Since I have bribed y’all with free fiction last week, you will now have to suffer through my whining.
- Prerelease publicity started 2 weeks before the release, so June 1st. Two packed weeks of look at this ad, look at that ad, do this, make sure everything is set up here, what is going on with the audio, why are the books available here but not there, etc.
- Then we had release publicity with zooms. It is always lovely to spend time with the BDH but we are introverts.
- And the store orders came in simultaneously. Enough for the store company to assign us our own special sales rep. He keeps trying to get us to keep the store open. We have gotten through all of the requests with exception of a couple of broken mugs, on which I will catch up today.
- Throughout all of this we were helping Kid 1 close on her house, because our market is insane and she needed a cosigner. (We closed in less than a month. If you need a good mortgage lender in Austin area, AJ Miller Group. AJ is amazing, and his team will take care of you.)
- And then Kid 1 packed. At some point, there was no house. There was a labyrinth of boxes.
- And then Kid 1 moved last weekend. She realized she had underestimated the amount of stuff, so we rented a van, and we had made several trips before the truck even came. I carried way too many boxes up the stairs in the heat.
- We have had 6 dogs for two weeks now. The eternal vigilance of making sure Mona and Coco do not kill themselves by chewing on some random stick has worn me down. They should be picked up today and once they are gone, I will clean everything. And vacuum. And mop. And it will be clean. Our pantry is a wreck, and we still have random moving-related things everywhere.
- Our temperatures have hovered around 98-103 F and our heat index climbed into 120F. Weeks and weeks of hot and humid. The heat is smothering. Punishing. Heavy. Running out of adjectives.
I am so bloody tired.
Day before yesterday
Kid 2: Mom, when was the last time you had a day off?
Me: Uhhhh.
So yesterday was my day off. I did nothing. Nobody came over. It was lovely.
Nancy, please don’t read this: The only things we wrote throughout all of this are the two freebies we gave you. It’s been very hectic. We are behind schedule.
We are going to take this week regroup and then dive back into writing. The blog is going back to 2-3 posts a week. We need to figure out if we can come up with some sort of fun summer event or theme, and Mod R and I will brainstorm on that subject later in the week. We will do some Q&A and there may be some free fiction here and there, and we have a surprise or two planned, but overall we will take it nice and slow over the next couple of months.
Writing fiction will be a priority.
An aside: There will not be an innkeeper this summer. We just delivered an Innkeeper novel in December.
So we are here. We are just working.
Glad to hear you had a day off! Do nothing days are the most rejuvenating. 😁😁
Hope you get a chance to have a few days where you get to do everything you want or nothing at all or the something in between.
+1 😊
When you have hectic days with task upon task piled on your shoulders, scheduling mental health days for yourself is very important. They help body and mind recuperate from the rat race and House Andrews deserves them.
The brief glimpses into a day or an hour in the life of one of your characters are so enjoyable; Purpose and No Heroes being prime examples. One hopes you will be inclined to write more of them. I can wait till you feel so inclined.
You need time to regenerate before you can be creative… ( lesson learned the hard way)
My mug and t-shirt arived two days ago, both in good condition and at a very opportune time.
Thanks for all you both are doing for us – really over and above the call of duty.
😊☀️
Everybody needs a break so enjoy the time off.
Doing nothing is vastly under-rated. I’m looking for to 14 days of just that!
HUG!!!! Don’t burn out. Love your writing and trying to get many others hook on Illona Andrews. 😀
Rest, relax and rejuvenate. You both deserve those 3 Rs . Take as much time as you need. The BDH isn’t going anywhere and we can just do a marathon re-read to tide us over.
Anne in Virginia
true: I’m loving my third reread of Clams. The first read is such a gobble-fest I often miss nuances. The second, slower, I pick up those nuances & foreshadowings (oh that’s what they meant!), and the third is relaxing with the gang, enjoying the camaraderie and the new possibilities for their futures.
Same here! HA, please work at the pace that is right for you! Do-Nothing days are a human right, I think!
a spa day is definitely needed
take time to just be…..
in the midst of packing for a cross country move and I can confirm that it is both emotionally and physically exhausting.
I feel you! I hope you get lots of downtime in your regrouping this week
I’ve been rereading the innkeeper series before bed and that will tide me over for a long time.
fingers crossed for an enjoyable, low stress, productive summer with lots of air conditioning and pool time.
Enjoy your day of rest. Have you considered getting a cleaning person? Saved my sanity and my marriage. Make sure that they are bonded – I did have one bad experience.
Glad you are getting a chance to unwind a bit. And so you know; all the items my husband and I ordered from your store came through in perfect condition. We are two happy members of the BDH.
Thank you so much for all you write. Take care, take needed time off. We, the BDH, will be here when you publish another fabulous creation of your imagination. You guys are amazing. Again, thank you for sharing your fictional worlds with us.
Sorry can I ask, what does BDH mean?
BDH stands for Book Devouring Horde, a name the Ilona Andrews fans gave ourselves- based on the Hope Crushing Horde in the Innkeeper Chronicles series 🙂
Wow. The heat alone would have made the past few weeks punishing, let alone everything else you did. I would not spend precious time worrying about not writing, there are only so many hours in a day. Something had to give way for all the rest to be done.
Happy to hear you’re back to it, but when is the vacation? I mean, you guys need some time off.
Hope you can soon take more than a few days off. Your mind need to relax with all you’ve been through recently, work and personal life. Take great care of yourself.
And with all the informations we are bombarded to, the climat, epidemy, the wars, the economy, all those anxious news from everywhere, the last few years have been a struggle for everyone.
You give so much to so much people worldwide, you offer the break from reality that we need. I think you deserve time for yourself.
When was the last time you took a real vacation? At least a week without work? Go someplace you have never been? I love your writing, but you need to have a life too.
I love my mug!
Thank you for all the words…. the fun words, the short stories, snippets, ‘just life’ glimpses, fur babies ans Grand fur babies and the attention to the Merch and just being nice people.
Rest relax and have a chilled few days. You spoil us and it is lovely. Deep thanks for every things. Especially the ‘words’. <3
Rest is essential. Thanks for all you do.
::Hugs::
Take a chill. I watched Cdrama Till the End of the Moon, it’s story is interesting with the most beautiful costumes and music.
Thank you for whining:-) Goodness knows the BDH does enough of that we can listen to yours.
Rest, relax and take your much deserved breaks. We aren’t going anywhere. Where would we go?
+1
I’m so excited about a surprise summer innkeeper. Squeeeee! Thank you so much.
Hi Sherri,
There will *not* be a summer Innkeeper is the meaning of the paragraph at the end 🙂
Oh Crap!! My fault. I, too, am very tired.
I got excited at first too.
Beyond Innkeeper serials I keep hoping for a Roman fall/Halloween serial. He’d find his perfect lady. Maybe she’s evil sometimes. 💕
Whew, you’ve been crazy busy! I’m glad that you are trying to pace yourself, and take time off here and there. Yesterday sounds perfect, I hope you get a few more days of that; we all need those kinds of days to recharge.
So happy for Kid 1! Our market here in Israel is insane too, so closing on a house must be a dream come true.
Thank you for sharing snippets about the life of an author. To be honest, I enjoy reading these posts even more than free fiction. If I remember it correctly, one of your kids was writing a book, too? Fingers crossed for her!
Get some rest!
Remember to breathe. Breathing is good. It sounds like you haven’t had time to lately – and in murderous heat as well.
I keep hearing that ‘wait’ is a dirty word for the BDH, but if the option is you guys ending up in hospital (which it’s beginning to sound like might be the case), we can.
You have to take care of yourselves. Please.
Glad you were able to get a day of rest! Congratulations and good luck to Kid 1.
One of our friends retired from the military in NC and moved to Texas because he got a job offer there. Him and the family spent almost 7mths in a hotel struggling to purchase a house.
Within that time we moved to NJ and found something with 3mths. NJ is expensive but I feel like that Texas housing struggle is ridiculously harder.
Welcome to NJ.
Thank you for all that you do for us. we are eternally grateful. Please take more days off, they are more important than work days imo. I wish we could do more for you but it would be weird if we showed up at your place to help cook and clean. So,sending healing,happy thoughts and vibes instead. xx
A raucous mob wielding brooms, mops, and assorted cleaning potions shows up at the door of House Andrews, chanting “Never fear, the Horde is here!”
Gordon and Ilona hastily slam the door.
😆😆😆
Days off are important and the heat just saps EVERYTHING out of you. I’m so glad we moved somewhere that we might get one or two days a year of that rather than weeks on end. We even got rain here the days it was supposed to be in the mid\upper 90’s so instead it was a glorious 71.
I had a 4 day weekend from work and other than grocery shopping, laundry and a bit of vacuuming (well, and keeping a house of 5 adults fed, with help from Mom) – actually relaxed and finally played some Diablo IV and binge watched Witcher Season 3 Part 1. I need to do that again soon 🙂
love a pj day! Tea, biscuits and a sofa. What more do you need!! Your schedule sounds punishing. Self employed people work way harder and expect so much more from themselves than folk who work a 9-5. Take care of yourselves xx
Tired makes sense, and rest and routine will hopefully help fix it. With you on the introvert thing: interactions and stuff can be fun yet draining.
Have a slow, easy summer!
You deserve the rest!! Thank you for you stories and entertaining worlds!!
For all that you have to read about the mutterings and whinging from your adoring BDH, we can certainly listen and empathize when you share real life for a bit.
Sending you virtual cookies (delicious Comfort Cookies) and tea, as well as a cooling breeze up from the creek below me.
Congratulations on the new home success and I hope the rest of the summer is slower and easier. It’s been such a weird year!
Re: Innkeeper
I mean fair. Very fair.
Been there, done that. 1st advice hire someone to clean the house post move. Give yourself a break!
I’m older than you so just reading what you’ve done makes me exhausted!
Thank you for all of your hard work trying to keep us happy! I just finished rereading Hidden Legacy series again.
Sit down & work on something crafty and do not feel guilty! Take care of the writer so she can write!
Hugs!
+1 “…hire someone to clean the house post move.” or at least pay someone to clean *with* you so that everything is to your sasitfaction and done that much more quickly.
Life is too short. Life is complicated. This best thing I learned in the last 10 years, is no. It is still hard, but life is better. Our generation of women were taught to be nice and agreeable. Hard to break the mold, but ahhhhhhh
As I tell my husband, taking a day off to rejuvenate is ok!
I’m heading your way tomorrow. My niece and her family live in Dripping Springs. I haven’t seen them in 4 years! I was going to save Magic Claims for the trip but I have no will power, so I’m re-reading Hidden Legacy.
Things and Events tend to be not evenly distriuted in my experience and you seem to have experienced a Cluster of Events around Release day I am sorry to hear.
Since I got the positive effects of this stress by way of an amazing book, fabulous mugs (yay EU merch store) and epic Zoom I wanted to let you know that we appreciate all you do for us very, very much- thank you.
And I hope the boxes all found their way to the new house, your house is slowly returning to normal and that you may find some more opportunities to rest and do nothing really soon.
Hey, I live in Texas, I get it, nuff said.
Good grief, I think I had heat stroke just reading that list! Hope y’all get a chance to have a lot of downtime and quiet to rejuvenate.
Mod-R… I would love a House Andrews Bingo game. (Grin) where we have a randomized card and we have to find the quotes. (Okay, that might be a pain-but a friend gave me a bingo card she randomized from allistic of “dumb things that happen in the French Quarter (because we live here) and it’s funny. )
That’s a great idea, thank you 🙂
Many years ago I was a member of an author forum and someone suggested we compile a list of our favorite quotes from all their books. Those went on tshirts we could order, but may I respectfully suggest you have the BDH email with quotes and sources for the bingo card? That would cut down on author and moderator effort required, you could just paste them into a table for us to have fun.
I think it’s an amazing idea. The BDH would probably give you enough quotes and sources for a year’s worth of bingo cards and will enjoy the heck out of it. Give yourself a break Mod R.
Days off are good. And an absolute must. The BDH understands. Please recharge your batteries as you don’t let your cell phone run down.
Ps I loved all of my things from the store.
More time off is needed, I believe. Books will be written, but only if House Andrews is healthy and takes time to breath.. You are worth it you know, so give yourself time
Whew!! Moving house is exhausting any time, but with that heat in Texas it sounds intimidating!! Sending hugs!!
Can recommend sparkling water as companion to ice tea – no sugar or sweeteners, no caffeine, no sodium, just fruit flavored (no juice) – name brands as well as store brands.
Here’s to a day of quiet, and many more when you want them!!
Years ago, one of my students was telling me about his new band — Tired Angel. “What a great name for a band! That should be a band of overworked parents” He looked at me funny. The band name was Tyrant Angel.
I am so glad you had a day off in there somewhere. I am hiding indoors also — but my heat warning is not as impressive https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/city/ca/ontario/st-catharines/alerts
Good luck with your regrouping/recovery week. I hope you get out of it what you want to. I am glad the move is over. Even when moving is a good thing the actual moving is rarely fun.
You deserve a break today . . . and a few more days. Nobody wants you to have a fried brain. Besides it is oppressively hot here and I don’t want to think of your area.
Texas heat and moving are no joke! Voice of sad experience here. Not to mention all the other things! I love my grown children, but when they come and visit or I have to be super involved in their lives, I need 3 or 4 days of hiding afterward to rest! I like hiding. Just me, my cats, my current video game obsession (I’ve rescued 3 of the 4 divine beasts in Breath of the Wild and am saving the fourth for another break day) and Door dash.
Happy hiding! The BDH will definitely w**t.
PS All my merch (there were 3 shipments because I kept NEEDING more things) came in perfect condition. There might have been a weird “Hee-hee” laugh. Every.Single.Time. I love my BDH everything!
I recieved my store swag and love it! especially the Riiper Cushions notebook. could i suggest branded writting implements of some sort for a future launch? a mini staff from Roland, Orro’s whisk, a sword… or just a pen with a logo like The Mercenary’s Guild?
I hear you about the Texas heat and humidity. Ugh! 🥵
Have more days off, if possible. Relax, rest, and stay hydrated.
Deep breath Hold Release, Repeat as needed. Pour yourself a drink. Sir and Veg Out.
Stay Cool and Relax.
Thank you
Okay, how did you know I had a random thought pop up earlier today wondering if we’d see Innkeeper segments start popping up at any point this year?? It happened because I got The Boss in our office started on Magic Bites (Yay, new BDHer!!). I guess I need to be more careful about broadcasting those thoughts. 😉😊
I feel you! I just moved my 2 twenty-somethings into their own abodes. It was alot… Self care is most important! Take time for yourself and when you are ready, write fiction. 🙂
Take good care of yourself. Texas heat is no joke (lived in Dallas in 80s). Happy to hear Kid 1 got their house
(Heat index of 120*?! No wonder Texans head for the mountains.)
Please take all the rest, quiet, and relaxing time you need. Maybe a staycation at a nearby resort/spa? Your health is most important. Hopefully the store demands will settle down enough so it won’t be as stressful.
Thank you, House Andrews, for your hard work and for sharing your amazing talent with us. Thank you, Mod R for your work as well. I have a question regarding the reference to Arachne, which KD book is the horde referring to? Arachne was mentioned in the comment on June 12, 2023. Also, any chance of seeing Grandpa Mahon interacting with Conlan? I just picture Mahon with his chest out and a big smile on his face when he is with Conlan.
Hi Max,
The Horde weren’t referring to a KD book appearance of Arachne.
There were fan theories, before Magic Claims was released, that the mysterious villain might be related to Arachne. Because the first chapter, which was shared with us, described the woven fabric requesting tribute and having the phases of the moon on it. It is not the case 🙂
Get whatever rest you need, your well being comes first! And thank you so so much for my BDH tee shirt, I love it!
Your Sweep series and Magic series gave me hours and hours of reading enjoying. I loved them, thank you!
moving in the summer in Texas is horrible I feel your pain. Regroup and enjoy your quiet home!
The heat. It’s hard to have a summer where I don’t run away from Houston to the mountains. I like to flee to Wyoming.
This summer, it’s mostly work, with a small amount of beach. I’m so used to road-trips, I have forgotten how to do a relaxing vacation.
You deserve a break. Go for it. Do y’all have gnats? Remember NC has gnats {with thoughts of moving}. I just ate one, they taste sweet.
I respect that… honesty, though tough is best!
Take it easy, I still have the 2 Wilmington Years books to read!
Got them in the mail! *happy dances*
Thank you, Ilona and Gordon and ModR 🙂
Glad to hear you are prioritizing some much needed & well-deserved time off. May you return rested and rejuvenated so that you creative well springs are ready to tap.
Hi,
Please remember to keep rested and hydrated. The heat index is punishing and the humidity makes it worse,
Take your time. It will be worth waiting for more writings from House Andrews.
You have made the weather and allergies here in Mississippi more bearable and sometimes even forgetful. Ijust kept rereading the books and the free fiction and the comment!
Thank you. Enjoy your rest and the air conditioning.
Linda R.
Try and think about nothing too, this is sometimes harder than doing nothing but probably more helpful mentally. Sometimes I just really want my brain to shut up but it doesn’t.
The Horde are like cats. Even after you feed us, we act like we are starving and want more. Glad you had a day off. Please take more – we will be here.
Have a great summer doing whatever you want -we love you!
Sincerely,
The BDH
Summer blog post theme: favorite cocktail recipes of HA characters…. That’s my vote. 🙂
I just came back from a week with the whole family. My friends invited me to watch fireworks yesterday – I said, “no thank you. I am peopled out.”
And I’m an extrovert. You poor hermits… I don’t know how you do it.
stay cool. rest well!
Even without a bribe, the BDH would be happy to hear you whine and give you our support!
So glad you took a day to do nothing; it’s very undervalued as a respite for body and mind. ::hugs::
I’m enjoying re-reading KD while w**ting for the MT/MC audiobooks. 😊
Oh, Ilona, you need a vacation. Or “staycation”, whatever works best. I hope you can get it and feel better.
One question related to Inkeeper: is GA going to adapt Sweep of the Heart? I’m particularly attached to that one because last year, while I was sitting in the hospital doing my chemotherapy, I was waiting for each weekly instalment to show up in my feed. Reading it each week was the best part of my Fridays. While Dina and Sean had their battles, I was fighting my own. And like them, I’m still here to tell the story. So I would love for that book to be adapted, too. 🤷🏻♀️
Ok, I’ll shut up now.
Kindly,
Socorro
Hi Socorro,
So glad you’re still here with us!
Yes there will be a dramatised adaptation of Sweep of the Heart, but I don’t think the contracts have been finalised and it is not on the schedule.
GA are hard at work on Kate Daniels at the moment, with Magic Strikes coming out in August https://www.graphicaudiointernational.net/kate-daniels-3-magic-strikes.html
The comment in the post about no Innkeeper this summer (small sigh) reminded me of a question. Do you know if there is going to be a Full Cast Audio of Sweep of the Heart? That would take either a very large cast, or a smaller exceptionally multi-talented cast.
(Asking for a friend.)
Of course, as soon as I posted my question, I saw that someone else asked just before me. So please ignore my question and answer Socorro’s question.
(Returning to lurking mode.)
Yes there will be a dramatised adaptation, but I don’t think the contracts have been signed yet and it is not on the schedule.
GA are hard at work on Kate Daniels at the moment, with Magic Strikes coming out in August https://www.graphicaudiointernational.net/kate-daniels-3-magic-strikes.html
Thanks for all you do for us. I love my BDH bag and the Cutting Edge shirt!
Moving is horrid. You always have 50% more stuff thank you think and never enough boxes😀
Glad you took a recharge day
Here is a cute short video of a rottie and a kid jumping together on a trampoline. The dog is doing summersaults. Makde me smile 🐶
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYXK_61AXtc
the weather has been so hot lately 🔥🔥🔥
Please, please, please (and I say this as a devout member of the BDH) take it easy on yourselves. Do something fun this summer. Ignore the whining of your fans. We will wait, I promise. Your health and well being are infinitely more important than pandering to our selfish desires. Quick question for mod R (or Ilona lol): I haven’t had a chance to un box my mugs. If I find a broken one (hopefully not!) is it too late? If it is, I’ll just suck it up and buy another next time you open the store lol.
Hi Bookworm,
Please contact the store if you find a damaged item – they will be able to sort it out or advise you of next steps 🙂 https://houseandrewsmerch.com/pages/contact.
Doing nothing & not having no one come over: Absolute Bliss!
Also, I received the (correct) mug I ordered after letting the store know there was a mistake in my order. Excellent & timely customer service that was much appreciated.
FYI: the mugs were extremely well packed (Double layer of cardboard, insert with divot for handle, bubble wrap). The Canadian tax may be a bit high but the supplier packaged the merchandise properly. Again, much appreciated.
If you need a break from the heat, Colorado has been cold and rainy for the last 2-3 months. I think we are skipping summer this year.
Hope you get some rest! 🙂 Looking forward to reading whatever comes next.
Hello,
I have received all my lovely, lovely merch and I am very happy. My order came in a few deliveries (which made me squeal with joy every time; so many thank yous). All 3 of my mugs came intact. My Team Metal Rose mug came yesterday yay!! The only issue was very minor. I have community mailboxes and my shipments usually came while I was working. Last week was the heat wave in my piece of Canada. One of the travel mugs non-slip rubber bottom wasn’t fully attached, the heat in the mail box is my suspect. I firmly pressed it back on and have used it since with no issues. I just read that many people are still receiving orders with heat waves and thought I’d share. Again, thank you all for the hard work you do.
Misty
Sounds great! Having a relax this morning and re-reading Silent Blade 😊 It got me wondering – are passion cones based on a real recipe? If so, can you share it?
wow 😳😳😳😳 love your books have brought 3 from Kate that I didn’t have so I can do my first complete everything reread. so you are still making money even if you are able to read. and will probably buy 9 and 10 too as the library ones are out. So rest up
write
Take the time, rest up and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done. Love you lots! X
I think this is great. I love reading all you’ve written, but I am more happy that you are taking to time to take care of yourselves.
I hope you have a good easy summer, especially in this heat.
Have a great well deserved break. Magic Claims is so good ! I am now rereading the Kate Daniels series. I live in Belgium and my mug arrived in good condition last week. It has place of honour in my mug collection 😀
May rest and rejuvenation be upon you and your House. 🌻
you need a staycation. tell everyone your out of town for a few days then hide in your house. Don’t do anything but Binge a KDrama, read and eat take out. (speaking of have you ever watched guardian: the lonely god?) if there is anything I have learned in life is that it’s not the end of the world to have a few days of non-productivness, especially for us extream introverts.
I loved Jericho. I showed my husband. We, too, have a destroyer and only yesterday was the front window glass replaced (no destroyers were injured and no financial angst incurred).
I love how you just deal with stuff and appreciate the little glimpses into a normal life. thank you for choosing to share and allowing us a place to share back. As a fellow introvert, I wish you joy and recovery in your solitude ❤️
An excellent, informative & well organized whine:) Kudos! Hope the heat breaks soon, but not holding my breath. Headlines are full of dire warnings regarding how the planet is heating up & that long hot spells are the way to bet.
One bit of curiosity – can dogs be harmed by chewing on a random stick? Are sticks in Texas poisonous? I know plenty of plant life has learned to protect itself by being poisonous, what are the hazardous plant materials one might commonly find in a Texas yard that are toxic to pets?
You guys spoil us so much… you deserve as much rest and relaxation as the bank accounts allow. When new fiction is available, the bdh will spring into action!!
Never enough Innkeeper.
Take good care of yourself. We depend on you and want you to keep writing forever.
I wanted to let everyone know I just read an article on the BBC’s website about giant stone artefacts from the Ice Age found in Kent, England. After reading Magic Claims and Purpose, I thought the Horde, House Andrews, and Mod R would find this article fascinating. Here is the link to the article: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-66112136
That was so cool and spot on to Magic Claims.
+1 Thank you for sharing that!
Whew!
Days off are great! And well deserved! On the topic of mugs, I have to say that I love mine!!! The handles are great for me and my pudgy little hands. Plus my shirt is super comfy. Yay!!!
I know sometimes we seems like a Annie Wilkes horde, but we do care about your health and happiness: let’s rest, let’s go to a nice cold holiday destination…. We can reread all your amazing books!❤️
Thank goodness you are taking some time for yourself. I don’t this I could last two weeks with all that going on. Actually, I can’t imagine leaving and airconditioned house in that heat, much less carrying boxes up stairs.
How’s the power holding out in this brutal heat. Everyone must be running their air conditioners 24/7 and given the fragility of the power system in Texas…..
I get it. I live in North Texas and the humidity just makes it all worse. Days off are needed.
So sorry about that, woman, I feel for you … when your battery is drained, there is nothing to do but allow the energies to rebuild, by not using any more energy until you’re refilled…. so, tea, crumpets, petting your fur babies, NO HOUSEWORK, lots of couch time reading something you did not write, and playing video games… have food and groceries delivered, don’t take phone calls, and ignore emails. Just cocoon up until your curiosity tells you that you’re interested enough in something to spread your wings and take off flying again.
Please ignore if you already know what you’re planning – but if you’re accepting asks (and looking to stay away from spoliery goodness) – I would love for a blog topic/series to be a discussion of the creatures and “villains” in your series and how you go from inspiration to the amazing characters and plots. The hodag alone was such an amazing example of HA’s worldbuilding!
As always – the BDH loves and appreciates everything you choose to share with us!
I am so glad to learn that you both are going to have a more relaxed schedule this summer. You both surely deserve it! Much love and appreciation to you both!
First, hugs.
Second, taking another day and wining (🍷) is fine with me (and the BDH I believe).
Third, Kid 1 has great parents – kudos to you.
I spent the last week or so helping my sister find a house (near me! Yay!), make an offer and get it accepted. Not looking forward to their move, but will be helping.
don’t wear yourselves out for us. It’s better to have fiction later than not have it all.
Also, Anyone with kids college age or older know that you never really quit being parents. ( mine are all in their 30’s now)
Blessings
Dear Author Lords! Please rest.
🌹🌸💐🌺🌷🌻🌼🪻🪷
*throws digital flowers at you like an elephant god in need of healing*
did I miss merchandise again?? 😭 sad world
Sorry to say, but yes ☹️
Just wanted to say thank you. if no innkeeper I will simply re read from the beginning! I have all of your books as I am sure the bdh has. I love being part of the BDH. Relax an rest and remember we love you. We are a well behaved BDH. We can wait. Because it is soooo worth it.
+1
Y’all need to take care of yourselves. Especially with this Summer heat. I am in the Houston/Galveston area and with a child North of San Antonio, know that inner Texas is getting worse heat that us. We all love your works and always love seeing new stuff, but not at the expense of your physical and mental health. Make time for yourselves so we can enjoy your work when it does come.
may your rest be excellent! I know my mom was tired out when moving came around, and I didn’t even have Furry things to deal with.
Please! Please! Do NOT give us some special summer thing. You just gave us a wonderful new book and I want another wonderful new book sometime soon. I can live without some special summer event, if I know you guys writing. Give yourself a break. We don’t need it.
(I live in North Texas and the heat is brutal. I don’t think most of the rest of the world can understand. ( I never even want to what the real temperature is inside a car that’s been sitting in a parking lot during one of these days. I think it would make me slightly insane.)
I second this suggestion: don’t feel like you have to feed the beast that is the BDH this summer!
I’m glad you took a day off and did nothing…it sounds like you really, really needed it. Too many times people put everyone and everything else ahead of taking care of themselves. (I have to keep reminding myself not to do this!)
Always make sure you put on your own oxygen mask (or drink tea, eat a cookie, take a nap, watch something fun on tv, etc) before putting the oxygen mask on others (or writing, cleaning the house, dealing with BDH shenanigans, etc.)
Remember, if you crash those other things won’t happen anyway. Here’s wishing you more restive days ahead! 😘💕💕
Hope you have more rest days because you totally deserve them!
Please take care of yourselves!
You are awesome writers, parents, bloggers, dog owners and human beings. We all know this and wish the very best of everything. And while we are an impatient lot, there’s always re-reading or re-listening to the many books we already have.
Sweep with Me is on my Graphic Audio right now.
Have a wonderful summer!
You have to take care of yourself, trying to do everything leads to collapse. I have spent the last 5 months doing epic work on the house&yard ,along with looking for a new job ( was RIF’ed earlier this year), a lot of serious work, then I find myself having a hard time taking a day doing only ‘normal’ things.
that heat is brutal, it is hot here ( in 90s) but not that bad.
Hopefully w kid 1 settled things will slow down for you guys. The BDH are always hungry, but we all understand if you guys don’t rest&recuperate then goods things won’t come. We should be glad we aren’t a BDH for Diana Gabaldon or George RR Martin, we would all starve to death between books:)
An empty nester now? It is an adjustment but you will learn to enjoy it, eventually. It’s just another stage of maturity for you and the girls. The fur babies will reap the benefits of your mom urges. 🙂
You deserve some me time, and some time in a quiet house, enjoy. I deeply mourn the lack of a new innkeeper as I am terribly addicted but am comforted by the fact that one will come when muse is upon you. I think I am going try and shed my helicopter husband (he’s worried I will fall off the perch when he is not around) and take time to have hot chocolate in a cafe by the sea with old innkeepers to keep me company sans husband.
WOW. Way too much doing for other people and too much heat! Once everything is clean it’s time for yourself and a date night.
Change is rough even when it’s good! So glad you had the rest.
the great thing is House Andrews are eminently re-readable, so if there’s nothing new, we can still enjoy rereading old favourites!
have a great summer
I bought Sweep of the Heart, Magic Tides and Magic claims and all 3 arrived yesterday. I read Sweep of the Hearty last Night and Magic Tides this morning. Both are fantastic. Thank you Gordon and Ilona. Glad you got a got a break but should be more than a day. All the best to you and your family. Regards from the Forest Fire land known as Canada. Mid 30s celsius here so slightly warm and humid here in Vancouver
Taking care of yourself is job 1. The rest can wait.
Isn’t it in the BDH contract that part of our duties is to listen to author whining? I know that we have a tendency to want to rain vengeance on any and all causes of author (and ModR) pain and suffering, so we’re still a work-in-progress on the listening. But totally willing to listen!
Summertime and the living should be easy. Slow sounds good.
You’re not behind, you’re just on a different schedule now. And that’s okay, because we BDH would rather have a happy and healthy Ilona and Gordon than a stressed out Ilona and Gordon. We can wait patiently for more fiction. Take care!
ummm dunno know about w*&t or p*&^#$tly, but we will be here!
Put your feet up as you sit under the ceiling fan or float lazily in the pool. You deserve more than a day off. Maybe the blog should have summer hours. Posting once a week or, twice if something really exciting or important happens. I hope that you have a lovely day off.
🧡❤️💜💛💚🤎
😽😽😽😽😽😽
***Pyrane****
I am so grateful for all you do for us.
Lots of re-reads available to keep busy. PLUS the Wilmington Days audio comes out next week!
Take care of yourselves. That is the best gift 💗
Please take care of yourself! Heat kills. I need more books from your worlds…
More than fair trade. Carrying boxes up stairs in punishing heat qualifies for justified moaning so you still have credit. Congrats to Kid 1 on the new place.
Good work Kid 2!
Congrats to kid 1, huge achievement. Could you delegate the research for anything fun you decide to do? There are hundreds of us who would be delighted to help!
You have to take care of yourselves first. Everyone needs time to recharge their physical, mental, and spiritual batteries.
*Nancy please don’t read this* I abruptly sit up straight breath held, “what?” I read it again, “me?” Probably not, unless the posts have been personalized, but it’s most likely a different Nancy. Either way, if you tell me not to read something, of course I’m going to read it! So I did, and I have to tell you – do what you need to do, write when you want and what you want. HA is my favorite, and I love everything you have put out there, its all worth waiting for!
Hehe. It refers to Nancy Yost from NYLA, House Andrews’ agent 🙂.
You’re safe. This time 😏
Taking it easy, yay!
hooray for the nothing day! hooray hooray hooray!
We will survive, somehow, on 2-3 posts per week. The BDH is very very good at taking the merest crumb and having a long conversation among ourselves.
Take care of yourselves.
Take as many days off as you need to recup and relax! We will be here patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for more writing, but we will be here!
Take a break! Refill the well and just breathe for a little while. Writing is art and art comes from emotion and you can’t express emotion if you are sucked dry by life.
And just saying, that amount of heat would make me curl up and die…
#NewEnglander #Swede #Irish
I can relate to being Tired AF and love that you use that term. You’re my kind of people. Thanks.
You have to take time to recharge not only the body but also the creative batteries. If they get drained, it makes everything harder- not just the writing, but the daily living.
Why don’t you tell the BDH to ” just go talk among yourselves this summer and let us Let us do what you love us best for== cranking out books.”
It’s been just as hot here in Florida and a heat warning was posted this morning.
“Warning! to guard against overheating, drink lots of water and stay indoors between 11:00 AM and October!
Rest and then dive back. Glad kid 1’s house is settled. Doesn’t matter the time of year, moving is a pain, but it is worst in the summer. Take care of you before all else.
Congratulations to Kid 1 and you both on the new to her home!
On the exhaustion front, I could use a break from adulting. A lot of it is home maintenance so I hope that stuff goes smoothly for all your households. May she be blessed with a good crew of lawn orphans and no necessary urgent repairs/replacements.
I will read what ever you write when ever you can get it published.
Please take care of yourselves so we can read a lot of your new musing in the years to come!
Don’t think, for a moment … that I didn’t notice what you did !!! 🤨 🧐 😏
RIPPED that stick in my craw horrendous stifling horripilating news right out there in my stunned sympathizing semi-consciousness
YOU DO … you boo 😘 … this is what I love like and respect about you, thanks for sharing the news and plans !
I wanted to say thanks…
I realize the store adds to your work and stress, but I love my (plentiful) loot! Love love love. It makes me happy every time I use/wear/see it!
The effort you put into catering to your BDH is very much appreciated!
I am glad you had a day off, I appreciate IA and all your hard work. You should take more days off!
Of course you are tired!! Any sane person should be able to agree that you have every right to be not only physically tired, but mentally exhausted as well. That is without even factoring in the punishing heat you have been enduring lately. My husband and I have been discussing where we might like to move to to retire, and Texas has been brought up several times. Now that I have heard about the heat, I am thinking just “No”. We have some hot, humid summers here in Virginia where we currently live, but not nearly as bad as what you are dealing with!
I was exhausted just reading everything that you have been doing. I personally feel that you shouldn’t have to offer any kind of excuse or explanation, but as usual you are exceedingly kind and patient, and do let your always hungry for more BDH know what you have been through recently.
As a very devoted fan and proud member of the BDH, I will gladly (and as patiently as I can) wait for you to take as much time doing absolutely nothing as you need. You took one day. One day. Not even a long weekend. I doubt I am alone in thinking that probably isn’t enough time, and that if I had done everything you have done, I would need a lot more than one day to recover and recharge.
I am very appreciative of how generous you always are to your readers, and simply want you both to be well rested, healthy, and happy. You bring a lot of relaxation and enjoyment to a lot of people, and you deserve a fan base that wishes the same for you. I hope that things slow to a pace that works best for you, and that you have a break in the terrible heat that you have been enduring!
As a devoted reader and proud member of the BDH, thank you for everything you do for your readers. You are the best!!!!!!
What she said! Well-spoken!
glad to hear you are taking some time to decompress after being so busy for so long.
hope you get a break in the heat.
moving is so stressful. much sympathies and hope kid 1 loves their new place.
So glad to hear you had a day off!! Along with everything else you helped to move your kid! In this Texas heat! (I live in Dallas area. It’s been sooo hot and humid). Don’t know how you did it.
Hope you find a way to relax and regroup. ❤️
Take care of yourselves! Thank you so much for the joy you have shared with us (and the upcoming joy, in the fullness of time).
We very much appreciate you sharing your ‘invisible friends’ with us for visits.
Enjoy the summer! 🌈🍀🎉🍧🫖
Your Innkeeper series is my favorite book series ever! My husband, son and I have a tradition of reading together at night. We’ve read a little bit of everything. My son had asked me about the Innkeeper series because he heard me guffawing while reading it, and suddenly he is on a quest to get me to read the series during Family Reading Time. So, after a bit of maneuvering around a small section or two for my 15 year old, we set off on the series. We have read them all as a family now, and my husband and son spent many nights laughing until they hurt at the antics of Dina and crew. Orro is the overwhelming favorite of us all.
Now my son wants to read all of your books. Maybe when he’s a little older….
And by the way….I think Arabella is going to be swamped with men. One of which I am hoping beyond hope is Michael!!! He’s such a mystery, and he is fascinating!! And he was eyeing Arabella in the last book. Who needs a bear?! I’ll take the dark, quiet, mystery, scary guy that is right there in Texas!!
You need more than one day off! I hope you get to take some actual vacation. Without your electronics, if you want.
Good luck with the cleaning and everything else! Extroverting is exhausting.
Does the new castle have a pool? Pool party with the Lennarts? Just a few posts of bathing attire/pool attitude would be fun, I think. And summery.
Glad you took a day off. You both have more than earned it.
Thanks as always for sharing your creativity with us!
WOW.
Summer is my busy season. I’m retired so we sell bakery at 2 farmers markets so our week goes “Monday scrub the kitchen. Tuesday wipe everything down with disinfectant and make scones, pies and cobblers. Wednesday make Loukoumadas and do the market. Thursday clean the kitchen and sterilize it, make more scones, pies and cobblers. Friday make the Loukoumadas and clean the kitchen for the weekend, do the farmers market. Saturday drop off leftover bakery at the food pantry, hide in the air conditioned office and play video games and eat sandwiches and stuff that doesn’t take any thoughts. scrambled eggs are ok. pork roast is not. ” nonetheless it all requires dishes. Also it’s fresh berry season, which means I get to pick berries in there somewhere. also shopping and rest of the house cleaning which is a very low priority.
My friend does 5 markets and makes bagels. Shes up at 4am every day. and then is often not home until 8 or 9 at night and has to unload and clean all her equipment to start over again at 4am.
At least the weather is good. Going to be hot today though, 77. ick. (it was 55 overnight).
Enjoy your summer.
Ditto to everyones comments. One addition. Drinking lots of water helps immensely with the fatigue. I got caught in a heatwave while moving in april, 100-105. Had to stay in for 2 days hydrating. Sending love and hoping you enjoy the rest of the summer.
Just reading about the heat made me tired! Have a good time off!
I, too, am self-employed.When I want to take a vacation, my patients act like I’m never returning and book me so solidly I’m still exhausted when I get back. Please take care of yourselves. Take some time and go somewhere. Anywhere that doesn’t remind you of your real life. Breathe. I don’t care when the books come. I know we will buy them and it will be fine. Just do the self care. Thanks for your efforts to keep us in the loop. Also, I’m glad I don’t have kids or pets because that sounds like more work than I have energy for. You are so generous with your time and energy. I’m sure your kids appreciate it very much.
My mug and t-shirt arrived and I love both of them! I’ve taken my mug to work and every time I use it (which I several times a day) it makes me happy!
Thank you so much for opening a European store! House Andrews goes above and beyond for the BFH, and this is just one of the many ways you bring us these moments of joy! Hope the regrouping goes well, and may there be many moments of joy in there for you too!!
As for topic/theme for the summer, would like to add “top 10’s or top 5’s” to the list of ideas/options. (Examples: MOD R’s Top favorite charters, Ilana Andrews top favorite lesson learned over your time writing, Ilona Andrews top favorite yarns in craft area, Ilona Andrews top favorite video games, etc.)
I struggled with fatigue and working full time and I gotta say, hiring cleaners to come do my 2bed, 2 bath apartment was amazing. They will customize to do as little or as much as you want, as deep or as light, and price it accordingly. You can do quote comparisons on Yelp from different agencies. They can come 1 time, or on a regular basis. TOTALLY WORTH EVERY PENNY.
I think your boss should put you on a 4 days on- 3 days off schedule.
Seriously.
Thank you so much for opening a European store! House Andrews goes above and beyond for the BFH, and this is just one of the many ways you bring us these moments of joy.
I’m definitely thinking you could use some pool time — maybe at night because the days just sound too hot down there. Or whatever you use for cooling off. I didn’t organize myself properly to get a real pool installed yet, so we got an Intex pool. Awesome thing for the garden.
I am rereading some of my House Andrews favorites, and I came across this passage:
“I ate little, slept less, and this evening I had reached a kind of weird, depersonalized state, where I was still sort of me, but mostly I was Gertrude Hunt, frantically shaping rooms out of nothing.”
Since I’d read your blog post on July 5th, I had it running around in the back of my brain…
So I recognized your lament in both the fantasy world and the real world.
Thank you for all your hard work, sleepless nights and wonderful books.
-Jenna
I’ve been doing a Kate Daniels world reread and just finished Magic Claims this morning. I LOVE IT. I just started a new job and have been utterly exhausted as well. The series reread has been so wonderful and I didn’t realize how much I missed all the characters until I jumped back into the new book. Congrats on the new release!
Your books are awesome, and you’re my favorite authors which is how I stumbled upon your blog. But this is another reason you’re my favorite. You keep it real and don’t mind sharing.