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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. Cookie for sure! There’s just something so adorable about him I love him so much!!

  3. “Orrooooo” they wailed into the night sky, the plate of delicate otherworldly cookies now only crumbs on the porch.

    Don’t we all wish we had an Orro?

  5. I love them all….but I pick Helen. That kid is amazing and I’ll take any ripper cushions from this choice!

  7. I love so many characters but my favorite has to be Dina. She is so freaking good at her job and so strong and capable and I love reading from her point of view. I’m dying for the next Innkeeper book but in the meantime I’ll keep listening to the Graphic Audios : )

  9. Love the book bribe but arthritis has forced me to shift to e books only. Good luck to the rest of you!

  13. My favorite character? Each one as I am reading about them! Dina, Maid, Helen, Sean and Arland…. Oreo, Cookie…. Barsa Barsa!!
    Who can pick?

    Sigh, I’ll go Maud for the moment, since I am highly anticipating a certain wedding which may also clear up a certain mystery about the parental units. (BUT – Arabella!)

    No, no, no! NO PRESSURE on the Author Lords!! I will gratefully pay for any material the Author Lords choose to write. Mental health is paramount to longevity!

    • Oh I forgot to ask, Mod R-

      1) Is a Maggie picture going to be available to purchase in the future?

      2) Will the vellum continue to be available to order even after July 8?

      I’ve been holding off to see if I can order Maggie with the rest of the vellum.

      • For now, the Maggie art can only be purchased from Luisa Preissler.

        I am not sure on exact dates due to fulfilment, House Andrews will announce! But if there’s a break, it’s likely to be a short one 🙂

  14. My favorite character is Dina, but of course if I could pick a second or a third I’d have to include First Scholar Thek and Sean. It’s so hard to choose when they’re all so compelling!

  15. I pick Orro, but really just loved all the characters in this series. Each book got better and better.

  17. Dina is my favorite in the series. She is loyal, compassionate, strong, and extremely intelligent.

  19. I love Arland since he seems so simple but in Maud’s book you see his scheming. Also probably why Caldenia is my second favorite character. In the US.

  21. For me, it’s got to be Dina. Yes, she is our introduction to the Innkeeper world, but as someone else said, she is the heart and soul of the series.

  26. Maude. I really debated Maude or Helen and went with Maude because she is a person I aspire to be.
    She is thoughtful, kind, analytical, committed to doing the right things and still open to new adventures.

    Ruth from Virginia, USA.

  28. So I love Dina so much! Her calming personality and very focused mentality is incredible! When I was reading these, I found myself comparing my mentality to Dina’s when I had the realization that I’m not Dina, I’m Maud. I guess I’m a bit too hot headed.

  30. My favorite character is Orro because he is such a dramatically inclined character. His “Just Go” line with the accompanying dramatic gestures feels so Shakespearean. He’s a joy to read about and so tenacious about his cooking.

    My husband’s favorite character would have to be Maud because anytime he rereads the series, he ALWAYS starts with “Sweep of the Blade”.

  31. Pick a FAVORITE Inkeeper character??

    That would require the wisdom of the First Scholar Thek. But it’s always going to be good when Arland shows up 🙂

  32. Maud is my favorite character. She is a strong and resilient character and I love her interactions with her daughter and Arland. A close second would be Nuan Cee and their entire clan.

  33. Never thought I would say this, but Nuan Cee is my favorite. Sure he is a ruthless businessman and negotiator, but he fiercely defended his peoples rights on Nexus, he saved Helen, he adores Maude and Dina and family is always first in his mind and heart. Also we tend to forget… he is just as cute as all the other little Lees.

  34. My favorite character is Beast because she is so much more than just a cuddly pup.

  42. I definitely am attached to Dina the most but Caldenia is a close second. ❤️

  43. I’m not sure if she counts, but my favorite character is Helen Demille. I come to this conclusion because Dina and Maud are tied for my second favorite characters and I trust them and their feelings on other characters.

    All three of Helen’s children are so strong, brave, and driven and still searching for her and Gerard. While all the other Innkeepers seem to have an awe for Gerard, and I in no way downplay him in this, I think Helen is the binding force of their family.

    Their children have traversed the known galaxy searching for them and Dina and Klaus’s feelings of desperation and loss broke through even the horrors of Nexus and made warring species feel a need to keep an eye out for the Demilles too. There is so much love there. Dina and Maud both reminisce about their father, but I so enjoy the moments they see their mother in themselves, both physically and emotionally. How they are so proud of showing off “Mom’s Take-Care”, or how Maud named her daughter Helen even with her concerns that some vampires might take issue with her being half human. They are so proud of their mother, and, I think, baby Helen is the ultimate sign that the sisters know their mom is a sweet, loving, bad-ass of a woman. I can’t wait to officially meet her because I love her just from the glimpses we’ve already had.

  46. My favorite character is Caldenia ka ret Magren- her scenes are an engaging mix of top-tier advice and ‘I can’t believe she said that!”

  47. Dina is my favorite character in the Innkeeper series, but I also really love Orro. And Sean. They’re the best.

  49. Hard to choose, just finished re-reading all of Kate Daniels and Innkeeper, trying to wean myself off listening to Maggie on endless repeat loop, and this time through I really liked Arland of House Krahr.

    In Louisiana USA.

  50. My favorite Innkeeper character is Dina. Strong independent women are always my favorite characters.

  53. Dina is my favorite – she is dedicated to making all the guests (and staff) feel at home.
    Maud (for badassery) and Helen (for adorableness) are close behind.

  55. My favorite character is Orro! In my heart of hearts, I am also a prickly chef that gets giddy over the little things that bring me joy (like feeding loved ones)

  56. MAUDE!!! 💜💜💜

    Badass single mom who survived a narcissistic husband to raise an AMAZING Helen and become who she was meant to be!! She never gives up or cuts corners… She endures!!!

  58. I would have to say I have too many favorites but I’ll go with Cookie because of the entertainment!

  59. My favorite character is Maud. Don’t get me wrong, I love the whole series, and I’m trying to be chalant about when the next book will come out.

  61. My favorite character is Gertrude Hunt herself. She works so hard to provide for all of Dina’s needs for herself, her guests, and Dina’s quest to find her parents.

    Helen is my runner up.

  62. So hard to choose, but Maude is so fun. Both a mother and warrior. And she gets all the fun space travel!

  63. I love the main cast of characters and my favorite varies day to day, but Lady Wexyn was such a hilarious and refreshing surprise as a side character I think the honor goes to her today.

    (USA)

  64. My favorite is Gaston, in Sweep of the Heart. I realize, he is a cross-over character from the Edge series but he presents himself with such energy and brio, he is simply irresistable.

  65. I am in love with the many moods of Beast! Now if I could just find a Beast of my own..

  66. My favorite character is Lady Wexyn, seen as an airhead, but actually deadly and romantic.
    Jane

  68. Omgosh, just one favorite character? I would have to go with Caldenia. She has been thrown so many curveballs in life and has come out with grace and humor. Dina, herself is quite a badass in her own regard though. There are so many awesome characters in this series that it is so hard to choose just one.

  70. Maud is my favorite character because she’s a kickass mom who has raised an independent and feisty child with grace in a difficult situation.

  72. In the US! and I’m so torn, but I think I love Maud, I feel in love with her in her book and just finished a reread so she’s currently my fav (until I read another book and someone else shoots to the top again)

  78. Arland is absolutely my favorite inkeeper chronicles character though I loved the character sightings of the boys (W&G) from The Edge as well!

    I love all of these books and would love this! 🥹

  80. Maud is my absolute favorite. Deeply insightful, fierce, independent, protective of those she loves and lethally skillful.

  85. Hi! Thanks for the giveaway. You bribe us so well. <3 My favorite character is Sean with Dina as a close second.

  86. Helen is my favorite character. I’m hoping we see a lot more of her in the years to come.

  89. My favorite character is Orro – with the quills, the drama, and the love of mangoes! I want to eat his food. . .

  90. So many excellent characters! My favorite changes with whatever scene I’m reading. 🙂 Overall, Dina is my answer. Thank you for the opportunity!

  91. Cookie is our family favorite. My son even named his fox stuffie after this character.

  94. If I have to pick a favorite it would be Sean. He went out to see the world, got burned, came home, and is now happy with Dina being an innkeeper. Love how he likes to pop out of the inn at random places where guest least expect him.

    I’m very impatiently waiting for the next innkeeper book!

  97. I love all of the characters, and it’s so hard to choose just one!

    But probably Caldenia. Because she might eat me if I said anyone else!

  98. My favorite is a tie between Beast and Maud!! I love Dina, but Maud’s book became my favorite of the series, she is so strong! And how can you not love Beast!!

  99. Wow, the vellum is beautiful!

    Sometimes I miss my chance to enter these due to decision paralysis – How can I ever pick a favorite?! Everyone is so real and each have their own part to play…

    In the interest of making a valid entry, I will choose Sean.

    I always love the first armor scene, respect the way he has to go-and-find-out after being introduced to the wider universe, and he breaks my heart every time as *spoiler*

    Hmm, time for a re-read 😆
    I just got my sister hooked on House Andrew’s, yay! “One of us!” – She’s read Hidden Legacy and was going to read Innkeeper next (she matched Innkeeper on ModR’s what HA should I read first quiz), but my mom and I told her to read the Edge first so she’d appreciate Jack and George better. So fun to share!