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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

  3. I’m on Team Maud; Maud the Red, the Sarive, the Learned One, Maven of House Krahr.

  4. Dina is my favorite character. Quiet strength, confidence and empathy are unbeatable character traits.

  13. Lord Arland, Marshal of House Krahr and full moon in Dina’s orchard is my favorite character. The coffee scene still makes me laugh hysterically.

  15. I will forever love ORRO. The absolute drama he gives brings me so much joy.

  18. Caldenia! The elegant viciousness that unexpectedly bubbles up is hilarious. The description of her sharp teeth and multiple hearts contrasting with the graceful illustration catches my eye every time I read the series.

  19. I think my favorite in the Innkeeper Chronicles is Karat. When she talks about not liking people, I felt this in my soul!

  20. Dina is my favorite character in the Innkeeper Chronicles. I strive to have her level of patience and courage.

  22. My favorite character has to be Dina, but I also love Sean, Helen, Maud, Arlen, Orro… heck, all the regulars! (Even Caldenia, eventually.)

  23. Ooo what a lovely giveaway! Tough choice for fav character as they are all so amazing, but love Orro – his tasty eats served with a side of dramatic flair!

  25. My favorite character is Gertrude Hunt. That is the inn itself. I think it has a loving and caring personality. I wish I were an innkeeper and could live in a home that rearranged itself—SO helpful and easy to clean. I also like its ability to absorb building materials and then make things like outdoor kitchens and defensive traps because you never know when zombies or their friends will out stay their welcome.

  36. Her Grace, Caldenia ka ret Magren; Letere Olivione,Dystim Arbient, She who controls fate the light of the midnight sun.

    I liked her more and more but sweep of the heart made her a genuine unique character. As an American and son of Mexican immigrants, what she would do for family really hit hard, especially being the oldest child. Caldenia is my favorite with Orro a close second but honestly picking one is almost impossible.

  38. I have to says it’s Maude. It’s her tenacity and will that won’t let her be broken.

  39. Caldenia. The utter ruthlessness underpinned by personal sacrifice and love of family draws me.

  40. Arland is my favorite character, soo much more depth to him than his first appearance suggested😅

  46. Gertrude Hunt is my favorite if it counts as a character. I often find myself wondering of the possibilities if my home were able to make changes like Gertrude Hunt.

    If it doesn’t count as a character, then Dina. She gives those in need the a second chance.

  48. Dinah is my favorite character. It was actually hard to pick because I love so many of them.

  51. Helen. She takes ‘Go boldly forth’ to a whole new level sneaking onto the battle station

  53. Orro is my favorite character because I love to eat and have always wanted my very own personal chef. Dinah is fortunate to have such wonderful people surrounding her which includes Caldenia.

  54. Dear Moderator, my apologies for misspelling Dina’s name. Obviously, I should have read my comment one more time AND had my second cup of coffee before I sent it!

  56. It’s a bit like asking who your favorite kid is, but while I adore all of the Innkeeper books and characters, I’ll have to go with Caldenia for the best of machinations and I’m in the US.

    Thanks for all the vellum efforts. It’s a lovely fan service in any form and I’m sorry you had to do so many test runs! Also kudos to Kid 2 and Rito for extraordinary envelope-stuffing endeavors.

  57. Orro is one of my favorites. Because he is a chef (duh) and a drama llama. I also adore Cookie because…well come on he’s Cookie. Sweet,cuddly, ajd will be deadly as hell.

  58. It’s hard to pick a favorite. It might be Sean – I just love his loyalty and seeing how the whole world opens up in his eyes in the first two books. Of the background characters, any of the Lees might be it for me. They’re just so crafty and funny and adorable!

  60. My favourite character is Sean. He has such an interesting arc! He has evolved from a clueless werewolf to an extremely capable innkeeper. He has a deadly focus on every threat to Dina, the Inn and those he cares about but he always keeps his cools (until he lets go and becomes the Alpha”) and is funny and witty. He is full of surprises.

  62. Dina though it’s hard to choose! Beast, Sean, and the Inn itself are all ones I considered though. I love Dina’s growth, tenacity, and generosity.

  65. oh man, to pick just one favorite… probably Orro, because I love how dramatic he is, and his food sounds out of this world (ha) delicious

  67. I really like First Scholar Thek. He’s a minor character, but there’s something about his hat. I don’t understand how it stays in his head.

  69. Caldenia she’s marvelously a complicated character with depth and fun quips.

  73. Caldenia! The sarcastic viciousness that unexpectedly shows up is hilarious. I can’t wait for the scenes she is in every time I read the series.

  74. Oh dear. How to choose? Dina seems the obvious choice, but Helen, with her ripper-cushions is quite adorable (as is Beast, come to that). But operating on the game show logic of sticking with your first thought, I’ll say Dina.

  76. My favorite character in the Innkeeper Chronicles is Orro, the Red Cleaver Chef.

  77. Lady Caldenia.
    Wanted criminal, former dictator, connoisseur of Mellow Yellow and Funions and unexpected mentor. She is a pleasure any time she is on the page.

  78. Dina is my favorite character. I love her because her attitude reminds me of myself.

  79. Honestly, that is such a hard ask. I have loved all the characters so far. Dina, Maud, Helen, any of the Lees…How to pick one?! I am very intrigued by the Drifan Liege lord, Adira. I wonder if one day you might write her story? I suppose if I HAVE to pick one….Dina, because she has so many other interesting characters surrounding her, with so many different stories to explore.

  81. I love all the characters but we get to see Dina and Sean’s story unfold and we get to see Maud and Arland’s story unfold so I can be content.

    My favorite is Caldenia.

    Her character arc still has secrets and I still don’t think we’ve seen the potential in her and I want to know More!!! She’s complicated and her world opens up the whole Innkeeper universe for potential stories and I’m here for it! I wanna see her trade barbs with Sophie and George and the Lees while popping her Yellow Mellow sodas and wielding inconvenient facts like a rapier while Dina and Sean put out the fires she stirs up. It would be awesome!

  83. My favorite character is definitely Caldenia ka ret Magren. I too wish I could spend my days eating Funyuns and plotting.

  88. Dina is my favorite! I resonated so much with her while reading… I admire her strength, kindness, and resilience.

  89. Karat anyday – the way she handles Gaston and Dagorkun fighting over her. Super Yummy !!!

  91. Favorite character: would be Dina due to her kind heart and empathy regarding all life in the where-ever. Next would be Gertrude Hunt.

  94. My favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles is Dina. She is so strong and self-sufficient, yet cam graciously accept help when needed.

  95. Here here for Donna- love that she took out an alien at Costco and that we get to know her better!

  96. I’m so tempted to say Team Maud or Officer Marais’ wife Donna (aka the Costco lady) but then how do you get past Orro’s obsession with “Fire & Lightning”, his secret predilection for Mangoes, his recounting of Christmas being armed packs of young men seeking “a wise elder in a red suit” and then there’s all the donuts to help Officer Marais not lose his badge with his Captain. Priceless!