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Vellum Updates and a Bribe Giveaway

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We will start with a brief vellum update and then switch to the giveaway. I am bribing you.

Some people saw me testing things on Facebook this morning, and I wanted to explain it before any misunderstandings occured.

It’s our first time printing vellum so we made some decisions that slightly complicated our life.

Our original vellum, the one that is advertised in image below is printed on 40lb vellum. It’s thicker, the colors are brighter, and it is exactly 6×9 so it fits into US hardcover.

It fits in the book, but it is thicker and it is a bit of struggle to make it stay. It should have been printed slightly smaller.

We have now tried 5 different printers. At some point, I invited Grace Draven to the house to get unbiased opinions.

First, we dropped the white border and settled on the size that would fit both UK and US hardcovers.

Next we found a thinner vellum at 28 lbs that still shows the beautiful colors but is much thinner and lays better in the book.

We have one more batch coming to us before finalizing the no-border vellum. After that, the no-border vellum will be available as a separate product. We don’t want to throw it out there before we have pictures to show you.

We would like to give you options at the fulfillment.

  • You can choose to stay with the original vellum with white border. We printed a ton of it and we have it in stock.
  • You can switch to the no-white-border version at no additional charge. It is a one for one swap.
  • And those of you who would like to get both, border and no-border, will be able to grab a set of no-border vellum at a discount. We will just stuff it into the same envelope, saving you on shipping. The add-on pack will be available only with a regular order.

Once we have finalized this second variant, we will send you an email through the store explaining how to choose your options. If you run into trouble, please email us and we will sort it.

A little warning about the fulfillment: we expect it to take several weeks. We have in excess of 2,000 orders. Kid 2 is stuffing maps into the envelopes as we speak. We even put Rito to work.

We appreciate your patience.

We will start shipping after 07/08, and if you get worried, email me through the store and I will be able to tell you your place in line.

Also I now know way too much about vellum.

Giveaway Bribe

We have received beautiful collected editions of Innkeeper Chronicles Volume 1 from Subterranean Press. It is a gorgeous book, and we are very grateful to Subterranean for reissuing it.

(And also an unexpected gift of the wonderful Sencha Tea! A giant bag of it. Dear Geralyn, thank you so much! It is appreciated beyond all reason.)

This collector edition contains Clean Sweep, Sweep in Peace, and One Fell Sweep. Clean Sweep is currently available free in our store.

This is your chance to grab one of these copies. The giveaway will run until 07/09 and the winner will be chosen on 07/10.

  • US only – unfortunately, it is a massive book, and shipping it internationally will be a nightmare. House Andrews will host other international giveaways soon.
  • To enter, please let us know in the blog comments who is your favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles.

PS Mod R:

Ilona wrote this post, but I am changing author to myself so she doesn’t get the thousands of comments alerts – House Andrews are on the last scenes of Maggie 2 and they need full focus!

Please read the instructions before making your comment, I have had to void so many entries in the previous giveaway.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. While my favorite character in Inn Keeper chronicles should be Dina…Orro stole my heart. Fire!

  3. I’m from NZ but am in/have an address in NYC until the 20/08. Does that make me eligible to enter?

    Regardless if I’m not I love Arland and Caldenia but will go with Helen as a favourite because she gave me one of my favourite ever book quotes ‘there would be ripper cushions’

  5. Ooo…picking a favorite is tough! I’d have to say Dina, just because she handles all the crazy so well. If I had a drop of her tact, I could take over the world lol.

  9. I love Orro! His storyline really resonates with me. In the beginning when Dina finds him, he is in a very low place–bitter, angry, sorrowful. However, over the course of the story, he comes to realize his own worth, not just as a chef but as a person.

  10. I recently introduced my daughter to the Graphic Audio versions and so we’ll get into the car and she will ask me, “Can we listen to the alien books?” Therefore, I will receive ripper cushions if I do not say Lady Helen.

  11. Maud is my favorite. As a mom and as a badass, according to my three halflings, I can so relate to her.

  12. My favorite Innkeeper character: Dina. She’s competent and powerful but not the typical warrior princess.

  16. My favorite Innkeeper character is Arland…so stalwart and true (and a lover of Coffee!)

  17. I love all of the innkeeper characters ! if I were to have to choose one, it would be Dina as she is the heart of the inn. I reread the innkeeper series several times a year It is very soothing and still delicious after many re-reads

  18. All the characters are pretty wonderful – they’re all a big reason this is my favorite Ilona Andrews series. Dina and Sean are a kickass, beautiful pair and Gertrude Hunt is the heart of the series, but I have soft spot for the secondaries like First Scholar Thek and Cookie. I smile every time they’re on page! And the Graphic Audio versions make all the characters even more fantastic!

  20. I think I have to go with Maud. She’s got an air of not putting up with anything, that I really appreciate.

  22. What a difficult question!!! I ended up with Sean. I love the cocky I can do anything Sean, the wary this is what it takes for the people I love to survive Sean, and the bent but not broken Sean.

  23. Dina for sure! There are many great characters but she brings them altogether within Gertrude Hunt!

  25. Dina for sure! There are many great characters but she brings them all together within Gertrude Hunt!

  29. Hard choice! It must be Dina for me, we see her growing in skill and power in every new book. Gertrude Hunt is my
    2nd as well learn more about her as the stories continue.
    Thank you for another giveaway

  35. My favorite character is Dina. Kind of a no brainer, but thinking of how wonderfully the full cast is developed, I can see the struggle to decide.

    I am in the US.

  37. This sounds like a chorus, doesn’t it? I love many of the characters in Innkeeper Chronicles, it’s my favorite of all your works. But I think Dina remains my favorite character.

    She’s the soul of an innkeeper, what the extended group essentially hopes will be produced, a human who can manipulate magic and form a tight bond with her inn.

    And she cares. She has created a real haven for individuals who have nowhere else to go. She has the justice gene. She’s just neurodiverse enough that her empathy is extreme, but her inn won’t let her go too far, and she’s fortunate enough to have found a rock solid guy to share her life and her life’s work.

    I could talk about Innkeeper characters at length, but I will let the horde handle it. I will just keep reading new Innkeeper tales. And reviewing and recommending them. And re-reading them.

    Thank you for finding a place for Innkeeper in all your stories. 🙂

  38. Gertrude Hunt is my favorite character. I suppose if the inn doesn’t count as to a character, I’d go with Dina.

  39. My favorite character is the Inn itself, Gertrude Hunt! I love magic houses! Gertrude is the best magic house ever!

  42. my favorite character in the innkeeper series is Beast. however if you need a human entry, Dina gets my vote.

  44. I can’t decide on my favorite character for the Innkeeper series! It honestly depends on the book and the scene!
    Dina when she’s snarky!
    Sean when he’s being a badass! Maude when she is working her vampire mojo!
    Arlen when he is “being just a humble soldier”!
    Helen when she is being so darn cute! Orro when he is waxing poetic about his trails and tribulations of being Orro!
    Beast when she goes into full teeth and claws mode!

  48. My favorite Innkeeper character is Dina. She finds a solution for everything and manages to stay calm through so many things!

  49. My knee jerk favorite character in the Innkeeper world is Orro, because I wish I could rush a kitchen as well as he does. Also, dramatic alien hedgehog vibes are the best!

  51. Argh! It is inconceivable to choose one….but for the terms of the contest (thank you!) I choose Dina! Located in Florida.

  54. One favorite character is so hard!

    Since my most recent re-read, I’ll say Officer Hector Marais is my favorite. A stand-up guy in a crazy, squiggly world.

    Yes, I’m in the USA.

  55. My favorite character is Dina! Because all the amazing interactions stem from her.

  56. I love Dina, but my absolute favorite character is Helen. She’s so adorable. And strong. She’s been through so much in her short life,but she understands ripper cushions.

  58. Maud is my favorite character in this series. She is clever and fierce and resilient! Her and Helen both made this series such a delight to read. <3

  60. My favorite…Dina…the tie that binds them all and brings them to life

  62. I love Orro, particularly his drama queen moments (and as our Graphic Audio actor plays him with such flair!)

    Runner up is Cyanide who has inspired our dog to act like the Higgra (I require attentions…all of them!)

  63. My favorite character has to be Caldenia. She is loyal, ruthless, and charming. I want to be her when I grow up.

  64. Every series is excellent, but my favorite is Innkeeper. Maude for a character.

  66. Hello! And thank you. My favorite character is Caldenia. Her character is amazing.

  69. I have so many I love but I think it’s a toss-up between Maud’s daughter Helen and Orro. Honestly, I feel like I could just read a book about their adventures with him trying to teach her to be his soup chef and be completely satisfied.

  70. It might be a boring answer, but Dina. Second would be Orro because he always make me giggle.

  73. After much inner debate I have to with Arlen. I love his entire personality. Sweep the blade is actually one of my favorite Innkeeper books because of him.

  74. This is such a tough choice, but my favorite character from Innkeeper is Caldenia!

  75. My favorite character from The Innkeeper Chronicles is Orro.
    “Fire!”
    If I don’t win, can we get more pics of Rito the Working Dog as a consolation prize?

  76. Caldenia. She’s smart and wise enough to keep her opinions in check when necessary. Shes also confident in her power and uses that (with her previous reputation) to get what she needs from people but still through the lens of staying out of trouble.

  83. All of Innkeeper’s characters are dear to me. Innkeeper was my intro to HA and the joy of the BDH. Orro is a favorite for both me and my husband. I’m not entering to win the book-I have a copy already, and I love it so much. Subterranean did a wonderful job with this massive book, and I’m excited for whomever will be adding this one to their collection. Best of luck, everyone!

  84. Gertrude Hunt is my favorite character – mysterious, powerful, generous. Qualities I have grown to admire as my own family matures.

  85. Favorite character: Officer Marais. His instincts, his reactions, his behavior once Sean has armed him, and he also has an amazing wife. He’s not an Innkeeper but he does Earthlings proud.

  87. This is tough! But after the most recent keeper of the heart book I think Caldenia, her royal scariness, might be my favourite.
    Love the whole series and absolutely cherish Dina and Seans relationship!!

  88. My favorite Innkeeper character is definitely Caldenia. I love how her reaction to every catastrophe is the opposite of everyone else-delight! And learning her backstory in SotH made me love her even more.

  89. I love so many but if I have to choose I will go with Orro! The dramatics are hysterical and I love how he likes to “learn” human customs from tv/movies. It always makes me smile to read how confident he is in his skills but still holds his breath and waits for everyone’s reaction to make sure they’re enjoying his creations.

    (I am US based)

  90. My favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles is Cookie.
    The way he manages retrieving the Archivarius from the Muckrats had me in giggling fits! And his sorrow at having to give them Dina’s left sneaker! I loved him in Sweep in Peace and was delighted with his character growth in One Fell Sweep.

  92. My favorite is Caldenia! She’s like the protective guard dog of Getrude Hunt.

  95. my favorite character Beast. there’s just something about a fluffy innocent looking harbinger of absolute destruction

  97. My favorite character is Dina….or Sean….or Oreo…or Caldenia…no, it’s definitely Dina. It’s so hard to choose! 💙

  99. Okay, my favorite character is Ilemina. I love her fierceness,her ability to admit when she’s wrong, and making excellent use of the talent around her.