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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. Huge fan of all the books! My favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles is Orro – such drama! I, too, love mangos!

  3. My favorite character is Dina Demille. She created such beautiful rooms within the Inn with such insight for the guests.

  4. Cookie is my favorite, or at least the character I identify with the most. Smart but young and having to watch your back, even with family. But family is everything.

  5. I think I have to give my vote to The Gertrude Hunt itself – the magical pantry, the ballroom, the balconies, the apple orchard. More than anything, though, I love how sensitive it is and how it protects Dina.

    I love this series and its characters so much!

  7. Orro is my favorite character. While I was 100% team fish for a book I’m back to supporting Orro.

  8. I’ll say Dina but it is so hard to choose. The answer will probably change if you ask again tomorrow 🙂

  10. Helen is my favorite character in the Innkeeper Chronicles. I love how her scenes reveal things about others around her; I fell for Arland after his interactions with Helen

  12. My favorite character has to be Dina, although I know that’s boring! My second favorite is Arland! I love his enthusiasm for earth culture – and Maud!

  14. This was my first House Andrews read, so it’s naturally a fave. I love all the characters, and their stories. However, the Inn is the character that carries the story and invokes the most powerful imagination. For this, it’s my favorite.

  16. I’m torn between Caldenia ka ret Magren and Sean, but in the end I think it’s Caldenia – I always have a pull towards the characters that I think there’s more to find out about.

  18. DINA is my choice. As other commenters have said, the Innkeeper Chronicles series has so many wonderful characters, including Gertrude Hunt. They help flesh the world(s) out, adding more color and delight. Scenes with this one, or that one, the quirks they have, the emotions, add to the stories for me. They branch out into their own lives and worlds. Dina is the core, the heart and connective tissue.

  19. Ohhh fav character is so hard! Today my fav character is Caldenia. I just bought a little bag of Funyons so she on the top of my brain.

  20. Caldenia is by far my favorite character. You never know what she will do in a scene, besides shamelessly steal the spotlight.

  21. my name is Hannah and I’m in the US. my favorite character is the inn, of course 🙂

  22. My favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles is Helen. She is so feisty and ready to fight if needed. She makes a bedroom full of water and is sad that she can’t make the fish. She speaks with confidence even when lying so she can protect her mother. Last but not all, I love how she makes her own words when she can’t pronounce something properly. Ripper-Cushions!!

  24. While I love all of them, Caldenia is at the top of my list. She has so many interesting layers. Her life stages could fill at least 3 series on her own.

  25. US here – in Central Texas actually!

    And I actually love Gertrude Hunt – semi-sentient houses just do it for me!

  26. Dina, because she just keeps putting one foot in front of the other no matter what happens. She has so much grace and courage under fire.

  28. The his is so hard. How does one decide between Dina and her overall badassary while she learns to control her craft, or Orro and his totally unnecessary dramatics that drive the story, or Cookie and his cuteness while he learns the ropes to becoming the leader of his family, or Maud and her protective instinct that keeps her family alive? Alas, I will choose for this post but I do it in protest- my favorite character is probably Beast. This adorable cute, fierce, protective, dog-ish? Creature protects Dina, her family, and the Inn from various threats throughout the series, while bringing laughs and love to the characters involved. Beast is a dog-ish? Creature I would want in every story to keep me guessing on antics and what’s coming next! Love me some Beast

  32. My favorite character from the series is Her Grace Caldenia ka ret Magren! She’s savage, hilarious, and somehow the wisest person in the room all at once — always dishing out advice and low-key protecting everyone even while she’s roasting them with that acid wit.

  33. My favorite character from the innkeeper chronicles is Helen. In my dream world, some day there will be a grown up book about her. Ripper cushions!! 🥰

  34. Orro is my absolute favorite. He is a dramatic cooking god. What is there not to like?!

  35. Oh I love The Innkeeper Chronicles and my favorite character is Caldenia Ka Ret Magren.

  41. USA

    DINA

    She is the center around which all characters revolve. Without her, no Innkeeper Series (although I’m sure Mr Rodriguez has some awesome stories).

    All of my other favored characters need her. 😉

  42. Maud is my favorite character in the Innkeeper Chronicles. (Though Helen comes close, cause she’s too cute!)

  44. Orro! As a fellow chef I understand his temperament lol! Plus, his meals sound amazing.

  46. My favorite innkeeper character…. hmmmm…. It’d have to be Dina.
    I want to be her when I grow up!

  48. I can’t decide a favorite between Dina and Maud. I love the strong, smart lady lead!

  49. My favorite is Dina, because she ties all the parts together. But I love many of the characters. I’ve reread the series multiple times, and would love the hard copy with color photos!

  50. My favorite character from the innkeeper chronicles …. Haha I love them all in different ways….okay

    Orro.

    He is so unique and perfectly fits into Dina’s found family because he is allowed to be himself and he knows he is still loved. He is thriving and producing the most beautiful food at because of that.

  55. As an older woman, I have to admit my favorite character is Caldenia Ka Ret Magren, who will not go gently into that good night. I still tear up every time I read/listen to that scene in Sweep of the Heart… you know the one.
    Love the vellums, love all the time and effort you put into giving us goodies!
    Thank you and everyone have a safe fire season!

  56. It’s so hard to choose! But my favorite would have to be Dina.

    The innkeeper chronicles were my introduction to House Andrews and will always have a very special place in my heart because of that!

  57. I’ve got to go with Maud because I’m intrigued about her time-stopping magic. Also love Dina, of course.

  58. I’m not sure ifmy first reply went through, but if it did, just delete me Mod R. My favorite character is Maud, I love her inability to quit and her general badassery.Arland used to really annoy me, until he met Maud. They’re exactly what each other needs, and I love that.

  64. My favorite character is Dina because she never gives up! (But Maud comes a close second)

  65. My favorite character would have to be Orro. Every scene he’s in entertains and makes me happy!

  67. My initial knee jerk pick was Orro but after potty training my grandson I have a new appreciation for Sean. I wonder if all the peeing on trees will make them grow better?

  69. From the very minute he entered the Innkeeper Chronicles world, Orro has been my favorite character! I love how dramatic he is. He tried so hard to make that cheeseburger!

  72. Caldenia – I love her overwhelming commitment to being a predator and her culinary choices.

  73. Maud is my favorite. Life squished her down and she not only keeps moving, she’s thriving!

  74. Choosing a favorite character is hard, everyone at G.H. is wonderful! But my favorite is Helen.

  75. My favorite character is Her Grace Caldenia ka ret Magren. Such a funny character!

  76. My favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles is Sean. Tough choice because I love them all, but I’m drawn to the many changes in Sean’s life and how he came to accept who he was … each and every time the ground moved under his feet (patio grill scene, ha!) … so far, anyway.

    As I’ve gotten older and healthier my self-concept and self-acceptance has struggled to keep up with it all. And I’m pretty settled here in a single-planet, human-centric reality. His journey resonates with me. Go Sean!

  77. I am a sucker for dogs. I like Beast best. Orro is up there but Beast wins.

  78. As a mother I think I can relate to Maude the most, so I have to pick her 😊

  79. The house is my favorite. She was just waiting to be utilized to her fullest and she rises to every occasion.

  80. Although it is hard to choose my favorite character is Dina. I love how quick thinking she is in a pinch.

  82. My hands down favorite character is Maud. She tough, smart, and one determined lady. Plus an awesome mother!

  83. My favorite innkeeper character is Dina. she is smart, proactive and sure everything she can to protect those she loves and her guests! I love when people underestimate her!

  84. My favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles is Sean. Tough choice because I love them all, but I’m drawn to the many changes in Sean’s life and how he came to accept who he was … each and every time the ground moved under his feet (patio grill scene, ha!) … so far, anyway.

    As I’ve gotten older and healthier my self-concept and self-acceptance has struggled to keep up with it all. And I’m pretty settled here in a single-planet, human-centric reality. His journey resonates with me. Go Sean!

    (re-posted to include US location in case that’s important)

  85. I love a regal, refined villainess with a complicated backstory, Caledonia ka ret Magren will remain my favorite Innkeeper character.

  86. In the Innkeeper series, I love Arland Krahr. He is determined and confident even when wrong (like me), he is supportive and active on behalf of his chosen family (like me), and he is expressive in private while being private in public (like me). He values consent highly and is open to correction.

  87. Dina, because she understood the apple trees and had stars in her eyes.
    PS: Also because her second language is sarcasm as is mine.

  88. Maud and Helen! Love that story, looking forward to seeing their next adventure!

  90. I am currently rereading the Innkeeper series. My favorite character is Gertrude Hunt, the Inn (closely by Caldenia ka ret Magren)! Would love to see more from the Innkeeper series…

  91. I love Dina but have to say Maud became my favorite. So fierce and such a great mom to Helen. Loved her story!

  92. I am currently rereading the Innkeeper series. My favorite character is Gertrude Hunt, the Inn (closely by Orro)! Would love to see more from the Innkeeper series…

  93. Nuan Cookie!! I adore the entire cast of Innkeeper for their grit (Maud is my hero) and absurdist personalities; but Cookie is most definitely my favorite, as he’s the only one I would dare to cuddle if I could meet him real life. I remember squealing when Sweep of the Heart had all the character art and thinking I could pick Cookie up since the Lees were smaller than my imagined visual AHA!

  95. Maud and Helen. They stole my heart the moment they were introduced. All of the characters have a depth worth being a favorite but there is just something about those two.

  97. I love Dina, she’s so strong even when she doesn’t feel it. It’s a quiet consistent thing & her empathy makes her inn special.

  100. My favorite character is hard to pick. I am very fond of Beast and Lady Helen, though!