ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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Sorting Things Out

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The last couple of weeks have been both hectic and difficult. Finishing RUBY FEVER took priority, and even though we hit the word count goal, it will probably require additional scenes. Before you ask, the typical length of an adult romance is somewhere between 90-95K. It’s not a hard rule – some romances are longer, some are shorter – but that’s the general target to aim for.

Some of you asked for a release date for RF. I’d guess somewhere around this time next year. We don’t have a date yet, but a year is standard and if it comes out before, all of us will be happily surprised.

We are pleased to announce a full-cast dramatic adaptation of CLEAN SWEEP from Graphic Audio. It’s technically an audio book, but because every character is voiced by a different actor, it’s more like listening to a play.

I’ve updated the blog newsletter format. Hopefully it will shrink the images down as needed this time.

Mod R reports that there is some confusion about which of our titles are self-published and some people think that BLOOD HEIR was our first one. All of the Innkeeper, Iron Covenant, BLOOD HEIR, and all of Kinsmen are selfpublished. Kate Daniels, Hidden Legacy, and the Edge are traditionally published. BLOOD HEIR isn’t our first self publishing success. All of our selfpublished titles listed on USAT, with notable mentions going to IRON AND MAGIC at #8 on USAT, SWEEP OF THE BLADE at #6, SWEEP WITH ME at #3, and BLOOD HEIR at #2.

Now we just need #1. ::looks at BDH:: Hmmm, must pick a good project.

I’m joking. We’re not hung up on getting #1 from USAT. While bragging rights are nice, we are more focused on sales. Although I had this nice gentleman on Facebook explain to me how important the list placement is the other day. I was on my personal account commenting on an ad for a writing coach I found to be greatly exaggerating the coach’s expertise. I mentioned that the focus shouldn’t be on hitting a list but rather on writing the best book, and this gentleman popped up and decided to explain to me how publishing worked. It was very important to him, so I let it go.

I’m going to mess with a small random project that’s been simmering in the back of my mind today and see if I can rope Gordon into it. He is skeptical. We will see once we nail down the voice if it’s worth working on.

Also, I am out of tea. I am out of Vanilla tea, I am out of chocolate tea, I am out of the other fruity black tea. No black tea except for Assam and it’s too strong for the morning. I could’ve made green tea, but I had boiled the water to black tea temperature. I found some Sheng pu’er I had ordered on a whim a year ago and drank that.

Must order more tea.

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Comments

  1. There’s a whole theory about such “gentlemen” who have climbed ‘mount stupid’, eg,
    https://www.learning-mind.com/dunning-kruger-effect/ .
    There’s a lot of gentlemen around….

    Here’s a question that came from this post:

    Ilona: “I mentioned that the focus shouldn’t be on hitting a list but rather on writing the best book”

    Then after describing the episode with the imaginationally challenged “gentleman” …

    Ilona: “I’m going to mess with a small random project”

    So does this mean House Andrews is about to write a story tailored to reach USAT #1 ????

    Which raises a very interesting question about what do you think makes a book more likely to reach USAT #1 ?

    This may seem silly, because ‘duh, why write a book if it’s not successful?’. But similar questions arise about commercial art in other creative fields. For example, when a painter reaches a certain level of competence, choices can be made about what is created. Does the artist go for commercial work (perhaps suppressing inner feelings), and so choose subjects which are likely to draw the attention of a large number of “gentlepeople” buyers, and which are known to sell well, eg., puppies, kittens, nudes, or does the artist go for subjects that have a different motivation.

  2. I must thank you for recommending the Haney chocolate tea a while back. I have ordered it and it is indeed a winner for morning tea without sweeteners.

  6. Somebody made me a Chinese Oolong tea the other day. I’m not a huge tea drinker but it was delicious!

  7. Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post.

    No tea. That’s bad. I ran out last month too and had to buy *gasp* grocery store brand black tea. I assume it was a pandemic supply chain issue as all the green teas and herbal teas from celestial and big elbow were MIA. Sigh. Just makes me more appreciative. Well yeah I suppose green teas are sitting in a shipping container in a port somewhere with rice and sugar. ????
    Good luck on project.

  9. I’m tea hoi polloi and use Celestial Seasonings.

    I got to go to the UK/Ireland earlier this month (on my first-ever, brand-new passport) and learned that my mother had been right for the last 30 years (from when she went to UK) and milk in hot tea is yummy and cuts the bitter.

  10. Tea…tea is good. I like Rishi, but everyone has their preferences. I’m sipping the chocolate chai at the moment.

    Book, mmmm, books and stories. Better than tea. They take longer to bring to a boil and steep, but I find they are more enjoyable. Like a really good loose leaf tea, they are things that can be steeped and enjoyed more than once.

    Thanks for the updates.

  11. I agree. No morning tea is a major crisis and would ruin my whole day.

    As a member of the BDH I will gladly order multiple copies of all your books (printed copies for me and my sisters, probably the ebook, and a spare hardback for me if available). Your worlds and writing are that good sight unseen. Thank you. I wait sort of patiently and not whine for Ruby Fever which I love already from the snippets.

  12. Hi. Not sure where to post this since it doesn’t quite fit into any of the technical questions in the get in touch page.

    I’ve preordered previous books from my library’s overdrive, and then got it delivered when the book came out. However, I can’t seem to find Fated Blades on my library’s overdrive. I actually tried 2 libraries, and my friend (a fellow BDHer) tried a third. It’s not even available to recommend to my library. What gives? Is that because it’s an Amazon-only book? Will it be available for libraries?

    Thanks so much

  15. Congrats on finishing Ruby Fever and the audio adaptation of Clean Sweep! YAY.
    So excited to read Ruby Fever… if you end up writing books about Arabella and Leon I will be forever grateful too 😀
    I just finished the audiobook The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. Have you read it yet? I loved it and it just reminded me of you guys and your excellent mix of humor and romance. The chemistry was great, the humor was similar to your funny tongue in cheek humor about romance novels… plus the main character is an aspiring scientist which I think might be up your ally? All the best and thanks for making this world a better place through your books!!!

  20. Graphic Audio question. Do you know about when Clean Sweep will be available? I just checked on their site and it’s not yet in the upcoming releases and a search didn’t yield anything. Thanks.

  21. What a lovely man who explain to you how publishing works…. one time alors, a men explain to me how periods hurts and what I must feel… ????

  22. I hope I’m not too greedy to ask for a short on Alessandro’s perspective? I’m not sure if anyone else has asked, but I only hope you’ll indugle as it’s fresh after finishing RF. We got a short from Rogan a few years back and I’m just dying to see Alessandro’s view. I just finished re-reading all Legacy books and I’m just so hyped up. I love Alessandro, sexy Italians for the win!

  23. One of my most prized possessions is my variable temperature kettle. I take my tea seriously and it brings so much joy to my life! My absolute favourite thing to do is to curl up with a hot cup of perfectly brewed tea and an Ilona Andrews book. No exaggeration! You’re the only authors I’ve ever followed and your writing brings me as much joy as tea.

  24. Good Earth!! The original “Sweet and Spicy”
    First had it as the House Blend at the Good Earth Restaurant in Portland, Oregon

  25. Kitchen Witch Gourmet (based out of Lodi, CA, has the best Teas! Its a little Tea and spice business. They have a tea of the month club so I get to try new teas all the time. They have a really good Vanilla!

  27. Chocolate tea is amazing!
    I’m fond of Stash teas, which are from Oregon. Midnight in Paris is a variety of chocolate with a light touch of mint & lavender. ????☕️
    Ruby Mist is a lovely hibiscus (no chocolate). ????????

  28. I like Peppermint Bark and Strawberry Chocolate Teas from the Republic of Tea. You can order them online or you can find them at specialty gift shops. If you order online you can order a bag of 250 as a refill for their cans of 36.

  29. I tend to catch up on blog posts belatedly and in random order. I thought the “we can’t accept tea” comment at the end of the book survey post curious, but now I know why!

    I don’t take nearly the care that Ilona does with selection and brewing of tea, but this post reminds me that I should go make a nice cuppa. Thanks. ????. Good wishes to all for the best day possible.

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