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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. Orro is my favorite character. I love to read about his food. of course I love all the characters in the books.

  4. I just started the series but so far I love Dina! I can’t wait to get to know more of the characters though!

  5. Oooh I love Helen. She was seriously the best with her ripper cushions and boldly making her way to the space station.

  7. I have a hard time choosing between Dina and Maude, but I think I would pick Maude.

  8. I love all of the characters but if I have to choose a favorite it would have to be Arland Krahr. I especially love him and Maud together.

  9. I love the lees, honestly. Nuan Cee, Cookie. I’m curious about their home planet and evolution.

  15. My favorite character is Orro!

    In fact, I found a hedgehog plushie on sale at the grocery store a few years ago, so I bought it, made a small apron on a hand loom, and now I have my own stuffed Orro to read Innkeeper with 🦔

  21. There are so many wonderful characters, but I think I have to go with Orro. He, of the raised claws for the kill!

  22. I both love and hate this question because it’s so hard to answer lol

    If I must choose my favorite has to be Dina though I love them all!

  24. I started reading your books with the Innkeeper Chronicles back those many years ago and have read all of your books and serials and have loved each one.

    My favorite character in the Innkeeper Chronicles is Maud. I love and understand her vulnerability, strength, and determination.

    I am looking forward to the next Innkeeper book which will have her wedding and a conclusion to their parents’ story. Reading the reaction to the new door to Dina’s Inn (and how it impacts Helen with the ease of visiting Earth and the restrictions on when she can go, imagine the sneaking she’ll do) in my imagination is epic and add then add in the reunion with Klaus! Sigh, I know it will be several years before this book comes out, but I will wait eagerly for it.

  25. Dina – her competence combined with a huge heart to care for all the beings and creatures who surround her warms me every time I reread the collection.

  29. What a hard question! I’ll have to go with Sean as my favorite Innkeeper Chronicles character.

  30. Cookie, the merchant clan has so many rich dynamics and personalities it’s interesting to see the chaos they bring.

  31. The inn is my favorite character. I love how much it brings to the story and how its character has grown with the books.

  34. I like Maud as she is a fierce mother and also a fighter. She does everything she can and she deserves some happiness after her husband’s death. Shes deadly in the political realm act with a sword. What’s not to love?

  35. US here, I adore Sean. Pre-Nexus Sean was a little annoying, but now he’s my favorite character.

  36. A combo of Arland/Sean because they take such delight in trying to one-up each other.

  38. Arland’s Uncle Lord Soren has given me many smiles and is my favorite. As a woman “of age”, his age and insight into the mechanicians and absurdities of life make me smile.

  39. Dina is my favorite character! Although the lees are just an adorable race overall and love the tie in to Inheritance.

  41. So kind of you! My favorite character is Maud. I love her determination and her sense of honor and self-worth.

  43. My favorite character right now, as I’m relistening, is Caldenia. I’ve always loved complicated characters.

  44. My favorite character is Orro. Hedgehog neurotic chef for the win! Next just need to get him on a galactic cooking competition..
    Also funny story, my best friend read Innkeeper without knowing I had already read it. She was telling me how’d like this awesome funny chef character and all about Orro’s quirks without saying the book title. I was just like “Its Orro!!”

  45. I really like Caldenia – when she shows up there will be unexpected things happening- and for humor my favorite is Orro

  46. There are so many characters I love in this series. Actually it is my favorite series by HA. TKWKM will probably push it to second but not yet. I love Maude, her strength and resolve. I have read her book multiple times.

  47. favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles: Sean

    I love that he is a poetic badass.

  53. I think my favourite character in the Innkeeper world is probably Maud- I love Dina and her stories, but Maud (and Helen) are just extra special!
    That being said, I don’t hate any of our ‘good’ guys 😂

  54. My favourite INNKEEPER character is Beast, because I am confident she would be able to protect us from thunder and other loud noises.

  55. Dina is my favorite character, but the story would not be the same for me without supporting cast members Sean, Orro and Caldenia. I love the vibrancy that they bring to story.

  56. Yay that Maggie 2 is getting closer and closer to the finish line. And yay for more vellum!

    My fave Innkeeper character is Maud. I love Sweep of the Blade so much and I’m hoping Subterranean will do a reprint of Vol 2.

  57. Orro is definitely my favorite! He’s so cute and dramatic but mostly I like to imagine eating his creations. Especially the mango based ones!

  59. Love Maud!! Her independence, strength, and vulnerability makes her my fav character.

  60. Favorite character…that’s really hard. The more I think about it, the harder it is. So, Sean, because of the line, “Do I get you?”

  62. Hmm I think my favorite character is caldenia or maud. But really all of your characters are so well written it’s hard to choose! Oh maybe arbitrator George too if he counts 🤣

    I have been dying for the volume 1 to go with my volume 2 of the innkeeper chronicles so 🤞

    I am in the US (North Carolina)

  63. Helen is my favorite character the Innkeeper Chronicles, maybe because kids always have the most potential

  65. My favorite Innkeeper character isn’t a fixed target, but for now I’d say Officer Marais. He gets thrown into the deep end of all the weirdness and he just handles it.

    US-based, confirmed.

  66. I have to admit to loving Maud then Helen. ( sorry Dina!) Love each series and have scrambled to find & read each book. I read them over & over. Thanks!

  67. My favorite character is the character that the books revolve around. Gertrude Hunt! The character who worries about Dina and loves and cares for those who love Dina.

  69. Helen, who has adventures and lives her best life even though there will be ripper cushions

  70. I agree with everyone else who said it is impossible to have only one character as favourite.

    However, i would like to give one vote for the power couple, Officer and Mrs. Marais. Officer for his ability to incorporate the weirdness of Gertrude Hunt et al into his life and still be an upstanding for for rules. Mrs. For her can throwing abilities.

    (I am not ‘murican so I’m not in the (Gertrude) hunt for a prize.)

  71. While I love all the characters in Innkeeper, my absolute favorite is Caldenia. She gave up her entire life for her brother and his children, guides Dina through political quagmires, and adds humor to every scene she is in.

  72. Maude. There are so many excellent characters but if I had to narrow it down to a single character, I have to pick Maude.

    US based.

  75. My favorite character in Innkeeper is Her Grace, Caldenia ka ret Magren

    😎I’m in USA

  77. Can I choose Gertrude Hunt? I know the Innkeepers can’t confirm true sentience but the Inn sure proves itself time and again. The way it responds to Dina sure seems to confirm some type of “feelings”.

  78. Maud is definitely my favorite!! Maud trained her daughter to defend herself, honor the vampire tradition, and recognize she is special.

  80. My favorite character is Caldenia. She has a strict moral code (not one we always agree with) that she lives by. She is also a survivor, with many layers and I doubt we’ve seen them all.

  82. I started out convinced it could never be Maud. And yet, she and her fierce daughter stole my heart. So yeah, it’s Maud. Followed by Helen.

  85. Ahh picking a favorite is hard but I think Maud edges out the rest by just a small smidge! I just really love how she didn’t let her past hold her back from finding her own happiness. Plus she’s got the most adorable daughter 🙂

  87. So many characters to choose from, for different reasons, but I guess my overall favorite is Maud. She knows what she wants and goes for it…once she gets out of her own way.

  88. Caldenia for sure, her voice actor in the graphic audio version does a great job bringing her to life.

  89. Helen. She has an amazing future. Dina is the series, and all the characters are fabulous, but Helen is the future.

  91. My favorite character from Innkeeper is Dina. I love so many of the other characters that I had to stop and think this through.

  92. It’s Maud and I love that there exists another Maud across the HA universe and maybe someday magic happens to tie it all together.

  93. It’s hard to pick a favorite character from so many! I just love Maud. I love her grit, her relationship with Helen, her ability to keep going without giving up. Then, after everything with Melizard, she was able to open her heart and trust in love again. A character to be admired.

    • Don’t you love the fact that his name can be resd as Me Lizard? So much more appropriate!

  95. You all have such a dedication to excellence, and I just wanted to say it is appreciated.

    My favorite character from the Innkeeper series is Orro. He always makes me smile. Love his theatrics.

  96. I’m going with Dina for my favorite character, but it’s really hard to pick just one.

    Caldenia, Maud, Orro & Gertrude Hunt were all vying for the top spot with the others not far behind. 😉

  99. If I have to pick one, I suppose it will be Dina. Teh problem is the Innkeeper characters are all amazing! Dina is the clear star, but Orro bakes the cake. And who can resist the cake? Then Sean is too cool for words. I’m feeling time for a re-read…

  100. Wow, what a difficult decision to narrow it down to one character out of a so many wonderful characters! I would have to go with Caldenia, with Maud a close second. This is my go to series when I need a stress relief from life! Thanks, House Andrews, for this incredible and fantastic series!