ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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The Trunk Is Open

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B. writes,

a) Is there a particular story you started, didn’t finish and would like to return to it, one day?
b) Any story you wrote and loved it but the agency didn’t want it? I’m imagining you have lots of treasures at home, kinda like Prince did with so much of his music.
c) Have any of you both thought of writing a whole book on your own? You work really well together and sometime I feel like I can pinpoint to who of you two wrote a particular *thing* (although I’m not very good at it and I ain’t hunting for it).

So basically you want access to the trunk, huh? 🙂

Trunk with light coming out

All writers have a trunk. Things that we put away. Most of the time they are put away for a reason. But okay, this once. Keep in mind that some of this is super old and the writing is crappy. How old is it? Some of it was written in Word Perfect and some of it has underlines instead of italics. It’s old and bad. None of it is finished. Read at your own risk.

Demon Thingie. UF. Dark and seriously weird. If you liked Alphas, this will probably be up your alley. Terrible, don’t read.

Emily. Old story about mutated humans and a girl with an enormous tank. SF. It just didn’t go anywhere. Also terrible.

Technomancer. Lighter fare, PNR, one of the Hidden Legacy’s precursers.  Got bored with it. Meh, not worth reading.

Here is Hunter Beware. SF/UF.  That book has serious structural problems. You will see that the chicken scene has been kind of recycled for Clean Sweep. Really bad, pass.

We like writing books together.

This post will be pulled down soon on account of some of this stuff being seriously embarrassing.

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Comments

  1. Unbelievable boost to my day. Way to make a crappy Monday better. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  2. I think that the world building you guys give us now is like the choicest cut of fruit from the platter. These are too imaginative to be an embarrassment. I like knowing that malcolm and paula and leigh were saved in clean sweep. More glimpses into awesome secondary characters please!

  6. ? Best Birthday Ever!!
    Thank you for a glimpse into the evolution of “Ilona Andrews”. ?

    You’re the best!!!

    • Since you mentioned it, I could see a lot of Dena, Sean, Officer Marias, the creepy nightmare creature… in the story “Hunter Beware”. It’s super cool. that something from your Writers Trunk was the inspiration for your best sellering Innkeeper series.

  7. I quite enjoyed the kinsmen novellas which I think were some of your earlier work.

  9. Oh man, seriously had me rolling just reading the descriptions. However, this is awesome! It gives aspiring authors hope that we always have room for improvement!

  10. Dang, I have to go to a meeting in 2 minutes and don’t have time to read any of these. I know they’ll disappear before I get to read them and the descriptions alone make me super curious.

    BTW, I have never read anything bad, really truly bad that you have written. Just saying.

    Have a happy day!

  11. Can you leave it up until tomorrow? I don’t have time to read it while at work.

    What does PNR mean? I got the other acronyms, but not that one.

  12. Thank you for letting other writers know that successful writing has had many steps behind it. The ideas may be there, but it takes practice.

  13. Hehehee I like that you guys try things and have enough self-awareness to know it is not for you, instead of forcing it.

    Yay Authorlords

  15. Now I want the rest of hunter beware! Structural problems may be evident but the topic/story is excellent …

  16. I don’t find this embarrassing, but I can see where it would bug a professional. I see these are exploratory snippets in the same way I write character snippets in the games I play. It brings the character to life for me. In your case, it’s a new story, character, or entire universe maybe, and it helps you to define it, grow it, and see if it will become something you can use. I LOVE seeing the ‘building’ process on books, games, movies, whatever, and I love that you’ve shared some of your exploratory snippets with us! Thank you! =)

  17. I liked Technomancer. Are you SURE you’re bored? I wanted more…perhaps you should reconsider?

    • Oh, yes! I’m dying to find out what happens next!! I got to the end and said, Noooooooo! You should totally put out a collection of short stories. I would buy it in a heartbeat. (like you have nothing else to work on, heh)

  18. Okay this is desperate and whiny but…

    Please please don’t take these down for a day or two because I don’t have time to read these until after work and I want to so bad like a junkie itching for a fix!

    Please!!!

  19. I love you guys. Because I love you and think you are perfection, I am not going to examine the contents of the “trunk”. 🙂

  20. Will there ever be a sequel to Alphas? I loved that world and it ended on such a cliffhanger.

  21. Thanks so much for sharing some of your trunk with us! Please don’t think of these as embarrassing because I’ve only read a little bit so far, and I’m really looking forward to reading the rest when I get home from work! I’m a bit of a musician in my spare time, and I’d like to think of these as equivalent to a few friends getting together to jam and improvise a bit, rather than to record an album for release. They might not be as polished as your current work, but they are still a lot of fun for us.

    Hope your hands and fingers are feeling better. Have a great week!

  24. OMG. Demon Thingie. 🙂 … I really enjoyed that one! She’ll come into her powers, kick demon ass… Darco. Thanks for showing these. The only way to get good at writing is to write after all!

    • Oh, man. It ended. I really want to know what happened.

      Personally, I think Gideon fused himself in the house. Although the chicken legs sounds more Baba Yaga and not very dignified. On the other hand, he was an asshat, so nothing is beneath his dignity.

      On to the other stories…

      • I liked Emily, too. That one has promise. Felt a bit like Edge to me, or at least the book on Lark’s family.

  25. Dear Author-lords,
    I haven’t had time to peruse the trunk. I wanted to share that I recently suggested your books to a long time friend (we typically do not read the same genre). I had turned her onto kindle unlimited and she had started reading other types of books and we were discussing the various writers and books that were well or not so well crafted. I suggested she might like E.Hunter and you guys. She has now sampled both…
    We must have talked on the phone for 3 hours about your writing prowess!!! She was amazed at your world building and Character development and the complex yet complete arc your books provide. Smart, creative and satisfying these words must have been repeated a dozen times in describing Inn Keeper and Legacy series. She hasn’t even start on Kate yet!
    It was so fun to talk with my friend and connect on such a fun subject. Pure joy! we now have a standing date to chat as she finishes each of your books. Of course we have other subject matter we can discuss as we have been friends for 40+ years but this has added another layer of conspiracy to our talks.
    Thank you for sharing your talents with all of us!

    • Right? It’s slightly killing me that it just stops there. It feels like a real story that needs an ending.

  27. Oh wow! Thank you! So … ahem … you know how your April Fools joke became a book? Well, ummm, if enough of us ask you to write the rest of Technomancer maybe …??

    Ok no more hinting – I need the rest of this book! I definitely see it as Nevada-Mad Rogans-esque and it needs the be completed! Please please please add it to your huge to-be-written pile. Take my money!!

  28. Just devoured Demon Thingy, adore it, wish we could have seen the chicken house rail it!

  29. Demon Thingie sounds familiar. It sounds a lot like the Costco scene in one of the Clean sweep books…

    • Yes and the witch Evdokia in Kate’s world.. her house was on chicken legs too… like the Slavic goddess Baba Yaga’s house

  30. Thanks for sharing. I know it can be difficult to post something that you’re not 100% satisfied with, but I appreciate a peak into the process!

    Also, loved Technomancer!

  32. I read demon thingy before having to turn in for the night. I actually really enjoyed it. I can see some great possibilities in it. Can see your amazing world building being born. I would definitely read this if you decided to finish it.?

  33. I admit that I’m greedy when it comes to your writing…I LOVED the glimpse you gave us!!

  34. I know you said you were bored and technomancer wasn’t going anywhere, but I liked it. Which makes sense if it’s a precurser to Hidden Legacy, because I also like Hidden Legacy.

  35. I know you are super busy with all of your series, but the Demon Thingie- it was awesome and I would totally read that.

  37. Just finished the first story. Yep, it’s terrible… terrible that it’s unfinished!

    You surely have your reasons to label it terrible, but your terrible is still so good it draws me in within a few sentences…

  38. You know, I wasn’t going to read any of them because you say they are meh, but then you said the post is embarrassing and will be taken down soon. Sooooooo, guess what my afternoon will be spent doing? ?

  40. Damn I read the first one and shouldn’t have cause now I just wanna know what happens. Prob won’t read the other ones cause your unfinished is better than a lot of finished out there

  41. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
    Time to reread Baba Yaga. 🙂
    P.S. Now I know I will never, ever shop at Sam’s.

  42. Couldn’t resist the temptation in reading one of them – not fair ….. now would like to know the middle & ending with ‘ Technomancer’. Not sure whether I should start the others 🙁

  43. Unreasonable me. “Ahhhh!!!!!!! But they must be finished. . . If only you could clone yourselves and write more. We must PERFECT CLONING AND BRAIN MAPPING! MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ”

    Reasonable me, that loves your current works and don’t want you to take a break from writing them “I love that you guys have a trunk. Thanks for all the hard work you guys do and here’s hoping the hands are continuing to heal.”

    • Guess I will just go reread the Hidden Legacy for the fix to keep me from obsessing about Techomancer. I love that series. I love all the series and the novella’s and the short stories and the snippets and the twitter and . . . everything.

      You guys have made my Monday. 🙂

  45. I thoroughly enjoyed these! I particularly enjoyed the family dynamics of Technomancer, and the “girl with an enormous tank” part of Emily, because what girl doesn’t want a giant tank at some point in her life?

  46. Thank you thank you thank you! I am looking forward to reading these tonight, but mostly I wanted to say I’m delighted you sound like you may be on the upswing and feeling better in terms of handling the dictating and the crazy painful inured hands and the negativity from some fans. I want to say you sound like you again, except that would be patronizing from someone who doesn’t know you and what you’ve been going through. So – I trust in your perceptiveness to divine the positive sentiment behind that thought. 🙂

  47. Read Demon Thingie very quickly because I was afraid you would take down the post. Arrrghghg . . . it didn’t have an ending! I can’t complain. It was work by you. Now to dip into the others. I like your work so much that I do mind the frustration of u finished work. Thank you so much for doing this,

    • Now I have read them all. I liked Demon Thingy and wanted more of the story. It was a bit confusing – probably because I read so quickly – but I enjoyed the story. I really liked Hunter Beware and would love to see more of it. I knew there would be no resolution, but I couldn’t help getting caught in the story. Maybe you can get a wood burning stove and put that one on the back burner.

      Again, thank you for giving us this glimpse into the possibilities in your writing. You are one of the few authors I can read over and over. Right now I am rererererere…rereading Magic Breaks. Thank you for all the hours of reading escape you have provided over the years.

  48. I enjoyed all of these but really wanted to know what happened next with Emily and Technomancer. I think I would happily read anything you want to write. Thanks for opening the trunk for us.

  49. OK.
    Your “terrible” is pretty wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
    I just read Demon Thingy, and loved it. I will read the rest.
    Please know that, your trash is others’ treasure. So glad you saved these diamonds in the rough, and decided to share.

  50. Aaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhh! Should not have read Technomancer, dammit! Now I want to know what happens next…

  51. Just read Hunter Beware, I liked the premise and did not think it was that bad. Just ended too soon. P.S. I am not any kind of writer or editor, just liked what you wrote.

        • +1
          You know you wouldnt even have to make them into full length novels? You could make up an anthology of sorts with these 4 stories the way you have with jim and dali? But this would be an anthology completely of your collection. Just an idea ??‍♀️Or choose two and put two stories in one book. Than have two different books.
          Am i even making sense? Lol

    • Please, Oh great and powerful AuthorLords, at least tell us where/how she got all the stuff? I really got caught up in this one.

      • Oops, sorry, I was referring to Demon Thingie. I haven’t worked my way down to Hunter Beware yet.

      • She was taken as a child into the alien world and brought up there with extensive training and body modifications.

        • Just finished all of them and I really liked the basic stories of each one. I have been reading for over 50 years so I like stories that do not seem like I have read them before, these don’t feel like stories I have already read. So great job, even if you see the flaws glaring at you.

          • Pete i agree with you! Not on the 50 years but on reading something different. So far ive only been able to finish one??‍♀️ But i really enjoyed emily id like to see how that plays out ? i know you guys are seriously busy and i am just a speck but if you ever run out of shit to do id read it ??

  54. Oh my.. Poor Emma.. Wonder how she’s going to get herself out of the Hammer’s house.

    Thanks for sharing.

      • I also loved Technomancer! I’m looking forward to the continuation of Hidden Legacy since I love PNR.

  55. I just read Hunter Beware, and want to know more… Now I am scared to read the others and leave myself in a state of dissatisfaction because I won’t know the full journey. Poo!

  56. Ok. It’s official. You REALLY can write anything and I’d gobble it up. I know you prefaced these works as old and bad, yet it still has the elements that make you amazing authors. Sure it’s old so I can see the growth and skill you’ve learned from your published books that takes time. I can also honestly say that I’ve read other old works by famous authors and would not have guessed they wrote it, it was that bad. You always get me to care enough about the characters and the motivations to keep me reading. It’s really a rare author that can imbue heart in so little words. Thanks for giving us a peek and making yourself vulnerable at the same time. Looking forward to the next arc in your career!

  57. Actually Hunter Beware is pretty good. However, having read it with no ending, I am now suffering…

  58. Technomaster was the best!. Really liked Hunter as well. Would really like to learn rest of Technomaster story, please.

  61. I really liked Technomancer! I’m not holding my breath, but I’m hoping you’ll decide to finish it.

  62. Read the comments before I read any of your offerings. I had a feeling I and others think more of your work. I think that’s why we are so obsessed with Innkeeper. It shows that we are because of the positive and negative comments you get. (Just positive from me) You are just that good at writing. Even what you consider bad we know as quality writing. Now to go back and read. Thank you from all of us bdh.

  63. A R C H I V E D! Ha!

    For those dim restless days, when i don’t want to re-read a book, cause then i’ll just binge on the series. All of them in a row and get all caught up in your worlds then get super BUMMED cause i still have to wait 4 hours 18 minutes and some insufferable amount of seconds . . .
    For the next book tobe released.

    Don’t be acting all innocent bdh’ers know. I am so saving this

  64. Thank you for sharing the contents of your “trunk.” I would love to see any and/or all of the stories (Hunter Beware, Technomancer, Emily, Demon Thinie) be fleshed out. Perhaps it’s because I love your writing style or just because the essential story line is fun.

  65. Every single story had a great hook and clever writing; I’m another fan who thinks your standards are too dammed high, lol.

  66. Showing the world your most embarrassing creations. THAT is self confidence. You must be feeling really good at the moment (apart from your fingers).

  67. If you ever decide to play with any of these again, I’d dearly love to read the result(s).
    Interesting premise on every one…

  68. I really tried to resist and then I went and had to peek in the trunk with the result – – – I was hooked!
    As some of the comments showed there was a kind of hinting what you might overthink to finish up (when you get bored at some time in the future), I like to give my opinion, too (by the way, up to now I haven’t read anything from you, oh great AL, I didn’t like):
    Sorry, but “Demon Thingie” isn’t my story. Well written, but I couldn’t get into it.
    Therefore I like “Emily” a lot and would love it if it was complete. It got my fantasy running, plotting quite some “storybooks” to fill the open end.
    With “Technomancer” I immediately was in the HL-world. I definitely could see it as an off spin or something to the main story.
    “Hunter Beware” is ok, but your newer stories are better …

  71. Your talent shines thru all four even though they are not polished or fleshed out! When I reached each the end of all four they left me wanting more.

    Relax, enjoy yourself, and get well, the BDH needs you!

  72. I’d buy and read everyone of those if they became a book or novella. You sell yourselves short.

  73. Yeah for the vault, that was fun. Loved Technomancer, if you ever have some extra time ( ha, like you ever have any of that) I’d love more of it. Thanks for sharing!

  74. I’ve made it through the first two so far and loved them both. If you ever want to finish them I would be happy to buy them and I’m sure I will feel the same about the last two.

    • I finished the other two late last night. I loved all 4 and would totally buy all of them if you ever decide to finish them. The things I love most about your work are the world building and the characters. You create such interesting worlds! And I really wanted to know more about these worlds especially Emily and Hunter Beware. I wanted to know more about the mutated people and how they are dealing with their post apocalyptic world. I wanted to know more about how these two underdogs were going to make it work and how Trouble fit in. Why is it called Emily? There were no characters named Emily. Is it someone we haven’t met yet? I wanted to know more about the barrier and the aliens and the war that is going on. I wanted to know more about Lera who is obviously more than she seems. I wanted to see how things developed with Julia and Darco in Demon Thingie. I wanted to see her learn to harness all the power everyone says she has and take back control of her life. I was least interested in Technomancer just because it was so similar to Hidden Legacy and the others felt a little more unique, but even still I would be happy to buy it if you did flesh it out because I do love the world of Hidden Legacy. With some tweaking it could be an unconnected spin off like you did with Retribution Clause. Or you could leave it more as is and it could be just a similar world like Of Swine and Roses. As a creative person myself I understand that we are often hardest on ourselves but while these might not be up to your standards I feel like every single one of them has the potential to be great. Don’t be too hard on yourselves! Thank you for this peak into your trunk.

  75. After reading Emily, my brain went into “at the end of an old soap opera announcer voice” and thought the following:

    Will Emily escape the Hammer house?
    What was the item Nicholas steal?
    Will Hammer eventually fall for Emily and vice versa?
    Tune in next for the further adventures of Emily!

    Technomancer, as I mentioned in another post, to me is a mashup between Kate and Nevada. When I read about the tank, I thought ” where’s Grandma Freida?!”

    Both stories have lots of potential. Something to think about for future stories/ series. ?

    • I just read Hunter Beware. It reminds me of a combination of the Edge and Innkeeper series (more Edge than Innkeeper).

      Demon Thingy I tried to read yesterday but the way it is written, I couldn’t get into it.

  77. Thumbs up for theDemon Thingie, reallly wanted to se what happens to Julie. I like the dark aspect of it!

  78. I can definitely see the links between these stories and Innkeeper and Hidden Legacy. But it would still be cool if you’d finish these stories!!
    Though not at the expense of your health, happiness, or sanity!

  80. I knew these were trouble when I clicked through. Just leave me here, wanting more.
    Imma go start re-reading Kate.

  81. I’d gobble down a biopsy report by you two, so I like all of these literary dust bunnies!

  82. Please do not take these down anytime soon!!!! I am in the middle of moving into our house and can only take short breaks so it will take me a bit to get thru them. All of your stories are wonderful entertaining reads. These will certainly brighten my days when I am too tired to unpack anymore. Who thought closets could hold so much stuff???

  83. That moment when you realize that the Authorlords’ self-named embarrassing work is better than anything you’ve read lately by anyone else.

    All hail the Authorlords.

    • Sadly, it is true.. either my standars were too particular or I’m already attuned too much to IA’s writing. I’m not entirely sure…

  84. I enjoyed all of them. Great charachters and terrific fantasy worlds. Fun! Thanks ❤️

  85. Okay, also I liked Hunter Beware and Technomaster, but can definitely see comparisons of the Technomaster and Nevada/Rogan’s story. But I agree with everyone else, I’d pretty much read whatever you wrote and be happy with it!

  87. Ok, you shot yourself in the foot again. Much like you did with The Warlord’s Bride (iirc) and that was just published as Iron and Magic, Iron Covenant #1. There are still 2 more to go. The only thing missing from these stories were satisfactory endings.

    I’d very much like to read more of them, even if they’d only ever be one-offs and not serialized. I would agree that your writing has improved over the years- good to start with and better now. I’d have said great but figure you would naysay that. Think of what you could do with any one or all of these now? Something maybe to toy around with when you’re having difficulties with something else, even, yeah? Wouldn’t that be awesome? I definitely think that would be great. Also thinking that I’m not alone in my thoughts.

    Anyway, thanks for the peak behind the curtain (you teaser, you!) and best wishes for your continued recovery. Hope you & Gordon have a great R&R before going on tour. Safe travels.

    PS: for the record, I don’t ever want you and Gordon not to write together as I believe you each bring out the best in the other.

  88. I would call myself dumbfounded at how much I like your “bad” stuff except you people have yet to write anything I haven’t liked….

  89. Just read Demon Thingie and am suffering from a bad case of “but…but – WHERE’S THE REST OF IT?” Gahhh, now I’ll never know where the hamburgers came from.

  91. ARG!!! I told myself I shouldn’t read them. That of you were saying to not read them I shouldn’t. But I was intrigued by a precursor to Hidden Legacy. And now I want the rest of the story! How does he react when he finds out her father doesn’t care? Does work think she disappeared and called the police, or does it end up looking even more like she is a gold digger? Will she have a job to come back to? And why do you love having girls kidnapped by powerful men?!

    And work of all, I will most likely never know the answers to these questions.

  92. In my humble opinion, I think you made the right decisions to leave those incomplete worlds in your trunk. Consider this voracious reader totally in favor of putting all YOUR talent/effort into expanding the Hidden Legacy and Kate/Hugh universes.

    Frankly, I follow a few authors who started new series without finishing the old and with the exception of Nalini Singh, the quality in writing dropped considerably.

  93. That was fun! I didn’t like them all, but the stories all had interesting ideas. Loved Technomancer and Demon Thingie, even if DT is darker than I usually like. Thank you!

  94. Technomancer really drew me in and I would love to see it finished. This sentence was absolutely gorgeous: “Weeping willows lined the river’s banks, dripping their long thin branches to the river like a group of lithe women come to wash their hair in the clear water.” Actually that whole paragraph is beautiful.

  95. Please keep these stories up for a few days. I finished demon thingy but have to go to bed now to work in the morning. I liked it very much. I see a lot of elements you used in your future work and had a lot of fun reading it. I’m sorry it ended. Thank you for the gift of your early work. Your terrible was so much better than a lot of stuff I have read recently. Again thank you and I can’t wait to finish the rest of the stories

  96. LOL But they are such fun! If I can suspend disbelief, I can suspend my internal editor.

  100. I just read demon thingie. I liked it and wish you would write more and finish it. I think it would make a really good book.

  101. If there’s not going to be more of these, i may regret reading them. Maybe not.. I don’t know for sure.

    • Ok Demon Thingie was good and Emily I absolutely love. The “Emily” plot is super interesting would love to see a book on this theme. Off to read the next two.

  102. Okay, it’s official, I will read and love anything y’all write. I loved, loved, loved Technomancer!

  103. I’m reading demon thingie and I’m impressed by how …fun… things can get when not burdened with usual notions of human civility and decency. Also, yes, n-thing the “yes, I will read anything you write, it is official”.

  104. I enjoyed reading each one of your trunk stories. Unfortunately, I now want to read the rest of the stories…

  105. Technomancer: “Hell will sprout roses first.” I think I love that line. Starting to see a Hanes theme here… Noooo!!! Why stop with the shower scene! (cries).

    Demon Thingy: This was cute, all-in-all it was pretty funny. I would love to find out how she got the ‘stuff’ (I keep imagining Baba Yagas House at Wendy’s drive-through window or parked in Walmart’s parking lot while she shopped) and what happens in the rest of the story.

    Emily: This was good.

    Hunter Beware: This was alright, has me curious.

    Thank you for sharing, hope that at some point you find something in the trunk of enough interest to go back to and finish.

  106. I really liked Technomancer too. Like Demon Thingie I would like to see you finish it. I would definitely buy both of them.

  108. Would buy the rest of Demon Thingy in a split second. I NEED to know what happens next.
    Off the read the rest.

  109. I would have no trouble reading any of them. But it’s really up to you guys. Demon Thingie was the one that I really didn’t want to end followed by Emily, then Hunter then Technomancer. Your dross is better than some others gold.

  110. Some of them lacked the polish of your published work, but I still really enjoyed them. I wish you’d gotten farther with the Emily story. I think that one was my favorite. Most of them seem to almost be prototypes for your more recent books so it’s unlikely you’ll ever finish them, but a girl can dream.

  111. Anyone else think that if Ilona and Gordon wrote the phone book, we’d enjoy it and probably pay to own it?

  113. Lol. Your “terrible, don’t read” has me up at 1:20 am. Still 85% better than what is on offer anywhere else. You two are just awesome.
    I liked Demon Thingy. ?

  114. Your “don’t read” for me is about as realistic as “do not touch” is to a 3 year old. I already had them open in new tabs before I got through the blurbs. Haven’t you realized the power you hold in your beautiful minds yet? Experience has shown that if you write it, I will read it, and I will love it. It’s getting to the point where I actually believe if you wrote a higher math book, I’d be enthralled.

    Thank you for cracking open your trunk to us. Sharing things you’re not satisfied with had to be hard. It made my day, though, and I sincerely appreciated the chance to read more from you, finished, polished, or not. You’re the absolute best!

  116. As always you deliver. I am now so curious how all your trunk stories end. None of them were horrible.!!

    You should finish these. Please please please.

  117. Read them all. Just could not stop myself. Why don’t you start reworking on them all? If not all, I would personally want to read the finish of Emily and Hunter Beware. They can be single stories, or you can churn out multiple books for the Hunter series.

    P.S. – Enjoy your time off.

  118. OK, let’s See.
    I looked at my trunk and let me tell you, i could not even create a regular old wood.
    You are fantastic.
    And now i want to own a tank and give the devil some gardening tools.
    Emily and technomancer.
    Hopefully until next April fools.
    If not oft to reread.
    Thank you

  120. Technomancer was interesting but you were right, it can’t compare to the Sweep series or your other books for that matter.

  121. Have only read hunter beware so far and love it, want to know what happens next, is veleri/lera a Pressian somehow (like body snatchers)
    Will read the others later so my head doesn’t explode from all the unanswered questions that will befall me.
    Unfinished stories, sigh, sad but still so happy

  123. Aaaaaaargh!!! Just finished Demon Thingie: where is the rest?!
    I understand not being completely satisfied with your own work, I’m the same, but obvioulsy you haven’t read some of the really bad narrative published out there. That still some readers appreciate.
    This was compelling. It kept me hooked from start to finish, interesting worldbuilding and characters, as in your beloved published series.
    Now going to copy and save the other ones for later reading, before they disappear back in the magical trunk: hope it will be reopened sometime in the near future =)

    • That’s the first thing I did after reading Demon Thingie (which I loved and want more of). I copied and pasted all the stories too. Just in case they disappear into the trunk again!
      I’d love to see them finished as novellas and put into an anthology.

  124. Loved them all and like others have said, I can see the forerunners of what we have in Innkeepers & HL. I know they need polishing in the best IA way but I still loved them and would pay good, shiny money to read the endings, even if they were only novella length.

    Of course, I know you don’t have the time in the forseeable future, but as long as they stay in the Trunk you can always go back and have another look later.

    Hope your fingers are getting better, and thank you for the privilege of reading these cast-offs that for any other author would be a major work. Your standards are high! And we love you both for it.

  125. They were fun to read – your things are always a good read, even if they are abandoned early drafts.

    A lot of your published work is 1st person POV, so it is nice to read more on 3rd person, especially with multiple POVs.

    I would especially love if you wrote a novel with half a dozen POVs… your characters are usually great, but we usually end up knowing them only from the main character perspective.

  126. Loved Technomancer!! I would buy it!!! Shame it is not finished – good reading and love those characters 🙂 Demon thingie also good for both those stories it would be great to see the ending!!

    OK, and now reading the remaining stories 😉 fun, fun

  128. Why did I even read Technomancer? Now I just wished it was an actual book and I could read it all. It was definetely worth reading… Well, I’ll keep my finger crossed hoping for it to find the light (which in this case is my kindle).

  129. OK. Read it all. Technomancer is definitly my no. 1 😉 Then Emily (Trouble!) nad then Deamon thingy…need more 😉 greedy me 🙂

    Thank You for sharing! This was a treat!

  130. Finished all fragments. Ilona’s definition of “terrible”, “meh”, “boring”, “embarrassing” needs serious work.

    Each fragment pulled me in within a few sentences. I probably liked Technomancer best; I can see where some ideas went into hidden legacy.
    Or into Inkeeper from the last story.

    So thank you for letting us look into your trunk. And curse you for not putting an insanity warning on it. 😉 (Makes us care about characters that will never get their story finished, argh!)

    • Wholeheartedly agree on the last paragraph. I want Julia to kick ass, even Darco’s possibly hot ass! Not over him going all I-want-the-power-although-I-need-to-kill-you-first-for-it!

  131. I thought Alpha was a great tease, but this… this demon thingie is downright robbery! I’m so lost reading it. So many questions, so many anticipations, so many ‘how?’ ‘what if?’ And ‘what the!’ situations I feel like as I read each paragraph, the story clawed its way to my heart. Taking root and won’t ever let go of the hold it has over my mind. I haven’t even read the other stories in the trunk yet but I’m already and thoroughly hooked. Please author, please please return my sanity! *cry*

    it was that good.

  132. Do you really expect us to not read anything you wrote : ) i will buy the books, if you finish and publish those.

  133. I think demon thingie was awesome. If you finished that I would pay for it.
    I was like nooo. Where is the ending.

    Awesome awesome.

    Thank you

  134. Finished technomancer and the demon thingie.Both were awesome!!
    Now I’m curious about how they would end

  136. I dont know if its because i love your writing, but i seriously think that Demon thingie was great.

  137. It is said that Emily is an old story, but the concept it brought when I first read seemes fresh to me! If I can, I want to know more about the gray in pirate suit or whatever suit Iris can get him on! Woohoo!

  138. I really liked all of them. There is definitely NOTHING to be embarrassed about in any of them. I would absolutely read more!! Neat to see the glimmers of where some ideas started…

  140. Thank you for opening up your trunk for us..please, can we, one day, get the full stories? Hope your fingers are recovering well. A national treasure they are!

  142. Dear me, I have died and been revived as many as the draft stories I read tonight from my favorite author’s trunk. I feel like a phoenox now. Yep, a phoenix.

    One word. Technomancer.

    (Each story has its own flavor. Demon Thingie is the spicy noodle I love to eat although my tongue is pretty sensitive to heat and will often tear up when eating spicy things. I will still eat it several times though on occasion.

    Emily is like the eclairs I rarely had a chance to eat but once I got my hands on it, I will savor the taste in my mouth for as long as I can.

    From outside, Tehcnomancer looks like the yellow sponge cake I love to eat because the cake literally melt in my mouth. But once I try to chew it, a burst of dark chocolate suddenly met my tongue, coming from inside the cake that should’t have any filling (but always remained very delicious anyway!). I couldn’t help but gasp in suprise and in delight before having the next and last bite within seconds.

    Hunter Beware is like a creme brulee. At first glance I thought I might not like the taste but once I got a small taste of it, I literally asked for a second, a third, and the rest is history.

    They are all very yummy and I’m suddenly getting hungry

    • Ok I’ve now finished all of them. Technomancer was my favorite, followed by Emily, then Demon thingy, then hunter.
      Any hope getting the first two completed.
      Love all of your work and would pay for any of them.

  144. No, no, no I shouldn’t have read those because now I want the endings to ALL of them!!! You may not think they’re any good but I think they’re great!!!

  145. I read and enjoyed all of these, I can see the evolution in your writing and the relationship between your trunk stories (in jewelry/beadwork we call them UFOs -Unfinished Objects) and both the Hidden Legacy series and Innkeeper. I’d love to see you work out the endings of all of these stories, particularly the “Demon thingie” and
    Emily but understand why you wouldn’t want to revisit.

  146. I’ve read the trunk stories, thank you for sharing. I loved Technomancer & Demon Thingie specially. I’ll love to read more someday if you are interested to continue with them ?☺

  147. Thank you.

    I loved Emily and Technomancer and would love to read more – Demon Thingy, interesting – not sure how you get them out of that one!

    How about putting them in the free (unfinished) fiction pile?

    But as usual, you write it, I’ll read it 🙂

  148. At the same time I admire, from the reader’s perspective, your willingness to share this, as an author myself with a trunk, I think you’re absolutely nuts to share this. If you didn’t finish it, there were good reasons, and now you’re opening yourselves up to “want, more, give!” *Shakes head* You are far braver than I.

  149. I loved them too. I don’t know if it says more about your writing, that it’s wonderful and engaging even when you think it’s terrible; or more about your readers, that we love your worst work?

  151. Please finish these. As bad as you think they are, they entertain. Some pieces of all your worlds are in them and I find all of them interesting.

      • I loved them! Thank you so much for sharing. Though I admit I was crushed to see they were incomplete. I literally scrolled down the page and looked for a way to advance the story!!
        Still loved them!!

  153. I’m hooked. I realize you don’t think they’re up to snuff. But I disagree and am dying to know how each story ends.

  154. Search Results for: Thank you for the peek into your trunk. I enjoyed the Demon Thingie, would love to see all of them as a novella. Love your writing!

  155. OK so they may need just a teensy bit of spit and polish but I enjoyed all of them. In order of personal preference: Demon Thingy, Hunter Beware, Emily, & Technomaster. Technomaster is obviously a precursor to HL and although I enjoyed it in my head the story is finished because of HL. I can see how Demon Thingy would be a bit dark for a lot of readers but if you’re ever bored (lol) it would be great to get Hunter Beware and Emily finished!

    Thanks for opening up the trunk and sharing the treasure with us!

  156. I know your hands are in terrible shape right now, but can you please tell us how these stories end? Just in short.. like in a line, or a paragraph if a line is not enough. They’re interesting, especially Hunter Beware and Technomancer. But don’t do it if it would be a strain. Your health is way more important. Thanks for sharing these anyway. 🙂

  157. Even your slush pile beats so much of what is on the market these days. Any crumbs of fiction are much appreciated.

    • I agree there. If they would finish those books as short stories maybe? I would be thrilled to pay for them. I enjoyed them and now wish that I hadn’t read them. Because I will never get to see how the stories end.

      • As others have said- of this is your worst- it’s still so much better then a lot of the stuff out there.
        As someone else pointed out- can see bits of your current work throughout. Would live to find out what happens next for all of these… You’ve provided scraps of prime rib/baked cheesecake/addiction of choice to the BDH with these snippets of past work.

        I hope your hands are getting better quickly.

  158. Joining the chorus of people who want more Technomancer. But not if it gets in the way of your current projects!

  159. You have no idea how reassuring it was to read the Technomancer. I’ve read of Swine and Roses, of course, and all the Kinsmen novella (I picture it as either the future of Hidden Legacy, or an alternative universe spinning off like Leon’s rubberband homework), so I can squint and see the source of the glory that is HL. But this? It’s good, but it’s clearly an earlier work, and give me courage, as a writer, to abandon and go at it from a different angle. Maybe I’ll never finish a story. But at least I can sort of see what, for you, was worth abandoning and what was worth “die die die” finishing.

    How do you make that decision?

  160. I’d love to read more of “Emily” and “Technomancer”. I’d buy those books!

  162. i love the modern baba yaga version….. the stories are intriguing as always… is there a chance that you might fit the right parts into inkeeper dor example… i do so love the big footprint!

  163. First I want to tell you how amazing your imaginations are. To be able to come up with all these different worlds… I’m impressed beyond belief.
    Second I don’t know whether to Thank You or curse you. I really enjoy your writing and your very good at making your characters come alive. Now I’ll have them running around in my head, trying to find an ending. I had the same problem when you were giving writing tips and started a little red story.
    I think I have to thank you though. Your stories are wonderful and I love reading just about anything you write.

  164. I truly enjoyed them all, and now they’re in my head and I really need the stories to be completed….please, please, please–worked for Hugh (lol).

    Okay BDH, y’all know what we need to do.

  165. I loved the demon-thingie, even in rough draft!

    See, even when y’all think it sucks… it doesn’t 😉

  166. I really really need to know what happens next with Demon Thingie and Techomancer!!!!!

    🙂

  168. Wow guys, you are seriously awesome!
    As a proud member of Book Devouring Horde I can tell you that your “trash” is better than 98% of “treasures” out there.
    If you decide to finish and sell those stories together or separately, I am buying all of them!

  169. Should have never started reading them because now I want to know where they would have gone 🙁
    Your guy’s writing style always grabs me and leaves me on the edge of my seat. So even what you consider your bad writing/stories are better that most other writers I have read. 🙂 I love it all <3

  172. Even the stories you don’t like have interesting, three-dimensional characters and intriguing concepts.

    Thank you for sharing eith us.

  173. ermahgerd, I want to read all of these as actual stories! Why are y’all so talented?!?!

  174. I’m with everyone else here, these are great beginnings! Were these just snippets or was this all you wrote before putting it aside? I really want to know how they all end. Your writing skills are just fantastic. I was immediately sucked into each story and hated that they abruptly ended. (And you call these trash??? LOL)

  175. You (collectively, I guess, as a writing team) have an enchanting and compelling voice. Looking for something to read, I look for a door that opens into a world I can’t resist, and you guys create that door every time, with whatever you write, even when it’s flawed. It’s amazing. I’m so glad you like writing, please keep on!
    These were certainly flawed, but every one, in it’s own way, was magic.

  176. I hope you waxed your website before opening the trunk, because now it’s definitely got drool all over it. Brave if you to show us some abandoned plot bunnies, knowing how the Horde begs and drools when it catches a glimpse of a potential plot bunny.

    I am particularly intrigued by the second one, with the girls out hunting the mutant creatures.

  177. They are awesome! And need endings badly!

    I especially like Emily and the Demon thingie.
    Technomancer was good too, but that one feels to much like a first pass at hidden legacy. Although i wouldn’t mind knowing if her father sacrifices her for ger brother. I’m weird like that.

  178. Thank you for sharing. I am not going to read them(At your suggestion) but it encourages us fledgling to keep at it.

    Peace,

  179. So — wow?!? I feel so engaged to all four of them despite their disparaging intro. I would buy any of those should they be finished.

  180. OMG, I wish you wouldn’t close the lid on this trunk! Every story, even the ones you both seem unfit, are amazing as always. MORE PLEASE.. Endings welcome ??

  181. Not sure if this was asked or answered- why is the story Emily titled the way it is? Did I miss something. Going back to read all of them again ?

  182. The trunk is a little treasure trove! Don’t take it down. 🙂

    PS- I am in OKC today and drove past a billboard for a yarn place in Norman that says they have 2,100 varieties of yarn! Made me think of you straight away. LOL

  183. I must say that I enjoyed all of the stories and hated for them to end. I think about what the rest of the story might be. You are excellent at what you do.

  184. Enjoyed the bits and pieces. Would love to read more of Technomancer!! It thought it was great. Just getting to a good part and got left hanging ……… !! Good job. Ya’ll are awesome storytellers!! Thanks for sharing.

  186. Alphas was ok but but didn’t really do it for me so no surprise Demon Thingy was the same. Plus couldn’t get invested in main character so didn’t bother finishing story.
    Emily was ok and had a nice getting started vibe tho my rational side was asking how the bleep they were supposedly maintaining their tech and food base if the rest of the world was poison?
    Technomancer was definitely my favorite & got the most hook in me for wanting to know what happened next?!?!
    And Hunter Beware seemed like a more tech-y version of Demon Thingy with a dash of military fiction. The point of view switches were not doing it for me, tho. Not as good as Technomancer, maybe on par or better than Emily if the “structural issues” were fixed….

  187. Somehow I am not surprised that your ‘junk’ is better than so many other authors and was eagerly devoured.

  188. I read them all and would definitely buy and read them all if you decided to make them more than just trunk stories. Technomancer was my favorite though ?

  189. Thanks for letting us take a peek into the trunk! I kind of loved Demon Thingie. For Technomancer, my first thought was, “Ugh. This guy is a complete jerk. They can never redeem him.” Then I remembered Hugh…

    • Even the beloved Rogan had a wee kidnapping issue initially 😛 I always find it weird when people with crazy amounts of power (be it supernatural/fantasy or standard money/influence) behave all regular degular for no reason. I find that harder to suspend disbelief over than magic.

  190. Wow, I would buy all 4 of them, especially TechnoMancer. I’m w/everyone else and would love to know how they end!
    Thank you.

  191. Thank you for opening your trunk and letting us rummage around in it. Such fun to play with the stories and to see how some scenes evolved in later books. You’re very generous to share your attic with us.

  192. Oh man, Emily was great! Hope posting it and hearing all the excited feedback makes it catch your interest again! I would 100% buy and devour that novel (series?)

  193. Even your cast-off stories are better than some published books :D. Technomage was entertaining but looking into the future of the story I can see why you put it up. I could see Emily developing interestingly though, I’d enjoy reading more of that. I wonder if she might end up with the gray actually, and wouldn’t it be interesting if Trouble was actually a gray as well? It would sorry if match his Effect. I also wonder why it’s called Emily 🙂 If you write more on this theme I’d buy it 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!! It was super fun! And I feel better knowing that even great authors have a Trunk 🙂

    • How about the cartoon character Emily the Strange?
      Very popular some years ago.

      My kid just found her old Emily wallet with a big fist and the title ‘Fight! Like a girl.’

  194. Yep read the first one and quite enjoyed it, only to realize that it is unfinished. Want to read the others as everyone is raving but also know that they are unfinished. Argh! Indecision! “What do I do? What do I do?” Runs in circles.

  195. As roughs go these are great! Big fan of the Baba Yaga House scene. The world builing is dark on an incredibly visceral level, with intriguing concepts of animation. I can see touches of Gertrude Hunt in the interactions between Julia and the house, or pancakes and the car. I would freaking love to see how it all plays out!

  196. I really enjoyed these! Especially since the protagonists have such strong characters, whether they are “good”, “bad”, or in between at the moment. The stories just such you in, and I want to find out what happens next……

    You guys are awesome and I await your next story!

  197. Even unfinished, these are great! I would love to read more Emily and Technomancer if you ever decide to pick them up again. Thank you so much for sharing!

  198. Seriously!!! Am I an idiot?!? I really like all of them. What is wrong with them other than they are not finished? Of course now I want to know what happens with these characters, so that is the downside to reading your castoffs. Are you pulling that model trick where you say my legs are too long.

  199. It is your work and you have to be happy with it. But… we are the BDH, and by definition adore what you do. We appreciate you opening the trunk for fun! I too would love more of the stories… you just have a great way with characters. And frankly, the fact I got to read the beginning of a story with the work f*@#tard in it will make me smile for days. Yes, I am an uncultured oaf but… it still makes me smile.

  200. Thank you very much for sharing this with us. It was amazing to feel your ability to instil life to the worlds you create even in this fledgling stage. I love that your stories always include humor.
    Demon thingy is interesting, but the plot would get convoluted and difficult to untangle the further it went. There would hardly be a satisfactory romance and resolution in it.
    I want to read more of Emily, but Aby needs a better motivation or a longer time to think herself into returning to her old life. Loved “Died in childbirth”.
    Technomancer is so similar to Hidden Legacy and at the way it was going it wouldn’t end up anywhere good.
    Hunter beware was soooo much like one of the Edge novels it made my nostalgic.

  201. Loved all of them! Demon thingy the most. I do hope you revisit them and find a way to give us an ending to these stories. I read a lot and your rejects are better by far than a lot of published product out there.

    • +1 YES PLEASE “MORE PLEASE” ?
      I’m reading them on Friday 13th – it’s not April 1st … but close enough ?

    • Just my thoughts. I too read a lot and this is better than a lot of published stuff. There is a reason Ilona Andrews is my favourite author ?

    • I AGREE!!!, they are great. i also found the KINSMAN books. i bought book 2on amazon and had to go trolling for book one. if you have time can you revisit those. i understand they were novellas. you can do them like THE edge books. this is just a request because i enjoyed them so. please dont take offence.

  202. NOOOOO!!! Don’t throw them away!!! These first drafts are darn enjoyable. I do hope you revisit them and expand on some of them at some point.

    Darco especially.

  203. I’ve read all of them now and enjoyed them! Thanks for letting us peek in your trunk.

  205. Ok ok you are right. Not as good as the GOOD stuff, but I still found myself hunting for one more page. Face it, you are stuck with the horde.

    • Truly. A charming glimpse into the development of Ilona and Gordon as writers. So many characters, situations, and descriptions that subsequently made their way into the published stories we know and love, and valuable for that alone. 🙂

  206. I agree with others. While not as polished as your published work they are much better than stuff published by a lot of other authors. If you ever decided to finish them it would be awesome! It could be An Anthology of Rejects. Lol.

    • Agreed on all counts. It’s interesting that your worst stories are the caliber of most authors’ best. Don’t be too hard on yourselves. Just because it didn’t make your cut doesn’t mean it’s not still good.

      I can see how Demon Thingy would be hard to finish, though still enjoyable.

      Emily/Any left me wanting more. Very interesting. Seems like a lot of possibility there. I would really love to see how this developes. My favorite of the four!

      Technomancer…. Easy to see the parallels to Hidden Legacy. Made it fondly familiar. Of course, would love to read more.

      Hunter Beware was very interesting. There were too many different characters’ POV for my taste, but an intriguing world. I want to know more about this blond woman and her situation.

      Thank you for sharing your trunk with us! I know it can be challenging to let others see your less than perfect products. But, 1) they were very fun stories that left me wanting more. And 2) it’s nice to have some insight into the process; to know that not everything becomes gold.

      Thank you!

  207. I actually liked some of these stories. Especially demon thingy. Gideon must be one of the (if not the) darkest character you have ever written. He wasn’t even really in the story and I hated him more than any other villain in your books. Turning demon thingy into a romance would never have worked tho.
    Hunter beware was a close second. I am dying to know why Hammond was relieved by his wife’s death. There is a story there.
    What I really appreciated was seeing the starting point of some of your stories, worlds and characters. I always get frustrated with some of the stories I write and then chuck them in the bin. This has made me think I should maybe keep them and rework certain aspects into new directions.
    As always, thank you for the great stories you tell. You guys have given me hours of entertainment. Best of luck with your health and the very busy time you have ahead! 🙂

  208. I adored technomancer and was sad it was so short. This is a book I would buy. Thanks for the glimpse into the trunk.

  210. Please leave up this post. I really enjoyed these stories.

    Technomancer felt like some of the Kinsmen stories. If you ever decide to revisit, we’d be interested.

  211. I’ve been looking for a new series/author to read while I wait for the new releases from the very very small list of authors I follow (with you guys being at the top of the list) and so far the stuff in the Trunk has surpassed anything and everything I’ve tried!!!! Im already invested in All the characters and their universes and I’m already mourning the thought that I won’t know what happens next!!

  212. I now have 4 new books I want to read the end of. I want to know what happens with Draco and Julia, how do they escape.
    Why is the second story named Emily when the girls name is Abby?
    How does Emma get away from “Mullet” – who kind of reminds me of Curran?
    I Need answers!!!!

  213. Thanks. Loved the writings – especially Technomancer. I would love to read the full story. It has such a promising beginning.

  214. These were so incredibly enjoyable! Yes, as an artist I doubt you’ll never be proud of them, but “Emily”, in particular, was a wonderfully fun idea. These “terrible” stories are the level of writing that many amateurs can only wish to achieve. Thank you for opening the trunk (of dooooooom) to delight and inspire all of us. You’re awesome!

  216. Loved them all. Can see hints of other characters in them. Would like to see them finished but know that there is not enough time to write everything the BDH would like. Only one question, who is Emily, the tank maybe???

  217. Thanks so much for letting us peek into your trunk. Like a lot of folks have already said your rejects are better than a lot of stories I’ve read. Always amazes me how you world build and pull me in in just a few pages.

  218. Your rejects are better than most people’s published books. If you ever decide to revisit any of them I know I am not the only one who would happily buy the book. Thank you for sharing.

  219. Wow, thank you so much for sharing. It is a lot better than a lot of stuff currently selling out there.

    • Sad about not being able to read more of it, and that I have to wildly speculate about the endings.

  220. I know you said these were terrible but they have their hooks in me, especially Demon Thingie and Hunter Beware. I want more of the story. Your writing is so wonderfully built, it draws me in and keeps me reading, long past when I should be sleeping!

  221. Emily would be a fun series of adventures. Quick short stories or novellas of her life in the zone. I also really loved the main character in Technomancer and would love it if you finished it. It could be another novella series like Kinsman. 🙂

  223. your trunk of rejects is better than most of the books I’ve read this year 😛 Technomancer was my fave, I’d buy the rest of it.

    thank you for cracking open the vault for us!

  224. Thanks for the visit to your ‘trunk’ some interesting mini stories
    I especially liked ‘Emily’ and ‘Technomancer’ – can see why it led to ‘the hidden legacy’ series but I sense there is a definite ‘novella’ here if you so wished and ‘Emily’ would be interesting as a series of novellas – so if you ever get bored after your recovery maybe you could think on them!
    Your imagination knows no bounds and even your ‘worst efforts’ to sort of quote you are way better than most authors
    Please keep on ‘doing your worst’ and we will all enjoy your best as well
    Many thanks

  225. I think most of these were not just salvageable, but contained some unique and good world-building. All 4 were really engaging to me, as well as leaving me definitely wanting more. I also really enjoyed reading them because I think they showed the promise you had before you came into your final writing styles. It also gives me hope for future, new story arcs taking place in different worlds, but still told in that unique voice that is the team of Ilona Andrews.

    I also wanted to say that I’m so sorry for the pain you are feeling in regards to the hand issues and the other things going on in your life that are less than optimal. Chronic pain issues really sucks, I know I deal with that too. But I do think that all those horrible things are probably poured into your stories and that’s why, in my opinion, you guys produce art, as opposed to product. I think one of the reasons your books are still great even after writing so many per series is that they contain what feels like real growth and change, and yes genuine pain. None of your series have ever had “filler” books or just ones that made me think, “that’s it, I’m done.” I regularly recommend your books to others for that reason. Keep up the great work, don’t let the pain (or negative Nelly’s) get you down. And while I definitely miss the Sweeping freebies, your health comes first. Don’t let the few overly entitled fans get you down. I know the majority of us love you and are appreciative for whatever you feel up to giving us. (Tell ’em disappointment builds character and obviously their’s needs a bit of work!) Feel better soon.

  226. I agree with many others in that your rejects are much, much better than some completed novels I’ve read. I particularly liked Emily & Technomancer. In Emily, the relationships & friendships seem to have so much potential. Technomancer was also fun and interesting. Thank you for sharing & I hope you will revisit these stories in the future.

  227. I can tell you like Johanna Lindsey. 🙂 I’m much less of a captive romance fan and I prefer a more equal power dynamic, so I appreciate that you’ve toned things down in your published work.

    I think there are some very interesting worldbuilding ideas in these, several of which you have mined out and used in other writing. (I enjoyed Technomancer, but I like Rogan and Nevada better than I like Morozov and Emma.) Thanks for sharing.

  228. Thank you so much for these. All 4 are quite interesting, but if i had to choose, i’d like the continuation to Dark thingie and technomancer (just putting it out there in case you decide to do a “Natural Selection” :))
    Admittedly, we are spoiled as we got the Hugh book so if we keep begging for these stories…
    And please get well soon, your health trumps everything else!

  229. Fun! I can see why you stopped these, but you write such great characters that even your “terrible” is pretty entertaining to read. Despite all the encouragement you’re getting to finish them, though, I hope you stick with Matilda and Catalina — no one can write ALL the things, and I love Helen and Leon so much that I hate the idea of anything distracting you from them. (Elara, nice, too, of course, but Helen! Leon!!)

  230. Thank you for sharing. I would buy each book produced from these starting points. Loved each story line.

  231. Finished reading all the trunks stories while waiting for the window guys to finish installing some new windows.

    Luv’ed seeing the development of themes, relationships, worlds, snippets, drips and drabbles, potential scenes. Lots of fun and thank you for opening the trunk.

  233. Honestly I really enjoyed them all… I’ve been panicking all week that I wouldn’t read them before you took the post down as you said you would and was so happy that I made it here in time lol Overall I would definitely purchase any of the above as novels or novellas.

  234. Technomancer was amazing! I really want an ending to it! If that was a Kindle sample I’d be buying the book and settling in to get it finished! Thanks for sharing!

  235. What are you talking about girl – don’t sell yourselves short – I loved these ‘rejects’ ?

    More please … in 10 years maybe, when you have a spare moment … ?❤

  236. These aren’t terrible. They’re wonderful! I’m glad I was able to peek inside this truck before it disappeared. I love the different worlds and the creative introductions to them.

  237. These were all amazing! Way way better than most books that have recently been released. One of the worst things about finding authorlords that have impeccable talent is no longer being able to tolerate substandard writing. My standards are so high now that I have to wait for the new releases of the few authors I still follow and most of y’all only release once a year. *cries in 1 millionth reread of a series cause nothing else is good enough*

  238. I loved all of them, each of these are so unique and interesting. it’s been two days I have read Demon thingy and I’m still wondering what happened to Julia and her walking house. then I remembered I won’t be knowing :'(
    anyways I seriously hope you guys will re-visit these. someday.
    take love <3

  240. Rough thoughts – the technomancer families could be slid easily into the Hidden Legacy world. It thought Emma was an animator mage at first :). Love it. I have no idea who Emily is but I wanted more of Aby and Iris’ adventure in that world. The story is so short yet Iris looks promising, not just a token PWD representation. (love it). Demon Thingie, yes dark like alphas, but seems more magic based? I like Alphas more for the science/genetics aspect, with the prime directive thing going on, plus time/dimension travel. I guess it was a complex world (morally and in world building) and never quite fit the genre it was in.

    Thanks to the author lords for sharing. These “rejects” were fun to read, the characters felt real already. I would certainly read and buy if they ever complete these stories.

  241. Yes more Emily- I want to see more Aby and Iris! I mean, I respectfully request a revisit in the future , pretty please. After, SOTB, Of course

  242. Loved them all – fingers crossed sometime down the track you might pull them out, brush them off and finish them. Enjoyed each one . xxxx

  246. Very enjoyable. I see why they’re in the trunk, but I’d happily read any of them.

    Technomancer could probably be modified to fit into the Nevada world. It was one of my favourites of the lot. Aby and the Hunter Beware start were also very intriguing.

  247. Vastly enjoyed reading these. It was also quite educational. I have started stories and stopped them because I grew bored or just got stuck. I wanted to see what you thought was embarrassing. I would say these are embarrassing.

    Demon thingie was a harsh reality, that didn’t bother me. I actually found that intriguing. Lots of room for intrigue and plotting.
    Emily…all I can think of is the “gimp” in the driver seat of the crawler with all of her fabulous equipment…almost a steam punk sci-fi. For some reason I imagine the crawler to look a bit like metagross from Pokemon. I think this story is redeemable if there was a character shift.
    Technomancer…Connor is better, but I already know him.
    Hunter beware…the first and favorite of the read. The structure is rough but the world was already there and fleshing out could have cleaned up the rough connections. It seemed that part of the problem was the lack of your usual detail. I would consider this a rough draft like you showed in the little red riding story. Each rendition had more detail and better feel for the world/context.

    So, we could have fan fiction contest and see who can finish one of the stories the best. : ) LOL

    • Crud…typo. I did not mean to say these are embarrassing! So sorry. These are NOT embarrassing.

  248. It amazes me that these excerpts were characterized by Andrews as “crappy” writing samples. Unedited, unpolished, and unfinished I still found them more entertaining and better written that many published books out there. Too bad they don’t plan to finish any of them. I would have bought, read, and doubtless enjoyed any one of these books were they to complete them.

  250. THANKS, THANKS, THANKS for sharing. You always treat us readers as special. It means a lot.
    Would you ever consider resurrecting/revamping Demon Thingie? It grabbed me. I would love reading it as a full novel.

  251. I thank you for asking this question B.!! And I thank you Ilona Andrews for sharing. I have only read Demon Thingie so far, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading the rest.

  252. I know I am late to this party but I just wanted to put in my two cents and say I really liked Technomancer. I’d read it if it were a whole book.

  253. You are evil author Lord’s!!!! I can’t stop thinking about Emily’s story…. are you sure you’ ‘ll never finish it?

  254. My wife runs two writers groups in our area and finds writing exercises a good way of encouraging people to start writing.
    A few years ago she published some of her completed works and has now published anthologies for both writing groups.
    She keeps telling me that she is no good at writing and although I encourage her I seem unable to change her attitude in this respect.
    Here is a link to her work and blog from some of the exercises for you to judge for yourselves.
    https://sharonbradysmith.wordpress.com/blog/

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