Maggie one and two.
I’m sorry your body hurts. We love you and Hugh, the hoard will abide until you are ready.
1) Oh my, I’m so sorry to hear about all of your stress and turmoil! The numbness sounds horrible, hopefully the removal of the offending med will fix it and the med can be replaced without an issue.
2) WOW, a foreign publishing contract for Maggie! Congratulations to my favorite people that I’ve never met!
3) Doing all of the work for Maggie 1’s publishing schedule and getting Maggie 2 written on schedule sounds very challenging, especially for a team of perfection seekers. Please do what you need to do for professional and personal self care. The BDH may whine and fret, but we’ll be ready to snap up the finished products when they’re ready for us
4) What a great installment to pause Hugh 2 on. This tough old coot was teary eyed several times while reading this. Thanks so much!
…can you tell that I’m an engineer? 😄
Health is wealth and that’s absolutely the priority. But I’m still mourning the loss of Hughdays… It gave Fridays a little extra razzle dazzle!
I love you guys. For what your write brings me joy and happiness.
I couldn’t ask more from an author.
I hope you feel better.
Take care, we will wait for Hugh#2 ❤️
Ah. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. I just finished relistening to Iron and Magic, and I was eagerly awaiting the second book. But I can see where it’s exceptionally difficult – there’s lots to resolve, and it has to slot into a specific timeframe.
And I read that “second book due in November” and my eyebrows near about hit my hairline. Then I got to the uncomfortably numb part.
So ok, we wait. Feel better.
Your writing is so good, so enjoyable!! I’ve never read anything I haven’t enjoyed and gone back to.
I hope you work out what’s going on with your hands and can treat it. The BDH needs your work for the next century or two.
It’s Sunday evening. It’s been an incrediblely stressful, hard week.
I’m a little like Catalina, I love to cook. I’m in the middle of the never ending move. lol I haven’t cooked a fun, healthy meal in weeks.
I’m drinking Rose wine that I added to Elara’s chicken and rereading from the beginning Hughday. Oh my, I don’t know how many times I laughed out loud. Thank you Ilona and Gordon for giving us an avenue of escape when life is feeling overwhelming. Good food, good book and a glass of wine. Life is good anytime you read Hugh.
Have a fabulous week everyone!!
Please take care of yourself, Ilona. We, the BDH, believe in the long game, Hence we need you to be completely healthy so we can get your amazing books for our lifetime. We’re pragmatic that way 😉
First off, thoughts and prayers. Hope you get better. Second, take all the time you need. Y’all are the people writing these and we’re just the screaming seagulls from Finding Nemo, we don’t have much in the way of constructive advice.
Thank you so much for giving us these Hugh Days! It’s going to be an amazing book!
Take care of yourself! You are way too busy! We want you all healthy and writing. 😉😘
I am so late to this post but I know that the BDH would have supported you & reminded you that we love what you do and the worlds that you create for us.
So at this late junction I will still take a moment to add my voice to the Horde’s – Be Kind to your self and take care. We will be here patiently waiting for the next whenever it becomes ready because it means you are OK.
I am thrilled to read anything that you write. Look forward to the new Maggie books, and the next Hugh release whenever if is here.