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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. I love all the Innkeeper characters, but my favorite is Dina. The way she deals with all the craziness while still keeping the compact intact gives me hope that wiser heads will prevail in our own reality.

  2. Omgoodness good golly o mally. I hope I win one of the volume 1’s.

    My fav character… it’s hard because I love a lot of them. I’ll settle and say Orro. His flair for the dramatic and his culinary expertise appeal to me.

  4. Dina is my favorite! She may be my favorite in all the series, not just Innkeeper (though they’re all so very good is hard to pick just one).

  6. Much as I love the usual suspects, there are side characters that make Innkeeper truly special. My favorite is Hector, so confused but determined to do the right thing. Love his growth arc.

    Runner up Soren, supporting Arland through all his mother’s shenanigans.

  7. My favorite character is Maude. I admire her strength and determination in the face of so much grief and adversity, while still having the capacity to trust and love. She deserves her HEA, and those who wronged her deserve serious “ripper cushions”! Warm regards from the State of Maine, and great thanks for the many hours of enjoyment House Andrews provided over the years.

  10. favorite character….wow that’s hard…..

    Sean, Helen, Maud are my top contenders.

    but if I can only pick one, Sean.

  11. It’s so hard to choose but I think my favorite character would have to be Maud.

    A question about the vellum – will the no-border option fit in both the US and UK editions? Thanks!

  15. I love this series, it is my go to comfort read. All the characters are wonderful, but especially the devious Nuan Cee.
    I’m from Australia and I know you can’t post it, but….. if I were to win you could hand deliver it next year on your visit. I can wa*t nicely. 🙂

  17. I am relistening the series and my current favorite is Arland. The Sean/Arland frenemies arguments still make me laugh. Makes opening the library so much better.

  20. From the very first, Dina is the epitome of sweet-tea southern. Gracious with a spine of steel. She just has no quit in her. My fave character by far.
    Some shout-outs must go to: First Scholar Thek, Karat, Adira, Cyanide and, of course, Costco Lady.

  22. Orro is my fav, although I honestly love all of them. I order my copy when the announcement was dropped and just got it this week. SO BEAUTIFUL! I emailed Subterranean and asked if Vol 2 would be reissued as well. I had a chance to get volume 2 (was available for a bit as out of print), but I didn’t want vol 2 without vol 1. I am kicking myself now. Maybe if the BDH raised our voices we can get vol 2 reprinted too?

  23. Gertrude Hunt herself is my favorite character…talk about a character’s untold depths!

  26. It is a tie between Maud and Dina, but Helen with her ripper cushions makes it a strong second!!!

  27. Listened to the graphic audios and I was giggling when Orro did pretty much anything

  31. All the characters in the Innkeeper series are fantastic, Dina’s family, Sean’s family, Arlands family, space chickens, hoarde, vampires, space fish, giant hedgehogs, choosing one is definitely hard. But without Dina there would be no Gertrude Hunt, so I definitely have to say Dina.

  33. This is hard for me. I adore Cookie, for cuteness and getting things, and Caldenia ,for her problem solving approach. Maud is determined and resolute! But my favorite has to be Helen for ripper cushions and her resiliency!

  35. My favorite character is Helen. She has a fantastic take on life, and I adore and use her ripper-cushions. Caldenia is a very close second.

    On a separate note, hooray that Maggie 2 first draft is almost finished! I know that there’s the hard work of editing, rewrites and a whole bunch of work I don’t know about still, but it’s still exciting. Thank you for telling us.

  36. oof. my favorite might be Karat, Lady Renadra, daughter of Soren, buster of balls.

  38. It’s pretty much impossible to pick just one character. Favorite series? Easy, Innkeepers; favorite character from my favorite series? Umm, all of them? But since we have to choose- Maud. Sweep of the Blade is my comfort re-read.

  39. My favorite character is Maud. The scene in Sweep of the Blade where she meets with the merchants absolutely enchants me every time. Her memories of the times with her parents at Baha-Char and her realization of what is really going on is so well written. And Arland’s appearance at the end of the scene just caps it.

  40. I love the books and have read all and listened on audio. They are all great. I love them all but I really want to be Maud. She is so cool. I do think I like Dina best as she works so well with others and is so kind and strong. The Costco lady is my 3rd favorite. She just rocks. From the US.

    Also, last two chapters or so!! Squeeel

  42. Diana has to be my favorite because she was my first Ilona Andrews obsession!

    But I love Orro so much. His scenes are always some of my favorites to read!

  43. My favorite character is Lady Caldenia. That probably says more about me than her:).

  45. My favorite is Mod and Helen. I know you said one. But seriously. How can you not love the pair.

  46. So hard to choose, but. . .I’m going with Arland. I think it’s the combo of fangs and Fabio tresses.

  49. favorite character? thats a tough one! I am going with Beast, because I grew up with shih tzus.

  50. I have read and reread the Innkeeper books multiple times. Her Grace Caldenia is my favorite character. She always has it together.

  51. My favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles is Maud. I identify with Maud 😉

  52. Dina is my favorite! I’ve listened to the graphic audio books at least 4 times now and I love how she so competently handles the strangest of situations that are always showing up at her door.

  53. It’s hard to pick a favorite because I love so many of the characters, so I’ll just be basic and go with Dina! (Although, Cookie is a close second!)

  57. Maud is my favorite character from the Innkeeper Chronicles. (Sweep of the Blade is my favorite book in that series. It’s just so satisfying seeing someone blowing past all prejudice and mistaken expectations, and finding her rightful place in the world.

  58. Orro, he is such and over the top character but you can empathize with him at the same time.

  62. Helen. I would love to see her as an adult because she is amazing as a child!

  63. I love all the characters. They are so well done! I had commented earlier about Maud, but even the pets are great. I have a maine coon rescue, so a special shout out to Olasard Ripper of Souls! I want to know more about that cat! 🙂

  65. My favorite Character is Diana. She is the best.

    If I win this copy would go to my niece who is US based. I recently introduced her to Innkeeper Chronicles and she is in love with the series.

  66. Oooo, what a lovely bribe.

    Picking just one favorite character is impossible, they are all so unique and interesting. Maybe Oreo because I love his dedication to his craft, to taking care of Dina, and because I really want to eat his food. But I love them all.

  67. Picking favorites is difficult but I have a soft spot for First Scholar Thek.

  68. My favorite character is Orro. He’s such a great character. One of my best beloved scenes is his rendering of A Christmas Story.

  70. If I have to pick just one, then Caldenia ka ret Magren. You have to appreciate her vision and utter ruthlessness (at a distance of course).

  72. brain imploding from analytics required-smoke leaking from ears…

    I’m going to go with Orro – he is the gift that just keeps giving!

  73. So many great characters… I’ll go with Arland. Big, blond, sometimes oblivious, totally devoted to Maud and Helen.

  75. Can I say my favorite is all of them?!? Although I think Lady Wexan might be best supporting character for me!

  76. It’s really hard to pick a favorite character. they are all so good and interesting. If I have to pick one I think it would be Dina. she knows so much about the world she lives in and is so confident in her space. I also love her sense of humor and the rediculous.

  80. It’s so hard to choose just one! I love all the characters. I guess I have to go with Dina if you’re forcing me to pick just one

  81. Sean. He is thrown the biggest curveball in his life and while he gets a few bumps and bruises he isn’t broken by it. He is a protector at his core and that never changes. Mostly, I love his care, love, and support of Dina. The Arland and Sean scenes cracked me up. I now need to reread this series.

  83. I think Dina is my favorite character because she’s competent and kind. I do love all the characters though, because they’re all so interesting and they all work together so well. I especially liked how George, Jack, Lark, and Gaston show up again so I got some closure there. This is my favorite series.

  84. Maud is my favorite – our life struggles feel similar? And thank you both so much for the wonderously detailed worlds and storeies I can get lost in!

  85. Can’t wait for the vellum but appreciate the care going into it!!!

    My favorite character is Orro!! But Dina is a close sr one for how capable she is.

  86. Without a doubt, Caldenia. ok, with some doubt. There are so many amazing characters! But there is a dearth of impressively Machiavellian women and it is so frequently told to the reader and never shown. Caldenia SHOWS us.

  88. My favorite character is Orro! The food creations are out of this world and I dream of having that level of skill in the kitchen.

  90. Honestly, Sean is my favorite character, his character growth and journey/sacrifices throughout the series was so heartwarming to read.

  91. Caldenia is my favorite. She’s a stylish, devious, intelligent, and dangerous shit starter who hides a big heart.

  94. There are so many great characters to choose from making it difficult to choose only one! However, Dina is the star of the show. She seems to always be one step ahead of trouble and is always kind while solving everyone’s problems

  95. It’s a tough choice between First Scholar Thek and Nuan Cookie, but if I have to pick one, in the end it has to be Thek. His smack-down of the Sphinx is just so awesome. I’m in the US.

  96. My favorite character has to be Arland. He’s dramatic, he’s capable, and he’s so sexy. The perfect book boyfriend.

  99. My favorite character is Orro. I love how dramatic he is about everything. “Fire!”