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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. My first thought was Orro then Maud. Favorite line though: It’s his wife! Bring all the donuts.

  3. I’m not entering the giveaway, as I received my pre-ordered, long awaited copy of the book yesterday. It is a gorgeous book! I’m torn between my Collector tendency to keep it pristine, or reading it with much pleasure.

  5. My favorite character is probably Helen. As a mom to a little girl, she really touched my heart – though I’m glad my little one is a little less athletic than Helen.

  8. It’s Caldenia all the way. To seem so nasty but show something softer just in glimpses. I swear the authors knew one of my aunts!!

  10. Favorite main character is Caldenia 😁
    Favorite guest Lady Wexyn!
    The plotting they do

  12. Hmmm, favorite Innkeeper character – so many to choose from. Dina of course.

    Love these giveaways.

  13. Orro is my favorite character, but Dina is a close second. I love to cook for family and friends, but providing safe spaces for those that need it is also a passion.

  14. I feel this is a completely unfair question, I love them all… If I must choose I choose Dina for being such a survivor. I love Maude for the same reason, but haven’t spent as much time with here. She is seriously badass though 😀

  15. Helen. She is just who she should be: a glorious kid who has made a marvelous adaption to her circumstances

  17. At first I was going to say Dina (who could not love her?) but on further reflection, I think it’s Officer Marais. He tries so hard in the early books to both do his job properly and deal with the unusual happenings. He’s thoughtful and measured when he learns what is really going on as well

  18. Maud, Hands down it’s Maud. I love Maud and her single mom struggles. I love that she’s inclusive and adaptable. I would love to be her neighbor, then friend 🥰 bcse there would be no way, I’d live so close to someone that remarkable and not be friends.

  19. So many great characters to choose from but for my favorite character I’m going to have to go with Gertrude Hunt. I love sentient houses, I want my own lol.

  20. I love Dina but my second favorite is Helen. Would love a spinoff series with her as an adult . So much fun!

  21. I adore Caledenia! I would love to drink tea with her and gossip about the neighborhood.

  22. Maud is my favorite Inn Keeper character. Confirming U.S. based.

    Thank you for the vellum update. The Horde appreciates your attention to quality and detail! May Maggie 2 creativity continue to flow with ease.

    Sending peace, health, safety and air conditioning to you all!

  24. Dina is my favorite! I just read this series this year and I can’t believe I waited so long to do so.

    I have an address in the US.

  26. My favorite character is Maud. Love an uber competent woman who can whoop a** both literally and figuratively.

  27. This is so difficult to choose one favorite. Part of the reason I love house Andrews is the amazing side characters. I am invested in them all. While I love Sean and Dina, they are the main characters and we’re expected to love them. So I’m gonna go with Caldenia. She is so unexpected and fearsome and delightful all at the same time.

    I am from the United States

    Thank you for the all the great books

  28. My favorite character in the Innkeeper Chronicles is Orro. Caldenia is a close second.

  29. Such a tough choice, still going with my favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles: Maud

  31. ahhh! I adore the Innkeeper Chronicles! It’s so hard to choose a favorite character, but I’m going with Caldenia. I picture her as Merle Streep. 😂

  32. Asking us to choose a favorite character is like asking us to choose a favorite book. Sooo hard!
    But I think my favorite is Cookie. I love the Lees!

  34. OMG Caldenia! Cookie is of course a close second out if sheer cuteness, but Caldenia is one of a kind.

  36. This one is very difficult. This is my fav book series. After much internal debate my favorite character in the Innkeeper Chronicles is Dina. wait Cookie, no, Dina.

  37. Caldenia is my favorite Innkeeper Chronicles character, but they’re all wonderful. Dina, Orro, and Maud are all tied for close second.

  40. My favorite character overall is Maud, who is amazing, but for books that don’t include her, absolutely Dina. Dina is the first House Andrews character I met, and I adore her.

    I’m in the U.S.

  42. Hands down it’s Caldenia, nothing out of her mouth ever disappoints. Then that heartbreaking story. ❤️‍🩹

  43. Helen is my favorite character. Can not wait to see her as a teenager and adult.
    Scenes with her always put a smile on my face!

  45. Orro is my favorite! Who doesn’t love a giant, prickly hedgehog that cooks like a dream!

  46. I’d have to say Dina is my favorite. It’s not just that she has really cool magic. It’s that she really tries to make her guests comfortable, which requires taking the time to learn about their species and their customs. Something we should all take the time to do.

    • Because Dina takes the time to learn about a species and their ways, she surprises even a sneaky, manipulative Abritrator named George. 😉😂🤣

  48. my favorite character is Maud! I love the whole series but Maud is amazing when dealing with vampires.

  52. Must I choose just one? Innkeeper has such a wonderful cast of characters. I love Helen’s ripper cushions, Orro’s quirks, Arland and Maude’s take no prisoners attitude, but without Dina there just wouldn’t be an Innkeeper. She is literally the heart and soul of the series. So Dina it is.

  54. Matilda, the Sariv, the Learned One, Heir to DeMille, Maven to House Krahr, is my favorite.

  55. It’s soooo difficult to choose! I finally decided that my favorite character would be the one I most want a book written for, so, Helen. from the US.

  57. Omg the series is full of likeable characters. I probably have to say that Dina is my favorite but Orro would easily win if I could taste something he made. Also I have to shout out Donna (although I did have to go look up her name). Guess I need to reread again.

  58. My favorite character is Sean.

    He just feels steady and grounded and relatable even though he turns into a werewolf.

  59. Pick just one? Inconceivable!

    After changing my mind at least 5 times, going with DINA. Practicalability, perseverance, magic and HEART.

  62. My favorite character in the Innkeeper series — so hard to pick! But overall Sean. He supports Dina in such a deliberate way! They are a great team.

  64. My favorite character in Innkeeper is Maud. She is fierce, tough and a survivor. Her book Sweep of the Blade was my favorite. Thank you for writing such amazing characters!

  65. My favorite Innkeeper character of those three books is the Khanum. I love her motivation and the invitations to tea. The scene from her perspective at the end of the book is one of the most moving mother viewpoints in anything I have read.

  66. My favorite character has to be Cookie. He is so marvelously manipulative. I can just picture all that ruthlessness wrapped up in total cuteness.

  67. Maude is my favorite. I Love her personality and because she was brave enough to try again after her first failure of a marriage.

  69. So many wonderful characters, so so hard to pick one…but I have to go with Orro since his voice actor in the Graphic Audio is amazing, always made me laugh.

  72. It has to be Dina for favorite character. From her southern accent right down to that must-get-me-one broom of hers, she has my full attention whenever she enters the story.

  73. It’s got to be Orro! Every description of his food is such a treat and immediately makes me hungry!

  74. Beast is my very favorite character. Love the little doggy side kick.
    Also as someone who works in the print industry I feel the knowing more about vellum sheets then you ever thought or wanted to know bit. 😅

  78. Arland is my favorite character. He manages (mostly) to blend duty and responsibility with the complexities of a personal life.

  79. My favorite character is Helen!

    (I live outside the US but can give a US address for the giveaway.)

  81. Had to think about this, because I’m a fan of both sisters. Both are steadfast, both are intelligent and both are warriors. Think I’m choosing Dina because of her peaceful and unassuming presentation. Good camouflage for a total badass!

  82. Helen is my favorite. I love how even as a little girl we see her struggle because she’s different. I only wish I could have dealt with the bullies in such a way. I’m in Texas praying that AC keeps going.

  84. Innkeeper has so much humanity in its characters, it’s hard to choose, but I really love Maud. She is an ass kicker and I want to be her when I grow up.

  85. Arland is my favorite character. The multiple layers in the character and a vampire. Very unique.
    I am from the US.

  86. It is SO hard to choose a favorite but the first name to pop into my head was Orro. I love his wildly melodramatic outbursts, his striving for perfection in his art and his big heart.
    (I am a US horde member)

  87. Officer Hector Marais is my favorite because his journey from “this inn is definitely suspicious” to “I guess intergalactic diplomacy is part of the job now” is one of the most satisfying arcs in the series, and he somehow manages to stay competent, honorable, and delightfully unflappable through all of it.

  88. My favorite character is Maude. I admire how she can patiently wait. But I would totally give Orro many mangoes.

    • I am from the US (San Diego – which still tries to be America’s finest city, even if we really aren’t right now). I’m fixing my entry with my support for Maude. Following directions – very hard for me today.

  89. Love all the characters, but if I had to pick favorites, Gertrude Hunt the Inn, Olasard the Maine coon, and Dina, in no particular order

  90. I have not read inn keeper yet but I love 💕 all the other books from house Andrews so much I can’t wait to read them

  91. My favorite character is Dina!

    I’m in the US in case we need to mention it like the last giveaway.

  92. My favorite character is Dina, probably cause I’m always dealing with shenanigans too.

  93. This created an entire debate with my teenager over who is the best. Every time we narrowed it down was followed by a “but what about…”
    Final decision is Maude because I want to be a badass parent like her. (Teenager disagrees and votes olasard)

  94. There are so many to choose from! I have always enjoyed Maud’s story for redemption and competence in navigating Vampire Society. However, I think I’m going with Karat for the friendship with Maud and the potential for future stories

  97. My favorite Innkeeper character is Helen. I would love for her to be the star of her own series some day.

  98. Maud is my favorite of the series! The Innkeeper Chronicles are such a comfort read for me <3