Annual PSA
I had my mammogram on Tuesday. Now the waiting for results begins. The waiting is always the hardest part. This is your annual reminder: Don’t Be My Mother. Women often tend to put their health and their needs last. Please take care of yourself.
My Husband’s Addiction
Tuesday, I am trying to work a bit and I hear the dogs losing their religion with a vengeance. I look outside, and Gordon is talking to our neighbor, Daryl. They chat for a bit, then my husband comes in with a determined look on his face.
Gordon: Daryl is building a small house for his mother on his property.
Me: Aha.
Gordon: He’s going to have construction trash.
Me, knowing exactly what’s coming: You don’t say.
Gordon: He’s going to split the cost of a dumpster with me.
My husband gets a dumpster every three months. He can’t stand the clutter. You know those men whose garage is so full, you can’t walk in there? He is the opposite of that.
So, every quarter, like clockwork, the trash company brings this 15 or 20 foot monster out, sets it in the driveway, and then we throw all of the extra trash that had accumulated in 90 days. I don’t know where all of this garbage comes from. Maybe it breeds. We have 2 recycling cans and 2 regular cans and it’s not enough. There is always some weird Styrofoam or too many boxes or some old thing that needs to be junked that the garbage guys won’t take. We are blessed with a relaxed HOA or we would be getting notices left and right.
Gordon has been wanting the dumpster ever since Kid 1 moved out, because there is some moving refuse left. Daryl had given him the perfect excuse.
Yesterday morning I woke up tired and stressed out a little because of mammogram waiting. The day before we had finished the second chunk of the new book, and I decided to skip my daily elliptical adventure and have a lazy morning instead. I’ve been walking through Mexico on my elliptical. It’s hot like Mexico over here so it doesn’t seem like much of a stretch.
I’m slowly getting out of bed, intending to have a leisurely morning, and I hear, “Beep, beep, beep.” The dumpster has been delivered. I’m thinking, “The dumpster just got here. Surely he will let it be.”
BFF Jeaniene called and we talked a bit. Then Grace Draven called and we talked a bit. She is doing better and we scheduled a dinner.
As I am chatting with Grace, my husband appears in what I call his battle outfit: he has an old T-shirt on, cargo shorts, socks, shoes, shades, and his ear buds are in.
Me: I thought we were skipping the work out today.
He points at a dumpster and takes off.
I got off the phone with Grace, put on my own battle outfit, and then I cleaned and hauled trash for a few hours. Daryl hasn’t put anything into the dumpster yet.
::eyes Daryl’s property::
He better seize the day, or Gordon will find something else to throw away and there won’t be any room.
The Book That Will Not End
The book has crossed 83 K. It’s 350 pages in Word, which means it’s longer than Magic Claims. It’s a full novel as of now, and we still have probably about 25-30K to go. This will be a long book. Mod R has read it. She got the partial manuscript yesterday, and apparently she didn’t sleep, so it’s not too boring.
This is very reassuring, because for a while now I’ve been playing with the idea of writing it out and then hiding it. It’s different than our usual work, and since I’m too in it to adequately assess if it’s good or not, the idea of getting it out of my brain and not showing it to anyone felt kind of nice.
I literally can’t stop working on this book. We are due to write some side stuff for the holidays and no, there is no other writing. No blog posts, no snippets. There is nothing but this book, this world, and the only way to get rid of it is to offload it onto the page. Get it down and then we will be free and we can move on.
We are going to need maps. All the maps. We need to commission someone who knows Inkarnate, but before that can happen, I have to make some kind of a rough map in Inkarnate for them to follow as a guide.
::looks lost::
It would easy, except I have the artistic ability of a spoon. But then even the basic map is better than just description. Mage Tower goes here. The Docks go there. She dies right there. How hard could it be, right?
Sympathy on the mammogram. I had mine about three weeks ago and for the first time ever the tech said, “I want to take another picture on the left one from a different angle.”
??!!!??
The wait was excruciating, but everything is fine.
More accurately, Mod R engulfed the book, gorged herself on it and has some pretty respectable calluses from scrolling as fast as eyes could read 😁.
It’s one of those bingeable books you get utterly lost in and get separation anxiety when you notice there are only a few pages left.
Ooo! Thanks for the heads up. If the Horde got it now…armageddon would occur because the Horde would gulp it down, and say the famous words of “more, more, more!” 😂😂😂😂
Aaaahhh can’t wait to read it, whatever it is!
Aha that sounds gooood. Can’t wait for another book from Team Andrews. I am rereading Iron and Magic.
legitamately re-read Iron and Magic at least 4 times now, I think it’s my most re-read book from the series xD
Ha ha, there’s a glowing endorsement from a trusted source!!
I am so excited
ohhhh that’s so exciting. I’m envious, but can’t wait to experience it myself.
+1
Well, I‘m so not surprised 😁! Can’t wait to get my hands on it. Which isn’t a surprise either 😂
So, pretty much standard HA, but in another category 😂🥰
Any book H.A. writes is going to be good reading. I hope it doesn’t get”hidden away” That would be a real shame, I mean the publishers have already delayed Iron and Magic two, unless I misunderstood the earlier comment on it. It was”too dark”, I think was said. There’s a LOT of darkness out there, I can’t imagine too dark.
I’m pretty sure I’ve read everything that H.A. has written, and I love it all.
Thanks for the great books.
It wasn’t the publishers, IIRC. The pandemic made it hard for HA to write, because it was so dark.
I get that. I shied away from anything dystopian myself back then.
Does the BDH know what this book is, or is it a surprise?
It’s Maggie, a new project House Andrews are working on 🙂. It is a new world, not linked with any of the previous series.
Here are some of the snippets generously shared with us so far:
https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/maggie-maggie-maggie/ and
https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/bdh-the-best-fandom-ever-and-snippet/ and
https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/busy-week/ and
https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/meow-meow-is-okay/
She dies right here!!!! I haven’t even read Maggie yet and I don’t want her to die!
Maps though, I’m all here for a map, love the freaking heck out of them.
Ditto!!!!
I’m kinda hoping it’s a different “she.”
Seriously, I seriously, seriously doubt that Maggie is the only female in the book.
I’m familiar with the phenomenon of needing to get something out of one’s head and onto the page. Mine are usually about something in my life that really needs to be out of my life though.
Maye the dying is what kicks off her going to this other existence? Positive thoughts going out there.
Ilona should have known not to write something like “she dies right here”. That, or she did know, and she’s just sitting back drinking tea and laughing as the Horde loses its collective sh*t.
She’s laughing. I don’t care how tired she is, that wasn’t a slip of the tongue!
+1
+1
+1 – I reread it like 5 times. She dies? Who dies? Not Maggie! 😂
+1 on the latter option!
Exactly!!!
All I could think was “She dies?! Who dies?!? Awww man. Ilona has me hooked!!”
^This!
Yep. I think she absolutely knew… 😂🙈
She knows.
I understand the question of how did this stuff multiply. I’m in the middle of packing for a move next month. I’m asking myself “when did I get this and do I still want it?”
The description of Gordon in his battle clothes reminded me of Curran in both Magic Tides and Magic Claims (or Clams). 😁🤣🤣🤣
Glad that Grace Draven is doing well.
The hints of the new book sounds marvelous. My art skills are nonexistent, so no help from me about maps.
Can you imagine what Curren’s dumpster would end up having in it?
Let’s see…Ice Age shapeshifters (even though they were buried), construction stuff from the Ice Age fort, construction stuff from their home in Wilmington, and whatever else Curran can think of at the time. Maybe the white paint cans from Keelan and company.
That got me thinking…is Curran going to build a moat in the middle of the forest? That’s an answer for a much later book. 😀
So moat it be!
I think he needs a catapult or trebuchet so he can fling enemies from it as a way to play fetch with the wolves, boudas, and other canine-type shifters.
yes
If not, I can just picture Hugh visiting and saying “Nice place you got here, pity there’s no moat”
OMG! Hahahaha! I’m dying! I can totally see Hugh saying that, knowing it would rile up Curran into making a moat, whether or not it’s feasible, and give Kate a migraine as she tries to get Curran to be reasonable.
😂😂😂😂😂
While Hugh and Curran discuss the moat options, Elara and Kate roll their eyes.
Curran has moat envy. I don’t think it can be cured.
It’s been awhile since I read the book, but isn’t that Ice Age fort about a half mile per side? Or maybe more?
That’s going to be one hell of a moat. Good thing they have the Ultimate Treasury to draw on…
punishment detail, hand digging the moat? then they find some critter in a tower that likes to dig? so many possibilities.
+100 on every comment.
I can only speak for myself, but I’m all for you being all-in on the book! While I love the blog, I love your books even more! I think that since it’s this consuming, that’s a sign that it needs to be written and shared with the world!
Have faith! You’ll do wonderfully. ((Hugs)) 🤗
why must she die though????!!!!! why can it never just be this is where she broke a heel, but it was okay because the cobbler just across the road fixed it like new for the love of her smile. i am going to go hide inside a kids christmas book, today is just that kind of day.
Maggie is a bit darker than a kids Christmas book, but trust in House Andrews, it’s never dark for the purposes of darkness and misery, only to make the brightness even more powerful and hopeful! 🤗
Also, remember Kate died in Magic Triumphs and she’s doing okay.
As did Saiman.
Did he really die or just fake his death? I read it more as the latter.
Blood Heir has that answer.😁 (I don’t want to say another thing because there lie spoilers!)
There are days that need that and that’s ok. You read what you need to read to be happy. Recognizing what you need is very important and often not paid enough attention to, it seems.
I have a collection of Christmas books (they’re actually my favorite genre) because sometimes you just need the happy and the comfort. I was considering starting a new (to me) holiday series by an author that I enjoy, but switched when a library book came in that I wanted.
Hope you have a good day and that the story brings you comfort and joy. ((Hugs)) 🤗
Some days I turn on Christmas music in the middle of the year to bring me comfort. Love your idea of Christmas books!
Oh! I have a folder of Christmas novellas and happily ever after stories too. Sometimes you just need to know it’s all going to turn out happily ever after. I’ve read 206 ebooks/ novellas since January. Stress reading anyone? Innkeeper & Grace of Small Magics anyone?
I just found out my great-niece is coming for a brief day visit at the end of the month. We get to meet the 4 year old great-grand niece! CLEANING, WEEDING, REORGANIZING! The house must be decluttered, dusted and of course, I feel the need to sew doll stuff. She likes Barbies. I can make Barbie clothes. Not my favorite project. Fall cleaning first! Must have the Husband work on his stuff. AAAAH! I wish I had a dumpster.
I’ve been doing the “come back in 6 months for re-ray” mammogram for the last year and a half; just to be sure nothing changes. come next January, if nothing changes – which they don’t think it will, I’ll be back to the “regularly schedule program” of once a year.
I’m very fortunate that the local clinic/hospital also has a designated Breast Cancer Institute, the radiologist looks at both the diagnostic mammo and sono as soon as the technician is finished; so I have my results before I leave from my appointment.
I’m sure your’s will be just fine too! Hugs!!!
As to the book, if it’s that loud in your head, we the BDH are in for an awesome book-read!
I also get my mammogram where a radiologist looks at it while one waits.
One waits in that flimsy front close hospital gown, so they can do more films if there is a problem.
I chatted with a group of women who go together every year. Some of them breast cancer survivors. Some not. As they were leaving I was called back for more films. I was alone and felt it. When I returned to the waiting room after the second painful squish procedure, they were all still there waiting for me. I cried on the way home. Because of how kind they were. The results were fine.
That’s so heartwarming and inspiring that those ladies support not only each other, but also a complete stranger who’s going through the same experience. So glad to hear they were there for you and didn’t let you feel alone! Keeping fingers crossed the results stay fine for you always!
Thank you for sharing this. I’m going to pay more attention to other women at my mammologist’s who are there alone and might need some friendly support.
I have my mammogram scheduled in two weeks. After finding my breast cancer early (it was stage 1), I am a big proponent of getting these done annually. I am currently in remission. But I agree the waiting can suck.
+ bunches!
Don’t wait. If your doctor does not suggest it, bring it up.
I was the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” type.
I got a new doctor, who asked “When was your last mammogram?”
“I’ve never had one.” was not okay with her.
My first mammogram (at 68! Why didn’t my old doctor suggest it sooner?!) found a tiny, non-aggressive growth.
I had a lumpectomy about a month later, six weeks of radiation, and have been cancer free for the last 6 years.
Breast cancer is treatable, but the sooner you catch it, the better.
I was really lucky.
Please be lucky, too.
ooooo map design.
Can’t be any worse than my day job design and probably way more fun…..nothing else you guys understand your limitations and are good with descriptions.
Also pending book at some point so excited
Thank you for updating us. Hopefully the mammogram news will come quickly and free you from that anxiety. The little expose of Gordon and the dumpster was enjoyable. Your description of his battle outfit conjures a fun time.
Mod R has lit the fuse. We are being a well-behaved BDH, but, it’s painful. The description of your feelings for the book, as others have said, only adds fuel to the fire. We are panting at the door! Hugs to you both.
🤣 I get the mental image of the BDH masquerading as monsters, prowling about the porch and yard waiting for snippets of text to be thrown out to us!!!
My best wishes for your mammography results.
If you can get your doctor to order a diagnostic mammogram instead of a screening, and your insurance will cover it, they will read it and give you the results right then and there. At least that works here for me. It’s awful that they make women wait in suspense for the results.
3 weeks ago I had a mammogram and today I have an appointment for more imaging because something caught their interest. Get your health checks, everyone.
The dumpster conversation sounds like Curran and Kate. 😀 I’ve been thinking for years I should rent a dumpster. I’m going to check prices.
Good luck Celeste. Here’s hoping it’s nothing. I think more times than not doctors send us for more testing just to be on the safe side. That’s what happened to me, so I’m hoping that applies in your case too! Hang in there! 🙂
I’ve had to have more images done because they didn’t get close enough to the chest wall.
Fingers crossed for false alarm.
I’ve had that happen more than once. It’s always turned out to be negligible but best to check and not have to wonder. Mine were microcalcifications. After the followup imaging, consulting with the radiologist, and a lot of research, I chose watchful waiting. Had a mammo every three months, then every six, then back to annual. They have never done a thing in the past 20 years.
This was me recently. Annual mammogram caused concern. Next appointment for additional images would take 2 months, which was totally unacceptable. After calling every day for 3 days, finally got someone that worked me in much sooner. Had additional mammogram images which still caused concern so had ultrasound (that wasn’t much better than the. mammogram for being uncomfortable, lots of pressing). As usual, it was fibroids, which is common in my family. Glad it wasn’t anything to be concerned about and that they are VERY conservative about wanting more information, but it can be very stressful as you wait for results.
My sympathy on the mammo wait. But shame on your med system. I live in Podunk, Pennsyltucky and usually have them same day or next.
Love all your work!
I am fully mammogrammed! (Plus return visit, but everything is fine.)
I love how Ilona is all “ModR didn’t hate it,” while ModR is stroking the precious.
And making cooing sounds and hugging The Precious tightly.
Fingers crossed for your mammogram to be completely normal.
Also, I am jumping up and down for the big book! More to love!
Hi, I just wanted to thank you for mentioning mammograms. Both my daughter and I have had breast cancer this year, only found because of our respective mammograms. We didn’t have the usual warnings, so I believe they saved our lives. Good luck in your wait.
So glad it was found and you both had treatment! Much health to you!
So… is it bad to tell you that Lowes and Home Depot sell these $35 tote dumpsters that WM will pick up for under $300 after you fill that thing up?
I read “tote dumpster” and my brain went, “aha! A novelty purse shaped like a dumpster! How amusing!”
🙈
Sounds like Gordon may need to get one for Daryl.
I have used them before and they hold a surprising amount of junk. lot cheaper and easier than a dumpster ever was.
I have no idea if it will help, but the in game maps the Mighty Nein and Bells Hells use in Critical Role were made by Deven Rue and they are extremely beautiful. Perhaps she can be contracted?
I know I don’t have a problem with long (more to enjoy) books, especially if they are yours. Also thank you for the news that Grace Draven is doing better. I was wondering how she was doing. Praying your mammogram is clear and that you hear soon.
You got your workout after all, just not in Mexico.
+1
Not sure if this would work for Gordon, but he might be able to haul trash to your land fill. We gutted and rebuilt a fish camp ~25 years ago and made many trips to the dump. They weigh your vehicle as you go in and weigh it again on your weigh out and you get charged by the pound, with the first X pounds being free.
Good luck waiting for your results. My husband has skin cancer so we are well acquainted with scanxiety. Also keep in mind that radiologists are extremely conservative so even if they don’t think it’s cancer, they will flag it if there is even a remote chance. My follow-up mammograms were painful!!! But clear, thank goodness.
Yeah, the follow-ups are necessary but a pain (so to speak!) Still MUCH better than having something going on and not knowing until it’s too late to be able to do anything (that happened recently to a close family friend and was the thing that finally convinced me to start going annually again.)
Of course, at the diagnostic I also told the technician that if she wanted me to do anymore gymnastics in order to position myself the way she wanted for certain views, I was going to expect her to start holding up a card with a ‘10!!’ on it afterwards! 😂
I call the “impossible to hold” poses the Senior Portrait for Hellsville High School….
When I get into a cleaning frenzy, I need to limit to what will fit in 2 large garbage cans or it will sit in the garage for a couple days. However I do get trash pick up twice a week.
Thank you for the jog. I made my mammogram appointment. As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, I should be more on the ball.
Evil dropping of hints about the story. The BDH is sure to love it.
Glad to hear Grace is doing well. I have wondered now and then.
I should get a dumpster instead of obsessing about finding new homes for all this old stuff. It would be easier and quicker. *sigh*
Thank you for a post full of interesting information. I love to read your blog.
I made a lot of trips to Goodwill and the local antique store when I was downsizing. The antique guy told me upfront he wasn’t buying, but he could find homes for it quicker than I could, and he had the storage space. It bothers the heck out of me to trash something someone else could use, so I was happy to unload it for free. He offered to pick it up but I’m in better physical shape than he was, so I delivered it to him.
Also: JunkLuggers have their own thrift stores (the one here is called ReMix) so if you want to pay someone for hauling everything away, they will do all the sorting, donating, and selling without you looking over their shoulder having second thoughts.
that was a lovely update, thank you 🙂 I know the stress of waiting for medical results. I think it is wise to take some time off of more vigorous exercise whilst your body deals with the added load of that stress. Mayhaps more gentle stretching, slow walks, dancing.
I cannot wait until this new book is out of your brain 🙂 both for me and for you 😉 any world you build that takes up your brain is worth sharing. Something that large and complex will draw people into it. It will be very fun and I am most excited for it.
I’ve really been enjoying watching a lot of C dramas while waiting in-between books. Gives an acceptable level of stress, acceptable level of bad people. Reading about worse people is fine but I find the exposure to visuals on screen too much for my mind to be happy with. But Cdramas keep it nice and simple 🙂
I have followed that author you recommended on Instagram and her snippets are hilarious. Will be ordering her first book hopefully used this week 🙂 .
Definitely grateful for you and for your life snippets. They make me smile, laugh, and just feel connected to another person. The benefit of that cannot go unsaid
<3 <3 <3 <3
“She dies right there” is a wonderful way to grab the potential reader. Not that I’m a potential reader; I am an assured reader.
+1000000000
Famous last words: how hard could it be? I mean, that’s like saying, what’s the worst thing that could happen?
Might as well send Murphy an engraved invite.
Hush you, it will work out great! Just do what do best, and let it happen. After all ModR stayed up to read it. What better indicator could you need?
“…She dies right there.”
You can’t leave us hanging like that!
Does Texas have a site or App where medical professionals upload all your medical information? We have that service where I live, anytime I get a test done I get a notification on my phone when the results come in. Which is faster than waiting for the Dr.
As for the map, what about free handing a circle drawing? It’s a thing architects use before drawing blueprints. Draw a circle, label circle, draw another circle bigger or smaller and label it. Draw something kidney shaped and label it. Then you know where the spaces are and how large they are in relation to other spaces. I’m sure whoever you get to make the map will understand the intent from a circle drawing.
I am looking forward to Maggie. I am envious of Mod privileges and getting all the yummy book contents early.
If it makes the envy more bearable, I only got 2/3rds of the book which could arguably be said to be worse for waiting 😅
Now that is just torture! Talk about a cliffhanger! How can you think of anything else besides what’s going to happen in that story? You are one tough cookie Mod R! 😵💫
“It would easy, except I have the artistic ability of a spoon.” I absolutely love this description! Bwah-haa-haa! I so relate! Can’t wait for the new book 🙂
Thank you for urging women to get a mammogram. I was so involved in taking care of my husband that I didn’t get one for (too) many years. After he passed, I thought of your mom and got one last fall. Getting a clean bill of health was a tremendous relief.
the more book there is, the better! 🙂
Thanks for the mammo reminder and I wish you a swift wait and an all clear. Both my mom and I have put ours off first because COVID then wacky life hijinks.
Can’t wait to meet Maggie! I am convinced House Andrews cannot write a boring story. If you even tried it would be a satire of boring stories that would have the BDH in stitches. ❤️
My partner is a professional DM and uses that software constantly to make maps. I’m certain he would be thrilled to help!
Here’s hoping you have an all clear on the mammogram. I get mine every year–the insurance pays for it, so why not get it?
Thank you for the chuckle re: Gordon. I wish my husband would be just a little like that…just a little. He could have a clean t-shirt for every day of the year for an entire year without having to wash them. His closet is full, his dresser drawers are full, they’re piled on top of the dresser… Sometimes the rattier ones mysteriously disappear–rumor has it they end up in the dumpster (hee hee).
First: “she dies right there”….way to drop a little tidbit guaranteed to send the entire BDH into a frenzy!!! You tricksy lady you!!!! 😂
Second, I’m so glad to hear that Grace Draven is doing well!
Also, I totally sympathize with the waiting for results. Here’s wishing you perfectly normal results and quickly, too. 💕💕
I had to go for a diagnostic mammogram this week after a routine screening a few weeks ago saw something ‘suspicious’. I will never understand why they make you wait several weeks for the scheduling of a diagnostic after a routine screening requires it. They should fit you in right away!!!
Luckily, all went well at the diagnostic and the radiologist was nice enough to meet with me right away. She said that everything they saw on the initial screening (or thought they saw) is either not seen at all on a the intensive mammo or is ‘almost definitely benign’, and now I just need to wait 6 months ‘to be sure’.
Now that it sounds pretty sure that this is nothing to worry about, I will have to find something else to worry about…or not! 😂
I hated having to wait for my mammogram results. They told me I had a mini star system in my breasts but it came back as calcification so they were not bothered. I have the same in my womb so who knows – Covid appeared and the appointments stopped.
As for the skip – I emptied our garage of a lot of stuff we just didn’t need and him indoors wanted to get his Harley Davidson in safely. It was so funny as our friend came to see what I was doing and wanted things out of it. I told him to get a skip and I will clear his garage and he whimpered and went away🤣🤣🤣
rofl, every project I have ever lost months floundering in has started with, “How hard could it be?” Enjoy your map adventure.
most facilities and doctors have a patient portal. I signed up and have the results that day, very stressful to wait, hope everything is ok 🙏
Once upon a time, an author who was still my hero got impatient with readers — not his own — who were criticizing a fellow author, saying their new book was nothing like their old book. My hero said “if you want that, read their old book again.”
Creators gonna create. If it’s not like KD or HL or Innkeeper or Edge, then it’s like itself. And you already have three rabid bunches of fans, as evident from your FUS RO DAH post (plus group 4 who love all of them). So now you create a 5th bunch of fans. Perhaps with a lot of overlap. 😊
I had a friend who got cut playing soccer in a local league. At the time, there was an AIDS scare (not the big one, a small local one) and league requirements said anyone who broke skin had to be tested. He managed to convince himself afterwards that because there were two possible outcomes, he had a 50% chance of getting AIDS. He had a considerable freak out. Don’t be my friend.
I hate mammograms because I have a condition that causes abscesses in a band across my tits and armpits. Which means they ALWAYS find something and try to scare the hell out of me. Said condition reacts to stress, causing more abscesses, which means a single mammogram = 6 months of pain and stress before they sign off on no cancer and say come back in 2 years. I wish for you a simple and clear negative.
Talk to your PCP about a round of prophylactic antibiotics starting just before your mamm. No one should suffer like that!
I’m in Europe, where they are much more careful about antibiotics, and in fairness, abscesses don’t respond well to oral or even IV antibiotics. So to get any, I would need an MRI first, to show where any small abscesses are. And I’ve always had a problem scheduling long term appointments*, which has grown worse with age.
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, which explains SO MUCH about all my issues and I have high hopes that once the medication gets me fully stable, I’ll be able to do many things that were either insanely difficult for me or that I was just unable to do. I’m already doing better, so fingers crossed! And thank you for your empathy.
____
*at least in Austria, mammograms can generally be scheduled the day before, almost every place that does X-rays does mammograms. Non-urgent MRIs can take 4-6 weeks. Just like in the US (for MRIs).
You are a terrible tease! “she dies right here!!!!” What?!?!?! Inquiring hoard members need to know-🤣
i hope everything turns out fine on the mammogram.
Is there a reason for mammogram worry? I have it like clock work but it doesn’t cause any undue angst, but then I don’t have Breast cancer in my direct parental lines either
There is a link in the blog post to the Ilona’s mother battle with breast cancer .
I’m cleaning out my mother in laws basement and actually found a mummified mouse. I screamed and ran then made my husband throw it out.
Hoping your mammogram results turn out good. My dad is a cancer survivor and my doctor wants me to start having yearly checkups at the dermatologist.
I wish my husband would do the dumpster thing. Sigh. Maybe I should do it…there’s entirely too much stuff stuffed in the garage, both of them. It seems to me that the sound of things landing in the dumpster, after a strategically arched toss out of the garage door, would be very satisfying. Hmmmm…maybe my Patti, my BFF next door, would go in with me on it. Her spouse is even more of a pack-rat than mine. Gordon, Thanks for the inspiration!
Sending lots of positive thoughts for your scan results! I’m too embarrassed to admit how long it’s been since my last mammogram, let’s just call it “many years”. Thanks for giving me the push I needed.
I hope you schedule one and feel the relief of a clean bill of health! 🙂
I did my mammo on the 5th and I’m waiting for results in the mail.
My husband is a Theater Tech teacher at the local high school. Everything in our house, and I mean everything, is a possible prop. We have a bistro set that has enough stage hours to qualify for an equity card. So I don’t dare get rid of anything. When he retires in a couple of hundred years or so, we’ll be needing a very large dumpster. (I could donate it all to the theater department but they’ll need more storage.)
SHE DIES RIGHT HERE?!
now I need this.
Best wishes on speedy writing!!
and good mammogram results. I need to get on that since I missed it last year. thanks for the reminder!
I’m suffering from dumpster envy! I have the opposite problem. I mention getting a dumpster to my husband and he gets this really bewildered look on his face…”but what would we put in it?” LOL
Wishing you the best possible test results, writing relief and not too much more dumpster filling. Large mugs of tea and your favorite thing to go with them would probably not go amiss.
Thank you for the update and for all your care and effort. Truly am glad for your blog and the amazing library of work. They make my life brighter!
I’m very attracted to the book – long is good, especially coming from you. It’s such a joy to have your books, in good and bad times both, which I can’t say for a lot of writers. Thank you for it!
Unknown lumps are SCARY! My mammogram was ok, BUT I had a biopsy done on a lump under my right ear at the end of June. That sucker was a weird “acinar cell carcinoma”. What the heck? Turns out that it’s a rare tumor that very rarely turns malignant. I turned out to be one of those rare people to get the cancer. Rare, rare, HATE that word.
The surgeon had that sucker out within 3 weeks. I now have a scar reaching from the top of my right ear almost to the front center of my neck. Blech! Still, like I told the doc, I can live with a scar, but I can’t live with cancer.
I hope your mammogram was clear. I definitely would not wish for ANYONE to have cancer. Hugs Ilona.
You need Patty Briggs map guy
She dies right here…😳
So maybe you can knit a map?
Rough day. You just turned it around. Thank you.
Thank God there are people just like me with the creativity of a spoon(sorry had to steal that phrase). I would be more than happy to read whatever you put on Word!! ANYTHING!!
Keep doing what you are doing!!
Thinking good thought for you on the mammogram. Too bad you can’t come to WA to have it done, they give you preliminary results right away. Then a few days later a more in depth results. Waiting always sucks!!
I just got gently scolded by my ob-gyn. I got my annual mammogram, but I was told to get a breast MRI, due to some family history and some conditions that would normally be ok on other people. I didn’t go, I was in Hong Kong, celebrating my parent’s 50th anniversary, so I didn’t get one. I got a bit of a gentle lecture. I left the building, sat in my car and made the appt. *sigh* fun stuff.
Mod R doesn’t sleep, she mimes sleeping sometimes to pretend to seem normal.
But regardless, if you feel passionately enough about the book that you can’t let it go, I know it will be fantastic. So, who do I pay to get this book? Just point me and take my money.
🤣 What is this, The Roast of Mod R? Good for you making the appointment!
We are just jealous. Many of us would gladly pay to be Beta Readers.
The Roast of Mod R sounds like a Grimms fairy tale. It is getting towards Halloween. 👻☠️🐈⬛😉
I am beyond excited. You, Patricia Briggs, um…I know there are others, but you two, I will read anything and everything. No doubt multiple times.
For me–the longer the better. I love nothing more than a 700 page behemoth from a writer(s) whom I know I can trust to keep it great. Granted, not many can or do, understandable. But I love it. Extra cost–when needed–? The worth is always there with you guys.
Please please never joke about hiding your books from us. Please!!🥺🥺
Can’t wait to read it! I’m so glad you aren’t going to hide it away. So so so glad!
Dumpsters are great, but I’m trying to stop my accumulation of ‘stuff’. No more dumpsters for me (hopefully).
Mammogram scheduled!! Thanks for the reminder. And the book tease.
Fingers crossed for the mammogram results, and very good to hear that Grace Draven is doing better. Thank you for sharing. That’s great news.
I really hope you decide to publish Maggie. Different is good–it will still be in your voice, with your choices, and I would love, love, love to read it.
Regarding maps, perhaps you might consider the talented people at Deranged Doctor Design? They have made beautiful covers for some of your French titles, they make awesome fantasy maps, and I know they’re huge fans of yours.
The second most common form of breast cancer is a sneaky bastard. You might not feel a distinct lump: I didn’t.
We’re lucky that our HOA has a quarterly cleanout every quarter, during which they hire out a constant roation of the really big semi sized dumpsters for the neighborhood to fill over the course of 3-4 days. Once a year they hire an electronics recycler as well, so you can get rid of stuff like broken TVs, since nobody else will take them. All of it included in HOA dues.
Go HOA!! Hope they can encourage other HOAs to do the same, especially the electronics recycler!!
OMG! Looking forward to meeting the new world! Thanks for the great news!
I love maps! I’m like a hobbit in that I love to study them. Most all novels with a map are better than novels without one.
I love big books! (and I cannot lie😉) I need a trash bin. My stepmom is into Swedish death cleaning these past few months. Unfortunately, she delivers all of he clean out to my house. I live in a barely 1000 sqft home. It is getting ugly. Tell Gordon he can come to my house and I will provide the bin.
Thanks for your reminder about mammograms. I am a few months behind on my appointment and now I have an appointment scheduled! Thanks Ilona. I hope you get clean results and I am sorry you have to wait for them.
As someone else noted you can get results right away in Washington. When I had a spot one time they weren’t sure of they didn’t even let me leave the office and did a more in depth mammogram right away.
Looking forward to whatever you write! Long is better in my book! Currently rereading Kate Daniels!
Check out https://www.rhysspieces.com/ for map illustrations. I’m using him for an upcoming mss. Reasonable prices.
If you know a geographer? Or would like an introduction to one, or more?
My son and daughter in law are in San Antonio. His degree is Geographical Information Systems. Hers is Geography.
If they let you leave the building without insisting on an immediate sonogram after that mammogram, then even if there is a problem it must be small and therefore treatable. Deep breath, positive thoughts. As a survivor I know what I speak of.
It is very good to hear that Grace Draven is improving. Thanks for the update.
My garage could really use the application of a Gordon and a dumpster or three. The spouse insists that the papers in the boxes piled six feet high (two meters) in places can not be thrown out but must be sorted and then destroyed. At the current rate my heirs will be looking for a large scale shredding service in a few more decades.
The golden words every author-fan wants to hear: “So the story is getting longer than we expected…”
He’ll yeah!
Please don’t hide the book away from us!!!! I am SO excited to read it. Take my money, please!!!!
I’d recommend doing a rough draft of a map on paper. That way you’re not trying to learn new software and determine where you want things to go at the same time.
I feel your pain about the clearing out of things. Tons to do here and at my Mom’s 5 bedroom farmhouse.
Sitting in the mammogram waiting room right now while reading this!
Aaaand- all good!!! Got the results by the time I’d gotten home. LOVE the new auto release of test results. I know before my doctor. I used to have to wait 4-5 days for her to get around to calling me.
How are you going to publish the book? With a traditional publisher, indy, or perhaps do a Brandon Sanderson?
None of my businesses but I imagine that if you did a kickstarter the BDH would swamp the servers.
The longer the book the better. Unless the quality drops. My faith in HA says to me: this isn’t possible. So I’m salivating thinking about a longer book from HA 😉
I like long books as long as the quality is there. HA hasn’t failed me yet.
Besides they can include all the bits and pieces instead of cutting them and providing us with the snippets.
Since I never want any of your alls books to end, I am thrilled that we might get a longer than usual book!!!!! Also can’t wait to meet the new characters/ and or world !!!! Excitement abounds!!!
I don’t need a dumpster. I don’t have trash or broken things. What I need is a huge moving truck to take away things to be donated. I have too much stuff. And a year ago, I purged all the “crappy” stuff. This is all good stuff. It’s just too much good stuff. My house abhors a vacuum (somedays, both kinds) so when I move stuff out, it is magically filled with other stuff. I’m tired just thinking about it. Maybe I need a cleaning costume too.
Oh Nooo, a long book! (Grins ear to ear and does the happy dance)
Both of my parents had the “keep it just in case” gene so I celebrate if I make myself throw stuff out that could “possibly” be reused. Especially if it is old shoes. I scold myself and say “Nope, I will not use those in the garden. throw them away!” Then, I reward myself with chocolate if I follow through, lol. No one has accused me of being normal 🙃
Honestly mammograms are so much fun. *extreme sarcasm*
Since 2000 I have had to get a mammogram twice per year. This year all the guys who paid a gazillion dollars for the education to be qualified to review images decided I can have once every twelve months. No more sonogram images, either.
Yippee!
Disclaimer “unless something changes on the next mammogram”.
😊
I had my first mammogram in Dec, a year and a half late due to Covid, then moving and finding a new doctor, etc. I have had several follow up mammograms, and ultra sounds. Then finally a lymph node biopsy. Everything is good, but it was very stressful.
They said I’ll keep getting them every 6 months for at least another year and a half before they decide anything they are concerned about isn’t actually anything.
And, I forgot – I am just like Gordon.
If it isn’t being used it’s gone.
I just put several things for sale on Marketplace.
I do not need two different, non-matching sets of everyday dishes!
Now you’ve done it. It’s like saying what could go wrong. Remember to take deep breaths. Perfection is not required. Graft paper sometimes helps or open an atlas turn it upside down and see if that works.
I just had my mammogram too. One nice thing about getting older is I don’t seem to be forming those little benign tumors anymore. So YAY
I can not wait for the new world. I’m all in!!
We need Gordon ever here. John has been saying for years he’d clean up when he retired. He hoards paper stuff. I talked to some psych person who suggested I leave him alone cause his work world was complicated and this was how he coped. Well, he is SLOWLY going thru stuff and throwing it away. I fill the back of the truck a couple time a week for dump runs but a dumpster is a wonderful Idea. maybe that will motivate him.
“She”? “…She dies…” Tell me more. 🙂
Ohhhh, I love the sound of the book already. Hide it if you must, I can wait. Sort of, really 🙂
I was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer almost 2 years ago and while surgery took care of it…yay, cancer free as much as I can be at this point, the waiting was terrible. Then when I got the test results I sat there and stared at that word ductal carcinoma in situ….I kept looking for that word benign, it wasn’t there. Took me a few days to process it, then a week later my oldest daughter was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Hers was stage 2 but I am happy to report after a year of chemo, hormone therapy and surgery, she is also considered cancer free at this point. It pays to get the testing done…don’t put it off!!!
My Dad was one of those people who would save things because it might be useful. Also saved things that could be sold for scrap. When I had the dumpster for cleaning out his house a neighbor came by with their daughter and her husband. He asked if there was any scrap that could be sold. I gleefully turned him loose on that part of the basement. He was thrilled and I was thrilled.
My annual squeeze is in November. Just had my first cataract surgery on Tuesday and I am amazed how easy it was and how much clearer my vision has already become just two days later. Colors are better too. The other eye is in two weeks.
Sending good thoughts for an all clear result for you. So glad Grace is doing better.
I need an industrial shredder, a dumpster, and the cleaning, sorting equivalent of the yard mafia. You may have yarn, I have enough fabric to slipcover my townhouse. Sigh.
At my physical last week the nurse and I started talking about books and mentioned you and Gordon. She came back to give me an injection and had already looked you up. Said your work sounded right up her alley. Her daughter’s as well.
She was very excited so there are now two more members of the BDH!
Oh, yeah, the colors are so intense after cataract surgery!! I was amazed for at least six months, on a daily basis, at how clear and beautiful colors were.
🎨💐🌈
I love the update! Glad to look forward to an extra long book. Yay!!
I’m sure the mammogram will be fine. Bad news arrives very quickly so it will have arrived by now.
I have one of the hoarding type husbands so I am envious as I am the opposite.
Looking forward to the new book, especially if it a long one.
Had my regular mammogram a few weeks ago. Had a second mammogram (just the right breast) last week. Had an ultrasound yesterday . . . Everyone keeps telling me it is low risk but I will wait to hear what the radiologist has to say.
There is no history of breast cancer in my family but there is a history of melanoma, cervical cancer, leukemia, basal cell carcinoma, so yeah I get checked out whenever the doctor says to go.
long it’s long vippie I like long saves me having to find something else to read. which has had me rereading slot lately. it’s like opening a good friend. now I can read all day and night I find it very hard to put a book down the next chapter is just too tempting
You should tell a minion to open the free version of Inkarnate and look over their shoulder while they click around.
I’m willing to bet that watching someone else mess around and have it not look right will kick-start your OCD until you can’t help yourself taking over the mouse.
Additionally, if the story you’re exorcising is ‘long’, I assure you the BDH will not disapprove. When the time is right to share, is up to you.
“she dies right here”???
I feel like a BDH shark, circling in wait for that story!!
Good for you. I need to get my medicals up-to-date as well. And yes, waiting sucks. Sending good thoughts.
Deven Rue makes beautiful maps.
Regarding maps, The Surprised Eel Historian (John Wyatt) does some great ones: https://surprisedeelmaps.com/
I follow them on BlueSky and they’ve been posting some lovely maps. Also lots of history about eels lol
For what it’s worth, I found Inkarnate very intuitive and it made me look like I had 100,000x the artistic ability that I actually possess.
Don’t ever apologize for not doing anything but writing!!
Your beautiful creative story telling is something I so look forward to 😍
“the dogs losing their religion with a vengeance” – you are a master wordsmith of exquisite proportions!!
Glad Grace is doing better and that you all will get to have dinner together. Food and a visit with friends is good medicine for body, mind and spirit.
May your results be clear and reported soonest!!
Battle outfit lol. Good thing ya didn’t work out cuz that declutter process sounds like a workout! Good luck with your (soon to be our?) never ending story and hope ur fictional cartographer pops up with mappy arty stylus in hand! (Hear ya on the drawing thing, got the artistic vision of a near sighted snail)
sending good energy your way
Mod R didn’t sleep!! Yay!! (sorryMod R). Very excited that this is still growing and can’t wait to read it! (Actually I did the new book dance, if a bit prematurely)
I too have too much stuff, but most of it is not things to be dumped unfortunately. I used to move every 2-5 years, which meant 7 moves that allowed me to slim down the belongings. Been in this house now for 26 and when I thought “I need more space” it was a big uhoh moment. Slowly moving things to good homes hehe. So best of luck (and yes, it breeds).
I got a notice in the mail a few weeks ago to book my mammogram, so thanks for the reminder.
Some days, I wish I had a dumpster on my doorstep because it’s amazing how the junk just piles up!
PS Thank you for the update on Grace Draven; I am so happy to hear that she’s doing better!!
You have no idea how jealous I am that your husband is addicted to the dumpster! I try so hard to offload crap and my husband is always like ‘maybe I will need this so we should hang on this precious’. So frustrating!
Thanks for your PSA! I’ve been getting my mammograms yearly since I was 40 because my mom had breast cancer (it was in situ and she’s recovered with no reoccurrence).
If I could add to it, please get your colonoscopy done when it’s time (I believe the age is 50 – that’s when I had my first one). I’ve lost friends who waited too long and then it was too late to stop the cancer.
My sister was dealing with some odd symptoms with her left nipple and seeing a breast specialist about it. They were doing mammograms every 6 months. Then last August she goes back for a check up and because the nipple was inverting they pulled it out and did a mammogram. This past February she is back and insisting to be examined by the doctor after the mammogram. Because the nipple was almost entirely gone. It was not her specialist/normal doctor who saw her but she examined my sister and made her stay for a biopsy. Two days later she gets the call it’s cancer, Paget’s disease of the breast. It’s rare and can only be diagnosed with a biopsy. Why the original specialist didn’t schedule a biopsy I don’t know. After two rounds of lumpectomies and three weeks of radiation she is cancer free but they now want to test the right nipple. FYI- When she was describing what was going on they first thought it was dermatological related. All this talk is reminding me to check when my exam needs to be scheduled. Thank you Ilona for this post and I’m hoping you get speedy and “all clear”. Also, Thanks to you and Gordon for your love of your profession because your love for it shines through in the brilliance of your books 🤪.
1. Can we trade husbands for a weekend? Or even just husband skills? My husband is not a hoarder…. But he has a hard time throwing away crap. It NEEDS to go Ilona. Maybe Gordon can write a motivational speech/script? Please Gordon, HELP ME!!
2. Please, please, PLEASE do not hide this book. I am dying to read it and I know it will be great. I don’t care how different it is or if you think it’s terrible. Can 100% guarantee that I will love it forever and ever. I’m grateful that you’ve found a project that grabs you so, even if it might seem a little scary. I know that I enjoy my work more when I truly get immersed, versus having to drag myself through it because I know I know it needs to be done.
The Hoard is here. Waiting. We will devour your book(s). Any and all of them. Please don’t doubt your talent. (Or your eager audience lol.)
She Dies Right Here seems like the title of a book
Hehe. “He dies right there” the best-selling sequel 😀
+1,000!! 😆😆😆
“They die right here” could be the last in the series. ☺️
Why limit it to a trilogy? “Who died here?” could be next and then it could keep going……
I’m feeling a bit of an Abbot and Costello moment here, so forgive me for switching to comedy (even though we’re talking about people dying 🤦♀️). 🤣
“Who’s On First” by Abbot and Costello
https://youtu.be/kTcRRaXV-fg?si=g82jIY-vKZ7OOMDS
Thank you for all of this. Much needed!
Personally, I would absolutely buy Part One if offered with a promise of Part Two. Yes, I do understand that is not how House Andrews rolls. But I can dream…
Who dies where?!👀
Sending good thoughts with the mammogram. My mother was the same as your mother… she never went to the doctor…when she was 44 her sister-of-the-heart somehow forced her to go to the ob/gyn for I don’t know what reason. He discovered a lump. A month later she had an “interesting” scar and no right breast. She turned 80 last month. She doesn’t seem to have missed the breast. The 6 of us, her daughters, would have missed her a lot.
Every year, in October, we check with each other “have your mammogram yet?”
Talking to one of the sisters yesterday, we’re both scheduled for the same day, same hospital. I’m in the morning (I’m retired now, I can do that) and she’s in the afternoon (after work).
Feel your titties. It’s important.
(By the way, the sister-of-the-heart died when she was 51 of lung cancer. She’s missed every day)
Take all the time you need. Someone asked on Instagram to name one author you would take with you on a deserted island to read, I picked y’all! Seriously, I make so many references to other books I have read previously, I could be happy with all of yours.
The longer the book, the better! I love long books!
The wait is horrible but at least it’s done.
Since House Andrews and Mod R have been engulfed with this new world, just want to mwntion here that Magic Strikes dramatised version ia out and it’s fantastic!!
I can say with a shadow of a doubt that if you decide to publish the book instead of hide it I, at least, will love it.
This is not meant to be demanding or pressure. I’m thankful for whatever you and Gordon share.
But I’ve loved all of you’re writing. There probably isn’t a piece you’ve made public I haven’t read at least twice.
Whenever I’m feeling down I continually go back to Silver Shark because it is my favorite. It is my comfort book.
I’ve re-read all the Kate books at least a second time through. I’ve read Blood Heir at least three times. I’ve read Hidden Legacy more times than I can count. I loved The Edge. I loved even the Alpha Origins book that didn’t get made into a series.
If you decided not to publish another word, I would get my hands on every hard copy I could and treasure them.
I love you’re writing and hope to one day have an ounce of your ability.
Keep the PSAs coming! Mammograms are important! I am alive today because a mammogram found breast cancer early.
I actually pay for the full version of Inkarnate because I can’t just *not* have maps of the games I play.
It’s a sickness.
my husband has asked that we fit one car in our 2 car garage before it snows. I’ve been upping my game on craiglist-free, facebook marketplace, buy nothing and nextdoor. We’ve gotten rid of a lot of stuff that other people really want. the saying one person’s trash is another’s treasure is so true. seriously, things i didn’t think anyone would want are gone the fastest =) it takes a lot of time though and since i’m currently not working, i have it
You rock! I’m sure the buyers and recipients are extremely grateful.
Dear Illona, I must tell you, “the artistic ability of a spoon” is totally wrong. Try this, take a plain sheet of paper and place a plastic needle point sheet on it, then take your colored ink pens, and dot out your map. It’s easy and in essence, you give your brain a grid, and tell it what you want, and where you want it. I believe you’ll surprise yourself. By the way, your books are fabulous, I have them and reread them often. Warmest regards!!
There was nothing I could feel. Ultra sound could not detect it. Even the mammogram could not actually detect the tumor. But…a mammogram can see the little salt like calcium deposits that like to line up against any tumor. Those dots, that mammogram, caught my cancer early enough to allow me to be 6 years older today.
I am so sorry you have to wait to get your screening results.
I got my first mammogram this year, at 35. I developed lumps in my breasts several years ago, but my then-PCP didn’t consider them anything worth investigating, as I was in my 20s and taking hormonal birth control, which is associated with development of cystic tissue. That practitioner retired during the pandemic, and I got a new PCP this year. My new PCP pointed out that even though they have all the characteristics of being cysts we should still image them for a baseline. I had always wanted them imaged – my family history is full of cancers, though not breast cancer – so I was more than willing to go for it. And since she expected my breast tissue to come back too dense to clearly image via just the mammogram, my PCP also scheduled me for bilateral ultrasounds. To top it off, she went ahead and scheduled pelvic ultrasounds as well, to ensure any uterine or ovarian cysts were documented, since those are also common and getting awareness of them early is good for long-term screening planning and early detection of anything new and potentially troublesome. (I love my new PCP)
The imaging center she referred me to works exclusively with reproductive tissue screening, and they are so understanding of how anxiety-inducing the process is that they have the mammograms read on-site before you leave to give you an assessment then and there. It was such a blessing to not be waiting for days to get the call back about the results; the whole thing was already intensely stressful to experience.
I have several coworkers in their mid-to-late 30s and early 40s, and have been gently encouraging them to get their baseline screenings done now, so they can find out early if they will need to plan for things like also having ultrasounds (as I will have to do those with every mammogram to get clear readings, since the dense tissue from the cysts obscures significant areas from observation via mammogram).
So I’m a breast cancer survivor of 30 years, and I have been getting diagnostic mammograms (my oncologist sort of insisted on them back then.) So last year they informed me that since it’s been so long I have graduated from diagnostic back to regular mammograms and have to wait for results. Not looking forward to that are all (in October).
Can I tell you how nice it is to read these updates? Been reading for a while but am kinda stalkerish in the fact that I don’t comment much but I enjoy hearing about your regular life (Yay! Although you have magnificent writing abilities, you are still people like the rest of us. Whew!) and I still love your writing style even though it isn’t a book you’re writing.
You almost always make me smile.
Thank you for sharing yourselves with us this way! 😊❤️
So I haven’t been here for a while, newish job and can’t afford to get lost here. On my personal time I have been listening to the new dramatized adaption KD world.
There is no other author(s) that I have both written and audio book and now a second audio of the same story. I still can’t get enough. There are no other books that I have re-read soo many times…
I am still as smitten with Kate from the first read as I am today on the 10 or 12th read, I have about a 1 1/2 hour drive home and I just start listening from the 1st book all the way thru the newest books so I was thrilled to start listening to the dramatized versions.
So happy you’re enjoying them! 🤗
I am doing a re-listen of the KD series and it got me curious. Do Roland and Erra use power words? It seems like they are so magical amd I know it is referenced that Roland speaks magic as a language. Kate and Hugh use power words but I don’t remember Roland and Erra using them.
erra speaks in power words, in the initial encounter
My baby brother just published his first book, high fantasy, the mapmaker he got to do the map for the book was astonishingly good. Literally, every tiktok about my brother’s book was like “look at this map”. I will have him send you the mapmaker’s contact info via your “contact us” page.
Won’t tout my brother’s book here because that would be rude…
please give us some snippet
Seems it is mammogram month. Getting mine done today. 🙂
The book sounds great – you cannot go wrong with more pages. Like… never. Ever.
But then – where she dies. Uuuuuuhhh.
So no, cannot wait. But will wait like the wonderful fan that I am.
Enjoy the process. Understand fully the map problem. Cannot draw to save myself and hubby and kids are sooo good. So there. I am the anomaly in the fam.
Don’t like drawing maps? No problem. Get a flat surface, like a board on Kid 1’s old bed. Grab some toys and set them where they belong. Take a picture and have someone with skills translate it to paper.
that’s brilliant
I love your dumpster dilemma, because it makes me feel better about our behavior. I hate clutter soooo much. two grown people and we moved to Europe for 2 years with 4 checked bags and a carry on rofl.
Your book is going to be great. You’ve got this. If the story is this compelling to you, the rest of us will love it. I can’t wait!
Fingers crossed for good test results. It’s a good reminder, thank you for sharing your experience.
In my family we tend to die from cardiovascular disease and that can also affect women at younger ages than they expect. My mom had her bypass surgery at 42 and despite my very different diet and lifestyle I had mine at the same age. She died at age 54 (when I was 31) of a heart attack. My father died at age 50 when I was 21. (I didn’t know him well so it wasn’t as difficult to cope with as losing my mom.)
Despite my having a bypass at the same age as my mom, I am 64 and my birthday is in December. I’m thankful for the stents and medications my parents didn’t have.
Some women have cardiac events in their 30s and 40s. My earliest warning sign, looking back, was getting out of breath more easily while walking, thinking it was asthma getting worse. Eventually I had mild chest pain on exertion and then it became more serious chest pain on exertion. That’s when I got a clue and went in and was fortunate to see a doctor who took women and heart disease seriously. Testing led to my bypass surgery. Womenheart dot org works to educate women about heart disease risks and I found a lot of support from their message board.
Good luck with the mammogram plus results:) While the procedure isn’t the most fun the peace of mind provided is priceless!
Thank you for the annual reminder. My doc also decided to be proactive this year, and called the imaging place to REMIND ME that I need a mammogram, since I was an idiot and missed it last year….. Monday…. 🙂
I love this type of connection! To learning the writers thoughts on their new books.
I am have recently recycled with Audible through all the KD series plus the 2 new ones.
Hey all! Can anyone let me know if I’ve missed any updates on the second Ryder book? What’s the latest update about it?
Hey Victoria,
There will be at least one more Wilmington Years novella before the setup for Blood Heir 2 is complete. There are currently no official dates, as House Andrews have decided to announce projects only when they are close to completion and a preorder can be shared.
As soon as there *are* any official updates, they will appear on the Release Schedule page https://ilona-andrews.com/release-schedule/
Thanks for the info, Mod!
Regarding mammograms, I get mine regularly, told my best friend I was coming down to visit her as I had the mammogram booked in the hospital closest to her. Her reaction, oh haven’t had one of those in years, might book my self one. And we all know where this is going, oh yes she had raging cancer, got it time, but had chemo, radiation, and a year later still has treatment. So the message is ladies, get the boobs checked as often as possible.
Don’t sell your artistic ability short. I’m sure you will make a great map. When the book is done there will be great celebration! Man I wish I could get a dumpster. We humans are generating so much trash. It is scary. Thank you for toiling with the words.
I am so excited for this. Whatever you are writing. Longer, shorter, all the things.
Also-mammogram was Fri. Good job all of us who have gotten one.
Miss Ma’am, as we say in the lowcountry, you are the Queen of Mike Drops.
Get some rest, can’t wait to see what you do next.
Place preorder link to new book here.👇
😁
I’m with Gordon the clutter issue. Unfortunately, I live with 3 adult males with genetic “flat surface filing” syndrome. (If there is a flat surface I can put it there. No matter what ‘it’ is. 🙄) So it’s a constant battle to try and make them contain their plethora if possessions to certain areas of the house.
Hoping for good results from the mammogram! 🤞
I dislike writing. I blame it on multiple nasty English teachers in school.
Well, a couple years back, a book popped into my head. Would not let me loose. I’d be standing in the grocery store and WHAM I’m speaking to myself in book dialogue. It was so bad it was interrupting my sleep.
So I opened up one of those novel writing programs on my computer, wrote out a short story in a couple of hours(in the middle of the night) and then closed the program without saving.
I sometimes regret it. Books are a form of art and I think my little short story was pretty good. But then I remember I hate writing. I don’t want to be a writer. No books have popped up in my head since.
You’ve probably been inundated with people offering to help you with the map problem, but in case you haven’t, here I am, offering! I’m a technical illustrator for a patent attorney’s office, so I’m familiar with various drawing platforms….anyway making a map made me strangely excited andI would love to help you.!
She dies, we just got spoiled a female character of this book would die
I truly like your article and learned a lot from it. I also hope you’ll keep writing these types of blogs; I’m looking forward to your next one.
#Good life insurance company
Thank you. Just reminded me that I am 6mo. overdue for the pancake press. Will make an appointment tomorrow. Just finished ‘Magic Tides’. Bought it as soon as it was available but been putting it off for unknown reasons…. Anyhow, LOVED IT! More please. And anything else you should choose to write. I rarely comment here but thought the combo of mammo and Magic Tides required some response. Also, married to a wonderful person who can not let anything go – nothing! He has multiples of every tool in the world. Sigh.
artistic ability of a spoon is not quite accurate, your just better at painting with words than with images. I hate making maps, because I hate drawing continents, so I just copied the world map and called it a day. GL