Mod R left me with a list of questions. But first, a funny. I was looking at a house for sale on Redfin the other day and saw this.
How can you tell that a Texan is selling their house?
Hehehehe.
I tell you what, I missed HEB in Florida. The first time we went to Publix on the beach, which was hideously expensive and super busy. My plan was to pick up a few things for a quick marinade and make fajitas. I am standing in the condiments aisle – no Southwestern marinade. No Southwestern sauce. None. Zip, zero, nada.
I am used to fifty million marinades, but I usually make my own anyway. But at least I can get a quick spice packet, right? Nope. No spice packets.
I grab Worcestershire, because I have to grab something, and stomp over to the spice section. There in the corner I find the lonely jar of cumin. I get that, chili powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. And I found limes.
I dry rubbed chicken and beef for the fajitas. Oh the travesty.
Alright, let’s get on with some answers.
How do you keep the character “voices” distinct and separated so that they maintain their uniqueness in the books?
Eh. Um. It just kind of happens. We naturally slide into the character’s skin and it goes from there. Some characters are much easier than others. Luther and Roman are both very distinct, and so is Grandma Frida and Arland. But Richard was a massive pain. He was portrayed as a reserved character, and so to make him appealing, he needed to have a rich inner life, meaning we had to make sure he thought to himself for three paragraphs and then say one word.
Overall, the more complex the character is, the harder it is to write their dialogue and thoughts. Especially if the character’s arc is transformative. Catalina was a challenge, because you have anxiety, insecurity, sensitivity, coming of age, and natural aversion to violence, all wrapped into a ball and forced to grow up and take charge over the course of several books. So if you’re struggling, it may not be a bad thing. It might simply mean that you’ve built in some complexity into the character.
Try to avoid the trap of thinking of your characters as entities that are separate from you. As in “I wanted to write this scene but Bob told me he just doesn’t feel like it.” Authors use this because some readers think it’s cute and because it gives them a convenient shorthand to describe a complex creative process.
Your characters are figments of your imagination. If you are having issues with them, it’s because something is wrong with the character or the scene. Saying that the character doesn’t want you to write the scene excuses you from the responsibility of figuring out where the problem is. It’s a dangerous crutch that can lead to procrastination.
How do you play ball with so many worlds and universes? It is amazing to see how far Gaston has grown ever since the Edge books or how you bring back other characters that you have had in different facets of your different series- I find that intriguing.
We get bored easily. I think I am just wired that way. I have right now in my head the complete basic plot for Hugh 2, 2/3 of the plot for Maggie, a large chunk of the other thing I don’t want to talk about yet, and basic ending plot for Sweep of the Heart. I also on average read over 20 comics every week and I have no problem keeping the storylines and characters separate.
Where I fail spectacularly is remembering what we have written. Someone asks me, “On this page in Magic Strikes what did you mean?” and I am like, “Ehhhh? What did it say?” Once it’s written, it’s out of my brain to make room for new stuff. One time this nice academic came to the signing and he was very excited to talk to us about the chaos theory in Gunmetal Magic and I drew a complete blank. It was 4 books ago and I had forgotten all of it by that point. He was so disappointed. He probably thought we were frauds.
Like here is what I remember about Gunmetal magic: weird Egyptian crocodile dogs, Roman on the bridge, and there was Anubis in there somewhere. Oh and Raphael and Andrea had a fight. That’s it. I don’t know what the plot was.
I am doing a splendid job maintaining my writerly mystique and professional reputation today, aren’t I?
What are the odds HA will continue writing romance while self-publishing?
I think there is some confusion between romance in the story and Romance as a category. To be classified as category Romance, the novel has to meet certain criteria, the primary of which are: the romantic relationship between the characters is the primary focus of the story and their relationship must end in HEA (Happily Ever After.)
A story can have romance in it but not be classified as Romance. Patty Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series has great romance, but it is not categorized as a Romance. It’s an Urban Fantasy.
Nevada’s trilogy is categorized as Romance. It would not exist if you took Rogan out. If there is no relationship, that entire series falls apart. Same with Catalina, although I will warn you, Ruby Fever, because it had to tie a lot of loose ends, has a lot more of external plot and action.
Our comfortable spot is probably somewhere closer to Kate’s series, where we have a lot of action and there is romance, but the romantic relationship is a subplot rather than the main plot. Hugh and Elara are the perfect example of that. Which isn’t to say that we will never write a romance – we just did Fated Blades. But right now it feels good to stretch a little bit.
Will you do any Curran POV like Jeaniene’s Other half of the Grave?
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Does having dedicated fan base make it easier to try out other stories/genres, or does it make you feel more pressure when you want to branch out?
Yes.
Heh.
The answer is yes to both. Yes, there is a massive amount of pressure, but at the same time we are very fortunate that our work appeals to so many people that even if we did do something off-the-wall, at least some of our readers would follow us. We hope.
So from now on will you publish as House Andrews pseudonym?
No. Or at least not right now. House Andrews would look pretty odd as an author tag line. Also, it is about customer retention. It’s very hard to grab a reader, but it’s even harder to retain them and get them to switch from project to project. “Ilona Andrews” has a lot more followers than “House Andrews” would. When people who don’t read our blog see House Andrews, they would have no idea it’s us.
But we did change other things like bookplates.
Which reminds me, we need to sign a couple hundred of these today and send them to the bookstore.
Well, this concludes today’s blog post. I have news on all sorts of fronts, and I cannot share any of it yet. More to come once we wrestle this innkeeper scene to the ground.
I absolutely get it about grocery stores. I feel like we spend a good chunk of our lives there lol.
Even though we live on a military base here in NC and I have the privilege of the cheaper commissary I go to the Food Lion. I love their variety and the customer service at any of their stores is always amazing. I’m going to miss it when we move to NJ later this year. I cant even remember if any of the store up there are as good as my Food Lions here.
There’s a lot of regional variance in NJ.
Maggie, Maggie? Maggie! Oh the name of the baby gargoyle who….wait wrong book series. Drawing a blank.
Yeah, I’ve got nothing. My first thought was, “Christopher’s tiny dog?”
It’s probably a new character or someone named Margaret, Magda, or Magdalena we’ve forgotten about.
Hahahahaha, best answer!! 🙂
Hugh 2? Hugh 2! I distinctly heard Hugh 2!!!
Yessss! Yayyyyy!!!! (happy dance) :)))))))))
I see everyone obsessing over Maggie. I just figured it was Kate and Curran’s daughter.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Kate’s pregnant?
Publix frequently has spices that favor Hispanic foods on its International section. And not all Publixes are created equal. A beach location, in prime real estate, may tend to be smaller and more limited than one a bit further inland, for example.
The Publix nearest me is both a touch on the smaller side, and one of the busiest Publixes in the area. It means the stock is in flux and prone to changing. I just lost spanikopita, for example – they don’t carry it any more. Or finger cots. Or my favorite mustard (which isn’t available at any other local supermarkets, either, so that might be a manufacturer issue).
I think I would love H.E.B. if we had them here, but for the moment, Publix, Walmart Neighborhood Market, and Aldi’s are my go-to for various things. (WNM can best Publix’s prices by up to and over $1.00 in some cases – and they’re literally across the street from one another.)
Wegmans – best grocery store ever.
Founded in 1916 in Rochester, NY and finally has found it’s way south of the Mason Dixie Line into the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia)
Only came across a Wegmans a couple of times, but would love to have one here in the SC Midlands. Not that we lack for stores, but yes, Wegmans is totally wonderful.
1000 % and my favorite thing about moving back to the northeast after being away 20 yrs
Wait…signed book plates? Did I miss being able to purchase a signed copy? I have the others signed and would love a signed hardcover of Ruby fever to go with my others. Will you guys release what bookstore will have signed copies? Please let me know.
I ordered a paperback with bookplate from Blue Willow in Houston. I don’t recall if the book plates are available anywhere else.
I looked at Blue Willow but did not see. I think I will call. TY
I like the House Andrews bookplates. Regardless of the genre classification, you write great characters and fascinating worlds that suck me into every book. The scene that sticks most in my mind from Gunmetal Magic was when Andrea’s neighbor brings her a carrot cake to thank her for rescuing the woman;s husband and hugs Andrea in her furry form.
Great post as usual! Personally I will follow HA no matter what genre they wrote. I just enjoy it all. But then I read a lot of different works.
I don’t know what part of Florida you were in but South Florida having such a diverse population, Publix has tons of spices, marinades, etc. my favorite being Mojo. But my Publix had an entire aisle dedicated to it.
Not even one teensy-weensy ritual against the unknown paint contractors? Pretty please? You know they deserve it….Ok, fine: since it’s HA asking, no rituals will be done. (I guess it’s the thought that counts anyway.) We (BDH) love you, too!!!! Glad you seem in better spirits. ????????????
I don’t care what genre you guys decide, just keep writing! I love the fullness of your world description, character introductions, general use of language. Please throw me whatever crumb you have! Thank you for the word and story crafting.
Thank you for being so candid. I love that even though you are amazing writers that your work isn’t the sum and total of who you are. I wish you great success in finding your next amazing home adventure.
Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post.
Book series are like babies that grow and change into kids then adults to my way of thinking. So I understand where you are coming from. ????
Even in Ohio, I could find dozens and dozens of spices, hot sauces, and marinades. In fact, now that I think of it, I’ve found them in Naples, FL, too. But not at Publix – probably Whole Foods. You can also find stuff like that at Trader Joe’s, which are in Florida. Maybe not where you were, though. But I’d be willing to bet that Florida has a lot of Mexican, Cuban and ethnic markets.
LOL. I owe you a thanks for the nod to HEB in the Innkeeper where Orro meets the HEB ads. We were visiting Austin as part of a trip to a Formula One race. We had a motor home and were trying to find a supermarket as we fought our way through some truly unbelievable traffic. Yowsa! We could find nothing when out of the snarl there was a sign HEB, I remembered the mention in the book and we executed a quick, for a motor home, turn and were saved. Nice people too. tanks for the help.
When I was a 13-yo the BFD was Zefferelli’s Romeo & Juliet because he cast young Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey as the leads–and they were the same age as the characters in the play! Not 40-something like most previous versions. I just read that Leonard Whiting is 72. Am I old?
60 is the new 40, though maybe not in Shakespeare. I saw that as a freshman in HS – still remember marching down the street to the theatre in our school uniforms – and it was wonderful except for, you know, the whole tragedy thing. I wanted to shake them.
I’m in Ontario, Canada and feel spoiled for grocery choices. Walmart and No Frills for cheap, Food Basics for ethnic foods, Fortinos for variety, Metro and Sobeys (occasionally good sales) and Costco for bulk buys.
Never seen an HEB but if I’m ever in Texas I’ll be sure to go. In Florida I liked Winn-Dixie as a cheaper alternative to Publix, but that was some years ago. Tops Friendly Markets in New York is usually cheaper than Wegmans, we go there for the hot sauce selection!!!
Now….who the heck is Maggie?
Like the test of the BDH, I’ll read anything by House Andrews, no HEA required.
’nuff said.
following forever, in any direction. Yeah on a second Hugh novel…
May your writing outlive my reading!
Fun! Thanks! I missed Publix when I left Florida until Wegmans came to Northern Virginia!
I think Sweep of the Blade was your best swipe of romance to date.
Thanks for the update I am still with you….
I did take your kind advise and try and read a larger variety if authors…
Query from the UK is HEB a food store or a general store?? Means nothing to me.
It sells a range of general groceries, deli, frozen foods, pharmacy and petrol. No electronics or clothes like some of our supermarkets here.