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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

  1. Dina is my favorite character, of course, if I have to pick. But I truly love them all. This of my comfort series.

  2. My favorite Innkeeper character is Orro. Who else can be so dramatic and effective?

  4. Caldenia… graceful, intelligent, ruthless but sacrificial. She is willing to do what she must for those she holds dear, including her own people.

  5. The Innkeeper series was also my gateway into IA-world! So hard to choose – Dina has to be my favorite recurring character, I keep re-reading just to have her voice in my head, but I *really* want to see more scenes with Officer Marais’ wife. Dina was always the one in her family who wanted a “normal” life. Maybe she could use another female friend to drink tea and talk fiber arts with???

  6. My favorite is Beast as I have a Shih Tzu that acts the same way. She is convinced she is much larger than all the dogs in my neighborhood.

    • All the characters in the series are awesome. If I nam required to only list one than Diana.

  8. My favorite could easily change day by day, but today I would say Helen. I don’t do bacon but her thievery is sublime.

  9. My first ever post..but a giveaway of one of my favorite series I must!
    I love all the characters in the Innkeeper Chronicles but I have to chose Maud. A protective badass mom I can relate to!

  10. My favorite Innkeeper character is Maude. I love reading and re-reading her book. I think it’s the whole vampire politics that have me enthralled.

  11. Dina would be my favorite pick from memory it has been awhile since I reread the series I may just have to go back and read it again.

  12. Helen. Besides the fact that I also think bacon is amazing and worth stealing, she’s both clever and cute enough to get away with all kinds of things.

  13. Dina, followed closely by Helen (and everyone else). It’s so hard to pick just one!

  14. My favorite character is Dina. She seems like someone that I would love to have for a friend due to her personality. The character I admire the most is Sean, however. He always stays true to what he values, even when it is difficult or at personal cost.

  20. Oh, please let me enter the giveaway. I haven’t read the Innkeeper Chronicles yet, so I don’t have a favorite character. My first HA book was TKWNKM, and I’m just starting out on my journey.

    I’m excited to meet my favorite character!

  22. Maud is my favorite character because she refuses to let adversity stop her. Of course Helen is such an appealing character that she is a close second. I love all of the characters so I could make an argument for almost any of them.

  25. Officer Marais! All around good guy, *and* he handles it ridiculously well when he learns all about the inns and aliens.

  27. Gertrude Hunt is my fav character, with Dina a close second. But Cookie gets an honorable mention!!

  28. Elizabeth from Forest Park, Illinois.

    Caldenia is my favorite character from Innkeeper. Fierce, pragmatic, willing to do whatever it takes to reach her goals with grace and style. As a fan of a certain age, Caldenia is my next cosplay. I just need to get the teeth!

  30. My favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles is Maud (and Helen of course).
    But Maud impressed me with her ability to overcome her past and survive the vampire world while protecting her daughter.

  32. My favorite character is Nuan Cookie! I love re-reading this series every time I find some little tidbit that I missed because I was devouring so quickly. Thank you House Andrews and Mod R for what you do.

  33. I am so excited that there is a giveaway of my favorite series. Dina Demille is my favorite. She is a true care bear.

  36. My favorite character is Sean. His mischievous humor, protectiveness, and that he finds his way back through trauma

  37. Ugh! Making us choose a favorite character from the Inn Keeper series is like choosing between your children (jk). I was really split between Caldenia and Orro. I find Orro so sweet and dramatic. In my head, I picture him as an Opera star. But Caldenia has such depths, that I have to go with her as my favorite.

  39. I like Sean from the Innkeeper series because I can relate to him or find glimpses of him in the people around me. I think my favorite character though… would have to be the galactic bride who won that Civ6 type game through trading. I usually win through war but I try the trade route occasionally. for a favorite character whose name I can remember definitely officer Morales (sp?). he’s so good at his job; learns new info and incorporates it to be better. I guess I like the characters who inspire me to be a better version of myself

  40. Orro- I need his cooking in my life! And thank you for learning so much about vellum for your devoted Horde.

  43. My favorite character is Beast. Who wouldn’t want such a staunch guardian.

    Yayyy giveaways!

  44. hi –
    Choosing a favorite character is traumatic!
    I guess Gertrude Hunt is my favorite – so attached and in a way desperate for Dina. Almost like a neglected dog Dina found left in someone’s backyard. And she is restoring the Inn too life with love and reassurance.
    ALL POWERFUL within it’s territory. But limited reach = makes me feel cozy. And I very much wish I had an Inn.

  47. Dina is my favorite. She’s smart enough to realize that she’s “found” her family.

  48. Although I love Dina, Maud is my favorite character. I appreciate her wisdom and perseverance in difficult situations.

  49. Obligatory, I love them all! But I think today, it’s Her Grace Caldenia. I love her dry wit and rather eccentric expertise! Plus the manners are impeccable.

  51. Sean Evans: arrogant, condescending and hilarious!!! Who else would think of marking his territory by peeing on an apple tree!!!!!

  56. My fav was Dina til I met Maud. She’s a badass momma bear and the book is a great comfort read.

  58. I love all the characters in the Innkeeper series, but if I had to pick a favorite it would probably be Orro.

  61. Ooh, I have to pick only one? Well, as a baker, I guess I have to go with Orro – the “Bring all the doughnuts!” scene in Sweep of the Heart cracks me up every time. There are days I wish I had a giant hedgehog master chef bearing a mountain of doughnuts.

  62. I love all the characters so it’s hard to choose just one! It’s a tie between Dina and Orro for me.

  64. I will forever love the adorableness of Beast and Dina is the perfect FMC. But Her Grace Caldenia is definitely top of my list. She is absolutely delightful.

  66. It’s a tough choice but Maud is my favorite character.

    Can we enter if we can provide a US shipping address, even if we don’t live there?

  69. I guess I can be bought!

    My favorite character from the books is Caldenia. Her backstory is heartbreaking but she is unbowed.

  70. oh! I want this. I really like Dina. it might be lame to name the main character, but she’s actually one of my favorites of all the heroines. I like that she isn’t physically strong.

  71. Maud is my favorite character! As an older sister I completely identify with her struggles!
    Helen or Beast are a close tie for second.

  72. How do you just pick one?! I love these books and if pressed I would have to pick Dina. However nuan cee and cookie I also love. Oh and Orro . Also I love the cross over with George, Gaston and Jack. I have to stop now or I’ll be here all day!! Thank you for these wonderful books!

  73. I adore all of the characters in Innkeeper, but Orro holds a special place in my heart. I always hear him with Nathan Lane’s voice, especially when he’s in full Shakespearean drama mode.

  74. I love Maud! She’s fought for & found her place & made a way for her daughter to stay with the vampires. I’d love to know more about her magic & interactions with her MIL.

  75. My favorite character in the Innkeeper Series is Maud. Sweep of the Blade is my most re-read of the series.

  76. My favorite character is Gertrude Hunt; the Inn is always trying to look out for everyone.

  78. Can I say Gertrude Hunt is my favorite character? I love how she interacts with everyone and gives travelers a comfortable resting place.

  79. I cannot choose between Dina and Sean as my favorite charaters, I’m sorry, they are a “do not separate” set.

  81. I immediately thought, Maude, definitely!

    And then caught comments as I scrolled through – so many resonated with me and I find myself somewhat wavering. It’s part of why I find myself rereading these books – depending on my mood and circumstances, a different (or multiple) character(s) will speak to me more.

    But Maude doesn’t waver, she endures – both in life and at the top of the list! [sighs] I wanna be her some day.

  82. Maud is absolutely my favorite. As a mom who needs to endure the hard stuff, I relate to her.

  85. I love the whole Gertrude Hunt family, it’s so hard to rank them. I do know that I am always hoping for Donna Marais to have an appearance and I hope she becomes part of the Gertrude Hunt family as well. And that she will be able to sample more of Orro’s skills beyond strawberry doughnuts.

  87. Orro is my absolute favorite ❣️ He’s absolutely adorable and an amazing chef. Such a perfect combination! 😍

  89. I love so many characters but I think Orro, Beast and the Lees are my favorite. While I love Dina, these other characters add so much fun to the stories.

  90. My favorite Innkeeper character is Maud, if I must pick. As a parent of precocious daughters, I see a lot that just clicks with me in her (even if I am NOWHERE near that kick-butt!).

  91. I love Orro best because he hits all my favorite tropes: found family after a major blow, food descriptions that make me hungry, and some wonderfully funny lines and scenes as a supporting character.

    Coming to you from the southwestern US.

  92. My favorite is Caldenia, but Sean is also a fav since same name and similar personality to my brother. In truth, I love them all. 🙂

  94. I have to say Orro. His explanation of Christmas in context of A Christmas Story was so good!

  95. This is like having to choose between my own children, booo. But my favorite character has to be…Maud. Get it girl!

  97. Orro is my favorite character because how can you not love a giant insecure spiky alien chef!

  98. I almost went with Maud, but I think Dina edges her out the tiniest bit—because Dina is a nurturer and builder, not a warrior—though when she has to fight, she is effective. I relate to that so much! Back in the day when I played Warcraft 2 addictively, I usually selected 3-6 computer opponents, then set out with my orcs building walls as fast as I absolutely could—keeping the opponents out if I was good enough. Until they got either dragons or griffins, anyway. Even further back, I loved playing SimCity on my old Mac SE! So Dina is the one! 💜💜💜

  99. Dina is my favorite and Orro is my favorite support person. The Innkeeper series is my favorite

  100. My favorite character is Sebastian North otherwise known as Olasard. There is a story there yet to be told and his mystery intrigues me!