Our power is back on! Muhahaha! And I have tea. My oolong obsession continues.
Has Subterranean Press expressed interest in any more IA books? Will you have any more special collection pretty hardbacks at some point?
We are delighted to announce that we have not one, but two projects coming for you. Innkeeper Collected edition will be coming from Subterranean Press and a bundle of Iron and Magic and Blood Heir will be coming from Arcane Society. There are no buy links for these yet. Both projects are several months from the preorder stage. These will be beautiful, illustrated, show-off heirloom editions, signed, numbered, and priced accordingly.
Can we get signed copies of the newer books anywhere?
Generally Blue Willow in Houston will stock them. But we can do try different things. We can do bookplate packs, where you pay $3-4 or something for shipping, and we mail you 5 signed bookplates.
We’ve tried the self-addressed envelope before with a post office box and BDH cannot be trusted. The PO Box was abused in the worst way. You sent us money – like actual money through the mail, you sent us socks, yarn, and coffee, and then you would send us mis-addressed envelopes without postage. Heh.
Alternatively, there will be a new release this year around summer time – more on that later – and if you would like we can do an in person event somewhere in Austin. We’ve had a really good relationship with Austin Public Library in the past, so I can ask if they would be willing to host something. It’s just that most people no longer travel during pandemic, so I’ m not sure if an event would draw any participants.
Also we might do a small giveaway next week or so.
How is self-publishing treating you? Do you feel like going back to being traditionally published full time and letting the publisher take the reins on most of the stuff? Or hybrid?
Would we go to the traditional publisher again? Yes, if we could find a good editor and if they would agree to the terms of our contract.
::puts on Business Kitty corporate hat:: Discoverability is still an issue with self-publishing. We are actively focusing on acquiring new readers. So most likely it would have to be a new project, not connected to anything.
That said, the self-publishing, as much work as it is, is very rewarding and not just in financial sense. We decide when we work, when we publish, what kind of people we work with to bring the project to you, so all of that is an epic win.
Will you be attending any cons this year?
Probably not, unless we can drive to it.
Can we have an easily accessible place for all the art on the blog? Like an Artist/Illustration gallery?
The website is due for some technical tightening up, so we will try to add art gallery in there. We’re waiting for the money from SOTH to land, so we’ll know where the budget is. If you you have any suggestions about which content you would like highlighted, please let us know in the comments.
::takes off Business Kitty hat::
Also, we watched Lockwood and Co on Netflix and it is so good. It’s a YA for people who don’t like YA angst. It is so good.
YAY! I love Subterranean Press’s work.
The BDH can’t be trusted LOL!! I’d probably send yarn tbh
yessss so many goodies to look forward to! ???? Thank you, HA!
“Iron and Magic and Blood Heir will be coming from Arcane Society.”
O.M.G.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Thank you for the updates. I can just hear the collective BDH going “ooooooo….new content coming soon!” The cues chaos on the BDH t-shirt says it all when new content is on the horizon.
**sitting patiently for new content to come around** 🙂
Watched Lockwood & Co also; liked it didn’t go the all anguish in the eyes and feelings route most YA’s do.
My Subterranean Press Innkeeper is a treasured book. I’ll save up to get volume two! They do such beautiful editions.
Ohhh! I will have to watch Lockwood & Co. I LOVED the Screaming Staircase — it is genuinely creepy and was the perfect level of scary for wimpy me!
Thanks for all the updates! I hope your power stays on.
Poor Texas seems to be getting the brunt of all the storms lately. Hurricanes, ice, floods. No fire or locusts yet.
Hope the state government is working of making the power grid better.
“The BDH can’t be trusted.” Ummm. Yeah. That tracks. The Horde doesn’t always follow directions well, do we? (The BDH, fun edition pretty much captures us.) I mean, we can parse KD down to the smallest details, but correctly address envelopes??
We are fluffy, but we are also akin to sugar-high toddlers sometimes. 🙂
Shifter toddlers, who hide under the bed and sing the song of their people until the cookies come out ????. But beloved.
Or the honey (or honey muffins) like one particular shapeshifter toddler. 😉
I want a honey muffin. It’s going down to 11F tonight. I deserve one. Anyone got a recipe? I’ve probably got the ingredients. Definitely have honey; I buy wildflower honey by the half-gallon.
Alternatively, there will be a new release this year around summer time – more on that later… woohoo!!!
And I’ll have to check out Lockwood and Co… thanks!
Ah, good to know that Lockwood & Co is cool (I love YA if there aren’t any love triangles and/or angst). After many re-runs of „Sandman“ and „Wednesday“, I need something new ????????
Oooh I’m excited! I’ve been wanting an innkeeper set sometime, as I have them all as ebooks, and a collected edition sounds perfect!
Will it be including all innkeeper books? Including Maud’s?
I did a last minute splurge purchase of some K. F. Breene books from Arcane Society last year and then forgot about them. They turned out to be one of my most favorite purchases I made last year. The thought that I can get the same sort of treatment for ANY of your books has me all sorts of excited.
The Lockwood and Co books were wonderful, so I‘m so glad they treated them well in the adaptation.
I wondered if you had lost power. The weather has been miserable! Glad you now have lights and hot tea! Enjoy!
Looking forward to pretty books!
Our current happy watch is Agent Trent. Wonderful character centered writing. (It’s on Hulu, not sure where else.)
OMG!! Yes!! “Will Trent”, on ABC broadcast on Tuesdays. Love the interaction between him and his reluctant work partner. Both of them so nuanced and with regular, messy lives. Phenomenal actors!!
(Also, the cutest lil’ Chihuahua ever!!)
I would def pay for some bookplates!
I have a queation: Is the merchandise store still coming out soon? No pressure just trying to figure out when to start saving money for all the stuff I want to buy haha.
Hi Melisa,
Yes, the merch store admin is still in the works and there will be updates soon 🙂
Thank you so much for replying! I’m excited!
Happy you have your power back, hope it was not out too long. Can’t wait for warmer weather or just no ice. Our dogs don’t like the ice and the little one slipped and now refuses to go outside to go to the bathroom….interesting times. It would be better if it was snow but DFW only got ice, sleet, thunder sleet, and freezing rain.
WOOHOO new stuff coming….I think I will wait for a super special inn keeper collection when it is all done! Ok, I should attempt to get back to work ….maybe.
My Subterranean edition of Innkeeper Chronicles Volume 1 is a treasured book so I am eagerly anticipating what I hope will be Volume 2. They do beautiful books and it is lovely to have quality hard covers of my favourite Ilona Andrews books. I note on their website all 3 editions they’ve done so far are now out of print which I assume means sold out.
I have just finished listening to Sweep of the Heart for the umpteenth time ( like Ilona I have been tackling some long overdue “spring cleaning” chores though it is very hot summer here in Brisbane Australia at the moment) and Nora does a terrific job. She is a good find as an audio book reader and the Graphic Audio presentations she masterminds are very entertaining. Congratulations and Thankyou.
This is the most BDH sentence I’ve ever read and me laugh for a good 5 minutes: “The BDH cannot be trusted. The PO Box was abused in the worst way. You sent us money – like actual money through the mail, you sent us socks, yarn, and coffee, and then you would send us mis-addressed envelopes without postage.”
It’s nice to have generous fans but I never thought about the ramifications of excessive generosity. Every time you share something about how the BDH went overboard on something, it always makes me laugh and then remember what a passionate bunch we/they can be.
A less famous name for the BDH is the BHH – Big-Hearted Horde, because when there’s a call to arms the community always shows up and delivers ❤️
Our devouring is second to our generosity and fluffiness, but the enemies (P*tience, W*iting, D*lay) must never know!
BHH is so true! Look at the response to IA letting the BDH know about the fundraiser for Grace! Very proud to be a member of this awesome group!????
I saw Lockwood and loved it.
Great cast and very creative I thought.
Funny because I loved Wednesday too!
That bit about “the BDH can’t be trusted” is funny. But yay for a new release and special editions! Also good to hear that you’re enjoying self-publishing so far. The BDH will always be ready to buy any book you write but it does make sense that you’re targeting new readers.
Anyone else hoping “The BDH can’t be trusted” shows up on the store?
YES!!!!! YESYESYESYES!!!!!
????????????
Sweet! Looking forward to all the pretties this year.
Would love to see you at the Austin library.
I have lost power as of now but kid1 has been without for two days.
Stay safe!
ohhhh did not know Lockwood and company was on Netflix. I have the books in my classroom.
May we have a snippet please? I was laid off from my job today. We just moved to Montreal yesterday (for my husband’s job!) and this hit hard! Starting a new life and community is hard enough, but having to do all that while hunting for a new job as well is going to be a while another level 🙁
Soon, I promise.
❤️❤️❤️
thank you!
😀 😀 😀
Sending you positive vibes and hoping you get a great new job offer soon. Perhaps some of the job hunting will give you more contacts in the community?
Best wishes to you on your new life and community!
I am so glad you guys have power again! We are close to spring hopefully no more ice storms for the rest of the season.
I really love the Subterranean Press books. I ended up with 2 copies of Small Magics because hubby ordered me one as a surprise and I ordered myself one not knowing ????. Same thing happened with Jim Butchers Changes. I am definitely looking forward to adding to my collection.
Thanks for the heads up about Lockwood and Co. I am coming out of my self imposed YA break, so I’ll take a look.
You know your going to have to make a “Business Kitty hat” for the merch store now.
I don’t make the rules, I just listen to the market.????
PS. Please add some enamel pins to the merch store when it reopens. #PrettyPlease
So happy for the special edition news! For the Arcane Society books, I hope they won’t sell out in presale for Arcane subscribers. They should stock enough for BDH because the reseller prices are crazy — some people purposefully buy books just to resell them at double the original price later. 🙁
I would totally buy a bookplate packet, btw! Also happy to support indie bookstores, but it’s harder to buy the POD books from them.
Yea for oolong tea! I’ve discovered the ginger oolong at Harney and Sons. I ordered the big canister this time.
I also enjoyed Lockwood even though I’m not much for YA.
More books..yay! And I second and third Lockwood and Co
Reads about the possible signing in Austin.
Opens Google maps.
Checks how long of a drive it would be.
Faints.
Maybe? One day? ^^;;;
Yes, Lockwood and Co was so good! I really hope they renew it. (Also, I think you underestimate the BDH’s willingness to travel to meet you lol)
Screeeeamminggg yesssss arcane editions and subterranean press????????????????
Now for Kate Daniel and hidden legacy!!
The French Kate Daniel are so pretty
???? 20 year anniversary? 17 yr?
Already know having power back on in Central Texas is great; YIPPEE! But would really like to know what Ilona thinks is great about OOLONG tea. Food discussions on blog always make me hungry whether HA is deciding on beef for dinner or a Quillonian chef’s preparation is excerpted from an Innkeeper.
BTW Are there any archived tea reviews by Ilona? She has mentioned tea sources and particular teas in the past, but no idea how to track down details.
Book writing, selling, binding and presenting info appreciated. IF Texans and folks on planes wouldn’t bug me for masking, I could see building a summer Austin (admittedly hot hot hot for Wisconsin BDH denizen) visit around Austin Public Library appearance by HA.
Hi Midwest Woman,
Ilona’s go-to Oolong appears to be the Milky Oolong from Harney&Sons, as linked in this post https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/on-follow-up-questions-unexpected-nature-of/
There are a few posts that mention tea on the blog, the search function at the bottom of the page can uncover them 🙂 -probably the most relevant are:
https://ilona-andrews.com/2020/spilling-the-tea/ and
https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/russian-tea/
Awesome. You are awesome, Moderator R. TYVM.
There are people in Austin wearing masks. True, it’s not a big percentage, but I don’t think I’ve seen anyone give anybody problems over it. It’s a personal choice.
I recommend y’all all of the time on TikTok to my favorite BookTok creators! I’ve also been able to suck in a few friends and my sister. I have her Clean Sweep for Christmas and by New Years she went and ordered the entire rest of the Innkeeper series. We love y’all!
Hello!
big fan here.
I have a cuestion, woud you ship to Bumfuck Argentina?
I coud not eat for six months if that means to put my hands on a nice paperback of House Andrews.
I have them from Amazon digital, but to have them for my bookcase woud be awsome.
Hi Maia,
House Andrews are not really involved in shipping books, that’s more the retailers. I’m assuming you’re interested in the special editions of the books mentioned in this post?
They are not likely to be paperbacks, but here is the International Shipping information for Subterranean https://subterraneanpress.com/international-shipping-updates/ and for https://www.arcanesociety.com/faqs with contact emails where you can write about having the item shipped to your country 🙂
OMG! I’m watching Lockwood and Co while reading this post haha! Also I’m a long time fan but this my first time commenting 🙂
Did I just add myself to the Arcane Society waitlist?
Why yes, yes I did. Any idea as to what month this will be coming from them?
I’m loving Lockwood & co! So good
how exciting! I would love to be able to buy a set of signed bookplates as i feel postage of that will be more affordable to Australia than postage of the books ! plus they sell out so quickly especially if you are not a subscriber!
Ooo, yes, book plates!! Maybe in the merch store? I have one for “Ruby Fever”, very cool!!
My saddest fact of life is that I don’t live anywhere near you so I will probably never get to meet you in person. Makes me think of another author, who does Patreon and at the $1000 tier will meet you for lunch if you are on her island. Which I have to admit, I would totally do for you. But I respect your reasoning for not doing Patreon. Thank you for being amazing.
Glad to hear your power has been restored. I’m going to give Lockwood and Co a try. I need something new, and I loved your recommendations of Restoring Galveston and Dream Home Makeover. Your assessment of how many episodes of DHM you can watch at a time was spot on.
Awesome news on the collector editions! Will keep my eye out for both.
Please write a story about a female mad scientist. There are so few of those sorts of characters out there and I would love to see more of them.
I’m also in favor an art tab. I went searching for blog art from Innkeeper a while back and couldn’t find much.
This is my first post ever (!) – y’all absolutely rock! I crawled out of my lurker cave to say “please DO an in-person event in Austin!” I am very grateful that, years ago, when I was a baby reader of the KD series, I stumbled on y’all doing an event at Book People and was overwhelmed with joy. 🙂 The beautiful APL downtown would be a great venue, especially once power around town is restored …
Welcome to the comment section! ????
Blessed by ModR, so grateful – thank you!! ????
Which oolongs are your faves right now? I am in a tea slump.
In the OP, Ilona mentions ” waiting for the money from SOTH to land” so budgets can be figured out. I’m just curious (in general terms, not specific numbers) – how do books sell over time? Is there a big bump at pre-sale, another bump at release, and then just tails off to almost nothing? Or is there still steady (if lower) income even from older books? I know in my case, I didn’t discover HA until Kate was almost done, so I bought most of those books (and Edge, and early Kinsmen, and early Innkeeper) well after any pre-sale or release time frame, but maybe that’s unusual. And is it different with traditionally published books vs self-published?
If this is too intrusive, or would take too long, please don’t answer – it’s just my curiosity bump, no real purpose, and doesn’t matter much. And if it’s been answered before, I’m sure ModR will know where! I did search a bit, and poke through some of the more recent “writing” posts, but didn’t see anything…
And thanks again for all the enjoyment your books, blog, snippets, and m*rch (even if that last one’s a dirty word) provide!
I’m also curious about this. I often discover series quite late, so I buy an entire series of books after liking book one, all in the span of a week or so. I must have bought all extent Ilona Andrews books in every series, one after the other, within the space of a month, about 2 years ago.
Do authors notice when this happens, or are the numbers consistent enough that a single reader buying each single book all at once would be buried in the general flow of things?
This isn’t on topic for this post, but I’m rereading Magic Rising. Can we have Magic Turtle T-shirts in the merc store?
+1
i’m rereading magic rising right now too! and i have a pet tortoise who is 22 years old and i’ve had her since she was 3 months old. the idea of turtles spitting fire is intriguing.
She’s so cute!!!
I don’t think you have to worry about people showing up to live events, travel is bursting at the seems and live events are happening with big turnout. I suspect if you held an event in Austin you would get good turnout, as long as an apocalyptic storm isn’t going on ( maybe Rogan should ‘influence’ some storm mages to make sure the day is warm and sunny…storm mages hate bridge overpasses dropping on their car, ruins their day).
[looks around and whispers to the rest of the BDH]
Hey, guys, the jig is up: she’s on to us!
????
Just kidding! Thank you for all of the updates. I can hardly wait to see more about the special collector editions…they sound amazing!
New release??! Yay! ????????????
I would drive to Austin for a public appearance. I really miss the Murder by the Book personal visits you used to do in Houston. (I understand it’s hard on you ti come here – My turn to do the driving!)
Failing that, I would definitely buy the bookplate(s).
Thanks for the info. Hopefully I don’t miss the Subterranean Press order. I really want that book to go with the first one!
Oh, c’mon! I proofread that twice and still missed the typo!
This is why I am not offering proofreading services…
The artist little clyde has a sticker titled “I enjoy a good book.” There are a few others that resonate, like “A Quiet Place,” (and many lovely ones that have nothing to do with books) but the good book one has BDH all over it.
The Lockwood & Co books are so fun – the TV series has me on an epic re-read
OMG YES re Austin! The only reason I would deal with traffic into Austin is to see yall. Seriously. The BDH will show up. And I’ve been to book events at Austin Library and BookPeople and loved both. Thanks for considering it!
Also we lost so many trees and limbs it looks like a tornado went through our poor yard. That ice storm was no joke. We’re just north of Austin and couldn’t believe how bad it was. Thankfully no power lost this time. I am so glad yours is on and everyone is warm and back on the tea. 🙂
I was just searching for a Collectors Edition of the Innkeeper Chronicles. I am so excited! I am also already subscribed to Arcane Society and love the news!!!
Will the books from Arcane Society be free to buy for anyone, or does one need to have their subscription? I’m admittedly not keen on having to pay for who knows how many books so I can get the one collector’s edition I actually want.
Good news about Subterranean Press and generally beautiful editions, though.
Oooh! I like the signed book plates option. Being in Canada, the cost plus shipping for some of the other options are prohibitive, but bookplates – totally affordable.
So glad you have power again and that you have fireplaces & wood.
Hope Kid1 & 2, significant others and all pets are doing well.
Not sure how I missed this post, but congrats on having power again. Mine returned today and I’m so happy! I had moved in with a friend. She had heat but no water as the pumps for the water tower had no power. But heat rules. We used rain water for the toilets and combined our stash of gallon drinking water jugs. Everyone I know now has a stash of 5-10 gallons of drinking water.. to get thru various outages. Will need to replace mine heh.
I would definitely go to an in person event in Austin. What fun! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that this occurs. I bought an extra copy of Ruby Fever so I could have a book plate for SOTH. So a packet of book plates sounds great!
Hello. I coordinated your 2 events at APL, so awesome, but retired. Reach out to me if you have trouble getting anyone to pay attention because I would love to attend. You guys are amazing live. I just got my power on after 3 days. I was about to lose my mind.
I cannot wait for the Innkeeper collected edition!!! ????
I’m so torn between getting the Innkeeper collector edition vs waiting until the whole series is out to buy physical copies like I had planned
“We’ve tried the self-addressed envelope before with a post office box and BDH cannot be trusted. The PO Box was abused in the worst way. You sent us money – like actual money through the mail, you sent us socks, yarn, and coffee, and then you would send us mis-addressed envelopes without postage.”
Since my own family has told me to stop sending gifts based on a casual mention or discovery of something they’d love on Etsy*, and I have — so far — driven two friend to the same state of exasperation, I can almost guarantee I would be one of the abusers.
*which happens far too often, since Etsy is one of my happy places.
Yes, I can see how the BDH cant be trusted.
But also:
“ It’s just that most people no longer travel during pandemic, so I’ m not sure if an event would draw any participants.”
I think you also HIGHLY underestimate its powers if you truly believe this statement. Masks will be worn and covid tests will be shown if necessary but the horde would show up. Lol.
Ooh….we watched Lockwood & Co. too and I wanted to watch it all but the first 3 episodes was all I had time for right then, so glad you saw it all and liked it!
oh my signed bookplates would be awesome, as I live in Canada.
Thank you for the updates. I am in Fort Worth and I would happily come to Austin for an event.
I would absolutely come to an Austin event. I’m also excited for the new pretty books!!
Question: Unlike everything else IA-wise, I don’t have audio of Catalina’s story.
Will Graphic Arts be doing Hidden Legacy?
I don’t mind tripling up on Kate or Nevada’s stories, but may be more responsible and wait for the GA versions of Catalina. I love GA!!
“The PO Box was abused in the worst way.”
Wait there is a PO BOX?!!?!
I would totally send tea, dried/smoked meat products from TX butchers, and odd little figures from table top games which look cool and expect nothing in return. Does the PO Box exist still? …wait is that what the abuse is?
The P.o. box no longer exists ????
….sniff…sniff…
1. So excited for fancy Innkeeper Collection.
2. Austin resident here– I would show at Austin Public Library!!!
just had to share… my autocorrect updated “cleaning” to *Curran*. guess that’s a sign lol!
Ruby Fever is a semi-finalist for the Swoon Awards!!
Have you tried Revolution’s Dragon Eye Oolong Tea ?
That’s my favorite (after “Earl Gray, hot”, lol).
Is there any chance Subterranean Press will reprint any of the other 3 beautiful books full of gorgeous pictures again? I couldn’t afford any of them before, but I could now.
+1!
I’m not sure where to write. One item I ordered back in December when the store was open (I ordered seven and got six items). The missing item is the “ripper cushions” cushion. Where should I ask about this? Thank you.
Hi Kate,
Please email with your issue at store@ilona-andrews.com.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one with a tea obsession. Not oolong, but Lapsang souchong in leaf form which I drink every day with milk and cannot bear to be without.
Hello! It would be amazing if the blog was linked by post date rather than grouped by topic. It makes for a difficult and clunky reading experience when I’ve missed a few days worth of posts. Thank you for all that you do!
Hi Shevaun,
For a chronological view of the blog, you can go to the blog homepage https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/ and you will see the posts and their intros in order from the most recent ????
The topic and tag categorisation is extra, very helpful for people who want to find something they vaguely remember.
All great news. On the signing at the library, please. There are many who would jump at that chance. A three hour drive (approximately) to get to see you and get something signed is a no-brainer. We want it!! Thank you.
As an Aussie fan, I’d love any possible way to get signed copies, special editions, or bookplates! 🙂
When can you be in Austin? And Where? Please say APRIL 7-14.